Re:Riu vs Grand Nuevo Occidental vs Grand Club Marival?
ust came back from Grand Marival. I am 31 and my wife is 29 and we have a 2 year old. This is the place to go for a family.
Our 2 year old had a great time. Highlights:
. Rooms: definitely stay on the Grand side. Ask for room 1837. It was quiet and had a great view of the ocean and pool area. We got delayed 1 day so we stayed at a club room that night. The room was older and noisy although much larger (Studio really). Each of the Club side buildings have 3 floors and no elevators (not a huge problem). They will completely renovate the Club side by Sept., 2004. . pools: 2 large common pools both with swim-up bars. 2 small kids pool and one large one with slides etc right across of one of the main lunch/snack bars. One adults only pool. . Food: the buffet was ok sometimes believe it or not. The Spanish night was great. But, the a la carte places were just awesome . Bellavesta (4 star), the Italian restaurant was the best followed by the Mexican (4 star) and the Mediterranean, La Pargola (3.95 star). There is plenty of shrimp and tender juicy steaks on the menu. I was always wondering why do people go the buffet when these restaurants exist!!! You can go to any rest. as often as you like. Go to La Pargola for lunch (great lunch) and for breakfast too (try the Mexican omelets....nice!). Do yourself a favor and reserve rests. in advance or right when you arrive. I recommend the lamb chops at the Italian restaurant (and the Tuscan T-bone steak). Definitely go for the filet (large and juicy) with hint of tequila and chillis at the Mexican rest.. We liked La Bamba for lunch (Texas style ribs, pork chops, steaks....etc for lunch!).
Terraza Portofino serves fresh salads, Pizza, etc etc...till 3 AM. So to sum it up (average it all up) the food is a stellar 8 out of 10.
. Grounds: beautiful and clean. They power wash everything every night. I saw them from our balcony. They scrub everything all night long! Tones of palm trees and if your lucky, you will find a fresh coconut on the ground (like I did) and take it to the bar (tip them and they will crack it open for you). The beach area is cleaned nightly and the AM, our area always looked like it was combed witha hair brush! I give the ground a clean and appropriate 8 out of it.
. Entertainment: the nightly shows were ok...fun, if you want to have fun! The Mexican Fiesta (Tuesdays) was great...12 member mariachi band and a pro singer...etc. The Animicion team is a bunch of young folks who run activities from 11:30 AM until 3 MA! They are very nice and try hard to please. Horse back riding and bicycle rentals are included. They have bingo games, bball games...etc around the pool areas all day. They gibe out simple prizes (T shirts, caps and Tequila). Entertainment is a 7. . People: From Thursday night till Sunday afternoon, the place fills up with Mexican nationals. The pools are usually crowded during this time. They are such nice and polite people. Talk to them and you will find a lot about the Mexican people. Their kids are super cute and friendly. People of Mexico and other visitors (mostly Canadian and few Americans) are a 10!! . Bars: the drinks were stiff if you ask...go ahead and ask, they do not mind. Plenty of bars everywhere. They get very busy and backed up during the weekend. Tips are not expected but appreciated. Please say thank you to the bartenders and treat them with respect. Warning: tones of kids around the swim-up bar on the Grand side! Bars/drinks: 7.
All in all: the Marival ROCKS. They do a good job and are happy to please you. Go ahead, have a great a time and remember me ...please!!!!
http://www.cameleonmarival.com/english/marival.htm
Our 2 year old had a great time. Highlights:
. Rooms: definitely stay on the Grand side. Ask for room 1837. It was quiet and had a great view of the ocean and pool area. We got delayed 1 day so we stayed at a club room that night. The room was older and noisy although much larger (Studio really). Each of the Club side buildings have 3 floors and no elevators (not a huge problem). They will completely renovate the Club side by Sept., 2004. . pools: 2 large common pools both with swim-up bars. 2 small kids pool and one large one with slides etc right across of one of the main lunch/snack bars. One adults only pool. . Food: the buffet was ok sometimes believe it or not. The Spanish night was great. But, the a la carte places were just awesome . Bellavesta (4 star), the Italian restaurant was the best followed by the Mexican (4 star) and the Mediterranean, La Pargola (3.95 star). There is plenty of shrimp and tender juicy steaks on the menu. I was always wondering why do people go the buffet when these restaurants exist!!! You can go to any rest. as often as you like. Go to La Pargola for lunch (great lunch) and for breakfast too (try the Mexican omelets....nice!). Do yourself a favor and reserve rests. in advance or right when you arrive. I recommend the lamb chops at the Italian restaurant (and the Tuscan T-bone steak). Definitely go for the filet (large and juicy) with hint of tequila and chillis at the Mexican rest.. We liked La Bamba for lunch (Texas style ribs, pork chops, steaks....etc for lunch!).
Terraza Portofino serves fresh salads, Pizza, etc etc...till 3 AM. So to sum it up (average it all up) the food is a stellar 8 out of 10.
. Grounds: beautiful and clean. They power wash everything every night. I saw them from our balcony. They scrub everything all night long! Tones of palm trees and if your lucky, you will find a fresh coconut on the ground (like I did) and take it to the bar (tip them and they will crack it open for you). The beach area is cleaned nightly and the AM, our area always looked like it was combed witha hair brush! I give the ground a clean and appropriate 8 out of it.
. Entertainment: the nightly shows were ok...fun, if you want to have fun! The Mexican Fiesta (Tuesdays) was great...12 member mariachi band and a pro singer...etc. The Animicion team is a bunch of young folks who run activities from 11:30 AM until 3 MA! They are very nice and try hard to please. Horse back riding and bicycle rentals are included. They have bingo games, bball games...etc around the pool areas all day. They gibe out simple prizes (T shirts, caps and Tequila). Entertainment is a 7. . People: From Thursday night till Sunday afternoon, the place fills up with Mexican nationals. The pools are usually crowded during this time. They are such nice and polite people. Talk to them and you will find a lot about the Mexican people. Their kids are super cute and friendly. People of Mexico and other visitors (mostly Canadian and few Americans) are a 10!! . Bars: the drinks were stiff if you ask...go ahead and ask, they do not mind. Plenty of bars everywhere. They get very busy and backed up during the weekend. Tips are not expected but appreciated. Please say thank you to the bartenders and treat them with respect. Warning: tones of kids around the swim-up bar on the Grand side! Bars/drinks: 7.
All in all: the Marival ROCKS. They do a good job and are happy to please you. Go ahead, have a great a time and remember me ...please!!!!