Attempt at a timely trip report... - Page 2

TXS · 07-30-2007

That was from one of the rooms we stayed at last year. This year we got a room on the ground floor next to the pool so that we could go in/out of the back door to get to the pool. That part was nice, but we sacrificed the ocean view. It was much easier for the boys to go back and forth though. Next time we will upgrade to the ocean front which is still next to the pool, they just did not have any of those rooms available when we were there.

BTW, Your pix are great...

MN GKJ · 07-31-2007

Julie: Great job keep the pics and the report coming!!

LeedsTyke · 07-31-2007

Another excellent report to follow - love the pictures too!

jewels3081 · 08-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by TXS

That was from one of the rooms we stayed at last year. This year we got a room on the ground floor next to the pool so that we could go in/out of the back door to get to the pool. That part was nice, but we sacrificed the ocean view. It was much easier for the boys to go back and forth though. Next time we will upgrade to the ocean front which is still next to the pool, they just did not have any of those rooms available when we were there.

BTW, Your pix are great...

Thanks. I was thinking how easy it would've been to be in one of those rooms on this trip, because the kids were always needing to go back up to the room for something! We'll request something with more of an ocean view next time too.

jewels3081 · 08-01-2007

Ok, I think I mentioned we didn't do Akumal because of my nephew's upset stomach. Well, it turned out in our favor that we didn't because that day we would've just taken two taxi's there and back to fit us all in, but because we waited till the next day, we got hooked up with a driver who had a Suburban. I posted this somewhere else, I think, but this guy at our hotel, I don't know his official position, but I called him the Mac Daddy of the place. He was everywhere talking to everyone and knew something about everything. So, the day we didn't go to Akumal, we made a stop by the travel agents desk at the hotel to find out about getting a driver with a mini-van or some option that would allow all of us to ride together. We were quoted a price of about $230 US for 5 hours or something like that. So when Chris, who also talks to everyone about anything, told this other guy at the hotel our dilemma, he hooked us up with Manuel, the driver. All on the down low, of course, because he didn't want to get in trouble for recommending a competitor.
This worked out great for us though. For $120 total, Manuel took us to Akumal, to the "lagoon" and to the main beach area. Plus, we hired him for the next day to take us to Xel-ha. All in all, it was about what two taxi's would've cost, but we also had the benefit of knowing he could take us multiple places, we could leave some stuff in his car, and that he would be waiting on us whenever we were ready to go back to the hotel.
I was disappointed in the Akumal day. The Yal-Kul area (however you spell it) wasn't all that impressive, we didn't really see many fish. I felt like we paid too much for our equipment rental there too, but we had a few masks and snorkels of our own and then had rent some pieces to fill in, and I don't think we actually got charged for just the pieces we rented. But, water under the bridge. We then left there and I asked Manuel to take us to the beach were we could see the turtles. I mentioned Lol-ha, and he didn't know where it was. I also mentioned Akumal Beach Resort, and we ended up on a beach close to there. I guess from what I have read, I thought there would just be fish and sea life everywhere, but there wasn't. I was after the turtles, so we followed some snorkeling boats a little ways off shore and saw a few turtles, and a few fish, but that was it. By this time, the kids are all tired and hungry and disappointed because I have told them how awesome that day would be.... And we were supposed to be back at the hotel soon to have pictures taken by a photographer we hired. So, luckily, Manuel was just waiting on us to give him the word, he pulled up, loaded us up, and off we went.
On the way back to the hotel, it began raining, so we cancelled our oceanside photos. This at least freed up a couple of hours for us at the hotel so we could just rest. We ate at the Mexican restaurant again that night, and after my bro and fam went to bed, Chris and I went to 5th and hung out for a bit. Mainly, we just went back to Chicago Don Jose so I could have some more banana flambe! YUM!
