Mayan Riviera ?????
08-Sep-2006, 12:21 AM
#1
-- site donator --
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
Mayan Riviera ?????
Vacation time is coming, so the wife and I want to go somewhere different this year. We've done the Cuba thing and D-M isn't for us.
Anyone been there, where did you stay, what did you do there?
Anyone been there, where did you stay, what did you do there?
08-Sep-2006, 01:40 AM
#4
Admin
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Observation Deck
Posts: 17,528
MAYAN RIVIERA: Absolutely one of my favourite places to go. First time stayed about an hour south of Cancun, the second time went to Cozumel. Depends what you're looking for. (In January '06, went to the other side, Puerto Vallarta and loved that, as well--more like 'old Mexico'). Mayan Riviera has some great places to tour as well, Mayan ruins, caves, things like that.
LOVED LOVED LOVED Cozumel, a small island off Playa Del Carmen, even has it's own airport. Small and safe, mostly for scuba and some snorkelling, but decent shopping and great weather, around January, anyway. Not really the party-capital of the world; if that's what you're wanting, the Cancun area is probably better.
That whole area of Mexico wonderful, and I'd recommend it anyday! There are also some great last-minute deals to be had, keep checking for those. Hope it works out for you. Had good experiences. I'm sure lots of others have their opinions, but my vacations there were great times.
LOVED LOVED LOVED Cozumel, a small island off Playa Del Carmen, even has it's own airport. Small and safe, mostly for scuba and some snorkelling, but decent shopping and great weather, around January, anyway. Not really the party-capital of the world; if that's what you're wanting, the Cancun area is probably better.
That whole area of Mexico wonderful, and I'd recommend it anyday! There are also some great last-minute deals to be had, keep checking for those. Hope it works out for you. Had good experiences. I'm sure lots of others have their opinions, but my vacations there were great times.
08-Sep-2006, 02:13 AM
#6
Admin
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Observation Deck
Posts: 17,528
Originally posted by Xscorpio
Sharona, it seems like you travell alot, and have great knowledge of places
Sharona, it seems like you travell alot, and have great knowledge of places
08-Sep-2006, 08:12 AM
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Mayan Riviera is my favourite vacation spot. There are quite a few good places to stay but we stayes at tje RIU tequila and tehj Riu Playacar. I highly recommend any Riu resort.
Or if you want to spend a little more try Secrets Excellence. By far the best resort I have ever been to and they have one in the Mayan Riviera.
Or if you want to spend a little more try Secrets Excellence. By far the best resort I have ever been to and they have one in the Mayan Riviera.
08-Sep-2006, 10:01 AM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Your sisters bedroom
Posts: 30,142
I was at a 5 star in Cancun, debauchery was in full effect.....
As soon as we got there, we did a half a glass of tequila and on the way to the room, I puked everywhere......hahahaha good times
Where did that couple get murdered in Mexico again ?
As soon as we got there, we did a half a glass of tequila and on the way to the room, I puked everywhere......hahahaha good times
Where did that couple get murdered in Mexico again ?
08-Sep-2006, 10:07 AM
#12
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: scarborough
Posts: 6,394
mine was pretty good with that.. but the staff thought my friend and i were in a band.. the only way us idiots could afford it they thought.. maybe i dunno..
just all the 'service' was too much.. little mexican ladies changing your ashtray after every two ashes.. like c'mon lemme relax.... they move like the wind!
also too many rich people, not enough idiots
just all the 'service' was too much.. little mexican ladies changing your ashtray after every two ashes.. like c'mon lemme relax.... they move like the wind!
also too many rich people, not enough idiots
08-Sep-2006, 10:42 AM
#13
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Mississauga
Posts: 491
Originally posted by Bruce Fee
i'm never going back to mexico again, there are too many mexicans.
i'm never staying in a 5 star again (at least while i am young).
i'm never going back to mexico again, there are too many mexicans.
i'm never staying in a 5 star again (at least while i am young).
08-Sep-2006, 11:34 AM
#14
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: scarborough
Posts: 6,394
people trying to rip you off everywhere.. and very stupidly.. at least in cuba they had good stories and most people weren't out to rip you off.... been to cuba 3 times.. veradero and havana....
mexico.. inside the city etc left me with a dislike for the country.. call me a biggot, or an idiot, but i'd rather be a tourist elsewhere.
one moron wanted $50 US for 25 beads... we were laughing at him and walking away as he kept lowering the price.. why even bother with that ish?
mexico.. inside the city etc left me with a dislike for the country.. call me a biggot, or an idiot, but i'd rather be a tourist elsewhere.
one moron wanted $50 US for 25 beads... we were laughing at him and walking away as he kept lowering the price.. why even bother with that ish?
