If you have stayed at the Grand share some pointers with me please.

[Phil]

My wife wife and I are staying there nov 8-18 and would love to here from folks who have stayed there about what to do were to go, any info on there dive op or outside op you used.
Did you rent scooters or a car for a day or two?
Do they have trips from the resort? How brutal was the cab fares into town?
Just tell me anything you think I should know or bring with us.
Randy

Randy,
Wife and I are just back from the OA "Grand". We were there for 14 days and loved every moment. We stayed in building 20 which is right next to the pool. I think my only complaint would have to be that the grapes at lunch had seeds in them......The staff was very friendly, the rooms are large and well maintained, the food was great, not outstanding but great, the grounds are manicured, the beach although narrow was cleaned every day, the pools and pool areas are beautiful. Bring some bug juice with you cause we had misquetos. We travel for 3 months a year, and we love all inclusives, just because who wants to start looking for a place to eat after three or four dives a day.
Which brings me to the dive operation. We dove with Alison of "Dive with Alison" a small op 5 or 6 divers max. She was fantastic. She picked us up at the dock on the property at 8:30 each morning. Her and Carlos were a great team. Big on safety without making you feel watched. Great with all ages and abilities. One day we had to dive with the op at the resort and it was a total unorganized mess. Highly recommend staying away from them and go with Alison. We found her on google and we were so pleased.

Phil & Pat Tobin

 

[Squeekycat]

Hi Randy.
You're gonna love it there. There are 2 pools - one with activities, and one to just relax around. The main pool has beach vollyball, there is ping pong, a large chess game and they give dive lessons in the pools as well. The food is good. I would ask for a 3rd floor room, the 1st and 2nd floors tend to smell a bit musty. Tip the maids and wait staff every day, and your service will be great.
We used Blue X-T Sea diving - a first class operation. If you use them, you won't be disappointed.
Have a great time!

 

[Randy-S]

Phil sounded like you had a great time, when you used dive alison what time did you get back each day? She picked you up at 830 and I take it you did two dives.
Were there any problems with the resort op, about you being pick up on the dock by another dive op. i have heard of problems at other resorts.
last did you rent a car to check out the island for a day if you did were you get it and what should I expect to pay.
Randy

 

[Canucklehead]

Phil sounded like you had a great time, when you used dive alison what time did you get back each day? She picked you up at 830 and I take it you did two dives.
Were there any problems with the resort op, about you being pick up on the dock by another dive op. i have heard of problems at other resorts.
last did you rent a car to check out the island for a day if you did were you get it and what should I expect to pay.
Randy

Randy:

I have to ditto everything that Phil said about the resort and about Alison. My wife, son and I stayed there for 2 weeks in June and loved it. We had stayed at the Allegro next door last year, and there is no comparison.

The only complaint that I might have is the pizza restaurant. Service was not the best and the pizzas were a bit overcooked. However, my 15-year-old son loved it, so what can I say? The rest of the food was great, including the buffets.

You may want to consider upgrading to the "Royal Club". We didn't do that, but met some folks that did and sounds like a good deal. You can check out the details (if you don't already know about it) on the Grand's website:

Occidental Grand - Cozumel

My son and I are the divers, and we used Alison for most of our dives. She is professional and friendly, a nice combination. She'd take good care of you. You asked what time you got back to the resort - that will vary depending on your bottom time. Unlike Dive Palancar, Alison will let you dive until your air is down to 700 psi, not 35 minutes and out. On some of our second dives we got over an hour of bottom time (and on 80cf tanks.) There was no problem with her picking us up at the Grand pier. She worked for Palancar for years and they all know her.

We also rented a car for one day for a trip around the island. We used Executive, which has an office about half a mile north of the Grand (just across from the Allegro). I'm a "no risk" kind of guy, so I took the full coverage. Ended up costing about $75 for the day.

Hope this helps.

Gary

 

[Randy-S]

Hey guys do you remember if there were coffee makers in the room or did they provide am room service.
You know I need my java in the mourning.
Randy

 

[Texas Diver]

Hey guys do you remember if there were coffee makers in the room or did they provide am room service.
You know I need my java in the mourning.
Randy

Yeah, there is a coffee machine in the room and they supply coffee.

 

[luvspoodles]

You may want to consider upgrading to the "Royal Club". We didn't do that, but met some folks that did and sounds like a good deal. You can check out the details (if you don't already know about it) on the Grand's website:


Canucklehead,
Was it worth paying more for the Royal Club? Were you okay without it or were you really disapointed? We were going to get it but it was a lot more expensive on Expedia, so we were thinking of waiting until we get there. We figure they will not be at full capacity during Thanksgiving so maybe they will offer it to us cheaper then.Did they offer it to you when you arrived?

 

[beachdivequeenbelam]

thats where we were going to in March of next year and we went with the ROyal club

Much better rooms and deal
Cost a little more but worth it

 

[Canucklehead]

Was it worth paying more for the Royal Club? Were you okay without it or were you really disapointed? We were going to get it but it was a lot more expensive on Expedia, so we were thinking of waiting until we get there. We figure they will not be at full capacity during Thanksgiving so maybe they will offer it to us cheaper then.Did they offer it to you when you arrived?

We were upgraded (for free) from the Allegro next door to stay at the Grand, so the Royal Club wasn't offered. (They were booked up at the Allegro and were trying to update some rooms, so they were trying to move people next door.) I was just suggested that you look into what's offered and make your own decision on that basis. When we go back, we are booking the Grand up front and will probably go with the Royal Club.

 

[Randy-S]

We went with the standard we were told by a couple of travel agents that the royal club was not being offered in NOV. When we get back we will give you the full scoop.
Randy