The next day was Xel-ha day. I was SO excited about what the boys would think of Xel-ha. I bought the boys some underwater cameras, and as soon as we get there, the kids clashed with my Bro about taking pictures of stuff like the dolphins, iguanas, stuff like that. So the oldest was already in an attitude. We have to go get our lockers, put all our stuff away, stand in line for equipment, oops, we forgot about $$ for equipment rental deposit, run back to lockers and get money, get our equipment on and fitted appropriately, all that stuff that usually occurs at a park like this. But, remember, the oldest kid is already in a mood. So when we finally can go get in the water, which is very cold, the two boys decide they don't like it. It's too cold, their lifejackets don't fit right, the snorkel hurts their mouths, etc. So, after much back and forth, the kids and their mother go find the playground. I was so disappointed. To tell you the truth, Xel-ha is the main reason I wanted our whole family to go on this vacation, which would have otherwise been just about me and Chris's anniversary. Last year, at Xel-ha, Chris and I could not stop thinking about how cool our nephews would think the place is. Well, I get back in the water to try to snorkel, and guess what, my mask is a leaker. I spend 30 minutes trying to fix that mask and trying to help a cute little couple who can't get their snorkels attached right, and end up having to go stand back in line to get another mask. By this time, Barry and Chris are getting out of the water to eat lunch. So, I eat lunch with them, and Rhonda and the kids find us. To my surprise and delight, the kids were happy as could be. They loved the playground. We tried to get them to snorkel again, to no avail, so Barry takes kid duty and Rhonda and Chris and I try to snorkel. Now, my snorkel has a leak in it somewhere, so I have to keep a big part of my head and face out of the water so the whole doesn't get immersed and I can still breathe. I get into the water, and then Chris has something wrong with his mask! So while he goes to switch out masks, I snorkel around a little by the little waterfall is, where most fish congregate. Chris comes back and we decide to walk to a different area of the park to snorkel instead of to swim there, because we know the day will be over SO fast. On the way, I see the kids and they want to ride the river, so I figure I can help Barry take the 3 of them there. Chris decides to keep snorkeling and meet us where the river comes out. So Barry and me and the little ones hike to train, ride the train, then get on the tubes and take off. Luckily, the kids are enjoying this one. All I have with me on the tube is my mask, snorkel, fins, and lifejacket that I am wearing. Well, unfortunately, I get really bad migraines. About halfway into the tube ride, in middle of the blaring sun, I get a migraine, wouldn't you know it? So all three kids are yelling at me to look at them, or hold on to their tubes, or something, and I am just DYING for a pair of sunglasses. We finally, after what seemed like an eternity on a tube, get to a place where I can leave the tube and get out of the water, and I go take meds and find my sunglasses. Needless to say though, I am done with the water for the day. So, for $56.10, I snorkeled maybe 45 minutes, rode a tube down a river, had some lunch, and sat in a chair for many hours. Poor ME. The redeeming thing is that Barry and Rhonda thought the place was amazing. Since all I was going to do was sit in the shade anyway, I stayed at the playground with the kids and Barry and Chris and Rhonda did some intense exploration of the park. I was so happy they enjoyed it. It's stressful being the planner of a trip, and not knowing who will enjoy what and all that. On top of all that, when I asked the kids what their favorite day was, it was Xel-ha day! Just goes to show, kids are the most unpredictable little beings. They didn't love it for the reasons I wanted them to love it, but they loved it all the same.
When I find the CD with our underwater pics on it, I will post them.
I only have Tuesday and Wednesday left! I am so sad, not only is my trip over, but chance to relive it through a trip report is almost over too!

More, and more pictures, soon!

maestranba · 08-01-2007

Thanks for more!!

I know how you feel about planning for others. It's so hard to know how it'll turn out. We haven't visited Xel ha or Yal ku to this day out of fear that we'd be disappointed. The bay in Akumal has served it's purpose time and time again for us. Our son is 10, and he likes to snorkel, but tires of it after about an hour. Xel ha seemed like a waste of money to me if you only spend one hour snorkeling. This year he wants to take a boat out from Akumal Bay, so we'll try that. Less swimming to get in and out to the reef, so this might be better for us, and cheaper than Xel ha! Eventually we'll go, but when he's a little older.

