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Bad vs good reviews, is it the season that determines the smoothness? Posted By Rene on 10-07-2003 9:16:24pm Just wondering with all the mixed reviews. I'm not willing to spend the $$$ that we have worked hard for and thing wish hard for a 50/50 chance that i'm one of the ones that has a good experience, that seems kinda silly, expecially because it will be for my honeymoon, and it is only ONCE! So what time of the year did you go and was it a negative or positive experience please. Thanks

Re: Bad vs good reviews, is it the season that determines the smoothness? - Amanda Posted on: 11-13-2003 8:29:23pm My husband and I were there on our honeymoon in late june through early July. I would just warn you to make sure they know you are on your honeymoon when you book. Although my travel agency did that, they didn't get the info and we had to fight to get our free bottle of champagne in our room and dinner on the beach-stuff you're supposed to get when you're on your honeymoon. I met a ton of other couples who were there on their honeymoon and another couple had the same problem. We ended up having to show them our wedding video to prove it-which was just a hassle on your honeymoon. It was a very nice place and enjoyed it, but could have used a little more help from the front desk to clear the problem. Also, we asked for a king sized bed, but ended up getting two full sized, and they wouldn't switch it. Although we had a good time, I can't see myself going back.

Re: Bad vs good reviews, is it the season that determines the smoothness? - claire moore Posted on: 10-20-2003 1:36:15pm had a great time just back Sat 18th Oct, even in garden view tho v humid and sl damp in room as we aren't used to air con in the UK and thought it was great to be that warm without any effort! Restaurants were all great, tho steak house less than impressed by vegetarian and only offered pasta in tomato sauce but hey that was at least an option,I just had the vegetable side dishes and they were great. 50% capacity at start of Oct when we wnet then big influx of USA people midway thru week for 1w which then dropped again after week, tho all casitas booked so no chance of upgrade, but they looked great (extra 30$/night for ocean view junior room when ask at desk) They were repainting/sealing the fountain waterway when we were there but v little disruption or noise and the buidling work on new reception beside our building was v quiet, 2 new restaurants being built for next yr and more casitas but don't think it will ever be much bigger. Pools apart from the main one were mostly empty along the ocean front area, beach was fine and snorkling great tho the coral is sharp if you stand on it, tho you can snorkel from within 1 metre of the beach so don't have to wade in far. Jacuzzi was great, room service good, Kampai and Italian were good and the Mexican was not Texmex style more nouvelle cuisine stylie mexican, lots of good fish for those inclined too. Alex from guest services is a bit of a sneaky timeshare bod, so beware when he's v ingratiationg as you arrive, you'll be booked in for the 1.5hrs tour and brekkie the next day b4 you know it, we just popped in before our appt and said we couldn't be bothered and there was no fuss or pressure at all, obviously looked like poor english people as we were so pale! My fair skin burned even with factor 45 the first day so be careful if you're fair. Weather was great bar the odd nighttime stonking thunder storm and tropical storm the first day,cool horizontal warm rain!! Tours to Chchen Itza and Xel Ha would have been better if you didn't have to stop at every damn hotel on the way to pick up more people, avoid Caracol village road at all costs, you need an off roader vehicle! Definitely would go back, and def go for casita,prob 2nd floor as more private and better view, if you plan to upgrade when you get there you might be lucky but it wasn't possible to get a casita at all when we got there so it was up to ocean view which I didn't feel was worth it really. The 'Semi-formal' dress code for the restaurants seemed to be very optional indeed, shorts and T shirts were a norm for some of the guys, which seemed a shame when most of the women had gone to loads more effort, but the restaurants weren't enforcing it Special hotel and travel deals by TravelNow & CaribbeanMag.com Check rates and compare. Save up to 60%.

Re: Bad vs good reviews, is it the season that determines the smoothness? - Holly Wheelan Posted on: 10-19-2003 4:09:04pm Hi Rene, My husband and I just came back from the El dorado royale resort for our honeymoon. It is 100% worth your money and more. We had the same feeling as you before we left because of all the message boards. I will give you my opinion of the positive and negative. The positive is that the resort is absolutely beautiful, it is all couples and when we were there 80% of the people we met were on their honeymoon. The resort is so well taken care of, it is spotless and the people that work there never stop working. The service was extraordinary. We've never experienced service like that in our lives, the bartenders, waitstaff and maids cannot do enough for you(tips really help-not a lot a couple of dollars make their day). The downside is that in our room there was a smell from the septic, but it wasn't that bad, the ocean is nice but there our blockers for the tides that are a bit tacky. Our advice is to totally avoid the exotic travel group on the resort, it's high pressure time share and we never went but from everyone we talked to they were very pushy. Other than that we felt we were in absolute paradise and we are definately planning to go there again in the future. I hope that helps in making your decision, good luck with the wedding and I definately recommend this resort.

Re: Bad vs good reviews, is it the season that determines the smoothness? - Beverly Posted on: 10-10-2003 10:11:11am We have a trip booked this month and I was wondering if you had any response to people that had been there recently. I have done a lot of research and overall it sounds like a great place. Thanks for the input.