Riviera Maya, Mexico

[LukeFR]

Hi All,

The Mrs and I got married 3 weeks ago and although we had a lovely week break in the highlands, we have £2,500 to spend on a 2 week all inclusive in the carribean next year before we have a Mini LukeFR.

We have set our hearts on a holiday in the above resort, at a Thomson hotel all inclusive for 2 weeks, 787 dreamliner plane, for couples only etc.

Who has experience of going to here? What is there to do outside of hotel etc?

Thanks in advance

[Cyder]

I've been there, stayed at the Riu Palace Mexico last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I'd highly recommend taking the tour to Chichen Itza that stops to swim at the Cenote (google it), that was a fabulous trip although I can't recommend the sweetcorn ice cream in Valladolid.

Quite liked Playa Del Carmen too, there are some good bars and restaurants in the town and it seemed pretty safe.

My biggest regret is that we didn't go to Tulum, just means we'll have to go back again sometime!

[richatnort]

The mrs and I stayed in valentin imperial maya. It was a 5* adults only hotel. Every hotel is all Inclusive we found out there which got us thinking if we wanted to go that option. I'm so glad we did. There are around 8 different restaurants all with a different type of food. We also went to chichen itza but you can get deals to go to some cenote and chichen itza. We also went swimming with turtles which was ace!!! you can't swim close to them but you can get pretty close.

We didn't go to tulum but would probably go there if we went back but it takes a day to do as the busses from the hotel only run twice a day.

[k22wes]

i went to the excellence riviera last month for 2 weeks. use blue bay travel, they will price match. try and fly with virgin if possible, i heard some people saying the thomson flights were not very good.


http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g240327-...

[bazza white]

Ive been twice and off again next month.

3 big parks, xcaret, xel-ha and xplor. Well worth doing xcaret or xel-ha (or both). Xelha more if you like water. Xplor has big zip lines and buggies. We though we would get bored but its a blast.

There are hundreds of cenotes some are very public some are quiet. We went to one on farmers land and ate fresh local fruit off the vines and trees so don't be put off with smaller companies doing trips we preferred it.

Coco bongo is supposed to be fantastic, brother had a great time at the Cancun club. I haven't been as I'm ruined by 9pm and the thought of not getting in til 4am I dread.

[Nezquick]

I went a few years ago and stopped in the Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya - awesome hotel and would really recommend that. Stop in the "Tulum" section if you can though as it's right near the beach.

There's loads to do round there - Tulum, Dolphin Discovery (you can swim with dolphins), Xelha, Xcaret, Playa Del Carmen, Coco Bongo's. All well worth doing if you can be bothered leaving the relaxed bliss of the hotel!

Definitely visit a cenote though - they're great.

[MajorProblem]

Had two holidays on the Yucatan peninsula, they were great, both times in RUI hotels, far better than the chav infected area of Cancun.

[ChrisBMW]

We spent 10 days there last year and it was very good, as others have said visit the ruins and a cenote. One thing I would advise if your hotel is not adults only make sure it has at least an adults only area, we upgraded to this in our hotel and it was well worth it. It had its own checkin area, rooms where in a different part of the resort and a very nice pool area, we where there in mid June and there were still a lot of kids about in the non adult areas.

[LukeFR]

Thank you for all the advice so far.

We have booked it, 2 weeks all inclusive at the Ocean Maya Royale by H10 which is on the front!

Luckily it is a adults only hotel too given the advice given, it's in Riviera Maya and best of all is a 5 star hotel!

[Muzzer79]

Nezquick said:

I went a few years ago and stopped in the Gran Bahia Principe Riviera Maya - awesome hotel and would really recommend that. Stop in the "Tulum" section if you can though as it's right near the beach.

There's loads to do round there - Tulum, Dolphin Discovery (you can swim with dolphins), Xelha, Xcaret, Playa Del Carmen, Coco Bongo's. All well worth doing if you can be bothered leaving the relaxed bliss of the hotel!

Definitely visit a cenote though - they're great.

I stayed at the Gran Bahia Tulum

One of the few holiday destinations I've seriously considered going back to

Fabulous place

[Cyder]

MajorProblem said:

Had two holidays on the Yucatan peninsula, they were great, both times in RUI hotels, far better than the chav infected area of Cancun.

We stayed at the Riu palace in Playacar last year and on Thursday we're off to another Riu hotel but in Morocco this time. Great chain of hotels.

[Ayahuasca]

bazza white said:

Coco bongo is supposed to be fantastic

NO IT IS NOT!

It is an expensive death trap. Massivly overcrowded, no marked exits, no room to breathe inside, forget trying to get to the bar for the drinks that are supposed to be included with your ticket, if you fall over you are going to have a problem getting up again, if there is ever a fire or a power-cut it will be carnage. The 'show' is good (re-enacted music videos) but only say 10% as good as a Cirque du Soleil to put it into perspective. Never again.

[oyster]

richatnort said:

The mrs and I stayed in valentin imperial maya. It was a 5* adults only hotel. Every hotel is all Inclusive we found out there which got us thinking if we wanted to go that option. I'm so glad we did. There are around 8 different restaurants all with a different type of food. We also went to chichen itza but you can get deals to go to some cenote and chichen itza. We also went swimming with turtles which was ace!!! you can't swim close to them but you can get pretty close.

We didn't go to tulum but would probably go there if we went back but it takes a day to do as the busses from the hotel only run twice a day.

Lovely hotel.