Playa del Carmen ~ View topic

Joined: 18 Mar 2006 Posts: 1 Location: Michigan, USA

Stayed at the viva maya this past week 3-20 to 3-27-06 :? . had a great time food was descent, drinks ok, all inclusive at a farly reasonable rate Sounds like VWM is typical al inclusive. watered down drinks, cold beer. buffet is so so. had to get up bright and early to get a reservation at the ala carte restaraunts for dinner and yes that stupid towel game applied at both the beach and the pool. my four year old son who thoroughly enjoyed the kids club. the two days we took him he did not want to leave the other kids. evening lip sync shows were alos inluded. lots of positives to the whole vacation just a few minor all-inclusive issues that are not advertised and one should be aware of, I liked the proximity to plya del carmen and the seclusion of playacar. my room really could have used a dresser or something, It's kind of a drag living out of a suitcase.

Oh well, my wife and I are already planning a return trip. we think we'll try the new riu palace riviera maya though, it looks really nice and we met some people at xel-ha that said they really enjoyed it. :?

Hi Mike!

That towel game would drive me nuts! I suppose the all-inclusives are easier when you have little ones with the activities they provide for the kids, though. Did your son enjoy Xel Ha?

Living out of a suitcase is a drag, but when it is time to pack up to go home...there isn't much to do! Cool

Thanks for the report! Stop back next year and tell us how you liked Riu Palace RM compared to Viva Maya!

-Jen

Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

I hate to appear ignorant, but what exactly IS "that stupid towel game"?
We are traveling next week (06/21/06) staying at the Viva Wyndham Maya---do we need to bring our own towels, Very Happy

?
Any tips from anyone who has stayed there would be much appreciated!

Hi Julee!

I haven't stayed at VWM, but I can tell you what the towel game is.

Many resort guests like to "claim" the best lounge chairs around the pool or beach areas by getting up at 4-5 AM and placing their towels on the chairs. After claiming the best, usually shaded, chairs they go back to bed, eat breakfast and some even take half-day tours while leaving the empty chairs claimed.

When other guests come to the pool in the morning or afternoon, they find all of the best chairs "taken" even though there are no butts planted in them for half of the day.

Some guests will just remove the towels and take over chairs that have been unattended all morning and then have to deal with others showing up in the afternoon demanding their chairs back. (You could just pretend you don't speak English and reply to them in a "foreign language". This would work best with head cocked to one side and a quizzical expression on your face.) Wink

Some people don't think it is right to reserve chairs that early in the day which they won't be using for many hours, but do so, regardless. They know if they don't also get up and claim chairs, they won't get them, either.

That, my friend, is the towel game...

You don't need to bring your own towel. A huge, insulated mug is the ultimate de rigueur resort beachware accessory. Smile

Did you figure out the transportation situation to the Royal Porto Real that you asked about previously?

Have a fabulous vacation and please come back to share your experiences!!

-Jen

Joined: 28 Feb 2006 Posts: 4

That does sound pretty ridiculous and rude. I certainly don't have a problem with confronting the offending towel "gamer"....."What towel? There was no towel here when I got here. Now if there had been a BODY in the chair, THAT I would have noticed!" LOL

I think we have decided to take a taxi, that sounds like the most viable option-at least on the day of the wedding. Thanks for asking!

We are all really looking forward to it and I will post a trip report when we get back.

Thanks again for all of your help!