Going to Mexico...need advice...

[MedCop]

Okay.. going to be staying in Village De Rosa for second part of trip, actually get to cave dive second half. The diving part of the trip is already figured out.

However, the first half of the trip we don't know where to stay. My wife is going and we want a "vacation" the first half of the trip. She is a non-diver so don't think "dive" when recommending something.

We would like an All-Inclusive some place between Cancun & Akumal. Something on the beach is a must.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[CaveBuddy95]

Hi,
it depends if you want to be in town (Playa) or you are ok being stuck in one of those huge resort out of town.
I think its called The Royal, its very nice all inclusive hotel on the beach of Playa. The rest, is either small/friendly little hotel downtown or the big ones away from town.
If you plan to rent a car or use the bus from the hotel, this will make for your choice as well.
Hope this help


Cheers

[MichaelBaranowski]

There is a really nice place south of Playa that is huge "Barcelo Maya Resort." A really nice place with alot to do w/o leaving the resort.

[mattmexico]

Okay.. going to be staying in Village De Rosa for second part of trip, actually get to cave dive second half. The diving part of the trip is already figured out.

However, the first half of the trip we don't know where to stay. My wife is going and we want a "vacation" the first half of the trip. She is a non-diver so don't think "dive" when recommending something.

We would like an All-Inclusive some place between Cancun & Akumal. Something on the beach is a must.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

yo

there are a number of all inclusives in Playa del Carmen ( Porto Real, RIU chain, Royal Hideaway, Iberostar ) and you are close to some civilization with nice restaurants, bars, beach and live music

Matt

[CaveBuddy95]

Here we go, now you've got it all! I was missing the names...:smt102
Thanks to Matt.


Cheers

[Me]

Okay.. going to be staying in Village De Rosa for second part of trip, actually get to cave dive second half. The diving part of the trip is already figured out.

However, the first half of the trip we don't know where to stay. My wife is going and we want a "vacation" the first half of the trip. She is a non-diver so don't think "dive" when recommending something.

We would like an All-Inclusive some place between Cancun & Akumal. Something on the beach is a must.

Any suggestions?
Thanks!

The Bahia Principe is next door to Villa DeRosa (VDR is in Aventuras Akumal, which is south of Akumal proper) going south on Hwy 307. A good place to look at what is available in an AI, casita or condo is www. locogringo.com

The couple that run the website and booking service are former cave divers in the area back in the old days with Mike Madden, etc.

Lori

[devilscrowndiver]

My wife and I can recommend the Grand Sirenis. We are staying there for the fourth time in October. We have also stayed at the Bahia twice (very nice also), Dreams Tulum once (ok but not great), and the Moon Palace once (very nice but too close to Cancun for us). My wife is non-diver also and the resorts do a very good job of keeping her amused while I am off cave diving.

[stickydeco]

. . . We would like an All-Inclusive some place between Cancun & Akumal. Something on the beach is a must.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Highly recommend the Barcelo. :armybravo Been there a number of times...something for everyone.

Mexican Jack

[beperkins]

I highly recommend an AI resort called El Dorado Seaside Suites, just north of Akumal on 307. You can google it. It is fairly small (200 rooms) and they treat you like royalty. Great rooms, food, drinks, service, spa, everything. They have these "beach beds" that i have never found anywhere else. Closest to heaven I have ever been. My wife and I have stayed there twice and are headed back for a 3rd stay this October. I am in your same boat, I dive Cenotes, and she enjoys the resort. There are a million good reviews of the place on Trip Advisor where you can also see a bunc of pictures.

[MedCop]

Thanks everyone!

Was also wondering if a Villa would be a good option. We may spend most of the day outside the resort anyway so this would be breakfast and maybe evening meal at the resort.

Think a villa would be a decent idea (know we are staying in one second half of trip) but wondered if the cost difference would be worth it to get an AI for the first half. We love to adventure out and explore new places including places to eat and such.

:smt102

[RN]

Check out www.hotelsplayadelcarmen.com. You'll find the best rates there and can categorize by location, resort type, price, etc. We stayed at the Wyndham Maya. Food wasn't great, but it won't be at any AI. Nice place, though.

[Me]

You do realize that Villa DeRosa is just a typical hotel, don't you? If you get one of the condo rooms on the beach side, it's a bedroom, kitchen and sitting area. It's more of a condo than a villa.

Just wanted to make sure you were aware........

There's a pool and the beach and that's about it for your wife to do when you are at VDR. She may be able to walk down the beach to the Bahia and get a day pass for a fee. Don't get me wrong, VDR has a primo location, but it's just a small hotel on the beach.

