Mexico - Playa Del Carmen
Discussion
Me and the Mrs are heading off to Playa Del Carmen for 10 days next Tuesday.
Do any of you guys have any recommendations as to evenings out (restaurants/bars around 5th ave), excursions, any cheap trip we can do?
Im not the sort of guy who can lay on a lounger all day because i turn in to a sweaty mess and start winding up the Mrs because i get bored.
Do any of you guys have any recommendations as to evenings out (restaurants/bars around 5th ave), excursions, any cheap trip we can do?
Im not the sort of guy who can lay on a lounger all day because i turn in to a sweaty mess and start winding up the Mrs because i get bored.
There are lots of days out.
chichen itza, caves, marine park, diving, sailing, fishing.
We hired a car as everything is fairly close and it was nice to get to the attractions without touring a dozen hotels picking up passengers.
The attractions tend to only be busy for a short time as the tourists all arrive at the same time on their coaches. The tours are all attraction-lunch-attraction-home. So arrive early or late and you'll have the place to yourself.
chichen itza, caves, marine park, diving, sailing, fishing.
We hired a car as everything is fairly close and it was nice to get to the attractions without touring a dozen hotels picking up passengers.
The attractions tend to only be busy for a short time as the tourists all arrive at the same time on their coaches. The tours are all attraction-lunch-attraction-home. So arrive early or late and you'll have the place to yourself.
There is one restaurant upstairs on 5th ave I'll dig out the name, its just a doorway on the main strip but you go upstairs and just watch the world go by, great to get away from it. Great steaks and a decent price.
Xel-ha,xplor are great, xel-ha is a relaxing day out, xcaret is ok people rave about it but I wasn't so keen possibly because it was raining.
Xsenses has just opened and is pretty good but not sure it's worth the money. Its quiet there at the moment so you get around it quickly. We spend 1.5 hours waiting for our pick up and this was on a half day trip.
Isla majures dont go by Jeep, its like a topgear challenge 3-4 hours there and the same back.
Some of the clubs are pretty good, I've outgrown clubbing but had a great time when we went so don't be put off.
Coba is also worth a look, less touristy and for the short time you can climb up.
The pirate ship is well worth a look.
Which hotel you staying in.
Xel-ha,xplor are great, xel-ha is a relaxing day out, xcaret is ok people rave about it but I wasn't so keen possibly because it was raining.
Xsenses has just opened and is pretty good but not sure it's worth the money. Its quiet there at the moment so you get around it quickly. We spend 1.5 hours waiting for our pick up and this was on a half day trip.
Isla majures dont go by Jeep, its like a topgear challenge 3-4 hours there and the same back.
Some of the clubs are pretty good, I've outgrown clubbing but had a great time when we went so don't be put off.
Coba is also worth a look, less touristy and for the short time you can climb up.
The pirate ship is well worth a look.
Which hotel you staying in.
Edited by bazza white on Wednesday 31st August 19:40
bazza white said:
xcaret is ok people rave about it but I wasn't so keen possibly because it was raining.
With you on that; and I went in blazing sunshine. Bit too 'Disney' for my liking.Edited by bazza white on Wednesday 31st August 19:40
The speedboat tour is good and not too pricey. Sunshine is the company. You get a little speedboat and head out in convey to a coral reef for a bit of snorkelling.
Thanks for the replies.
Were staying at Riu Playacar, the deal was to good to pass up considering the cost of a AI holiday to Spain/Portugal etc.
We've booked Coco Bongo's but being the ripe age of 27,I now enjoy a good quality ale so we shall see how that pans out. Seems to get good reviews so we still have some hope.
Tulum ruins was also on the cards, looks like a interesting place.
Were staying at Riu Playacar, the deal was to good to pass up considering the cost of a AI holiday to Spain/Portugal etc.
We've booked Coco Bongo's but being the ripe age of 27,I now enjoy a good quality ale so we shall see how that pans out. Seems to get good reviews so we still have some hope.
Tulum ruins was also on the cards, looks like a interesting place.
The Riu's are a decent hotel, if your in the playacar its worth going over the road to the tequila for a day and evening, its more classic riu style. Yucatan isn't to bad, its a bit bigger than the playacar and a bit more going on in the day.
You can walk to 5th ave to its about 20-25mins.
You can walk to 5th ave to its about 20-25mins.
allardj412 said:
I wont be using my credit card (hopefully). I always take more cash then needed just in case.
We did look at staying at the Riu Tequila but seems as though its starting to become very outdated and over grown. We will visit there no doubt for an evening!
Attractions have pretty much all been described. Just picking up on one point, we stayed at Tequila. It's ok with good daytime animation if you have kids. There are a lot of coati mundi and capybara running wild in the resort. The coati will raid your bag and nick your drink if you take your eyes off them We did look at staying at the Riu Tequila but seems as though its starting to become very outdated and over grown. We will visit there no doubt for an evening!
. They just help themselves and it is quite funny to see the babies trying to walk pissed using their rotating tails to stop themselves falling over.Food is good at Riu, but if you like spice, you will need to go out. Went to the resort Mexican restaurant with high expectations and it tasted like Chinese food - bland.
Try to go to Tequila when they have the Mexican games night. Good fun.
Jump in a colectivo taxi from the taxi stand just off 5th and head down to akumal for the day. It's a sea turtle conservation centre and you can hire snorkel gear on the beach and swim around with the turtles. We swam with sting rays too and saw leads of tropical fish.
There's an open air restaurant on the beach in akumal called lol-ha that do good burgers.
Alux is am underground bar/club in PDC that's in a cave. Meant to be pretty cool.
For late night drinks head to the beach in PDC and find Zenzi beach bar. Open air with tables on the sand. Very relaxed.
There's an open air restaurant on the beach in akumal called lol-ha that do good burgers.
Alux is am underground bar/club in PDC that's in a cave. Meant to be pretty cool.
For late night drinks head to the beach in PDC and find Zenzi beach bar. Open air with tables on the sand. Very relaxed.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff