kccoopers in Playa: the sequel

kccooper · 12-15-2009

It may have taken a year and a half for us to make a return trip to Playa but it was well worth the wait! We had good weather, a nice condo and a lot of great memories to carry with us.

Our last adventure to Mexico was spent at Sandos Playacar - a very nice all inclusive that I would return to in a heartbeat if leaning towards an AI. But after our last trip I was determined to stay in a condo so we could sample all the local flavors without a guilty conscience.

This trip was completely different from our last for many reasons but the first was the purpose for the trip. We decided to take our daughter, Ridgely, on a trip for her graduation present - she's a senior in high school. We thought that a week with just her parents would allow us to spend some quality time with her without her being distracted by the boyfriend or the constant texting (yes, we told her the phone was off limits once in Mexico). I wanted her to see some culture and some of the most amazingly blue ocean in the world. I thought I might even try to squeeze in some advice when the opportunity presented itself (cue the teenage eye roll).

Here are my girls at the airport:

Our adventure began bright and early as many of these trips do. We left for the Kansas City airport at 4am for a 6am flight to Dallas. Small layover then onto another plane to Miami. 3 hour layover then finally on to Cancun. Took the long route because I used frequent flyer miles and that was the earliest flight I could get into Mexico. Arrived at the airport at about 5pm.

Breezed through customs - there was NOBODY else there but our plane! Hit the ATM right outside the door and then on to the ADO booth. One note about the ATM - do not forget that you're in Mexico and everything is in Pesos! I was in a hurry and hit the $200 button before I stopped to think about it. I knew $200 pesos wouldn't get me far so had to make another withdrawal. Luckily nobody saw me banging my head chanting "you're in Mexico, idiot".

ADO tickets were $9 apiece or $300 pesos. I paid in pesos but in hindsight, the cost difference really wasn't much so I would've been fine using dollars. Anyway, out the door and to the bus:

One other note - there are bathrooms in the same building at the Coconuts bar, around the back. The ADO stopped at the other terminal, then south to Playa. Got to stop to make sure the pics are attaching properly and then I'll continue soon...

u2girlie · 12-15-2009

Yeah! Another trip report! I guess I'll have to type mine up!

trishab83 · 12-15-2009

Looking forward to the rest of this! I'm curious to see how your daughter did... boyfriendless, test messageless, but surrounded by beauty and wonderful culture. When I was a sophomore in high school, my parents thought I would be just fine in MX sans boyfriend, but I spent the entire trip crying, pissy, and wasting all of their money on ridiculously expensive phone calls to my boyfriend back home. They soon realized they would be better off inviting the boyfriend on every trip thereafter.
It wasn't until I was 23 years old that I went again without him and had a brilliant time all by myself. Now I'm able to go with or without him and have the time of my life regardless! =]

Buggirl · 12-15-2009

What a beautiful pic of your wife and daughter

Great start- can't wait for more!

LucyE · 12-15-2009

We just took my 22 year old stepdaughter with us, and it was basically a nightmare for her once she found out her i-phone didn't work in Mexico and that text messages were like 1.00 each! Her boyfriend is in Florida and apparently they spend most nights on the phone for like 3-4 hours a night! Well she couldn't do that in Mexico, but I think he still called her a couple of times. Apparently he's paying the cell bill.

trishab83 · 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyE

We just took my 22 year old stepdaughter with us, and it was basically a nightmare for her once she found out her i-phone didn't work in Mexico and that text messages were like 1.00 each! Her boyfriend is in Florida and apparently they spend most nights on the phone for like 3-4 hours a night! Well she couldn't do that in Mexico, but I think he still called her a couple of times. Apparently he's paying the cell bill.

Haha, I highly suggest any teen or early 20something leaving a significant other behind in the States takes along a laptop equipped with Skype or something of the like!

LucyE · 12-15-2009

Quote:

Haha, I highly suggest any teen or early 20something leaving a significant other behind in the States takes along a laptop equipped with Skype or something of the like!

Well the funny thing is that her dad told her not to take it. You won't use it that much while we are there, and besides, they might not have internet connection at the condo.