08-Sep-2006, 11:47 AM
#15
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 9,255
Long post. coming up.
"Mayan Riviera is my favourite vacation spot."
I agree.
"I highly recommend any Riu resort."
My wife and I stayed at the Riu Playacar for our honeymoon. The service was excellent, the pool bar.... what can you say about a pool bar?
The beach was really nice, and the full body massages under the cabbana (on the beach) were wonderful. The rooms were clean. (tip the maids a dollar a day and they make sure you have more than you need) ie.. towels, lots of beer and drinks in fridge, chocolates on your pillow every night, and those wonderful towel aninmals) lol The food was pretty good too, and there is always something to eat no matter what time of day. (yeah, I gained weight while there) lol
If you like to snorkel, make sure you head over to Cozumel. One of the best places on earth to go. Pay for the boat/transport seperatly, and then haggle with the boat/snorkel booths once you get over there. I spent $15 US both ways (for 2 people), and another $25 US for the day to go out and snorkel. The veiws were increadable.
I suggest you haggle for everything. Just because you see something you like with a certain price on it, doesn't mean they won't haggle with you for a better price. I was told by one store owner that I haggle like a Mexican (supposedly this is a compliment).
Some things you should do while you are down there... (make sure to check which days they offer these trips).
Xel Ha and Tulum (they have a package deal for these two). I paid only $40 US for 2 people for the "all inclusive" option. To get that price I took a 2 hour "Time Share" guilded tour (the wife was not happy at first, but that changed the day of the trip). : ) Anyway, after saying "we are not interested" after the 2 hour tour, they gave us the package deal for that price. (btw, you can also get better prices if you haggle with the independent tour guilds in Playa del Carmen)
http://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com/rmtours/tulum.htm
Chichen-Itza (I can't remember how much I paid) If you have the time, go. There isn't much to do there, but it does has beautiful ruins. (the bus ride there is a bit long though)
http://www.bernhardt.org.uk/photo%20...ken%20Itza.htm
Jungle Tours... a fun day trip. : )
http://www.atvexplorer.com/
http://www.thereservationcenter.com/...59&City=Cancun
Taxi's. They are around $3->$5 US to get to/from your resort to the little town of Playa Del Carmen. This is were you take the boat to Cozumel. This is also a great place to go shopping for stuff. (remember to haggle). Try not to go shopping during the day. The cruise ship folks are there, and the prices in the stores are adjusted acordingly. (I'm serious) lol
If you want more info on the Riu resorts check out this link.
http://www.riubambu.com/
Some other helpful sites.
http://www.travelrivieramaya.com/
http://www.xel-ha.com/
Since the Canadian dollar is so strong right now, I wouldn't even bother changing it to US dollars before heading down (except for tips of course). If you do need US dollars while down there, head into Playa Del Carmen and look for the many currency exchange booths. They all vary a bit in exchange rates, so shop around a litle bit for the best rate. (they will give you a much better rate than the resort)
And remember to take a digi cam with a couple of big memory cards. There are a couple of places down there (Kodak shops) that can transfer you pics to a CDR for around $5->$7US if you need more more memory space. (I took over 1200 photo's in two weeks)
We went in mid november, and the weather was absolutly beutiful.... 30+ all the time (before humidity), and the trip costs a bit less during that time of year).
Some pics...
Massages on the beach.
Playa Del Carmen's 5th Ave.
"Mayan Riviera is my favourite vacation spot."
I agree.
"I highly recommend any Riu resort."
My wife and I stayed at the Riu Playacar for our honeymoon. The service was excellent, the pool bar.... what can you say about a pool bar?
The beach was really nice, and the full body massages under the cabbana (on the beach) were wonderful. The rooms were clean. (tip the maids a dollar a day and they make sure you have more than you need) ie.. towels, lots of beer and drinks in fridge, chocolates on your pillow every night, and those wonderful towel aninmals) lol The food was pretty good too, and there is always something to eat no matter what time of day. (yeah, I gained weight while there) lol
If you like to snorkel, make sure you head over to Cozumel. One of the best places on earth to go. Pay for the boat/transport seperatly, and then haggle with the boat/snorkel booths once you get over there. I spent $15 US both ways (for 2 people), and another $25 US for the day to go out and snorkel. The veiws were increadable.
