Mexico 2008 Trip Report (Sandos Playacar)

[missixty]

Originally Posted by mastequilapf

Fantastic report so far!

Can't wait for the next installment!

Thank you, I really enjoyed your La Tortuga report, it may have in fact been the thing to first put the La Tortuga idea in my mind.

Also, while we were waiting to depart at the airport (waiting, and waiting, and waiting..... - 3 hour delay) there was a woman who looked JUST like your girlfriend! I couldn't take a photo because a) I broke my camera on the last day of holiday and b) the woman would have thought I was completely insane but I wish I had one to show you...I was staring for ages wondering if it was her and then wondering why the hell she'd be getting on a flight to Manchester

[mastequilapf]

Originally Posted by missixty

Thank you, I really enjoyed your La Tortuga report, it may have in fact been the thing to first put the La Tortuga idea in my mind.

Also, while we were waiting to depart at the airport (waiting, and waiting, and waiting..... - 3 hour delay) there was a woman who looked JUST like your girlfriend! I couldn't take a photo because a) I broke my camera on the last day of holiday and b) the woman would have thought I was completely insane but I wish I had one to show you...I was staring for ages wondering if it was her and then wondering why the hell she'd be getting on a flight to Manchester

he he he he I knew I had at least a minimal influence in your considering La Tortuga!

Well, unless she's sneaking off to Manchester without my knowledge, my wife has never been to Europe (or the UK for that matter), or at least that she's told me about! . On the other hand though, we are likely coming to Europe next spring./summer though!

My sister is in the UK now though...she's there for a couple months studying at Oxford, but she looks nothing like my wife (some say she actually looks a bit like me!)

[missixty]

Originally Posted by mastequilapf

he he he he I knew I had at least a minimal influence in your considering La Tortuga!

Well, unless she's sneaking off to Manchester without my knowledge, my wife has never been to Europe (or the UK for that matter), or at least that she's told me about! . On the other hand though, we are likely coming to Europe next spring./summer though!

My sister is in the UK now though...she's there for a couple months studying at Oxford, but she looks nothing like my wife (some say she actually looks a bit like me!)

I would love to go to La Tortuga...it's the beach thing that holds me back, along with the fact that booking here from the UK when not a package hol pretty much means if a hurricane comes and wipes everything out, we lose every penny...One year, when we can go not in hurricane season...2011/2012 maybe??...we will have to go there!!!

Knowing blokes, you probably wouldn't notice if we did sneak off to another country until the washing started building up

Where are you headed in Europe?

Your sister must be very clever going to Oxford! But not so clever coming spending time in England where it always rains

[mastequilapf]

Originally Posted by missixty

I would love to go to La Tortuga...it's the beach thing that holds me back, along with the fact that booking here from the UK when not a package hol pretty much means if a hurricane comes and wipes everything out, we lose every penny...One year, when we can go not in hurricane season...2011/2012 maybe??...we will have to go there!!!

Knowing blokes, you probably wouldn't notice if we did sneak off to another country until the washing started building up

Where are you headed in Europe?

Your sister must be very clever going to Oxford! But not so clever coming spending time in England where it always rains

I know, I know, about you and the beach! I'm glad you feel that is so important...La Tortuga definitely doesn't offer "quick access" to the beach...I won't go on another La Tortuga tirade, I promise! By the way, we've ONLY gone during hurricane season, and we're 3 for 3 with amazing holidays, and no hurricanes!

Our plans are still very tentative, other than the fact that we are definitely coming to Europe. We have friends in Geilenkirchen and Munich in Germany, as well as friends in Brussels. I have been to Germany, but I was much younger when I went and couldn't appreciate what I saw when I was there. I have never been to Belgium though. We were toying with the idea of going to Scotland because that's where my wife's ancestors are from. But it will be April or May when we're there, so we may completely change it!

My sister found the program at Oxford through her University. She's probably partying right now!

[missixty]

Originally Posted by mastequilapf

I know, I know, about you and the beach! I'm glad you feel that is so important...La Tortuga definitely doesn't offer "quick access" to the beach...I won't go on another La Tortuga tirade, I promise! By the way, we've ONLY gone during hurricane season, and we're 3 for 3 with amazing holidays, and no hurricanes!

Our plans are still very tentative, other than the fact that we are definitely coming to Europe. We have friends in Geilenkirchen and Munich in Germany, as well as friends in Brussels. I have been to Germany, but I was much younger when I went and couldn't appreciate what I saw when I was there. I have never been to Belgium though. We were toying with the idea of going to Scotland because that's where my wife's ancestors are from. But it will be April or May when we're there, so we may completely change it!

