HOTEL MARINA EL CID RESORT REVIEW: A Hidden Gem of Family Friendly Luxury! Kids Free Pricing Tips!
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
- This video is for informational purposes only. Our opinions are our own. We pay for all of our own trips and the resort do not know that we make videos about our experiences.
When you arrive at Hotel Marina El Cid Spa and Beach Resort you will be escorted into the lobby with its stained glass ceiling and sunken lobby bar. Check-in will be in the lobby or the Platinum club . We have done both the platinum club and non platinum club and I have found that the only perk that is of value to us is the better room locations and possibly earlier dinner reservations depending on how old your kids are.
Check-in is fairly straightforward. They will take a photocopy of your passports. You will need to pay some additional resort fees. At the time of this video we paid an additional $135 USD for a week’s stay on top of the package we already booked.
They give you a wrist band, a separate key card for your room and 1 towel card per person that you use to get a towel for the pool or beach and then you return the towel you can get a fresh one or get the card back. You need to return the cards when you check out or they say they will charge you a $40 lost towel fee.
We received a welcome drink at check-in. They try to sign you up for their timeshare breakfast meeting. The bell hops will take you to your room.
We got two wifi codes per person to use. When we booked our package it simply stated 2 wifi codes. When we arrived they told us it was two per person. I really did not get the impression that this is standardized. Not what you expect in this day and age but it is what it is.
You can only use the code they give you once for one device and you can’t move it onto different devices.
They have 342 rooms. They start with a luxury suite with a king or two doubles and go up to 2 and 3 bedrooms suites.
The platinum rooms are located in the prime ocean view locations.
The all inclusive rates include:
Your suite with the standard amenities, a basic mini bar that is restocked daily, housekeeping and turn down service, a safe and room service is included.
The toiletries are minimal, just shampoo and conditioner and bar soap.
The all-inclusive rates include all you care to eat and drink. At the time of this video there are no limits put on how many a la carte reservations you can make for your stay. You can dine at any of the restaurants within the entire complex.
The restaurants that are a part of the Marina El Cid are:
El Alcazar: Mediterranean
La Marina: Seafood
La Alhambra: Buffet
Hacienda Arrecife: Mexican
Trattoria Di Gulio: Italian
You need to make dinner reservations with the concierge or your butler for your a la carte dinners.
Overall, we found the food to be good. Some dishes were great, others were just fine but there are definitely a lot of different things to choose from.
We always try to be sure to rate a resort based on its price point. A the price point of this resort we found the food to be very good.
We found the drinks to be well done everywhere.
The service in the restaurants is good but it is quick. Most meals will be finished in an hour.
There are evening activities and shows. Usually, the 8pm show is more childlike in theme such as a magic show or fantasy show. The 9pm show is geared to a bit older group with a Michael Jackson show or a Fire show.
There is a kids club available from 9am-9pm for children ages 4-11. There is also a teen club area for teens 12-17. You can also hire an onsite babysitter if you have little ones and want to go out on a date.
It has one of the best family oriented pools we have been to.
The resort is also a really good choice for those with mobility issues. If you use a wheelchair you can access almost everywhere in the entire complex.
The all-inclusive says that gratuities are included in your all-inclusive package but we did notice that there are now tip baskets at all of the bars for extra tipping. So additional tips are at your discretion.
The Marina El Cid is a beach resort and does have a beachfront location. It tends to be rocky so bringing water shoes is a good idea. It is also right beside the actual Marina, not to be confused with the name of the resort. The Marina restaurant is located at the Marina as well.
Also located right here is the Delphinus Dolphin experience.
We have found over the years that you get a lot of bang for your buck at El Cid properties and people don’t seem to know about this.
At the time of this video, when we booked this resort kids kids under 12 were free when staying with a paying adult. So two adults taking two kids under 12 only paid the price of the two adults. Kids under 18 are also discounted. So value for dollar it is hard to beat.
This resort in my opinion is a great offering in the family resort category.
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Great Video! Very informative and I can't wait to see more videos about the complex!
@@ravenmurray7913 so glad you liked it! 😊
Hi Nancy, great details! So glad you mentioned mobility for people that may need it. I know a lot of people are going to mention the resort fee. It's like paying an extra fee for your happy meal after you ordered your happy meal. Everything else sounds like the typical resort experience. take care.
@@davidng407 the resort fee does feel ridiculous, for sure!
Why wifi isn't standard at an all-inclusive in 2024 is a head scratcher. 🤔
Someone with a good marketing 'brain' needs to put together the concept that hitting you up for extra fees when you arrive followed by hitting you up to buy a very expensive time share when you haven't even been there for 10 minutes yet does not leave a good first impression.
Have a great week.
I'm working on our Ventus review right now. 😊
Great video as always. I was surprised that they charge a resort fee I have never heard that before There has always just been the environmental tax We have noticed that all the resorts seem to be cutting back on things to save money the last couple years like the toiletries you were mentioning Some places that used to have pretty good entertainment now have way less We have also noticed at some places they have much smaller entertainment teams I get that they need to keep prices reasonable but the nickle and diming at some resorts is starting to wear thin One resort we went to didnt even supply pop or beer. It was a budget place so we just bought our own at the Oxxo store lol I guess you get what you pay for but when you pay for a 5 star and they start cheaping out on small things it gets old fast I especially dislike paying the visitax which seems like a cash grab Most people we have asked have no idea and think you mean the environment fee I know it's the law and it's best to just pay it but it's annoying to know that probably 75 % of the people on your flight haven't paid and don't even know what it is
@@howardgarrett7865 I totally agree about the resort fee. I am used to the environmental tax per day fee. The resort fee feels ridiculous and a bit of a money grab. Maybe understandable in Vegas but not at a Mexican all-inclusive.
The wifi fee is particularly outdated, imo.
This resort is one of the best I have been to for mobility concerns. I didn't see anywhere a wheelchair could not access.
There are even braille and hearing impaired suites.
The visitax is just stupid.😕 It is the law but has been implemented so badly.
I remember on my first trip to the DR before starting University (many many many many years ago... 🤪) the travel agent said be sure to leave yourself $x cash to depart the airport. The airline collected it with my boarding pass before we could board the plane. Why Q.Roo didn't step into the 21st century and implement this tax efficiently is beyond me.
Whether I agree with it or not - Can you imagine if they offered the airlines $1 per passenger to collect it on their behalf how different this would look. They could charge 75% less and still have more revenue than they do now.
Ah well, I'm still going so I guess I can't complain 😀
I have noticed too that resorts seemed to be cheaping out and reducing on some things and charging more than ever before.
I used to find Jamaica much more expensive than Cancun but I booked a trip that is less than Mexico (for the same brand - Iberostar Grand Rose Hall vs. Iberostar Grand Paraiso). Is this because Mexico is getting too expensive or Jamaica is getting less so?
Have a great week!! 😊
@@newtravelescapes Lol we have seen young people at the airport begging for 10 bucks to leave the DR
@@howardgarrett7865 right! 🤪
I haven't been back in a while but we have a trip to each of the Excellence properties in Punta Cana booked for 2025. We have had to cancel those trips twice already. Hopefully the third time is a charm. Lol