when to book transportation?

[jewls]

We are going to Royal Carib. 4/23-4/29. How far in advance do I need to book airport transfer from airport to RC? I think we will be using Brant Boston. Is that a good choice? I thought I read somehwere one of the transportation comp. will, for an extra fee $40+/-, stop at Walmart or grocery store before getting to RC. Does anyone have any idea of what I might be thinking I read somewhere?
Michele

 

[janej]

We just got back from VCI today. What is the size of your group? We have 4 people and I booked one way from Brant. We got a van and paid $35 for it. The roundtrip cost would be $65. But I talked to our bellman at the resort and was told there was always taxi waiting. He was right in our case. We got a taxi, which happen to be a very nice van for $20 today.

I am not sure what the cost for taxi to Walmart is. I am sure it is under $20 since it is about half way to the airport. We rode bus there twice. It is a longer walk going to walmart than coming back. The bus stop (R2) for coming back to hotel zone is right outside of the walmart parking lot.

 

[Cheryl OReilly]

Is it possible to get a cab from the airport to the RC? Is that about a $20 charge as well?

 

[janej]

I think so but I am not sure. When I booked the tranfer from Brant, I asked the same question. I did not get a straight yes or no answer. Instead, I was told that the four of us would require two cabs or a van. That is why I booked with them.

Hopefully, other people here would know better. Either way, it is not a big deal if you do not book transportation.

 

[Karen G]

Just returned today from the Royal Caribbean and I wish I could go back tomorrow.

We used Cancun Valet for airport transportation and the cost for four of us was $35. I booked it about three days before our trip and the driver was waiting with our name on a sign when we got there. Be sure to keep walking past some official looking guys with photo ID badges that will try to side track you to their transportation. Walk outside to where guys are waiting with names on signs.

We took a taxi back to the airport for $20.

I'd rethink the idea of going to Wal-Mart. We took a bus there and took a taxi back, but I'm not convinced we saved that much money compared to the grocery store right there at the Royal Caribbean. The food is very reasonable, both at the store and the restaurants. The carryout deli is great and you can get nice, fresh salads, roasted chicken, meatloaf, lasagna, and other stuff and eat it right in your villa. They'll deliver it for free. They also deliver pizzas made onsite and they're good.

When we went to Wal-Mart, I tried to think of what we might eat for the week, but we ended up not eating everything we bought. I left an unopened box of cereal and a package of frozen strawberries for the maid. I think if I'd just have bought stuff as we wanted it from the RC market, we'd have come out much better and not wasted stuff. When you factor in the taxi back from Wal-Mart and the time spent shopping, I don't think it was really a savings.

We did enjoy the shopping trip and saw more of the town on that first bus ride, but we did subsequent bus rides and saw the same things later in the week.

The La Isla Mall was a nice place to walk around and we ate at Las Margaritas and Chili's. Chili's is just like at home, but the great thing is free drink refills. Most restaurants don't give free drink refills and at $2 a pop, the bill can run up quickly.

Be sure to go to the Sunday orientation. It's not a timeshare sales pitch, but will give you a lot of good information to plan your week's activities.

 

[jewls]

Karen,
Thanks for the information. We have a party of 4. You made a good point about the price of bus or cab vs. buying right at RC. I know we will want breakfast stuff and my daughter is addicted to popsicles and didn't think they would have that there, but they might and she certainly will be fine without them.

What about water toys in the pool or ocean? Are they allowed? When we went to HH Barony Beach we used noodles in the pool to float, that was all they allowed. We went to walmart and bought 2 and gave them to a family that was coming in when we left. So I was thinking of something like that.

Do we have to reserve chairs at the beach or at the pool? And do we have to be out at 6 am to find one. I hear that's what it is like in Aruba. That turns me right off. And the ones in HH had to be rented.

What about dressing? Are shorts excepted most places? Do we need any dress clothes? I'm hoping bathingsuits, shorts and sandels.

We aren't getting there til Sunday. Our reservation is for Sat - Sat. but we used FF miles and only could get Sun - Sat. Do I need to call them to inform them of this?

Thank you Karen or anyone else that can help.
Michele

 

[Karen G]

What about water toys in the pool or ocean? Are they allowed?

Pool toys seem to be fine.

Do we have to reserve chairs at the beach or at the pool? And do we have to be out at 6 am to find one.

Chairs were first come first serve. There weren't many umbrellas and they seemed to go fast, but there were always plenty of chairs available by the pool and later in the afternoon we found chairs under umbrellas available.

What about dressing? Are shorts excepted most places? Do we need any dress clothes?

Bathing suits, shorts, sandals worked for us. I didn't see anyone really dressed up anywhere we went.

We aren't getting there til Sunday.

I think it's always a good idea to inform the front desk if you aren't going to be checking in at the appointed day or time, no matter where it is.

 

[3kids4me]

We used Cancun Valet for our trip. They will also deliver groceries for you.

But, it is easy to get a taxi to go back to the airport, and four people will easily fit in the taxi for no extra charge. (Our family of five squeezed into a taxi, although not too comfortable, and they did not charge us extra although they reserve the right to do so if your party is greater than four people.)

Regarding pool toys, you can borrow swim noodles ("fraderos") at the activities desk at your Royal resort. My youngest enjoyed having one. We also brought little pool balls to throw and that was fine.

Have a good trip!!

Sharon

 

[tonyg]

Taxis are difficult yo get from the airport to the resort and they cost $ 40 or more going that way- it's a union thing. You might also want to check this for what to expect: http://www.geocities.com/tonygraz/triptips.html

 

[BSQ]

not sure if these questions were already answered for y'all or not ...

With regard to the Taxis ... yes there is always one available at the Royal Resorts. A few are lined up in a que. All it takes is a whistle from the bellman and one will drive up for you. At the RC/RM taxi stand they usually have nissans, wagons, and big ol surbans available. It's been a while since I've had to use a taxi so could really say the exact cost to the airport, for some reason, from RC $35 sticks in my head. We use the airport shuttle service provided through the resort, roughly $8 a person one way.

For the kids, Pool toys are allowed. The only thing they kind of frown on are rafts, though if it's not crowded, it's not entirely enforced.

Dress code is fairly casual at most places. Since we are never sure where we will feel like eating, I do make BubbaQ pack a pair of slacks. He hasn't worn them yet, but he still packs em to keep me quiet. :ignore:

 

[jewls]

Thank you all for the information. We are sooooo excited to be leaving this Sun. Work has been really hectic so it makes it even sweeter to leave it all behind.