This week we are going to PDC for 6 nights staying at Las Palapas. We are a family of five. I would appreciate some feedback on transportation. Should we rent a car from the airport and keep it for our entire stay? Or should we hire cars and drivers. I expect that we will need drivers for the roudtrip airport run as well as a couple of pick ups for excursions out of Tulum. From my last post as well as reading other posts I think that we are going to want to go to Akumal to snorkel and possibly visit other beaches and Cenotes on our own. Is the convenience of having our own car with three teens an added benefit or is the carefree experience of taking Collectivos and having a driver to rely on the way to go? It is hard to judge how much driving around we will really do? Since we are 5 we can't fit into a regular Taxi unless minivan cabs? I also do not know if there is parking at Las Palapas. All thoughts appreciated.
Also, if anyone has stayed at Las Palapas I would love get your thoughts. We have reserved two standard rooms side by side. Thoughts and Discoveries..

PDC is an easy bus ride ($7) from the airport. From the bus station to the hotel is about a 20 minute walk. You can rent a car in PDC for the last few days of your trip, and use it to visit Akumal, Tulum, Coba, etc. Having your own car for a few days is the way to go - there is so much to see and do. Driving is quite easy in the area. You can either use the car to get back to the airport, or take the bus back.

Renting a car at the airport I think is your best bet with a crew that size. The drive from the airport is easy, and the convenience of having a vehicle to visit anywhere you want, when you want, can't be beat. (I wouldn't want to walk 20 minutes with luggage, even if it wasn't hot!)We paid $170 U.S for a week (including the mandatory Personal and Accident insurance) at Thrifty. (Frankly, negotiating every taxi ride fare is a pain.)

There is a big parking area belonging to Las Palapas. Parking is no problem.
For snorkeling with the turtles I recommend to you to check out this page http://www.visit-mundomaya.com/html/en-tortugas.html
This is an amazing experience.

thank you...

we have stayed at las palapas five times and are going back in march. we love it and end up doing very little touring because it's so nice to just relax there and hang out. we are often the only americans there - they get a lot of germans and swiss. the breakfast is amazing and we go to the casa club for lunch every day. dinner is best eaten out as there are so many places to choose from on 5th ave.

from cancun, we usually take the van shuttle from playainfo.com which has been very reliable.

enjoy! and please let us know how you like las palapas. we are very sad that it is closing sometime this year.