Riviera Maya Honeymoon Review- GBPT April 11-18, 2009

[ACDCDCAC]

SATURDAY

Our last morning we had breakfast at the mini-buffet by our building again, it was still perfect! After that we took the tram (we kept calling it the bus) to the Hacienda to buy gifts for the kids that we had been eyeing all week, Mexico soccer jerseys! Then we took one last dip in the pool, got packed up, and caught our Cancun Valet van at the lobby back to CUN. Once there we had a fairly quick check in, super short and easy line going thru security (signs everywhere saying "DO NOT REMOVE YOUR SHOES"). We had lunch at Air Margaritaville (YUM! Our fave chillax restaurant when we go to Vegas!) but holy schnikes, it was expensive. Way way way more expensive for cheeseburgers than at the one in Vegas. Boarded our flight shortly after that, and the rest is history.

 

Random Pics

Our Hotel, view from near the Tulum buffet towards the lobby

 

We "rented" a key/lock for the safe in our room, $5 a day. I believe if you book with Apple its only $2 or 3 a day, not sure why they are so cool haha

for comparison on size, thats our ipod touch on the right side. they were pretty small, but we crammed quite a lot of our valuables in there!

 

the closet

 

me under the palapa

our room was 3rd floor, partial "ocean" view, building 24

[ACDCDCAC]

We had an AMAZING Honeymoon and would fully recommend RM and GBP to anyone! It was a trip of a lifetime for us.

 

HOTEL- GRAN BAHIA PRINCIPE- TULUM

GRADE: A

We loved our hotel and it was not only perfect for us, but we can totally see it working out when we come back with kids/family/friends. Yes its HUGE but we found a way to make it feel intimate. The grounds were immaculate, the workers were always painting, sweeping, spraying, clipping, etc. The tram system was easy to figure out after a few rides, and if there wasnt so much to do and see away from the hotel, we would have been just fine being confined to the resort for the week. You can eat and use the pool/beach and other amenities at any section of the hotel (excpet Royal Garden and Golden Premier clubs, I believe those are "private".)

 

FOOD- BUFFETS AND A LA CARTS

GRADE: B++

Its a massive all-inclusive, so yes things at the buffet will get repetitive. We found the food was pretty much always hot and fresh.

 

Of the 3 a la carts we ate at, the food was best at Tequila, but the atmosphere was the most fun at Mikado. Dolce Vita was so-so, Im not complaining!

 

DRINKS- LOBBY/SHOW/SPORTS/POOL/SWING BARS

GRADE: B--

Since I combined all the categories, the grade went lower due to the drinks not being strong enough at most places. They were the great at lobby/sports bars, the worst at the stand-alone pool bars, and the best at the Coba swim-up bar at the pool near Mikado. I found I was drinking so many drinks at the swing bar and stand-alone pool bar that were all juice/soda and hardly and liquor, I kept having to make a break for it to run to the restroom but I wasn't getting drunk. (If that matters to you haha!)

 

EXCURSIONS- 1) TULUM/XEL-HA (SolTours) and 2) CHICHEN ITZA (Sunquest)

GRADE-1) B/A+, 2) A

I gave the Tulum tour a B because we wished it was longer and more informative. It kind of felt like we were being herded thru like cattle and we didnt get to see/learn all that we wanted to.

Xel-Ha was an A+ because we had so much fun! Would have been an A++ haha, except we didnt have time to experience it all, but thats our own fault.

Chichen Itza itself and that tour was amazing, but we were disappointed because we were told the tour would stop at a cenote on the way back from Chichen Itza, for a refreshing dip. We stopped at Ik-Kil on the way to CI, and were only there 45 min. It was so amazingly crowded, and we didnt want to spend time changing into swim stuff, jumping in, then right out, when we werent even hot and icky yet. This tour overall would have been much better with the cenote stop after CI. Also the food at the hotel we stopped at for lunch was actually pretty yucky. Im not super picky about food but it was just not very good at all. I mean, it was edible and safe, just not good. Thats all.

 

Both tour buses were clean and comfortable, no problems there. The one to CI even had a teensy tiny restroom! It was super awkward to use, but did the job.

 

TRANSPORTATION- CANCUN VALET

GRADE: A-

The only reason I gave an A- is because when we arrived at CUN, yes the man was waiting with the sign for us, but it took about 15 min for our van to arrive. For some reason it wasnt there waiting like all the other vans. Also on our return ride, we had to wait for our pick-up 20 min past the scheduled time because our driver went to the Akumal section to pick us up (but we were staying at Tulum). No big deal as they make sure to schedule you a pick-up time with lots of extra time. No worries, we made it in PLENTY of time.

