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Re: Royal Hacienda (by Deborah B.):

Hi alicia: I do understand how you feel! You wait so long for "returning home" and how quickly the time flies! We own two weeks and my husband is still there. I check the webcams daily to see how his weather is! As you know, the whole first loop is now done. It is beautiful. We were there last year during our weeks as well when phase 2 was still under construction. What a world of difference! The trees and vegetation has grown considerably, added touches of the hammocks, the children's play gym, the additional gardens and fountains. It's really coming together. The construction of phase 3 is going really fast. There's an army of workers there every day, literally hundreds of men, and the progress is noticable from 7:00 AM when they start to 5:00 PM when they march out, single file, in a line that goes for about 45 minutes! When I left they were working on the 4th floor, the beachfront was done masonry wise, and they were adding the stucco outside before painting. From our phase 1 villa you can hear the noise, rather like a tinkering sound, but from poolside, nothing, although you see the tall crane moving over the buildings. We ate at Aqua Grill for lunch, great, and my girls ate at the pool bar a number of times. They should be starting soon extended hours at Aqua Grill -- currently they are open to 5 or 6:00. We ate dinner at La Palapa Sunday night for their Mexican buffet. $18.50 per person for a great buffet, plentiful quantities and a good variety. There was entertainment, a 3 man "band", good and not mariachis! We went into Playa twice taking the free Royals shuttle in at 5:15 (the last shuttle in to Playa) and a taxi back $10 USD or 100 pesos. First time we ate at La Palapa Hemingway off of 5th Ave at 12th Norte. We ate upstairs and our table overlooked the pedestrian street. Twinkle lights in the palms, roving minstrals, a guitarist came to the table -- very nice to people watch! The food was Mexican, good and inexpensive. We got a 10% discount card from Santiago, a bellboy at the Haciendas, and that was good as well! The second night we ate at a sidewalk table at Arbelas. We had another 10% off card from Santiago, but they also had 2 for 1 drinks, and we choose to do that instead as it saved us more than the 10%. The menu again was Mexican. Both restaurants were nice, but if I had to choose which one was better, I'd say Hemingways as we really enjoyed our "balcony view" of 5th Ave. Did some shopping. Very nice evenings. The store at the Haciendas has improved since last year. More items. We went grocery shopping at Walmarts on the day we went to Hemingways. Took the 5:15 shuttle, walked then ate dinner, then walked down 12th Ave. Norte a couple of blocks and Walmarts was on 30th. Very easy, and safe. Took the taxi back with our purchases from Walmart. Bought things like fresh chicken breast, steaks, hamburger meat, fresh veggies and fruits. Things not available at the little store, although they did have some fruits and veggies. As usual, the staff and employees are extremely helpful and work exceedingly hard. With only 126 villas open now, and last year only 55, the employees all know you by name. Rafael at the towel desk always knew my name and villa number as did Abraham at the Reception desk! The Activities team, Hector, Andres, Cecelia, and Cynthia are fabulous -- very friendly and so good with the little kids. The members are also very friendly. I guess because everyone is new and introducing themselves. The Welcome Party was fun with games, dances, and prizes with the usual beer and soda (free). The Taco Party is by far more elaborate than any taco party in the Cancun resorts -- they hold it under the yellow canopy of the interior building. The Member's Cocktail Party is also a must do. Again, much more elaborate than Cancun's. Food, mixed drinks, a wait staff. Held in the Sports bar off of LaRotonda. The new restaurant should be open when you go in the spring. It's supposed to be an upscale Italian, opening off of LaRotonda. The opening to LaPalapa is the same as last year. It is truly a up and coming 5 star resort. Next door (behind B buildings) a Ritz Carlton or a Four Seasons is to be built. Next to that, presently under construction now, is Mareazul, a condo project that is very upscale and very expensive. We walked up and the project is huge -- models to be open within the next few weeks. The Royal Resorts will be in a very rich neighborhood! Next door on the other side is Carosol, something like that. An all-inclusive that didn't look good to me when we walked up that way. Cheap looking. IMHO. Take heart, Alicia, May will be here before you know it!