Yal ku is a place we've been trying to get to as well. Next week we have a car and we'll be in Akumal for at least a full day, so we'll probably stop by. We have our own snorkels and masks, so that helps. HATE those rentals!!

lisafromsd · 08-01-2007

Hi Julie,
I'm eagerly awaiting your next posting! My husband and I will be at GCB for seven days in February of '08, so I am really enjoying reading about your experience and seeing your photos. We might have to invest in some Bubbas! Sad news about the little boy who died. Do you think those particular tubs are unsafe for adults too? Also, I've read that the hot tubs there tend to be more like warm tubs. True? Did you spend much time at the beach to the north of the resort? Was there any construction interference there or would you anticipate there to be any in Feb? Thanks!

jewels3081 · 08-01-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisafromsd

Hi Julie,
I'm eagerly awaiting your next posting! My husband and I will be at GCB for seven days in February of '08, so I am really enjoying reading about your experience and seeing your photos. We might have to invest in some Bubbas! Sad news about the little boy who died. Do you think those particular tubs are unsafe for adults too? Also, I've read that the hot tubs there tend to be more like warm tubs. True? Did you spend much time at the beach to the north of the resort? Was there any construction interference there or would you anticipate there to be any in Feb? Thanks!

Get the Bubba's for sure! Walmart, Target and Home Depot carry them. Since there isn't beach service there, it comes in handy to have a giant drink with you where ever you want to go. They will fill it with beer, mixed drinks, whatever.
I think the tubs are probably safe for adults. I can't say anything about the temp or safety of the tubs because we never went near them. The kids had SO much interest in them after they found out what happened to the other little boy, so we didn't allow them to even get in the middle tub that isn't tornado like, for fear they wouldn't be able to resist crawling over into one of the other tubs.
We did spend some time north of the resort. The beaches there were sandier, and the waves were a tiny bit bigger. There were also stretches of beach there that were practically empty on weekdays. The locals were all on that part of the beach on the weekends. I enjoyed that, actually. The only drawback is that there are no beach loungers there, but spreading a towel out on the sand isn't too big a deal, especially when you can switch out towels at the resort as you please.
There is construction going on beside the hotel to the south. When we were there, there was no problem with noise, but in Feb, I could foresee the construction being more active. Request a room on the north side of the resort, and you should have a little bit of protection from any construction noise.
The Italian Restaurant is very difficult to get a reservation in. My hub had to get up at 7:00 the day we got our reservation. The restaurant is very fancy schmancy food. It was just a little too much for our tastes, but like I said, the Mexican restaurant was great. You do have to make your reservations in the morning the day you want to eat there, and be warned, men must wear long pants in the restaurants and women must be dressed well too. You don't have to dress fancy or anything. They just don't want people in swimsuit coverups and torn up jeans or cutoffs in the restaurants, I think.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy your stay. If you think of any other questions, please let me know.
Julie

jewels3081 · 08-10-2007

Notice the word attempt in my title? We got back home from our wonderful vacation, and within 3 days had my husband's family moving in for a few weeks. It was wild. Things have settled down now, but they were crazy for a bit. So, so much for my timely trip report. The bad thing is, even though it's only been a few weeks since we've been in Playa, it seems like decades ago! Ugh. I just want my Playa back!
So, anyway, I think I left off with the Xel-ha day. I never have gotten those underwater pics online. I will do that. Tuesday was our next to last day there, and it was picture day. We were supposed to have semi-professional pictures taken over the weekend, but we kept having to push them off because of ominous looking weather or time constraints or things like that. So this day, we all got up and got ready and were to meet the photographer, Niko, downstairs in the lobby at 9. He was a nice young man from Vermont, who lives with his parent's now in Playa. He's actually Russian, maybe, but grew up in the US. He did a great job on our pictures. Poor guy, we go out to the beach at 9 in the morning, and it's SO bright, none of us could stand to get our picture taken. So we wound up finding shady spots and he took some pics there, and then he came back that evening at 5 so we could do some more pics. It was all very casual, we wore white shirts and khaki's (until I got something on my white shirt and had to wear something different that afternoon) and he just sort of followed us around and took pictures. He told us a few things to do, but for the most part he didn't really pose us or anything and just let us be. He charged $50 an hour, was there for 2 hours, and brought back a CD full of pictures, probably 200 pics or so, some of which had been retouched to take people out of the background and that sort of thing. We took pictures around the ocean, of course, but also in some of the grassy areas of the hotel where there were just palm trees and other plants.
Me and my guy walking on the beach:

Barry and Rhonda:

Family pictures:

Some under the palm trees:

