ekami

We are trying to plan a trip to Playa del Carmen and I need help on finding a place to stay. I've been looking thru some of the forums here and on other sites but I am quickly becoming overwhelmed. We are looking to go end of May for 1 week. We will have our 3 children, 17,15 and 12 and we are looking for a place on a nice beach that is not an AI. Would prefer something that has a kitchen so we can make some meals but within walking distance so that we can try the local fare. We are looking to do some snorkeling, visit some ruins (Tulum?) etc. We've never been to this part of the world so any tips (traveling, beaches, eateries etc) you can give would be greatly appreciated. Would like to keep it between 1200 and $2000/wk for lodging if possible. Thanks much.

schmerl

El Taj is a beautiful condo complex on the beach. Check it out.
http://www.eltaj.com/

emd3

Because you are going at the end of May, you can get a very nice condo right on the beach in the niddle of your range.

If you want beachfront, look at VRBO rentals at El Faro. We stayed there in April of 2011. Proximity to 5th Ave. Great beach and nice pool. But it can be noisy like many of the oceanfront complexes, so it is important to stay on the far side of the building, in the "Reef" section. It is away from Zenzo, the condo unit next door that has a popular bar that plays loud live music, esp. on weekends.

If you are willing to be one blk off the beach, you can rent a large 2 bedrm 2.5 bath condo w/rooftop ocean view pool and large wraparound patio for less than half the price of oceanfront, and have a lot more pesos to spend on 5th Ave and on food, drinks, excursions, massages, etc. Meridien complex. Email me at eileend10 at verizon dot net if you are interested in that option.

jhermosa

You can find a lot of hotels and resorts in the 5th avenues which is close to the beach.

zootsi

Here's a Playa 101:
The AVENUES run north to south, paralleling the beach. 5th ave is the main pedestrian throughfare, close to the beach. It's lined with restaurants, hotels, and shops of every kind. The STREETS run cross town. Juarez is the main drag - very busy, lined with stores.
The further away from the beach, the more Mexican the neighborhood. Some of the best restaurants are on 30th ave, by the Mega Store. The whole town seems quite safe to wander around. You won't have any problem finding places to eat, no matter where you stay.
The actual town of Playa Del Carmen has very few AI's - most lodging is small hotels and condos.
Although the beach is great along the whole town, the north end beach is generally wider.
The North end is a bit newer and quieter, with a strong Italian presence. There are large beach clubs in the north end (like Mamitas) that rent out palapas and lounge chairs, have music, pools, bars, etc - very euro feeling. However ALL the beaches are free for blanket use.
Playacar is a quiet gated community at the far south end of town.
The closest major ruins are Tulum and Coba, both spectacular but different. The beach at Tulum is beautiful. Coba is deep in the jungle.
Consider renting a car for at least a day or two to explore outside of Playa.
For snorkeling, Akumal is the place to go.
The website locogringo.com has a wealth of info on the whole area.

colokid

Just to add on....
If you rent a car, take all the insurance offered. Drive the speed limit.
The town area has eigh AI's or partial AI's:
The Royal
The Gran Porto Real
The Real
Mahekal
Las Palapas
Grand Coco Bay
at the very north end of town now Paradisus has two
La Perla
La Esmeralda

In Playacar the AI's include:
The Reef
Royal Hideaway
RIU's: Yucatan, Playacar, Lupita, Palace Mexico, Palace Riviera Maya, Tequila
Iberostar: Quetzal, Tucan
Sandos
Viva Azteca
Viva Maya
Occidental

Beach clubs north: Mamitas, Kool, Canibal Royale
Many restaurants on the beach at the south end have beach clubs that include loungers and umbrellas

There are many condos to rent that would fulfill your needs. Look at flipkey, tripadvisor, or VRBO for suggestions. The prices vary greatly.

Restaurants are plentiful. The north end of town has wonderful places to eat; I'm biased because that's my neighborhood. Some are great, some soso; some pricey and some extremely reasonable.

You can take colectivos for transportation to Tulum and Akumal or take the ADO bus. ADO station is on 5th ave and Juarez, nice buses/ac/movies. The colectivo stand (colectivos are passenger vans that travel up and down the highway) is on calle 2 between 15th and 20th. Akumal is 30 pesos/person each way and Tulum is 35. The bus is slightly more. Both leave you off on the highway. Akumal is a short walk to the beach from the highway. Tulum beach would require a taxi from town but if you get off at the ruins instead you can walk in to the ruins and then head to the beach from there.

Things to keep in mind:
Use ATM's that are attached to banks, not the units on 5th ave or exchange money at the banks or cambios. At the bank, they will require a passport to exchange money.
If you rent a car, take all the insurance. If you have an accident you will be put in jail along with everyone else until it is sorted out. If you have insurance and a reputable company this can be avoided.
Some restaurants/beach clubs include tips in their bill and some do not. If the propina (tip) is included it should be indicated on the bill. Add you prices up to make sure it is correct.
Do not expect to pay for everything in dollars/use pesos. Many places will no longer take USD because of new laws around exchanging large amounts of USD. Be careful with credit cards.
You may not bring food or drink to beach clubs. They sell their own and will take yours and return it at the end of the day if you have it with you. You may bring food and drink if you are just sitting on the beach with a blanket.

If you are in need of additional information you can email me also. bkdeckingatyahoodotcom.

ekami

Thank you very much. This info gives me a great place to start.

cdrcos

Try Xaman-Ha condominiums: close to town, nice beach, large pool, different sizes condos, have kitchens, etc.

We had a family reunion there a few years ago with 19 people - it was great. Many are privately owned and available through VRBO and other places.

MFNYC

I'd go the condo route with kids that age. We did the AI's when the kids were young, but as teens and older, condos is the way to go. So many great dining options in and around town, and plenty to do. We stayed in Xaman Ha as well. The location is great, on the beach, and a couple of blocks to 5th avenue.