My Review of Iberostar Cancun
Iberostar Cancun
Iberostar Hotels and Resorts, operator of seven resorts in the Riviera Maya, hasn’t had a presence in Cancun. Until now.
Iberostar Cancun just opened in December. While it is not a new build (it is formerly the Cancun Hilton) it was completely redone for the new opening. While we were there, the hotel was quite full because of a big gymnastics competition that had traditionally come when it was the Hilton, and decided to continue on with the Iberostar.
Pools at Iberostar Cancun
As you can see, it was a cloudy day the day we were there. Actually, when you’re touring hotels, a cool cloudy day is the best. Most days in Cancun are nice and sunny.
Looking out toward the beach at Iberostar Cancun
If you’ve ever been to Cancun, you might remember the very best part of the beach. It’s the part where you see that public beach where all the locals go. As you’ve passed it in your transfer between airport and hotel you might have pondered how they saved the very whitest sand and bluest water for themselves? Well, the Iberostar is next door to that beach. Simply beautiful.
Lobby Bar at Iberostar Cancun
In this shot of the lobby bar you can get an idea of the colors of the lobby.
Pools and Beach at Iberostar Cancun
Here’s another photo of the pools and looking out onto that amazing beach.
Guest Room at Iberostar Cancun
The standard rooms at Iberostar Cancun are Oceanview. Nice looking, right?
Finally, here is a video of our experience at Iberostar Cancun:
Review of Sens Del Mar
The Entry of the Sens Del Mar
Recently, we were invited down to visit all of the Oasis properties in Cancun. The main reason they wanted us to come was because of the re-opening of the property now called “Sens del Mar”.
Sens del Mar is a new name for this property. The owners put new investment into this property and have re-opened it as an adult oriented property. I say “Adult Oriented” because, while they don’t offer children’s rates or any facilities for them whatsoever, they do allow children. There were only a couple on property while we were there, but then again occupancy was quite low overall.
The lobby was very contemporary looking and was dominated by a large sculpture in the middle. Oversized chairs and sofas also dot the lobby. One of the hotels Smart Cars is also parked in the lobby to promote the promotion whereby guests staying in the VIP room category are entitled to the use of one of the fleet of Smart Cars. The Smart Cars are subject to availability and, in fact, we were told while we were there that there were none available. Also in the lobby a lobby bar.
Lobby at Sens Del Mar
Several of the restaurants are reached by taking a flight of stairs down from the lobby. We did ask and were told that there was no accessible way to reach the restaurants, so keep that in mind if anyone in your party has mobility issues.
Restaurant at Sens Del Mar
Speaking of restaurants, most of the food we ate at the restaurant during our stay was very very good. The hotel offers 24 hour room service as well. I did order it one night and found it quite acceptable. There weren’t printed room service menus. You call the room service department and they describe the offerings of the moment. I’m not sure if that will be the case permanently or if the printed material just wasn’t in place yet.
Room at Sens Del Mar
In fact, there was no printed material in the rooms at all. We were placed in the VIP section where each room has an amazing balcony with a jetted pool and lounge chairs. Since we were there in January, it was great to be in my room and have the big sliding glass door open and watching the sheer white curtains billow in with the breeze of the Caribbean Sea. That balcony really made the room. There is an interesting feature on the wall behind the bed. There is the “swoop” where they’ve installed a light feature that you can set to whatever color you want, or you can set it to change at whatever speed you set.
The room has a small dorm type refrigerator that is stocked daily with an assortment of water, soda and beer. If you want more than what is put there daily, there is a charge. I also used that dorm fridge to put my suitcase while I unpacked because there were no luggage stands in the room. Kudos to them, however, for choosing to have hangars that can be removed from the closet rod. (One of my pet peeves.)
The towels in the bathroom were nice and big. There was a built in hair dryer too.
My favorite part about the room by far was that, attached to the big flat screen TV was a cable box that allowed me to pause live TV. One of my biggest frustrations is that when I watch a show while in a hotel room is that I can’t pause it like I can at home. This was a fabulous discovery while I was in my room at night editing pictures and video. I know you probably won’t be spending hours editing photos and video while on your vacation, but you might find it helpful at some point too.
