Anonymous
Post 02/23/2024 18:57     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:Banyan Tree is an Asian chain and has an Asian feel. It’s more expensive than the Fairmont but not as expensive as the Rosewood. There is also the Andaz by Hyatt which I think is less expensive than Fairmont. Some of the facilities like tennis and golf are shared. There are lagoons connecting all the properties and you can take boats between them as well as golf carts.
I was just at the Fairmont and didn’t find it tired at all. It has a beautiful huge pool at the main part of the resort as well as a beautiful pool at the beach. The Fairmont has the most beach and activities there and the most restaurants, though it is easy to go between them and visit different restaurants. We went to both Banyan and Rosewood for dinner and they were very nice but the food was significantly more expensive (and not better) and I didn’t really feel that my family with children aged 9, 11 and 14 were particularly welcome, especially at Rosewood. I’m not sure I would stay at those properties with kids. Fairmont felt like a great balance of family and luxury and we will definitely happily return.


Sorry to hear your kids didn’t feel welcome at Rosewood. I brought my two year old and it was extremely welcoming, the waiters were so attentive and also if we needed to hurry things along too. The kids club has great activities too based on what we saw on the schedule.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2024 17:40     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.


Where do you stay in aruba?
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2024 17:36     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
We just got back from Mexico resort and felt totally safe. Took taxis, went to touristy area of Cancun. I personally felt safer than a night out in DC.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2024 06:58     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Banyan Tree is an Asian chain and has an Asian feel. It’s more expensive than the Fairmont but not as expensive as the Rosewood. There is also the Andaz by Hyatt which I think is less expensive than Fairmont. Some of the facilities like tennis and golf are shared. There are lagoons connecting all the properties and you can take boats between them as well as golf carts.
I was just at the Fairmont and didn’t find it tired at all. It has a beautiful huge pool at the main part of the resort as well as a beautiful pool at the beach. The Fairmont has the most beach and activities there and the most restaurants, though it is easy to go between them and visit different restaurants. We went to both Banyan and Rosewood for dinner and they were very nice but the food was significantly more expensive (and not better) and I didn’t really feel that my family with children aged 9, 11 and 14 were particularly welcome, especially at Rosewood. I’m not sure I would stay at those properties with kids. Fairmont felt like a great balance of family and luxury and we will definitely happily return.
Anonymous
Post 02/23/2024 06:44     Subject: Re:Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:Banyan Tree Mayakoba is a great property - Highly recommend. Liked it better than Rosewood Mayakoba, and it's less expensive. Would do Banyan Tree over Fairmont, which seems to be a little tired.

Felt completely safe - stayed for three nights and didn't need to leave the Mayakoba resort area.


Thank you for this comparison of the Mayakoba resorts- very helpful!
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2024 22:46     Subject: Re:Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Banyan Tree Mayakoba is a great property - Highly recommend. Liked it better than Rosewood Mayakoba, and it's less expensive. Would do Banyan Tree over Fairmont, which seems to be a little tired.

Felt completely safe - stayed for three nights and didn't need to leave the Mayakoba resort area.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2024 11:33     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:Mexico is a bit for me right now.
Go to ritz dorado.


Would love to but it's over $5,000 per night the week between Christmas and New Year's so outside our budget.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2024 10:35     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Mexico is a bit for me right now.
Go to ritz dorado.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2024 09:49     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.


Can you specify why? I don't love the built up feel of Grand Cayman and Aruba.


Safer. No sargassum. Much nicer beaches.


Is saragassum a concern all year round? I thought it was mainly a problem in the summer.


Correct. We were just in mayakoba and the water was beautiful. There was a bit of seaweed that was cleaned up daily but small amounts nothing bad.
Anonymous
Post 02/22/2024 09:24     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.


Can you specify why? I don't love the built up feel of Grand Cayman and Aruba.


Safer. No sargassum. Much nicer beaches.


Is saragassum a concern all year round? I thought it was mainly a problem in the summer.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2024 15:22     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.


Can you specify why? I don't love the built up feel of Grand Cayman and Aruba.


Grand Cayman is only built up if you stay near 7 Mile Beach. The rest of the island is the opposite of built up.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2024 14:58     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.


Can you specify why? I don't love the built up feel of Grand Cayman and Aruba.


Safer. No sargassum. Much nicer beaches.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2024 14:43     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.


Can you specify why? I don't love the built up feel of Grand Cayman and Aruba.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2024 14:17     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Much prefer Grand Cayman, Aruba, or many other Caribbean places to either of these two.
Anonymous
Post 02/21/2024 09:08     Subject: Puerto Rico or Mayakoba, Mexico?
Anonymous wrote:Definitely Mayakoba. We have stayed at rosewood and banyan tree. Both were magnificent.

PR just isn’t the same.


OP here, can you explain what makes Mayakoba superior? Is it the beaches, the resorts, the natural beauty? Thank you for all of your helpful responses!