Help Needed Deciding btw Shangri-La Caribe & Villa del Mar in Puerto Aventuras

[Cliffk]

Greetings - great site and great forum here. I've learned a lot "lurking." Now it is decision time.

My wife and I along with our 3 year old daughter will be traveling to the Mayan Riviera for the first time this July 3rd for 7 nights. We are beach people first and foremost (we want a good sand beach with good sand water entry). We are not party people (teetotalers actually), but we do enjoy having a variety of places to eat. Snorkeling is not really an issue for us.

I've narrowed our choices down to a beachfront bungalow at Shangri-la or a condo at Villa del Mar in Puerto Aventuras right on the beach and ground floor.

Why I like Shangri-la: great beach; great water; good waves (my daughter enjoys playing in the surf); near 5th ave. for dinner/shopping; neat feel to the bungalows that is not duplicated nearby here (we typically go to Destin, FL for the beach); plenty of people around so we won't feel too isolated and may meet some other families, yet hopefully not too crowded; convenience of having breakfast and dinner included and nearby; great pool that is still connected to the beach for when 3-year old wants to swim in pool; hammocks on front porch & general feel of staying right on the beach.

Concerns/Why I don't like Shangri-la: public beach access right through the middle of property; rustic feel is perhaps gone with new condo construction right up Calle 38 and visible from beachfront bungalows; people walking right by your front door; paying for all dinners when we probably will only eat there a night or two; no refrigerators in room; fact that with daughter we won't have a separate bedroom for her to sleep in; overall developed/crowded feel of the entire stretch of beach from ferry dock to Shangri-la.

Why I like Villa Del Mar: biggest thing is more room for family - especially separate bedroom for our 3-year old; seemingly good sand beach and water entry at that spot (maybe not as good as Shangri-la?); less crowded beach; good places to eat; still have walkout beach access; good pool

Concerns/Why I don't like Villa Del Mar: read here and elsewhere that PA doesn't have authentic Mexican feel to it; this set-up is possibly too much like what we would be able to do in Destin so why go all the way to Mexico to do it?; would the beach be so uncrowded as to be lonely - no other kids, etc.; would there be enough wave action for daughter to enjoy splashing in the surf?; missing the variety/culture of 5th avenue.

I'm trying to balance these pros/cons out and have done a lot of reading on this forum and others. But I’m doing all of that having never been to the area. Can some of you that are so familiar with everything there help me weigh our options? Any help would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,
Cliff

[JEZ]

Puerto is nice, and does have some good restaurants particularly Tirimisu, (IMHO) but it is very quiet at night...

[Buns]

I stayed at the SLC is September 2006 and loved it. I'll give you my opinion on some of your concerns:

Originally Posted by Cliffk

Concerns/Why I don't like Shangri-la: public beach access right through the middle of property

Didn't seem like that many locals or non-guests using the beach EXCEPT for the weekends, especially Sundays.

Originally Posted by Cliffk

rustic feel is perhaps gone with new condo construction right up Calle 38 and visible from beachfront bungalows

The feel of the resort itself shouldn't be comprised. Honestly, didn't even notice or see the new condos from the Caribe side.

Originally Posted by Cliffk

people walking right by your front door

We had a beachfront bungalow (4C) and really weren't bothered by this. Not at all.

Originally Posted by Cliffk

paying for all dinners when we probably will only eat there a night or two

We actually didn't really care for the dinners here and ate out 5 or 6 nights of the week. Not a big deal...food in town in pretty inexpensive anyways. We didn't feel guily about it...and we didn't feel like we paid too much money to stay here and NOT eat dinners there.

Originally Posted by Cliffk

no refrigerators in room

We brought our own travel cooler (or you can buy one when you get there from Wal-Mart or Mega) and also our own water/sodas/beer and kept them in the cooler. Also, we brought the cooler onto the beach with us everyday, which was great.

Originally Posted by Cliffk

fact that with daughter we won't have a separate bedroom for her to sleep in

True.

Originally Posted by Cliffk

overall developed/crowded feel of the entire stretch of beach from ferry dock to Shangri-la.

