Hi new here :) Jen from Chicago!

[*MrsMuffin*]

It's cold out here in Chicago!! The weather channel says it will hit below zero this weekend.. can someone please transport me to Mexico now! My boyfriend and I are coming to Playa Del Carmen this March for our much needed vacation! I'm glad I found this website since I am such an avid review reader..hello to everyone!! I'm sure I will be acquiring the most helpful tips and advice before we head down to PDC! Woo HOO! Speaking of advice.. we are planning on booking the Royal in PDC....but I am still open to hotel suggestions!

[cmsitaly]

Welcome to the forum! Lots of info around here

[Babaloo]

you can't go wrong with the Royal
welcome, Jen

[*MrsMuffin*]

Originally Posted by cmsitaly

Welcome to the forum! Lots of info around here

Woo HOO! Thanks! I am counting down the days... very excited! I'm finding some great stuff already.. awesome trip report btw you suddenly changed my mind about airplane food hehe

[*MrsMuffin*]

Originally Posted by Babaloo

you can't go wrong with the Royal
welcome, Jen

I've heard so much great stuff.. glad to hear another positive review of the place! Unfortunately, March is the only month we can get away.. so it looks like we are stuck with the "prime" rates to book the Royal lol.. what can you do! I was also thinking about staying our last night at a boutique hotel and try out all the different restaurants! I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to just stick with AI... but then again for almost $600 a night at the Royal I may have answered my own question LOL I've started to do a search for a daily price range for food for 2 adults.. but since I am on the topic.. I was wondering from your experience or opinion how much it would cost for 2 adults to eat/drink for the day?

[cmsitaly]

Originally Posted by *MrsMuffin*

Woo HOO! Thanks! I am counting down the days... very excited! I'm finding some great stuff already.. awesome trip report btw you suddenly changed my mind about airplane food hehe

Glad you enjoyed the report

On your other question for Babaloo...We usually stay at non-AI and easily get by on $100 a day for 2 for food/drinks/entertainment. Some days we spend more, some days we spend less. But this is what we budget for 10 days.
Obviously you could spend more or less-it is so relative to what you want to do, but there are so many inexpensive, wonderful restaurants in Playa.
Have fun!!!

[Kellyk]

The standard answer to the 'how much per day' question is as little or as much as you want to spend. Seriously, I would recommend staying at least some time at a non-AI. There are soooo many great places to eat and drink and soooo many fun people to meet in Playa. I am ALWAYS on a budget when I go to Playa and I don't do AI's . I find I have more fun and spend less that way...but it's all about what you want to do how you like to vacation. You'll have a great time regardless.

There's quite a group of us that will be there first week of march

[*MrsMuffin*]

Originally Posted by Kellyk

The standard answer to the 'how much per day' question is as little or as much as you want to spend. Seriously, I would recommend staying at least some time at a non-AI. There are soooo many great places to eat and drink and soooo many fun people to meet in Playa. I am ALWAYS on a budget when I go to Playa and I don't do AI's . I find I have more fun and spend less that way...but it's all about what you want to do how you like to vacation. You'll have a great time regardless.

There's quite a group of us that will be there first week of march

Yes! I would definitely like to venture out of my AI comfort zone.. and Playa seems like the perfect place to do this!! We will be there 9-15 ! I'd like some reccomendations I did a some research but would like all of your opinions!! I'm looking to book Luna Blue for my non AI hotel and up for anything when it comes to foooooooooooood! I certainly would like to enjoy the upscale restaurants down to the aunthetic gems the locals flock too! As long as the food is goood My ideal budget would be $150.00 for the both of us.. I am not a big drinker at all but I compensate that for eating haha- hey afterall I am on vacation!!

[*MrsMuffin*]

wow.. under $100 sounds good! Where were your top places to go?! 10 days in Playa sounds great! Wish we had that flexibility to go for more than 6 nights
I also noticed that you went last year around the same time we are planning on heading down.. how crowded were the beaches? I know it's public and given that the beach is next door to town lol.. will I still be able to find a nice spot to chill out without getting my bags stepped on? LOL.. We brieftly visited Playa the first time around during the evening for some shopping.. and I believe the beach was just clearing out so I have no reference on how it will be during the day and for our second visit we also made it out during the evening for some drinks. Did you bump into any obnoxious springbreakers? I've read some bad posts on tripadvisor that there has been an increase on "springbreakers" and when I mean "springbreakers" I mean the ones that break bottles over each others heads haha.. we will be alone so we are always concerned about incidents with loud and obnoxious troublemakers!

[Brent & Kim]

Kim and I drink beer in the city weekly. We will be in Rosemont this weekend boozing it up!

[See Turtle]

Jen:

Welcome to the forum.