She asked me and I said yes there is internet connection and go ahead and take it. She decided against it when she overpacked her backpack.

Once in Playa, she wanted to kill her dad!!

kccooper · 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by trishab83

Haha, I highly suggest any teen or early 20something leaving a significant other behind in the States takes along a laptop equipped with Skype or something of the like!

I did take my laptop and she was able to get on facebook to send messages back and forth most evenings but for a very limited timeframe. I put the rule in place before we went that the only way she got to go is if she was able to put the phone away and spend quality time with us. She did have her phone with her and was probably receiving messages and sending a few on the sly but I never caught her so, oh well. Regardless, she didn't seem to mind too much and hopefully she'll look back someday and be grateful.

kccooper · 12-15-2009

Day 1 (continued)

The pics seem to be a bit on the large size but at least they're in there. So on with the story - we arrive at the ADO station, unload our bags and start walking north on 5th Ave so Ridge can see the "main drag". Went about a block and then turned towards 10th to find a taxi. We stayed at Las Palmas condos at 10th Ave & Calle 26. This was a great location and the condos were very nice also. Here are some pics of condo Real, a 3rd floor unit with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, washer/dryer and not on the 10th Ave side of the building:

After checking in and dropping off all our crap, we were hungry but Ridge really wanted to see the ocean first so we walked to the beach at Mamitas/Kool. Hit an oxxo for a beer on the way, of course. Here are a couple of pretty cool night shots from the beach:

We then caught a cab to El Fogon - the one on 30th Ave near Calle 6.

Now let's talk about food a little bit. I'm a pretty picky eater but not afraid to try new things. I do NOT like to spend ridiculous amounts of money on food, though. On a sidenote, when we had lunch in the Miami airport is cost $64 (freaking ridiculous for 2 burgers, a salad and 3 drinks if you ask me). So I'm REALLY looking forward to eating at El Fogon because of all the great reviews and the reasonable cost. While I would definitely return, this was not even close to our favorite meal in Playa. We started off with the requisite chips and salsa along with some cactus and frijoles charro. I am not a big bean soup kinda guy but HOLY CRAP this tasted amazing!

We shared 5 tacos al pastor which I felt were good but not great. The girls really liked them, though.

We also decided to try the aracharra which was also very, very good.

So, a really good meal and a great start to our Playa trip - that is until the check came. Apparently I had "stupid gringo" plastered on my forehead (and trying to use the translation dictionary to figure out what was on the menu unsuccessfully probably didn't help) but they just turned the printout over and wrote the total on the back - and added $100p.

When I flipped it over, not everything was on the bill but I knew the total wasn't right. They spoke pretty much no English but I made it clear that their total wasn't gonna fly. He reprinted another ticket with the rest of the meal on it but still tried to point at the inflated total. I said - no, not $286p, $186p. You know UNO cien. Not DOS.

When he realized I wasn't going to concede this one, he finally says "Ah, si senor". I still gave him a $40p tip but left a little sad that this whole event had transpired.

We walked east on Calle 6 back to 5th and then north all the way to Calle 26 and our condo. Made the required stops at a few shops and of course Tequila Barrel for a beer. We were almost home when we passed Luna Blue right across the street - I've heard so much about this place and it did not disappoint!

We stopped in for one last beer of the evening. Met Jorge and told him I was excited to meet the most famous bartender in Playa. He coolly slid me a shot of tequila. I'm not much of a tequila drinker (or at least I wasn't until this trip) but it was quite tasty. Chatted it up with a couple of locals and come Canadians and finally headed to bed around 11:30pm.

mocha2 · 12-15-2009

I am so excited to see your report. Thanks for sharing!

janied · 12-15-2009

waiting for more, please!

Friday · 12-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by kccooper

Day 1 (continued)

I'm not much of a tequila drinker (or at least I wasn't until this trip) but it was quite tasty. Chatted it up with a couple of locals and come Canadians and finally headed to bed around 11:30pm.

