DONNA

I did go to the site you gave in your post.You are correct. I find it strage that know one from the xpa-ha chain has posted a reply to your post. I know they are on this board a lot.

Nancy

Thanks, Donna,<BR>I appreciate your taking the time to look into the problem.<BR>You may notice that the original post has been removed by fodors. The fodors site has a lot of really good information, but they don't seem to allow any politically negative comments re resorts - true or not.<BR>The people who own and are developing that area south of Cancun are very wealthy and powerful, and have done a really great job of keeping what they've done quiet. <BR>There is a small but vocal group of environmentalists working to see that people hear about it.<BR>Thanks again for your interest in finding out the truth...<BR>

Stefanie

Oh my! My husband and I were planning a trip to PDC for early this spring...we both try to be as environmentally conscientious as possible, and now I'm worried about this mysterious post. Could one of you please please please fill me in as to whatever the issue in question is? No doubt it will be removed again, but hopefully I'll catch it first (or you could email me). Thanks so much.

Nancy

Hi Stefanie,<BR>The original post was asking about a new resort called Xpu Ha.<BR>I was explaining that the family that owns this stretch of beach (also owners of Xel Ha and Xcaret) purchased this land while the former corrupt governor of Quintana Roo (Villeneuve - now in jail) was in power, over the protests of environmentalists.<BR>They got around this by promising to keep the area a &quot;wildlife refuge&quot; since it is the historic nesting grounds for tens of 1000's of sea turtles.<BR>They then developed the area, and are busy destroying the entire coast with huge mega-resorts that are overwhelming the ecosystem.<BR>If you are interested in staying in the PDC area, I'd suggest staying closer into town (there are many more things to do/see anyway) as opposed to one of the new resorts down the road along hwy 307.

Tina

Nancy - It really seems like you have some personal axe to grind against these developers! Nobody ever said that people who develop pristine lands are nice people - but what makes them any worse than the people who previously OVER developed PDC??!!?? Or Cancun for that matter! Unfortunately, development in foreign countries cannot and will not ever be regulated to the nth degree as it is in the USA - that is the nature of the beast. There are hundreds of resorts along the stretch of beach you mention - all of which are &quot;spoiling&quot; the environment....so what is your point? You seem to be familiar with the area - so obviously YOU have dumped some of that nice USA cash there...thus leaving me suspect to your motives in blackballing one resort.

Georgie

The Xpu - Ha Palace is owned and operated by Palace Resorts. The problem a lot of environmentalists have is: originally Xpu - Ha was an eco park/wildlife sanctuary. When it was developed bulldozers flattened a lot of the wetlands and disturbed the natural ecosystem that was present before development. Palace Resorts seems to be very fond of dynamite. The Aventura Spa Palace , a very large resort, has a man made lagoon which was blasted out of rock. Personally, I do not live in Mexico and I do not care either way. I do not take a stand on either side. The beach there is still beautiful.

Nancy

Tina.<BR>I was answering someone's questions with facts - period. The original post was re Xpu Ha. <BR>I did not editorialze the info and provided a website where the information can easily be obtained. <BR>Obviously, Georgie has educated him/herself about the issue as well.<BR>(Perhaps you could do the same as opposed to going off on a rant about a topic of which of you obviously know very little.)<BR>My post suggests that all of the new resorts along 307 should be avoided for the reasons both I and Georgie cited, not just Xpu Ha.<BR>