Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

El Dorado Royale: Riviera Maya, Mexico
www.karismaresorts.com

**Note: I am going to try to include as much info as I can, but I know not everyone is going to go here for their honeymoon and doesn’t care what was on the menu every night (hehe). If anyone wants more info please FM me with specific questions and I will help you in any way I can. **

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Ok, so Rob and I decided to take a day to ourselves before leaving on our honeymoon and I think this was one of the best decisions I ever made. Our wedding did not end until 1am and we stayed up till about 4am just reliving the day, opening some gifts, etc. The entire day after the wedding, I was extremely tired, and very emotional. I pretty much cried the entire day and I think it was a combination of realizing the extent of events that happened the day before (getting married!!) , and that I was leaving Fred for the first time (so cheesy, I know, but I am ridiculously attached to him). I also realized that I would be moving soon after the wedding and I am a change FREAK so it was just a difficult day for me all around. I am happy that I had the time to get that all out of my system so that I wasn’t balling on the plane ride!!! Rob’s parents had a BBQ the next day as well so we stopped by and hung out with the out of towners.

We stayed at the hotel in the bridal suite that night and it was so nice. Since I was so upset Rob ordered me Chinese food and we ate fried chicken wings and boneless ribs in the Jacuzzi. It was really fun and totally cheered me up. We went to bed early because the limo was picking us up at GASP 3:45am for our 6am flight.

Flight to Mexico was great. We had a connecting flight in DC and we arrived into Cancun about 20 minutes ahead of schedule. Customs was so smooth and we were on our way. I set up transfers before hand and used the company they recommend at the resort which was LOMAS TRAVEL. I got a private transfer for a little extra money so we didn’t have to car pool with other people and our driver was really nice and told us about the sites as we drove. It was about a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic. Do not be put off as there is NO SCENERY. The trees are all broken and bare due to the hurricanes and climate. Even as we were pulling into the resort, we were like, “HMMmmmm maybe this wasn’t that place to go” BUT once you enter the main lobby, the grounds are gorgeous!!!

We were greeted with a glass of champagne and taken to our private concierge. We had a lot of perks as we used my aunts time share points to pay for our room. He explained to us all about the resort and checked us in. He gave us a ceramic Mayan calendar as a free gift and maps of the resort. Since we got there around 1pm and check-in is not till three we decided to get lunch and then come back for our room keys. This was the only time we ate a “sit down” lunch. Honestly, I don’t know how so many people did it. Every meal is like 5 courses and people did that for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Instead we usually got lunch by the pool and the pizza and burger place, which is more buffet style. We didn’t want to bother with changing out of our bathing suits and having sit down lunch. Anyway, you can get sit down lunch at either Jojo’s or La Isla restaurants. Both of them are surrounding main pool along with the pizza and burger place. Here are some pics of the lobby and when we first got there.

View from back of Lobby


Bridge with fountains


Main Pool


La Isla restaurant


Main lobby fountain


Main lobby looking at Martini Bar


Champagne when you walk in


Fountain in between main staircase



We upgraded to an ocean front suite and had a bottom level room. I must say, even though we upgraded, some of the garden rooms were frekkin awesome and in prime locations. Luckily, we got a very convenient room right in the middle of everything. If you get a room further away, they have little “bus stops” were golf carts go back and forth all day long to drive you around. Anyway, our room was BEAUTIFUL. It was decorated with flowers and towel arrangements every day and the air conditioner KICKED BUTT. That sucker could cool off a 100 degree room in five minutes! We also had a fridge that was always stocked with refreshments and a safe. Here are pics of the room.





HUGE bathroom!


Big walk in shower with bench and everything!


View from front entrance, outside bathroom



Jacuzzi! HINT…do NOT use entire bottle of bubbles!!!!



