Joanne

We just returned from two weeks traveling from Cancun to Chichen Itza, to Coba, to Tulum, Akumal, then back to Cancun. Had our kids along, stayed in some great hotels, saw some great sites. Feel free to ask questions on this site, but don't bother with the email above - it's fake.

Sandy

Hi Joanne, <BR>I'd love to ask a few questions. How old are your kids? Did you stay at any all-inclusives? If so, which ones and were they good? Could the kids swim in the ocean? Did you book tours with a company or did you find your own way? Did the kids like the ruins or did they get bored? What was yours and the kids favorite activity? I guess that enough questions, I'll scare you off. <BR>Thanks, Sandy

Joanne

Sandy, my kids are 16, 11 and 8, all boys. We hung arond with another family whose girls were 17 and 14, so we have a fair representation of kids ages. <BR> <BR>We did not stay at all-inclusives. We looked at several on the Mayan Riviera, and they were all very big. We stayed at the Mayaland hotel in Chichen Itza, in bungalows. They were wonderful, especially the location if you're there to visit the archeological ruin. Then we stayed at Cabanas Ana y Jose in Tulum. This is a wonderful 15 room hotel on the beach. The beach there was fantastic and yes the kids swam and wave crashed. The waves were not too dangerous, but exciting for the kids. They also have a small pool there. In Akumal, we rented a house on the beach. The beaches in Akumal are beautiful, although right in front of our house, it was slightly rocky - great for snorkeling but tough on the toes! <BR> <BR>We got around by ourselves with a rented car. This is by far the cheaper way to do it rather than book a tour through a hotel or agency. Also, if you book a tour, you spend a lot of time traveling by bus, and only a little time seeing what you're there to see, and you are there at peak hours. For instance, staying in Tulum, we visited the site first thing in the morning. We were 5 of perhaps 15 visitors on the site - I kid you not - and by the time we left, there were 30 tour buses in the parking lot. It is not fun to see the sites with thousands of people. Same with Chichen Itza. Our pictures show us and our Maya guide literally alone in the ball field, at the pyramid, etc. <BR> <BR>Coba is a site in the jungle, and we loved it. It has the only pyramid that you can actually still climb, and it is a ways into the jungle to get there - rent a bike on site. <BR> <BR>Casa Cenote is a good place to eat and swim in a cool cenote, and very kid friendly. Other cenotes were visited were hard to reach, through dirt roads, but also neat. We liked Aktun Chen, the cave near Akumal. We also liked Xcaret a lot, even though we had vowed to hate it, being the "tourist trap" that some people detest. However, it was very nicely done for an "ecological amusement park", and the underground river swim is really fun. There are dolphins, restaurants, a bat cave, an orchid farm, a bee farm, jaguar, horsebackriding, snorkeling, beaches, events, folklore stuff, etc. <BR> <BR>We also tried to go deepsea fishing but returned after 45 minutes due to high waves. For about $90 for two hours, in the past we've had some great fun, and then found someone to cook our fish for lunch. <BR> <BR>Regards!

Sandy

Hi Joanne, <BR>Thanks for all the great information and ideas. We also prefer to hit attractions early to avoid the crowds. Thanks again.

Carole

I agree with all email from Joanne. There is another alternative to small hotels in the Tankah/Tulum area. Here is the site for several privately owned villas that are a bargain for anyone traveling to this area. <BR>http://www.oceanfrontproperties.com/...glab2rent.html this place is good for families. <BR> <BR>http://CasaTropical.com is good for couples. <BR>

Michele

Hi, Joanne: I'm going to be off a cruise ship in Cancun for one day only. Do you think Tulum is worth it even though we'll have to go the tour bus route? I would love to get there early like you did, but alas ...! Or do you think Xcaret is a better choice? I've read so many conflicting opinions about Xcaret; I'm not sure whether I'd like it or not. Am traveling with my husband and 12-year-old daughter. Thanks for your help. --Michele

Joanne

Michelle, Tulum versus Xcaret are two totally different things. Tulum is a small archeological site, and that is all that's there, except for the gorgous ocean of course. It's kind of a long way to travel on a bus for an hour viewing the ruins. Xcaret could keep you busy for days. Although I normally opt for the "real" experience, in your case, I'd probably recommend Xcaret. Your daughter will have a blast, and there is a life-size Maya village, and replicas of some ruins, so there is definitely an educational element. I also think there are some actual ruins at Xcaret, as it was a holy site for the Maya. Have a great time.

