I recently had the opportunity to tour Royal Caribbean’s “Brilliance of the Seas” when she was in Boston for the day. There is a lot of hype for the mega ships that Royal Caribbean offers like the Oasis of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas and the new Harmony of the Seas which debuts next year.  These ships really are amazing with all the bells and whistles you could possibly dream of rivaling a Disney resort.  But that’s not to say that the smaller ships (90,000 tons) shouldn’t be considered. In fact, I really liked this size ship — not too big and not too small!

The Brilliance of the Seas is an older ship but was completely renovated in 2013. Cabins are quite spacious and there are several dining options on board. I think the BEST feature is the glass surround.  No matter where this ship sails to, you’ll have amazing views from any part of the ship.  The adult-only Solarium was toasty warm and next to the spa, perfect for an adult only retreat.  The kid zone is smaller but completely sufficient if you’re traveling with smaller kids. There is a full children’s program (age appropriate), a rock climbing wall, mini golf and water slide. I could definitely see my kids having a good time.

I also learned about My Family Time Dining.  If you have kids you know how hectic dinner time can be. Dining on a cruise is an experience (or it should be at least). I don’t know many kids though that will sit through a 3-4 course meal that can easily take 2 hours.  Enroll in the My Family Time Dinning and 45 min into dinner, the kid’s club coordinators will come to the dining room to get your kids and bring them back to the kid’s club for crafts, games and movies so you can enjoy the rest of your meal in peace. Genius! How can I get this service at home??…..

Another tick in the “pro” column for Royal Caribbean is their entertainment. They have Broadway style and Broadway licensed shows like Mama Mia, Saturday Night Fever and much more. When you consider and average show ticket is maybe $120 a piece but included for free on your Royal Caribbean cruise, it’s an excellent value.

I’ve cruised with Royal Caribbean several times and as the worlds largest cruise company, chances are they have just the right ship and itinerary to fit your family and budget.  Contact me today to discuss your future cruise plans!

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It’s our last day in the Riviera Maya! Started off early and headed into Playa del Carmen to drive through the Playacar community.  Here you’ll find the majority of condo and villa rentals for the area, most of which are NOT on the beach but will generally have some kind of affinity with the nearby golf clubs or beach club offering beach services.  You’ll also find many shops, restaurants and the Hotel Zone with a wide range of 3-4* all inclusive resorts in addition to two upscale properties – The RIU Palace and the Royal Hideaway.

Then we drove through Playa del Carmen to the Paradisus La Perla & Esmeralda.

I have one word for this resort: GORGEOUS.  A true 5* resort experience. The Esmeralda side is for families and La Perla for adults-only. For families looking for an upscale resort that is moderately sized (approx. 500 rooms), this would be an excellent choice.  La Perla is adults-only and absolutely perfect for a honeymoon or destination wedding. The beach here is small (narrow) because of it’s location on the coast but the pool areas here are really lovely. The hotels have a crisp and contemporary vibe. This is a picture of the standard rooms which are super spacious and just beautiful.  At La Perla, I would suggest one of the swim-out rooms on the lower levels which feel quite private as they are not connected to the main pool.  There are many restaurant choices (one of which has a surcharge) and plenty of children’s activities and connecting rooms for those staying at Esmeralda.  I would not hesitate to stay at this resort nor recommend it to my clients.  I have some stunning photos that I’ll have to organize into a slideshow and insert into this post later.

In the afternoon we drove south to visit the ruins at Tulum.  Wow. This area has changed a lot since I was here last. The small food court that had a few local handicraft shops has bloomed to include a Starbucks, Subway, Quizno’s and a few other restaurants with AC! Parking is about $5 (50 pesos) and from there it’s a 10-15 min walk to the park entrance or you can take the “train” (trolley pulled by a tractor) for $2 round trip (totally worth it). Entrance to the park is 64 pesos (about $6) each and a guide service is available if you wish for an additional cost.  I’ve been to Tulum before as well as nearby Coba and Chichen Itza which are popular ruin sites and Tulum really is so beautiful and unique.  It is the only Mayan ruin site right on the ocean. The views are simply amazing and worth a visit. There is a lot of walking over rocky terrain so good walking shoes are recommended.

