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Anyone been to Cancun or Riviera Maya, Mexico lately? (1 Viewer)

Forget the name, but there is a super bright orange quesadilla shop in downtown Tulum. They're everywhere, its like the Mexican version of Subway. Anyway, every day around 4:00-5:00pm couple amigos would setup a stand right around the corner from this place with a couple seats and sell homade Tamales. They were absolutely off-the-hook, best I ever had. I bought a giant bag of them, enough to feed the whole family, and it was like $8.00 total. If you're hungry in Tulum, go find this place.  :thumbup:

 
Going to royal playacar in Playa June 12th. Looking forward to it.  

Wife wants to go to chichen itza for a day trip but I am thinking tulum instead. Anyone have strong opinions on either?
Been to both, twice each I think. If I had to pick one, definitely chichen itza. 

 
Tulum is great, less crowds, and you can actually get in some shade and it's a bit safer.  You also have some fun side trips to the cenotes available. 

Itza while more famous basically takes a day out of your trip, where Tulum might take an afternoon out.  

So it comes down to a cost/benefit tradeoff imo.  Are you willing to give up a full day at the beach?

I'm trying a newer place next time down near Playa Del Carmen called The Viceroy.  Got a screaming deal on it down to 308/nt. private pool for the room, etc. etc.  

Been to Excellence Playa Mujeres several times and consider it probably "The bar" but lately a lot of these larger resorts get completely overwhelmed with wedding parties which really takes away from the atmosphere.  If you go to one of the top end AI like excellence or Secrets then for sure avoid the Friday/Saturday night at all costs.  

Still think the top two places down there for large scale AI are Secrets MB and EPM.  If you track the Trip Advisor forums you can see other options, there are some up and comers but I think they are down near Playa.  Banyan Tree has 3 really highly reviewed properties, but all of them let kids on and I don't think you can even get on there for less than 550 a night.

 
We took a private tour to Chichen Itza and Ek Balam with this company and it was a little pricey but fantastic.   Definitely the highlight of the trip.  Not only do you see the ruins but you get a feel for Mexico and how the people live.
I am kind of digging this option. It is a little spendy but looks like everything we want to do and I don't have to plan anything. Lots of options to choose from.  I am basically looking for the easy button option here.

Appreciate the referrel. 

 
I am kind of digging this option. It is a little spendy but looks like everything we want to do and I don't have to plan anything. Lots of options to choose from.  I am basically looking for the easy button option here.

Appreciate the referrel. 
The nice thing about the private tour is that you don't arrive with an entire bus and you can leave or stay as long as you like.

One of our favorite parts was driving through the little towns and if you want to stop all you had to was ask.  Also the hacienda they take you for lunch is outstanding, easily the best food of the trip.

 
just booked secrets maroma beach thru costco....looks like a fun place...heading down july 16-21

 
Let's see.  Might have been the best all-inclusive trip I've been to.  Pools are everywhere and huge.  Beach was a little crowded but not too bad.  Water was a little rough (wind and coral underfoot, but no seaweed).  The rooms were good not great.  Staff was great; never had to wait for anything, super friendly and helpful.  There's a concierge desk on the first floor of every building, so you don't have to walk out to main reception to arrange stuff.  They were awesome.  The nightly shows and the club were just okay.  Nightly shows were drowsy IMO, and the club was a little bit as well, and also pretty young.

The buffet/main restaurant was A+++.  By far the best buffet I've been to.  Each night was a theme (Japanese, Mexican, Italian, etc., all were good to great, I especially loved the Japanese night).  We went to two sit-down restaurants early in the week that were meh, and agreed to just hit the buffet from then on (plus it meant we didn't have to have reservations).

There are three resorts.  Think of them as gold-silver-bronze levels.  If you are facing the water, bronze is to the left, silver in the center (the one we were at) and gold to the right.  You have the right to use your level and the ones below.  So we had silver, we could go to silver and bronze, but not gold.  They will try to offer you a free breakfast at the gold one where someone will show you around. DO NOT GO IT IS A SALES PITCH.  Not quite as high pressure as a time share thing, but close. They try to get you to be a member of their club, which is similar to a time share thing, for $10,000 to $100,000.  Waste of time and the breakfast wasn't even that good.  The bronze one has some cool wildlife exhibits, so that's worth a walk over, have a drink and see it.

Any other questions lemme know.
Thorn, a couple more questions, we are leaving Thursday morning so trying to get everything planned out.  From a cash perspective, everything I am reading says you don't have to tip but it is not frowned upon and usually helps.  I was thinking about bringing $500 for the tips and in case we go shopping into Playa Del Carmen.  Is that a reasonable amount for 5 days?  I guess the shopping is a wild card in everything, but I can't see tipping $100 a day while there. 

