robwi

Any comments on beaches, food, and overall experience at:Akumal Beach Resort, Bahia Principe Resorts, Barcelo Maya Resort, Palladium Grand Resort,or Paradisus Riviera? Did I miss one? Also there was a post that suggests that some resorts discriminate against Americans by issuing different color wrist bands? Thats hard to believe. Thanks in advance! Rob

Little_Man

my advice is don't do ai! Go experience the area a little bit, which is so beautiful, maybe rent a car, so many great places to see and stay that aren't ai. (Some of the resorts you mention get some pretty bad reviews.) Who wants to be herded aruond by a wrist band? Unless all you want to do is drink alcohol and not leave the resort, personally I don't think these places are such a bargain.

Kath

Are you aware that there was a double murder of a Canadian couple at Barcelo Maya recently? That wouldn't keep me from going, but I wouldn't go to Barcelo either. I've stayed in the area several times, but I've never done AI. We get a condo in Akumal. There's great info at Locogringo.com.

pepper131

Out of all of these, Akumal Beach Resort is the quietest and smallest. The others are huge megaplexes...all depends on what you are looking for.
There are a gazillon AIs along the coast.

robwi

Thanks frankie, Kath & Pepper, We will be renting a car and exploring. My kids are 18 to 22 and need some nightlife like Carlos & Charlies - I don't, but... I really love good music. They are also good sailors. Criss-crossing the Caribbean in a Hobie Cat with them at high speed (in silence) is a great experience. Unfortunately, the smaller hotels don't seem to offer Hobie Cats, the larger ones do. We all require beach volleyball, even the parents. And the parents especially require several beach bars for Refreshment!
This is for Christmas 2006. Still in the running are: Akumal Beach Resort, Barcelo Maya Beach Resort, Playa Kantenah Palladium, Paradisus riviera cancun and Club Maeva Tulum. It amazes me how poor the websites are in general, with LocoGringo setting the world standard for excellence. Thanks for your suggestions!

schmerl

We were at the Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar last Christmas and loved it It is not as close to Playa Del Carmen as some of the other resorts, but they have a free shuttle into town.
There is no discrinimation against Americans. The wrist bands are a way they mnake sure you a really staying at their resort before they serve you any food or drinks. The Iberostar Tucan/Quetzel is closer to Playa Del Carmen and also fits all your requirements.
Be ready to pay mucho $$$. Rates at Christmas time are crazy. I haven't even seen any packages out yet for next Christmas.

colokid

There is a resort that has different colored wrist bands for different nationalities so the workers know which language to address them in. I can't remember which one it was but if you do a search on locogringo there was discussion about it last summer. It was one of the resorts south by Akumal or Tulum.

desoto541

The best web next to www.locogringo.com for doing your due diligence on Playa is http://www.unofficial-barcelo-maya.c...-Tropical.html. The Colonial Tropical side of the Barcelo Maya resort is newer, AC in buffets better amenities etc... We at one time had four places booked at once (Hacienda Vista Real, Bahia Principe Tulum, and Grand Porto Real) and finally decided on the Barcelo Maya Colonial, despite the incident. The Xpu Ha beach is the best next to the Tulum ruins beach.

MFNYC

We stayed at the Barcelo a few years ago, and what is now called the Gala in PLayacar years before that. They were both very nice and both good family vacations (our kids were younger at the time). I think Barcelo had nicer grounds, but Gala was very close to PLaya Del Carmen which is a nice Mexican town. Barcelo is closest to Puerto Aventuras was is kind of a man-made tourist town, not much character as compared to the way PDC was years ago. In either resort I don't recall any wrist band discrimination. These AIs are very easy vacations, especially with younger kids. They can eat wehenever they felt like it. My son enjoyed some of the activities (mostly sports related).

We are going back this December break and decided to try something different. Our kids are now teens (15 & 17), and more independent. We are renting a 2 bedroom condo on the beach in Playa Del carmen. It's a nice complex (Xaman Ha condos) with a pool as well. It appears to be the closest condo complex to town that is also directly on the beach (all units have ocean views) and is family friendly. PDC has many restaurants with all kinds of food, as well as shops and night life.

colokid

The resort that used the different colored bracelets per nationality was Akumal Beach resort. There was conversation about this after the hurricane from people who were there during the storm.

Javelina

We went to Aventura Spa Palace and had such a wonderful time. We didn't feel herded by bracelets. In fact, we got married there and went for a period without wearing bracelets.

I thought it was worth it - you don't have to think about where you're going out to eat, how much you need to spend. We're going back and doing a road trip, but Aventura and other AI's are great when you're looking for a nice, relaxing trip.