Back to the Grand Mayan - Riviera Maya

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

As most of you know we stayed at the GM - Riviera Maya in October 2005.

We are going again in April 2008 for 2 consecutive weeks at the Grand Mayan - Riviera Maya. I made my request for back to back weeks at SFX last week and they called me 2 hours later with confirmations for the exact 2 weeks I requested. With the exception of Las Vegas t/s we usually never go back to the same location twice. However, because of the area's attractions as well as the great resort, we made an exception in this case. It will be interesting to see all the new stuff at the resort since we were last there.

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

You certainly are lucky with your SFX exchanges, John!
I am going to this resort for a week in February 2008 and just got a letter from RCI about all the ongoing construction.....6 new buildings going up.

I am looking forward to my first visit to the area.

[DorotaG Member Find all posts View Profile Close DorotaG]

We will be ther in April too!

We will be in GM March 29-April 5, 2008, through RCI. This will be our second trip there. Last time we were in Riviera Maya in May 2005. Picture in my avatar was taken there.

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

Picture in my avatar was taken there.

We were there Jan 2007, and going back for two weeks Jan 2008. My avatar is from there too.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

John, I believe they finished the Resort. I [STRIKE]think[/STRIKE] Know you will have a good time.

[Carol C Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Carol C]

I hate that Grand Mayan. I think their staff hates it too...they seemed sullen and surly. And some of them speed so fast in their vehicles on the grounds that it's a danger to the guests who must use those roads to walk the great distances from point A to B. You also have to cross a very busy, dangerous highway to get the bus to Playa del Carmen, and GM doesn't make it easy for you to cross with that stupid trench they built for guests to hop across and maybe even stumble on. Overpriced mediocre food, not enough pool chairs or lounges (set your alarm for 6:30 a.m.), and an unswimmable beach all add up to a very lackluster vacation experience. It's the worst Mexican resort I've stayed at in yearly visits to Mexico since '83. If I won a trip there with free airfare I wouldn't go back. Having said that I'm glad some of you are so keen on that kind of experience...it will leave more exchange opportunites elsewhere available to me. P.S. Be prepared to sit in their hot, un-airconditioned lobby arguing for the type of villa your confirmation paperwork says you should have...as I had to do. (And I had to struggle to get not one villa but two, for another party joining us.) Good luck.

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

John, I believe they finished the Resort. I [STRIKE]think[/STRIKE] Know you will have a good time.

i GOT THE LETER THIS WEEK fRANK, ONGOING CONSTRUCTION..OOPS! until Fall '08 - and RCI of course saying 'normal cancelation fees apply' and 'we can't get you another exchange in the area'
I 'heart' RCI

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

Pat - we were there for 3 weeks earlier this year. There is a lot of construction going on, but it only bothered us one day. They were jack-hammering something and it was noisy at one section of the pool area - near the gift shop. They were working on the new pool for the GM.

The new units that they are building are along the perimeter of the golf course for the GM and towards the south of buildings 11-21 (the ones from the lobby to the road). You can only see those buildings from the 3rd floor of a couple of buildings because the "jungle" is between. They are also building a pool between buildings 11-13 and the new MP buildings.

The first time we went to the MPMR was right after the hurricane. We commented that the resort sure was big and we didn't know if we would want to go back, but then last fall we decided that we wanted to go back and see what all they had done. We had a great time and will go again. We loved everything. Plays del Carmen is great and we did not mind walking across the highway to catch the bus.

You will have a great vacation.

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

Pittle, thanks for your encouraging words but I was just posting about the construction for informational purposes only.
I know several people who say this is their FAV GM property.

Carol C, sorry you didn't like.....different strokes, different folks

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

I know several people who say this is their FAV GM property.

Based on our visit to the Grand Mayan - Riviera Maya as it was in 2005, we prefer the Grand Mayan - Nuevo Vallarta. That is just comparing the 2 resorts. I am looking forward to seeing all the changes.

Don't get me wrong, we loved our stay at the Grand Mayan - Riviera Maya very much. The staff was very helpful and courteous. In fact our waiter at the restaurant Del Lago bought our breakfast buffet on our last day as a going away present. We had a great time. We just prefer the GM-NV because it has better dining options, is more compact and of course the beach is much better. The staff was also very friendly and courteous at the NV as well.

Check-in went very smoothly at both Grand Mayans and we got exactly what we asked for at both resorts.

Dining and the beach are not that important to us. What we enjoy are the attractions and sights and in that regard the Rivera Maya location has much more to offer than Nuevo Vallarta.

I have been traveling to Mexico since 1962. I was married there to my lovely Mexican wife some 43 years ago. I lived in Mexico ( near Mazatlan ), worked in Vera Cruz, own a business in Mexico, and am fluent in Spanish. We have vacationed all over Mexico and stayed at many timeshares there. Having said all of that, which I am sure none of you care about, Our favorite timeshare resorts by far are the Grand Mayans. We have stayed at the Royal Mayan in Cancun and it didn't even come close.

We are not owners at the Grand Mayans nor any Mexican resort. We will only own in California where we live.