I suggest you haggle for everything. Just because you see something you like with a certain price on it, doesn't mean they won't haggle with you for a better price. I was told by one store owner that I haggle like a Mexican (supposedly this is a compliment).
Some things you should do while you are down there... (make sure to check which days they offer these trips).
Xel Ha and Tulum (they have a package deal for these two). I paid only $40 US for 2 people for the "all inclusive" option. To get that price I took a 2 hour "Time Share" guilded tour (the wife was not happy at first, but that changed the day of the trip). : ) Anyway, after saying "we are not interested" after the 2 hour tour, they gave us the package deal for that price. (btw, you can also get better prices if you haggle with the independent tour guilds in Playa del Carmen)
http://www.cancunandrivieramaya.com/rmtours/tulum.htm
Chichen-Itza (I can't remember how much I paid) If you have the time, go. There isn't much to do there, but it does has beautiful ruins. (the bus ride there is a bit long though)
http://www.bernhardt.org.uk/photo%20...ken%20Itza.htm
Jungle Tours... a fun day trip. : )
http://www.atvexplorer.com/
http://www.thereservationcenter.com/...59&City=Cancun
Taxi's. They are around $3->$5 US to get to/from your resort to the little town of Playa Del Carmen. This is were you take the boat to Cozumel. This is also a great place to go shopping for stuff. (remember to haggle). Try not to go shopping during the day. The cruise ship folks are there, and the prices in the stores are adjusted acordingly. (I'm serious) lol
If you want more info on the Riu resorts check out this link.
http://www.riubambu.com/
Some other helpful sites.
http://www.travelrivieramaya.com/
http://www.xel-ha.com/
Since the Canadian dollar is so strong right now, I wouldn't even bother changing it to US dollars before heading down (except for tips of course). If you do need US dollars while down there, head into Playa Del Carmen and look for the many currency exchange booths. They all vary a bit in exchange rates, so shop around a litle bit for the best rate. (they will give you a much better rate than the resort)
And remember to take a digi cam with a couple of big memory cards. There are a couple of places down there (Kodak shops) that can transfer you pics to a CDR for around $5->$7US if you need more more memory space. (I took over 1200 photo's in two weeks)
We went in mid november, and the weather was absolutly beutiful.... 30+ all the time (before humidity), and the trip costs a bit less during that time of year).
Some pics...
Massages on the beach.
Playa Del Carmen's 5th Ave.
08-Sep-2006, 11:48 AM
#16
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 9,255
One of the bars in Playa del Carmen. (They have a great way to know when a person has had enough to drink.... they fall off the swing) Only in Mexico.
The guy that took us out to snorkel in Cozumal.
Cozumel at the end of a fun day filled with snorkling, eating, and shopping.
Would I go back again? (in a heartbeat)
The guy that took us out to snorkel in Cozumal.
Cozumel at the end of a fun day filled with snorkling, eating, and shopping.
Would I go back again?
(in a heartbeat)
08-Sep-2006, 12:04 PM
#17
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Toronto
Posts: 9,255
Btw, if you want to party, I suggest you go to Cancun instead.
The Mayan Riviera is more of a "sit back in your lounge chair drinking a mai tai, while taking in the beautiful scenery" type of place. The word "relaxation" comes to mind when I think of the Mayan.
The Mayan Riviera is more of a "sit back in your lounge chair drinking a mai tai, while taking in the beautiful scenery" type of place. The word "relaxation" comes to mind when I think of the Mayan.
08-Sep-2006, 12:15 PM
#18
Admin
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Observation Deck
Posts: 17,528
Thanks for posting that, PULOVR! When I was there, also visited Coba, (lesser known Mayan ruins where you have to trek through the jungle a little bit...bring bottled water!) and even climbed the pyramid--supposedly one of the highest in the area. Also, toured underground caves called Aktun Chen and learned so many fascinating details about that area of Mexico. Imho, Mayan Riviera, including Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel are all outstanding.
08-Sep-2006, 01:04 PM
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Burlington
Posts: 1,730
Love the Mayan Riveria & I love Barcelo Mayan Riveria Beach Resort 5 Stars and its beautiful. I have been there 3 times.
This time (Leaving tomorrow) I am heading to Cancun though and staying at Rui Cancun. Got an amazing deal taxes included $850 per person.
This time (Leaving tomorrow) I am heading to Cancun though and staying at Rui Cancun. Got an amazing deal taxes included $850 per person.