Overall, Sens Del Mar was a good property. The timeshare desk in the lobby was somewhat aggressive, but if you don’t mind ignoring that, you’ll have a great vacation at Sens Del Mar.
Pool at Sens Del Mar
Cancun Caribe – Park Royal Grand
Cancun Caribe Park Royal Grand
If you’re a regular reader, you already know that we were quite thrilled with our visit to the Park Royal Cancun. The same day we went and toured the Park Royal Grand Cancun Caribe as well.
The Park Royal Grand Cancun Caribe is the same facility that used to fly the Hyatt flag. Formerly operating as the Hyatt Cancun Caribe as an EP property. (No meals included.) The same owner who used to allow Hyatt to operate the facility, now operates it as a Park Royal. It is also now exclusively an all inclusive property.
This hotel has always boasted a great position on the most beautiful section of beach in Cancun. You will love the beach.
Also, the same amazing food we experienced at the Park Royal Cancun is featured at the Park Royal Grand.
As you can see in the video, the rooms are beautiful. There are some amazing suites for large parties or for people who want an extra measure of luxury.
Our favorite part of the day when we were there was releasing baby sea turtles into the Caribbean Sea. During the fall, they protect the nests where the eggs are laid by the momma turtles. When the babies have matured a couple of days to give them more a fighting chance at survival, they allow guests to send the babies off in style. We actually got to pick up the turtles and place them so that they crawled into the sea and off to a life of greatness. (Well, statistically speaking…I suppose we’re really releasing them to be food for various predators..but some of them survive…right?).
I am of the opinion that the management of this hotel (and the Park Royal Cancun) is excellent. The people are friendly, the food is great…the hotel is clean and beautiful. You can book this hotel with confidence.
Our Review of Park Royal Cancun
Nicki and I just returned from Mexico where we saw and filmed 9 different hotels. I would say that the biggest standout of the trip was the Park Royal Cancun.
The Park Royal prices similar to hotels much lower in quality. This Cancun All Inclusive is simply beautiful. We got to each lunch at the main buffet and we were blown away by the food. You can see several shots of the food in the video.
Another feature of the hotel that was very impressive were the rooms. Besides being beautiful, they have so many suites that will accommodate large suites. What really struck me was that the hotel would be so perfect for bachelor and bachelorette parties.
The Ambassador Suite with a connecting room can accommodate up to 10 people and has a beautiful oceanfront balcony with a great big jacuzzi that overlooks the ocean.
Even the normal rooms are great though. The hotel has a really beautiful modern feel to it. When we were done touring, we got into our system to check out the various prices. The hotels that priced similar to the Park Royal were not even close to being as nice.
This is a hotel we’re going to be selling alot of.
Six Secrets of a Smooth Arrival at Cancun International Airport
Welcome to Cancun!
Are you planning your first trip to Cancun or the Riviera Maya? Or has it maybe been a while since you’ve been? Here are some things you should know to make the beginning of your trip as smooth as possible.
1) Bring a pen on the plane. The flight attendants will be passing out a form commonly referred to as a “tourist card”. You’ll need to fill it out. You’ll be the most popular one on your row if you have a pen. You’ll need your passport open to fill it out. Be sure you carefully keep track of your passport because if you misplace it or leave it on the plane you will have a big problem. Possession of your passport is really the only deal breaker in the whole process. You can make up for anything else, but if you lose your passport you have issues.
2) Properly fill out your tourist card. Hopefully it will be printed in English, but it may not. It could go either way. Read it carefully and fill it out correctly. If you’re arriving into Cancun, the name of the state is “Quintana Roo”. It can be abbreviated “Q. Roo”. Also remember that the format for writing a date everywhere but the US is day/month/year rather than the month/day/year format we use.