In the evenings you can get a taxi, or walk out to the highway and catch a "Collectivo" up/down Hwy 307. Zip into Akumal proper for a meal or two, or down to Chemuyil for pizza at Leo's.

If you want to lay in some munchies, alcohol or other food fixins, get your driver to stop in Playa Del Carmen at Soriana....(think a Super Walmart); get your goodies and continue on to VDR (which is actually in Aventuras Akumal, which is south of Akumal).

I'm going to Akumal in December.....10th year in a row, love it.

You might also consider taking your second week and going inland to Vallodolid which is old colonial Mexico. Be sure to bring your spanish/english dictionary because english isn't spoken in too many places, but it is close to Ek Balaam and Chitzen Itza. The only place we found where someone spoke english were the guides at the ruins....otherwise it was dictionaries, hand gestures, and alot of smiles!

With regards to english....in the resorts along 307 english is not a problem....very touristy.

[MedCop]

There is a group of us staying at VDR, there will be a couple other wives / girlfriends who are non divers so they can hang out while we dive. My wife is looking forward to just laying on the beach and doing....well, nothing. We are supposed to be in one of the Condos.

[Randy Thornton]

I would request a 2nd story condo for safety purposes. Last time I stayed at VDR with my wife, we had a midnight visitor and I lost my laptop, mobile phone, wife's purse and other stuff. The location is great, and the condos are fairly comfortable. Just try to avoid staying on the ground floor.

Regards,
Randy

[MedCop]

There is a really nice place south of Playa that is huge "Barcelo Maya Resort." A really nice place with alot to do w/o leaving the resort.

What one...there are several?

[Caver95]

Bring imodium ad for the plane ride home. :-)

[Me]

I would request a 2nd story condo for safety purposes. Last time I stayed at VDR with my wife, we had a midnight visitor and I lost my laptop, mobile phone, wife's purse and other stuff. The location is great, and the condos are fairly comfortable. Just try to avoid staying on the ground floor.

Regards,
Randy

Hey Randy...did you have your windows and sliding glass door locked? We are usually on the first floor too and sacrifice ocean breezes for security. We also take all our valuables into the bedroom with us at night. So far so good....got my fingers crossed!

That also might explain why they had bars in the windows this past January.

[Me]

There is a group of us staying at VDR, there will be a couple other wives / girlfriends who are non divers so they can hang out while we dive. My wife is looking forward to just laying on the beach and doing....well, nothing. We are supposed to be in one of the Condos.

That will be good then. I highly recommend the ladies walk out to the highway and catch the Collectivo north to Akumal or south to Tulum. Akumal you will find souv shopping opportunities on the ocean side along with a few nice beach bars; also the bay there is good for snorkeling (so take snorkel gear, towel, etc). On the land side it will be the pueblo where the locals live. And south to Tulum they can be dropped off at the ruins, or go into the current town of Tulum to lunch and shop. When going to Tulum, be sure to specify "pueblo or ruinas".

The Collectivo is much cheaper than a taxi by far and is great for hopping here and there. It's an air conditioned white passenger van with "Continuas Paradus" written on it and they run up and down 307 between PDC and Tulum. (also up and down from Cancun to PDC) They are cheap! A few bucks apiece to get where you are going. The driver will ask where you are going and tell you how much. Walk out to the highway and wait on the side of the road in the direction you want to go. You'll see a white van coming in the distance, it will flash its lights if it has room, you then just wave and he'll pull over and off you go! Just do the same thing on your return. Have several US singles with you or 10 peso notes/coins and you'll be all set. Easy peasey! They run until 10pm at night. We've never waited more than a minute or two for one to come past....there are many of them and they run frequently.

[FW]

I have taken several non-divers along to VDR over the years, and they seem to have just as much fun as the divers. They do get better tans, though :-D

Occasionally they were able to go shopping with Nancy when she made a grocery run, etc.

[caroln]

If you're looking for a really nice beach for the first half of your trip, I'd recommend anything near Xpu Ha or Maroma Beach. If you want a condo/villa/etc, www.locogringo.com books a bunch of them so is a good spot to look. I wouldn't recommend Akumal so much because you're staying near there the second half of your trip, so might as well see something a little different.

[Randy Thornton]

Hey Randy...did you have your windows and sliding glass door locked? We are usually on the first floor too and sacrifice ocean breezes for security. We also take all our valuables into the bedroom with us at night. So far so good....got my fingers crossed!

That also might explain why they had bars in the windows this past January.

