Going To Playa Next June

DDC · 10-15-2006

Hello everyone,
My wife and I are planning a trip to Playa next June. We've been to Cabo 3 times (great but we've done everything) and Puerto Vallarta once (dirty and it sucked). We are thinking about the Riu Playacar. Any thoughts? Also, I'm looking for ideas and restaurants off the beaten path. I don't feel like spending $75.00 for lunch at Senor Frogs!

cuffedlinks · 10-15-2006

Congrats on your Playa decision...
While I love the Riu properties (mostly) I believe there are many other better choices for the approximatley same money than the Riu Playacar....
Hang loose on that option for a bit.
From which airport do you generally depart?

June is a ways off...You'll gather some great info on Places to eat and drink by following the forum or doing a few quick keyword choices.

DDC · 10-15-2006

We will be leaving from Seattle. If you don't recommend the Riu Playacar, what do you recommend?

battie05 · 10-16-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

We will be leaving from Seattle. If you don't recommend the Riu Playacar, what do you recommend?

Hi there DDC, welcome to this forum. If you don't want to go to the RIU Palace Hotels (very posh) I would go to RIU Yucatan (on the beach) or RIU Tequila (across the street) instead if I were you. Both are great hotels. If you stay at the RIU Tequila you can use all the facilities of the other RIU's (except dinner and the Palace RIU's)
I stayed at the RIU Tequila this summer and loved it

. Beautiful garden with small 2 storey buildings. RIU Tequila is bigger than the RIU Yucatan. The buildings at the RIU Yucatan are closer to each other and the pools are smaller.

cmsitaly · 10-16-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

Hello everyone,
My wife and I are planning a trip to Playa next June. We've been to Cabo 3 times (great but we've done everything) and Puerto Vallarta once (dirty and it sucked). We are thinking about the Riu Playacar. Any thoughts? Also, I'm looking for ideas and restaurants off the beaten path. I don't feel like spending $75.00 for lunch at Senor Frogs!

Plenty of restaurants off the beaten path:

HC Monterrey $8.00 for this: flank steak, potato, avocado, salsa, sour cream, and tortillas

La Cueva del Chango breakfast about $3.50 for eggs, spinach, potatoes, beans and homemade salsas:

Another good breakfast is at the push carts on Juarez...pork tacos-delicious, safe to eat and on ly .60 cents a piece. I ate these 4-5 times during our 10 day stay. Best breakfast in my opinion:

La Tarraya ceviche $10 for this huge plate of shrimp ceviche:

Pollo Asado (grilled chicken) 1/2 chicken, rice, tortillas, onions $3.50 This picture shows 2 orders (and the boyfriend)

Carboncitos salsas guacamole and arrachera -a very good reasonably priced restaurant right off fifth:

On fifth, but not expensive and always good:

Babes
100% Natural
Media Luna

Also if you are concerned about saving money I would consider going Non-AI. Going the hotel route and eating in these off these beaten path restaurants would be a lot less expensive thatn staying in an AI. Just my two cents

Babe's

DDC · 10-17-2006

The food all looks great, and I appreciate the tips. It seems like people are advising against staying at AI's, but when I go to Expedia, all they advertise are AI's. Can anyone suggest a smaller, quiet hotel that is not an AI? Emphasis on quiet. Thanks everyone.

battie05 · 10-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

It seems like people are advising against staying at AI's, but when I go to Expedia, all they advertise are AI's.

I stayed in Iberostar Tucan and RIU Tequila, both AI, and I loved it, so not everybody dislikes the AI hotels

.
But we also went in town to have some great meals in Playa itself, so we don't always stay at the hotel like some AI people. Why always eat in your hotel when there are too much great places te eat in PDC!

cmsitaly · 10-17-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

The food all looks great, and I appreciate the tips. It seems like people are advising against staying at AI's, but when I go to Expedia, all they advertise are AI's. Can anyone suggest a smaller, quiet hotel that is not an AI? Emphasis on quiet. Thanks everyone.