Other than the pics, we just hung out at the pool and beach. I just can't tell you enough how much I loved the pool and beach area around there. I got the boogey boards for the boys again and we walked down the beach and they played on the waves. It's just so nice and relaxing there.
That night my SIL, Rhonda, and I went out without the kids and husbands and had spa treatments at Spa Itza. I don't know if you've taken the time to walk through Spa Itza or not, but it is absolutley gorgeous. It's part of Mosquito Blue hotel, I believe, and it's entrance is off of Calle Corazon, I also believe. My memory fails me, so if I am wrong, sorry! She had a massage and pedicure, I had the Mayan Sampler, which is a salt scrub, honey and papaya wrap, and massage. I chose that because I would never go to a spa around here for the salt scrub and honey papaya wrap thing. It was nice, but it wasn't grand. I have sort of sensitive skin, so it really wasn't the smartest thing in the world for me to get a salt scrub! I itched for a while afterwards. The wrap part was nice, I fell asleep for a few minutes, and the massage was just like a massage I could've gotten anywhere. The rooms where they wrap you and massage you aren't anything special, so, for $115 US, I don't think it was worth it. Somehow Rhonda's ended up costing more than mine. Tour the spa, because it is beautiful, but get a cheaper massage somewhere else would be my recommendation. Also, and I hate to even mention this because I am not positive this is where it happened, but Rhonda is convinced she got E-coli from Spa Itza. She did immediately start feeling bad when we left the spa and walked around 5th, but I don't know how she could've gotten it. She drank tea while she was there, and I drank water. Not bottled water, just water served in a regular glass. I was fine. She was NOT! We had eaten at the same restaurants all week, except she ate at the restaurant buffet more than I did, but she was the only one to get sick. I guess we are lucky it was on our next to last day. So, we don't really know where she got e-coli, but we know she drank tea at the spa and then got sick shortly thereafter. I drank water, didn't get sick. Either way, we both thought the spa was beautiful, but overpriced, and will choose something different next time.
The next day was our last day! I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach. We wake up, and there has been a huge storm there overnight. Thatch from the roof is everywhere! They clean up crews get moving and it's amazing how fast they work to get everything put back together. It's still dark and ominous, but it's Mexico, and you never really know what the weather will do, so we get up, head down to the pool area for some breakfast at the buffett, and it starts raining. Really, really raining. Wind blowing, dark, rainy. Yucky! So we all go back upstairs and get a head start on packing, and I think we all take naps. I can't speak for everyone in the other room, but man, I slept hard! Finally, about 3 or so, it clears up some, and we all go down to the pool and beach to catch our final rays of Mexican sun. We decide to eat in town at Carboncito's that night. The food was good, and very reasonably priced. The seven of us ate for like $99 US, (before tip) and we ordered a couple appetizers, soda's, and I even had two entrees because I didn't like my first one. I can't remember what anyone of us had, except I think most of the meal involved steak. We finished up our souvenir shopping and buying stuff for the kiddos, and that was it. We went back to the room to pack.
We had to be up at 5:00 am the next day to catch our shuttle back to the airport. For some reason, the hotel told us it would take 30 minutes to check out. So we all get up way extra early thinking something special has to happen to get us checked out, and no, it's as easy to check out here as it is at any other hotel. We just had to wait a few minutes for our luggage, which we expected to have to wait on anyway. It was nice though because we were up early enough to really feel the peace of the place. The sun was barely peaking out from behind the clouds, the water was calm, the boats on the water were peaceful, the beach was completely empty. I could have sat looking at the water like that for hours. But alas, all good things must eventually end. Here are some pics we managed to take before our transportation to the airport arrived.

Funjet picked us up, took us to Cancun, and before we knew it, we were back in Dallas. My poor SIL was sick hte whole way, and was sick for days when we got home. She's better now. And now I have someone who understands how dearly I love the little town of Playa Del Carmen. We want to try Tulum next year, but I just read the post about how it is expected to explode soon like Playa, so we better get on down there quick!
The best thing about being home from one vacation is that I can start planning the next one!
I'll update with pics as I find them.
Enjoy!

KVR · 08-10-2007

Nice pictures and report Really loved the formal shots. Thanks for sharing.

