JLJC95333

My long term boyfriend & I are going out of the country for the first time to Playa Del Carmen(not too far from the downtown area) in a few weeks. His Birthday is right before we leave for our trip & I would really love to do something special there to surprise him.. Does anyone have any ideas? Such as certain excursions or even something out of the ordinary? Typically I would research things months in advance, but I don't have much time left & this month is going to fly by with everything else I have got going on. Also, we can travel to the nearby areas(such as Tulum, Akumal, Cancun, etc.) if needed. And please note that while I'm into adventure.. I'm not into extreme adventure such as sky diving or swimming with sharks for reference

I really really appreciate any ideas, tips, or anything else anyone would like to throw out there. Thank you !!!

JLJC95333

(Staying at Riu Palace Mexico for reference)

emd3

How old are you two? Does he like animals? What does he like to do? What are his interests? there is a special something for everyone here.

I own a place in Playa and am here now. Give me some more info and I Will try to help. Don't want to just shoot in the dark too much, as there is too much to do here.

Does this sound appealing? my husband loved it, but who knows about the boyfriend...

Www.thejungleplace.com

Or possibly snorkeling at Dos Ojos cenote with a guide? Or snorkel with the sea turtles at Akumal? Google and see

emd3

We did a couple of tours with Siaan Kaan Community tours while here this time, and loved both ones we did. Sian Kaan is a very special place. Google Sian Kaan Community Tours and see.

KVR

There are so many things to see and do in that area. Here is a tour company that offers a variety. We have used this company several times with no problems. Even if you don't want to use a tour it will give you a good idea of what can be done.

http://www.cancun-discounts.com/tours/playa-del-carmen/

http://www.playa.info/tours-anna-james-general.html

Additional links to research:

http://www.xplor.travel/

http://www.en-yucatan.com/riviera-maya/aktunchen/

http://www.xcaret.com/

http://www.xelha.com/

This is an awesome sunset cruise with a jazz beach dinner afterward. We did this for my 40th birthday and loved it:

http://www.luxuryyachtchartercancun....ma-sunset.html

schmerl

Also look into Edventure Tours. They have set tours, but will design a day around what you want to do:
http://www.edventuretours.com.mx/

emd3

KVR, WOW, that sunset cruise and dinner looks awesome. I do not see a price on the website, do you recall about how much it was? I want to book this for my husband and me. Thanks for the info!

KVR

emd3 this is the site where I booked it.

http://www.lomas-travel.com/riviera_..._Cruise_Dinner

We went in 2008. We had the steak and lobster, which was good. They didn't have the individual cabanas back then. They just had the canopy tents over the tables. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat for a special occasion. Very romantic.

Here's a pic that I took of the beach from the boat:

http://kvrlvnphotogallery.shutterfly.com/pictures/5049

There are more pictures on my site also.

Have Fun!

hopefulist

www.thejungleplace.com was the birthday surprise for our daughter (then age 27) a few years ago. I really treasure the memories and the photos from that day; fun and memorable but not romantic. Have a great trip, whatever you decide!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyh...7625769445958/

KVR

hopefulist, very nice pictures. As many times as we have been to that area, we still haven't seen/done everything. I guess I need to start planning another trip.

hopefulist

Thanks! I don't know that we'd ever do that one again but it sure was a fun experience!

Katzgar

a camel safari.....

http://www.cancun-discounts.com/tour...iding-tour.htm

nina88

Don't want to hijack this thread but would appreciate it if you can give us info on at least 3 restaurants that locals go and where is the best place to do grocery shopping for fresh fruits? Thank you. We'll be staying at Xaman Ha condo.

emd3

Best place for fresh fruit is the DAC produce market on Avenida 30 Between Constituyentes and Calle 20. Google it and you will see.

Restaurants where locals go:

look at the retaurants on Avenida 30 around the DAC market.

Check out La Ceiba, the restaurant for breakfast or lunch just outside the DAC.

Also Aguascalientes Chiles for great seafood tacos, almost all locals there, two locations, one close to 5th ave on Constituyentes.

La Terraya on the beach at Calle 2 for seafood, lunch or late day

El Fogon on Constituyentes close to Avenida 30, across from the MEGA store, for tacos al pastor (although we like Caroncios better for that, on Calle 4 between 5th Ave and 10th Ave)

emd3

Sorry, that should read Aguas Chiles, not Aguascalientes!

nina88

Thank you, emd3... I think we're falling in love with PDC... this will be our 3rd and longest; the other 2 times were just 2 and 3 days. I bet the next time we will start looking for a condo unit to buy! Mind sharing your buying experience and idea on price?

Katzgar

only a Mexican national may own real estate in PDC. N Americans may not own real estate along the Mexican coast. You may own a corp which owns the real estate for you or a bank will hold it in trust for you. This may seem like a minor thing but you do have limited property rights in mexico.

emd3

If location is within 50 miles of the coast, then usually a bank holds the trust. A 1993 law, th Mexican Foreign Investment Law, made it possible for foreigners or foreign corporations to obtain rights of ownership thu a fiduciary trust known as a fidelicomiso, the equivalent of a U.S. beneficiary trust. We have the right to transfer ownership, to sell he condo or pass it to an heir ( we have a benificiery named in the fidelicomiso).

The role of the bank, as trustee, is to be responsible to us as buyers to ensure fulfillment of the trust according to Mexican law. The bank assumes technical, legal, and administrative supervision to protect the interests of the buyer/beneficiary. Most importantly, the Fidlicomisos are NOT held by he trustee as an asset of the bank. For practical purposes, even many Mexican nationals prefer to place their properties , even those in the restricted zones, in a fidelicomiso arrangement with a bank. I know Mexican nationals in PDC who have a fidelicomiso with their properties in PDC, even though they do not have to do so since they are mexican nationals.

the key difference under a fidelicomiso is that if you do not make our property payments, there is a non-judicial foreclosure process, meaning the property can be sold quickly. So you can lose our property much faster for non-payment than if you were a fee simple owner. But the vast majority of sales of property to foreigners are done for 100% cash at closing. Borrowing money o buy property in Mexico is much more costly than in the U.S. and I is MUCH better to o into he buying process with cash.

There are a lot of good deals to be had in PDC, we got one of them, a fire sale where condo was reduced a huge amt., putting it way under value, as owner needed to sell immediately.

google Mexican property ownership and you can get info.

Inina88, I can recommend a very good realtor whom we worked with (his wife posts on this board) and Give you his website to check prices but we would need to do that away from the forums. Are you interested in that?

emd3

That should read" it is MUCH better to go into the buying process with 100% cash for the agreed upon price..." Almost all real estate transactions there are done with buyers having all cash up front. It is not good sense to go into the buying process there thinking you are going to put money down and finance like you would in the U.S. Also, FYI, closing costs are relatively high. it is imperative to be sure you have a reputable lawyer who MAKES ABSOLUTELY 100% SURE THAT OU ARE OBTAINING CLEAR TITLE. Title can turn out to be a nightmare. Many people in Playa (esp if they buy ffrom a builder) buy and then find out later that they really don't have title to the property because the builder never secured proper title to the land and property--and by then the builder is long gone. You need a good realtor watching out for you and a very good reputable Mexican lawyer. The good lawyers are pricey but never skirt on cost of a reputable lawyer for this.

JLJC sorry about your thread, I answered your initial ? and the other ?s posed, and it looks like you had often a lot of good suggestions for boyfriends birthday before other ?s were posed.

Katzgar

The controlling professional in Mexican real estate is the notary public but you also need a lawyer. Do not buy in Tulum or on the Tulum beach, lost of fraud.