Balto~~I also think that Akumal sounds like what you're looking for. There are several reasonable condos and beautiful villas in the Akumal area. For good accommodations descriptions, go to Locogringo.com. They specialize in this area. I know one condo that's really nice is Las Villas Akumal. Akumal Beach Resort is a great, reasonable AI. Other nice condos--Vista del Mar and Playa Caribe. You can easily go to Tulum ruins, snorkel cenotes, and take a day trip to Playa del Carmen for a day.

We have a tripped planned in November to the akumal beach hotel. Wondering if anyone has stayed at this one or knows about it. Thanks.

At the risk of not doing sufficient justice to either, we're thinking of dividing our week (7 nights) between Akumal and Isla. That would give us a better idea of where we should eventually come back to, and also keep things reasonably interesting for the boys.

Any thoughts about which order to do them in? The main consideration would be getting back to the airport for a 9:40 a.m. flight out. Would it be better to get to the airport in the rental car from Akumal, or come back by ferry and taxi from Isla, unburdened by a rental car? I'm guessing it doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but I'd be interested in hearing from someone who does think so.

definitely easier to get to the airport from Akumal.

My husband and I split a week between Playa and Isla, and enjoyed them both in different ways. And we visited Akumal, and thought that next time that's where we'll stay, but it is pretty quiet at night.

I think Playa would be most fun for teens, but there isn't snorkeling right there (though there are gorgeous beaches, and it's not hard to get places, like Akumal, where the snorkeling is great). It was fun to walk down Fifth Avenue in the evening and choose a restaurant, people watch, window shop, and "shop shop."

In the end I think all these places have something wonderful to offer, and unfortunately you have to choose.... But if you're on Isla half the week, and therefore only a few days on the mainland, you'll lose some mainland time of you go to ruins one or two of those days. (Chitzen Itza is a *full* day's trip. Tulum is not.) Near Akumal are some wonderful cenotes and caves as well. I found Isla great if what you mainly want to do is hang on the beach. You have to take a boat out to snorkel, and they make you wear life jackets in the water, if that matters to you. By the way, that coop day trip with grilled fish was the best fish I have ever had in my life. I still dream about it.

All said, though, the mainland has more to explore, IMO.

It was not particularly hard to get from Isla to the airport. I don't think it matters too much which order you visit which.

Liz

Liz...where did you stay in Ilsa and PDC ?

In PDC we stayed at Hotel la Tortuga, an absolute gem, but a bit of a hike from the beach club with which they are affiliated. In Isla we stayed at Posada del Mar (http://www.bestday.com/Isla_Mujeres/...da_del_Mar/),a hotel near Playa Norte, but on the side where the docks are. It was okay but nothing special.