Palladium Bavaro vs. Melia Caribe

[qtpidani]

Could anyone compare these 2 resorts?? We would probably stay in the Standard ROH room with either/or resort.

Here is some "info" on what we are looking for:
-We are both late 20's/early 30's and are going for our honeymoon.
-I'm a fairly picky eater (I don't eat fish or seafood or anything overly *exotic*).
-A swimup bar and a decent pool is a must.
-We aren't usually too much into the nightlife (in the past, we've always been exhausted by 10pm) but it would be nice if the resort wasn't deserted at 10pm in case there were a few nights that we did manage to stay awake.
-A nice beach is a plus becuase we do like to spend some time there but usually prefer the pool.
-We do prefer a more relaxed enviroment to that of a very upscale resort.

From what I've found, it seems as if the Melia is a bit more upscale than the Palladium but the Palladium does not have the Timeshare vendors to bother you...is that a trade off??

Are there minibars in the rooms at both resorts? Are they stocked with soda, water and beer/alcohol? Do both resorts only serve El Presidente beer? Are there any top shelf alcohol served at either resort? How often are the minibars filled?

Any help, suggestions, input, comparisons you can give me would be GREAT!!!! Sorry for the *zillion* questions

[Hlywud]

Palladium has no time share salemen,
there are mini bars in both resorts. Palladium is filled daily soda, water and beer. Melia?
Presidente is available at both resorts.
Beach is the same as they are not too too far apart.

Melia is a bit more upscale especially in the pricing but from my standpoint you can't be the Palladium resorts, with the group there are many more restaurants offered and many more lounges with live entertainment, you can sit back and relax and have a few quiet drinks in the lobby bar and listen to nice relaxing music or rock your socks off at the next lounge.

[qtpidani]

Thanks for the input!!! I've been leaning towards the Palladium but something about the Melia really made me want to stop and think about it.

Another question for you...do you think the romance suites are "worth" an extra $120 per person (for the entire trip)?

Thanks again!

[Hlywud]

Romance suites are nice but the only difference is a canopy over the bed and the semi outdoor shower room and hammock.. and closer tothe beach ,I certainly would not pay the extra.

some pictures can be seen here http://www.worldisround.com/articles/102024/index.html

[gardito]

Hi there, sorry I can't talk about the Palladium as I,ve never been there, but I just returned from the Melia and can answer some of your ??.

Timeshare vendors- the trick is to answer "yes" when they stop and ask you "have you received your gift yet?". some are stationed at the entrance to the beachside restaurants. They are not pushy, so just say "not interested".

Food- General run of the mill fare. We ate every night at Los Atabales, which is the general no reservations needed buffet rest. We couldn't get reservations for any of the themed restaurants- but hten again we were a party of 10. We heard complaints of people not getting reservations eve with 48 hours notice (I guess they didn't grease any palms ).

Pools- both pools are HUGE and have swim-up bars. Presidente is the on-tap variety which I don't care for much. Piña colaladas/Daiquiris are slushie types from a machine. They DO have mamajuana if you ask for it.

Nightlife- there was live Latin music in the lobby of the Tropical with people dancing. In the Caribe lobby there was just the bar. There's also a lounge of sorts with canned music between the Caribe and the Tropical. I believe these close around midnight and you're invited to go into a pub just off the Tropical lobby which is open til 2 am. Also, the casino bar/lounge is open til 3 am.

Beach- was not rough, but itwasnt Boca Chica either. Sand was kept fairly clean (no kelp/seaweed).

Hope this helps, enjoy your stay!

E.