We've narrowed our selection for our 3-night, September stay in PDC to the following 4 hotels. Please help us chose. 1) We like to have a nice, clean, calm beach; 2)nice, friendly accomodations; 3) and good food (we're not too picky here since these are all-inclusives). We are also debating about taking our 9-month old son, so the room has to be accomodating (ie. mini fridge, crib request). Thanks.

1) Riu Playacar
2) Bravo Club El Mandarin
3) Cameloen Marival
4) Occidental Allegro

I would suggest that you go with the Riu out of these 4 picks. I have not stayed at any of these places, but I'm fairly well educated on this area and many of the resorts. I did stay at the Riu Yucatan a few years back and I would highly recommend it. I've heard that all the Rui's are very nice.

Hi, all the reviews I have read on the Mandarin were not so good. The Marival is the furthest away and if you are going for 3 nights you want as little travel time as possible. I think you either the Riu or the Allegro are a great choice. I stayed at the Allegro and thought it was fine. the grounds are weel kept and the food is good. the beach is very nice and you can walk to town. If you have any questions you can e-mail me at [email protected].
Happy travels,
Jill

I think the Riu chain is a little more upscale than the Occidentals(previously known as Allegro, Diamond, Caribbean Village, Jack Tar Village). I think you will get the minibar with the Riu but not the Allegro.

I stayed at the Riu Playacar last November and it was very nice. The beach there is gorgeous! The surf is calm, and there are lots of palm trees for shade. The pool area is very pretty, too. Our room had 2 twin beds that pushed together into a King, and there would be plenty of room for a crib, although I don't know if the resort provided them. Each room had a mini-fridge with some beer and sodas in it. The food was pretty good, especially at breakfast. My favorite thing was the table where the attendant put fresh fruit in a blender and made smoothies to order! Dinner required long pants for the men, and there are 2 other restaurants on site that require an advance reservation. (Make them EARLY!) The location couldn't be better. Right across the street is the PDC "mall," and downtown is just a $5 cab ride away. I would definitely go back!

Thank you all!!! Your responses were very helpful. We stayed at the Riu Resorts in Punta Cana a year ago and definitely loved the friendly, clean accomodations. Therefore, based on the responses here, we will stick with the Riu in Playa.

Do y'all recogmend us bringing a 9-months old infant with us? We can leave him home with grandma, but we might missed him too much. However, we do have to consider the hot weather, long commute, etc.

I am sure you will miss the baby, but if it were me I would leave the baby home. The baby won't remember going and wait till he can appreciate a vacation more. If Grandma is willing,and he is in good care, I would wait till he is older. I also vote for Riu chain.

Anthony:
My husband and I went to the Yucatan when our son was about six months old, and decided to leave him at home with grandma. (We have also taken him on some vacations, he is now one year old) We were going a bit farther than you _ down to Xcalak _ but ultimately decided he was too young for the beach anyway.
Personally, with such a short trip, I would leave your son at home. You will be gone just long enough that by the time he is getting used to the new place, you'll be going home. The heat, the different food and water, the traveling, the mosquitos and other bugs, all could be potential problems also. I'm sure you'll miss him and be delighted to get back with him, but you might also find a couple of nights away are good for you and your wife, and good for grandma to get in some real quality time! Have fun..