Hey, hey....that was us. I remember our talk and you telling me about your Sandos trip earlier. You did well with the tequila, grasshoppa ! It was super to meet you.
I can't belive you have a daughter that age.

annrawa · 12-16-2009

You are off to a great start, can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

LucyE · 12-16-2009

Great to see pictures, that condo looks nice! Sorry you didn't care too much for El Fogon. We usually go to the one on 30th and I think 32. This trip though we only went to the one on 30th and Constituyentes.
Can't wait for the rest!

kccooper · 12-16-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by LucyE

Great to see pictures, that condo looks nice! Sorry you didn't care too much for El Fogon. We usually go to the one on 30th and I think 32. This trip though we only went to the one on 30th and Constituyentes.
Can't wait for the rest!

Don't get me wrong - I really enjoyed our meal at El Fogon. The food was quite good and the prices were more than reasonable. I think I just had it built up so much in my head based on other trip reports & posts that there was no way they could measure up. And I think the whole debacle with the bill left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth as well. That combined with the fact that we had a couple of meals that I felt were a little better (HC Monteray for example), just moved El Fogon down the list a couple of spots.

But, for the sake of those foodies out there, I want to make sure to clarify: I would DEFINITELY recommend eating at El Fogon. I agree with past posters that this is a restaurant that is not to be missed when in Playa.

12-15-2009	#1 (permalink)
kccooper into ruins Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 71	kccoopers in Playa: the sequel It may have taken a year and a half for us to make a return trip to Playa but it was well worth the wait! We had good weather, a nice condo and a lot of great memories to carry with us. Our last adventure to Mexico was spent at Sandos Playacar - a very nice all inclusive that I would return to in a heartbeat if leaning towards an AI. But after our last trip I was determined to stay in a condo so we could sample all the local flavors without a guilty conscience. This trip was completely different from our last for many reasons but the first was the purpose for the trip. We decided to take our daughter, Ridgely, on a trip for her graduation present - she's a senior in high school. We thought that a week with just her parents would allow us to spend some quality time with her without her being distracted by the boyfriend or the constant texting (yes, we told her the phone was off limits once in Mexico). I wanted her to see some culture and some of the most amazingly blue ocean in the world. I thought I might even try to squeeze in some advice when the opportunity presented itself (cue the teenage eye roll). Here are my girls at the airport: Our adventure began bright and early as many of these trips do. We left for the Kansas City airport at 4am for a 6am flight to Dallas. Small layover then onto another plane to Miami. 3 hour layover then finally on to Cancun. Took the long route because I used frequent flyer miles and that was the earliest flight I could get into Mexico. Arrived at the airport at about 5pm. Breezed through customs - there was NOBODY else there but our plane! Hit the ATM right outside the door and then on to the ADO booth. One note about the ATM - do not forget that you're in Mexico and everything is in Pesos! I was in a hurry and hit the $200 button before I stopped to think about it. I knew $200 pesos wouldn't get me far so had to make another withdrawal. Luckily nobody saw me banging my head chanting "you're in Mexico, idiot". ADO tickets were $9 apiece or $300 pesos. I paid in pesos but in hindsight, the cost difference really wasn't much so I would've been fine using dollars. Anyway, out the door and to the bus: One other note - there are bathrooms in the same building at the Coconuts bar, around the back. The ADO stopped at the other terminal, then south to Playa. Got to stop to make sure the pics are attaching properly and then I'll continue soon... __________________ Cooper

12-16-2009	#13 (permalink)
annrawa life=playa Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 582	tr You are off to a great start, can't wait to hear about the rest of your trip.

12-15-2009	#2 (permalink)
u2girlie Life=Playa (almost) Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 3,712	Yeah! Another trip report! I guess I'll have to type mine up!

12-15-2009	#3 (permalink)
trishab83 beachaholic Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 490	Looking forward to the rest of this! I'm curious to see how your daughter did... boyfriendless, test messageless, but surrounded by beauty and wonderful culture. When I was a sophomore in high school, my parents thought I would be just fine in MX sans boyfriend, but I spent the entire trip crying, pissy, and wasting all of their money on ridiculously expensive phone calls to my boyfriend back home. They soon realized they would be better off inviting the boyfriend on every trip thereafter. It wasn't until I was 23 years old that I went again without him and had a brilliant time all by myself. Now I'm able to go with or without him and have the time of my life regardless! =]

12-15-2009	#4 (permalink)
Buggirl añejo Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: on an island in the sea..... Posts: 7,975	What a beautiful pic of your wife and daughter Great start- can't wait for more!

