SeptTraveler

My husband and I would like to spend a week at the Shangri-La Caribe (SLC) in Playa del Carmen (PDC) in June and are wondering how we can get the best deal possible. At this point we are indifferent to Pueblito--further from the beach--vs. Caribe--next to the beach---vs. Playa--also next to the beach--sections (as we've heard various reviews on which part of the resort is best and whether it's worth it to pay more for the oceanview-due to the tide noise). Alas, the best prices per couple I can find are from the SLC website itself:
Garden View (Pueblito) - $125
Garden View (Caribe) - $155
Ocean View (Caribe or Aventura/Playa) - $180
Any tips are on where I can find a better price? Thanks!

Iza

I have done tons of research on this hotel and all sources I found offer the same prices.

SeptTraveler

Thanks Iza. That's what I've been finding. Perhaps the hotel might offer me a better deal per night if I stay 5 nights instead of 3. I'll keep researching. Thanks again.

Iza

SeptTraveler
Let me know if you are able to find a better deal. We want to stay there for a week in August and the hotel did not offer any better pricing when I e-mailed them. In fact, it appears that they do not take direct bookings and they directed me to an agency that does the bookings for them.
I have just e-mailed LocoGringo to see what they have for availability, but as I said, I was not able to find any better prices anywhere.

SeptTraveler

I'll definitely let you know if I find better prices. Thanks.

SeptTraveler

Iza,
Is there a reason you did not choose Las Palapas? It seems to be almost exaclty the same type of hotel (though I'm not sure so I posted a question to the forum to see what the diff. b/t the two is). It also seems to have various sources for making reservations (ie -expedia and other travel sites) as opposed to SLC.

Iza

SeptTraveler, the only reason I did not decide on Palapas is that from what I read it is not as popular with Americans as Shangri La. We will be traveling with our daughter and we are hoping that she will be able to find some company at the hotel. It seems that there is some chance of that at Shangri La because it is more popular with Americans. At Las Palapas (from what I read) most guests are Europeans.

SeptTraveler

Thanks Iza. I also recently read that the beach is prettier and less crowded at SLC. So I guess it's a good deal, all around.

cdt

We stayed in Akumal 3 months ago and on one of our visits to Playa del Carmen we walked the beach from the ferry dock north to Reef Coco Beach.

When we passed the Shangri-la Caribe, we agreed that it would be our choice if we were to stay in Playa. Nicely removed from the hubbub.

SeptTraveler

Thanks cdt. I'm getting really excited about our upcoming trip.
Iza, I was not able to find any discount pricing for the SLC; we went ahead and booked through the website. Best of luck on your bookings and travel.

Iza

Thanks, SeptTraveler. When you booked through the website, were you directed to Turquoise Reef agency? That's who I ended up booking with for August. I was trying to do it through LocoGringo but they didn't have any beachfront or oceanview rooms. Turquoise Reef had those available.

SeptTraveler

You know, I'm not sure. My husband filled out the form from the shangri-la website (shangrilacaribe.net). Then he cooresponded via email with representatives from either the hotel or a travel agency, which I think might be one in the same. For example, the person he was emailing back and forth had two email addresses with suffixes that associated her with both the hotel and the travel agency. One email address was was x"@shangrilacaribe.net" and the other email address was "[email protected]." When I go to the mayadventure.com website, it's the same as gong to the shangri-la website. Same pictures, and more importantly, same rates. But we did not have any contact with reps from a Turquoise Reef agency.