 
Thorn, a couple more questions, we are leaving Thursday morning so trying to get everything planned out.  From a cash perspective, everything I am reading says you don't have to tip but it is not frowned upon and usually helps.  I was thinking about bringing $500 for the tips and in case we go shopping into Playa Del Carmen.  Is that a reasonable amount for 5 days?  I guess the shopping is a wild card in everything, but I can't see tipping $100 a day while there. 
You didn't ask me, but I usually take $500/week to tip with and just to have some extra cash in case I need it. I also let my card carrier (my bank, who can be #######s about out-of-norm spending) know when and where I'm going to be in case I need some help for something funky. 

I bar tended for years, so I probably over-tip. Depending on the fanciness of the place you're staying, I'd figure $100/day and be happy returning with some cash.

 
Oh, and let your phone carrier know so they can put you on an international plan (unless you have some sweet deal worked out already). You wouldn't be happy coming home to a $200 text bill.

 
Thorn, a couple more questions, we are leaving Thursday morning so trying to get everything planned out.  From a cash perspective, everything I am reading says you don't have to tip but it is not frowned upon and usually helps.  I was thinking about bringing $500 for the tips and in case we go shopping into Playa Del Carmen.  Is that a reasonable amount for 5 days?  I guess the shopping is a wild card in everything, but I can't see tipping $100 a day while there. 
$100 a day seems like a lot. Most of my tip $ went to bartenders and tip heavier early in the trip.  Majority of people tip $0 at these all-inclusives from what I've observed.   

 
I agree with UH.  Almost no one tips that I saw, so $500 would be plenty.  But absolutely put your bank and phone carrier on notice.  Enjoy!

 
Anyone know anything about the Valentin Imperial?
@McGarnicle

Stayed there for my honeymoon about four years ago. It was pretty nice. I wasn't as good as the place I stayed down there more recently (Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla), but it was better than the Iberostar property that I stayed at on Mexico's West Coast.

The grounds of the property are gorgeous and the pool and beach were great. The rooms are comfortable and nice, but were a little dated. More from a style standpoint than in terms of wear and tear. But that was 4 years ago. I found the service very friendly.

The food, varied in quality quite a bit. The big breakfast buffet was good quality and a couple of the restaurants were very good. But a couple of them were also pretty mediocre.

 
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We're here and it's glorious beyond words. I love the Mexicans, they really know how to enjoy life. For example, I made myself a blood mary at the bloody mary bar, and then I made another one and then I made another one and then I made another one. Nobody gave me a hard time. I'm drunk at 10AM and it almost seems encouraged here. Now I just need to find some herb.
Dave & Tim are back at the Barcelo Jan. 12-14 2018 and we just booked our package. Excited beyond words. Upgraded to the premium suite which gives you a beachfront view, balcony jacuzzi and just a bigger, nicer room plus access to a "hydrotherapy" room which I don't recall seeing there. :shrug:

We're doing 10-12 days again and the timing means we'll be watching/missing two NFL playoff weekends in Mexico. If one of our teams are in it, or plans line up to be by a TV, cool, otherwise not sweating it. Which is crazy for me to say but that beach and the whole experience calls my name like no other. ??

 
Dave & Tim are back at the Barcelo Jan. 12-14 2018 and we just booked our package. Excited beyond words. Upgraded to the premium suite which gives you a beachfront view, balcony jacuzzi and just a bigger, nicer room plus access to a "hydrotherapy" room which I don't recall seeing there. :shrug:

We're doing 10-12 days again and the timing means we'll be watching/missing two NFL playoff weekends in Mexico. If one of our teams are in it, or plans line up to be by a TV, cool, otherwise not sweating it. Which is crazy for me to say but that beach and the whole experience calls my name like no other. ??
I always end in Mexico around week 16-17 and have watched some epic Lions games (losses) in the sports bars. It's a good time. 

 
Just got back from the Viceroy.  I'd been going to Excellence PM off and on the last several years.

Massive upgrade in the service, food, beach situation, and room.  

Cost was quite a bit higher, but that can be kept relatively under control if you knew what you were doing.

I wouldn't go back to EPM at this point, I mean the cost there is up 45% since I started going anyways so everything is sky high really now.

 
Family stayed at Grand Palladium Colonial last 2 years as soon as school is out. Awesome for family. Nightly shows are very good. Beach is great. Pools are great. Fun activities during the day at the pool. Bubble pit, beach dinner once a week and that kind of stuff. Many restaurants on the campus which includes several hotels but Colonial is in the middle with the most stuff. Good for babies and kids with the Mini-clubs. Kids club puts on a show nightly before the main show that they learned and practiced during the day - my daughter's highlite was being Sandy in mini-Grease. 

FWIW - I've not found a 'package' through Costco, cheapcarribean, or anywhere else that is less than just booking airfare and hotel directly myself.