My sister found the program at Oxford through her University. She's probably partying right now!

Oh I mentioned the beach then did I??

We too have now been three times in hurricane season and been fine but my gosh were we stressed when Hurricane Dean was supposedly going to hit a few days before depature...I think it has scared us a little

Sounds lovely, I've never actually been to any of those places, other than Scotland, although even that is a bit dubious as to whether it counts as I've been to the one place that has both a Scottish and English football team - right on the border!!

[mastequilapf]

Originally Posted by missixty

Oh I mentioned the beach then did I??

We too have now been three times in hurricane season and been fine but my gosh were we stressed when Hurricane Dean was supposedly going to hit a few days before depature...I think it has scared us a little

Sounds lovely, I've never actually been to any of those places, other than Scotland, although even that is a bit dubious as to whether it counts as I've been to the one place that has both a Scottish and English football team - right on the border!!

NO! YOU NEVER MENTIONED THE BEACH! : joker:

I like hurricane season. It's MUCH cheaper (at least from the USA). We missed hurricane Emily in 2005 by 3 weeks for our honeymoon! . Dean in 2007 by a couple of weeks. but that's ok...If we did not go in hurricane season, we would not be able to afford our holiday!

anyway, we will be in touch as my wife and I plan our trip to Europe. We would like to meet you and Ste sometime soon. You sound like a couple that loves to party! So do we, even though we are older!

[missixty]

Originally Posted by mastequilapf

NO! YOU NEVER MENTIONED THE BEACH! : joker:

I like hurricane season. It's MUCH cheaper (at least from the USA). We missed hurricane Emily in 2005 by 3 weeks for our honeymoon! . Dean in 2007 by a couple of weeks. but that's ok...If we did not go in hurricane season, we would not be able to afford our holiday!

anyway, we will be in touch as my wife and I plan our trip to Europe. We would like to meet you and Ste sometime soon. You sound like a couple that loves to party! So do we, even though we are older!

Yes we can only afford Hurricane Season mostly (we did find that good La Tortuga deal for May though that we had to pass up on) and I love it too. My favorite time of year is Aug/Sept which is the height of hurricane season I think?? Yeah there's a risk of hurricanes, but I like it HOT

Omgosh you MUST do that!!! If you guys can squeeze in a day or two in Manchester that would be amazing!! We can show you the nightlife here, it may rain a lot - scratch that...ALL the time - here but we do have some great nightlife!!

[mastequilapf]

Originally Posted by missixty

Yes we can only afford Hurricane Season mostly (we did find that good La Tortuga deal for May though that we had to pass up on) and I love it too. My favorite time of year is Aug/Sept which is the height of hurricane season I think?? Yeah there's a risk of hurricanes, but I like it HOT

Omgosh you MUST do that!!! If you guys can squeeze in a day or two in Manchester that would be amazing!! We can show you the nightlife here, it may rain a lot - scratch that...ALL the time - here but we do have some great nightlife!!

Great!!!! I love the night life! Rain is no problem for us. Here in Atlanta, Georgia we get thunderstorms at a moment's notice, with fierce lighting and booming thunder. I have been soaked by these storms (we call them "pop-up thunder storms") more times than I care to admit!!!!

Have you ever been to the USA?

[missixty]

Originally Posted by mastequilapf

Great!!!! I love the night life! Rain is no problem for us. Here in Atlanta, Georgia we get thunderstorms at a moment's notice, with fierce lighting and booming thunder. I have been soaked by these storms (we call them "pop-up thunder storms") more times than I care to admit!!!!

Have you ever been to the USA?

No but I would LOVE to...I think I would be in my element there. I'd love to visit New York, California, Hollywood, Vegas, Miami, Orlando etc amongst other places...

We are planning to go to Las Vegas and Hawaii in 2010 fingers crossed!!

[mastequilapf]

Originally Posted by missixty

No but I would LOVE to...I think I would be in my element there. I'd love to visit New York, California, Hollywood, Vegas, Miami, Orlando etc amongst other places...

We are planning to go to Las Vegas and Hawaii in 2010 fingers crossed!!

All those places are great, don't get me wrong, but you left out ATLANTA, where I"m from, the party capital!

[missixty]

Originally Posted by mastequilapf

All those places are great, don't get me wrong, but you left out ATLANTA, where I"m from, the party capital!

Really? I never knew that...perhaps one day we'll head that way and you guys can show us how to party Atlanta style!!

[beesknees]

Originally Posted by missixty

I was about to give you a "woooh!" for being a fellow manc until I saw your City badge Tut tut...

Where abouts in Manc are you from?