I gotta tell ya, you should skip the AI entirely and just book the Luna Blue (or any of the many other great hotels in town) for your entire stay. For $600 a night you could have the best room at any of those hotels, eat dinner at the most expensive restaurants in town and still have $200 left over every day.

BTW, the Playa beaches are not all that crowded. Haven't been in March, but was just there over the holidays (Chirstmas/New Year's) and not too crowded at all. Besides, for a $10 purchase of food or beverages, you can occupy a chaise lounge on the beach at a place like El Pirata with beach service all day long. Or you can spend a little more and go to Mamitas or Kool Beach Clubs just to the north.

And the best part of all? Not a single, crappy buffet to be found. Hey, if you wanted to spend your vacation in a buffet line, you could rent a crappy room in Chicago and go to an MCL everyday.

Have a great time.

[Jbold1]

Live like you were dying

Aren't we all???

[nobuk]

Originally Posted by *MrsMuffin*

I've heard so much great stuff.. glad to hear another positive review of the place! Unfortunately, March is the only month we can get away.. so it looks like we are stuck with the "prime" rates to book the Royal lol.. what can you do! I was also thinking about staying our last night at a boutique hotel and try out all the different restaurants! I'm wondering if it would be cheaper to just stick with AI... but then again for almost $600 a night at the Royal I may have answered my own question LOL I've started to do a search for a daily price range for food for 2 adults.. but since I am on the topic.. I was wondering from your experience or opinion how much it would cost for 2 adults to eat/drink for the day?

The costo of eat/drink for a day will depend on what you want you can find a good meal for 5 dll or for 55dls per person.

[cmsitaly]

Originally Posted by *MrsMuffin*

wow.. under $100 sounds good! Where were your top places to go?! 10 days in Playa sounds great! Wish we had that flexibility to go for more than 6 nights
I also noticed that you went last year around the same time we are planning on heading down.. how crowded were the beaches? I know it's public and given that the beach is next door to town lol.. will I still be able to find a nice spot to chill out without getting my bags stepped on? LOL.. We brieftly visited Playa the first time around during the evening for some shopping.. and I believe the beach was just clearing out so I have no reference on how it will be during the day and for our second visit we also made it out during the evening for some drinks. Did you bump into any obnoxious springbreakers? I've read some bad posts on tripadvisor that there has been an increase on "springbreakers" and when I mean "springbreakers" I mean the ones that break bottles over each others heads haha.. we will be alone so we are always concerned about incidents with loud and obnoxious troublemakers!

Hey there, sorry for the delay...
Our top places are also some of the more popular spots on the board here. Can't imagine going to Playa without hitting all of them.

Babes www.babesnoodlesand bar.com
(we usually eat here at least 3 times) Mojitos, Swedish Meatballs and Thai dishes-everything is fantastic that we have had there
La Cueva del Chango (cool jungle/garden atmosphere with wonderful food and fresh juices) We go for breakfast usually
HC Monterrey great steak
Media Luna (great spot for anytime food and great people watching)
La Tarraya (great spot for lunch on the beach, try the ceviche)

Now there are lots more, but if you only have a few meals I would not miss these places.

They are all pretty casual also. There are lots of more expensive places, but we really don't do them that much...no need really. But, I would try Glass Bar, have heard Negrosal is good, as is John Grays and Chicago Dons (steak) I live in Indiana though and I can get a great steak anytime. I prefer the stuff I can't get at home-but that is just me.


As for the spring breakers, I wouldn't worry too much. Yes they are there, but not a huge presence, and there are people having fun allover the place. Not the 1000's of 20-something craziness of Cancun.

I wanna go now!!!

[fireinmn]

Originally Posted by See Turtle

Jen:

Welcome to the forum.

I gotta tell ya, you should skip the AI entirely and just book the Luna Blue (or any of the many other great hotels in town) for your entire stay. For $600 a night you could have the best room at any of those hotels, eat dinner at the most expensive restaurants in town and still have $200 left over every day.

BTW, the Playa beaches are not all that crowded. Haven't been in March, but was just there over the holidays (Chirstmas/New Year's) and not too crowded at all. Besides, for a $10 purchase of food or beverages, you can occupy a chaise lounge on the beach at a place like El Pirata with beach service all day long. Or you can spend a little more and go to Mamitas or Kool Beach Clubs just to the north.

And the best part of all? Not a single, crappy buffet to be found. Hey, if you wanted to spend your vacation in a buffet line, you could rent a crappy room in Chicago and go to an MCL everyday.

Have a great time.

Great advice!!

Welcome Jen!

We were there in early March 2006 - it's wasn't too busy. We found many many places on the beach.

Have fun.