We also rented a car being that hotel and all attractions (ruins, Xelha, Xcaret, etc...) are all on the main highway. Car was $5...for the week! (plus insurance which is where the real cost is - about $20/day). Still less than booking transportation and having to wait through stops and such, especially for excursions off the resort.

 
I've never had the balls to rent a car.  Always figure I'd end up in one of Chapo's dungeons.
My MIL actually owns a car down there. It's really not bad although she almost got herself in some trouble when she tried bribing a police officer (I didn't offer him a bribe she said, she just offered him money in exchange for him letting her go). 

 
you afraid of ze germans

seems an odd thing to be scared of in that neck of the nape.
I just have heard you get hustled by cops, gas stations, and others.   I never really want to do the excursion thing.  I've basically done all the ones that are worth doing, and don't really have desire to double back on them.

 
Family stayed at Grand Palladium Colonial last 2 years as soon as school is out. Awesome for family. Nightly shows are very good. Beach is great. Pools are great. Fun activities during the day at the pool. Bubble pit, beach dinner once a week and that kind of stuff. Many restaurants on the campus which includes several hotels but Colonial is in the middle with the most stuff. Good for babies and kids with the Mini-clubs. Kids club puts on a show nightly before the main show that they learned and practiced during the day - my daughter's highlite was being Sandy in mini-Grease. 

FWIW - I've not found a 'package' through Costco, cheapcarribean, or anywhere else that is less than just booking airfare and hotel directly myself.

We also rented a car being that hotel and all attractions (ruins, Xelha, Xcaret, etc...) are all on the main highway. Car was $5...for the week! (plus insurance which is where the real cost is - about $20/day). Still less than booking transportation and having to wait through stops and such, especially for excursions off the resort.
Had they started the Riviera/Royal section renovations when you were there?

 
I just have heard you get hustled by cops, gas stations, and others.   
That was many years ago and they have supposedly cleaned most of that up. We never had any problems. You just have to follow the speed limit and understand that taxis (and most locals) dont have to abide by the same rules that you do.

 
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We're staying at the Barcelo. Average FBG probably goes to a much swankier place though.


Stayed at the Barceló Palace in May of last year.

I really enjoyed it there.  I love working out and they had a very nice gym.  I would work out and go right next door and have a salad and some grilled shrimp or scallops, they food was good and plentiful.    We had 3 sit down dinners and all were better than I expected.  The main buffet at night was overwhelming.  Every possible food you would want they had.  I stuck mostly to grilled seafoods of some sort as they would grill that up fresh for you right there with any seasoning, butter or oil you like.

I gave the maid 20 dollars and she dropped off a case of beer and a case of water everyday in our room. Plus is open bars everywhere. The one thing I noticed about all inclusives in the service is slow at best..nobody is in a hurry to do anything.

The resort had a shuttle that went back and forth to Playa 4-5 times a day.  About a 20 minute ride.   I loved Playa for some sight seeing and day drinking and it seemed very safe..not sure I would want to hang around there at night though.

I would go back..
Just booked a trip to Barcelo Palace for later this year (wife and two teenage kids).  Super excited to go.  Found this website which has good info and even a discussion board; Unofficial Barcelo Maya.

Edit to add: there is also a good closed Facebook group for sharing info.

 
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Can anyone correct me perhaps. I consider the "Bar" so to speak for adult only AI to be Secrets/Excellence. Each have 3 or maybe 4 properties in the area under one name or another.

Base rooms at these in low season are now $425-$475.  Maybe if lucky you can squeeze in a $395 deal in January.

Has anyone with experience with those two resorts found something in the mid to low 300s that can hang?

 
I just have heard you get hustled by cops, gas stations, and others.   
That was many years ago and they have supposedly cleaned most of that up. We never had any problems. You just have to follow the speed limit and understand that taxis (and most locals) dont have to abide by the same rules that you do.
fwiw, our recent trip to Cozumel in april, I got a little jacked by the gas-station the one time I filled up prior to returning the car. other than not liking getting taken adantage of, it wasn't that much money and as somebody else mentioned, rental prices are bupkis. figured the extra $20 or whatever was like a tip for a nice time.

 
A Cancun AI is a pretty good value if you just want to get on a beach, drink, and bang your wife.

The total spend per couple all in can be easily under 400 bucks a day. Depending on time of year closes in on cruise prices. 

Its better to compare it to a cruise experience rather than a normal hotel.
WHo do you book through?  Is that including air-fare?  

 
Can anyone correct me perhaps. I consider the "Bar" so to speak for adult only AI to be Secrets/Excellence. Each have 3 or maybe 4 properties in the area under one name or another.

Base rooms at these in low season are now $425-$475.  Maybe if lucky you can squeeze in a $395 deal in January.

Has anyone with experience with those two resorts found something in the mid to low 300s that can hang?
Are these swinger places?  

