hi all,
will be going to a wedding in May 2007 from the East Coast (massachusetts) to Tulum...

Have never been to Mexico before so it is a bit daunting. The wedding is at Amansala (apparently this is the former Pablo Escobar estate, turned into a hotel).

The problem with staying at Amansala is we would have to bunk up and share rooms as there aren't enough rooms for everyone... This definitely does not appeal to me!

Also there is not enough electricity to use a blow dryer (not as a big a problem as sharing a room with another couple at the age of 40, but still less than ideal, given the expense of the hotel, travelling and not to mention hiring babysitters for the kids who are being left behind, etc).

I assume there isn't AC at Amansala as their website shows the beds with bug netting. Personally, I would rather be able to close the doors and turn on the AC.

Can anyone recommend a fairly luxurious hotel close by to Amansala? something with reliable electricity, AC, nice beds, etc. on the upscale side?

if I am going to go to the trouble of leaving the kids behind, I would rather put some dollars into the trip and make it memorable (good memories, that is !!).

thanks!!!!

Well that looks like a pretty neat place. You might look up Ana y Jose, I stayed there last year and they had electricity and hot water. I walked out the front door to the beach. You might email either hotel and ask how far they are from each other. Good Luck.

Sounds like you might be in for a big suprise...

Tulum is known for being "off the grid" - literally...they are off the grid. Power is supplied via solar and wind. Only a couple of places have a/c and they use generators to power that.

Ana y Jose is highly recommended...I heard the rooms have a/c now. They are very lux and priced as such.
Los Lirios is another with a/c, but not quite as lux in furnishings, sheets, service, etc. In fact, I found LL to be shabby, but not in a chic way.
Both of these are a couple of miles from Amansala - you could take a cab. Or are you renting a car?

Amansala has 2 properties - the original which is set up like a bunch of thatch cabanas. And the big Casa Magna house - Escobar's place. Seems like they should have plently of rooms amongst themselves.

Closer to Amansala are Las Ranitas and Suenos Tulum - neither have a/c, but are a bit nicer than Amanasala.

When we were in the area last winter, they were running power lines up along the beach road, so things may be changing. For luxury, las Ranitas looked very nice indeed. Since it's always fairly breezy in this area, I'm not sure you'll need AC.

I am a priss and an A/C wuss.

We selected Los Lirios in Tulum and were very pleased with the accommodations, the view, the staff (except for one of the front desk people - manager?), the beach, the food - and YES! the A/C.

I did not find it to be at all shabby, but we stayed in one of the beachfront suite rooms, and they are new. (To be fair, I have read complaints on the less expensive rooms, so I'd keep that in mind if you consider LL.)

We went by Ana y Jose, and it seemed nice, but when I go back, I'd stay at LL again in the same suite rooms because it was quieter, and I think with the room category we had, nicer than Ana y Jose.

Here's the website:

http://www.loslirioshotel.com/index.html