My next stop was at the Barcelo Resort Complex. This massive area is actually 5 resorts  – the Barcelo Maya Beach, Maya Caribe, Maya Colonial, Maya Tropical and Maya Palace Deluxe

This is another example of “5*” resorts that are actually 3*.  Maya Beach, Caribe, Colonial and Tropical are all quite standard and I would say a solid 3*. The rooms are very basic and no matter which resort you select there is a ton of walking involved to get from A to B.  The Barcelo Maya Beach has the best stretch of sandy beach and will soon be adding an adult-only pool.  The Barcelo Maya Caribe has just added a new mall area that includes more shopping choices and an indoor bowling alley.  The Barcelo Maya Palace Deluxe is undergoing soft-renovations (paint, carpet, bedding etc.) and would be a good 4* .  Guests at this resort do have access to the other resorts if you wish (but not the other way around).  My main issue is just how big this property is and how far away the rooms are from the beach and pool areas.  If you want to be closer to the action or are traveling with small children I’d strongly suggest booking a Club room which come with upgraded amenities and are the best located rooms on the property.  One big plus I think is the wide stretch of beach frontage. There is a path and it takes about 30min to walk from one end to the other. So this is a great option for those that like to take those long beach walks each day.

The last stop today was at the Hard Rock Riviera Maya.  Another WOW property. This used to be the Aventura Spa Palace which Hard Rock took over and completely remodeled a few years ago. There are two sections to this resort – Heaven – which is adults only and – Hacienda – which is for families.  The resort lay outs are the same on both sides with the exception of the spa and nightclub being on the Heaven side.  This place is just funky cool.  Fantastic music and Hard Rock memorabilia throughout the property, many dining options most of which are ala carte and fantastic live entertainment each evening. They also draw in well known artists for concerts throughout the year (additional cost) that would be fantastic to tie in with your vacation. In fact when I arrived they were breaking down the event area because we had just missed the 1st annual Jazz Festival for this area.  Because of this properties location, they do not have a sandy beach but a small cove protected by a seawall. This is actually a great feature especially if you have small children as you won’t have to worry about waves or undertow at all. They’ve also been able to avoid the worst of the seaweed problem this summer.

I found it interesting that my contact said the # 1 complaint from guests is that they didn’t know there wasn’t a beach!! This could definitely be a disappointment if you were expecting a long sandy beach.  Kind of a big deal if you ask me.  [Ahem, yet another reason you should be booking your travel with someone who has been there first hand or at a minimum has done thorough research beforehand. ]

I almost felt like I was not quite cool enough for this resort but could be if I stayed here lol.  Just a very cool, fun vibe. Great for groups, families, singles and couples. Perfect if you’re not ocean swimmers and prefer the pools anyway. Taxi’s are readily available if you want to head into Playa del Carmen about 20min away and the airport is about 50min.

So to recap:

Good 3* hotels:

Occidental Grand Xcaret
Barcelo Maya, Caribe, Tropical or Colonial

Good 4* hotels:

Ocean Coral & Turquesa (modest 4*)
Hotel Marina El Cid
Barcelo Maya Palace (4.5* once reno is complete)
Moon Palace (4.5*)

True 5* experience:

Paradisus La Perla or Esmeralda
Hard Rock Riviera Maya

Of course I only scratched the surface and this list doesn’t include the many resorts that I’ve seen or stayed at on previous visits. If you’re considering a trip to the Riviera Maya, contact me.  I’m happy to discuss your plans with you and recommend a resort that will best fit your needs!

Whew, I think I need a vacation from my vacation…

 

 

 

Day two at the Occidental Grand Xcaret hotel.  After breakfast, we spent some time checking out the many boutiques here are property. The store owners are all very polite and not pushy in the least.  Rates are also pretty reasonable.  This resort is not in a town so if you do not have a rental car, chances are you’re taking an organized tour or taxi. So having shopping options onsite is a big plus.  Food is still blah.  But as I have now properly adjusted my expectations, in this instance you get what you pay for. The resort averages $250 per room, per night based on double occupancy for an all-inclusive. Can’t expect gourmet dining at that price point unfortunately.

