Playa del Carmen

I think that is where I stayed in March of this year. (My receipt says
"Hotel Puerto Real / Av. Constituventes 1".)

I am afraid that I cannot give you a clear cut answer. It was expensive -
but I dealt directly with the hotel and I suspect that you can get a better
deal in a package. However I was able to specify an ocean view room and
arrange for breakfast only to be included. I don't think that most package
deals have that much flexibility. However, we did not have an ocean view
room the first night we were there - that really ****ed me off. In some
respects the place looks a bit worn, but maybe that's an attempt at an
antique look. Note that it is not dilapidated by any means - it just looks
a bit worn. We had an air-conditioning problem in our room and it took them
two tries and over 24 hours to get it fixed. I lost my credit card while I
was there and the staff went the extra mile in helping me to get that
straightened out. Much of their beach is very narrow due, as I understand
it, to some recent storms. And they do not have quite enough lounge chairs
for the beach - if you want a chair you have to claim it early.

Quite family oriented - by which I mean that there were quite a few young
kids around and I think that I recall some activities for kids. Breakfast
was impressive - it should have been, as I recall we paid $12 each per day
for it. For convenience we twice ate dinner at the hotel and I was not
impressed. There are a lot of good restaurants in the local village which
is within easy walking distance so I would recommend a package which does
not include dinner. Nice pool area. Big. Not an intimate place by any
means.

My ng searches indicated that some folks have had unfortunate room
experiences here. As I recall there was at least one complaint about their
room being musty.

Sorry I can't give it a clear thumbs up or down. Here's my bottom line - I
would not do it again FOR WHAT I PAID. BUT if I could get it as part of a
package at a significantly lower price I might. (My receipt indicates that
I paid a total of $2500 (assuming $1 = 10 pesos) but I can not recall if we
were there for 10 or 11 days. Like I said that included breakfast and maybe
two dinners.)

Good luck and let us know.

Bob


----- Original Message -----
From: "PA28Rdrvr"
Newsgroups: rec.travel.caribbean
Sent: Sunday, November 30, 2003 10:41 AM
Subject: Playa del Carmen


Greetings. I am trying to plan a trip to Mexican Rivera during February
2004. Playa del Carmen is looking pretty good. Any recommendations on
beach front resort or hotel would be greatly appreciated. What do you
think
of "Gran Porto Real Resort & Spa"?
Thanks in advance.