Mayan Riviera Day 8
Mayan Riviera
February 14, 2007 - Wednesday - Flight Home to Denver
We had an easy morning with a wake-up at 7:30, showered, finished packing and then went to breakfast. As usual, the buffet was good and plentiful and we returned to our room by 9:30 to pick up our bags.
We did the formal checkout at the front desk and waited for the Apple Vacations bus to pick us up. At 10 AM we were on a full bus on our way to the Cancun International Airport under sunny skies. There was some confusion by the Apple representative as to what terminal we were to be dropped off and we waited for 15 minutes and then moved to the charter terminal. Those flying on United and Delta had to walk back to the original terminal.
We got in a very long line for Champion Air and progressed through the circuitous passage to check in. Gennie and I were chosen for the full inspection and then went on to a line that fed onto one check-in. The other two lines fed three. I did ask about it but to no avail.
When we finally went up to the desk and presented our papers, my documentation was checked, then checked again, and finally the supervisor was called in. TSA was giving me a Valentine Greeting. I have subsequently found out that I am cleared but many teeny-weeny airlines have not refreshed their database files. It was not TSA but Champion Air.
We made our way to the gate and were informed that once again, Champion was going to be late. We stopped by a Duty Free shop where Jesper and I had the opportunity to sample some very good tequilas and mescals. What a way to fly!
Prior to getting on the plane we had to go through security once again and I had the full pleasure of their company. We then got on the bus to be taken to the aircraft. Once we boarded the aircraft we found that it was very warm. The tarmac was about 83 so in the aircraft it must have been over 90 degrees. No one was happy.
We took off 45 minutes late and arrived in Denver in a snow squall. The pilot made a good landing, we went through immigration quite rapidly as we beat two other international flights to the queue. We gathered our luggage, went through customs and then caught the bus to the Pikes Peak lot to get our car.
We were quite concerned as we began our way home as the snow had intensified. By the time we reached south Denver we had a lot of snow on the road. We stopped at Chipotle to get a quick dinner, then Safeway for some milk and fresh fruit and made our way home.
As we passed Castle Rock the snow abated and we could go a little faster than 40 MPH we were averaging. On Monument Hill we had clear skies but some snow on the ground. We got home a little after 8:30, unpacked the car, made some hot drinks, checked our email and then went to bed.
Some general conclusions about this trip. Apple Vacations is a good deal but on this trip they seem to have had some problems. The return trip from Chichen Itza was too long and two hours late. Xcaret Park tour was a real mix-up. People were left out at a gate and had to enter by another across the park. Transportation back to Cancun Airport was poorly executed by the tour guide who did not know where to drop off people.
Champion Air is really a no frills airline. They are flying old 727-200 aircraft, poorly ventilated (high temperatures prior to departure and during flight) and cannot fly on time. By getting to Cancun over an hour late everyone on the flight had to wait over 1:30 to get their luggage as other flights came in before us.
The Iberostar is quite different from the wonderful all-inclusive hotel we had visited three years ago. The clientele has really changed to the negative and I cannot answer why. Courtesy and manners were not very evident in many of the people we came across. Not all but too many. The general staff was very good. Friendly, helpful, positive, and very happy to have us there. The same cannot be said of Reception and Human Relations. In speaking to both, they were not concerned with our issues, did not return emails, and generally blew off our comments.
What concerns me the most is that the observations I read in Trip Advisor. Prior to the middle of December 2006, many expressed discontent with the Paraiso del Mar. Over the last month, they all were so positive - no problems - no exceptions. I found that the concerns that were earlier expressed in the reviews were still concerns and the positives highlighted were not evident for our group.
Comments
Flight Home
Terminal in Cancun
Poulsens Waiting to Depart
Sampling Some Tequila
Champion Air
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