I hate Playa del Carmen

haarmom · 01-20-2010

I hated Playa. Just got back and not even a full day in I wanted to go home.

What we wanted was the typical beach vacation- to lay on the beach with tropical drinks and beers and check out the local fare.

To start off, our transfer (through Best Day) took over 3 hours. Halfway to Playa the transmission completely went out in the van, so we sat on the side of the highway with our bags til a new van came to get us.

We stayed at Grand Coco Bay. We had never been to Playa so we didnt know anything about it. We based everything off the location and the reviews of the beach.

The websites say its a 3.5 star. I would give it a 2, and that is being very very generous. If there was no beach it would be a half star.

The drinks at the hotel were horrendous. I ordered every single drink I could think of during our stay and never drank more than a sip. And I am not picky. It all tasted the same, like they used a filler or something. Yuck.

There were so many Europeans there that I now have a hatred for anything Italian. None of them have manners. They all think they are gods gift to the world. GCB also catered to them, with service and food choices. We tipped very well when it was deserved. I did not see a single European tip but yet they got better service.
Numerous times I was at the bar, waiting for my turn to get something, and they would just walk up to the front of the line and get waited on. If someone said something to them they just smiled.

Our first day there we sat on the beach for an hour and left our towels and things on our chairs to go get a snack and beers. Not 10 minutes went by and we came back to our chairs, but our things were moved to a pile in the sand a few feet away and there were a man and a woman in our chairs! I politely asked for our chairs back, making a joke out of it even though I was extremely mad, and they giggled to eachother and said something in Italian. And didnt move. They pointed to another set of chairs. How nice of them!!!!!!!

Things like that happened our entire stay.

If I wanted a European vacation, I would have gone to Europe.

As I went to turn on the light next to the bed, I was LITERALLY ELECTROCUTED. Not shocked. ELECTROCUTED. It was a sconce style lamp on the wall with the brass piece on the bottom that you turn. Needless to say we did not use the lights in our room the rest of the time, just the switch light in the bathroom.

We went to 5th (and off streets) everyday. Our hotel food and drinks sucked, so we ate and drank at a few places there. We wanted a real mexican vacation with real mexican food and drinks and atmosphere, but I found everyone to be rude- the waitstaff, the patrons, etc. Everyone scamming. You cant even look in the direction of someone without being hassled. I wanted to go into a few shops and look at a few things but didnt because they all stand in the entryways and hassle you.

We walked the beach a few times and everyone must have thought that they owned the beach because we had to move for everyone. Nobody even veered out of the way. I was hockey checked a few times a day.

I wasnt going to Mexico thinking that everyone would be American. I wasnt going to Mexico thinking that it would be catered to Americans. I wanted Mexico! I have been to other places and this trip to Playa was definately by far the worst place I have ever been.

I will never be back, and if you read this, please tell everyone who ever asks about Grand Coco Bay to never go there. EVER!!!!

webfeets · 01-20-2010

ELECTROCUTED?! Soooo...you're writing from beyond the grave?! (Sorry, couldn't help myself...)

Charcoal · 01-20-2010

Not just electrocuted, LITERALLY electrocuted...

haarmom, you sound pleasant enough. I'm sure you'll have better experiences elsewhere.

Babaloo · 01-20-2010

Sounds like your trip sucked
It happens
It's a shame you didn't experience the charm of Playa that brings so many people back
My only suggestion is to research your accommodations a bit better next time

Anna Banana · 01-20-2010

First of all, I am Italian and honestly, I don't like your comment. Apparently you had a lot of bad experiences during your stay In Playa,land I am sorry about your misfortune. Tipping is not an obligation, its something you give if you enjoyed the service ( yes, Europeans are not used to tipping everything that moves, its a cultural difference AND a wage difference - meaning that waiters in Europe have a decent wage and don't rely of tips, as in other countries). I have been a waitress at some point and believe me, the grumpy client hating where he is and looking at all other clients in hate does not make you feel like smiling to make his day a better one...

Next time you go on holiday, please pick a place where you are sure there are no smiling, welcoming, cheerful, happy Italians. It may just be too much for you!

Quote:

Originally Posted by haarmom

There were so many Europeans there that I now have a hatred for anything Italian. None of them have manners. They all think they are gods gift to the world. GCB also catered to them, with service and food choices. We tipped very well when it was deserved. I did not see a single European tip but yet they got better service.
Numerous times I was at the bar, waiting for my turn to get something, and they would just walk up to the front of the line and get waited on. If someone said something to them they just smiled.

Our first day there we sat on the beach for an hour and left our towels and things on our chairs to go get a snack and beers. Not 10 minutes went by and we came back to our chairs, but our things were moved to a pile in the sand a few feet away and there were a man and a woman in our chairs! I politely asked for our chairs back, making a joke out of it even though I was extremely mad, and they giggled to eachother and said something in Italian. And didnt move. They pointed to another set of chairs. How nice of them!!!!!!!

