I will be at the Maroma resort for about 4-5 days later this year and was hoping to get in one or two ruins as well as time on teh beach. Most people recommend Chichen Itza and Tulum - any suggestions on how I can get there from the resort (incase I don't take the resort tours...)? Should I be renting a car at Cancun airport...first trip to Mexico and am not sure how easy it is to navigate and if it's even necessary to rent a car. Thanks.

we also MAY be there also in 3 1/2 weeks...I say MAYBE because there is hurricane Wilma which will take a few days to blow the area. I don't even know if there will be a Maroma after this storm is thru. I have heard there is already etensive beach erosion.

However Maroma, does have transportations service that picks yuou up at the airport, which is included at in your rate. They can also arrange a tour to the ruins for you at the hotel....they can also arrange a rentalcar for you and give you direcions.

I would wait and see if the hotel will be up and running...this hurricane sadly is "catastrophic" and is slamming the entire area.

You know it's hard to think about answering this question with Wilma on it's way (or there by now). Maybe after we know what's happened down there, you'll get more answers.

Thanks. You are right...all depends on Wilma! Annabel - hope we get to go...

Me too...My first thoughts are for the people there.

I am a bit worried about Maroma. It is smack dab in the middle of the storm and it is "ocean front". I am sure the storm surge will take away most of the beach.

On the positive side...maroma is an Orient Express owned hotel. They cannot afford to close or loose guests. So as long as they are up and operational and the beach and spa are there..so will we

Just keeping my fingers crossed.

A great place to get first hand info form people there is www.stormcarib.com
there are correspondants who are posting what they see with pictures. Just click on cancun/cozumel and you will see all the posts there.

I am planning on calling Orient express on Monday. We really will not anything until the storm has passed and the waters recede. I was hoping this beast of a storm would go up the channel between the yucatan and cuba. But it has a mind of it's own.

Thanks for the link Annabel. The storm seems to have hit pretty bad. Was reading some messages on locogringo and unfortunately there do seem to be fatalities. It's awful!
On the reservations subject: Please do let me know what you find out about the beach and the property. This is my first trip to Mexico and was sooo looking forward to it (we are going over Thanksgiving). Good Luck and thanks!

Sadly, we just cancelled our trip to Maroma. The hotel was due to reopen Nov 1 so there were no guests there at the time of Wilma. The reports have been slow, but I have heard now this is unofficial...that Maroma is flooded as the eye of the storm pretty much sat over that area. I called Orient Express this morning. They are so very nice and professional. I was given a full refund no questions asked.

The number for Maroma is 1800 403 4947

I read one second hand report that Puerto Morales was hit very hard; much is gone there. Puerto is where Ceiba del Mar is located, and Maroma is a bit further south. I think areas north of Playa were hit even harder than Playa.

I have also heard the same. It appears as though PDC is not as bad as some areas north. It is amazing how much of a difference a short distance makes, relatively speaking.

Sadly, Maroma was due to reopen newly refurbished from Emily. Although Maroma held up will during Emily with minor damage, they repaired the damage and spend millions renovating the hotel making it even more beautiful. They just finished on Oct. 19. Since there was no guests there at the time, reports from the hotel are non-existant, but I have read about the terrible beach erosion in that area. Since Maroma is directly on the beach...well I can't imagine what it looks like now. We really feel terrible. The funny this is that I used AmEx points for the amjority of this vacation (5nights) and paid out of pocket for the last 3. We used 470 thousand points for 5 nights there. Maroma refunded my portion without a problem. AmEx wanted to keep all the points and charge $75 cancellation fee. I had to make many many calls to get my points back and not be charged a fee...the conversations with them were absolutely insane!

We just re booked our trip to Biras Creek, BVI..Keeping our fingers crossed that there will be no more hurricanes this season.

Annabel we'll probably do the same. I have no idea what Continental is going to let us do with the flight reservations! We bought the tickets off Continental's website.
Our fall back option was Arizona and give the unpredicatability of hurricanes..I think we may just go to AZ. Especially, since finding reservations in the Carribean over Thanksgiving is going to be tricky..and we can't change our dates as it's our first anniversary.

I can only tell you of my experience with American. They were wonderful...and I hade first class "restricted" to Cancun airport...which means use it or loose it! I kept my original travel dates AND the airfare was 1/2 the price even going first class. So I'm getting a refund of $1500!

We have been to Biras Creek before, we were married there 5 years ago. Since it is our 5th wedding anniversary, we thought it most suitable to return to the scene of the crime - LOL

We are going to Sedona in Feb...it looks beautiful. We are going to stay at the Enchantment resort..never been but it looks wonderful!

Good luck and happy anniversary to you!

The airlines should not give you a problem.

Gosh you are so quick and organized. I sure hope Continental is as nice to us as American was to you guys. Have fun at Biras Creek.

thanks for all the info Annabel! Shame on American Express for giving you such a hard time!