2theC · 08-10-2007

Great pics of your family on the beach. Thanks again for sharing!

gingele · 08-10-2007

Great report and I LOVE those family pics you had taken!! What a great idea! Can I asked you how you arranged that - was it thru the hotel or did you arrange the photog yourselves? We are heading down with the whole family over thanksgiving week and I'd love to have pics like that taken!

jewels3081 · 08-10-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingele

Great report and I LOVE those family pics you had taken!! What a great idea! Can I asked you how you arranged that - was it thru the hotel or did you arrange the photog yourselves? We are heading down with the whole family over thanksgiving week and I'd love to have pics like that taken!

We found the photog here, of course!

I have his name and contact info, but I will have to search by through my e-mails to find it. I will PM the info to you later, if that's OK. I would definitely recommend him again. We didn't get really good shots of just the kids together, but then again, even the most experienced photographer in the world can't always do that with kids. But for two hours, pretty much at our convenience, and a CD loaded with pictures, I think he was well worth it.
I will PM you the info later. If I happen to forget, as it does happen sometimes!

Remind me here, OK?

debk · 08-10-2007

Just saw this report! It's wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

meleshkk · 08-10-2007

Hi, I am going down to Playa in October and would like to get some pictures done also. Can you Pvt me his information? Thanks you so much. Enjoyed your trip report!!

07-31-2007	#18 (permalink)
LeedsTyke life=playa Join Date: May 2007 Location: Leeds, U.K Posts: 525	Another excellent report to follow - love the pictures too! Last edited by LeedsTyke; 07-31-2007 at 02:36 PM.. Reason: spelling

