Tracy

Family trip to Mayan Riviera, 2 19yr daughters along totally focused on CANCUN. Should we stay closer to PDC so they can get out and party or is Barcelo Maya close enough to town to allow them to spend time in the disos there. What about the RIU palace. Dad and mom really would like access to bottled beer.

Jean

I'm a little confused by your question. Playa Del Carmen and both the resorts that you mention are an hour south of Cancun. PDC has a couple bars that may even be called discos, but I don't think they very closely resemble the disco scene in Cancun.

I'm guessing the girls aren't going to be walking in town for the disco scene anyway, so it probably doesn't matter which resort you stay at in Playacar. I think the cab fare is about the same.

Can't answer your question about bottled beer, we stayed right in Playa, and not at an all-inclusive. Most bars on 5th Avenue sold Mexican beer for about $1.50 American. Cheaper than what we're used to here.

Tracy

Sorry about the confusion. We (adults) want to stay around PDC, but kids can only think of cancun they think we are evil not staying in the heart of spring break. So I was wondering if we stayed closer to PDC they might be content if they can go into PDC and party and get over the dream of cancun. Thanks for your response.

Jean

Are you going as a package? Anyway to split it up, say four nights one place, three in another? You would probably have to do Playa first, otherwise the girls may be disappointed, after the party scene in Cancun.

Good luck planning your vacation.

Jan

PDC has nightlife, but it's definitely not the Cancun diso nightlife. There's Carlos and Charlies and some other bars, but tame compared to Cancun. I think a split trip might be the answer for you to make everybody happy. I own a travel agency, so if you would like any help with reservations od pricing, I'd be happy to help. Just send me an e-mail.

belle

Having taken 17, 18, and 19 year olds to Cancun in the past, I would suggest taking your daughters to Xcalak. From what you say, they seem a little too excited about the Cancun scene.

Rover

I agree with Belle. If they were my daughters they could just be disappointed before I would turn them loose in Cancun during Spring Break. Nothing but sex and booze. And at 19,they would be among the youngest and most vulnerable there. They should be grateful for the wonderful trip you are providing for them.

excaper

At 19 I think they will be very happy with the nightlife in PDC. Like previous posters, I think the Carlos & Charlies type spots will be enough to satisfy them. Don't be naive about Cancun - that is true insanity at spring break!! I was 20 when I took that trip and I actually found it frightening - and I had done the spring break thing in Florida a couple of times previously!!

bomotrix

Dear Tracy:
I am guessing that you have never seen MTV Spring Break specials from Cancun. If you had, you would be finding a hotel as far away from the Cancun spring break scene as possible. Or see one of those "Girls Gone Wild Spring Break" videos. That's what it's really like there. If you split your trip to please your girls, you and your husband will hate the raucous atmosphere of Cancun, especially after the peace of PDC. Frankly, I would bypass Cancun altogether (and no, I'm not an old fuddy duddy, I'm 29). If your daughters still think you are evil, then maybe they can stay home and do volunteer work while you and your husband enjoy a vacation.

KellyF

PDC is plenty of party -- especially on spring break. If you can find a place closer in to PDC, I'm sure your daughters would appreciate their enhanced ability to come and go at all hours.

I'm no fuddy-duddy either, but I frankly think the spring break nightlife (or even daylife) in Cancun is grotesque. Maybe stay in PDC and let the girls take a daytrip into Cancun on their own? My hunch is that even on a daytrip, they'll see enough to satisfy their curiosity and appreciate PDC all the more.

And you're not evil; you're awesome. Do you know how many parents would care at all about their 19-year-olds' desire to party?

In Cancun and PDC, there is bottled beer everywhere you turn -- and it's always happy hour.

KellyF

Oh! One more thing to check out: Many resorts offer night bus service to and from the "nightlife" area in Cancun; maybe you could find a resort with similar service from Playacar to PDC? Playacar is definitely a very nice place - lovely beaches, etc - but for myself, I found the area a bit too insulated for my tastes.