Bill & Nancy: Wet, Wild, & Wicked Weekend - May, 2001

TRIP REPORT  

CARIBBEAN REEF CLUB May 16 to 21  

We traveled to the Caribbean Reef Club with Denny and Diane and the WWW2001 crowd.  This was our first trip to CRC but we are alumni of two trips to Hedo III.  Based on our numbers, we occupied about half of the 30 rooms.  Without a doubt, Denny and Diane and the WWWW group really made this trip for us.  

The rest of the guests were mostly a group put together by Castaways Travel that really had no organization, and the people had not had any contact with each other before the trip.  Everyone we met from both groups made the trip really fun and gave us a chance to meet some really interesting people.  The Castaways group also had a host couple, Tom and Rene from Paradise Lakes who were very hospitable in greeting us and showing us around. 

TRAVEL  

The trip was pretty much uneventful.  We flew on Delta from Florida to Atlanta and then on to Cancun.  It was actually an Aero Mexico code share flight, but used Delta equipment.  Customs and immigration in Mexico were also unremarkable, although we had passports which probably made it easier.  It was so fast we actually beat our luggage to baggage claim. Clearing customs is like a lottery.  When you get to the gate there is a stoplight.  You push a button, and depending upon whether the light is red or green, you either go right through or stop to have your luggage searched.  We couldnt figure out what they were afraid of us smuggling into Mexico.   Once past customs you are in the main terminal and there are lots of people trying to sell you time-shares, and who knows what else.  Its pretty easy to find the official taxi dispatcher inside at a window, where you pay $20 pp and get a ticket.  When you leave the terminal, you merely wave the ticket and someone will come and guide you to your taxi.  The taxis all appeared to be large white SUVs.  Make sure you show the ticket however, or you may wind up with a gypsy cab driver who wont accept the ticket and charge you all over again.  The cab ride to the resort is not over 20-25 minutes on a divided highway, and then through a little village and down a dirt road past the ferry terminal.  You almost think youre going to the wrong place.  

THE PLACE  

Caribbean Reef Club is a nice, small, well-kept resort, far from the hustle and bustle of Cancun.  The grounds are beautiful, with tropical growth and flowers everywhere and they work on it constantly to maintain its beauty.  (See the pictures Denny posted on the site).  Upon arrival you meet Charles, one of the owners and his assistant and major domo, Manuel.  The first thing they do is welcome you and offer refreshments.  Check-in is brief, and in minutes you are being escorted to your room.  The entire atmosphere of the Caribbean Reef Club is informal.   

ROOMS  

Rooms are large and airy and the air conditioning is more than adequate.  We had a studio on the second floor with a balcony overlooking the pool and the beach.  There is a stove, refrigerator, microwave and coffee pot, plus all the utensils you might need, although all we used was the coffee pot.  Instant coffee is provided.  There is also a king sized bed, dresser, coffee table, sleep sofa and two side chairs in a sitting area.  The balcony offers two chairs, small table and a net hammock for those who like a leisurely, afternoon siesta listening to the waves on the beach.  There is also a sea breeze blowing constantly so if you like fresh air, the room stays pretty cool at night.  Closet space is small and there are few hangers.  The only complaint we had about the room is that the back side of the building hosts a very lush tropical garden that is home to lots of very loud birds who like to greet the dawn, and each other, with their cries at 4:30 AM each morning.  There are no phones or CD players in the rooms.  There are no safes in the room, but Manuel will lock all of your valuables in a sealed envelope in the safe.  Unless you leave the property, you probably wont need money for anything anyway.  TV reception is poor, but you can get CNN and a couple of other channels.  

OUTSIDE  

The pool is large, clean, well serviced and is in the shape of a figure 8 with two small islands.  While there, it was never crowded although occasionally, lounge chairs were in short supply.  There are plenty of towels behind the concierge desk in the main building.  The beach is clean and swept daily.  Its only about 30 feet wide in front of the pool and main building, but on the South side its pretty large.  The entire beach is dotted with palm palapas for shade.  The hot tub is isolated on the South side of this beach and is large, clean and surrounded by chairs.  It is very well lighted, but one of the owners told us that someone had replaced the lights with the wrong bulbs and he planned to rectify that to give the place a darker, more subtle appearance at night.  There is a bar near the hot tub that stays open until the last person leaves and is also well stocked with towels.  The bartender is always there, taking drink orders and delivering them promptly. Security at the resort is excellent.  

