http://beta.tripreviews.com/ TripReviews - be in the know before you go! Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:33:04 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/images/tripreviews_logo_white.gif http://beta.tripreviews.com http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/mayan-riviera/grandsunset-princess Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:28:46 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421132 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Cuba/holguin/playa-pesquero Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:18:29 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421130 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/quintana-roo/iberostar-tucanquetzal-playacar Great place though if you love nature and get a good deal.]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:16:32 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421131 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Dominican+Republic/puerto-plata/iberostar-costa-dorada Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:41:20 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421129 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/riviera-nayarit/palladium-vallarta-all-inclusive Mon, 08 Mar 2010 05:05:43 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421128 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Dominican+Republic/punta-cana/melia-tropical
Outside having problem to sleep and being tired, the place and the food was good.

Be careful to waste your time with the timeshare people, if you buy, you are under the low of that country. And if you don't buy, check how much cost sitting one morning inside a meeting room instead enjoying the beach (for me it was 500$).

Stephane]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2010 20:43:51 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421127 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/riviera-nayarit/palladium-vallarta-all-inclusive Sun, 07 Mar 2010 16:10:47 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421126 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/bucerias/royal-decameron-complex
The food was great and lots to choose from, I had no issue with the amount of liquor that they put in the drinks. There was plenty of it in drinks. There were many people that were not walking a straight line.

It was great that there was different dining options at night. We enjoyed all of them.

This resort had lots and lots of Canadians, this is great if you are Canadian. I did not hear much complaining at all about the resort. The complainers must of been very fussy as there was nothing to fuss about.

When we arrived, we were suppose to have two rooms for 2 adults and 2 children. We only got 1 room as they were over booked. They rewarded us nicely for this trouble and we were very happy.

My family and I would certainly be travelling back to this resort in the future.
It is a short walk to the nearby village and this was a nice option. If you do not like to walk, you may not like this.
]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:16:28 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421124 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Cuba/varadero/iberostar-laguna-azul
We will not be returning to Cuba for a while......no Internet service/high exchange rate 1.80CAD and 1.81 US/ and very hard to use the phone(when it works).

Beautiful country and great people but not enough commodities for us to really enjoy ourselves.

Susan
]]> Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:56:20 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421125 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/riviera-maya/grand-sunset-princess with the main emphasis put on getting you in and getting you out again. It was hard to get a coffee refill or a glass topped up. These things may seem minor, but it's unlike other places we've stayed.
The a la carte restaraunts were the biggest disappointment. Did not try them all. We gave up after the first two. The food in the Mexican was not bad but not great, and the Spanish was the worst I've ever been to. The main course was grouper, which was cold and so tough you could hardly get a knife through it. There was very little atmosphere in them also. You felt you were eating in a big open room with bare walls.
Other than a hamburger or a hotdog for lunch near the beach, it's a long, long way to the buffet from the beach for lunch.
I think with a few adjustments this property could become the five star hotel it claims to be.
I would return to places I've stayed previously before returning to the Grand Sunset Princess.]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:19:45 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421123 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/puerto-morelos/azul-sensatori Dec. 19, 2009 – Jan. 2, 2010
Adults Only Section – Pool View
Rm #2214
No wristbands

Staff: 5/5
The excellent staff made our holiday! They were all friendly, welcoming, attentive, humorous & fun. Just to mention a few - shout out to Espirdion (Espri to his friends) the best and hardest working beach butler we had the pleasure of meeting. Migel & Willian the bell captains were helpful, informative and friendly. Roberto @ the Caribbean Bistro – you are the man. Teresa @ Spoons – too funny & always smiling & Clara our wonderful towel artist & room cleaner – so many thanks for taking care of us! You all made our stay a memorable one – muchas gracias!

Room: 5/5

Grounds: 5/5

Food: 4/5
Spoons – the food display (aka buffet) – or order from menu. Huge selection: fresh cooked omelets, fresh fruit, yogurt, pastries grilled prawns, scallops, beef, chicken etc @ lunch & dinner, pasta, salad, dessert stations. Also, grilled lobster tails, prawns, scallops & meat shish kabobs for New Years – excellent!

