Grand Mayan Riviera Maya Questions

[ptprism]

Grand Mayan Riviera Maya Questions [2009 revisited]

We are going to the GM in Riviera Maya for the first time on Feb 22. :whoopie: I have a few questions for those who have been there--

1) What is the most economical way to get from the Cancun airport to the resort? I read in some materials that the resort offers FREE transportation, but I cannot find anywhere to confirm or request this. Do I have to take a cab? Is there a shuttle? Or a bus?

2) Is it worth renting a car--and if so, how much should I expect to pay--including taxes and insurance--for a basic small car with a/c.

3) Once we are at the resort, do they have resort shuttles into Playa del Carmen--and if so, what is the charge? I hear it is about $20 each way by cab--way too much for my budget!

4) What's the best place to buy groceries so we can cook at the resort--nothing fancy, just quick meals and breakfast, mostly?

5) Finally--I know I can BUY internet access at the resort--I've read that in about 10 emails already--but is there anywhere at or near the resort for free internet access? In PV you can go to Starbucks or many restaurants and get free wifi. How about here? or in Playa del Carmen if we go in for the day and take the laptop?

I know that's a lot of questions--we've been spoiled by too many years in PV/Mazatlan/Ixtapa and just never got around to going to the Riviera May til now, so we're suddenly "newbies" once again

 

[pittle]

The resort is fantastic. You will have a great vacation.

We are going to the GM in Riviera Maya for the first time on Feb 22. :whoopie: I have a few questions for those who have been there--

1) What is the most economical way to get from the Cancun airport to the resort? I read in some materials that the resort offers FREE transportation, but I cannot find anywhere to confirm or request this. Do I have to take a cab? Is there a shuttle? Or a bus?

Email the concierge about the shuttle. It is free for owners, but I have read that some exchangers have been getting free transportation also. http://grupomayan.com/contact-us/

2) Is it worth renting a car--and if so, how much should I expect to pay--including taxes and insurance--for a basic small car with a/c.

Be sure to get the insurance if you rent a car. We don't ususally rent cars in Mexico.

3) Once we are at the resort, do they have resort shuttles into Playa del Carmen--and if so, what is the charge? I hear it is about $20 each way by cab--way too much for my budget!

They did not have a shuttle to Playa when we were there in Feb 2007. We always took the bus that runs along the highway. The cost was about $1 pp each way.

4) What's the best place to buy groceries so we can cook at the resort--nothing fancy, just quick meals and breakfast, mostly?

Walmart or the Super Mega in Playa are the best grocery places. We usually took the bus to town and walked to Walmart after having lunch in Playa. We took the cab back to the resort - about $15

5) Finally--I know I can BUY internet access at the resort--I've read that in about 10 emails already--but is there anywhere at or near the resort for free internet access? In PV you can go to Starbucks or many restaurants and get free wifi. How about here? or in Playa del Carmen if we go in for the day and take the laptop?

There is a restaurant off of 5th Ave near the bus stop that has free WIFI. We would take our laptop and have lunch or chips and guacamole and a beer while checking the internet. Ajua on 4th St. (Calle)

I know that's a lot of questions--we've been spoiled by too many years in PV/Mazatlan/Ixtapa and just never got around to going to the Riviera May til now, so we're suddenly "newbies" once again

 

[pianodinosaur]

We had an absolutely fantastic vacation at the Grand Mayan Riviera Maya in May 2008. I consider Pittle to be an authority on the Mexican Time Share industry. I would go to her for advice anytime.

 

[ptprism]

Thanks...and a couple more ???

Thanks so much--I have just emailed the concierge.

When we check in, are there buildings we should request--or avoid? We have a 2BR. I had read somewhere in these posts that we should try to be in building 1-7. I have a bum knee so Iwould like to be close to the main pool if possible. Do all buildings have good views?

Also, is there a shuttle witin the property? We stayed at the MP in Nuevo and there was a shuttle that went to restaurants and the main gate on request.

 

[pittle]

They have shuttles from the buildings to the pool area and when we were there in 2007, there was a shuttle to the road. Some people have posted that this shuttle is no longer running.

