Anyone ever stay at Playacar Palace

[jekjones1558]

I have never traded out but it is getting harder and harder for DH to travel and we have family members who are interested in staying at Playa Del Carmen. They want to be very close to town. I tried looking on the member site and, if I am doing it correctly (big IF) then Playacar Palace looks like an option. It has good reviews on Trip Advisor but I trust DVCers' reviews more. Anyone been there or another RCI place close to Playa where I could trade DVC points?

 

[jekjones1558]

Bump

 

[cvjw]

I've not stayed at Playacar Palace, but have stayed a week at the Moon Palace right outside of Cancun. We also toured several other Palace resorts on that trip - they are all owned by the same company.

We enjoyed our week at the Moon Palace, and would stay there again if we felt safe to travel to Mexico - which we don't right now with all the drug violence.

Another thing to keep in mind is that trading thru RCI gets you the room only - you still have to pay for the all-inclusive part of the resort. I have heard that the you might as well rent your points and pay in cash for your all-inclusive vacation - adding on the all-inclusive part is almost the same amount as booking the whole vacation.

 

[devonsmommy]

I've stayed there, but not through DVC!
I earned an all inclusive trip there with my Thirty-One business a few years ago. We loved it. The staff was great and the food was good. Spent a lot of time at the pool and on the beach! It's right down the beach from the dock for the boat to go to Cozumel. We personally went out one day/evening shopping on 5th street I think it was. Felt safe, but were approached about buying some illegal things...(which also has happened in jamaica to us). But overall we loved the resort and wouldn't hesitate to return. Our room was great too!

 

[Wedgeh]

Another thing to keep in mind is that trading thru RCI gets you the room only - you still have to pay for the all-inclusive part of the resort. I have heard that the you might as well rent your points and pay in cash for your all-inclusive vacation - adding on the all-inclusive part is almost the same amount as booking the whole vacation.

I've stayed at the Sun Palace and the Aventura palace, both were excellent and I'd go back in a heartbeat, but I'd have to concur with the above. I've looked at trading in and realised it would cost more to pay the all inclusive charge + flights than buy a package here in the UK, and I'd be out a bunch of points too.

 

[Lizard Valley]

I've only walked through the resort, but it's very clean and the location can't be beat . We usually rent a house about a block south of the Playacar Palace.

Just a note about what a PP said about drug violence. Mexico is a large country. The Yucatan peninsula is very far from said violence. It would be like saying you won't go to Vermont because there's too much violence in L.A.

 

[Dean]

I have never traded out but it is getting harder and harder for DH to travel and we have family members who are interested in staying at Playa Del Carmen. They want to be very close to town. I tried looking on the member site and, if I am doing it correctly (big IF) then Playacar Palace looks like an option. It has good reviews on Trip Advisor but I trust DVCers' reviews more. Anyone been there or another RCI place close to Playa where I could trade DVC points?

NO Beach IIRC but the ocean is right there. The AI fee ranges from $1300 to $1700 double occupancy for #A700 if paid 30 days or more in advance and #2994 has much higher fees but with a resort credit option. Only the #2994 option is available through DVC though.

My suggestions are several, non using DVC. 1. find someone who is an II or RCI member and has sufficient deposits, take them to dinner and get a cheap trade in to the Grand Mayan or the Bliss Riviera Maya. RCI will let you pay the exchange fee and guest certificate fee without putting you at risk of a rental. 2. Talk to San Francisco Exchange company and see if they have a better deal than going through DVC. 3. And best if you can work it, find an owner at an AI that's acceptable to you and rent privately. In most cases the AI fee is lower and you pick up other benefits and guarantees as well. 4. Look for a package, often this is less than just the RCI AI fee. While the GM and Bliss don't have an AI, they are self contained and last I heard, had meal plan type options as well as partial kitchens in the 1 & 2 BR units.

 

[jekjones1558]

Thanks for all of the good advice. I guess I will scratch the idea of using DVC points for Playa. I don't think my niece really wants an all inclusive. She does want to be close to downtown Playa, which was why Playacar Palace looked appealing. I'll do some more research. I knew DISers would come through!

 

[cvjw]

Just a note about what a PP said about drug violence. Mexico is a large country. The Yucatan peninsula is very far from said violence. It would be like saying you won't go to Vermont because there's too much violence in L.A.