 

Altho I heard over and over that our resort was about a 90 min ride from the airport, both directions it took barely 70 min, including traffic near PDC and PM.

 

AIRLINE- Sorry I'm not going to go into details here as most of you know I don't generally "advertise" for my company, but we had no issues on either flight, hope that suffices, if not, too bad

 

There are other things I could review/grade as well but this has already gotten to be way more of a novel/diary than I intended! We just had such a fantastic trip that I wanted to let everyone considering this resort or RM in general to know what an awesome choice you will make!!

 

For those that made it this far, here is a reward a link to my shutterfly album!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/w...AZtW7hizZOGLvo

 

ANY Q's, PLEASE dont hesitate to ask/PM me for more info! I'd be happy to help!

[ACDCDCAC]

wow holy geez that was long! sorry!

[Jess]

Abbie the pics are great - looks like you had an amazing time!!

[MarieSam]

OMG Abbie!!!!! You have no idea how much I've been waiting to see your review and pics. First and foremost I'm so glad you and Doug had a super wonderful time, it looks like you guys had a completely restful but adventurous Honeymoon that was just perfect!

 

When I read your Akumal section I have to admit, I got teary but total happy tears because you too had the same impression and love for the town as FI and I have. Looking at the pics gave me goosebumps and made me realize that the next time I visit that beautiful place (eeeek it's coming so fast!!) I will be starting a new life and be married to my best friend And thank you so much for thinking of both me and Jac -- some of the few Akumal brides on here -- and leaving trails and oodles of good vibes for us. You are the sweetest person and BDW is so incredibly lucky to have you *Ok totally crying again, lol

 

All your pictures came out fabulous, and you are so dead on about Xel Ha and Chichen Itza. Xel Ha is such a fun place, and in my opinion a MUST for first time visitors. It's certainly a place you can enjoy for an entire day! And I had the same feelings about CI, "haunting" is the perfect word. You definitely are overcome with such a powerful yet spiritual feeling when you're there -- almost like the Gods and people are walking next to you.

 

Again thank you so much Abs, and now my turn to send you good vibes.... hoping that you and Doug and the family will have many, many more wonderful and memorable trips like this one to look forward to, oooh including another trip to the beautiful Riviera Maya!

 

You're the best

[ACDCDCAC]

oh mariesam, thats not all, i still have buttloads of akumal pics for you and jacilyn, but i havent had time to get those sorted im gonna post them in another thread, soon-ish, i promise!

{{HUGS}}

[MarieSam]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abbie oh mariesam, thats not all, i still have buttloads of akumal pics for you and jacilyn, but i havent had time to get those sorted im gonna post them in another thread, soon-ish, i promise! {{HUGS}}

Ooooh looking forward to it -- and please no rush, I know ur busy thanks again!!

[YaelM]

Abbie - WOW that is an extensive review! Sounds like you and Doug had an amazing time and i loved seeing all the pics - feel free to post more

[JoLo908]

That was so informative!!! We went to GBPT in March, and that explains everything!!! So detailed!

[Jacilynda]

OMG Abbie!!! This is a FANTASTIC review. I second everything MarieSam said!

 

I've been waiting to see this and it looks like you and Doug had such a good time, I'm so glad you went! I haven't had the opportunity to go down there yet, and was sooo excited for more pictures! Joe's family has all been there and LOVE it. Joe's dad stumbled along Akumal A LONG time ago ( I think close to 40 years ago) while he was backpacking through Mexico. It was dark out and he stumbled onto Akumal beach and slept there and woke up in the morning surprised! They have been there several times and love it sooo much they've been trying to get 1 of their 5 children to get married there since! Although the first to get married married a real stuck up snooty girl and she doesn't even like the idea of us having ours there, but too bad! Their oldest is getting married, but the man she is marrying has a LARGE family and they can't afford such a trip, so then they brought it up to Joe and I. I've always wanted a DW and it's really a very Joe Jackie type of thing and I agreed! The owner of the Lol-Ha has taken MILLIONS of pics for me so I can kind of get an idea of what it looks like. So THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! for all of the FABULOUS pictures!

 

I got a bit teary eyed too! It's sooo exciting and I love hearing how great of a place it is (especially since I haven't seen it w/ my own 2 eyes!)

 

This is just the type of review I needed. I'm about to start our welcome books and want to include lots and lots of info so I'll be going through reviews to help out and yours has definitely HELPED OUT!

 

Abbie you are soooo sweet! I'm sooo glad you are a part of this forum and I have gotten to know you through it! Thank you for all of the pictures and the good vibes!!! MarieSam will be there soon and then me!!!! Now I'll just have to make sure my review is up to par w/ yours!

 

Thanks Abs!

 

oooo and I can't wait to see the rest!