Mexico vacation input needed
 

Looking at going to Mexico next month with wife and 16 year old daughter. Looking for any input on places you have stayed and would recommend. We are thinking Cancun or Riviera Maya. We were planing to go to to the Grand Riviera Princess ( the one that had the explosion) and stay in the platnium area but that area is closed until the hotel is repaired. If any one can give me some insight it would be great. We would like to do some snorkeling no diving as we are not certified and i would like to maybe look into deep sea fishing.

So if anyone can give me any advice on places to stay or places to stay away from that would be great.

Thanks Keith

I was in that area last March. We stayed at Gran Bahia Principe. It is about 1hr 30mins from Cancun, but is a very nice resort. There are lots of places to snorkle close to the resort. Akumal is 5 mins away (via collectivo) and you can snorkel for free, if you bring your own stuff. There are lots of colorfull fish, turtles, stingrays. And you can always snorkel right at the resort. There are lots of schools of fish that will circle you looking for food.

WQe have been staying in Akumal for the last 8-9 years , we love the Akumal Beach Resort . Not a fancy resort but a comfortable all inclusive & the best location in the entire Mayan Riviera imo. Amazing beach & great snorkeling right in front of the hotel .

I recommend the Blue Bay Esmerelda. I have stayed there twice now both times were top notch. Huge pool, nice beach, good food.

We just stayed and got married at the Bahia Principe Tulum. There are 3 resorts on the grounds at the Bahia Tulum, Akumal ,& Coba All three are awesome. Tulum & Akumal are the beach fronts. Highly recommend this resort!!!

I was at the Grand Riviera Princess last year, best place I've been in Mexico, highly recommend it, only thing is you'll have to travel a little for good snorkeling and scuba if that's a concern. However not many resorts in the Mayan have good snorkeling right off the beach.

Thanks for the input people keep the ideas coming. Has anyone went fishing down there? Good idea or waste of money?

Is snorkeling any better in Cancun or would it be about the same?

I have some more research do now on the resorts listed.

check out this web site, lots of great information. Just type in the resort you would like to learn about.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...Peninsula.html

Cancun would be worse.

I wouldn't bother with the deep sea fishing, I've been before as well as many friends. Typically you're lucky to hook a couple barracudas (sometimes you get nothing) and 80% of the people on the boat get sea sick which can last a couple hours or a couple days after depending on your sensitivity level.

You can book nice snorkeling trips to Akumal which is good and not too expensive. Go on a cenote tour, that's something not typical in other areas of the world and it's amazing, cold but worth it.

Thanks thats the advice i was looking for.

If you're not set on Mexico I would suggest looking into the Dreams resort in La Romana in the Dominican Republic. Best place by far in the Caribbean, in my experience. Lots of restaurants and you don't need reservations and most don't have dress codes (trust me this is key when you're down there). Good snorkeling right of the beach, super calm water, and one of the best dive shops right on the beach as well. I even got married there and I still like it, that should tell you something :lol:

We were at Dreams Puerto Aventuras back in Feb. this was our first time to Mexico, and we loved this resort. Small, but high caliber, you don't have to walk for 15 minutes to get to the beach, its right on it.

There is a marina 5 minutes walk away, there are markets, and a dolphin show/swim, loads of small fishing charter boats, Golf course, etc.

It is pretty centeral along the east coast between Tulum and Playa Del Carman.

Xcaret is a short bus drive away. As are the Tulum ruins.

Great food, great room service, wife sayes spa was really good.
great drinks etc etc

There is a decent amount of snorkeling on the beach out infront of the resort It is sheltered by a breakwater, so loads of fish come in out of the waves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossmct...7623423282094/
Not much for corals, but tangs, puffers, rays, baracuda, etc.

Google Earth:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=2...05364&t=h&z=18

Hotel website:
http://www.dreamsresorts.com/drepa/photo-gallery.html

No, I'm not affiliated with them, but I'd go back there in a heart beat.

Diving and snorkeling pics from the Dreams in Dominican, basically most dive sites and snorkeling right of the resort beach.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...ghlight=diving

Also room service there was free. Often this is case with most all inclusive but most don't know about it as it's not usually advertised.

One thing about the Princess in Mexico is it was HUGE! Not a bad thing really but the distance from the lobby to the beach is 1km. Walking there and back would take about 30min.

Nothing but good things to say about:

-Gran Bahia Principe Tulum -- other adjoining hotels looked nice.
-Iberostar Paraíso Lindo (twice) -- other adjoining Iberostar hotels look really nice.
-Barcelo Maya Palace (got married here) -- other adjoining hotels were really nice too.

Stayed at the Barcelo Maya Tropical at the end of November. Resort was very nice and clean. I can't really compare it against any other resort though. One thing I can say, the free snorkeling at the resort is only a one hour rental. So if you enjoy it, buy or borrow some gear before you go. There were swarms of fish, stingrays and turtles off the pier at our resort and we would have stayed in the water a lot longer if we had our own equipment. Also next time I go i'll take the water shoes since there are lots of big rocks lurking out in the water. I'd also take a big beer mug because those little glasses just dont cut it.

We did take the catamaran tour from playa del carmen to tulum one day though. It was an excellent day, two hours sailing, one hour snorkeling, lunch on the boat, hang out at the beach for an hour and a quick tour of tulum.

Boat was large enough (80ft) that there wasn't a whole bunch or rocking. Two or three people ended up being sick out of a hundred or more. The sailing (motor powered) went along the coast which was surprisingly sweet. We then snuck in past the surf and snorkeled just out from tulum at the reef there. The short tour of Tulum was also informative but not too lengthy.

