DDGTravel

HI All

My husband and I are planning our first trip to Mexico. We usually do not stay in resorts when we travel (in fact, I've never stayed in a resort), as we usually go for smaller boutique style hotels. However, there's a first time for everything! We've decided to try out an all inclusive. We have some reservations... it has to have great (not good/mediocre) food. Food is really a big part of why we travel. Regardless of the quality of food, we still plan to venture off the resort grounds into the city. In any case, I was hoping to get all of your helpful thoughts on what we're considering.

We're not set on it, but we think staying in Cancun (as opposed to Playa Del Carmen) would be a good option for us since it would give us the easiest access to non-resort stuff in case we crave it. Any thoughts on that? Plus, it looks like the beach in Cancun is nicer than PDC. Thoughts?

For resorts, we've narrowed it to down to: one of the Palace resorts (leaning toward Beach Palace or Cancun Palace) or Iberostar Cancun. If we don't stay in Cancun, I was thinking Playacar (also a Palace resort) or Excellence Playa Mujeres (yes , i realize this is not playa carmen).

Again, our main concern is food. We're also in our early 30s, we're not huge party/club people, but do enjoy some nightlife. We're looking forward to being at a social resort (i.e. some active bars) and a really nice beach and pool. Looking forward to doing some water sports, checking out the ruins, and the local market!

Would really appreciate people's thoughts on the above resorts. Thanks!!

Fra_Diavolo

"it has to have great (not good/mediocre) food. Food is really a big part of why we travel."

Well then forget the resorts. In fact, I'd suggest you forget the coast and travel to some o f the areas known for their cuisine, such as Puebla and Oaxaca.

DDGTravel

Ha, well, we want some beach too Plus, I looked into Oaxaca, but we have less than a week, and it looks like we'd lose a day just to get there from Mexico City (w/o spending a fortune on a flight). If we're going to do all that traveling and spend that much on flights we would just head down to S.America. Ahh, but for another trip ...

Like I said I've never been to a resort - and there's aspects of it that I'm excited to experience. Would appreciate if anyone could give opinions on the resorts listed. (And, I realize we'll have to go w/somewhat managed expectations given the resortiness of a resort) Thanks!

hopefulist

We made 2 trips to the area in 2010. In June we did the boutique and budget locals hotels bit starting with about a week in Tulum and visits to Valladolid and San Felipe (gulf coast), ending on Isla Mujeres. The trip was pretty much perfect.

For a week after Christmas we joined our daughter and her husband for a week at a resort north of Playa, our 1st resort experience, though we never considered going all inclusive. I'm comfortable in Latin America but the resort was a bit of a culture shock. It was a beautiful place to sleep and we spent most of our days off exploring - ruins, snorkeling, a monkey sanctuary, and locals places to eat. It was really different from our 1st visit but also an wonderful, memorable trip.

You can check out the photos, blog, and travelogues at the link below. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Stewbear

I am not aware of any great food at a AI. And that's after 26 years in Mexico.

zootsi

I've never been to Cancun, but have been to Playa many times. If you are looking for great food and nice beaches, Playa has both. I would do a small beach side hotel in the north end of town, not an AI. There are many, many good places to eat in Playa.

suze

I'm no expert on that side of the country (I usually go to Puerto Vallarta, but have been to La Paz and Cabo as well).

What people are saying is true. If you "main concern" is good food, and you don't usually stay in mega-resorts, I'd skip the All-Inclusive. Unless you go truly high-end you're not going to get the quality of food as you will find in restaurants around town.

DDGTravel

all right, all right... you all have convinced me (almost) to ditch the AI. So, my concern that remains ... when staying in an area that is filled with AI's - I don't want to look at all the fancy resorts and wish I was lounging in their beach chairs (so I guess I want to have my cake (good cake) and eat it too). I'd still want to stay in a nice place, with nice pools and beach, and bars at the resort (in addition the places we'll venture out to find).

Willing to spend up to $300 night, although less would be great. Not interested in the bungalow/thatched roof/rustic room. Any suggestions?

Michael

Unless you are set for for time on the beach, consider Mexico's Colonial towns: Puebla, Guanajuato, Zacatecas, Oaxaca.

For a report on Puebla or Zacatecas, click on my name and search under reports.

To whet your appetite: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...7623007252716/

masafami

Husband and I looove the Palace Resorts-- have stayed at Aventura Spa Palace 3x.
all adult only resort..
Cancun Palace and Beach Palace much more commercialized..
Aventura Spa more secluded.. and more comfortable (less people)

we looved it there.. and couldnt get enough, hence 3x.
food is great. staff is very warm and inviting!