FOOD  

In a word, Excellent.  There is a dining area and small bar as part of the main building with tables for four that opens to a deck right on the beach.  There are shaded tables for four outside, but we always wound up with 6 or more.  Breakfast and lunch are served here at most hours during the day.  Breakfast has all the choices you could want and lunch has enough to satisfy most tastes.  The actual menu is published on the CRC web site so we wont go into that.  Service is fast, courteous and with a smile at all times.  These folks go out of their way to get what youd like.  We ordered a few extra French fries with our fish and chips and they brought a plate that would feed four.  If you like coffee early in the morning, there is a self-service pot brewing starting around 7:00AM in the dining area   Later in the morning they put out chips, salsa, cheese and guacamole for snacking before and during lunch.   

Dinner is served in a large hall called the Palapa. The menu is fixed, but there is also a daily special posted on a white board as you enter.  Everything was excellent, hot and served quickly.  They will mix entres for you if you cant decide.  The only problem with dinner is that the one bar in the main building closes at dusk.  The only way you can have a pre-dinner drink is to go to the dining hall and get a table.  Then, the waiters are bringing menus and trying to get your dinner orders, so a leisurely drink and conversation before dinner is a bit of a problem.   

Some of the guests experienced a bit of Montezumas revenge.  Hard to tell where it came from, because it didnt effect everyone.  Some thought it might be the suckling pig they roasted on Saturday night and others thought it might have been the cold salads.   

The water is trucked in everyday and there is bottled water everywhere.  There were usually half a dozen bottles in the room and you could get it from the bar whenever you wanted it.  

There is no room service.  

ENTERTAINMENT  

At 9:00PM the hall turns into a disco and theyll play anything you ask, although their selection is slim.  Theres also a pole in the middle of the dance floor that invited some interesting entertainment by some folks.  Because there is no organized entertainment or staff to manage it, there are no theme nights like Hedo.  We organized our own however and had Mardi Gras, Black and Glow and Mesh night that invited some really great outfits by members of the WWW group.  Our fellow guests all wished they had known so they could have joined in our fun too, but everyone got involved in the dancing and then around 11:30 or 12:00 wed all migrate to the hot tub for the rest of the evenings festivities.   

There is a dive shop and they do certify divers.  They will also take you out snorkeling on a reef about a mile offshore, for a couple of hours, for $20pp.  

There is an exercise area with some exercise machines.  

GENERAL  

Wed go back in a minute.  This is a nice little place where you can have total relaxation.  We spent almost all of every day eating, laying in the sun, hanging out chatting with everyone in the pool, and enjoying great service and drinks.  We only left the property once to go into Puerto Morelos for a quick errand and came right back ($2.00 cab ride each way).  Were not big into sightseeing and we preferred just visiting with all of our new friends.

There is a masseuse who arrives every day at 2:00PM and gives a wonderful, hour long nude massage, under a palm tree, by the beach with the sea breeze blowing across your body.  You sign up on a little bulletin board in the lobby.  Cost is $50.  A must do item!  

You probably wont need to convert dollars to Pesos unless you plan on lots of shopping off the property.  Cabs and the masseuse take dollars.  If you decide you need any goods, there is a WalMart on the way to Cancun where you can go and shop.  

There is a little small telephone area behind the front desk with the posted access numbers for Sprint, ATT and MCI.  All you do is dial the number, key in your phone card number and get connected.  Very quick and easy.  A calling card from your long distance provider is much easier and cheaper than pre-paid phone cards.  I had a minor problem with my card and merely had the operator connect me to Sprint customer service in the States, (free call) and they fixed it immediately.  

Electricity is 110 volts, 50 cycles.  

DEPARTURE  

The cab ride back to the airport is half price ($20 vs $40) with a different company.  We paid both ways in US dollars and it was no problem except we had a little discussion about exchange rates on the return trip so it cost an extra dollar.  Of course he didnt get a tip after that discussion so we broke even.  Check-in here is a bit more time consuming than Ive seen in most foreign countries.  The lines were long and it took quite awhile for Aero Mexico to process everyone.  Luckily we got there 2 hours early and had plenty of time.  Theres some good duty free shopping at the airport, so if you enjoy that, there are lots of stores.  The rest of the trip was uneventful.  

SUGGESTIONS.  

Things to bring:  

If there are any specific questions, please email us at sunsetdreamer@hotmail.com  

Respectfully submitted:  Nancy and Bill