Room requests are "iffy" at the Grupo Mayan resorts. Some say they assign units when you check in and others say that they are assigned the day before. When we check in, they already have a card with our names and room assignment on it. This could be because we are owners with the Profile A status that guarantees that we are assigned one of the most desired rooms. Generally, but not always, exchangers are assigned units in the new buildings that are along the golf course (8-16) and maybe buildings 3-4. Owners are usually assigned rooms in buildings 1-7. Buildings 3-4 do face the ocean, but have the huge palapa restaurant in your line of site. Each building has only so many 2-bedroom units. I cannot remember how many, (maybe 4 or 6) but there are also 1-bedroom units in each building. At the Mayan Riviera, there are no great ocean views because the buildings are only 3 stories high and rooms run perpendicular to the ocean. (I've heard that was to help with hurricane damage.)

This link is to an older map that only shows the first 10 MP buildings are on the right. The first 7 Grand Mayan buildings are on the left. GM Building 1 is about the center of the resort, and building 7 is on the far left corner. http://locogringo.com/maps/tour/164a-t.html

As you can see from this map, the resort is huge and only 2 or 3 buildings are close to the pool area.

 

[JackieD]

We were there Thanksgiving week (we're not owners). I had sent an email to the conceriege and requested bldg 1-7, got the standard we can't guarantee anything email. When I checked in, he said we were in bldg 11. I didn't raise a stink, just mentioned the name of the conceriege person and the email. He left, talked to another person and returned to search the computer. He then offered us a room in bldg. 7. I would also request a room NOT on the first floor since everyone was using this hallway to get to the pool and it got noisy with kids running up and down.

 

[Grand Vic]

I consider Pittle to be an authority on the Mexican Time Share industry. I would go to her for advice anytime.

DITTO!!!

 

[dukebigtom]

We're exchanging and I got confirmation of the transportation. I called the concierge because I was not getting any response from my e-mails. I talked to them, got answers to some questions and had an e-mail confirmation within minutes.

BigTom

 

[pittle]

Thanks for the compliments Grand Vic & pianodinasaur. We do go to Mexico a lot and mostly to MP and GM resorts.

 

[krmlaw]

I too wonder how we can get a "closer" room. We'll have a 2 month old with us, and I cant imagine hiking it back and forth for everything I might forget.

Im going to try to request ahead, and request there too. Does the Vegas "tipping" idea work with getting a better location there?

 

[krmlaw]

ptprism - can you look when you are there if the lazy river is open yet?

 

[agoldin]

We used the "collectivos" to get into Playa del Carmen; there were always more of them on the highway than buses. They're just vans that you flag down; it was always about 10 pesos p/p (less than $1US now).

We had alot of complaints about this resort, which is where we first bought our membership when it was only half-built. Our room was very far from the pool and restaurants and they wouldn't move us. And no one even mentioned the trolley; we found out about it on the 2nd day from other guests.

Bring "pool shoes" if you intend to go into the ocean. Between the beach sand and the water is almost nothing but sharp volcanic rocks that will rip your feet to shreds. We watched as a woman, who ran her kayak onto the rocks and then got out to walk to shore, was carried bleeding off the rocks by several lifeguards.

The Havana Moon (?) restaurant was really good. Have fun! Oh, and try going to Puerto Morelos. It's a really cute, quaint fishing village up the road towards Cancun, about a 50 peso cab ride. Good restaurants and craft market.

 

[krmlaw]

are they any good swimmable beaches close by?

 

[agoldin]

are they any good swimmable beaches close by?

I have an aerial photo of the area that makes it look like if you just walked north on the beach for a few minutes, you'd get to an area without those rocks. (Who owns that beach, I don't know.) When we used to stay in Playa del Carmen, all the beaches there were great. Even Puerto Morelos with the fishing boats was better... If you email me, I can send you the photo...

 

[krmlaw]

just shot you a pm with my email ...

 

[wilsonfamily4]

I have a close friend who has this timeshare and offered it to us. My husband wants to go somewhere with beaches you can lay out at with some sort of covering, tents, umbrellas, etc. Knowing nothing about this area will he get what he wants.
Thanks

 

[pittle]

There are palapas on the beach. These provide some shade when you are laying out on the beach. There are chairs &/or chaise lounges at each palapa.

 

[wilsonfamily4]

There are palapas on the beach. These provide some shade when you are laying out on the beach. There are chairs &/or chaise lounges at each palapa.

Thank you! you were fast to answer

 

[agoldin]

There are palapas on the beach. These provide some shade when you are laying out on the beach. There are chairs &/or chaise lounges at each palapa.

