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Low Budget Tulum
Can someone recommend some cheap but not unsafe cabanas on the beach in Tulum? By unsafe meaning, inability to lock a door & some level of protection against rain (don't want cameras stolen or soaked). Le Zebra has been highly recommended in the forum here (mostly from around 2002), but not sure if they are still in business since their site and email doesn't work.
It seems online prices aren't matching what's being bounced back to me on written request, some places are asking as much as 100 a day for what looks like a utility shed , hammock and mosquito netting. I can live without electricity, I just expect a little more for 100 bucks. I was thinking maybe 25 a night tops. Also, has anyone winged it and gone without reservations? I suspect my negotiating power would be slightly better in person than online via makeshift websites. I know there are hostels in town as backup in any event. This would be just pre-high season: end of November, start of December. Any information and experience from those that don't do the all- inclusive resort route would be appreciated, thanks. |
What are the names of the places charging $100/night for a shack? It may be better than a shack, but sometimes the photos don't translate well.
I'm not sure what can be had for $25/night. I do agree that your bargaining power is better in person and being at super low season, that should work to your advantage. Some of these places are kinda rough around the edges - as in unclean and really grungy. Plus you'll have a shared bath situation - if that's ok with you. |
Thanks for the reply Pepper. I was looking at Zahra, which does have 40 dollar cabanas, without a beach view... but a single beach facing cabana was about 90 without tax.
I've now gotten two replies stating they have $25 cabanas.... Hotel Mirador, and Cabanas Santa Fe, both from the same owner, not sure anyone knows them or has stayed there. I also found Cabanas Copal, 35 a night. Of the three that seems to be in a smallish 10 room resort place, so it seems fairly clean and safe, but also geared towards couples and honeymooners. I will be single on day photographic trips so coupley places aren't what I want to deal with. All are shared bath situations. If anyone is familiar with these places and can give pro/con advise, much appreciated. |
I've been by Mirador and it has the nastiest looking shared bathroom - that was 2 yrs ago, I really have to doubt that it's any better.
Have you read through the reviews of the lower priced cabanas at Zahra and Copal? You really get what you pay for. I don't think Zahra is worth the money; you can do better. Sounds like you're looking for something beachfront. Try looking at Cabanas Los Arrecife. They have huts directly on the beach with a bed and sand floor. Shared bath situation again. Nachos' Latitude 2.0 - a restaurant - also rents cabanas with a shared bath in your price range. They are newer than most of the others and looked to be in good shape when I peeked into a cabana after having dinner there. Have you tried Playa Papaya? They should have something in your price range too. Cabanas Tulum is usually around $60/night. But you may be able to negotiate $40-45/night by showing up. They are more of a cinderblock building. This place would have the most secure lock on the door. Most of the huts are made of sticks with thatch roofs. Chances are that you won't get wet, but securing your door might be an issue - I've heard that theives will dig under the stick walls and enter your cabana and steal valuables. |
You can find a couple of Nacho's photos here. Although, now on a search, it seems as though it may be Gringo Dave's again (which it was a few years ago - confusing, I know):
http://www.frontiernet.net/~cgc50/AkumalJuly2005.html Los Arrecife: http://www.hotelstulum.com/Arrecife/default.htm Papaya: http://www.papayaplaya.com/ Some others: Part of the dive shop: http://www.hotelstulum.com/Punta_Piedra/default.htm Probably your best bet: http://www.yucatantravel.com/hotels/...factsheet.html |
Nice, thanks again Pepper. The 40-50 dollar price range looks worlds apart, something I could definitely live with. I appreciate the info. Yeah, Mirador gave me a bad texaco gas station vibe. Punta Piedra looks pretty sweet. I think that place looks like its owned and run by surfer/scuba guys, and that's exactly the kind of style I'm looking for... not expensive, but not run down. Stupidly I never bothered to click on the map, and lo and behold, a complete list of all the cabana resorts with names all in a row, so I can do a search on all of them now. I suspect they're competitive enough to be all in the $40 range.
Back to safety concerns, in your experience or from what you've heard, generally are cabanas safe or are there some basics I should take for granted like... never leaving anything in the cabana unattended? I plan to rent a car, so I could always lock expensive items in the trunk if I were to go swimming or to dinner etc. I don't want to be overly paranoid, but I am from NYC not to mention it is a somewhat displaced Mayan community overrun with rich Americans, there's bound to be some poaching. Just curious as to your experience with that. |
To be honest, I've left our cabana unlocked all day long while we're using the beach and staying on close to the property, but that has been at La Conchita and Ana y Jose - where they have staff lurking around to make sure things are safe. We even leave the door open at night to get more breeze.
