Mexico vacation input needed

[Treebeard]

Akumal Bay has good snorkeling but the water can get silty if it is windy. Half Moon Bay is about a mile north of Akumal bay, and I think the snorkeling is better, although it is rocky.
If you go to Akumal Bay stop at the Lo Ha beach bar for happy hour. This webcam is mounted on the front of the dining area.
For great margaritas go to La Cueva del Pescador. The also have really good food.
If you are the least bit interested in Mayan history, be sure to visit the ruins in Tulum and better yet, take a tour to Coba. In my 2007 trip, I hired a cab for the day from Akumal to Coba and back, and it only cost around $50, but this trip the DW and I are renting a car for the first 10 days.

If you enjoy snorkeling, I would highly recommend taking a resort scuba course. Better yet, if time permits, do your classroom and pool training at home before you leave, and do your open water certification dives at one of the dive shops in Mexico.

Check out LocoGringo for tons of good information on the Mayan Riviera. I always book with them when staying in the Akumal area. Their forums also provide a wealth of information for activities in area.

[bigmac]

Originally Posted by 24storm

Thanks everyone for all the input. We booked in at the Gran Bahia Principe Akumel with the golden upgrade. Cant wait.

Anyone have more input on excursion that a person should look into?

All those who have stay at the Gran Bahia that have any pointers or resturants that they would recommend or stay away from it would be great to have your input.

Keith

Keith,

I would for sure do "La Gran Tortuga" restaraunt; I'm fairly certain its on the Akumel site; or maybe Coba; I can't remember. But as others mentioned the tram continuously runs between the three sites. You have made a great choice in resorts! We stayed there (at Tulum) and it was fantastic. I would go again in a heartbeat. Enjoy!

[Capt_kulafu]

Try Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya beach resort... they are nice too

[ALang]

We stayed at the Princess last year. Nothing bad to say about the hotel, except that it IS sprawlingly huge and depends on whether your room is close to the beach or not, it is quite the hike everytime you want to see the ocean.
We didn't mind walking, but it got to be ridiculous when we only needed to check the waves and the flag warnings. Our rooms were closer to the main lobby, so it might help to be closer to the beach.
Plus if you want some excitement or just be aound the pool, you have a bit of a walk ahead of you. So we had to remember to pack everyhting when we head for the beach, just so we won't have to walk all that way back.
Beautiful grounds, though, nice wide walking paths, well-groomed, with beautiful statues lining the walk.
But heed the warnings about slippery floors! The whole courtyard and adjoining walk-paths are paved with VERY shiny marble. We have witnessed and heard of people slipping and falling, often. Marble and water, and spilled cervasas just don't mix.
The beach there is fine, the edge by the water can be surprisingly rocky, though. We would be stolling through the water, and stepped on some very sharp rocks. So water socks are a must.

[Ross]

We were at Dreams Puerto Aventuras back in Feb. this was our first time to Mexico, and we loved this resort. Small, but high caliber, you don't have to walk for 15 minutes to get to the beach, its right on it.

There is a marina 5 minutes walk away, there are markets, and a dolphin show/swim, loads of small fishing charter boats, Golf course, etc.

It is pretty centeral along the east coast between Tulum and Playa Del Carman.

Xcaret is a short bus drive away. As are the Tulum ruins.

Great food, great room service, wife sayes spa was really good.
great drinks etc etc

There is a decent amount of snorkeling on the beach out infront of the resort It is sheltered by a breakwater, so loads of fish come in out of the waves
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossmct...7623423282094/
Not much for corals, but tangs, puffers, rays, baracuda, etc.

Google Earth:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=2...05364&t=h&z=18

Hotel website:
http://www.dreamsresorts.com/drepa/photo-gallery.html

No, I'm not affiliated with them, but I'd go back there in a heart beat.

[sphelps]

Diving and snorkeling pics from the Dreams in Dominican, basically most dive sites and snorkeling right of the resort beach.
http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...ghlight=diving

Also room service there was free. Often this is case with most all inclusive but most don't know about it as it's not usually advertised.

One thing about the Princess in Mexico is it was HUGE! Not a bad thing really but the distance from the lobby to the beach is 1km. Walking there and back would take about 30min.

[cwatkins]

Nothing but good things to say about:

-Gran Bahia Principe Tulum -- other adjoining hotels looked nice.
-Iberostar Paraíso Lindo (twice) -- other adjoining Iberostar hotels look really nice.
-Barcelo Maya Palace (got married here) -- other adjoining hotels were really nice too.

[Jfish]

Stayed at the Barcelo Maya Tropical at the end of November. Resort was very nice and clean. I can't really compare it against any other resort though. One thing I can say, the free snorkeling at the resort is only a one hour rental. So if you enjoy it, buy or borrow some gear before you go. There were swarms of fish, stingrays and turtles off the pier at our resort and we would have stayed in the water a lot longer if we had our own equipment. Also next time I go i'll take the water shoes since there are lots of big rocks lurking out in the water. I'd also take a big beer mug because those little glasses just dont cut it.

We did take the catamaran tour from playa del carmen to tulum one day though. It was an excellent day, two hours sailing, one hour snorkeling, lunch on the boat, hang out at the beach for an hour and a quick tour of tulum.

Boat was large enough (80ft) that there wasn't a whole bunch or rocking. Two or three people ended up being sick out of a hundred or more. The sailing (motor powered) went along the coast which was surprisingly sweet. We then snuck in past the surf and snorkeled just out from tulum at the reef there. The short tour of Tulum was also informative but not too lengthy.

Looked into the deep sea fishing but none of my friends would commit. Talked to some other guests that went and on thier 6 hour trip the group (8 guys) caught three fish. They weren't that happy but every trip is differnt. The fishing boats are a fair bit smaller and in rolling seas I think the squeamish wouldn't have a good time.
Three of my friends did end up going, without callin me which is a whole other story. They went on a four hour trip and caught six or seven fish. They said it was amazing and since the groom ended up reeling in a six or seven foot marlin everyone was happy. Depending on when you go some fish are out of season. At the end of Nov. the marlin season isn't that great but obviously it varies a fair bit.