Sarah

Hello,<BR>I'm looking for advice on our vacation coming up the last week of may. I will be flying into Cancun. We are looking for basic and moderate priced lodging $100 or less on the beach and we are willing to rent a car, take a bus, or a ferry to find it. We'd also like information on deep sea fishing and daytrips to the Myan ruins. Any help will be appreciated.<BR>Thanks,<BR><BR>Sarah

groovy

I stayed at the Casamara a little over a year ago. I loved it! It is right off of 5th ave in PDC and a short walk to the beach, internet cafe on the corner, secluded courtyard. they have a site at www.casamara.com I think I paid about 45 a night.

Carole

Hi Sarah,<BR><BR>May is usually the beginning of the low season rates. <BR><BR>If you would like to get off the beaten path, check out our beach front villa on a private 1/2 acre private property in the Tankah area. This is located 3 miles north of the famous ruins of Tulum, within driving distance to Chichen Itza, Coba and other archaeological sites. Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve just south of Tulum. Also many beautiful cenotes in the area. 1st fl. unit $85/night for 2, 2nd fl. unit $115/night for 2<BR> http://CasaTropical.com or email [email protected] for more info <BR><BR>Other helpful web sites to visit:<BR>Weather http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/76590.html <BR><BR>Weather Base (past weather history, temps, rainfall, etc.)<BR>http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=509567&amp;refer=<BR><BR>Hidden Worlds snorkel &amp; dive tours of cenotes<BR>http://hiddenworlds.com.mx/<BR><BR>Xel-Ha<BR>http://www.xelha.com.mx/<BR><BR>Aktun Chen <BR>www.aktunchen.com<BR><BR>Maps of Riviera Maya Can-do Maps <BR>http://WWW.cancunmap.com/<BR><BR> Check out this web site for tours lead by the Friends of Sian Ka'an group. It is a non-profit organization and tour guides are usually biologists. Very informative tours lead by a very worthwhile organization. <BR>Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve<BR>http://www.cancun.com/siankaan/<BR><BR>photo of tankah's cenote'<BR>http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian/issues98/apr98/diver_jpg.html<BR>

Rosita Carlson

Try www.bluecaribbean.com in Puerto Aventuras, mention my name, the woman who operates the condo rentals knows me!

Hope

We want to book a last-minute getaway @ Aquamarina Beach AI in Cancun. Any one have first- or even second-hand experience with this hotel? The price is right &amp; fits in with our frequent flier availability &amp; etc.

Ron

Sarah -- I have stayed at the Blue Parrot a couple of times -- www.blueparrot.com -- and truly enjoyed it. The location is on the beach in Playa Del Carmen. I have stayed in an efficiency unit and a one bedroom unit. Both have the feel of a mini-condo. Youcan walk to all the hot spots in town and will fine it a great launching pad to get to other nearby sites. The off-season rates are just under your $100 mark. I have spent a lot of time in the Playa area -- staying in a private villa, AI, and &quot;regular&quot; hotel. Also check out the Playa Maya, La Lunata, and Mosquito Blue (Playa Maya is on the beach the others are a block off-beach).

Sheri

You should have no problem in May when rates drop. If you like the beach, you might consider Tulum. The beaches here are much less crowded and the atmosphere is laid back. There are a lot of easy day trips - Coba, Playa, Akumal for snorkeling, etc, etc.<BR><BR>We always stay in Tulum now, finding it preferable to the increasing commercialization in Playa. <BR><BR>I can personally recommend Tita Tulum (www.titatulum) - around $90. Zamas Cabanas (www.zamas.com) for 60-$120 depending on season and cabana. Dos Ceibas (www.dosceibas.com), again $60-120. We just returned last week, and on this most recent trip split our time between Dos Ceibas and Los Lirios (www.loslirios.com) I preferred the latter as the rooms were large and comfortable. DO NOT book through the website which quotes rates of $120 and upward. We booked through www.travel-center.com and paid $74 including breakfast. We requested an oceanfront room, upper floor, with Kingsize bed. The thatch ceilings were 30 ft. tall and there was a huge bathroom with soaker tub for 2, sitting area, and big balcony overlooking the sea, with hammock.<BR><BR>Travel Center said they couldn't guarantee an oceanfront room, so I emailed the hotel directly to request this and also to confirm the $74 rate. They said they were going to charge me an extra $10 per night for oceanfront, but when I arrived they did not. We also got upgraded to an American breakfast instead of the continental we were supposed to get. Am Bkfst had juice, coffee, fruit plate, toast, your choice of eggs (any style) or pancakes. Good deal. We loved it here and the beach is unbeatable. <BR><BR>There are many small beachfront cabana hotels in Tulum, and at that time of year you would be safe to only book a night or two and then explore other places to stay once you're there. <BR><BR>If you stay in Tulum a car will come in handy and I'd defintely recommend you get one. <BR><BR>The Tulum ruins are of course right there, and you can also take daytrips to Coba (40 km away and right in the jungle), Chichen Itza (4 hrs), Muyil (15 minutes) and Ek Balaam (2 hours). <BR><BR>There are many fishing trips in the area, into the Sian Kaan biosphere or off the coast from Playa, Akumal, Tulum, Puerto Aventuras, etc.<BR><BR>Tulum makes a great base for exploring the Yucatan.<BR>

Nik

I was in the Yucatan in February last year. I stayed at Cocos Cabanas - it was fabulous about 50 feet from the beach. No tv or phones in the room - made more for a couple than friends traveling together b/c the bathroom and bedroom are pretty much one room. It is very inexpensive - but really great.