Redhed's stay in Shangri La - trip report

[MikenJulie]

Awesome report, and congrats!!!

[Dan in Ct]

Thanks for posting. It gives me an idea what to look forward to.

[cpfstich]

Great report & pics! We stayed at Shangri La in 2007 and loved it.

[vamonos]

Dear RedHead - coupla point:
- 1st: congrats, you've obviously engaged the rest of your life to someone you're very sympatico with and I wish you the best of times..... the best of luck?, I don't think you'll need luck, your writing speaks of good character, which equals good karma,which dilutes out the need for luck.
- 2nd - re the self-American-bashing: as a Canadian, your closest cousin, I've observed that you are absolutely right - sometimes you can be loud, obnoxious and overbearing. BUTBUTBUT, you are also - whenever we've met Americans on vacation - friendly, open, including, funny, self-deprecating while proud of nationality, and generally... always better than the French (and by that I mean France French - not French Canadian ((who are better than Anglic Canadian, which I am... we are tooooo boring, they are not!))). As a woman and a traveller, any and every day would I rate a loud American tourist galaxies above a quiet foreign man who, thinking his god gives him holy dispensation, would put me in a walking tent and deny me my space on earth. Hoe-kay, rant done, bottom line, I like Americans on my vacations. 'Mericans are fine by me.

[redhed65]

I was just looking over last year's trip report and realized that I totally messed up all of my photos when I rearranged my Photobucket albums. They're all back, now! I hope newbies find the info helpful!

I'm heading back to Playa this July on my honeymoon. We're staying at the Luna Blue this time, and I can't wait!!!!

[zeppelinman]

Wow,, the pics of the turtles are great!!.. how far away from the shore were they?.. Can you tell me where are on the beach you entered the water at...
i'll love to do that!!

thanks,,

[redhed65]

Thanks! We just walked to the bay at Akumel, plopped our stuff under a tree and went straight out into the water. It's a pretty big area and you can go anywhere in it and see turtles. The water was about 10-15 feet deep. There's a "pathway" that boats use to come in and out of the bay (it's marked by ropes), so you have to be careful of them when you cross that area, but otherwise, it's pretty fair game. David swam to the far north end of the bay by the rocks, and saw some sunken cannons. He says it was pretty cool. He also saw a lot of urchin beds though, too, so be careful if you go over there. Have a great trip!

[planet]

Loving your posts. Several questions though. This will be our first trip to Playa. What did you think of La Shangri La and what was your booking source? We can't seem to find availability. Also, we are a family of 4 - 2 parents, a 19 yr old son & a 15 yr old daughter. Could they accomodate all 4 of us in one room/unit?

Did you pack your own snorkeling gear? If so do you advise that or can it be rented?

What did your all-inclusive tickets to Xel-Ha include?

Where did you find your hot pink sunshirt (SPF50)?

How would you compare Coco Beach to Mamitas and any other beach you visited?

[redhed65]

Originally Posted by planet

Loving your posts. Several questions though. This will be our first trip to Playa. What did you think of La Shangri La and what was your booking source? We can't seem to find availability. Also, we are a family of 4 - 2 parents, a 19 yr old son & a 15 yr old daughter. Could they accomodate all 4 of us in one room/unit?

Did you pack your own snorkeling gear? If so do you advise that or can it be rented?

What did your all-inclusive tickets to Xel-Ha include?

Where did you find your hot pink sunshirt (SPF50)?

How would you compare Coco Beach to Mamitas and any other beach you visited?

Thanks!

I believe all of their room types come with either one king or two queens. They may have rollaways or some other option, I'm not sure. The hotel's website is www.shangrilacaribe.net. We booked our reservation directly with the hotel.

We did pack our own snorkel gear. You can rent it at the parks. I think it runs about $11 USD. I bought mine for $40 a set and am getting ready to take it on my fourth vacation -- I think it's a good investment (and probably in better shape than the rental stuff). I've heard stories about some of the snorkel day trips where the snorkels are just thrown into a big pile for the next group of tourists. I'm not a germ phobe, but.....

The all-inclusive Xel-Ha tickets included food, snacks and beverages (including "adult" beverages). The food was very good, and I liked their pina coladas. If you're going to be there all day, it's worth the price and you don't have to figure out how to carry money around with you.

Most sporting goods stores sell the swim shirts (called rash guard shirts) that are SPF 50 or so. I've also seen them at Old Navy. I lucked out and found mine on a clearance rack. They come in long and short sleeve styles. They sell them in Playa, too, but they cost a LOT more. If I remember right, they were around $40 in the stores, and $70 in Playa or at Xel-Ha.

The beach by the Shangri La is the best I saw at Playa, and the nicest I've ever stayed at. My personal opinion is that you'll have no need to go to Mamitas or any of the beach clubs. We didn't. The chairs and palapas at the Shangri La are free if you're staying there, and they have waiters who will bring you drinks (not free, but convenient). Or, you can pack a portable cooler and load it up with ice and drinks from a local market. Tulum has an absolutely gorgeous beach, if you can make it down there.

Let me know if I can answer any more questions! Have a great trip!

[MN GKJ]

Great job on the Tr and congratulations!!