Cancun Beach Snorkeling 6/2016

Old May 20th, 2016, 11:33 AM
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Cancun Beach Snorkeling 6/2016

Thank you in advance for reading!

Already purchased airfare to CANCUN. Fam of 4 with TWO teen boys looking for beach snorkeling and/or close to (since I've read the beach snorkeling is not the best there). Also looking for other acitivites, which is why CLUB MED looks apealing.

Our oldest is 15 and we haven't taken a vacation not "on the cheap" before. With only a few years left with them in our home, we want to take a vacation we (they) will enjoy.

We don't want a sea weedy beach. Based on reviews, looks like Moon Palace is out. (?)

I've heard okay reviews of Club Med but online traveler pics look like a typical Florida worn down beach hotel/hostel and food to match. Thoughts? Experiences?

A longer distance from the airport is okay. (I've read that farther south is better snorkeling.)

We aren't partiers and looking for middle to upper level in luxury/ratings. I would trade great food for crappy chairs and peeling wall paint. Hubby and I are foodies but our teenage boy's happiness will make or break a meal! So we would swap great food to get the brother's to be nice to each other. It's a balance.

Topless sun bathers would not bother us but drunk people in public do. We like a good work out and know how to get one with a "facility". So that's not an issuee

Don't need to go shopping for clothes or do girl things. (I accepted my fate as the sole female long ago.)

All inclusive or not, is okay. Size of resort is not an issue.

Thanks again. Any extra hints are appreciated for this trip or the next one elsewhere.
4Gullys is offline  
Old May 20th, 2016, 12:31 PM
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You don't need to stay in Cancun. You could look at resorts at Isla Mujeres or Cozumel (islands), Playa del Carmen, Akumal, or Tulum. Or anywhere along the coastline in between.
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Old May 21st, 2016, 05:21 AM
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If you want to snorkel right at your resort you might want to go further south to Akumal. You would still fly into Cancun.
You might also want to check out the Barceló Maya complex. There is decent snorkeling right off their beach and plenty of activities for everyone.
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Old May 21st, 2016, 10:47 AM
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Snorkeling in Cancun and Playa del Carmen is not very good at all. Head to Akumal, take a look at either ABBWR (Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort) or Grand Palladium. Or maybe a condo on Half Moon Bay in North Akumal.
Palladium has unlimited a la cartes with no reservations, Barcelo has I think a limit of 3 per one week stay. They have a nice beach but they have a nasty captive dolphin pen which I am opposed to.
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Old May 21st, 2016, 05:41 PM
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This person is looking to snorkel suze, seeing as your an expert on the Mayan Riviera coastline, what would you suggest ... ?
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Old May 22nd, 2016, 07:57 AM
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What would you suggest, Rohelio? My comment is only that there's more than just Cancun on the Caribbean coastline.
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Old May 23rd, 2016, 07:02 AM
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If you stay at a hotel on the northern side of Cancun facing Isla Mujeres you can snorkel right off the beach. My boys grew up doing it.
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Old May 23rd, 2016, 05:09 PM
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Good advice SuzieQQ, i have heard of this area, there is also the southern side of Isla Mujeres, all along the west side of Cozumel, the famous Akumal bay and Puerto Morelos if you wish to rent a small boat to reach the reef closeby Many of these areas will rent snorkeling equipment but if you prefer you can purchase it at one of the many stores in PDC including Walmart on 30 th. which I would strongly suggest.
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Old May 24th, 2016, 04:46 AM
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Thanks for taking the time to respond, y'all. Sorry for the delay in communicating back. End of school year stuff. That's great advice! As far as a condo goes, my husband is leery of the idle time, (for the boys), a condo will come with. When they get bored, they poke each other in the eye! Lol.

Thanks for the response Suze, schmerl, and jamie99. Akumal bay wellness has been booked. It sucks because I know some of those rooms will be cancelled before the deadline. I can't talk my hubby into the condo right there. I have no first hand knowledge so I can't say if they will have the use of water sports equipment we will want.

I will research your recommendation, about going north, SuzieQQ and Rohelio. That sounds like good insider information.

In the meantime however, my husband is leaning toward a more massive scale resort like Grand Palladium or Luxury Principe type place.

I am worried however, about the large numbers of vacationers clamoring for the same paddle boats, water sports gear. I wonder if I could bring my inflatable paddle board. Hmmm. I do like though, that they have an on site rec area for us to throw the football or play lax.

So next main question, do you have any knowledge or experience regarding availability of water sports equipment

AND is XpuHa something we might want to visit more than once? My boys are 13 and 15 and no longer into "children" type activities. Is there another park we will want to visit?

Thanks so much! I really appreicate your responses!

Cathy in Raleigh
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Old May 24th, 2016, 01:40 PM
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If you are interested in ABBWR see if locogringo.com has any openings, they book a lot of people in there (they are very reliable, have used them at least 6 times or more myself).
Between Palladium and Bahia Principe, Palladium is better from what I have read. Unlimited a la cartes with no reservations, you can use all 4 main sections just not the adults only Royal Suites. At Bahia Principe, you only get 3 a la cartes per one week stay and reservations required and they can no longer be booked in advance. Also since late last year, if you stay at Tulum or Coba sections, you are restricted to those two only as far as restaurants, pools, etc. since the Akumal section is now a Don Pablo. If staying at Akumal you have access to everything.
Lastly Bahia put in a very small captive dolphin pool which I am opposed to.
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