What about Secrets on the Mayan Riviera? Some great 5 night/6 day specials now on cheapcaribbean.com.

mah -

I read on Fodors somewhere about Mi Hotelito on Maroma beach. Have you looked into it?

It's very tough to find a small/quiet place on a sandy beach with a/c and a spa. For us...quiet and spa-like are very important, so we forgo the a/c knowing that's how it has to be.

We live in a large city...and for us to go on vacation with hundreds of other people at the same hotel is completely out ot the question. I'm not going to make reservations, dress up, or stand in line - I do that in my regular life, not on vacation.

My husband is from New Orleans and is a big a/c person (we're in Dallas now) - and even he can deal with just having a fan. But again, for us...the beach and no people are number one.

I'm staying at Shangri-La in August and was told by Turquoise Reef Group that all the rooms now have AC.

Mi Holetio looks great, but it's a little more than we'd like to spend.

I didn't realize that Shangri-La Caribe had AC in some of the rooms. I looked at their website and it looks great.

Thanks for your help.

Hadn't heard of this new Fairmont, and then when I googled it I realized it's Mayakoba. I haven't been in there to see and am no expert, but the way things go down here, I find it _highly_ optimistic that there will be any sort of resort w/gold course functioning there before the end of this year. Mayakoba has had about the lowest profile of any of the many, many construction projects around here for at least the last 3 years, and that smacks of no progress.

They do have a clearly marked entrance on the highway, though! :-)

Steve

Uh, that is supposed to read "golf course" not "gold course"! (Though I also find it highly unlikely that there will be a gold course operating there before the end of the year. :-) )

Steve

Just wondering why you want to go to Mexico. The air fare cost adds enough to your budget limitations to seriously narrow your choices of resorts and therefore diminish your pleasure. If you only have 5 nights, how about the Naples area of Florida or South Beach for fun? The beaches are just what you want (I fear that you'll be disappointed with all the Mexican beaches to a certain degree) and there are some terrific spas. If you are going mostly for the pool and spa, it seems unnecessary to spend the money on flying to Mexico. JMHO

Since you don't have a lot of time, getting to where it is you decide on should be a big factor.

You don't want to waste two of your vacation days traveling.

I don't know if you said what part of the country you were coming from, but we can get to Cancun from N.C. (where we live) by mid-morning.

If you stay anywhere else but Cancun, you will have to take the additional tavel time into account. Travel to/from Tulum is an hours-long affair on its own...

The beaches in Cancun are stunning, price and availabily will be great in May, and you will be past the Spring Break season by and large.

I've been to all of the areas you mention - most many times - and Cancun has a good selection of upper-level hotels that will be very affordable that time of year.

I would NEVER recommend an AI to anyone traveling to the region due to the many excellent dining choices.

We have spent at least two to three weeks in Mexico for the last 13 years and I was sick once for one day in Cozumel. The AI's and hotels are not immune to people getting sick there - many have buffets that sit out for hours - no thanks!

With only five days, I would stick to Cancun or Isla Mujeres, or fly directly into Cozumel.

We have flown to Chichen Itza from Cozumel, and it was a nice day as we had plenty of time to get to the ruins early in the morning before the crowds arrived on the tour buses, and got back to Coz in late afternoon in time for drinks by the pool.

Thanks Diana:

We will either do Cancun (Le Meridien) or Isla Mujeres (Hotel Secreto). We'll probably decide by October or November b/c we'll need to book Secreto by then due to its popularity and small size. Part of me wants to try Isla Mujeres, but part of me likes the full service aspect of a Le Meridien type of hotel.

We're coming from New Orleans, so we can also get to Mexico by 10-11 in the morning. I'm happy with either of the choices. We considered Anguilla, but we won't have enough time for the travel plus I'd like to go to Mexico since we just went to Turks and Caicos.

It looks like we'll probably go in June now due to the many weddings we have to go to next April and May. June should allow us to get good fares, correct?

Also, I know that I should book Secreto directly, but as far as Le Meridien is concerned do you know the best way to book it? Their site seems to be significantly higher than travel sites. I've looked at apple vacations, funjet, and liberty, in addition to the usual (i.e., expedia, orbitz, etc.). Do you have a recommendation for the best site to book airfare & hotel for higher end places in Cancun?

I think you are making the right choices.

Secreto's site does seem to be best for reserving there.

I have gotten great rates at some of the best Cancun hotels in the off-season by booking through travelocity.com or expedia.com

I have sometimes booked the entire trip and sometimes I do airfare through one and hotel through another.

I've also gotten cheap airfare to Mexico through intratours.com

Another place to look is skyauction.com and luxurylink.com for off-season travel.

I have gotten rooms in off-season at places like Ritz Carlton and Intercontinental Presidente and JW Marriott for $110-175 per night.

I absolutely love Hotel Secreto. Yes, the beach area is a little rocky for swimming, but stunning in it's beauty and is quite often empty of people. Very romantic. Excellent sunrises. Playa Norte is a very, very short 3 minute walk away, as are many good restaurants.
I think the absolute best deals (airfare, hotel, plus ground transportation to/from airport packages) can be found with [email protected]
She is the best! And it's so much better than trying to buy somethiing off the computer. Send her an email, you will not be dissapointed!

Hi!

I highly recommend The Iberostar Tucan in Playa del Carmen (Riveria Maya). We stayed there February 2004 and April 2005 for 8 nights. The place is fabulous!!! Great service, very good food, beautiful sand beach, huge pool, and all-inclusive for a reasonable price. You can't go wrong. Don't waste your time in Cancun. It's a city on a beach and farther away from the areas you want to visit.

Have you considered Cozumel? There are some lovely all inclusive hotels on Cozumel, the beaches are lovely and you can snorkel from the beaches and you can go into town as a change of pace. I've stayed at the Allegro but there are newer hotels right next door.

I've been to Cozumel and wasn't very impressed. Thanks for the suggestion though.