barbara kelly

Went it states "rain" on the weather channel would you say it's really scattered showers? I didn't think it rained in Cancun in April. Also, did you happen to go to the Fiesta Americana Condesa and what restaurants in Cancun do you recommend. Any special things your kids enjoyed? I'm going there Friday. thx

cara

hi joanne; <BR>i am interested in just the thing you did. my husband and i went to playa the end of january, we did the all-inclusive and loved it but i think i'm looking for a little more adventure. i've gotten brochures on cabanas anya, can i ask how long you were on vacation for, where your flight left from and how much that was. did you wait til the last minute to book it? how much do you think you spent. it would only be my husband and i. thinking of going next year. maybe even in april, to catch the low season rates. do you know what the weather is like then? any info would help. i really would like to stay at kuluum for a couple nights. it has no electricity and you stay in tents with beds in them on the ocean. it just sounds so romantic to me!!! let me know. you can use my email address. thanks. cara m.

kam

We are also just back from our first trip to Cancun (although not to Mexico). We took the ferry out to Cozumel---beautiful beaches on the other side of the island, nice little restaurants and peaceful--one very nice hotel--can't remember the name (Presidente?) Would return except that the ferry is a bit of a 3rd world experience with crying children, vomiting and diesel fumes. We stayed at the Hilton (because of golf, but then it was too hot to play comfortably!).Pretty pool/beach area though. So many recommendation for the Moon Palace, but to my thinking it's too far away from things. Went to Xcaret--nice but having seen it once, I don't think there's stuff there to keep me occupied for days. Didn't get to Tulum because the car we rented (a Jeep) didn't have a/c despite having been promised it (Enterprise--do Budget instead) It was so hot and humid that I felt sick without the a/c and husband has been there before. Playa was really fun--try the Blue Lobster for a nice lobster dinner with pipe folk music--lovely. In Cancun we ate outside at Lorenzillo's and had great lobster again.Also recommend La Habichuela, The Plantation House (pretty formal for Mexico)and Captain-----'s (can't remember the exact name, but you'll find it--in the hotel zone on the water near the big shopping arcade. The eating was the best part of the trip because I really couldn't come alive until the sun was going down. It was also Spring Break so downtown Cancun was full of college kids getting "tattoos" and drinking beer. It was an OK trip, but I think it would have been better in February before Spring Break.

Bill

We were at Tulum Mar 1-4 and again 9-12. Stayed at Los Lirios which is next to Ana Y Jose. Check it out on the same web site, if you decide to stay at A Y J you may move as LL has much nicer rooms, with a so so restaurant.Eat lunch and dinner at Ana Y Jose. when you are tired of Mex food the Sub's at the Sub shop at Tulum (the site) taste mighty good. Xel-ha is a great place to go snorkeling. Lots of fish and a quiet lagoon.About $20. per person and can rent equipment if you didn't bring yours.

suzanne

Would you PLEASE stop advertising Casa Tropical? Tankah used to be nice, but is nothing more than a hellhole of condos now...

delphine

any suggestions about how to spend * hours in cancun? thanks!

Marcy

Considering a trip to the Mayan Riviera. Money is a concern so the Royal Hideaway is definitely out. I have some info on the Bahia Principe Tulum. Know anything about it? It's in Akumal and away from everything, which is ok with me. Any info???

margot

Hello Marcy, <BR>Saw your question about the Bahia Principe and wanted to let you know that I did see it when I was down and February. We stayed at the Robinson Club about five minutes away, and my preference visually was the Robinson. The Principe is huge, while the Robinson is smaller and more intimate. Also, the food at the Robinson Club was absolutely incredible-more variety than I've ever seen at an all-inclusive and first-rate. It depends on what you're looking for. Give me more details and I'll try to answer your questions.

Teresa

Hi <BR>I've been reading all of these messages. Great info! Thanks. One question Joanne. Did you see any of the villas in south Akumal? We will be staying in the villa called Las Hamacas at the end of the road(most south)in June) What house did you stay in & where was it located? Any trouble with bugs...mosquitos in general? What kind of fish did you see snorkeling? My teenage daughter is scared to death that a SHARK will attack her...You know teenagers! Thanx~^~TERESA~^~

Shelley

Am staying at the Iberostar Tucan in a few weeks. Can anyone give me feedback on this resort?

Lorie

Joanne,<BR>My son (17) and I will be visiting Mexico,arriving via Cancun airport.<BR>You said you rented a car.<BR>I was considering renting a car but thinking traveling by bus may be safer and cheaper.<BR>What do you recommend; price wise (we are on a budget), does the traffic<BR>travel fast, is the driving aggressive, is there probability of theft or accidents, are there insurance issues to be concerned about, what responsibility would I have for theft or accident. <BR>We are staying for a week and want to see as many events as possible.<BR>Thanks,<BR>Lorie <BR>