Thanks for letting me know! Do you know if I would be able to visit the Maroma beach even though I wasn't staying there? If I took a taxi :)

You really are a great help!

I'm not sure how you would access the beach wihtout going through the resort.
You could always contact the resort and tell them you are interested in staying there for your next trip and would like a tour. Some resorts offer day passes, but I don't know if Secrets is one of them. It's worth looking into though.

Let us know what you decide and then we want a report when you return!!

I definitely will, I will be going the first week of March.

I looked at videos for Royal Playa Del Carmen, and the grounds look boring...I liked the way La Tortuga & Maroma Resort & Spa, but both aren't AI..El Dorado Seaside suites looked interesting, but the beach didn't look that nice...

Do you have any suggestions for a more exotic resort..like hidden hammocks or hot tubs, lush/tropical looking..out door showers sounded nice, cute little bed huts on the beach - I like different things that you can't find any where else!

The problem is that the type of resort you describe usually are not all inclusives. Is there a reason you have to go with an all inclusive?

I was thinking AI because whenever we go away my boyfriend is held back from spending money and I like the idea of having everything be care free, BUT I was thinking we split the trip between 2 hotels to get the best of both worlds! The more places I look at the more I realize the things I am looking for are not found at just 1 place :)

So to get the nice beach, interesting grounds, AI experiences, I might do 1 or 2 nights at a different hotel. I was considering some at Tulum...and everywhere in between lol. I have been looking at different hotels for like 3 days straight because i get so excited to see new places!

by tulum look at: http://www.anayjose.com/
the opposite of the all inlcusives you're looking at.
or for more europeon/modern feel: http://www.mezzanine.com.mx/hotel/index.html

Thanks! I looked at both of these and they are a very different feel than the large AI's in PDC. I am going to split up the trip between PDC Large AI & Tulum rustic/exotic. Any suggestions on best beaches to visit while in Tulum or Akumal? When I decide where we will stay I'll let you know!

Thanks for all the help!

here's an aerial view of the main beach in akumal: http://www.locogringo.com/maps/tour/ak-cent-t.html

this next view is where the road to the beach from tulum pueblo splits. if you click the double arrows at the top of the page to the right you'll see the beach in front of mezzanine. to the left the beach in front of ana & jose's: http://www.locogringo.com/maps/tour/034-t.html

Our first choice is Akumal, but we love PDC for a grown-up vacation also, as it has many choices for restaurants and bars.

If we were to return to this area, we have three favorites:

1. Rent a house in Akumal

2. The Blue Parrot beachfront resort in Playa Del Carmen (PDC.) Great hotel, great beach, great bar and terrific walking to restaurants and bars.

3. The Hemingway Resort in Tulum.

You can find each of these online, but post if you don't and I'll place some links.

((C))