Photos and videos don't show people in ocean water like in Mayan Riviera
Nov 26th, 2011, 10:30 AM
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Photos and videos don't show people in ocean water like in Mayan Riviera
I am trying to decide between the Mayan Riviera and Punta Cana for a one week AI trip starting Dec. 17. I have been doing some research and have noticed that while the beach in Punta Cana is highly praised, photos of the hotels and even visitor photos of the beach and water very rarely show people in the water, whereas in the MR photos and videos always show people in the ocean water (even though it is described as rocky due to the coral). I am starting to worry because we would like a place to relax and soak/swim in warm, salt ocean water, walk along beaches, and read.
We are a family of 5 - parents in their 40s, and three kids - 19,21, and 23 - all in university. Everyone is stressed out with work or school and we all just want to relax in a warm place, enjoy good food, and be entertained at the evening shows. It would be great if you could recommend some AI resorts since I have just started researching; I have looked at the Barcelo Maya Tropical in MR and the Barcelo Bavaro Palace in PC, but there are sooo many more to look at, and I would appreciate some guidance.
We are a family of 5 - parents in their 40s, and three kids - 19,21, and 23 - all in university. Everyone is stressed out with work or school and we all just want to relax in a warm place, enjoy good food, and be entertained at the evening shows. It would be great if you could recommend some AI resorts since I have just started researching; I have looked at the Barcelo Maya Tropical in MR and the Barcelo Bavaro Palace in PC, but there are sooo many more to look at, and I would appreciate some guidance.
Nov 26th, 2011, 11:51 AM
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cancun.bookit.com PDC is best beach by far for swimming
if you check detailed reviews carefully.
Riu.com Iberostar.com Paradisus best usually with kids.
puntacana.com fine otherwise
jamaica.com not bad either...
Happy Hunting.
if you check detailed reviews carefully.
Riu.com Iberostar.com Paradisus best usually with kids.
puntacana.com fine otherwise
jamaica.com not bad either...
Happy Hunting.
Nov 26th, 2011, 01:18 PM
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fyi the PDC qwovodis refers to is playa del carman on maya riviera coast approx 45 mins south of cancun/airport.
dom rep: gorgeous lush (lots of palm trees) beaches, swimming ok, snorkeling not so good. punta cana is a made for tourist town so not much to explore. have not been.
maya riv: beautiful beaches, good swimming, excellent snorkeling, pdc is a real/growing town with a lot to do & good duty free shopping. have rented a villa south of pdc.
i'd go with mex because there is so much to do.
a useful site for mexico is locogringo.com << has info on all activities & most hotels
barcelos are fine. riu (with 6 resorts) & iberostar (which has 7 resorts in the area) are better. if you stay at the right iberostar you get to use the facilities at all their resorts & i think same for riu's.
tip: if you're going to mexico, move your question to the mexico/latin america board. the quality of a particular beach can change in a short time & people will tell you where the best sand is currently.
dom rep: gorgeous lush (lots of palm trees) beaches, swimming ok, snorkeling not so good. punta cana is a made for tourist town so not much to explore. have not been.
maya riv: beautiful beaches, good swimming, excellent snorkeling, pdc is a real/growing town with a lot to do & good duty free shopping. have rented a villa south of pdc.
i'd go with mex because there is so much to do.
a useful site for mexico is locogringo.com << has info on all activities & most hotels
barcelos are fine. riu (with 6 resorts) & iberostar (which has 7 resorts in the area) are better. if you stay at the right iberostar you get to use the facilities at all their resorts & i think same for riu's.
tip: if you're going to mexico, move your question to the mexico/latin america board. the quality of a particular beach can change in a short time & people will tell you where the best sand is currently.
Nov 26th, 2011, 03:29 PM
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Well. photos can be staged. We went to MR Feb. 2010, stayed at Secrets Capri. The resort was lovely, but although the beach looked good, the water was so full of seaweed and trash that we couldn't enjoy swimming in it - and we're not picky - the Jersey shore is our idea of great swimming. The poor experience swimming was the only disappointment of the trip. We loved the resort & trips to Tulum, swimming in cenotes and Chitzen Itza. But when we get away in the winter our primary quest is for swimming in the sea - and this year we're skipping Mexico and heading for Aruba.
Nov 27th, 2011, 05:14 AM
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You do have to do a little research on specific resorts in Mayan Riviera to find out which ones have good swimming because there can be lots of rocks, coral etc in the water. The best beach I have encountered was at Akumal (no big resorts there). Just a few rocks and some very good snorkeling.
The Palladium resorts have a very good beach section at the northern end of their beach and a very rocky section at the southern end.
The beach at Playa Maroma gets a lot of good reviews (have not been there myself).
The Palladium resorts have a very good beach section at the northern end of their beach and a very rocky section at the southern end.
The beach at Playa Maroma gets a lot of good reviews (have not been there myself).
Nov 27th, 2011, 07:08 AM
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Maroma Beach is one of the better beaches for swimming. Check the resorts in that area.
When we went last December to Playa Del Carmen, I noticed the beach by the Royal Playa del Carmen and their sister resort the Grand Porto Real has been renovated.
Also look at the Mahekal Beach resort.
As much as I love Mexico I have to agree with Katie R. Mexico to us is really not a true beach vacation. It's more about doing/seeing things off the resorts. We rarely ever swim in the ocean at our resort and prefer the pools, except in the winter months the pools are too cool. You do have to do a thorough search as many resorts their beaches do have rocks and iron shore. Aruba does have the better swimmable beaches. However, we can go to Mexico for less than 1/2 what it costs to go to Aruba.
With regards of things to see and do, Playa del Carmen will have a much better variety than Punta Cana.
When we went last December to Playa Del Carmen, I noticed the beach by the Royal Playa del Carmen and their sister resort the Grand Porto Real has been renovated.
Also look at the Mahekal Beach resort.
As much as I love Mexico I have to agree with Katie R. Mexico to us is really not a true beach vacation. It's more about doing/seeing things off the resorts. We rarely ever swim in the ocean at our resort and prefer the pools, except in the winter months the pools are too cool. You do have to do a thorough search as many resorts their beaches do have rocks and iron shore. Aruba does have the better swimmable beaches. However, we can go to Mexico for less than 1/2 what it costs to go to Aruba.
With regards of things to see and do, Playa del Carmen will have a much better variety than Punta Cana.