08-01-2007	#20 (permalink)
jewels3081 way into it Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 100	More Ok, I think I mentioned we didn't do Akumal because of my nephew's upset stomach. Well, it turned out in our favor that we didn't because that day we would've just taken two taxi's there and back to fit us all in, but because we waited till the next day, we got hooked up with a driver who had a Suburban. I posted this somewhere else, I think, but this guy at our hotel, I don't know his official position, but I called him the Mac Daddy of the place. He was everywhere talking to everyone and knew something about everything. So, the day we didn't go to Akumal, we made a stop by the travel agents desk at the hotel to find out about getting a driver with a mini-van or some option that would allow all of us to ride together. We were quoted a price of about $230 US for 5 hours or something like that. So when Chris, who also talks to everyone about anything, told this other guy at the hotel our dilemma, he hooked us up with Manuel, the driver. All on the down low, of course, because he didn't want to get in trouble for recommending a competitor. This worked out great for us though. For $120 total, Manuel took us to Akumal, to the "lagoon" and to the main beach area. Plus, we hired him for the next day to take us to Xel-ha. All in all, it was about what two taxi's would've cost, but we also had the benefit of knowing he could take us multiple places, we could leave some stuff in his car, and that he would be waiting on us whenever we were ready to go back to the hotel. I was disappointed in the Akumal day. The Yal-Kul area (however you spell it) wasn't all that impressive, we didn't really see many fish. I felt like we paid too much for our equipment rental there too, but we had a few masks and snorkels of our own and then had rent some pieces to fill in, and I don't think we actually got charged for just the pieces we rented. But, water under the bridge. We then left there and I asked Manuel to take us to the beach were we could see the turtles. I mentioned Lol-ha, and he didn't know where it was. I also mentioned Akumal Beach Resort, and we ended up on a beach close to there. I guess from what I have read, I thought there would just be fish and sea life everywhere, but there wasn't. I was after the turtles, so we followed some snorkeling boats a little ways off shore and saw a few turtles, and a few fish, but that was it. By this time, the kids are all tired and hungry and disappointed because I have told them how awesome that day would be.... And we were supposed to be back at the hotel soon to have pictures taken by a photographer we hired. So, luckily, Manuel was just waiting on us to give him the word, he pulled up, loaded us up, and off we went. On the way back to the hotel, it began raining, so we cancelled our oceanside photos. This at least freed up a couple of hours for us at the hotel so we could just rest. We ate at the Mexican restaurant again that night, and after my bro and fam went to bed, Chris and I went to 5th and hung out for a bit. Mainly, we just went back to Chicago Don Jose so I could have some more banana flambe! YUM! The next day was Xel-ha day. I was SO excited about what the boys would think of Xel-ha. I bought the boys some underwater cameras, and as soon as we get there, the kids clashed with my Bro about taking pictures of stuff like the dolphins, iguanas, stuff like that. So the oldest was already in an attitude. We have to go get our lockers, put all our stuff away, stand in line for equipment, oops, we forgot about $$ for equipment rental deposit, run back to lockers and get money, get our equipment on and fitted appropriately, all that stuff that usually occurs at a park like this. But, remember, the oldest kid is already in a mood. So when we finally can go get in the water, which is very cold, the two boys decide they don't like it. It's too cold, their lifejackets don't fit right, the snorkel hurts their mouths, etc. So, after much back and forth, the kids and their mother go find the playground. I was so disappointed. To tell you the truth, Xel-ha is the main reason I wanted our whole family to go on this vacation, which would have otherwise been just about me and Chris's anniversary. Last year, at Xel-ha, Chris and I could not stop thinking about how cool our nephews would think the place is. Well, I get back in the water to try to snorkel, and guess what, my mask is a leaker. I spend 30 minutes trying to fix that mask and trying to help a cute little couple who can't get their snorkels attached right, and end up having to go stand back in line to get another mask. By this time, Barry and Chris are getting out of the water to eat lunch. So, I eat lunch with them, and Rhonda and the kids find us. To my surprise and delight, the kids were happy as could be. They loved the playground. We tried to get them to snorkel again, to no avail, so Barry takes kid duty and Rhonda and Chris and I try to snorkel. Now, my snorkel has a leak in it somewhere, so I have to keep a big part of my head and face out of the water so the whole doesn't get immersed and I can still breathe. I get into the water, and then Chris has something wrong with his mask! So while he goes to switch out masks, I snorkel around a little by the little waterfall is, where most fish congregate. Chris comes back and we decide to walk to a different area of the park to snorkel instead of to swim there, because we know the day will be over SO fast. On the way, I see the kids and they want to ride the river, so I figure I can help Barry take the 3 of them there. Chris decides to keep snorkeling and meet us where the river comes out. So Barry and me and the little ones hike to train, ride the train, then get on the tubes and take off. Luckily, the kids are enjoying this one. All I have with me on the tube is my mask, snorkel, fins, and lifejacket that I am wearing. Well, unfortunately, I get really bad migraines. About halfway into the tube ride, in middle of the blaring sun, I get a migraine, wouldn't you know it? So all three kids are yelling at me to look at them, or hold on to their tubes, or something, and I am just DYING for a pair of sunglasses. We finally, after what seemed like an eternity on a tube, get to a place where I can leave the tube and get out of the water, and I go take meds and find my sunglasses. Needless to say though, I am done with the water for the day. So, for $56.10, I snorkeled maybe 45 minutes, rode a tube down a river, had some lunch, and sat in a chair for many hours. Poor ME. The redeeming thing is that Barry and Rhonda thought the place was amazing. Since all I was going to do was sit in the shade anyway, I stayed at the playground with the kids and Barry and Chris and Rhonda did some intense exploration of the park. I was so happy they enjoyed it. It's stressful being the planner of a trip, and not knowing who will enjoy what and all that. On top of all that, when I asked the kids what their favorite day was, it was Xel-ha day! Just goes to show, kids are the most unpredictable little beings. They didn't love it for the reasons I wanted them to love it, but they loved it all the same. When I find the CD with our underwater pics on it, I will post them. I only have Tuesday and Wednesday left! I am so sad, not only is my trip over, but chance to relive it through a trip report is almost over too! More, and more pictures, soon! __________________ Julie Toes in Sand, Drink in Hand, LIFE IS GOOD! Grand Coco Bay, July 2007 Playa Maya, September 2006