 
I just have heard you get hustled by cops, gas stations, and others.   I never really want to do the excursion thing.  I've basically done all the ones that are worth doing, and don't really have desire to double back on them.
We've rented a car each time and won't ever go without renting a car. Never had any problem and the freedom to do things off-site that it provides is a huge deal for us. 

I can't just hang at an all-inclusive for more than a day or two without getting antsy and wanting to go explore.

 
Can anyone correct me perhaps. I consider the "Bar" so to speak for adult only AI to be Secrets/Excellence. Each have 3 or maybe 4 properties in the area under one name or another.

Base rooms at these in low season are now $425-$475.  Maybe if lucky you can squeeze in a $395 deal in January.

Has anyone with experience with those two resorts found something in the mid to low 300s that can hang?
I've never been to Secrets, but if they are better than Paridisus - La Perla, they must be quite extraordinary.

 
That's great, but that place is in the same price range as E/S from a quick look that shows base rate in the 450 range.  I was just looking for something that still has similar value in the 300s.
We did five nights at that place for just under $2,900, including airfares. I don't have a breakout of the airfares in my old itinerary, but assuming they came to about $900 for two (probably pretty close since we were flying from SEA to CUN), that is $400 per night. But we also had a super-deluxe room. A base room would have been a bit cheaper, probably.

 
Can anyone correct me perhaps. I consider the "Bar" so to speak for adult only AI to be Secrets/Excellence. Each have 3 or maybe 4 properties in the area under one name or another.

Base rooms at these in low season are now $425-$475.  Maybe if lucky you can squeeze in a $395 deal in January.

Has anyone with experience with those two resorts found something in the mid to low 300s that can hang?
You looking at their websites, or through Orbitz/Expedia types? 

 
You looking at their websites, or through Orbitz/Expedia types? 
I usually use hotel.com type places that scrape a few places, then I'll contact the resort to see if they would beat the scrape going direct or offer other perks at the same rate.  That usually works well.

 
We did five nights at that place for just under $2,900, including airfares. I don't have a breakout of the airfares in my old itinerary, but assuming they came to about $900 for two (probably pretty close since we were flying from SEA to CUN), that is $400 per night. But we also had a super-deluxe room. A base room would have been a bit cheaper, probably.
Ok, well that's still in the Ex/Secrets range +/- more or less.  Given it's a mass size AOAI for all that is known it's the same operators.  Many of these operate under the same shell companies.

 
I usually use hotel.com type places that scrape a few places, then I'll contact the resort to see if they would beat the scrape going direct or offer other perks at the same rate.  That usually works well.
I will say that offering "I'll pay this rate if you give perks" has yielded

- Full Day rate as spa credit (happened twice)

- Upgraded room, that turned into 2 upgrades due to availability at check in

- Other resort credits to use on things including excursions

Most of the time the resort has bandwidth to basically give you credit up to and including a daily room rate at their discretion.  That is the minimum I'd really consider.

 
Iberostar is by far the biggest operator down there.  They have stakes or brand operate a zillion resorts in that area.  The way I understand it is they go in and buy up underperforming properties and try to squeeze the cash operation and flip it.  The ones they can't flip they re-brand.  It's really hard to tell what resorts are underwritten, and which ones are owner/operators.  It is one of the scarier aspects of dealing with that part of the world.  

 
belljr said:
This story is garbage.

Makes no sense that of the 50 or 100 people drinking at the resort pool ... the only ones that are affected are the two college age kids traveling together.

The family wants to blame it on mixing alcohol? Might make someone sick but not blackout within 2 hours of getting there. "oh no, they had rum AND tequila???!! No wonder she died."

I suspect the teens had something more than alcohol. Some bad xtc or other ... either brought with them or purchased down there.

The other story ... Husband and wife black out and the woman gets railed? Yeah, blame the "tainted" alcohol. Why didn't this happen to the other 1000 guests staying at the resort?

This article won't influence my decision to continue traveling there. Were we stay, I see security posted all over the place after midnight. Cant imagine getting into too much trouble.

 
I have zero idea the truth behind any of it. I was reading this thread looking for ideas and that article popped up on yahoo or something. :unsure:

 
Well, it's started.  Today my EVP of HR said that the planned President's Club for 2018 is likely to be moved from Riviera Maya.  Been tracking the drug related violence and that coupled with this tainted drink stuff has them looking at other options.  Wouldn't mind going back to Cabo again this year.  Though they are talking Punta Cana or somewhere else in the Caribbean to appease the East Coasters.  I think they are going to take a hit with group corporate tourism, which means screamin' deals for individuals/families.

 
Looks like the airport in Cancun is doing away with Customs forms and the traffic light whacka-mole:

Link

You can also fill out your Immigration form on line ahead of time now:

Link

 

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