Royal Hacienda
Status update from RH. Here for week 42 & 43 and having a wonderful time. Wireless internet works great, able to connect from villa balcony with strong signal. New shuttle service to Playa leaving RH at 10, 11, 12 & 1 (short 15 min ride) with returns on the 1/2 hour. Final shuttle to Playa @ 5PM with no return. If you are going to town for dinner, take the 5PM and a cab back for $10. You need to reserve a seat in advance. Trip to Wal Mart for wine, booze and steaks was easy. Shuttle into Playa, walk down 5th Ave to 8th St then just a few blocks to 30th Ave. Shop and easy walk back to shuttle pickup. The La Palapa restaurant now has a good menu for evening dinning. A shuttle is also available for a day trip to Sands on Thursday only $12 Per person. Leaves RH at 11:30 and return from Sands at 6PM. This time we did the Kitchen stuffer but will not do that again because the selections in the store are much improved.
Jim L.
jiml122 wrote:Status update from RH. Here for week 42 & 43 and having a wonderful time. Wireless internet works great, able to connect from villa balcony with strong signal. New shuttle service to Playa leaving RH at 10, 11, 12 & 1 (short 15 min ride) with returns on the 1/2 hour. Final shuttle to Playa @ 5PM with no return. If you are going to town for dinner, take the 5PM and a cab back for $10. You need to reserve a seat in advance. Trip to Wal Mart for wine, booze and steaks was easy. Shuttle into Playa, walk down 5th Ave to 8th St then just a few blocks to 30th Ave. Shop and easy walk back to shuttle pickup. The La Palapa restaurant now has a good menu for evening dinning. A shuttle is also available for a day trip to Sands on Thursday only $12 Per person. Leaves RH at 11:30 and return from Sands at 6PM. This time we did the Kitchen stuffer but will not do that again because the selections in the store are much improved.
HI, Can you please explain what you mean about your kitchen stuff and how much the store has improved??? Alicia
Alicia G.
Sure; if you go to "Royal Resorts" home page, and then on the left side of the page select "Cybermall"; then "Resort shoping" and "Kitchen stuffers", then follow the instructions. Like I said, selections in the store once you get there, is very good, so the kitchen stuffer is not a big benefit.
Jim L.
Do they still have the jumpy thing in the ocean? We go week 48. Kath
aliciag23 wrote:jiml122 wrote:Status update from RH. Here for week 42 & 43 and having a wonderful time. Wireless internet works great, able to connect from villa balcony with strong signal. New shuttle service to Playa leaving RH at 10, 11, 12 & 1 (short 15 min ride) with returns on the 1/2 hour. Final shuttle to Playa @ 5PM with no return. If you are going to town for dinner, take the 5PM and a cab back for $10. You need to reserve a seat in advance. Trip to Wal Mart for wine, booze and steaks was easy. Shuttle into Playa, walk down 5th Ave to 8th St then just a few blocks to 30th Ave. Shop and easy walk back to shuttle pickup. The La Palapa restaurant now has a good menu for evening dinning. A shuttle is also available for a day trip to Sands on Thursday only $12 Per person. Leaves RH at 11:30 and return from Sands at 6PM. This time we did the Kitchen stuffer but will not do that again because the selections in the store are much improved.HI, Can you please explain what you mean about your kitchen stuff and how much the store has improved??? Alicia
Kathleen C.
Havn't seen that. They have water arrobics Monday thru Friday at 11:00 in the pool. We have been taking Spanish lessons every day at 9:00, very helpful.
kathleenc103 wrote:Do they still have the jumpy thing in the ocean? We go week 48. Kathaliciag23 wrote:jiml122 wrote:Status update from RH. Here for week 42 & 43 and having a wonderful time. Wireless internet works great, able to connect from villa balcony with strong signal. New shuttle service to Playa leaving RH at 10, 11, 12 & 1 (short 15 min ride) with returns on the 1/2 hour. Final shuttle to Playa @ 5PM with no return. If you are going to town for dinner, take the 5PM and a cab back for $10. You need to reserve a seat in advance. Trip to Wal Mart for wine, booze and steaks was easy. Shuttle into Playa, walk down 5th Ave to 8th St then just a few blocks to 30th Ave. Shop and easy walk back to shuttle pickup. The La Palapa restaurant now has a good menu for evening dinning. A shuttle is also available for a day trip to Sands on Thursday only $12 Per person. Leaves RH at 11:30 and return from Sands at 6PM. This time we did the Kitchen stuffer but will not do that again because the selections in the store are much improved.HI, Can you please explain what you mean about your kitchen stuff and how much the store has improved??? Alicia
Jim L.
