If you can't afford the all-inclusive at a good resort, then stay at a 3-star and don't do all-inclusive. You can eat out pretty cheap in Cancun if you know where you go. I would never go AI at a 3-star resort and expect good food!

Well, I always stay at the Costa Real. The price is reasonable. It's listed as a 3 star hotel, but you also have use of the Gran Caribe facilities, which is a 5 star. The beach is not good, but the Caribe's beach is better. The service is excellent, and I like the rooms. For me, the location is good because I usually spend a lot of time downtown. It's right across from La Boom.

Now, about the food. If I am not eating, I am planning my next meal, so I know what you mean! LOL The food there is very good, both at the buffet and the a la carte restaurant.
Also, there are 4 restaurants at the Gran Caribe that you may also use (although I feel the food at the Costa is better), so you have enough choices that you will not get bored with the food.

Let me know if you have any other questions about the hotel.

Cat

: Well, I always stay at the Costa Real. The
: price is reasonable. It's listed as a 3 star
: hotel, but you also have use of the Gran
: Caribe facilities, which is a 5 star. The
: beach is not good, but the Caribe's beach is
: better. The service is excellent, and I like
: the rooms. For me, the location is good
: because I usually spend a lot of time
: downtown. It's right across from La Boom.

: Now, about the food. If I am not eating, I am
: planning my next meal, so I know what you
: mean! LOL The food there is very good, both
: at the buffet and the a la carte restaurant.
: Also, there are 4 restaurants at the Gran
: Caribe that you may also use (although I
: feel the food at the Costa is better), so
: you have enough choices that you will not
: get bored with the food.

: Let me know if you have any other questions
: about the hotel.

: Cat

We are going to stay at the Gran Caribe in Jan. 2003, how close is the Costa Real and what other resorts can you use, it says stay at one play at all 4. Is the food very good and what does the rooms have? Mini bar, bathtub, balcony. etc.
Any info would be helpful.

Sierra Cancun AI (which i can book) and the Cancun 2 for 1 Card. :-)tim

The Costa Real is about 2 minutes by bus or a 10-15 minute walk. The other hotels are in PDC (Gran Porto Real) and outside Tulum (Gran Sole). Yes, you can play at all 4 if you are staying at one.

I haven't slept at the Gran Caribe, but I understand the rooms do have minibars and balconies, blowdryers, and bathtubs. (I've seen the bathtub, and they actually give you a step stool to get into it! LOL)

The food is OK. It really depends on what you order, some items are better than others. The pizza at the pizza bar in the back is good, believe it or not.

They have a website at www.real.com.mx where you might be able to get answers to some of your questions. I'll be glad to answer any other questions you have, if I know the answers.

Cat

My wife and I have stayed at many different A-Is in Mexico and Punta Cana - mostly 5 "Apple", but one 3 "Apple" as well - last August we went to Oasis Akumal (the 3 apple) for our 10th anniversery. Although the food variety was nowhere near as great as the 5 apple resorts, the quality was excellent and we never had a problem finding something we wanted to eat. The service was also as good as the 5 apple resorts.

The primary drawbacks to the 3 apple were lack of variety of activities & restaurants and lack of night life. There was beach volleyball, snorkling and paddleboats during the day but not much else. There were only three places to eat and the "specialty" restaurant was nothing like you find at a 5 apple resort. Nightlife was non-existant, but we did not look for anything off-resort.

: The Costa Real is about 2 minutes by bus or a
: 10-15 minute walk. The other hotels are in
: PDC (Gran Porto Real) and outside Tulum
: (Gran Sole). Yes, you can play at all 4 if
: you are staying at one.

: I haven't slept at the Gran Caribe, but I
: understand the rooms do have minibars and
: balconies, blowdryers, and bathtubs. (I've
: seen the bathtub, and they actually give you
: a step stool to get into it! LOL)

: The food is OK. It really depends on what you
: order, some items are better than others.
: The pizza at the pizza bar in the back is
: good, believe it or not.

: They have a website at www.real.com.mx where
: you might be able to get answers to some of
: your questions. I'll be glad to answer any
: other questions you have, if I know the
: answers.

: Cat

Thanks for the graet web address for the Gran Caribe, my husband was very excited after he viewed it and so was I. I cannot wait until January!! Thank You!!!

: Sierra Cancun AI (which i can book) and the
: Cancun 2 for 1 Card. :-)tim

Tim, we would like to find out how much a 3 night stay at the Sierra would cost? We have stayed there before and love it.

this is taken from my MX Associate's Partnered Site, i might be able to do a bit better. e-me if you would like to book. tim

All rates include taxes and hotel service fees.

All rates are total per night for the specified number of people.

All Inclusive
From Until 1 Adult 2 Adults 3 Adults
Jul 09, 2002 Aug 27, 2002 $151.60 $182.10 $243.30
Aug 28, 2002 Dec 21, 2002 $129.87 $156.74 $210.48

2 children 12 and under stay free with 2 adults.
Children 13 and older are treated as adults.

R/T Transfers are $15 per person and the Driver helps with Check In.