La Tortuga Hotel & Spa

[Mach II]

Seriously, why is this hotel rated #1 with tripadvisor.com ?
I contemplated booking La Tortuga but, decided to go with the lower rated Shangri La Caribe instead, just because of the actual location of the ocean front beach rooms. in your opinions, did I make a better choice ?
I read that the rooms at La Tortuga can get quite noisy at night due to the proximity to 5th st. and the disco that plays loud music till close to 6am.
Shangri La offers 2 meals a day where as La Tortuga only has breakfast.
I also know I will probably have to taxi it to 5th from Shangri La a few times, so tell me your thoughts please !
Enjoy the sun!!!!!!

[TnTWalter]

Shangri La is highly regarded on this board and most people would say go while you can [it's being torn down next year for condos].
The cost savings is ~$100 per night at La Tortuga or more or less depending on which category at each location you'd select. I'd rather eat dinner elsewhere. ALSO at the time I booked, Shangri-La was slated to close right around that time [summer 2008], they've since changed it to 2009.
I think you made a wonderful decision. Go and enjoy! The beach is supposed to be wonderful. We're planning on hitting Zubul Reef Club for our beach time which is near there.

[Jacko]

Originally Posted by Mach II

Seriously, why is this hotel rated #1 with tripadvisor.com ?
I contemplated booking La Tortuga but, decided to go with the lower rated Shangri La Caribe instead, just because of the actual location of the ocean front beach rooms. in your opinions, did I make a better choice ?
I read that the rooms at La Tortuga can get quite noisy at night due to the proximity to 5th st. and the disco that plays loud music till close to 6am.
Shangri La offers 2 meals a day where as La Tortuga only has breakfast.
I also know I will probably have to taxi it to 5th from Shangri La a few times, so tell me your thoughts please !
Enjoy the sun!!!!!!

I am not generally a huge fan of Trip Advisor as the primary source of travel information...this site is much more useful IMHO...having said that, La Tortuga is my favorite hotel in Playa....... so far...and we have been going to Playa for 5 years...3 times at La Tortuga. But that is just our preference.

La Tortuga and Shangri-La are completely different experiences I believe.

La Tortuga's pool setting is absolutely beautiful..."enclosed", serene and jungle-like river pool in the middle of the "city", yet right outside the door of your room....the bar and restaurant are both there and they serve both great food and drinks...the breakfast is ala carte off the menu and and wonderful.......walk outside the hotel seclusion and you are immediately in the middle of the action of the city......this is a relatively small, intimate, boutique-type hotel....we like all of this... (we are resort and restaurant owners who live in the country!)

The service is generally excellent and the staff are all friendly and delightful.

As Playa del Carmen grows rapidly, there is some of the Playa construction noise from time to time, but it is diminished by the nature of the construction of the hotel itself which surrounds the inner sanctuary with their own hotel building. I am certain some rooms are indeed more noisy than others...if you get a room that faces this inner sanctuary, I do not believe you will hear any noise from the clubs that will bother you. A room on the outside street side could be a bit nosier...but we only stay at poolside rooms so it is hard for me to say. La Tortuga is on 14th Street....the discos are on 8th or so I think.

I have not stayed at Shangri-La, but had friends who spent the first part of their vacation at La Tortuga and the second part there....Shangri-La is beautiful! First, it is on a beautiful and non-crowded part of the beach! The buildings are much more rustic and tropical looking in a good way. I hear that the service and amenities, while completely acceptable, are not nearly up to the level that they are at La Tortuga, This hotel is located much further north, out of the action of 5th.......You will not have to take a taxi to 5th...it is just a bit longer walk..... you are going to love it!

So, it all depends on what you are looking for I think....both places are very nice for very different reasons.

[Kogia]

We love La Tortuga. We just stayed there a few weeks ago. There was no construction noise, and we slept like babies. You are just a short walk from 5th, and they do have a great deal with one of the beach clubs (I think its Mamitas). We stay at La Tortuga two or three times each year, and there is no hotel in Playa I would rather stay at for a relaxing and romatic vacation.
One of the reasons that La Tortuga gets consistently high marks on the travel boards is the terrific staff they have there. Everyone from the waiters to the desk staff to the reservation people are wonderful. We truly enjoy seeing everyone when we return to the hotel each time.
I have not stayed at Shangri La, although I have seen the property and it is beautiful. I am sure you will have a wonderful time no matter where you stay. Enjoy!

[Cocotel]

I've not stayed at La Tortuga, only Shangri-La, which we all loved. I did want to say that we walked to and from town daily - it's an easy walk. We only took a cab on the day we stocked up on groceries, so that we wouldn't have to carry all that back.