The one bedroom has the Jacuzzi, and furniture, while the lock off only has a smaller balcony that can fit a small table and chairs. What week are you going? We go week 48. Kath
christineh119 wrote:Can someone please tell me if the one bedroom suite has a jacuzzi on the balcony? When I upgraded from the studio, they couldn't tell me. Thank you!
Kathleen C.
kathleenc103 wrote:The one bedroom has the Jacuzzi, and furniture, while the lock off only has a smaller balcony that can fit a small table and chairs. What week are you going? We go week 48. Kathchristineh119 wrote:Can someone please tell me if the one bedroom suite has a jacuzzi on the balcony? When I upgraded from the studio, they couldn't tell me. Thank you!
Hi, How is the weather for week 48??? Alicia
Alicia G.
kathleenc103 wrote:The one bedroom has the Jacuzzi, and furniture, while the lock off only has a smaller balcony that can fit a small table and chairs. What week are you going? We go week 48. Kathchristineh119 wrote:Can someone please tell me if the one bedroom suite has a jacuzzi on the balcony? When I upgraded from the studio, they couldn't tell me. Thank you!
Thank you for the info! We are going week 49 so we will have just missed you. My boyfriend's boss gave us the her timeshare for the week as a Christmas bonus. When you go, do you take Thomas More Shuttle service? I made reservations but not sure how it all works...
Christine H.
dee3 wrote:We just returned from week 44 at the Haciendas. Had a fabulous time -- actually cried when time to leave! Ready to answer any questions, so shoot away!
Tell me everything???? How is the construction going on phase three. I heard the restaurant is not open from the inside. How was the food at the pool side???? Did you go to Playa to any of the resturants??? I also heard the the convience store has more stuff to buy so I would have to go to Walmart to purchase... Just tell me anything to make my day. I cannot wait till next May to go!!!!!!! Alicia
Alicia G.
christineh119 wrote:kathleenc103 wrote:The one bedroom has the Jacuzzi, and furniture, while the lock off only has a smaller balcony that can fit a small table and chairs. What week are you going? We go week 48. Kathchristineh119 wrote:Can someone please tell me if the one bedroom suite has a jacuzzi on the balcony? When I upgraded from the studio, they couldn't tell me. Thank you!Thank you for the info! We are going week 49 so we will have just missed you. My boyfriend's boss gave us the her timeshare for the week as a Christmas bonus. When you go, do you take Thomas More Shuttle service? I made reservations but not sure how it all works...
Christine, Thomas Moore is very easy and very nicely done...When you get off the airport, after getting your luggage, you just follow the rest of the people to the outside (Don't let anyone stop you to try to sell you day trips, tell them your not interested and your time will not be wasted) When you get outside, there will be lots of guys with logos of transportation...Just look for Thomas Moore guys ( I think they have yellow shirts) They will have your name listed and put you in a van...PS. These guys work for tips. It's always great to bring singles (lots of them) they work hard for it.... Alicia
Alicia G.
Hi alicia: I do understand how you feel! You wait so long for "returning home" and how quickly the time flies! We own two weeks and my husband is still there. I check the webcams daily to see how his weather is! As you know, the whole first loop is now done. It is beautiful. We were there last year during our weeks as well when phase 2 was still under construction. What a world of difference! The trees and vegetation has grown considerably, added touches of the hammocks, the children's play gym, the additional gardens and fountains. It's really coming together. The construction of phase 3 is going really fast. There's an army of workers there every day, literally hundreds of men, and the progress is noticable from 7:00 AM when they start to 5:00 PM when they march out, single file, in a line that goes for about 45 minutes! When I left they were working on the 4th floor, the beachfront was done masonry wise, and they were adding the stucco outside before painting. From our phase 1 villa you can hear the noise, rather like a tinkering sound, but from poolside, nothing, although you see the tall crane moving over the buildings. We ate at Aqua Grill for lunch, great, and my girls ate at the pool bar a number of times. They should be starting soon extended hours at Aqua Grill -- currently they are open to 5 or 6:00. We ate dinner at La Palapa Sunday night for their Mexican buffet. $18.50 per person for a great buffet, plentiful quantities and a good variety. There was entertainment, a 3 man "band", good and not mariachis! We went into Playa twice taking the free Royals shuttle in at 5:15 (the last shuttle in to Playa) and a taxi back $10 USD or 100 pesos. First time we ate at La Palapa Hemingway off of 5th Ave at 12th Norte. We ate upstairs and our table overlooked the pedestrian street. Twinkle lights in the palms, roving minstrals, a guitarist came to the table -- very nice to people watch! The food was Mexican, good and inexpensive. We got a 10% discount card from Santiago, a bellboy at the Haciendas, and that was good as well! The second night we ate at a sidewalk table at Arbelas. We had another 10% off card from Santiago, but they also had 2 for 1 drinks, and we choose to do that instead as it saved us more than the 10%. The menu again