Gran Porto Real
Playa Del Carmen, Mexico
Site Inspection 2/18/09
Best Feature:
• Location, location, location!
• Located in the heart of the ever-expanding tourist zone in Playa Del Carmen. Literally, right off of Fifth Ave. on Constituyentes
Overview:
• 272 rooms including several nice categories of oceanview and oceanfront suites
• Hacienda Styling
• 4 Restaurants: Albatross (main buffet), Maria’s (specialty, dinner only, no reservation required) Parrillada (beachside grill), Il Pescatore (dinner only, Italian food)
• Several snack bars and bars
• 24 hour snack bar
• Room Service 8am – 10 pm
• 2 ballrooms
• Gazebo on beach
• Wedding coordinator on site
• Wireless available in lobby and snack bar
Spa Real:
• Very nice spa with hydrotherapy area – massages, Jacuzzi, cold plunge pool
• Passable gym with 6 cardio machines, some weight machines and some free weights
For Kids:
• Kids Club (free) and Teen Zone with video games
Outdoors:
• Very nice stretch of beautiful white sand beach
• 1 very large and meandering main pool with activities (bar at main pool was not swim-up)
• 1 Quiet pool on second floor with swim up bar and nice view
• 1 “Star Jacuzzi” on top floor with hammocks and great view
• Well manicured grounds and sparkling pools
Indoors:
• Clean, shiny corridors and main areas
• Alas, they were at 100% occupancy and were not able to show me a room
Summary:
This resort was actually much nicer than I expected it to be. It is rated as a 3.5 star property, but it is certainly on par with other 4 star resorts I have seen. The beach was beautiful, the pools were great (with plenty of available chairs), the Spa was inviting. This resort used to be at the very north end of Fifth Ave., but Fifth Ave. has grown well beyond it putting this resort in an ideal location for accessing all that the Tourist Zone has to offer. Do not underestimate the “power of Fifth”, a nightly stroll down Fifth Ave. can be very entertaining and it never gets old. Shopping, Dining, Diving, Beach Clubs, Bars, Dancing, Excursions, Ferry to Cozumel – it is all right there!