The highlight of the day was Xcaret Park which is connected to the hotel.  You can buy your tickets from one of the many local tour operators onsite at the resort, the excursion desk or online in advance. We actually got a better deal going to one of the local tour desks here in the hotel. Then it’s a short 10min to the park entrance.  Rates range from $88-175 depending on who you get your tickets through and if you’re doing the basic park entrance or the “xcaret experience” which includes food. Check out the website for the wide range of activities available. You can easily spend a full day here.

After the day at the park I headed over to the spa at our hotel.  It’s small but reasonably priced for what you’d expect at a hotel spa.  There are definitely cheaper options in Playa del Carmen which is about 20min away. But the onsite spa is convenient and the staff super friendly.

For dinner we were looking forward to trying one of the specialty restaurants only to find out that two of them were closed.  As it is the slow season, many resorts adjust their onsite offerings based on demand and occupancy.

Tomorrow is our last day. Stay tuned for more hotel reviews!

As a travel professional, I try really hard to manage my clients expectations.  I want to ensure that you always get the absolute best value for your money and that the resort or hotel matches what you’re looking to get out of your vacations. A vacation match maker if you will.  More than a travel love connection, my job is to educate and inspire you to see the world!

You may know already that I specialize in 4-5* resorts. In Mexico as an example, I generally knock off a star (*) when explaining the resort amenities to clients because the standards are different in Mexico compared to what we might expect in the US.  This is especially true when it comes to all-inclusive resorts that tout 5 and even 6* service.   How do you know if that resort really warrants that 5* price tag? What do you get for a 5* in Mexico?

Not all 5* resorts are created equal

This is my fourth visit to the Riviera Maya.  In lieu of hiring a driver, I decided to rent a car and drive myself so I’d have more flexibility. I’ve driven in Mexico before but I’ve always been with other people. So this was the first time driving solo and I’ll admit, I was a little nervous. Plus, I speak very little to no espanol.

Thankfully, I read this article ahead of time to refresh my memory on driving etiquette so I felt good to go.

My first stop was the MOON PALACE, located just 5-10 min from the Cancun airport.  This is a massive resort split into two sections – Sunrise and Nizuc.  The Moon Palace is part of the Palace Resort group which has 7 resorts between Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel and Isla Mujeres.  I’ve been to most of the Palace Resort but this was my first visit to Moon which touts itself as perfect for weddings and family groups.  This resort does a ton of weddings and groups and I can see why.  The FREE wedding package is of course a big draw.   If you are planning a large event and want to have plenty of space for your group to spread out, several pools, restaurants or even conference space, the Moon Palace is an ideal choice.  If you’re looking to celebrate a honeymoon and want something a bit quieter however, I’d pick some place else.  Having to get from one end of the resort to the other by way of golf cart and sharing space with over 3000 guests is not my personal idea of a romantic and relaxing holiday.  It really depends on the environment you’re looking for.  There is also minimal greenery around which for some may not matter at all but if you like a more lush environment, the Moon Palace is a bit more sparse in this regard.  The beach area is narrow and of course this year thanks to the weird seaweed phenomenon, pretty unusable.  You also receive up to $1500 in resort credits that you can use towards upgrades, spa treatments, activities, specialty dinners etc.  I have yet to have a client use all of their credits (If you have, email me because I want to hear about it!)

In a nutshell I think the resort is very nice, spacious and appealing for large groups. I think it’s a solid 4.5*.

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My next stop was to Ocean Coral & Turquesa.  This resort has been one of my go-to favorites for family groups. Their onsite staff is so friendly and communicative.  It’s a moderately sized resort with about 500 rooms.  This resort offers a very different vibe than other resorts in that it’s a character resort – not your cookie cutter cement blocks.  There are four buildings in a horseshoe formation that curve around a pool in each area.  All of the rooms are junior suites with either garden (1st or 2nd floor) or ocean views (3rd floor) OR their oceanfront master suites are very large and ideally located right in front of the beach area. 

I love this resort for families with small kids. The Crib Club is a genius idea. A small area with cribs surrounded by mosquito netting next to the kiddie pool. So parents let the baby sleep nearby, play with the toddlers and enjoy pool bar service.  Sounds pretty perfect. The kid’s club for older age kids is in the same area.