Sienna – Italien food - excellent. We ordered from menu and returned several times. You must now make reservations for dinner at this restaurant.

Zocalo – Mexican food – okay. Open for breakfast 1st week. We went once for breakfast. This is a beautiful restaurant on beach/ great outdoor bar in evening.

Tapaz – okay. We went once for dinner.

Zavaz – Caribbean Bistro – excellent. We went several times for dinner. 2nd week was open for breakfast – beautiful, overlooking pools & ocean. Order from menu or buffet for breakfast. We ordered from menu for dinner. Lobster cost is $65 each if desired – not included in AI.

Le Chique – tasting menu - experimental & impressive. Reservations required – can email ahead of arrival. You will receive confirmation & time via email. Ask for confirmation (paper copy) from concierge upon arrival. Starts with a tour of the kitchen where the hostess gives you a Sparkling Cucumber Martini – mmmm. You are then seated and given a choice of a wine pairing menu ($35 USD/person) or red or white by the glass (included) – no cocktails available. We ordered red by the glass which was good. Menu below:

1) Gourmet Bites – Fried Sushi, Brava Style Potato with Garlic Sauce and Black Onion Rings with Guava BBQ sauce – all very good.
2) Tapas – Mini Kebab Pastor Style with Pineapple Caviars, Liquid Olive with Rosemary Essence, and a Mexican Corn Truffle Croquette. Olive thing was odd (explodes in your mouth) – hubby didn’t like it but hates olives too.
3) First Course – Warm Lobster Salad 2010 – very good.
4) New Soup – Cuban Lentils Cream – awesome.
5) Second Course – Smoke as Flavour Enhancer: Duck, Smoke, Tamarind and Potatoes.
6) New Mexican Cuisine – Veracruz Grouper with Creamy Plantain Puree and Cilantro Pesto – very good.
7) The Sweet Side if Le Chique Avanti Desserts – Between Clouds – excellent. Declared by hubby to be the best dessert he has ever tried!
8) Tiny Sweets – the end – 3 tiny sweets – chocolate – mmmm.

Go to Le Chique with an open mind and try it. Remember it’s a tasting menu – so just a taste – we were prepared to leave hungry – but surprisingly we were full. We only went once, but met people who had gone back a 2nd & 3rd time and those that didn’t like it at all. Hubby was a great sport & liked most everything too. Dιcor was beautiful.

Beach BBQ – very good - on beach everyday.

Mexican & Caribbean Party – on beach in evening on Wednesdays 6:00 pm – 10:30 pm - (Spoons closed on these nights) – we ate elsewhere these nights but went down for the entertainment later.

Room Service - Good. No cost – included in AI.

Adult Only Pool: 5/5 – crystal clear & clean - used exclusively the 2nd week. We met a lot of great people from Nunavit, Winnipeg, and the UK, at the pool our second week.

Bars: 5/5
Mojito Lounge – great place to relax & have a drink in the evening. Has live entertainment.
Wave Bar – close to our room and the one we spent the most time at. Great ambiance, music & lighting in evening, swim up fun in the sun during the day. Had easy access to get drinks for the in-room Jacuzzi.
Cappuccino, Coffee & Tea Palapa – between Azul & Family sections @ bottom of staircase, and behind Zocalo – large area great to get out of the sun. Lots of seating, swings, loungers, beds etc. Regular coffee machine is on left, decaf machine on right. Went there early every morning to fill our travel mugs with cappuccino, and then off to the beach to watch the sunrise. Alcohol served at night. There are games, cards, backgammon etc. available here for rainy day activities.

Beach: 3/5

1st week beach area was good – blue/green clear water & great sand. Rocky sea bottom – must wear water shoes. Swim closer to the Premium section – sandier bottom. Or head left up beach. Sea grass raked early A.M. Beach combing was excellent – sea beans & shells in abundance.
2nd week sea water was turned dark brown due to the empty lot next to the Desires Resort draining either the mangrove stagnant swamp or polluted water (a cascade of water about 10 ft wide [dug by backhoe] that lasted 4 days). Ugh. Needless to say we only swam in the pool the rest of our stay.

