PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

GinaZ Posted: May 23, 2007 11:03 AM

PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

We are going to check out the following places for our honeymoon. Any feedback regarding the following will be appreciated.

Food
Beach (sand and is it wide, long)
Beach food/beverage service?
Pools
Lounge chair availability at pool and beach
Spa
Music on beach?
Overall Service
Anything else?

Okay the resorts are:
Excellence Riviera Maya
Excellence Isla Mujeres (which isn't open yet)
Excellence Punta Cana
Secrets Capri
Royal Hideaway
El Dorado Seaside Suites
Couples Resorts
Palm Island Resort
Paradisus Palma Real Punta Cana

Thanks ladies!!!! I appreciate the help and any feedback! They all look awesome to me!

erdbeere Posted: May 23, 2007 11:20 AM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

I don't have any feedback yet, but we're going to El Dorado Seaside Suites for our honeymoon and it sounds/looks amazing!!! And all of the trip advisor reviews have been awesome lately. You should send an FM JIFFY for info regarding EDSS!

GinaZ Posted: May 23, 2007 11:23 AM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

thank you!! I think it looks awesome there, but I feel like I read on tripadvisor that they dont have pool or beach food service and you have to go eat in a restaurant. FH and I wanna just stay on the beach all day and have people bring us stuff. :) can you let me know if I heard wrong when you get back? Cus this place looks awesome!

erdbeere Posted: May 23, 2007 11:34 AM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

O no..from what I hear, they definitely have beach service... waitresses and waiters bringing you cocktails and also snacks from the 'sandwicherie.'

GinaZ Posted: May 23, 2007 11:37 AM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

really?! Okay cool! Im def going to have my TA double check for me though. I thought it would be weird if they didn't have it!!

I just went to tripadvisor and there is a post from 2 days ago and they say there is service at the beach! :)

kellygirl Posted: May 23, 2007 11:48 AM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

You can go on tripadvisor.com and get all sorts of reviews and there is even a forum on there as well. I am booking Excellence Riviera for our HM next April. Depending on reviews, we may switch to the new one when it opens. From what I understand, Secrets Capri is similar to Excellence but it's a lot smaller.

aprilv Posted: May 23, 2007 11:51 AM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

We are going to Royal Hideaway in Mexico. I have heard great things. They are offering special pkgs with spa extras or other things. We went to San Souci in Jamaica and loooved it. It is now couples san souci and it was one of the best places. All couples, spa was amaxing with great views, 2 beaches-1 clothing optional. We only went to look at this beach-it wasn't as nice or big as the main one but still had everything. Service was great, music, food. We didn't want to leave. They didn't bring drinks out to you at the time but they may now. Oh, also they had room service which I looved and reasonable rate for the jacuzzi tub for 2 room. Good Luck!!

GinaZ Posted: May 23, 2007 01:06 PM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

Posted by aprilv

We are going to Royal Hideaway in Mexico. I have heard great things. They are offering special pkgs with spa extras or other things. We went to San Souci in Jamaica and loooved it. It is now couples san souci and it was one of the best places. All couples, spa was amaxing with great views, 2 beaches-1 clothing optional. We only went to look at this beach-it wasn't as nice or big as the main one but still had everything. Service was great, music, food. We didn't want to leave. They didn't bring drinks out to you at the time but they may now. Oh, also they had room service which I looved and reasonable rate for the jacuzzi tub for 2 room. Good Luck!!

Def give me a royal hideaway update when you return! :)

NY2Cincinnati Posted: May 23, 2007 01:21 PM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

We are going to the Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana for our HM. From what our TA has said, the website and reading reviews on trip advisor it seems like it is going to be awesome. FH and I plan to stay at the beach or by the pool most of the time with some exploring of the island as well. My TA said it's the newest resort in Punta Cana and I can't wait to go!

D's Girl Posted: May 23, 2007 01:28 PM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

I just got back from the Royal Hideaway and it was paradise!!!!! the service, food and everything is else 5 star and then some. They treat you like Royalty there!!!

There is only like 200 people at the resort so it's nice that the staff actually knows you by your name. The rooms are gorgeous and the pools are fantastic. It's 5 min's from the main town of Playa de Carmen where you will find shops, Restaurants, bars, etc.. it is about a 40 min cab ride to Cancun also.

There is waiter/waitress service at the pool and beach chairs. They also walk around with cold Towels during the day.

There is no music played at the pool during the day, it is more of a relaxing atmosphere.

The Spa was AMAZING!!!!!

The chairs around the main pool go pretty quick, but you will always find a chair at the pool right next to it or on the beach which is feet away from the infinity pool.

If you need any other info, just let me know

I am 100% going back to the Royal Hideaway that much I know!

GinaZ Posted: May 23, 2007 01:46 PM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

thank you for the info!!!

Was the beach long enough to take walks on?

GinaZ Posted: May 23, 2007 02:33 PM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

Posted by NY2Cincinnati

We are going to the Paradisus Palma Real in Punta Cana for our HM. From what our TA has said, the website and reading reviews on trip advisor it seems like it is going to be awesome. FH and I plan to stay at the beach or by the pool most of the time with some exploring of the island as well. My TA said it's the newest resort in Punta Cana and I can't wait to go!

Are you staying in a club room or a regular room? I can't wait to hear details of the trip!!

PeteysBride Posted: May 23, 2007 05:35 PM

Re: PR from Honeymoon thread- feedback on resorts please

We went to Excellence Riviera maya when it was still SECRETS and we LOVED IT! Fh and I are not fancy people and this place so far surpassed our expectations. We found it through tripadvisor.com which is great-look for places with consistent good reviews and if they have bad reviews, see if there is a commonality in them-usually there is like people complaing beds are too hard or a place smelled musty one night.

They have changed hands but we were there just last June and it was PHENOMENAL! I have pics of the grounds and our room if you are interested. It was jusst an awesome place. Service fantastic, staff SOOO HELPFUL! We got drunk our 2nd to alst nigth there because we tipped the girl 5 bucks (you dont have to tip but you will want to because they work SO hard) and she kept the drinks coming so fast...it has like 6 pools and she made her way all the way around within 15 miniutes, refilling till we both were puking SO BAD lol next day we had to tell her, Raquel, no more!

We wanted to go back but its pricey. We are going to the one in Dominican Republic for our honeymoon because they had a special where it was almost 2 for the price of one.

Some people say its gone 'downhill' since it changed hands, but I think alot of that is that word of mouth gossip. We had a fantastic time and now we set all our standards for hotels against them. Hope that helps!

Oh one mroe think-don't bother booking an excellence club room. Its nothing that much better-they ahve their own private area with pool and a small stretch of beach but it was less sunny over there and cold. It also faced construction and we walked over there a few times and no one ever kicked us out. We had an 'oceanview' yet it isn't like a beach hotel if that amkes sense. When we staye din the outerbanks in NC, we were ON the beach. This faces the resort and you see some of the beach, but its not worth the extra money. We would have been fine with a garden view. You really don't spend time on your balcony.

They do have constant pool service and beach service as well for drink. if you want any more in-depth info, let me know.