08-10-2007	#24 (permalink)
jewels3081 way into it Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Arkansas Posts: 100	Notice the word ATTEMPT? Notice the word attempt in my title? We got back home from our wonderful vacation, and within 3 days had my husband's family moving in for a few weeks. It was wild. Things have settled down now, but they were crazy for a bit. So, so much for my timely trip report. The bad thing is, even though it's only been a few weeks since we've been in Playa, it seems like decades ago! Ugh. I just want my Playa back! So, anyway, I think I left off with the Xel-ha day. I never have gotten those underwater pics online. I will do that. Tuesday was our next to last day there, and it was picture day. We were supposed to have semi-professional pictures taken over the weekend, but we kept having to push them off because of ominous looking weather or time constraints or things like that. So this day, we all got up and got ready and were to meet the photographer, Niko, downstairs in the lobby at 9. He was a nice young man from Vermont, who lives with his parent's now in Playa. He's actually Russian, maybe, but grew up in the US. He did a great job on our pictures. Poor guy, we go out to the beach at 9 in the morning, and it's SO bright, none of us could stand to get our picture taken. So we wound up finding shady spots and he took some pics there, and then he came back that evening at 5 so we could do some more pics. It was all very casual, we wore white shirts and khaki's (until I got something on my white shirt and had to wear something different that afternoon) and he just sort of followed us around and took pictures. He told us a few things to do, but for the most part he didn't really pose us or anything and just let us be. He charged $50 an hour, was there for 2 hours, and brought back a CD full of pictures, probably 200 pics or so, some of which had been retouched to take people out of the background and that sort of thing. We took pictures around the ocean, of course, but also in some of the grassy areas of the hotel where there were just palm trees and other plants. Me and my guy walking on the beach: Barry and Rhonda: Family pictures: Some under the palm trees: Other than the pics, we just hung out at the pool and beach. I just can't tell you enough how much I loved the pool and beach area around there. I got the boogey boards for the boys again and we walked down the beach and they played on the waves. It's just so nice and relaxing there. That night my SIL, Rhonda, and I went out without the kids and husbands and had spa treatments at Spa Itza. I don't know if you've taken the time to walk through Spa Itza or not, but it is absolutley gorgeous. It's part of Mosquito Blue hotel, I believe, and it's entrance is off of Calle Corazon, I also believe. My memory fails me, so if I am wrong, sorry! She had a massage and pedicure, I had the Mayan Sampler, which is a salt scrub, honey and papaya wrap, and massage. I chose that because I would never go to a spa around here for the salt scrub and honey papaya wrap thing. It was nice, but it wasn't grand. I have sort of sensitive skin, so it really wasn't the smartest thing in the world for me to get a salt scrub! I itched for a while afterwards. The wrap part was nice, I fell asleep for a few minutes, and the massage was just like a massage I could've gotten anywhere. The rooms where they wrap you and massage you aren't anything special, so, for $115 US, I don't think it was worth it. Somehow Rhonda's ended up costing more than mine. Tour the spa, because it is beautiful, but get a cheaper massage somewhere else would be my recommendation. Also, and I hate to even mention this because I am not positive this is where it happened, but Rhonda is convinced she got E-coli from Spa Itza. She did immediately start feeling bad when we left the spa and walked around 5th, but I don't know how she could've gotten it. She drank tea while she was there, and I drank water. Not bottled water, just water served in a regular glass. I was fine. She was NOT! We had eaten at the same restaurants all week, except she ate at the restaurant buffet more than I did, but she was the only one to get sick. I guess we are lucky it was on our next to last day. So, we don't really know where she got e-coli, but we know she drank tea at the spa and then got sick shortly thereafter. I drank water, didn't get sick. Either way, we both thought the spa was beautiful, but overpriced, and will choose something different next time. The next day was our last day! I remember the sinking feeling in my stomach. We wake up, and there has been a huge storm there overnight. Thatch from the roof is everywhere! They clean up crews get moving and it's amazing how fast they work to get everything put back together. It's still dark and ominous, but it's Mexico, and you never really know what the weather will do, so we get up, head down to the pool area for some breakfast at the buffett, and it starts raining. Really, really raining. Wind blowing, dark, rainy. Yucky! So we all go back upstairs and get a head start on packing, and I think we all take naps. I can't speak for everyone in the other room, but man, I slept hard! Finally, about 3 or so, it clears up some, and we all go down to the pool and beach to catch our final rays of Mexican sun. We decide to eat in town at Carboncito's that night. The food was good, and very reasonably priced. The seven of us ate for like $99 US, (before tip) and we ordered a couple appetizers, soda's, and I even had two entrees because I didn't like my first one. I can't remember what anyone of us had, except I think most of the meal involved steak. We finished up our souvenir shopping and buying stuff for the kiddos, and that was it. We went back to the room to pack. We had to be up at 5:00 am the next day to catch our shuttle back to the airport. For some reason, the hotel told us it would take 30 minutes to check out. So we all get up way extra early thinking something special has to happen to get us checked out, and no, it's as easy to check out here as it is at any other hotel. We just had to wait a few minutes for our luggage, which we expected to have to wait on anyway. It was nice though because we were up early enough to really feel the peace of the place. The sun was barely peaking out from behind the clouds, the water was calm, the boats on the water were peaceful, the beach was completely empty. I could have sat looking at the water like that for hours. But alas, all good things must eventually end. Here are some pics we managed to take before our transportation to the airport arrived. Funjet picked us up, took us to Cancun, and before we knew it, we were back in Dallas. My poor SIL was sick hte whole way, and was sick for days when we got home. She's better now. And now I have someone who understands how dearly I love the little town of Playa Del Carmen. We want to try Tulum next year, but I just read the post about how it is expected to explode soon like Playa, so we better get on down there quick! The best thing about being home from one vacation is that I can start planning the next one! I'll update with pics as I find them. Enjoy!

