The Mayan Palace, Riviera Maya (RCI #6483) is located about twenty miles south of the Cancun airport off of highway 307 between Cancun and Playa del Carmen. There is no way we could have missed it -- the entrance is a gargantuan stone gateway that reads "Mayan Palace". We drove slightly past the entrance to a turn-around because you cannot make a left turn from the highway onto the property. We immediately noticed that the property is secure and people cannot just wander in.
Although van service and busses run frequently, we rented a car for convenience and for greater access to shopping, activities, tours, and dining off of the property. We rented a mini van through Thrifty for $355 US for the week plus taxes and insurance. Considering the cost for shuttles, bus excursions, and taxis (for seven people), we definitely saved money by renting the car. We made the reservation online about six weeks before our trip. The rental process was similar to what we would expect in the US. Although we have read horror stories about renting cars in Mexico, there were no surprises and the process went smoothly. We could have been satisfied with never leaving the Mayan Palace as there is plenty to do, but the car made it nice.
We were given red wristbands that identified us as Mayan Palace guests and RCI members. These bands were like having scarlet letters on our foreheads in the tourist areas of Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel because the timeshare sales recruiters could spot us in a crowd like flies on a bowl of white rice. They were fairly aggressive. The word "no" meant as much to them as an ALTO (STOP) sign means to a taxi driver in downtown Cancun. I do not think there would have been any harm if we had cut the bands off. No one ever asked to see our bands when we were on the resort property. Although we do not like being rude, the best strategy was for us to firmly decline what ever they were offering us or to just ignore the sales recruiters.
We like the outdoors and are inclined to get a little fresh air and exercise so we easily walked to and from most places on the resort grounds. The three-year-old and seven-year-old children in our party walked the ten-minute stretch from our room to the pool numerous times without ever complaining. Seeing the locals walking or riding bicycles along the highway to and from work put things in perspective for us and a short walk to dinner or to the swimming pool was no big deal. For the few times we were not up for walking, the resort offered shuttle service that ran about every five minutes.
As indicated on the resort’s website and in other reviews, the pool is unbelievably big! There are lots of sections, coves, fountains, etc. We think the deepest part of the pool is only about four feet. This must have been for our protection and safety when we chose to indulge at one of the two swim-up bars during the 2-for-1 happy hours. The sunset overlooking the pool toward the ocean was absolutely gorgeous!
There were quite a few shady spots around the pool, but they were hard to find at times. We used the pool mostly in the late afternoons and we were always able to find seating in the shade. There were indeed beds covered with palapas, but they were always occupied. Apparently, you have to make a mad dash for the pool area very early in the morning to get access to them. In hindsight, we think it is a ridiculous idea to get out of bed early in the morning just to go find another bed, mark it is "our" territory, dare anyone to come within five feet of it, and spend all day checking on it and laying in it. There was so much more to see and do.
The beach was a short walk from the pool. It is rockier than other beaches in the area, but it was fine for children playing in the sand and for wading. We did not even attempt to snorkel there. There is a water sports center on the beach where we could have arranged activities, but we did not use it so we are not sure what they offer. We saw boats with people parasailing in the immediate area. There was a scuba diving flag hanging outside of the center, but we used a PADI-approved dive shop called Dive Puerto Morelos about ten minutes north of the resort instead (English-speaking, reasonably priced, knowledgeable, extremely friendly and highly recommended).
The far end of our residence building was under construction. The ongoing work resulted in some noise and minimal inconveniences through the week. For example, we had to walk around some of the buildings instead of through them. We were amazed at how quickly the construction crews progressed through their tasks without the use of very much heavy equipment or power tools. It made us appreciate the workmanship that went into many of the details throughout the property. Resort staff was always available to assist with making the stay as enjoyable as possible despite the construction.
Our two-bedroom suite was located in a brand new section called the Grand Mayan. It was brightly decorated with a modern art feel. There was plenty of space in the suite for four adults and three children to relax comfortably. Granite flooring and countertops were throughout. The balcony was huge and it included a small soaking pool. The two sofas in the common area converted to twin-sized beds with trundles. The kitchen was equipped with a four-burner cook top, sink, toaster, apartment-sized refrigerator, coffee maker, blender, microwave oven, stoneware dishes, cups & glasses, silverware, cooking utensils, pots and pans. Each of the bedrooms had king-sized beds (on the firm side, but comfortable), sofas, cocktail tables, two-person bathtubs (one of the two bedrooms had a whirlpool tub), armchairs, end tables, and dressers. There was enough room for us to add a baby crib without sacrificing any space whatsoever. The resort provided bathrobes that matched the bedding. The bathrooms were spacious and included dual sinks and large showers separate from the bathtubs. We think we may have been the first guests in our suite because resort staff was still bringing in lamps, artwork, and the microwave oven during our stay. Housekeeping serviced the suite daily.
The view from our balcony was of a pond with birds, lots of plants and other buildings. We could see some of the entertainment at the Del Largo restaurant at night. We had a slight ocean view if we looked to our right. Some rooms had better views. Some rooms had worse. The sunset over the pond and the building across from us was quite beautiful.
There were three restaurants onsite. We ate lunch and/or dinner there only a few times during our stay because it was fairly expensive ($15-$25 per person). However, the food was excellent and service was great. At Del Largo, there was live entertainment and an open bar at night. Although amusing, the shows had more thongs than a shoe store in the summer and were not appropriate for children. Reservations are recommended. There is no charge for children age 3 and under.
There is a store onsite that has sundries, some food items, souvenirs, jewelry, books, etc. The prices were similar to what you would pay for the same items in the US. For more extensive grocery shopping, we went south to Playa del Carmen to a store called Chedraui. It is right off of Hwy 307 and hard to miss. It is similar to a Super Target or K-mart. We also shopped for groceries in Cancun at Sam’s Club and Walmart, but these stores were not as easily accessible. There is a Sam’s Club under construction in Playa del Carmen that should be open by the end of 2004.
We liked that the Mayan Palace is centrally located for day trips to Cozumel, Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and the Cancun Hotel Zone. For finding our way around, we purchased maps from Laura the "map chick" at www.cancunmap.com. Her maps are practical guides with photos and subjective commentary about many of the area hotels, restaurants, and businesses. These maps were essential for our ability to get out and enjoy the Mayan Riviera.
After we checked out of our suite at the Mayan Palace, the bellmen stored our luggage for later pick-up when we were ready to go to the airport. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay and will definitely go back in a few of years. When we do, the fitness center and some other amenities will be finished. Hopefully the beach will be better too.