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

I hate that Grand Mayan. I think their staff hates it too...they seemed sullen and surly. And some of them speed so fast in their vehicles on the grounds that it's a danger to the guests who must use those roads to walk the great distances from point A to B. You also have to cross a very busy, dangerous highway to get the bus to Playa del Carmen, and GM doesn't make it easy for you to cross with that stupid trench they built for guests to hop across and maybe even stumble on. Overpriced mediocre food, not enough pool chairs or lounges (set your alarm for 6:30 a.m.), and an unswimmable beach all add up to a very lackluster vacation experience. It's the worst Mexican resort I've stayed at in yearly visits to Mexico since '83. If I won a trip there with free airfare I wouldn't go back. Having said that I'm glad some of you are so keen on that kind of experience...it will leave more exchange opportunites elsewhere available to me. P.S. Be prepared to sit in their hot, un-airconditioned lobby arguing for the type of villa your confirmation paperwork says you should have...as I had to do. (And I had to struggle to get not one villa but two, for another party joining us.) Good luck.

Gee, I thought we were on the same vacation but I guess not. This is the first that you've said anything about a problem with getting the units that were reserved. While you did mention that you heard some other people say they were downgraded, as far as I know there was no problem with our unit. The four people in my unit found the staff to be pleasant and accomodating and never experienced any employees driving like crazy. The only restaurant I wouldn't visit again is the buffet. That was definitely overpriced and mediocre. Tramonto was wonderful and certainly not overpriced. You previously raved about Havana Moon and the great breakfast value. Have you changed your mind? Yes, there weren't enough places for those who like shade but there were always empty lounges in the sun. I'm obviously not going to get you to like MP but all of the people in my unit loved it.

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

Thanks John and "H" for the comments - we stayed at GM NV in Feb 2006 and my DH said it was the nicest place he has ever stayed in his life.
The lobby and public areas are magnificent....now I know that is a strong word but 'breath-taking' comes to mind...LOL.

I have GM Acapulco this October - a friend just came back and say it was nice but liked GM NV better.

I haven't done the ruins in Cancun area - so much more convenient from Riviera Maya plus we would like to go and spend the day in Cozumel - spent a day there on a cruise last year and thought it was beautiful - recovering from the hurricane. And never been to Playa Del Carmen - so lots of firsts this next trip.

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

Thanks John and "H" for the comments - we stayed at GM NV in Feb 2006 and my DH said it was the nicest place he has ever stayed in his life.
The lobby and public areas are magnificent....now I know that is a strong word but 'breath-taking' comes to mind...LOL.

I have GM Acapulco this October - a friend just came back and say it was nice but liked GM NV better.

I haven't done the ruins in Cancun area - so much more convenient from Riviera Maya plus we would like to go and spend the day in Cozumel - spent a day there on a cruise last year and thought it was beautiful - recovering from the hurricane. And never been to Playa Del Carmen - so lots of firsts this next trip.

If you do get to the Riviera Maya, make sure and go to the eco-park Xcaret. It is awesome. We generally do not go back to the same attractions twice but we will definitely be going back to Xcaret. We spent a pleasant day in Cozumel and took a horse carriage tour of the city.

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

If you do get to the Riviera Maya, make sure and go to the eco-park Xcaret. It is awesome. We generally do not go back to the same attractions twice but we will definitely be going back to Xcaret. We spent a pleasant day in Cozumel and took a horse carriage tour of the city.

DS and friend also liked Xcaret - I did go to Xe-Hal(sp) about 4 years ago...don't think I will go back as there are other places to see.

Here are pictures from my dune buggy tour of cozumel.

My DH.......


On the Road.......



At the Beach - Eastern (oceanside) Side of the Island


Cozumel Sunset.....

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

I have been traveling to Mexico since 1962. I was married there to my lovely Mexican wife some 43 years ago. I lived in Mexico ( near Mazatlan ), worked in Vera Cruz, own a business in Mexico, and am fluent in Spanish. We have vacationed all over Mexico and stayed at many timeshares there. Having said all of that, which I am sure none of you care about, Our favorite timeshare resorts by far are the Grand Mayans. We have stayed at the Royal Mayan in Cancun and it didn't even come close.

John

I think it is very interesting learning other members backgrounds, your life sounds very interesting.

My DD & I went in June of 2004 and spent one week at the Grand Mayan followed by one week at the Royal Mayan.

I agree in most part with CarolC's comments except we had no trouble at checkin. The personnel were not very helpful - the ATM in the lobby "ATE" my Visa the 2nd day and their only comment was that it does it often and the Bank people would be coming on FRIDAY if I wanted it Back I was very glad it wasn't the only source I had for cash. I also did not enjoy the pools because they were bath temperature and I think pools should be cool compared to te air temps. The rooms were very very nice. We may try another Mayan resort but won't come back here.

Now the Royal Mayan we absolutely loved. We loved the activities, beach staff, pools, room - nothing was lacking. The room wasn't as fancy as the Grand Mayan but we had a great view from the balcony and really enjoyed the carved wood and charm. We would go back in a heartbeat.