There will be a guy checking your tourist card right when you get off the plane to make sure it is filled out correctly. If it is not, you’ll have to stop right there and lean up against the wall and make your corrections. This will upset your evil plan of rushing down to passport control and being first in line.
3) Speaking of the line in passport control, it goes pretty fast. Don’t despair if you see a long snake-like line. It’s pretty much like Walt Disney World in that it moves fairly continuously. If you get bored, look down at the floor. Ninety nine percent of the women in the line have fresh pedicures. I roll my eyes at them in my head while I wait. Oops, you have a fresh pedicure too? Compare yours to theirs and see whose is better.
4) The next line you’ll encounter is customs. This is the line you wait in after you’ve claimed your luggage. Sometimes this line can move rather slowly. If you notice a substantial line when you enter the baggage claim area, make a deal with your traveling companion that one of you gets the bags, and one of you goes ahead and takes a place in line. You may encounter sniffing dogs while in this area. They are looking for drugs and/or unpackaged food.
5) After you leave the customs area you go through sliding glass doors and will go to your right (the only option). You’ll walk past a bunch of people who are trying to get your attention. Ignore them. They are timeshare people. They may say they are your transfer, or that they are representatives of your hotel. They are not. They are lying. Ignore them, and walk outside. Your transfer is waiting for you outside. If transfers were not included in your package, you’ll find the legitimate taxi drivers out there too.
6) Relax. Even if the lines are long, or the airport is a complete mad house, relax. You’ve just arrived into one of the most beautiful places on earth. You’re on vacation. Relax.
Captain Hook Pirate Ship Dinner Cruise
Hello, my name is Leah and I’m addicted to pirates. (Hello, Leah) I’ve had this problem for years. My favorite ride at Disneyland was Pirates of the Caribbean (until the Indiana Jones ride opened) for the majority of my life. So, you can imagine my great joy when they made movies out of that ride and cast one of the sexiest men alive as Captain Jack Sparrow.
Anyway, I will move on. Pining over Johnny Depp is another blog entry. We recently had a training session with Lomas Travel about the various excursions that clients have available to them in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. I was appalled that I have been doing this for two and half years and I never noticed the Pirate Assault Cruise Dinner. I practically shouted across the table, “There’s a pirate cruise?”
I told Cathi over and over again that we had to do it. Cathi and I went to Cancun to film the eight Riu resorts March 25-28. I was very excited that she agreed to go with me! I’m really the luckiest girl in the world. I work for (and with) people that are supportive of my pirate enthusiasm and obsession and they only make fun of me a little.
So, Saturday night came and we were transferred to the marina in Cancun to meet our ship. We were on the Black Pearl, or course. I’m not sure how they split up the tickets, but some people were on the Black Pearl and some people were on the enemy ship. Jack Sparrow was the captain of our ship and I think the enemy captain was Captain Hook.
You get on the ship and sit on deck for the first section of the show. The first parts lasts almost two hours as you are sailing around the bay. It was wonderful. It seems like such a fun job…and the actors never quit. They were in character the whole time and having more fun than some of the people on the ship with us. They also were very good at keeping everyone involved the whole time. Cathi and I were sent down to the Brig for our meal and while we were eating the Captain came around to take pictures and make sure everyone was having fun. Side Note: He doesn’t make very good pirate faces in pictures.
I’m probably the wrong person to be writing this blog because I am forcing myself to think of the down side. I mean, come on, it’s a pirate cruise! They could have sat us on deck and paced back and forth glaring at us for two hours and I would have been singing pirate songs in my head the whole time…
But, in an effort to reach out to the peeps, I will say this – this excursion is probably not suitable for people that get really motion sick. It’s a three and half hour tour. (Maybe too close to a three-hour-tour for some people’s enjoyment) During parts of the tour you can really feel that boat moving, it’s loud, and if you don’t like audience participation then you might have to find another excursion while in Cancun.
They turn the deck into a dance floor! A pirate ship, food, pirates, loud music, lights, the ocean breeze in your hair…….and pirates…….doesn’t that sound like the best evening ever? You should go there. Call me. We need to get you on a pirate ship!