I'm totally with you on giving the beach 'healing' time We're thinking of the Riviera Maya within taxi time of course from Playa for our nights out next year due to the beach in Playacar. Have you been to the Tucan/Quetzal before? Amazing isn't it? I doubt much can top it...

2010 we're thinking of Vegas and Hawaii so it may be 2011 before we think of returning to Playacar but who knows what the beaches will be like by then!!!!

I'm from Longsight originally....then Denton, Gorton, Openshaw.....you know....all the classy places! Did escape to Glossop for a while and now Leyland! Where are you from?

With regard to City.....well, what can I say......never a dull moment!

Yeah, I've been to Ib*Tucan/Quetzal before (4 times). The first time was back in 2001 when the beach bar was just a wooden hut, and the lobby bars were the little 'Guest Service Desks'.

I love the way you've put your photos to music on YouTube....wish I knew how to do it

[missixty]

Originally Posted by beesknees

I'm from Longsight originally....then Denton, Gorton, Openshaw.....you know....all the classy places! Did escape to Glossop for a while and now Leyland! Where are you from?

With regard to City.....well, what can I say......never a dull moment!

Yeah, I've been to Ib*Tucan/Quetzal before (4 times). The first time was back in 2001 when the beach bar was just a wooden hut, and the lobby bars were the little 'Guest Service Desks'.

I love the way you've put your photos to music on YouTube....wish I knew how to do it

Ah I was a bridesmaid at a wedding in Denton last December...I also went to Crowne Point on my franctic hunt for Super Mario Galaxy post Christmas when it was sold out everywhere

I'm from Stockport, small world eh? Only ten minutes away from Old Trafford so I guess you can take a stab where my loyalties lie...

The Tucan is so amazing, sounds like it's come a long way from how it used to be but even then it was obviously good enough for you to return year after year! We were so disappointed not to return this year.

Depending if you have a MAC or PC it's really easy using either imovie or Windows Movie Maker. It's pretty much just drag and drop things where you want them to be The newest one is done on imovie but the previous Mexico ones on my youtube account (and all other vids) were done on Movie Maker.

[beesknees]

Originally Posted by missixty

Ah I was a bridesmaid at a wedding in Denton last December...I also went to Crowne Point on my franctic hunt for Super Mario Galaxy post Christmas when it was sold out everywhere

I'm from Stockport, small world eh? Only ten minutes away from Old Trafford so I guess you can take a stab where my loyalties lie...

The Tucan is so amazing, sounds like it's come a long way from how it used to be but even then it was obviously good enough for you to return year after year! We were so disappointed not to return this year.

Depending if you have a MAC or PC it's really easy using either imovie or Windows Movie Maker. It's pretty much just drag and drop things where you want them to be The newest one is done on imovie but the previous Mexico ones on my youtube account (and all other vids) were done on Movie Maker.

Flippin' 'eck....we both had SK postcodes for a while then? lol

I lived not far from Crown Point for couple of years, and my son lives near Reddish Bridge....small world, eh!

I think Tucan/Quetzal is my absolute favourite place to be, and I'm hoping to be back there either late next year or the following year. I've got mixed feelings on going to Cuba but I think I should see somewhere different, and it's one of them places I've always wanted to see but ended up going somewhere 'better' We'll be going to an Iberostar but it's not a patch on the hotels in Mexico, or even in Dom Rep. Still, it'll be an experience if nothing else!

[missixty]

Originally Posted by beesknees

Flippin' 'eck....we both had SK postcodes for a while then? lol

I lived not far from Crown Point for couple of years, and my son lives near Reddish Bridge....small world, eh!

I think Tucan/Quetzal is my absolute favourite place to be, and I'm hoping to be back there either late next year or the following year. I've got mixed feelings on going to Cuba but I think I should see somewhere different, and it's one of them places I've always wanted to see but ended up going somewhere 'better' We'll be going to an Iberostar but it's not a patch on the hotels in Mexico, or even in Dom Rep. Still, it'll be an experience if nothing else!

Yeah very small world!

We were originally booked at the Iberostar Costa Dorada in the Dominican Republic back in 2006 before having to change last minute to Mexico. The hotel itself looked lovely but we were glad it got changed as I think we would have gone a little stir crazy not being able to leave the resort...

I think we feel that way too, there's a lot of places to see but how can they be as good as Playa?? For us Playa has everything we want so I don't see how anything could top it but before I went there I always said I'd never go the same place more than once!

I'm excited about trying out Las Vegas/Hawaii possibly in 2010 but I feel like I'm sacrificing a trip to Playa to do it, so it is slightly nervewracking in a "what if we don't like it as much" way