Riviera Maya Update - Beach Walker Bob
May 15, 2014
Grupo Vidanta's Reiviera Maya property is now the the central focus. We have heard from MJ, Boots #1 and now BeachWalker Bob. His comments are supported with his photos, and both provide us with a good sense of what is happening on the East Coast of Mexico. Enjoy!!We were at the Grand Luxxe Building 2 from 31 March to 14 April 2014. During this time, there was a tremendous amount of long awaited construction starting and in progress at the resort.
BEACH IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. The beach and shore improvement project has been a rumor for years. The sand work actually started in April, pumping sand from the ocean to the shore line, and will be completed in 3 phases. Phase 1 will take 2 months and will be finished in early June. Phase 1 improves the beach and ocean for swimming to the South of the original pier and covers the beach in front of the Mayan Palace/Grand Mayan pools.
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07 Main Vida (GM) Beach Construction - Phase 1 of 3 - Closeup
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09 New breakwater going in off pier
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12 One breakwater bag done, second bag filling
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13 Sides being added to old pier to retain the new sand pumped in
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14 Sand and water being pumped from deep water up to the beach
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15 Main beach construction is just starting-Phase 1 will take 2 months
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16 Two additional piers going in on GM beach
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17 People can't wait to use new sandy beach area
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19 Start of third pier on GM beach
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20 Building a beach moving one rock at a time
Phase 2 and 3 will improve the other beach areas, which include the present Grand Luxxe beach and the new beach area by the new Beach Area pool construction close to the Del Lago. Beach walking and swimming in the ocean will never be the same at the resort when this major effort is complete. Sand will cover the present rocky shore and shallows water and swimming will be easy and safe without "water shoes". Several photos are provided showing the views from the pier and walking South along the shore line.
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CROCODILE SIGHTED IN WATER AT THE GRAND LUXXE BEACH. A small crocodile was spotted swimming in the ocean waves and shallow water at the Grand Luxxe beach early in our stay. Swimmers vacated the water and a crowd gathered. There was much commotion and dozens of people lined the shore watching as the beach boys attempted to catch the "croc" in the waves with a beach rake. The resort crocodile handler arrived and helped catch the critter with his net (which was about half the size of the crocodile in the water). The young crocodile was finally captured, hogtied ( duct taped) and taken to the Green Break where he was added to the resort crocodile zoo population. The croc was only about 4 feet long, but he had a good sized "bite" and his teeth looked very sharp. These photos prove that crocodiles do occasionally swim in the water at the Grand Luxxe Beach.
04 New Flag on the GL RM Beach-watch for crocodiles
05 Live Crocodile sighting on the GL RM Beach
06 Live crocodile netted in the shallows of GL RM Beach
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GRAND LUXXE CONCIERGE BUILDING(S). The two new structures are proceeding well, with roof framework complete showing a high and majestic form. We were told that there will be a French Restaurant in one of the new Concierge Buildings. One thing that we did notice is that the high roof lines of these new buildings will block the view of the ocean from several of the Grand Luxxe third floor rooms. A photo from the BRIO shows the high roof line and three photos taken at ground level in front of the buildings show the current state of construction.
38 View of GL RM Concierge Lobby from BRIO deck with Bldg 1 and 3 behind
39 GL RM Concierge Lobby Left
40 GL RM Concierge Lobby Center
41 GL RM Concierge Lobby Right
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BACK OF THE HOUSE TOUR. We made reservations and took the new "Back of the House Tour" that includes the Grand Mayan pool and Lobby area, the new resort Laundry and Water Treatment facility on the other side of the highway, and ending with a tour of the resort Main Kitchen. The tour is very interesting and well worth the time. It takes a huge effort to keep such a large resort working smoothly and the tour introduces you directly to the actual people and machines that make it happen. We lucked out and it rained that morning, so no sun time on the beach time was lost by taking the tour. A few photos of the tour are provided showing the highlights.
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42 Back of the House Tour-New Laundry Bldg for entire resort
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43 New Huge Washing Machines
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44 Every day 19 Tons of Laundry go up this conveyer
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45 All the sheets in the resort go thru this folding machine
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46 Back of the House Tour-New Water Treatment Plant
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47 RO water filtering for 2000 cubic meters per day
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48 Back of the House Tour-Main Kitchen
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49 All pastries for the resort come from this room
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50 All meats for the resort come from this room
We are scheduled to return to the Grand Luxxe Riviera Maya in July and will provide an update of the latest resort projects after that trip.
Thanks to everyone else who has contributed news and photos of what is happening at the Grand Luxxe RM.
Best Regards,
Beach Walker Bob and Christina
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Nice update, BeachWalker Bob! Thank you. We now have a great impression of what is happening on the "Other Coast".