Tips: Towels – brown & white – premium, blue & white – everyone else. Do not lose your towel cards - $35 USD fee per lost card upon check out. If they run out of striped towels they will give you a white one – not to worry – just return it later for a pool/beach towel. Safe key fee -$100 USD if key lost. Get up early (before 7 a.m.) to get a Bali Bed on the beach or at adult’s only pool. 45 minute reservation time strictly enforced at pool. Bali Beds are available to everyone – not just premium guests. You will be asked to leave premium section if you are not registered in that section. You must give room # at restaurants – no real reason. Check out is 12 noon. Late check out fees - $20 per hour per person from 12 noon to 5:00 p.m. From 5:00 p.m. to later is $200 per person (basically paying for another day). You can ask your tour operator rep for a hospitality suite – but there is a fee and it’s only available for an hour. Showers in spa are only available if you purchase a treatment. You have full use of all restaurants and facilities after check out until your transfer picks you up. Concierge will offer timeshare meeting/presentation with perks – your choice to participate. Book lending available @ concierge or towel huts – free service. Movies available to rent at Premium Concierge $5. Pringles are $7 USD in gift shop. Internet $6 per 30 minutes - valid for 48 hrs. Visit the Jungle Spa/Market and Puerto Morelos – a must see & do! See below.

Excursions:
Cool Runnings Excursion - 2/5 (catamaran - not - [fishing boat] & snorkel with turtles in Akumal) $135 USD per person + $15 USD per person transfer fee = $150 pp and includes lunch (limited choice) & one drink. Received $30 refund after complaining. Do not waste your money. Better & cheaper to share cab with friends or take bus to Akumal – the snorkel beach is public & free to snorkel and restaurant is right there for food & drinks.
Jungle Spa/Market – 5/5 – a must see & do! Closed on Mondays. $40 USD (only currency accepted) for 60 minute massage & an extra $10 to add aloe vera wrap (great deal compared to $189 pp for 50 minute massage at Sensatori). $13 cab ride each way from hotel or $5 USD from the Town Square in Puerto Morelos. Tell cab driver "Jungle Spa/Market, zona urbana" & mention Sandra’s name. Food, crafts, entertainment at Jungle Market (Sundays) is great! Mayan ladies & Sandra are wonderful. Will return!
Puerto Morelos – 5/5 great little fishing village. $13 cab ride from hotel. PM has very friendly people, great markets & restaurants. Taxi drivers @ taxi stand as well as shop owners, welcoming and friendly. Will return!

Overall we enjoyed our stay @ Azul Sensatori. We had such a great experience @ the Jungle Spa/Market & in Puerto Morelos that we are considering going the condo route next visit.

Hope everyone going enjoys the people, area & hotel as much as we did!
]]> Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:40:12 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421122 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/mayan-riviera/catalonia-riviera-maya-yucatan The price was very reasonable and reflected very great value.
One great spot is on the upper floor sundeck, where there is a Mexican and Italian Restaurant as well as Tapas bar. During the day this is a great place to sip and read as not many guests seem to find this deck.
There are parts of the beach that is very rocky so you need to have some foot protection or stay with the lagoon area. I used the gym facility everyday and found it very busy so you need to find a time that works for you when there are available equipment. There is some fun shopping and extra entertainment 10 min walk at the Puerto Adventuras. Check out Gringo Dave's]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:00:15 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421120 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/manzanillo/barcelo-kamina-palace
The hotel itself is amazing...beautiful rooms and views.

Neither of us had any problems with the food (do not drink the tap water of course). The little extras are what makes this facility so special. Included in your package is a mini bar filled every day with bottled water, pop, beer, etc.

The buffet held all kinds of excellent food, sometimes the choices were routine but the food was pretty tasty. Our more western type food was at times cool and not always cooked to our standards here in Canada, but you could always find something that you liked to eat.

The beach is on the small side if the hotel is fully occupied but the small private bay is beautiful and filled with all kinds of wildlife from schools of tropical fish, rays, and occasional turtles.

The staff were very friendly and always willing to help out where needed. During the olympics the hotel purchased a pay for view of the mens final game of hockey and played it for everyone in the Ballroom. We had drinks served to us as well as a special buffet setup in the lobby for our convenience during the game. What can we say?

