BookIt.com Verified Traveler Lance Hendrickson from Fitchburg, Wi

"We requested an extension cord. It was not there. We asked for it again at check in, it never came. We asked for a king size bed weeks before the trip, then asked again the week of. Got a room with two very small double beds. The room as a whole made up for it. Lots of space, two balconies, good housekeeping. Like you were staying in an apartment.

We had to have manitenance come 3 times to get the air conditioning going. We talked to some folks who have been there a few times. They said to ask to be put on 2nd or 1st floor (we were on top floor 3rd). They siad the AC does not keep up on the floor exposed to the sun.

The food was very good...best ice cream ever. Make reservations at the specialty restaurants to get the good stuff. Buffet's were typical. The free room service was a great perc.

Didn't get too pressure for time-share. Just avoid that desk & you'll be ok.

Security was good & grounds are kept well. Staff was great. We be back."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Maricela Ortiz from El Paso, Texas

"The staff was just amazing taking care of our needs. My husband eating gluten free foods they were able to make dishes that he was able to enjoy. Not all the restaurants were open because of low season but there was enough food for us to enjoy."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Brie Reuter from Dayton, OH

"Everything about staying at the hotel in cozumel from check in to check out was first class. When I arrived at the hotel my luggage and I were immediately loaded into a mini tram and brought to the Royal Club for Check-in. I am guessing because I opted for the concierge level room. At check-in I was offered a cold drink of champagne, though I opted for the bottled water! My room was perfect and complimented by fresh fruit and a bottle of wine.
When I stopped at the consierge to discuss my return transportation to the airport which I had pre-paid on line, he confirmed that the transportation company could not deny my ride back to the airport if I did not meet with their representative at the assigned time. I had been to Mexico before and remembered the tactic transportation companies of trying to sell you excurisions and other activitites. I did agree to attend the vacation club presentation the next morning and am glad I did as I picked up several impressive perks.
I met some folks who did have problems with the AC in their room. I did not have any problems. The Buffet food was typical mexican vacation buffet fare. I did not make any of the specialty restaurant reservations although folks I talked to said they were great.
If you dive or snorkel make your reservations directly at the dive shop to ensure you are using they endorsed water sports and tours. Folks that booked through the transportation companies set up in the lobby had lots of schedule changes and dissappointments. My snorkle adventure was great - just two other guests and myself with a guide. Friends I made that did not schedule through the dive shop ended up on a catamaran with 50 other people!!
I will definitely return to this hotel - the nightly entertainment was first rate!"

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Clyde Johnson from Littleton, CO

"We had three rooms reserved in our party of 6 adults. My reservation was OK with no problems but the other two reservations had problems. Our stay at the Occidental was great. The staff and resort was absolutely great, the food was better than expected. I would recommend the Grand Occidental to anyone. I strongly suggest taking plenty of sun screen as it was outragous ($27 for a spray can) and Off Insect Repellant $12, and you need both. Very good trip."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Toni

"Beautifully landscaped, great sandy beach, many activities offered. Food - not great at the buffets, but very good at the nicer restaurants. However, never left hungry. Staff was polite and attentive. Nice BIG rooms. A lot of iguanas around the relaxation pool - fun to watch."

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BookIt.com Verified Traveler Sue Sturtz from Mechanicsville, VA

"Fantastic trip! Pick up from the airport was right on time. We were escorted immediately to our taxi van. We arrived at the hotel earlier than the official check-in time but were greeted with cold glasses of champagne and proceeded with the paper work, restaurant reservations for the week, then we went to lunch at the beach front restaurant. By the time we finished eating--our rooms were ready! We were swiftly taken to Building 16 and had ground floor rooms which were clean and well-appointed. After a quick change into bathing suits, we were off to the beach. These perfect days continued the entire trip. We actually never used the pools but they looked clean and refreshing--we just prefer the beach! The bars were good but the lobby bar was by far the best--they had a better selection of liquors and they just made better cocktails. Corona Extra was the only beer that I saw served--it was cold and good! We would go back to this resort and highly recommend it."

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"Food very good room clean but beds brick hard. Very poor entertainment No beverage service at pool should be able to seat self at a buffet but always had to wait. Way too costly for resort. Really disliked having to deal with timeshare condo people right up arrival. We were hunger and needed a meal not a sales pitch. Resort needs to install fans in front bar, game room and in restaurants. They were very muggy"

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"Beatiful place, nice helpful people. Good place to soak up the sun, snorkel, drink & eat.For the most part the food was Good, there was enough food that a picky eater could find something to eat. The beach was clean, the water was just amazing.The only thing to be aware of are the time share people, but we found just tell them up front that you are not interested then they will leave you alone.

Would go back this time next year!!!



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"This was my 3rd time to this hotel. The beach now has garbage on it and no one was cleaning it up the 7 days we were there. The receptacles for garbage were hardly ever emptied. This 3rd visit was a let down. Upon arrival - the time share guy actually escorted (walked) us to our bldg/room. They didn't deliver our luggage until 2 hrs later. We actually walked back up to reception area to get it ourselves and discovered it was en' route to our room. So they no longer drive you and your luggage to your room. I requested the second floor, we were put on the first floor. The champaign and fruit basket for our room type was Brute champain (never opened it) and 2 very old apples and 2 unedible (very old) plums. The staff at the outside bar were pleasent, you don't need to bring your own glasses - the drinks are served in 8oz plastic glasses. They were serving drinks on the beach so that was no problem. The buffet was fine, always enough food - just a shame their trying to Americanize the food. I went to Mexico for Mexican authentic food not Italian/American so that is a huge disappointment.

Our room - yes beds are hard but I like my bed hard due to my back. My husband likes soft - but had no problem. Didn't stop his snoring. Maid did the towel art - as long as we left tip. One time we didn't leave a tip - there was no art. I could care less. What I did care about were the cob webs our main room and the bathroom with dead bugs in them. They were so obvious but were not cleaned off. I've never seen that before during my previous visits to this hotel.

Outside our room - the porch area...I'm assuming that from the 2 floors above the customers left their beer cans and plastic drinking glasses out on their porch and they must have blown off their balcony since they landed in our porch flower bed. I was going to bring them in - but husband said let the maid/groundskeeper pick them up. Hah. There they laid for all 7 days.

The entertainment in the evening - 4 nights were the same thing - teaching salsa dancing. We had 1 night of the fire dancing - which was very nice (new stuff added from the last visit). They need to come up with something else.

All in all, I won't stay here anymore. I'm assuming their upgrading their sister resort next door - of which I stayed there 2 times. As the time share guy was pushing to go visit. I remember when I stayed there they were doing the same for this resort. So my guess is - once the other property is done being pushed they'll start refocusing on this one again.

Upon departure...again you have to bring your own luggage up front. We checked out - there was no conversation on the part as how was your stay, or not even a thank you for staying with us. I'm very big on greetings so to me that was a slap in the face.

I'm done with this hotel. Just say no to the time share people - even when they beg."

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