Reviews of Viva Wyndham Maya Hotel, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

First impression of the hotel as...

Overall Rating:

7/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

May 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs J Smith

Comments:

First impression of the hotel as you enter by mini-bus is "oh" especially when we were the last drop off and the other hotels entrances were pretty spectacular - the Wyndham Maya was left a little in the shade!!



However, by the first morning we soon overcame the first impression and the grounds, staff, hospitality make up for the lack of a sumptuous reception. Though First Choice classed this as a 4 star hotel I would have put it at a 3 star and had I more information on the hotel I would not choose to stay here.



The rooms are not very spacious and storage space was very limited with everything on show - though it was kept very, very clean and the "towel animals" gave us something to smile about when we came in from hard day round the pool or beach!! A fridge would have been nice to have in room just so you could have some cold bottled water.



Food & drink was in abundance though in the brochure it did say 24 hours but what we didn't know is that you had to call room service after the bars closed to get this and most of the bars closed between midnight & 1.00am, and the disco leaves little to the imagination though when "3 couples from the UK took it over" and got disco played we were looked at as if to say who are they - but we were just holidaymakers having fun!! So Tracy, Steve, Yvonne & Peter wherever you are Tony & I (Julie) have the pictures and some great memories so thanks very much!!



Overall the resort of Playacar was the right choice for us - you can walk freely past all the other hotels (which are built round a golf course and there is a lovely little shopping centre that sells all kinds of mementos) or you could go into Playa del Carmen and have the life pestered out of you!!



Excursions and there are quite a few Xel-ha an ecological park was well the £50 each - all you can each & drink plus all your snorkeling, swimming or relaxing you can do it was my best day out of the whole fortnight and I wish we had gone back (I snorkeled for the first time and it was amazing). We swam with dolphins in Cancun but wasn't impressed with facilities in which they were kept & Cancun is very built with huge hotels and very American (I love America but if I wanted a holiday there I would have had one). Loads of shopping malls in Cancun so all you shopaholics can shop til your hearts content.



Staff were friendly & courteous and kept you entertained every day & night with shows games etc.



Overall I can honestly say that hubby & me had a fantastic holiday and would go back someday though we would pick another hotel with a few more facilities.

Clean and friendly hotel in...

Overall Rating:

8/10

Board Basis:

All Inclusive

Date of Holiday:

May 2005

Tour Operator:

First Choice

Submitted By:

Mrs T Blunsdon

Comments:

Clean and friendly hotel in Playacar. Having travelled to nearby Playa Del Carmen, I was delighted to be staying in Playacar.


Staff were very pleasant and never looked for a tip.


The Wyndham Maya is a great centre for various sightseeing trips. We went to Xcaret and did the dolphin swim and underwater walk with the bubble on our heads. In the evening at Xcaret there is a big show in the amphitheatre well worth seeing. Also went to Chichen Itza - impressive, but it was very hot with very little shade.


This area has beautiful sea - turquoise in colour, quite choppy and the beaches are golden. The hotels look after the beach and make sure it is always clean.



We joined the Wyndham Club a year before we went, but it did us no good and we did not get any special treatment.



The hotel food in the Terrace restaurant was excellent. A great variety to suit everyone.



Entertainment consisted of a nightly show put on by the staff. Although not all the staff have dancing backgrounds (some are sports instructors) they work their butts off and the end result is usually very good. They tend to do their version of big musicals such as Chicago or do a show on a pop artists music such as Madonna or Michael Jackson. All the music is mimed to, but it is still entertaining.



In the reception bar most nights there was a guitarist/singer.



One thing I did not like about the hotel was the time share sellers. They work for Wyndham, which have other hotels and time shares around the Caribbean. There are usually three of them and they are based by the reception. They are like rotweillers and you have to be firm. Usually when we explained we were English and not American they gave up, realising that a 10 hour flight to a time share is not feasible.



I would definitely recommend this hotel but the weather when we went was too hot (May). I asked when was a more pleasant temperature and was told February.