So...what I'd look for is a place where there aren't too many who can have the opportunity to walk by. You can check them out quickly since you'll have a car. Punta Piedra would be good, because the guys at the dive shop are always milling around. And if Alejandro is there, he's a badass MF - nobody would mess with. Ask him to take you out to dive for lobsters - he can hold his breath forever!! Cabanas Tulum only attracts the people who are staying there. I would say it's quite safe too. Locking things in the truck is a good idea, but only if nobody sees you locking your things in the trunk. We've never had a problem, but I've heard of things stolen from trunks around Oscar y Lalo's restaurant in Soliman Bay - apparently it's the guys who "watch" the parking lot. We've left things in the back of an unlockable Jeep at Coba, Tulum ruins w/o problems. I think your stuff is safer in your room than in your trunk. It's not so much the Mayans that you need to worry about; they don't want your stuff or even know how to use it. But it's the workers who have come from other areas - transient type workers who will steal your stuff. Just make sure you stay somewhat on the beaten path. Not sure what you plan on taking photos of. There is some drug activity down there - in more remote areas. You will see the military patrolling the beach and along the road with machine guns. Don't be alarmed; they nice... just looking for "white bricks" - don't pick them up!! The cabanas all along the beach range in price dramatically from $15 - $250+; and they can be next door to each other. Just know the ones you want to look at. Give me some time to look at the map/list - so you'll know which ones to bother with. |
I have never been to Tulum but I plan on traveling there soon and www.tripadvisor.com "appears" to have some good information with traveler reviews. I am hoping it is accurate because I am planning on using it to plan my vacation. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g1...la-Hotels.html
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Ok Pepper, I need your expertise. :)
I've gotten a good deal at Arricefe, 45 for beachside cabana ... from the aerial it's next to Ana & Jose's... is it the one with the green marsh growth in front? http://www.locogringo.com/maps/tour/094-t.html Is that going to be mosquito city? If I spotted it wrong on the map let me know, and perhaps that photo is old too. I just was leary of a thatch of reeds at my doorstep... which means extra critters. Thanks! |
Actually...I think it's the property to the right all the way - with a few stick/thatch cabanas right on the beach.
Are you getting one of the beach cabanas?...you know they are shared bath, right?...and a bed right on the sand. They also have a building with rooms, but I haven't peeked into those. I'll see if I can find a photo for you. Mosquitos would be less of a problem right on the beach with the breeze blowing. I'm sure there's netting over the bed. The only critters I can see you encountering right there are crabs at night...and they run away very, very fast. |
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Yup, the shared bath ones. I figured it will be relatively mosquito-less right on the beach... but a healthy grove of reeds could alter that I think. In any event I'm bringing what is considered the ultra mosquito repellent... cocktail of deet and pennyroyal oil. So I'm sure it'll be fine... and glad you pointed out where it was in the pic... hotels seem better spaced around there, as opposed to up at Zahra it seemed a little congested.
I appreciate the effort to suggest this place, this stretch of beach looks real nice and quiet, away from the touristas at the ruins, and probably very quiet. I just want a view, a hammock and a cerveza after driving the circumferance of the Yucatan the 5 days before. Either way having the surf in the background will make it easy to sleep. |
It's definately less congested around Los Arrecifes...in fact, one morning I saw a backpacker just pulling up his tent from the beach - nobody around really to tell him not to.
I would love, love, love to hear about your adventure when you return. We haven't done much interior traveling - hard to get away from the beach. You'll have a great trip. |
Absolutely... Valladolid, Merida, Ticul, & Calakmul jungle... hopefully the roads are in good shape, gonna put some mileage on the rental. I'll give a full report once I return.
Just curious, what's easiest for payment in Tulum area... pesos? credit card? travellers cheques? |
Definately pesos. Hardly anybody takes credit cards. And traveler's checks...maybe; some will, some won't.
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just had to jump in here. i just went to tulum area with travelers cheques. bad mistake. nobody would take them and we spent over an hour in the tulum bank trying to get cash. they easily exchanged dollars for pesos, but still a very long wait in line. an atm card is most efficient and quickest. i was quite sad watching scores of ppl use their card and go while i stood in line.
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Well unfortunately my whole trip got cancelled due to booking a car rental with a Discover card, and "discovering" days before trip they aren't honored in Cancun airport, or most of Mexico... despite both Discover and every rental company claiming they would be. I only have a Mastercard debit card, and that's essentially my bank account... with all the CC fraud in Mexico I couldn't do it. Once I acquire a regular Mastercard I'll be back. Thanks for all the help, I'll try again in the Spring.
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This is unbelievable!!!
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Yup, only Advantage rental takes Discover, so that people know.
I'll make it down in the Spring, once I get a Mastercard though, thanks for your help. |
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