Outside our back door



Table and chairs



Ok.. on to the beach and pools. Strangely a lot of the people there did not hang out on the beach!!! I mean, the beach always had people but it was far less crowded than the main pool. Really, the resort always seemed very private. After 5pm, we sometimes felt like we were the only people around! It was nice!!! We basically hung out at the beach for the first half of our stay and the pool the second. They give you towel cards and you can put your towels out anytime. No one ever bothered our stuff that was left on the chairs. We would normally get up, put our towels out and then go eat breakfast, change etc and no one ever touched them. If you want a shaded area or one of the beds on the beach, you def had to have reserved it by like 8am.

They had scheduled activities on the beach and pool everyday. We played water and beach volleyball, did water aerobics, took a bike tour, took dance lessons etc. The entertainment crew consisted of like 5 or 6 people who worked CONSTANTLY and were there from like 8am till after the shows at the bar and were always sooo friendly and asking if you wanted to participate in the activites.

Salt water pool… I seriously never saw people in here. We went in once and it was nice!








Swim up bar in main pool


Main pool… were the couple in the middle is there is a little island, very good for hanging out by with a drink!


This is the pool by the health bar (fruit smoothies etc) and as you can see, the main pool had the most volume but the other pools were generally empty.



Another pic of main pool


ME


“Indoor” pool….no one was ever around this pool either



RESTAURANTS
Again.. I have specific info about all of these places, but Ill just post pics and say that the food was delicious, however it is gourmet, meaning that if you are extremely picky, there are a few places I would stick to as far as dinner. Everything looks like it is from the food network in the way it is presented and you can order as many or few things off the menus. Dinner was always at LEAST an hour, but it was nice because you didn’t get so full by eating so quickly. We ate at all of the restaurants including
El Carreta- Absolutely delicious Mexican food
La Fondue- VERY specialized fondue’s (dessert was to die for though)
Jojos- Caribbean grill (our favorite I think)
La isla- A variety of stuff
D’Italia- Italian
El Cocotal- Different menu each night with a theme
Kampai- Asian cuisine
Candle light dinner- On the beach. You have to pay for this extra unless you have the honeymoon package
There wasn’t a place that we didn’t find something that we liked, although; we had a hard time at La fondue for the entrees. If anyone wants more specific restaurant info please FM me.
PICS!!!

Centerpiece in El Cocotal


Waiting in main lobby to eat at Cocotal


Dinner on the beach…sooooo nice!








Self-portrait after dinner


La Fondue


Check out the MOON that night!

Kampai




La Carreta




We did a few excursions, and we really could have done many more, but we just so wanted to relax. The ones we did do I HIGHLY recommend.

Indiana Jones’ ATV and Speed boats
I don’t have pics of this because I dint develop my disposable camera yet but we did buy the two they took of us and they are awesome. They take you to this marina near the resort and you are with a group. The ATV part was a blast. You go through the jungle with a guide on these trails and on the beach. We had so much fun!!!! The Speed boat part I could have done everyday! The guide was NUTS and had us FLYING over waves and stuff. Each couple got their own speed boat and you just followed the group…we had a BLAST!!!

Day tour to XEL-HA and TULUM
This was a ecological park and then we added the mayan ruins tour onto that. It was about 4 hours at the park and then another 2-3 at the ruins. You could really spend a whole day at the park because it is HUGE and absolutely gorgeous, but Im glad we did the ruins too because it was very crowded and HOT at the park that day. They have so so so many things you can do at the park, including lazy river, cliff jumping, snorkel, dolphins(extra $$), scuba(extra $$) and even more. There are restaurants and bars and it was all inclusive. The snorkeling was awesome here and they gave you the mouth piece brand new to keep. One thing to note: you aren’t allowed to wear sun block there. You have to buy the little packets of “natural” sunblock as the oil disturbs the fish and wildlife with everyone swimming in the water. I did not no this before and felt bad that I had already used regular sunblock. They really have TONS of things to do here. If you want more info FM.

TULUM- sooooo awesome. Our guide was great and it was just so interesting and beautiful. I loved this tour and am so happy we decided to do one “educational” thing while there. There was the most gorgeous beach behind the ruins as well.

