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Trip Reviews, Ratings and Comments - Trip Review - AVENTURA PALACE RESORT (part 1)
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AVENTURA PALACE RESORT
TRIP REPORT NOVEMBER 26-30,2000
I will give you a little background on why we chose this resort over others. We have previously been to Jamaica over the last two years, staying at twice at COUPLES Ocho Rios, once at COUPLES Negril and once at GRAND LIDO BRACO, these are all inclusive resorts and are adult or couples only resorts, we are both 48 years old. After searching Mexico for all inclusive adults only, we came up with AVENTURA PALACE, EL DORADO RESORT and SPA, EL DORADO ROYALE and CARIBBEAN REEF CLUB. We decided on AVENTURA, for location, the Mexican decor, the pool area, hammocks on the balconies, a double Jacuzzi in the room, walkin shower. We were not disappointed with AVENTURA and would highly recommend this resort. Let me tell you that in Jamaica, at the resorts that I have mentioned, there is NO TIPPING......This is not the case in Mexico, even though this an all inclusive resort. TIPPING IS ALLOWED especially if you appreciate the service you receive from a staff member.
ARRIVAL BY PLANE AND GETTING TO RESORT: On the plane you are given your immigration and declaration paper work. Upon landing we disembarked from the plane, we were escorted to the second level of the building, Immigration lines. There were two lines, one with passports, the other without passports. We breezed thru immigrations within 15 min., then proceeded to the baggage carousels. Got our luggage and proceeded to Customs, it seems that the "red light-green light" was not working, the Customs agent just took our form and we proceeded to the transportation area, this is the area where you get your transportation to the resort. Just check your vouchers that your travel agent gave you and find out which company is handling your transportation to the resort, ie; Lomas or etc. Within minutes we were escorted to a car and were privately driven from Cancun airport to the resort of AVENTURA PALACE. Approximate travel time was 50 minutes from Cancun airport. The highway system was excellent, mostly a four lane concrete highway. Quite different when compared to Jamaican roads. There is not very much scenery on the highway except for large billboards advertising different resorts and attractions. You will see the usual road signs ( Puerto Moreles, El Dorado Resort, Moon Palace, Play del Carmen, Playacar, Xcaret ), you will not see any of these from the highway. The we saw the sign for AVENTURA PALACE, the driver turned in, stopped briefly at the guard shack, then proceeded. The drive up to the resort was breath taking, winding it seemed for ever, beautiful foliage and trees on both sides. The driveway had numerous speed bumps to slow traffic down. During our drive to the resort we noticed a construction area off to the left, blue & orange construction fences. They are building a sister Palace resort called THE SPA PALACE. During our stay, never heard any construction noises. Page 1
We have arrived, a large circular drive was accented with flags of many nations, leading up the motor lobby. The driver stopped the car, we got out, tipped him a few dollars, then a porter took our baggage and lead us to the front lobby doors. Check in was a breeze, signed a few papers, given our room number, was handed our safe lock and key, handed our towel cards and room door cards. Other reports that I have read, have made comments on how rude the front desk staff were. We did not experience this, very friendly staff at front desk. We were told to see the porter and he will bring your bags to the room. We told the porter of our room number, he told us how to get to it, and that he would be there shortly with our bags.
DESCRIPTION OF AVENTURA RESORT MAIN AREA:
Entering the lobby from the main entrance, the check in desk is straight ahead, upon check in, you will be offered a glass of champagne from the bell captain. The lobby has a center area to sit and relax. The floor is made out of Mexican marble and don't forget to look above you, there is a beautiful stained glass ceiling. The entire resort is built in true Mexican decor, Mexican leather furniture, pottery, iron figures, marble and ceramic tiles, Mexican artwork and stained glass adorn the resort.
When exiting to your right from the lobby area, on your left side, is the "MAIN LOBBY BAR". The bar is open from 10 am till 1am at night. When we were there, at night were two men playing the guitar and harpsacord. There bar service was excellent. We sat several times at the bar, ordered drinks, received them quite quickly, and before we were finished, the bartender had another one fixed and placed infront of us, without having asked for it. Excellent service.
Lets go back to the exiting the lobby area, on your right side is the "Q BAR". There are fooseball tables, pool tables and ping-pong tables located there. This area also has a bar, which is open in the afternoon until 1 am. Here in the Q BAR, you will find snacks most of the day. Look also and find a beautiful stained glass ceiling.
Across from both "Q BAR" and " THE MAIN BAR" is a large open air area called
"EL PATIO". This area is filled with tables and chairs, beautiful foliage, a large concrete water fountain and a breathtaking view of the sky above your head. This is a place to relax after dinner or waiting for the shows to start at night. There were two waitresses who will come around often and fill your drink request.
Around from the main bar, you will pass the "LA HACIENDA" formal restaurant, then you will find the "VENTANAS" restaurant. Next to this restaurant is the
"EL PORTICO BAR"another cozy lounge/bar that is open from 6 pm to 11 pm. or earlier if you want coffee.
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Next to the El Portico Bar/Lounge you will find the GIFT SHOPPE, reasonable prices.
As I have said all of this area is in the form of a square. In this area, next to the left of the "LA HACINEDA" restaurant, you will find a large staircase ascending to the second floor. On the second floor you will find, the gym, beauty parlor, two convention rooms, the show room. The show rooms doubles for the nightly entertainment theater and afterwards acts as the disco area. Also, on the second level, you will be able to take beautiful pictures from the areas that were on the first floor. Besure to exit the second floor and walk out on to the balcony area. This will give you a breathtaking view of the pool and lagoon areas.
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS:
The guest rooms are located in 4 separated buildings, noted as building 0,1,2,and 3.
Each building is three stories tall. Building 0 being to the far right of the main building, building 1 being closest to the main building , then the main building, next is building 2, and then building 3 being to the far left. The entire resort is built in a large "M" formation. From the brochures, it indicates all rooms are ocean view......well not true. The first floor rooms have views of beautiful foliage, while the second and third floor rooms would have a ocean view, as long as you were not in a corner of buildings 0 and 1 or 2 and 3. But who cares, you are not in your room that long anyway. Each room did have a hammock on the balcony area, along with two chairs.
The pool is enormous, it stretches and winds across the entire back of the resort, only separated by bridge walkways. There are many secluded areas. In the background is the Caribbean ocean. The pool is around 4 feet deep and there are shallow areas that you can pull your lounge chair into the pool water. The pool has 4 large Jacuzzi whirlpools, (not hot-tubs) attached to the main pool. In the center of the pool is the swim-up bar and snack bar. From the pool side there is approx. 20 stools in the water around the bar area. On the land side of the pool bar is a buffet line that serves lunch or snacks during the day. There are tables that you can sit at under a big palapa thatched roof. The pool bar is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm. In fact all around the pool area are numerous palapa thatched huts for lounging under to get out of the sun. Now for the beach area......The beach at AVENTURA Palace is probably the most hotly debated topic on any message board. It is NOT a natural beach, it is a man-made lagoon with inlets and outlets for letting the water pass through, still very nice for relaxing & snorkling. The beach area is approximately 30 yds deep and 300 yds long, there are plenty of lounge chairs and palapa huts on the beach area. Waitresses will come by and get your drink orders and bring them to you. One good thing is that basically this is a private but public beach, but mainly private, so you are not pestered with locals selling crafts.
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Submitted by: Bill and Deborah Smith -- bills52@bellsouth.net
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