Looked into the deep sea fishing but none of my friends would commit. Talked to some other guests that went and on thier 6 hour trip the group (8 guys) caught three fish. They weren't that happy but every trip is differnt. The fishing boats are a fair bit smaller and in rolling seas I think the squeamish wouldn't have a good time.
Three of my friends did end up going, without callin me which is a whole other story. They went on a four hour trip and caught six or seven fish. They said it was amazing and since the groom ended up reeling in a six or seven foot marlin everyone was happy. Depending on when you go some fish are out of season. At the end of Nov. the marlin season isn't that great but obviously it varies a fair bit.

Sounded great to me until I went to the web site and found the price of the rooms start at around $500 per night for the Feb. dates I plugged in. Know of any other nice but more reasonable resorts in the Dominican? Not sure yet if this is where I'll go as I really liked Hawaii and would love to go again and visit the Big Island this time.

I have stayed at the gran bahia coba, one of three resorts in the conglomerate. Cheaper there but you are not at the beach. Takes 5 min by little tram which comes by about every 5-10 min.
The snorkeling is not too bad, nothing like cuba. But the town of Akumal is about 10 min away by collectivo like someone else has said. Cheap! I am thinking 5$ US but not sure. We saw quite a few turtles there. And if you swim to the breakwater you see a little bit more. Watch out for boats! I saw a resting shark there. Not sure what kind. It was sleeping so we did not bother it (afraid to)

If you go to Maya, you gotta go to the state park called Xcaret. They have an underground river that you can float down to the ocean. Their beach had the best snorkelling I've ever experienced. Millions of fish. They even have large schools swimming around you. The fish aren't scared cause being a state park, they're used to people.
If you go to the pacific side, I just stayed at the Dreams Los Cabos in Cabos San Lucas. I'd give this 6 stars, as service and food was exceptional. Not cheap though.

Barcelo Maya Palace is awesome, love that place and the snorkeling off the beach is really nice too. Lots to see and a very clean resort.

xcaret was cool too and only 15mins away. If your looking to save some cash you can take the local bus that runs back and forth along the road. Just stand on the side of the highway and they will stop for you.

Not sure why it's listed so expensive, I went in May and it was $1500 for a week including flights and everything. Just checked on escapes.ca and it's $1769 for 7 days through westjet leaving Feb 4th.
Anything is La Romana will be nice, I'd avoid Punta Cana just cause it's really windy and the ocean is pretty rough. La Romana is in a calm cove so it's much better.

Thanks everyone for all the input. We booked in at the Gran Bahia Principe Akumel with the golden upgrade. Cant wait.

Anyone have more input on excursion that a person should look into?

All those who have stay at the Gran Bahia that have any pointers or resturants that they would recommend or stay away from it would be great to have your input.

Keith

Some nice cenotes close to Tulum, check those out for sure.

We stayed at the Princess last year. Nothing bad to say about the hotel, except that it IS sprawlingly huge and depends on whether your room is close to the beach or not, it is quite the hike everytime you want to see the ocean.
We didn't mind walking, but it got to be ridiculous when we only needed to check the waves and the flag warnings. Our rooms were closer to the main lobby, so it might help to be closer to the beach.
Plus if you want some excitement or just be aound the pool, you have a bit of a walk ahead of you. So we had to remember to pack everyhting when we head for the beach, just so we won't have to walk all that way back.
Beautiful grounds, though, nice wide walking paths, well-groomed, with beautiful statues lining the walk.
But heed the warnings about slippery floors! The whole courtyard and adjoining walk-paths are paved with VERY shiny marble. We have witnessed and heard of people slipping and falling, often. Marble and water, and spilled cervasas just don't mix.
The beach there is fine, the edge by the water can be surprisingly rocky, though. We would be stolling through the water, and stepped on some very sharp rocks. So water socks are a must.

when you get to the resort, ask the people at the front desk where to make dinner reservations. Book the Japaneese one, absoultely amazing. You will have to travel to Akumal, great snorkeling. I went to Xel Ha, but wouldn't recommend it, very murky water and fairly pricey.

Akumal Bay has good snorkeling but the water can get silty if it is windy. Half Moon Bay is about a mile north of Akumal bay, and I think the snorkeling is better, although it is rocky.
If you go to Akumal Bay stop at the Lo Ha beach bar for happy hour. This webcam is mounted on the front of the dining area.
For great margaritas go to La Cueva del Pescador. The also have really good food.
If you are the least bit interested in Mayan history, be sure to visit the ruins in Tulum and better yet, take a tour to Coba. In my 2007 trip, I hired a cab for the day from Akumal to Coba and back, and it only cost around $50, but this trip the DW and I are renting a car for the first 10 days.

If you enjoy snorkeling, I would highly recommend taking a resort scuba course. Better yet, if time permits, do your classroom and pool training at home before you leave, and do your open water certification dives at one of the dive shops in Mexico.

Check out LocoGringo for tons of good information on the Mayan Riviera. I always book with them when staying in the Akumal area. Their forums also provide a wealth of information for activities in area.

Keith,

I would for sure do "La Gran Tortuga" restaraunt; I'm fairly certain its on the Akumel site; or maybe Coba; I can't remember. But as others mentioned the tram continuously runs between the three sites. You have made a great choice in resorts! We stayed there (at Tulum) and it was fantastic. I would go again in a heartbeat. Enjoy!

cancun!!
 

Try Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya beach resort... they are nice too