Back From Grand Mayan Riviera Maya

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Got back from Grand Mayan trip late last nite. Had a great time and will do a review of GM and post some addition trip notes later.
The Grand Myan is a beautiful resort and the rooms are really nice. We had a 1 BR with the balcony with the plunge pool. We were in the new buildings next to the golf course.
Even tho we really liked the place and were very impressed with the resort there are a few things that would probably make it so we wouldn't return there although it is a bit of a mute point because of the 1-5 rule wit RCI.
I think when we go back we will probably try to get someplace in Cancun as the Grand Mayan is a bit too isolated (although we had no problems catching the small Playa Express buses to Playa del Carmen , 15 pesos per person).
2nd the resort is just too big (again we had no problem either walking or catching the shuttles, but this was off season and the shuttles were easy to catch). 3rd as everyone that has been there has said the beach is not swimmable and unfortunately the big beautiful pools are not heated and they are pretty cold this time of year.Most people did not use the pools, we did, brrr!!!
Anyway, will write some more later and will do a review. If anyone has questions about GM RM let me know as I think I could provide a lot of answers now.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Not heated....bummer, as I am going in February!

I have one unit at the GM and 3 units at the MP - which buildings should we request to be near each other?

We have all been to Cancun several times so are looking forward to being closer to Xel Ha, Excaret(sp) and Play Del Carmen. We are also planning a day trip to Cozumel.

Would be interested in hearing about any tours you took and did u rent a car?

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Most of the Mayan propertys are off the main areas mainly because they are so huge. The amount of property needed in the prime area would cost them double.

Welcome home

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Pat,
Grand Myan buildings 1 and 2 are closest to the Mayan Palace buildings, but are still a bit apart. GM 1 and 2 are also the closest to the pools and restaurants. For Mayan Palace Buildings 1-5 are closer to pools and restaurants and would be closest to the GM buildings. We didn't have a choice of buildings, we were in GM 8 which is along next to the golf course .
I have a map that I will scan and post that show location of all the buildings and pools and restaurants, etc.
We didn't rent a car but had no trouble getting to Playa del Carmen using the Playa Express small buses (like big vans).
We took a tour to Chichen Itza which was very interesting and the most complete Mayan ruins, but, it is pretty much an all day trip. Got picked up in van at Grand Mayan and transported to Cancun to meet the bus for the trip. Left about 7:00AM and got back to resort about 8:00PM.
Also went to Xel Ha on all inclusive tour (it is all all inclusive now you can'dt get a just admission package) The snorkeling in the lagoon and on the river was good, lots of nice colored fish etc. The food is pretty good there also, and all the drinks you want. There is also a combo tour that some people took that includes XelHa and Tulum but I don't think that gives you enough time at XelHa.
We were going to go to Cozumel to snorkel our last day but it was pretty rough that day and we had heard that the snorkeling on the reef outside Cozumel wasn't as good when it is rough so we bagged that and spent the day in Playa del Carmen at the beach and in town.

Not heated....bummer, as I am going in February!

I have one unit at the GM and 3 units at the MP - which buildings should we request to be near each other?
We have all been to Cancun several times so are looking forward to being closer to Xel Ha, Excaret(sp) and Play Del Carmen. We are also planning a day trip to Cozumel.

Would be interested in hearing about any tours you took and did u rent a car?

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Most of the Mayan propertys are off the main areas mainly because they are so huge. The amount of property needed in the prime area would cost them double.

Welcome home

Frank, you got that right, the place is really huge. I don't think they could find a spot to put it in the hotel zone in Cancun.
It's not bad to get around once you learn the shortest walking routes to get to places and the shuttle system.
I was kidding with my wife saying that by the end of the week you really know your way around !!! lol
By the way, looks like there will not be a waterpark. The construction that is going on is going to be a large new pavilion which will be connected to the Grand Myan lobby. It will have an indoor pool as well as some other stuff. Looks like it will be for Grand Myan Guest only.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

We have a confirmed exchange at the Grand Mayan - Riviera Maya in a 1BR through SFX for the last 2 weeks of April 2008. We also did 2 week back to back exchanges in 2BR units through SFX to the Grand Mayan - Riviera Maya and the Royal Mayan in Cancun in 2005 and and 2 weeks in a 1BR unit back to back at the Grand Mayan - Nuevo Vallarta in 2006. We didn't like Cancun very much and far prefer Riviera Maya. Actually we prefer the resort at the Grand Mayan-Nuevo Vallarta and the beach is much better than Riviera Maya and Cancun. However, the beach is not the important part for us and we prefer the Riviera Maya location to Nuevo Vallarta. We are going back to the Riviera Maya to see some of the things that we weren't able to due to a 5 day tropical storm when we were in Cancun. We have been to Cozumel ( not too impressed with it ), Chechen Itza, and Xcaret. We loved Xcaret and will definitely visit it again as well as Tulum and we also plan on an over nighter to Merida.

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Welcome back!!!

Sorry about the pool situation, but it sounds like you still had a great time. The tour to Chichen Itza sounds great.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Welcome back!!!

Sorry about the pool situation, but it sounds like you still had a great time. The tour to Chichen Itza sounds great.

Yes, don't want anyone to take my post as real complaints as we did have a great time and thought that the resort and accomodations were really great.
Just we like ocean swimming and I really thouht that the pools being cold was kind of a downer as we were really looking forward to the big pool complex. But all in all the resort is very nice and the staff is great and wouldn't hesitate to tell people to go there and try it out.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

We were there the first week in March and the pools were warm. Is there that much of an air temperature difference between Nov & Mar?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

We were there the first week in March and the pools were warm. Is there that much of an air temperature difference between Nov & Mar?

I know I was in Cancun in Feb 2007 - and the pools that weren't heated were cool.
I had just thought since GM was new, their pools would be heated - althought they seem to be addressing it by building an indoor pool????
We will see this coming March.

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

Welcome back. I thought the same as you. I think I'd rather stay in Cancun. I can't wait to hear more about your trip and see your pics. shaggy

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

Ken,
We were at the GM Nuevo Vallarta in Oct., and they had a "no cooler or food" allowed to be carried into the pool area. They enforced it too. Does the GM Mayan Riviera have the same policy now?

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Ken,
We were at the GM Nuevo Vallarta in Oct., and they had a "no cooler or food" allowed to be carried into the pool area. They enforced it too. Does the GM Mayan Riviera have the same policy now?

Don't really know the answer to this one. If it is a rule it isn't written down anywhere and there are no signs posted. But there were so few people at the pools while we were there because they were cold that they probably wouldn't have said anything anyway.