[Sweeney]

We just got back from PDC yesterday.....we stayed four nights at La Tortuga, and four nights at Shangri La Caribe......Shangri La is very scenic, and the beach is very nice, however La Tortuga was PERFECT. I'd give La Tortuga 5 out of 5 stars, and shangri la 3 out of 5.......La Tortuga is very tranquil, b/c there is no kids around. The hotel is gorgeous, the service impeccable, and the food and drinks delicious. We encountered a few problems at Shangri-La.......first, our room wasn't ready until 4:30 instead of 3. The drinks at Shangri-La were undrinkable.....they didn't have mint for Mojitio's which were on the menu.....they didn't have any clean towels when we tried to exchange our towels....the workers there were not nearly as friendly as La Tortuga......plus, La tortuga was the PERFECT location.......if your looking for a scenic place that's right on the beach, than Shangri La would be a good choice........if you are looking for everything else(plus we like Mamita's which you got passes for from Tortuga) then i would choose La Tortuga).......we will definitely go back to Tortuga in a heartbeat, we would not recommend Shangri La to anyone that we know, even though it was beautiful.

[Sweeney]

I just read what Jacko wrote, and he explained it better......what a show-off!

[Michele]

Originally Posted by Mach II

Seriously, why is this hotel rated #1 with tripadvisor.com ?
I contemplated booking La Tortuga but, decided to go with the lower rated Shangri La Caribe instead, just because of the actual location of the ocean front beach rooms. in your opinions, did I make a better choice ?
I read that the rooms at La Tortuga can get quite noisy at night due to the proximity to 5th st. and the disco that plays loud music till close to 6am.
Shangri La offers 2 meals a day where as La Tortuga only has breakfast.
I also know I will probably have to taxi it to 5th from Shangri La a few times, so tell me your thoughts please !
Enjoy the sun!!!!!!

Well, I live right across the street from La Tortuga and I have never heard any noise at all at night. For the $$, it is an absolutely gorgeous, well kept hotel that gives great service.

[Mach II]

I appreciate the input everyone has been giving us. This is our first time to Playa and just wanted some opinions about the 2 properties. My wife is a big fan of the beach so that is why I guess I chose Shangri La over La Tortuga. That being said, it's never to late to change our plans. It would cost me 40.00 to cancel and that is still an option if we so decide. I saw photo's of Mamita's and it looked very crowded compared to the beach at Shagri La. I just wasn't to thrilled that I had to book Shangri La thru a booking agency whom charged me 20 $ extra a night. We do have a beachfront room at the moment and that was the main draw for us. I will probably change my mind 20 or so times before I finally decide!, lol..
Again, thats for the much needed advice!

[Cocotel]

Why did you have to book through an agency? Just curious.
I'm sure you will love Shangri-La; it is a beautiful property and every time we've stayed there, the service was excellent as well.
As has been said many times - no matter where you stay - you'll be in Paradise, so you'll have a great time.

[Mach II]

Originally Posted by Cocotel

Why did you have to book through an agency? Just curious.
I'm sure you will love Shangri-La; it is a beautiful property and every time we've stayed there, the service was excellent as well.
As has been said many times - no matter where you stay - you'll be in Paradise, so you'll have a great time.

Because at the Shangri La Website, all the phone numbers are disconnected. and there was no booking link on their page.

I sent a quote request a week ago and they never got back to me.

[Mach II]

My email and they did respond but, it's from another booking agency. So it looks like I have the current rate of $295.00 a night for a beach front bungalow.


Hello Eddie

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the Shangri-La Caribe in Mexico. At this time, we do have a beach front unit available for arriving November 6th and departing on the 13th. We can put a request in for the Caribe section in #2, but this is a request only as you will not know your exact room number until you get down there. For 2 people this would be $295.00 per night including breakfast, dinner, and taxes. We are the US booking agents for the hotel so please contact us at 1-800-538-6802 or send an e-mail if you would like to make a reservation or with any further questions.

Thanks
Cierra

Turquoise Reef Group, Inc.
Mexican Hotels & Resorts
908-A 8th Street / Golden, CO 80401 / USA
Toll Free Reservations: 1-(800)-538-6802
Int'l Phone: 001-303-674-9615

[Mach II]

What kind of weather should I expect in early November ?

[MikenJulie]

We're booking 3 days at the Tortuga when we first arrive this year, probly a few days in a beach front at the S-La too. Both have merits, the Tortuga on the beach, drool!!!

Last year we walked from the bus terminal up to the Shangri-La, loved the area since it wasn't as developed. Still close to town, I could use the walk, heheh. We checked out the rooms in the S-La, nice and basic, AC, the feel was very pleasant to us. Being able to step out of the bungalow and right on the beach is a big plus, as is te Tortuga for shopping, hitting bars, dinner, etc.

You could try what we're doing, spend a few days at both, next year you'll know which you prefer, and since the S-La won't be around at least you'll get to experience it.

[JinLA]

Our first trip to Playa del Carmen, we stayed at both! We spent four nights at La Tortuga and 4 nights at Shangri La Caribe. Staying at the city location of La Tortuga, we used those days to do the bulk of our exploring (Mayan Ruins, altournative trips, etc.). It was a perfect place to come home to - immaculate rooms, and cool air, and a tv to unwind to after a day of exploring. But, on the flipside, being at Shangrila Caribe was the ultimate vacation spot. A great way to split the trip. The beach was divine and the resort was laid back and provided the perfect end to our Playa visit. We fell in love with Shangrila Caribe and have gone back several times. We are sad to see it go next year...but happy to have been able to get in one last trip. We can't wait!