Google cancun and violence and story after story of drug killings comes up. Cancun is only an hour or so from the Mexican Riveria. Mexico is a large country, but I don't consider an hours drive to be the same distance as Vermont and California.

Everyone has to make up their own mind about how safe they may feel traveling in Mexico. For our family, we are going to Punta Cana this year instead, and we have traveled to Mexico at least 5 times for vacation.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Google cancun and violence and story after story of drug killings comes up. Cancun is only an hour or so from the Mexican Riveria. Mexico is a large country, but I don't consider an hours drive to be the same distance as Vermont and California. Everyone has to make up their own mind about how safe they may feel traveling in Mexico. For our family, we are going to Punta Cana this year instead, and we have traveled to Mexico at least 5 times for vacation.

And if you read you discover that most of these are not in anyplace a tourist should ever go.

Maybe you should research Punta Cana too. I am certain you will discover there are problems there too (and I go there yearly)


If you can only go someplace with no crime you are stuck barricaded at your home.

 

[Andyman33]

And if you read you discover that most of these are not in anyplace a tourist should ever go.

Maybe you should research Punta Cana too. I am certain you will discover there are problems there too (and I go there yearly)


If you can only go someplace with no crime you are stuck barricaded at your home.

unfortunately mexico is different right now. I used to love it. and most likely you wont' encounter problems. but the minister of tourism was murdered in downtown playa del carmen within the past few years. Sorry but there are other countries I will be spending my money in until they get it worked out.

 

[Andyman33]

and our own country has given this warning...updated 1/9/2014
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

with that being said -- there is no travel advisory for quintana roo (home of playa del carmen and cancun)

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

and our own country has given this warning...updated 1/9/2014
http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/alertswarnings/mexico-travel-warning.html

with that being said -- there is no travel advisory for quintana roo (home of playa del carmen and cancun)

But... even you have to admit the warning doesn't apply to the area you have deemed unsafe LOL!

As you point out here's what the State Department ACTUALLY says


"The U.S. Department of State warns U.S. citizens about the risk of traveling in Mexico due to threats to safety and security posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) in the country. U.S. citizens have been the target of violent crimes, such as kidnapping, carjacking, and robbery by TCOs in various Mexican states. For information on security conditions in specific regions of Mexico, which can vary, travelers should reference the state-by-state assessments further below. "

And here is the state by state summary for the area around Cancun
"Quintana Roo: Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Riviera Maya and Tulum are major cities/travel destinations in Quintana Roo - No advisory is in effect. "


As I said the only way you will really be safe is barricaded in your personal bunker. Otherwise you are probably just as safe in the Cancun as you are in most of the US. (As I type this two local schools are on lockdown due to shooting in the area...)

Having traveled to Mexico, Punta Cana etc for the average tourist there's not much difference. Now when you go out to buy drugs, all bets are off. (Yes, folks I actually read a story about a guy who got in real trouble in Punta Cana. As the story came out it turned out he was out buying drugs... Hmm...Your criminal element is not made up of tourist friendly folks )

And of course using common sense helps. Every year I read about some woman who went to one of these places, found the "love of her life" and was eventually conned into sending him all her money. Trust me, if you are a middle aged woman the 20 something is not after your good looks!

 

[Lizard Valley]

Thanks for all of the good advice. I guess I will scratch the idea of using DVC points for Playa. I don't think my niece really wants an all inclusive. She does want to be close to downtown Playa, which was why Playacar Palace looked appealing. I'll do some more research. I knew DISers would come through!

I know Playa very well, we go several times per year. While there are a couple of great AI's in town, she could also look into renting a condo, or staying at a boutique hotel. I highly recommend La Tortuga - great pool and awesome free breakfast, safe. The restaurants, shops, cafés are abundant, so food choices will never be a problem.

 

[jekjones1558]

I know Playa very well, we go several times per year. While there are a couple of great AI's in town, she could also look into renting a condo, or staying at a boutique hotel. I highly recommend La Tortuga - great pool and awesome free breakfast, safe. The restaurants, shops, cafés are abundant, so food choices will never be a problem.

Thanks so much for the suggestion!