mdsaulters

Hello!

This is my first time posting on the forums… so forgive me if I forget any details.

My sister (21) and I (28) are looking to venture to Mexico for a long weekend in April. We’re interested in an all-inclusive beach resort. This is a relaxing trip, so great beaches/pools, great food/drinks and comfortable rooms are high on our list of wants. We’d like to possibly do some off resort excursions/site-seeing as well, so being close to popular areas would be nice. We’d like to stay around $700 (total with taxes and fees) or less per person. I understand we aren’t going to find luxury resorts at this price point; we just want to have a nice beach to lounge on and comfortable, clean rooms to sleep in (with ‘free’ booze of course!). We’ve been looking in the Riviera Maya area, but there are so many options it’s hard to tell which are the best for the money. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

mdsaulters

Here is one of the resorts we are looking at. Has anyone been here or have suggestions on it?

Ocean Turquesa by H10 - All Inclusive Resort

suze

Sorry can't help with AI's on that coast, but you might want to check the calendar because Easter falls at the end of April and the week before and week after can be CRAZY busy at resorts in Mexico.

schmerl

Does that include your air fare also? It may be difficult to find an AI for that price.

Stewbear

You do understand The AI & great food is almost an impossibility.?

john127

We stayed at Gran Bahia Principe and were happy with it. Amazing pools and the food was very good. The beach is nice, but not spectacular.

KVR

We've stayed at many AI resorts in Mexico anywhere between $1,300 to $1,800 (on the low end) for 2 people with airfare. I do agree that at that price point food is not going to be that great, but the unlimited drinks were worth it to us.

Look at the El Cozumeleno in Cozumel. Any of the non-Palace RIU's in Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Riviera Maya areas. The Oasis hotels in Cancun. The Barcelo in Cancun.

Are you wanting a Spring Break partish hotel? At that time of year in your price point you may run into that. Also at that time of year resorts will be crawling with families and kids unless you get an adult only resort and then you are out of your price point.

If you can wait until the 3rd week of May, you will find lesser crowds and price reductions. You get a nicer hotel for less money than what you will find in April and the Spring break/Easter vacations will be over.

MFNYC

I haven't been, but the Akumel Beach Resort, is a more mid-range AI with decent reviews.

kjoyce67

We stayed at Ocean Coral and Turquesa and had a fantastic time. We were there 1/9 thru 1/16. We opted for the Priveleged package. It was awesome! Very clean resort and great food (and I'm very picky!!). Staff is so so on English, but that was about it for cons.

suze

To help we'd really need to know: by "long weekend" are we talking 3, 4, or 5 days. The $700 budget is in addition? That you're plane tickets are separate? Or you want $700 pp to include the plane? If so where are you flying from?

rpowell

We just returned from 5 days at the Barcelo Tropical about 1 hour south of Cancun on Riviera Maya. Our total trip cost with air from Chicago was $850pp. We booked with Cheap Caribbean.The resort was gorgeous with perfect beaches! The food was fine, great waitstaff, clean rooms with lovely views (not beach views), great drinks. Tons of activities if you want them.

mdsaulters

Thanks for all the input! As far as the price that is for each of us, so $1400 total for 2 people. We'd be flying from Atlanta. It would be 3 to 4 nights, depending on price.

I've heard a lot about the AI's and not so great food... as long is its not horrible and there are options I think we'd be ok. Would it be better to do a non AI hotel/resort?

Also, I completely forgot about Spring Break, so I guess avoiding spring breakers may be difficult, huh?

I'm sorry to be all over the place, but if anyone has a suggestion of a nice inexpensive beach resort in areas other than Mexico that would be better during this time period I'd appreciate it.

Thanks again!

fishee

Out of a hub like ATL, perhaps you can find some good package deal as airfares can be as low $250 total which leaves you $450/pp for 3-4 nights. (it's always cheaper if you can travel mid-week)

Perhaps ppl can rec resorts based on the $400-450/pp estimate.

suze

From Atlanta, I'd look to the Caribbean (Jamaica or the Dominican Republic) for inexpensive AI's and a closer flight than Mexico.

MFNYC

Spring break shouldn't be an issue in the places mentioned. They are mostly in Cancun, and typically at specific hotels that cater to the younger crowd. They generally aren't in AI's in the mayan riviera.

KVR

You may not have to worry so much about young adult Spring breakers, but if you choose a resort that allows children, you will be bombarded with kids no matter what area of Mexico you stay in. Been there, done that and won't do it again. Unfortuantly for your budget, if you want an adult's only resort it can be significantly higher priced. You might want to check on-line booking sites and just see what you can get for your budget.

Jamaica is a great second choice. Look at the Iberostar in Montego Bay. It has an adult only side. Some of the smaller AI's in Negril you will probably not have to worry too much about kids.

suze

Just happens I flew thru Atlanta (on Delta) going to Negril Jamaica last summer from Seattle. Atlanta/Montego Bay is an easy short flight. And then an AI in Negril or MoBay. Negril is a 90 min ride from the airport but it's only $20 pp w/ Clives or other transporation. The 7-mile beach in Negril is wonderful.

As far as figuring out which AIs are best for the money on the Mayan Riviera, have you used the review section of Trip Advisor? That and their forums for Playa del Carmen would help narrow things down.

mdsaulters

Thanks again for all the input. I will definitly look into Jamica.

I did find a decent price $650/pp with airfare to Park Royal Cancun- All Inclusive on expedia. The reveiws seem to be pretty decent- I checked Trip advisor also- with the exception of a few. Has anyone been or have any information on it?

schmerl

If that resort is right in Cancun you may be faced with the Spring breakers since they love Cancun.

KVR

You might look at Cozumel instead. Not much there for Spring Breakers and if you pick the right hotel there shouldn't be many kids either. Just research carefully as many are quite far from the town of San Miguel, which can cost you in taxi fare to and from. There is a Park Royal Hotel there also. It's a huge time share property, just stay away from the sharks circling the lobby and you'll be fine. It's a nice, low budget AI in town with great pools.

Here's a list of hotels in Cozumel:

http://www.funjet.com/destinations/d...D&OAC=&plCode=