was Mexican. Both restaurants were nice, but if I had to choose which one was better, I'd say Hemingways as we really enjoyed our "balcony view" of 5th Ave. Did some shopping. Very nice evenings. The store at the Haciendas has improved since last year. More items. We went grocery shopping at Walmarts on the day we went to Hemingways. Took the 5:15 shuttle, walked then ate dinner, then walked down 12th Ave. Norte a couple of blocks and Walmarts was on 30th. Very easy, and safe. Took the taxi back with our purchases from Walmart. Bought things like fresh chicken breast, steaks, hamburger meat, fresh veggies and fruits. Things not available at the little store, although they did have some fruits and veggies. As usual, the staff and employees are extremely helpful and work exceedingly hard. With only 126 villas open now, and last year only 55, the employees all know you by name. Rafael at the towel desk always knew my name and villa number as did Abraham at the Reception desk! The Activities team, Hector, Andres, Cecelia, and Cynthia are fabulous -- very friendly and so good with the little kids. The members are also very friendly. I guess because everyone is new and introducing themselves. The Welcome Party was fun with games, dances, and prizes with the usual beer and soda (free). The Taco Party is by far more elaborate than any taco party in the Cancun resorts -- they hold it under the yellow canopy of the interior building. The Member's Cocktail Party is also a must do. Again, much more elaborate than Cancun's. Food, mixed drinks, a wait staff. Held in the Sports bar off of LaRotonda. The new restaurant should be open when you go in the spring. It's supposed to be an upscale Italian, opening off of LaRotonda. The opening to LaPalapa is the same as last year. It is truly a up and coming 5 star resort. Next door (behind B buildings) a Ritz Carlton or a Four Seasons is to be built. Next to that, presently under construction now, is Mareazul, a condo project that is very upscale and very expensive. We walked up and the project is huge -- models to be open within the next few weeks. The Royal Resorts will be in a very rich neighborhood! Next door on the other side is Carosol, something like that. An all-inclusive that didn't look good to me when we walked up that way. Cheap looking. IMHO. Take heart, Alicia, May will be here before you know it!
Deborah B.
I will be going to the RH in a couple of weeks as a guest of an owner. I've read different responses on a few things, and so I'm asking help for some clarification.
1) Is the fitness center free of charge? 2) Is wireless internet free of charge? 3) Snorkel equipment free?
I think that's all. Thank you!
Julie B.
julieb100 wrote:The fitness center has a nominal charge (can't remember exact $$ but something like $5 per day or $25 per week), you can do a daily fee or weekly fee. I found the daily fee is more economical because I didn't need to use the center every day. The equipment is new, and in excellent condition.I will be going to the RH in a couple of weeks as a guest of an owner. I've read different responses on a few things, and so I'm asking help for some clarification.1) Is the fitness center free of charge? 2) Is wireless internet free of charge? 3) Snorkel equipment free?
I think that's all. Thank you!
Wireless is great and is free. I had my laptop connected on our villa balcony and in master suite. We were in constant contact via e-mail with friends back home. You will love it!
I think snorkel equipment is free but SCUBA tanks and dive trips are not.
Jim L.
christineh119 wrote:kathleenc103 wrote:The one bedroom has the Jacuzzi, and furniture, while the lock off only has a smaller balcony that can fit a small table and chairs. What week are you going? We go week 48. Kathchristineh119 wrote:Can someone please tell me if the one bedroom suite has a jacuzzi on the balcony? When I upgraded from the studio, they couldn't tell me. Thank you!Thank you for the info! We are going week 49 so we will have just missed you. My boyfriend's boss gave us the her timeshare for the week as a Christmas bonus. When you go, do you take Thomas More Shuttle service? I made reservations but not sure how it all works...
I hope you had fun and great weather. I have to admitt I can't wait for the resort to be done so there's more choices for food and entertainment. If anyone goes with picky eaters it can be tough with only the two places open to eat and the one closes early. Another thing people should plan for is there is almost nothing to do after 6 pm with kids at the resort. It gets dark early this time of year and a little chilly so swimming isn't always an option. Tennis is open which is always fun though and free. I'm fine being around to see this resort grow but I just wanted people to know the nights can be long with young ones. Kath
Kathleen C.
aliciag23 wrote:Does anyone know why you can't take a taxi from the airport to a resorts? But can take a taxi from the resorts to the airport???? Alicia
I believe it has to do with the Mexican government operating the airport as a government facility - and they have contracts with only certain companies to supply the transportation needs FROM the airport to other locations. Thus, If someone is picked up at another location (that they do not have "control" over), then dropped off at the airport, then that is considered fine.
We had to wait for over an hour one time while "la Policia" checked our transporting van's contract to ensure it was all "legal"!!!!
Julie B.