For a resort of this size there are also many restaurant choices, especially for dinner with no reservations required.  There is no nightclub onsite but the central pool has live music and a DJ at night until 1AM which makes it a great resort for groups or friends traveling together that want a fun environment but within a smaller resort.

The Turquesa section of the resort is for those in the Privilege Club which offers upgraded mini bar amenities, private lounge and restaurant plus access to a row of beach cabanas.   Average upgrade is about $55 per person, per night so I think it really depends on how much you think you’ll be using those amenities to determine if it’s worth it or not because the suites are identical.

I would say this resort is a moderate 4* that is full of charm.

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My third stop was to the Marina El Cid in Puerto Morelos.  Puerto Morelos is a small town between Cancun and Mayakoba.  Mostly a local area with a handful of hotels in the middle of no where.  If you’re looking for a resort closer to a town that is no where near as built up as Cancun or Playa del Carmen, this area would be an OK choice.  There is a small open air market, many local food shops and a nice park area by the public beach access.

I’ve had my eye on this resort for a while now because they have family rooms that can accommodate a family of 5. My boys are too young yet to be in their own room and I don’t often have the budget to do a 2 bedroom suite so this resort seemed like the perfect solution! Of course when I got there I was told that the hotel was fully booked. After a bit more prodding it turns out 3 of the 4 buildings are closed for renovations (scheduled to be complete this December).  That would explain the lack of bodies around the pool area. I actually really liked this resort for families even not seeing the rooms.  So much so that I’m considering it for our winter vacation. There is a big waterslide + kid’s pool that I am pretty sure my boys would never leave.  I like that all of the buildings are angled around the pool and activity zones.  The beach here is small and there is a stone jetty so not ideal if you’re ocean swimmers but fine if you want to just play in the sand.  So far this is one of my top picks for families looking for an affordable, all-inclusive beach resort.

Realistically I’d give this a 4* rating. Maybe higher had they shown me a room…

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And finally, my home hotel the Occidental Grand Xcaret.  I had stayed at this resort about 15 years ago when it first opened. I had heard from my rep that the resort just underwent some specific renovations a few years ago so I was excited to revisit this old favorite.

So today I should have managed my own expectations. I admit it, I’m a little spoiled. Generally when hotels know I’m traveling as an agent scouting hotels, they roll out the red carpet. A room upgrade or complimentary service is the norm.  Afterall, how could I trust you (the hotel) with my clients if I’m not wowed and 100% sure you’ll take extra-special care of my VIP clients? (you’re all VIPs by the way…)

This hotel is a 3* at best.  I have not been impressed by the service, food or accommodations thus far.  The beds are like solid granite and my so called “deluxe” room overlooks a service road with golf carts zooming by every 5 min.  I won’t go into too much more detail because I don’t want to be a negative nelly but if you’re thinking of this resort and want more info, feel free to contact me. I will say I’ve seen a ton of groups here though. Mostly younger singles/couples and one wedding group. If you’re a group on a tight budget and looking for very modest accommodations with no view – then this resort would likely be fine for you.  I will caution you that there seem to be a lot of items NOT covered by the all-inclusive (internet at $15 p/day, fees for specialty sodas/coffees etc.). The only real highlight I think is the direct access to Xcaret and the large pool area surrounded by flora & fauna. Now for this trip I brought my mother who really didn’t know anything about the resort and she thinks it’s great.  Expectations right?

[Update: OK, it’s day 2 and the resort is quite pretty. Very lush with all kinds of critters.  I think if the hotel put some money into the rooms it would be a solid 4* property. A big negative I forgot to mention – there are no elevators! We originally had a room on third floor but the prospect of my older mother having to go up and down the stairs several times a day on top of all the walking required to get around this resort – we quickly switched rooms to a ground floor.  We’re here in low season so switching rooms was not much of an issue since the hotel is no where near full.  However for those traveling in peak season or with a large group that could be problematic for anyone with limited mobility.  Just something to be aware of ]

Personally I think the fact that I am picky (ok, one might say a hotel snob) works in your favor!   I have a ton of photos as well that I’ll try to organize in a slide show when I get home.

Stay tuned for day 2 !