Although a lot of the beach south of the SLC was pretty crowded at places, it really never (with the exception of Sunday) felt crowded at the resort on the beach. There are plenty of palapas and loungers for all of the guests, and lots of open sand, too.


Hope this helps make your decision a little easier!

[Juanito]

How close is the Villa Del Mar to the harbor area where the dolphins & manatees are?

While there are lots of threads around here about the wisdom of having dolphins & manatees confined; they aren't going to be freed any time soon.

And in the meantime, your daughter would probably love to watch them.

You would also be close to the Fat Cat. Our guide said that 3-year-olds are OK for the Fat Cat and she can have some Rum Punch without the Rum. (More left over for you that way.)

But there are also lots of threads (look for one by Portland Native) about how much fun kids had at the Shangri La. And you can book the Shangri La through this site & get a free Playa Deal Card if you are staying for 7 nights.

[Montego]

Shangri-la:
as long as you are far from earshot of the construction you will be fine. Other than the noise you will not even notice the condos. There is no overdeveloped feel to the place.

[Shammy]

Sounds like a condo is what you're after. Why don't you just rent one IN Playa rather than out of town in Puerto Aventuras? Plenty to choose from if you click the "Trip Planning" link above!

[PAIR-A-DICE]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Sounds like a condo is what you're after. Why don't you just rent one IN Playa rather than out of town in Puerto Aventuras? Plenty to choose from if you click the "Trip Planning" link above!

Sounds like you have definetely done yur homework-I would also recommend staying in town-5th ave. is a good break after the beach-

[summer05]

I "second" Shammy's idea! We went to PA just for the day and, although it is nice, it definitely doesn't have a "Mexican" feel to it. Shops even had prices marked in US$. Food and shopping were way more than in Playa. I felt like they were intentionally ripping off tourists who didn't know any better.
If it were just my husband and I, I'd take Shangri La, but with a 3 year old, I'd find a condo in Playa. We stayed at Natz ti Ha last year (right behind Shangri La) with our daughter and liked it. Had more space and still had the great beach.
Summer

[gingele]

Originally Posted by Shammy

Sounds like a condo is what you're after. Why don't you just rent one IN Playa rather than out of town in Puerto Aventuras? Plenty to choose from if you click the "Trip Planning" link above!

My thoughts exactly - lots of great choices for 2 bedroom condos in Playa!

[Cliffk]

Thanks to everyone for taking time to help me.

JEZ, the fact that PA is quiet at night is a plus to us.

Buns, big help with your comments - definitely is reassuring and helpful to our decision to know that some of my perceived negatives aren't in reality that big of a deal.

Juanito, I think the marine life there would be fun for our daughter so that is a plus for that area. Villa del mar is right next to the Omni Hotel and we would be going to marina to eat most meals.

Thanks Montego. I actually did a 3-day hold (no commitment) reservation on Shangri-La today and the booking agent said they are about to wrap up the construction.

I looked at condos in town extensively before zeroing in on my final two choices. One requirement for any property that we looked at is that it has to be right on the beach (preferably with walk-out access). Luna Encantada looks nice, but the beach there appears to be very crowded and there are no palapas. Some of the other condos weren't very nice or the beach looked crowded or small (or both). If I'm missing a condo on a non-crowded beach in town, please let me know.

Summer, Natz ti Ha isn't a consideration for us b/c it isn't right on the beach.


Thanks again to all!

-Cliff

[Juanito]

We'll expect a trip report with lots of pictures, Cliff.

The next time we are able to go to the RM, we also will be going with a 3 year old (and his big sister) so I will really want to read your report.

Puerto Aventuras would be a little closer to Aktun Chen, which also has cute animals for your daughter to look at. I remember back in 2003 when we were there, someone brought their pretty-close-to-newborn baby on the cave tour.

Playa would be closer to Crococun, if Crococun ever reopened?

[summer05]

You'll love Shangri La!

[popeye]

Wecome! Having stayed at both it would be Shangri-la hands-down however I agree with Shammy. Why not have the best of both. Rent a condo in Playa for the room AND the "real-feel".

[just a boy from]

been to the shangri-la 6 or 7 times as far back as 15 years ago. It's a wonderful place. And it's in playa which makes is a easy decision. You have to be in playa