They came in through the small beachside windows. They were locked, but were able to jimmy them loose somehow. Came right into the bedroom while we were asleep and took my wife's purse off of the night stand right next to her head! Kind of freaked her out! We went back a year later and stayed on the 2nd floor without any problems. I also noticed that they had put bars on the ground floor windows and there were also soldiers patrolling the beach at night with automatic weapons, so maybe that contributed to the safer feeling!

[cmalinowski]

... I also noticed that they had put bars on the ground floor windows and there were also soldiers patrolling the beach at night with automatic weapons, so maybe that contributed to the safer feeling!Holy crap. Good and bad I guess.

I've only been once and we stayed in condos in puerto aventuras. Was great. Someone else made the plans so I don't really have the info. But was great :)

Chris

[MichaelBaranowski]

What one...there are several?


Barcelo Maya Resort is one big complex that house 5 different resorts.

Barcelo Beach & Caribe is the older sections. You can use all the pools and bars but only the open air buffet.

Colonial & Tropical were opened in 2005 and has an A/C buffet.

The newest sections is the Palace which I haven't had a chance to stay yet.

Only guest of Palace can use amenities at the Palace. But to me the part of the resorts is plent nice to me.

Here is an unoffical website for the resort.

http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.com/site/

[Me]

They came in through the small beachside windows. They were locked, but were able to jimmy them loose somehow. Came right into the bedroom while we were asleep and took my wife's purse off of the night stand right next to her head! Kind of freaked her out! We went back a year later and stayed on the 2nd floor without any problems. I also noticed that they had put bars on the ground floor windows and there were also soldiers patrolling the beach at night with automatic weapons, so maybe that contributed to the safer feeling!

Scary indeed! I am a very light sleeper, so I'm sure they would have woke me up. God forbid what would happen if I woke up with them in my room, given I don't have my 9mm in Mexico with me! :smt067

[rjack]

I would request a 2nd story condo for safety purposes. Last time I stayed at VDR with my wife, we had a midnight visitor and I lost my laptop, mobile phone, wife's purse and other stuff. The location is great, and the condos are fairly comfortable. Just try to avoid staying on the ground floor.

Regards,
Randy

When was this?

I have had no issues over in Akumal proper, but the last time we were down there it was before the current economic downturn. We keep our valuables in the safe as well.

[Me]

When was this?

I have had no issues over in Akumal proper, but the last time we were down there it was before the current economic downturn. We keep our valuables in the safe as well.

Not all the rooms at VDR have a safe. The ones that do are just a hole cut in the wall with a wooden door and a key. Most of the keys have been lost over time and the option is moot. Even if you had one with a key, the hole in the wall is about the size of a ladies wallet.

[rjack]

Not all the rooms at VDR have a safe. The ones that do are just a hole cut in the wall with a wooden door and a key. Most of the keys have been lost over time and the option is moot. Even if you had one with a key, the hole in the wall is about the size of a ladies wallet.

I have never stayed at VDR. The safes we have used at vista del mar in akumal are about the size of a shoebox and bolted into the closet wall. Electronic key with a combo you set yourself. I think there's an actual master key at the office. I avoid bringing much more than a wallet to MX, use the internet cafe etc. But concerned how much things have changed crime-wise since our last visit!

[Randy Thornton]

When was this?

I have had no issues over in Akumal proper, but the last time we were down there it was before the current economic downturn. We keep our valuables in the safe as well.

The trip when we were robbed was 2 1/2 years ago. We went again last year and had no problems. I suspect the new bars on the ground floor windows have pretty much solved the problem. Last time we were there, the safes, which are nothing more than a little wooden door that covers a hole in the wall, were of little use. A simple screw driver would be able to easily open them.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not dissing VDR. We'll probably stay there again next time we go cave diving in Mexico. You just really need to be careful with your stuff no matter where you stay in Mexico. Things just seem to grow legs and wander off somehow!

[Me]

The trip when we were robbed was 2 1/2 years ago. We went again last year and had no problems. I suspect the new bars on the ground floor windows have pretty much solved the problem. Last time we were there, the safes, which are nothing more than a little wooden door that covers a hole in the wall, were of little use. A simple screw driver would be able to easily open them.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not dissing VDR. We'll probably stay there again next time we go cave diving in Mexico. You just really need to be careful with your stuff no matter where you stay in Mexico. Things just seem to grow legs and wander off somehow!

Likewise. You just have to be careful where you leave things laying. I have seen a mesh contraption you can wrap around a small piece of luggage and then bolt to a piece of furniture, but I have my doubts as it would be advertising there is something of value inside.

[mattmexico]

yo

Come to Playa del Carmen with plenty of small hotels and restaurants, lots of things to do and great beaches

greetings
Matt