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Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya Opening 'Mañana, Mañana...'

Where: Km. 298.8 Carretera #307, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

We have been reading about the imminent opening of Mexico's first Mandarin Oriental since early December. The prominent image seen here may make you think that the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya is ready to welcome you with open arms, but not so fast!

They are apparently running way behind schedule and construction crews are scrambling to meet an opening date that keeps moving back. A travel writer tipster who was trying to tour the hotel this week for both a certain big glossy magazine and a popular luxury travel website was told flat-out no by the PR people.

Meanwhile, we've heard of two guests who had mid-February reservations being forcibly rebooked into later weeks, even though one couple was going on their honeymoon.

So we tried to go in and make a booking ourselves on the website to see what would happen. No matter what dates we tried over the next two weeks, we got the error message, "We apologize. There are no available rooms for your desired dates. Please modify your dates or number of guests." When we got to a 3-day period from Feb. 28 to March 1, we finally scored. Well, if you can call an $870 room in Mexico a score that is.

Yes, you read that right. Rooms will start at $870 a night. Room only. In Mexico. Apparently the very bottom-rung ones aren't finished yet. When we pulled up May dates, typically a slow time for the area, we found a "Deluxe Cenote" room and "Deluxe Laguna" room for $595. As in you don't face the beach. For $595. Room only. In Mexico.

Yeah yeah, we're sure it's gorgeous. Or will be when it's done that is. More later when we get a peek from someone who is allowed through the hallowed gates.