Which Mayan Palace Location - help me choose.

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

I do appreciate all the feedback.

John, when I was discussing RM - my friends did like the MP pool area better so preferred to be closer - they gave up the one GM unit they had so they could be placed with two other friends in the same MP building - I beleive that is why they felt MP was better located - for them it was.

I agree with the activities in the area and the cheaper airfare and shorter flight time.

I think I will 'encourage' the bride to go with the RM location.
Now on to SFX....

Thanks everyone!

edit - forget about the car question - they have not travelled much especially outside the country.
And doesn't Mayan Palace provide trasnportation from the airport to the resort?

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

Another comment about the location of the units at RM -- some of the MP units (first three buildings) are indeed fairly close to the MP pools / center of the restaurants, etc. However, there are several more buildings that extend out toward the main highway along side the golf course (this is a very large resort). If you get one of those buildings (we did, as SFX exchangers), it can be a 15+ minute walk to the pools. They do have shuttles that run back and forth, but you can end up waiting a while for those at times.

This wasn't a problem for us, but I think you may want to set their expectations correctly.

And doesn't Mayan Palace provide transportation from the airport to the resort?

They provide complimentary shuttle service from the airport to the resort -- just email the concierge before arrival. They do charge $15/pp for the shuttle ride back, but I would recommend a cab. We did that and it was only $35 w/ tip, and it was much more convenient not having to wait for the van to fill up, cramming in w/ a bunch of strangers, etc.

Kurt

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

Just to make it clear, you are under no obligation to take the shuttle back to the airport even if you use the free shuttle to the resort. At $35, I would also take a taxi for the return trip even though it costs $5 more than the shuttle for 2 people.

I can't walk very much so we always took the free shuttles around the resort. It was not a problem but sometimes you do have to wait a few minutes.

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

For location, I like PV. Lots of restaurants in the marina and it's a short bus ride to town. I haven't stayed in a MP unit in a long time so I can't tell you if PV is still in good shape or not. The beach is not very nice but the pool is.

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

Thank you for all your suggestions and help.
I was able to book the Mayan Palace Riviera Maya thru SFX for the dates they needed.
Now will add a few days in Cancun to round it out.....

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

One other suggestion. You can request that they move you to another building if you don't like the location of the one that you are assigned to. You do this at check-in. We have always been able to get the unit location that we wanted just by requesting it when we checked in. Ask for the 3rd ( top ) floor. There are elevators.

[senorSamba Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close senorSamba]

I have only been to the MP and GM on the Riviera Maya. Obviously the GM was nicer, but we enjoyed the MP too. The small pool on the patio of the GM units are useless because the water is too cold (SEP/OCT).

The only downside to the resort is there is no beach. There is absolutely no way around this. From the first inch of water in the shoreline to hundreds of yards offshore there is sharp, dangerous rock. When booking, I thought surely it was swimable. It is not. There is no way you can enter here. I know several RCI reviews mention a beach without rock that is a short walk from the resort beach. Dammed if I could find it. Plus you've already walked a long ways from your unit to the resort beach. If your kids make a sand castle in the resort beach, about six inches down they will find burlap bags. Yup, man made beach.

Does anyone have any suggestions on where to find a real beach nearby? Maybe just go to playa for the day and hango out at a beach bar/restaurant?

Not a gripe, but there is no deepwater pool. They are all waist deep everywhere.

Other than that, it's spectacular. Do some day trips.

If they rent a car watch out for the Pemex gas scam. Google it. They tried to pull it on me at the gas station just past the GM heading south. Also, watch out for the police. They are everywhere and looking for speeders and drunk drivers.

We are going back to GM in Jan.

Let me know if you have questions.

Oh yeh, at night time the mosquitos are treacherous. Bring bug spray. It will be very overpriced there.

[bezerk Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close bezerk]

I have been to Acapulco Mayan but in Grand. Nuevo many times....and you know about them. Personally we liked the PV Mayan units, a bit older and dated, but clean, walking distance to marina area with lots of activity, smaller resort, closer to town, reasonable prices in restaurants on site, Specials on pizza etc...via room service, special price nights as well. The only thing we really felt not up to par was the beach very small.....otherwise if have to do a Mayan we liked it along with Nuevo of course, but much larger, not as accessible etc.