looking for advice jamaica vs mexico
 

My husband and i are looking for a week away, adults only, and having trouble deciding jamaica( been once before and liked it) or mexico(more for the money?). have seen negative reviews on the mayan riv. beaches so has turned my husband off to there. Thoughts??
looking for relaxation on pretty beach, drinks, sun.
not to concerned with adventure or sight seeing, though may be nice one day. Stayed at a sandals resort in jamaica, was nice, but hesitant to do it again, but like the all inclusive idea...
thanks for the help... expecting to spend about 3K with flights from boston/ providence.

The only beach in Mayan Riviera with issues that I know of is Playacar because they have the concrete swells to keep erosion down.

Playa del Carmen, Akumal, & Tulum are all BEAUTIFUL. I've seen with my own eyes and touched and enjoyed.

I've heard Isla Mujeres, xpu Ha, Maroma Beach are also LOVELY.

Here's a picture at Tulum Beach.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...8/P1010860.jpg

Here's Akumal
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...8/P1030261.jpg

Here's Playa

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v5...8/P1030393.jpg

Trish

Look into Secrets Maroma Beach in Mexico. It is on one of the most beautiful stretches of beach anywhere. It is an adults only all inclusive.

thanks, so beaches in playa del carmen comparable to beaches in jamaica? i actually was looking into secrets resort or el dorado royal.

We are very partial to Mexico. Cheap and easy to get to. They have the best AI's for the money.

Look at Isla Mujeres. Playa Norte is a very nice beach. It's a small, relaxing island. No real good AI's, but there are many resturants and bars.

Here's the view from our hotel room:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/251...38640397PYaEGx

Playa Norte Beach:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/212...38640397IitcmR

Here's a picture of the beach in front of our hotel in Negril:

http://travel.webshots.com/photo/232...38640397mVAgud

I also agree with the new hotels in Tulum or Maroma Beach.

Just have to say one thing about Mexico....We have been traveling to Jamaica for 10 years and have never gotten sick on the water or food. We did a trip to Mexico and me and hubbie both got very sick. We were sick for about 3 week after we returned. Never again for us.
Also we have been to all the Sandals Resort quit a few times with the exception of Antigua.

People can get sick anywhere.
We've been to Mexico MANY times and have never had any problems.
Just drink bottled water. Ice and water at the resorts are fine. Be careful with food and water anywhere you travel when off on your own.

Kimberly - have gone to Mexico for four years now - shortest trip was 4 weeks and longest was 6 weeks. We drink bottled water and eat from restauants and street vendors (we go to Isla Mujeres) and have never ever been sick. As said, you can get sick anyplace.

We've been to Mexico 8 times and got sick once eating from a street vendor, not at a resort. That issue is not really even a factor when picking a destination. Just use common sense. The resorts in Mexico far out way other resorts with regards to included amenties and price.

I would not mind going back to Jamaica as we loved the topography and the food, but the resorts are really over priced compared to Mexico. Especially the Sandals and Couples resorts. What they charge for in amenties are included in most Mexico resorts base price. You'll be hard pressed finding a really nice resort in Jamaics for around $3,000 with air, and if you do let me know, because I would love to check it out.

Tryingtodecide, look at the Excellance, Secrets, Royal and Iberostar resorts in Mexico.

thanks KVR, those are just the resorts i have been looking into. The only thing that concerns me, is we loved sitting on the beach on jamaica, great view...and i have read a couple of reviews of some mexican beaches being rocky, sandbagged, concrete swells... If could be assured that the beach on Secrets Maroma beach had none of those, would book in a heartbeat. Although we love the snow, we are snow covered here and looking forward to a beach getaway to "reconnect" without our little ones.
thanks for your responses......:)

Go to TripAdvisor and look at the most current pictures and read the reviews.

Also http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/

Secrets Maroma has a GREAT beach. No need to worry.

If you love Jamaica, why not go back there? And which beach were you at by the way? Negril looks beautiful. I looked into Negril for our last trip but cliff side.

Trish

TRUE...YOU CAN GET SICK ANYWHERE YOU TRAVEL.

sounds to me like you two kids would be better off getting a cheap motel room ,some dark rum and bring a couple of bob marley cds with you !!!

sorry everyone, my husband got a hold of this link and thought he's being funny... i am thinking jamaica, even if its costly, its his money, ha ha honey!!!!

Check out Barcelo Maya Palace or the Iberostar Paraiso Lindo. Both are beautiful with nice beaches.

In Jamaica, we love the Rock House.

You seem to really like Jamaica and want to go there, so why not? If you pick Mexico and get sick, find a rocky beach, whatever, you'll be kicking yourself. Negril is great is you haven't been there yet.

That said, personally I love Mexico the best, and the beaches on the Caribbean side (some of them) are as nice as Jamaica's (some of them). Yes some beaches are rocky and rough, but others are gorgeous and smooth. You need to be specific in researching the area you're going to.

Isla Mujeres, Akumal, stretch between Cancun and Playa del Carmen have some great beaches! Plus mexican locals are generally friendlier than my experiences in Jamaica (a couple trips and a long time ago I admit).

I do think it's unfortunate for someone to write off an entire country forever because they got sick one time on one vacation.

I've been to both Jamaica and Mexico, and for my money, I have enjoyed Mexico more. The beaches on the Mayan Riviera are gorgeous long beaches that you can walk on forever and sometimes not run into another person. I haven't been to Secrets maroma, but I too have heard the beach is #1. You can get sick anywhere that you go, including places in the United States. I have been to Mexico 4 times and have never gotten sick, but in Atlanta once I had a bad oyster and was sick as a dog.