The nightly show that was put on by Barcelo Kamina Palace was extremely professional. The dancers and singers were very talented. These were the best shows I have seen at any hotel I have stayed at before!

We would highly recommend the Barcelo Kamina Palace to anyone and would love to go back some day.]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:31:59 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421117 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Costa+Rica/tamarindo/barcelo-langosta-beach-all-inclusive
Clay from Alberta,Canada]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 09:31:25 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421118 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/quintana-roo/iberostar-tucanquetzal-playacar Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:48:16 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421121 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/puerto-vallarta/friendly-hola-vellarta The food is typical Mexico food, but it is good and has lots of flavor.
When you stay there it is walking distance to PV if you like to walk, we did it by going on the beach.
I would recommend this hotel, you have to try it.]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:36:14 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421119 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Mexico/mayan-riviera/bahia-principe-akumal Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:52:58 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421116 http://beta.tripreviews.com/destinations/Jamaica/ocho-rios/ocho-rios Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:40:56 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421114 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Dominican+Republic/punta-cana/blau-natura-park-eco-resort-spa
Beach: It was great! There were plenty of chairs available, I just recommend walking down and throwing your towels on them around 8 am and then heading back to bed. That way they are saved for you all day. There are plenty of activities on the beach like games and aerobics. The staff working down there made our trip. Romeo is to die for! He is just so much fun and made hanging out on the beach great. Bring snorkel gear if you want to do some close to the beach. We did and it was great!

Food: Great! Book the a la cartes when you first get there. Seafood has great salmon, Italian pizza knocked my socks off and the steakhouse just speaks for itself. Make sure you book the steakhouse twice because it fills up fast and it was SO SO good! The apps and steak were just like home! The breakfast buffet was wonderful. Omelettes and smoothies were great! For lunch we ate at the restaurant on the beach. They had a pretty good selection. Some days they had an outdoor grill and we had prawns and noodles. There is also a stand where they make burgers and hot dogs all day. Burger was great! You can also get late night fries and burgers at the steakhouse after it closes at midnight. Great for late night munchies!!

Drinks: Beer was great, champagne also was! Wine wasn't bad at all and we actually grew to like the red! As for the other drinks, my guy loves them but I don't like hard liquor very much so I strayed. I did like the lemonade mix (frozen slush) with vodka. Such a great drink!!

Entertainment: Great!! As I sad before, the beach was great because there was always stuff going on. At night the shows were amazing. We watched a few of them. The Michael Jackson tribute was done by a travelling show and it was unreal. There was dancing one night (parody type dancing SO funny!) and karaoke. It was great to always know that at 9:30 we could go have some drinks and watch the shows. Get there early though, they fill up fast! They all take place near the lobby and there are two bars and waitresses. Paradise!

People: Great. These staff work so hard and if you tip a little, you have no idea how you'll be treated. They go out of their way to be kind. We loved them all so much!

Rooms: Alright, so here's where some people get a little angry. The rooms aren't all they're hyped up to be. We had a main floor room that faced a lagoon. Was it great? No, not really. I would ask if you could get a higher one on the second or third floor. The toilet sometimes ran all night and the fridge didn't really work, but who cares? We did at first but we never really drank the pop in the fridge anyhow. Just head out to the bar and get a cold one and enjoy yourself! If you are going with small children, take a suite but for couples, this was great. We slept in the room and showered. That's it! The beds were a little hard but I slept on the sofa bed and it was SO comfy!! The rooms were clean and nice and cool. That's all we care about! If you're looking for marble countertops and high thread count sheets, go somewhere else. If you want to pay less and enjoy everything else about the resort, stay here!

We would definitely go back here. The location was great, it was just a short walk to a flea market where you coudl buy souveniers and drinks. We did a snorkelling tour for an hour and a half for $30! We hardly spent a dime here! And they actually have souveniers in the gift store and they are cheaper then some of the flea market vendors. You don't even have to leave!!

Great vacation and can't wait to go back! Highly recommended if you just want to have fun without all the frills of a four seasons!
]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:52:58 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421115 http://beta.tripreviews.com/hotels/Cuba/varadero/allegro-varedaro-1920 Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:30:36 -0800 http://beta.tripreviews.com/review/421112