But you better get out to the beach pretty early if you want to get one of those; when we were there, by 10am they were all occupied...!

 

[Mimi39]

I made an exchange with RCI last week and we don't go until Nov. 1. I e-mailed the concierge to find out about unit assignments, because we are seniors and my husband has a mobility issue. I got a prompt answer telling me to submit my request after Oct.1. The e-mail address I used was: conciergerm@mayanpalace.com.mx

I do have a question -- does Walmart sell wine or is there a better place to buy some?

 

[Miniwheat]

Walmart

Walmart does have a small selection of wine. We bought Gallo wines there for a reasonable price. There is a wine shop right across the street from Walmart, but we never tried it.

 

[MLR]

Was your request honored?

I made an exchange with RCI last week and we don't go until Nov. 1. I e-mailed the concierge to find out about unit assignments, because we are seniors and my husband has a mobility issue. I got a prompt answer telling me to submit my request after Oct.1. The e-mail address I used was: conciergerm@mayanpalace.com.mx


HOPING SOMEONE SEES THIS - it is from an older post - wondering if their request was honored or if anyone knows an 'almost sure' way of getting a bldg closer to everything. One poster suggested a $20 tip :0) Thanks all.....

 

[Catira]

I made an exchange with RCI last week and we don't go until Nov. 1. I e-mailed the concierge to find out about unit assignments, because we are seniors and my husband has a mobility issue. I got a prompt answer telling me to submit my request after Oct.1. The e-mail address I used was: conciergerm@mayanpalace.com.mx


HOPING SOMEONE SEES THIS - it is from an older post - wondering if their request was honored or if anyone knows an 'almost sure' way of getting a bldg closer to everything. One poster suggested a $20 tip :0) Thanks all.....

We were there last June and I called and requested buildings 1-7 as well as a 3 rd floor room (to avoid the noise of people on the hallways) and I am glad to say we were assigned building 5 on the 3rd floor. We will be there again June 4th and I have already called and made my same requests. Hoping we are assigned what we requested.

 

[MLR]

Glad to see some new posts on this thread :0)

Catira - I would love it if you could send me a PM (or you may post here if you prefer) and tell me if it is worth a trip to Playa for groceries.

Our son and GF are coming with us and wondered if a trip to Playa would be worth it or how the prices for groceries were at the on site grocery. Is it possible to bring some staples from home? Pasta, cereal, that sort of thing?

What would you say is the 'average' price for the breakfast buffet - does it include coffee & juice?

What is the 'average' cost for dinner buffet and/or dinner at the other restaurants - if one chooses moderately and just has one drink with dinner?

Do they allow you to bring drinks down to the beach from your condo?

And YES, I will contact the resort approx. a month out to request a closer bldg. We are trading in - so, not sure how successful that will be. I would be happy to offer an 'incentive' at check in. We went to Las Vegas and $20 - neatly folded - landed us a beautiful Fountain View room :0)

Anyone reading this - feel free to add your two cents. I am getting very excited about our Dec. trip to the Grand Mayan. It sounds lovely. :whoopie:

 

[hurnik]

Catira - I would love it if you could send me a PM (or you may post here if you prefer) and tell me if it is worth a trip to Playa for groceries.

Our son and GF are coming with us and wondered if a trip to Playa would be worth it or how the prices for groceries were at the on site grocery. Is it possible to bring some staples from home? Pasta, cereal, that sort of thing?

What would you say is the 'average' price for the breakfast buffet - does it include coffee & juice?

What is the 'average' cost for dinner buffet and/or dinner at the other restaurants - if one chooses moderately and just has one drink with dinner?

Do they allow you to bring drinks down to the beach from your condo?

And YES, I will contact the resort approx. a month out to request a closer bldg. We are trading in - so, not sure how successful that will be. I would be happy to offer an 'incentive' at check in. We went to Las Vegas and $20 - neatly folded - landed us a beautiful Fountain View room :0)

Anyone reading this - feel free to add your two cents. I am getting very excited about our Dec. trip to the Grand Mayan. It sounds lovely. :whoopie:

I vaguely remember the breakfast buffet was around $20 US per person (I don't remember the pesos price, and exchange rate at the time was 13:1, but I rounded to 10:1)

They have a little store you can get some grocery items, and maybe more than what Wal-Mart would charge, but you save the 40 pesos (I think) per person per trip on the shuttle ride.

I'll see if i have any old menus/pricing.