Gran Porto Real junior
suite
by Dabssuite
The Gran Porto Real appeared to be the largest resort in Playa del Carmen as most of the hotels either smaller beachfront properties or smaller hotels located a couple of blocks off the beach. If you want to stay in a mega resort there are plenty on the Riveria Maya, just not in Playa del Carmen.
You can choose either the all inclusive plan or the European plan (which includes the room and nothing else). We chose the European plan as we wanted to try some of the local restaurants and spend our time off the resort's property. So I can't really comment about the food or the activities.
We booked a junior suite without an ocean view. The view from the room was not very nice, it overlooked an alleyway and a few trees. The room was nice, a typical resort hotel room.
The toiletries included shampoo, conditioner and lotion (no bath gel). The room had air conditioning, a small refrigerator and a tv. You could get a key from the front desk for the in room safe.
The shower was typical for the Caribbean or Mexico. It was cold if you were the first one showering, sometimes it changed temperatures mid shower.
We had little staff interaction but check in and check out went very smoothly.
The beach area and pool area was fine, not the nicest I've seen but OK.
A note for visitors in 2003 and early 2004: there is another resort being built right next door, the construction started early in the morning. The guests on that side were livid and the hotel was desperately trying to relocate them or other guests to their other properties in Cancun. I've also heard of overbooking problems at peak times.
