Traveler Background

Mid-20’s couple; first time exploring Cancun
However, in 2006 we stayed at the Mayan Palace in Riviera Maya and enjoyed our stay.

Resort - General

On a scale of 1-10, we would grade this resort a 7. The grounds were clean and staff was pleasant. The cost per night was exceptional for the location and accommodations. The guests were cordial. When we arrived to the resort, the outside guard attendant alerted the front desk that we had arrived. The front door attendants greeted us by name (which of course is a nice extra). Concierge greeted us with cool hand towels and a refreshing beverage. I asked that our room not face construction and our request was granted. I’m so glad we made that request because when we went to view the tennis court there were some hotel rooms facing construction and the tennis court – what a bummer. The gym had all new equipment, towels at each station, and purified water available. We noticed that it can be crowded in the early morning (which is expected).

Hotel Room

Nice and clean, interior design is lacking and dated. The bathroom was nice, however the daily room attendant reluctantly left us enough face towels. We had to hide additional face towel (for future use) or consistently request additional face towels (which are located inside the wood paneling near the elevators on your floor - we caught sight of this one day). The mini bar amenities are ridiculously expensive. I encourage anyone to either bring snacks from their hometown or visit a nearby convenient store for snacks for your stay.

Transportation – from/to Airport

Concierge advised us to make reservations for roundtrip transportation in advance from Grayline Transportation. We purchased roundtrip tickets online before departing. Online we were quoted $23.00 per person (roundtrip) for a shared shuttle which means there will be other travelers in the shuttle that may be dropped off before your destination. If you’re unable to purchase in advance, Grayline shuttles are available at the airport, however, I’m unsure of the cost.

Be aware of the salesmen that come off as helpful locals. They will try to lure you in by asking questions about your vacation and/or transportation. If you don’t want to waste your precious vacation time, smile and keep going out to the main entrance where the Grayline shuttles and taxis are located.

Transportation – Activities

We opted for the cheap and safe way to get around town which is the .65 (USD) public bus. I felt safe knowing that there were several people (travelers and locals) on the bus and that we weren’t alone with one person. The R-1 or R-2 bus located on the main street takes you along the Hotel Zone where you can find several shopping malls and restaurants. We also took the R-1 to the major bus station (ADO) which links up to a bus that takes you Playa Del Carmen (6.50 USD per person roundtrip)

Meals

The on-site restaurants are nice and convenient but that comes at price. Despite the mixed reviews, we tried out the breakfast buffet at Alioi. It was very pricey – $26.00 per person. The food was okay, the omelets were delicious, pastries were okay. The pancakes were disappointing. I wish the resort had more affordable breakfast options. The breakfast room service options were pricey as well.

For dinner, the concierge recommended Palomas Bonitas. The food was delicious and the staff was AWESOME. I would strongly recommend this restaurant if you desire an authentic meal and quiet ambience. You can take the R-1 or R-2 bus to the Forum and then walk to its location (ask Concierge (Georgian was AWESOME) for a detailed map and directions).

Playa del Carmen has several affordable authentic restaurants available and great shops.

Activities

There are several shopping centers: Isla Mall (similar stores found back at home); Kukulcan Plaza (expensive shops); Forum by the Sea (Flea Market; the owners of shops will harass you to no end. So if you’re not in the mood for shopping, AVOID).

We purchased an activities package from Aquaworld located on-site. We experienced parasailing which was fun. We also took advantage of the jungle tour and snorkeling. The jungle tour was nice and snorkeling was brief but nice as well. The total package was $231 USD (including tax) for a couple.

Miscellaneous

Bring several single dollar bills for tips and bus fare.

Bring bug repellant for the bugs (perhaps mosquitoes) that attack your ankles and feet.