07-30-2007	#16 (permalink)
TXS into ruins Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: California Posts: 74	That was from one of the rooms we stayed at last year. This year we got a room on the ground floor next to the pool so that we could go in/out of the back door to get to the pool. That part was nice, but we sacrificed the ocean view. It was much easier for the boys to go back and forth though. Next time we will upgrade to the ocean front which is still next to the pool, they just did not have any of those rooms available when we were there. BTW, Your pix are great...

07-31-2007	#17 (permalink)
MN GKJ way into it Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Grand Rapids, MN Posts: 200	Julie: Great job keep the pics and the report coming!!

08-01-2007	#21 (permalink)
maestranba añejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 2,928	Thanks for more!! I know how you feel about planning for others. It's so hard to know how it'll turn out. We haven't visited Xel ha or Yal ku to this day out of fear that we'd be disappointed. The bay in Akumal has served it's purpose time and time again for us. Our son is 10, and he likes to snorkel, but tires of it after about an hour. Xel ha seemed like a waste of money to me if you only spend one hour snorkeling. This year he wants to take a boat out from Akumal Bay, so we'll try that. Less swimming to get in and out to the reef, so this might be better for us, and cheaper than Xel ha! Eventually we'll go, but when he's a little older. Yal ku is a place we've been trying to get to as well. Next week we have a car and we'll be in Akumal for at least a full day, so we'll probably stop by. We have our own snorkels and masks, so that helps. HATE those rentals!!

08-01-2007	#22 (permalink)
lisafromsd lost on fifth Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 20	Hi Julie, I'm eagerly awaiting your next posting! My husband and I will be at GCB for seven days in February of '08, so I am really enjoying reading about your experience and seeing your photos. We might have to invest in some Bubbas! Sad news about the little boy who died. Do you think those particular tubs are unsafe for adults too? Also, I've read that the hot tubs there tend to be more like warm tubs. True? Did you spend much time at the beach to the north of the resort? Was there any construction interference there or would you anticipate there to be any in Feb? Thanks!

08-10-2007	#25 (permalink)
KVR lost on fifth Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Midland, TX Posts: 24	Nice pictures and report Really loved the formal shots. Thanks for sharing.

08-10-2007	#26 (permalink)
2theC way into it Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 119	Great pics of your family on the beach. Thanks again for sharing!

08-10-2007	#27 (permalink)
gingele añejo Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 2,652	Great report and I LOVE those family pics you had taken!! What a great idea! Can I asked you how you arranged that - was it thru the hotel or did you arrange the photog yourselves? We are heading down with the whole family over thanksgiving week and I'd love to have pics like that taken!

08-10-2007	#29 (permalink)
debk beachaholic Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 437	Just saw this report! It's wonderful! Thanks for sharing!

08-10-2007	#30 (permalink)
meleshkk very sparkly Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 38	Hi, I am going down to Playa in October and would like to get some pictures done also. Can you Pvt me his information? Thanks you so much. Enjoyed your trip report!!

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