Mexico

globaldesigns · #1 07-10-2012, 05:13 PM

You will love it there, I took the family twice to that same resort, both times, and again both times stayed at the Coba.

The food is great, the people great... We had incredible service.... The Coba pool is the BEST and the Activities people are fun. Say Hi to Chico for us!!! That isn't his real name, but that is what he calls himself. Lots of parties at the pool and they love their drinking games. Staff remembered us, from previous visit and made us feel special.

This resort also has its own dolphins pool... If you play your cards right and get to know the activities group, they do give away quite a few free passes. I took 4 of us (my whole family) to swim with the dolphins for cheap, as I won 4 passes (basic package), and upgrade each to the better package. Total cost to me was $120 instead of $600.

Also, go to the dive shop on the beach and take the boat to swim with the sea turtles and snorkel in the reef. It was $30 each, well worth it... This time of year, you will most likely catch the hatching of the baby turtles as well. Also buy the pictures, it cost us (I think) $50 for all pic's, this was sooooo cheap and included professional pic's taken by the photographer of things like turtles, fish, coral, etc.

For excursions, and for kids your age, go to XelHa... This is a natural lagoon, where you get to swim with stingrays, fish of all types, basically everything of the wild. You get to relax on huge tubes down the lazy river (well not relax, as you have to navigate) But is cool, as it is a fresh water river, flowing into salt water. There are zip lines that kids your age can go on. Tickets are best to buy at the resort, same price as taking a taxi to the location and buying there, but you get free transporation. Well worth it!!! Price of ticket includes, transportation, all inclusive food and beverages (includes alchohol). Once there they have life jackets (mandatory) and snorkels and flippers if you need, but bring your own, you will use on resort also.

Great short excursion to ruins, would be Tulum... $50 each, for half a day. Smaller ruins that Chitiniza (spelled wrong I know), but beautiful, and these ruins are on the cliffs to the water. After the tour, you get to spend some time on one of the most beautiful beaches/cliffside that you will ever see. Believe me I was impressed. Kids had great time body surfing and fighting with the waves, they are huge, and cool to play in.

Remember to see Fransico at the Coba pool, he will give you better deals if possible on all excursions.

I would most diffenately recommend the Gran Bahia Principe (Coba) to anyone, and would go back. Actually we are returning this xmas again... However to another resort, as the wife did want something different. But we will return there again.

If you want to talk, give me a call (403) 919-3442
Rick

globaldesigns · #2 07-10-2012, 05:15 PM

Oh yeah... I went last summer and through xmas. As others stated it is HOT!!! But what was nice is that the resorts are NOT full, so it is nice to not fight for pool/beach loungers, etc. Also pricing on excursions were cheaper in comparison to the busier times like xmas.

Even though it is hot, of which I hate heat, that didn't bother me, and I got use to it... But prepare yourself to be wet, lots of humidity that time of year.

Oh yeah, Also take a taxi into Playa Del Carmen. Should be about $3 per person each way. Visit 5th Avenue for all your shopping needs. There you can also take a ferry to Cozumel if you want.

MarkoD · #3 07-10-2012, 05:19 PM

Yeah it'll be crazy hot. From personal experience; riu hotels are good, family friendly and the food is good

globaldesigns · #4 07-10-2012, 05:26 PM

Just thought I should also post where I am going this xmas. Check out Marina El Cid Resort and Spa.

This is a much smaller resort (350 rooms), and we are trying it for something different. Haven't been there before, but reviews and comments from others, is that this place is luxurious. Resort is built on the water, so you have waterfront rooms and garden rooms (backside). The gardens are beautiful from what I can see.

The pool is huge, with cliff jumping built into it and with 2 water slides.

Check it out!

Oilers · #5 07-10-2012, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

Just thought I should also post where I am going this xmas. Check out Marina El Cid Resort and Spa.

This is a much smaller resort (350 rooms), and we are trying it for something different. Haven't been there before, but reviews and comments from others, is that this place is luxurious. Resort is built on the water, so you have waterfront rooms and garden rooms (backside). The gardens are beautiful from what I can see.

The pool is huge, with cliff jumping built into it and with 2 water slides.

Check it out!

Thank you so much for all your feedbacks. I will definitely give you a call if I have any more questions.
David

burgerchow · #6 07-10-2012, 05:27 PM

Crazy hot in August. Bring lots of mosquito repellant as when the sun goes down, they come out in droves ( it's still a jungle in Mayan riviera)
The best resorts in Mexico are the "dreams resorts". If you go, you gotta check out the state park called Xcaret. There's an underground river that you can float down into the ocean. Also some of the best snorkeling I've ever experienced is there.
Why don't you consider Hawaii ? With the tropical trade winds, doesn't feel as hot, and lots of cheap airfares in August.

globaldesigns · #7 07-10-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burgerchow

Crazy hot in August. Bring lots of mosquito repellant as when the sun goes down, they come out in droves ( it's still a jungle in Mayan riviera)
The best resorts in Mexico are the "dreams resorts". If you go, you gotta check out the state park called Xcaret. There's an underground river that you can float down into the ocean. Also some of the best snorkeling I've ever experienced is there.
Why don't you consider Hawaii ? With the tropical trade winds, doesn't feel as hot, and lots of cheap airfares in August.

Actually I found no mosquitos there in the summer, but xmas time, yuppers. And boy do those small critters pack a wollup.

Xcaret is another great excursion, same company owns all three areas: XelHa, Xcaret and Xtreme... Because of the age of your kids, I would recommend XelHa.

ensquire · #8 07-10-2012, 05:36 PM

Rui Palace Riviera Maya in Playa was absolutely a 5 Star resort. And if you stay there you can use any facility in the other Rui hotels along the beach there. Kids club was excellent when we were there.. Highly recommended but very pricey..

Oilers · #9 07-10-2012, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burgerchow

Crazy hot in August. Bring lots of mosquito repellant as when the sun goes down, they come out in droves ( it's still a jungle in Mayan riviera)
The best resorts in Mexico are the "dreams resorts". If you go, you gotta check out the state park called Xcaret. There's an underground river that you can float down into the ocean. Also some of the best snorkeling I've ever experienced is there.
Why don't you consider Hawaii ? With the tropical trade winds, doesn't feel as hot, and lots of cheap airfares in August.

Hawaii will be our destination next year. My wife is not a Canadian citizen yet so she can't really visit the US without applying for visa so we thought we'll save all the US destinations until after she becomes a Canadian citizen. We just put in the application a few months ago so hopefully, she will be one next year

Werbo · #10 07-10-2012, 06:13 PM

I would not recommend Xel-Ha. $90 per person to see cloudy water and not much else.