TC

"great food and all inclusive" do NOT go together anywhere. Have you considered Cozumel? Lots of excellent restaurants, reefs, beaches, town small enough to get around easily, friendly people, a few small ruins, amazing water activities, great shopping and local markets, just enough nightlife and music to be interesting......and nice, small boutique sized hotels. Have a look at Playa Azul or Coral Princess. Also many beautiful private condos for rent.

zootsi

Here's what most people do in Playa - rent a room at one of the beachfront hotels like the Playa Maya, Alhambra, Les Palapas, etc. These are very nice places right on the beach with chairs, palapas, etc. Some have pools, some don't, some have bars, some don't. OR you can rent a room in one of the dozens of very nice hotels just off the beach like the Posada Mariposa, Banana, etc, etc. These hotels will usually supply you with a pass to a beach club like Mamita's (about 2 blocks away). These beach clubs set you up with a palapa, two loungers and a table for drinks. There is a pool, bar, restaurant, music, etc at the beach clubs and the beach is beautiful. Downtown Playa has very few AIs, it's mostly small hotels like I've described. No matter what you choose you'll have a great time.

hopefulist

Don't miss chocolate at Ah Cacao!

DDGTravel

Thanks so much everyone!! This is all really helpful!

TC - I heard Cozumel is more of a scuba paradise and the beaches aren't so great. We're def looking forward to a nice, big white sand beach.

Zootsi - thanks for the suggestions! I will check them out. I really have no idea what the town is like, but I'm glad to hear I can still have access to the beach clubs w/o staying at an AI.

TC

Well.....you heard wrong, but no worries. Enjoy wherever you go.

Beaches:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwL69-JboRw

Just a little of the food:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjoz7HPA1wc

http://www.kintacozumel.com/

http://kondesarestaurant.com/

cabron

For great food the only place is Puerto Vallarta, well known for it many, many great restaurants. In fact some of the best restaurants in Mexico. Here just a small list
http://vallartainfo.com/restaurants.html
many more than that and right now we have the 17th Annual Gourmet Festival. Many of the best restaurants in town will host over 30 Internationally acclaimed chefs, with special dinners

Carlita23

I would suggest taking a second look at Cozumel. I agree with TC that the beaches are breathtaking. I don't scuba either, but I enjoyed an amazing (and romantic) vacation there (and I tried snorkeling for the first time, which was beautiful, like being in an exotic aquarium while being only a few meters from the beach). In my opinion the best hotel is the Presidente Intercontinental, which gives you the resort environment (lounge chairs on the beach, waiters bringing you cocktails, etc) of an AI without actually being AI. They have an amazing restaurant on-site (Alfredo Di Roma) and taxis into town are really cheap if you want to try out some very good local cusisine (from higher-end stuff to little taco restaurants). I managed to score a room upgrade (to a beautiful suite overlooking the ocean that included a giant jacuzzi tub) by calling Presidente Intercontinental's central offices in Mexico City.

Sounds like you're set on Cancun, but figured I'd share (also in case other people are reading this). The nightlife will be a lot quieter in Cozumel, though, so if that's important you should probably stick with Cancun.

nanabee

You don't go to Cancun for the food. We stayed at a resort timeshare type place right on the beach in Cancun and we liked it for the beach but not the food!!

We also took day trips to Merida, Chetzen Itza, etc.
I would recommend Merida if you want a colonial Mexican experience (which is near Cancun) and much better food.

zootsi

There are plenty of good places to eat in Playa del Carmen - very good Italian on the north end of 5th ave, lots of real Mexican and great seafood on and close to 30th near the Mega store. The more touristy places on 5th are sometimes good, sometimes so-so.

emd3

I disagree that great food, actually I would say spectacular food, and AIs never go together.

Look at Grand Velas, about 7 min. drive north of Playa del Carmen. The restaurants, all of them, and the food are fantastic. Literally a foodie destination. Cocina de Artur there was one of the best and most creative dinners we have had in our lives. Ditto for Frida's, Piaf, Sin Lin, and even the room service was fantastic.

Not only the food, the entire place and the service and the spa are equally as fantastic. 10 stars. Not one little disappointment or complaint. As close to perfection as we have experienced.

The resort will give you a ride into Playa del Carmen and it is a short taxi ride back.