12-15-2009	#5 (permalink)
LucyE añejo Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 7,242	We just took my 22 year old stepdaughter with us, and it was basically a nightmare for her once she found out her i-phone didn't work in Mexico and that text messages were like 1.00 each! Her boyfriend is in Florida and apparently they spend most nights on the phone for like 3-4 hours a night! Well she couldn't do that in Mexico, but I think he still called her a couple of times. Apparently he's paying the cell bill.

12-15-2009	#9 (permalink)
kccooper into ruins Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 71	Day 1 (continued) The pics seem to be a bit on the large size but at least they're in there. So on with the story - we arrive at the ADO station, unload our bags and start walking north on 5th Ave so Ridge can see the "main drag". Went about a block and then turned towards 10th to find a taxi. We stayed at Las Palmas condos at 10th Ave & Calle 26. This was a great location and the condos were very nice also. Here are some pics of condo Real, a 3rd floor unit with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, kitchen, washer/dryer and not on the 10th Ave side of the building: After checking in and dropping off all our crap, we were hungry but Ridge really wanted to see the ocean first so we walked to the beach at Mamitas/Kool. Hit an oxxo for a beer on the way, of course. Here are a couple of pretty cool night shots from the beach: We then caught a cab to El Fogon - the one on 30th Ave near Calle 6. Now let's talk about food a little bit. I'm a pretty picky eater but not afraid to try new things. I do NOT like to spend ridiculous amounts of money on food, though. On a sidenote, when we had lunch in the Miami airport is cost $64 (freaking ridiculous for 2 burgers, a salad and 3 drinks if you ask me). So I'm REALLY looking forward to eating at El Fogon because of all the great reviews and the reasonable cost. While I would definitely return, this was not even close to our favorite meal in Playa. We started off with the requisite chips and salsa along with some cactus and frijoles charro. I am not a big bean soup kinda guy but HOLY CRAP this tasted amazing! We shared 5 tacos al pastor which I felt were good but not great. The girls really liked them, though. We also decided to try the aracharra which was also very, very good. So, a really good meal and a great start to our Playa trip - that is until the check came. Apparently I had "stupid gringo" plastered on my forehead (and trying to use the translation dictionary to figure out what was on the menu unsuccessfully probably didn't help) but they just turned the printout over and wrote the total on the back - and added $100p. When I flipped it over, not everything was on the bill but I knew the total wasn't right. They spoke pretty much no English but I made it clear that their total wasn't gonna fly. He reprinted another ticket with the rest of the meal on it but still tried to point at the inflated total. I said - no, not $286p, $186p. You know UNO cien. Not DOS. When he realized I wasn't going to concede this one, he finally says "Ah, si senor". I still gave him a $40p tip but left a little sad that this whole event had transpired. We walked east on Calle 6 back to 5th and then north all the way to Calle 26 and our condo. Made the required stops at a few shops and of course Tequila Barrel for a beer. We were almost home when we passed Luna Blue right across the street - I've heard so much about this place and it did not disappoint! We stopped in for one last beer of the evening. Met Jorge and told him I was excited to meet the most famous bartender in Playa. He coolly slid me a shot of tequila. I'm not much of a tequila drinker (or at least I wasn't until this trip) but it was quite tasty. Chatted it up with a couple of locals and come Canadians and finally headed to bed around 11:30pm.

12-15-2009	#10 (permalink)
mocha2 beachaholic Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 258	I am so excited to see your report. Thanks for sharing!

12-15-2009	#11 (permalink)
janied reposado Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 1,017	waiting for more, please!

12-16-2009	#14 (permalink)
LucyE añejo Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 7,242	Great to see pictures, that condo looks nice! Sorry you didn't care too much for El Fogon. We usually go to the one on 30th and I think 32. This trip though we only went to the one on 30th and Constituyentes. Can't wait for the rest!

register to remove these adverts