If you go to the trip planning tab at the top of this website there is a list of hotels that are very reputable. We have only stayed at the Fusion and we like it because of its central, beachfront location. It is also quiet. Not a resort, but most of the hotels in downtown Playa are not "resort style", except maybe for the Grand Porto Real. I have heard wonderful things about Playa Maya (beachfront) and the wonderful owners at Luna Blue make you feel right at home. Shangri La areprivate bungalows and I think you can go partial AI there as well. Also if you book a hotel through this website you get a Playa Deal Card that offers discounts on restaurants and shopping throughout Playa. You can find a list of restaurants and other info on the card on the homepage of this website. Hope this helps.

DDC · 11-06-2006

I haven't been on this forum for a while. I appreciate your comments. Have you been anywhere else in Mexico? If so, how would it compare to Playa? How difficult are the restaurants you described to find? And do they have any nightclubs that play music at a decibel level that won't make my ears bleed? It would really be nice to sit in a club, have a drink or four, and relax. Thanks.

battie05 · 11-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

...... and Puerto Vallarta once (dirty and it sucked).....

Are you serious? I've been to Puerto Vallarta a few years ago and I LOVED it! It's a very nice place, more Mexican than Playa in my opinion with many nice restaurants and friendly people. And not as many tourists as in Playa. You can't compare Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen. Both completely different places.
The only thing I missed back there was the beautiful blue Carribean ocean and white beaches..

cmsitaly · 11-06-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

I haven't been on this forum for a while. I appreciate your comments. Have you been anywhere else in Mexico? If so, how would it compare to Playa? How difficult are the restaurants you described to find? And do they have any nightclubs that play music at a decibel level that won't make my ears bleed? It would really be nice to sit in a club, have a drink or four, and relax. Thanks.

Well I have been to Ixtapa, Cancun, and Mexico City. Playa has it's own charm, diversity, and is relaxing, but you can party if you want. There is plenty to do, but if you just want to chill there are PLENTY of bars that are "hanging out bars". I would say Cancun has more of the crazy party nightclubs, but Playa has them too if you want that, but it sounds like you don't. Ixtapa was nice, but Playa I like the best. The restaurants are not hard to find at all

HC Monterrey: 1st street between 25th and 30th (or 20th and 25th) not sure
La Cueva del Chango: 30th between 5th and the beach
Pork tacos: on Juarez
La tarraya: calle 2 and the beach
Pollo Asado: (Asadero el Pollo Estilo Sinaloa) 2nd at 20th
Carboncitos: calle 4 between 5th and 10th

10-15-2006	#1 (permalink)
DDC sandflea Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 7	Going To Playa Next June Hello everyone, My wife and I are planning a trip to Playa next June. We've been to Cabo 3 times (great but we've done everything) and Puerto Vallarta once (dirty and it sucked). We are thinking about the Riu Playacar. Any thoughts? Also, I'm looking for ideas and restaurants off the beaten path. I don't feel like spending $75.00 for lunch at Senor Frogs!

10-15-2006	#2 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	Congrats on your Playa decision... While I love the Riu properties (mostly) I believe there are many other better choices for the approximatley same money than the Riu Playacar.... Hang loose on that option for a bit. From which airport do you generally depart? June is a ways off...You'll gather some great info on Places to eat and drink by following the forum or doing a few quick keyword choices.

10-15-2006	#3 (permalink)
DDC sandflea Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 7	We will be leaving from Seattle. If you don't recommend the Riu Playacar, what do you recommend?

10-17-2006	#6 (permalink)
DDC sandflea Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 7	The food all looks great, and I appreciate the tips. It seems like people are advising against staying at AI's, but when I go to Expedia, all they advertise are AI's. Can anyone suggest a smaller, quiet hotel that is not an AI? Emphasis on quiet. Thanks everyone.

11-06-2006	#9 (permalink)
DDC sandflea Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Poulsbo, WA Posts: 7	I haven't been on this forum for a while. I appreciate your comments. Have you been anywhere else in Mexico? If so, how would it compare to Playa? How difficult are the restaurants you described to find? And do they have any nightclubs that play music at a decibel level that won't make my ears bleed? It would really be nice to sit in a club, have a drink or four, and relax. Thanks.

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