Us on an early bus ride with no makeup hehe


This place is HUGE…. You’re allowed to swim and snorkel in all areas(except where dolphins are)








ME


Lazy river


Dolphins





Birds


TULUM














Playa del Carmen
We took a bus to Playa del Carmen at 6 and got home at 10:30. It was offered through the resort but books up VERY quick (free) so you have to book at least 2 days in advance. You can also take a taxi there and go to the GORGEOUS beach during the day if you want. At night, there is mostly shopping, shopping, and more shopping with a ton of restaurants in between. We went a few days before we left and although we loved the food at El dorado royale, we were so, so thrilled to see this at the end of you shopping trip…


We just wanted “everyday” food so bad and it was sooooooo good.

Other pics from playa del Carmen






Bars and shows!
Guacamaya’s bar is the main bar that is open till 2am. All of the nightly shows are here and its where the entertainment crew hangs out too. I STRONGLY recommend the MAYAN show. It is sooooo cool. We also went and saw the Mexican show (also very good) and this guy that does VERY GOOD david blane type illusions with cards and items from audience members. He was very good. They live music there every night before and after the shows too.
Mayan show
These guys were SOOOO cool!








Swings in Guacamaya’s




OTHER PICS


Flowers!






Us on the jungle bike tour… Alligators live in the water behind us. They FEED them on Wednesday’s so if you take the tour do it then!




New HUGE casita presidential suites they are building


They have two spider monkeys at the resort and they show you how to feed them flowers and water on the bike tour


Last night ?


BYEEEEE El Doradoooooo

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

awesome review

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Your pics are great!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Amazing review Jen! I love your pictures...Your hubby & you make a beautiful couple!!!! Love your bikini's!!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

WOW thanks for the great review!

The place looks AMAZING and you and DH make such a gorgeous couple!!

Enjoy married life!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

WOW...what a great review...and what a beautiful place...looks like you guys had such a great time....

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

wow!! what an awesome review!! The places look beyond beautiful!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

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Posted by kissy27

Amazing review Jen! I love your pictures...Your hubby & you make a beautiful couple!!!! Love your bikini's!!!

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Ya know the funny thing is I seriously had like 6 or 7 bathing suits with me and for some reason everytime I wore the two more orangy ones we took pics!!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Truly amazing! We were orginally planned to go there for our HM, but the hurricane had different plans for us
Looks like we definitely have to get there!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Fabulous review! Loved your pics and the details you provided.

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!!!! An amazing review, Jen!!!!!!! So happy for you and looks like you had the vacation of a lifetime!!!!!!!!!! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Looks beautiful! I think I want to go there just from your review!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

GREAT review Jen! Wow, El Dorado really looks amazing!!! Seems like you had a great time... maybe we'll look into this for our 1 yr!!

ETA: Is it ALL honeymoon couples?

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

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Posted by CaMacho

GREAT review Jen! Wow, El Dorado really looks amazing!!! Seems like you had a great time... maybe we'll look into this for our 1 yr!!

ETA: Is it ALL honeymoon couples?

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Mostly but there were some older groups of couples/friends from Texas but it was very couple oriented

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

u guys look cute together. looks like u had a good time

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

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Posted by Jen2999

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Posted by CaMacho

GREAT review Jen! Wow, El Dorado really looks amazing!!! Seems like you had a great time... maybe we'll look into this for our 1 yr!!

ETA: Is it ALL honeymoon couples?

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Mostly but there were some older groups of couples/friends from Texas but it was very couple oriented

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Ok sounds good, thanks!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

beautifull!!!!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Such a great review!!
I can't wait for your wedding review!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

Congrats!!!

Re: Jen2999's EL DORADO ROYALE HONEYMOON REVIEW..LONG with many pics!!!!!!!

congrats and thank you for the great review....that should have been where we got married in next year, but now it's the first stop on our honeymoon and then to tahiti! To bad it's 8 months away!

Looks awesome!!!!