Things like that happened our entire stay.

If I wanted a European vacation, I would have gone to Europe.

As I went to turn on the light next to the bed, I was LITERALLY ELECTROCUTED. Not shocked. ELECTROCUTED. It was a sconce style lamp on the wall with the brass piece on the bottom that you turn. Needless to say we did not use the lights in our room the rest of the time, just the switch light in the bathroom.

We went to 5th (and off streets) everyday. Our hotel food and drinks sucked, so we ate and drank at a few places there. We wanted a real mexican vacation with real mexican food and drinks and atmosphere, but I found everyone to be rude- the waitstaff, the patrons, etc. Everyone scamming. You cant even look in the direction of someone without being hassled. I wanted to go into a few shops and look at a few things but didnt because they all stand in the entryways and hassle you.

We walked the beach a few times and everyone must have thought that they owned the beach because we had to move for everyone. Nobody even veered out of the way. I was hockey checked a few times a day.

I wasnt going to Mexico thinking that everyone would be American. I wasnt going to Mexico thinking that it would be catered to Americans. I wanted Mexico! I have been to other places and this trip to Playa was definately by far the worst place I have ever been.

I will never be back, and if you read this, please tell everyone who ever asks about Grand Coco Bay to never go there. EVER!!!!

Charcoal · 01-20-2010

"I like smiling. Smiling is my favorite!"

**Heather** · 01-20-2010

Oh my, what a miserable time you had. I don't blame you for not wanting to come back. Good luck anywhere else you go, I hope you don't run into any terrible Europeans.

Now I'm heading over to a PdC website in Italian to see what the Italians staying in GCB had to say about this unhappy American they saw at every step, putting a damper on their pleasant trip.

Doggiemom · 01-20-2010

Transportation breaking down.....$hit happens sometimes

. It sounds like you REALLY hated your choice of hotel, honestly I have heard it is not one of the best AI's around.

As for your experience IN Playa.....I find it very harsh and have NEVER experienced anything like that in my many many many trips there.....

Sometimes ya just gotta roll with it and try and make the best of a bad experience!

Bryzee · 01-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Sounds like your trip sucked
It happens
It's a shame you didn't experience the charm of Playa that brings so many people back
My only suggestion is to research your accommodations a bit better next time

agree with above comments...........and to add:
.....some people are more aggressive than others, no matter what country they come from!

haarmom · 01-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Anna Tortuga

First of all, I am Italian and honestly, I don't like your comment. Apparently you had a lot of bad experiences during your stay In Playa,land I am sorry about your misfortune. Tipping is not an obligation, its something you give if you enjoyed the service ( yes, Europeans are not used to tipping everything that moves, its a cultural difference AND a wage difference - meaning that waiters in Europe have a decent wage and don't rely of tips, as in other countries). I have been a waitress at some point and believe me, the grumpy client hating where he is and looking at all other clients in hate does not make you feel like smiling to make his day a better one...

Next time you go on holiday, please pick a place where you are sure there are no smiling, welcoming, cheerful, happy Italians. It may just be too much for you!

They were not smiling, welcoming, cheerful, happy Italians to us. They were laughing in our faces.
I was not a grumpy client- I had a hopeful and positive outlook every day there, hoping that it would get better. I was smiling most of the time, even to rude people.
I didnt get mad about the trip until after I was home...

**Heather** · 01-20-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babaloo

Sounds like your trip sucked
It happens
It's a shame you didn't experience the charm of Playa that brings so many people back
My only suggestion is to research your accommodations a bit better next time

Babaloo, sweeter than me.

Anna Banana · 01-20-2010

Fine. The whole world of Italians in Playa spent their vacation trying to make your life impossible. Everything and everyplace was a scam. The waiters, the other guests, the vendors, the bees....everything!
Or was it you that just couldn't relax and leave behind the transfer small incident?
You don't need to write about something you hate, it just shows on your face ( maybe thats why these cruel, Italian people were looking at you)

Quote:

Originally Posted by haarmom

They were not smiling, welcoming, cheerful, happy Italians to us. They were laughing in our faces.
I was not a grumpy client- I had a hopeful and positive outlook every day there, hoping that it would get better. I was smiling most of the time, even to rude people.
I didnt get mad about the trip until after I was home...

maestranba · 01-20-2010

Since you're posting on this forum I assume you did some research before your trip. We've stayed at GCB and I agree, the food sucks. But we got such a good deal that we just ate breakfast and had lunch at the snack bar there and went out for dinner every night. The beer was fine, as well as the Don Julio tequila at the lobby bar. I didn't drink the mixed drinks because they always seem watered down at the AIs. We didn't care for the beach there either due to lots of rocks in the sand (I must have stubbed my toes a hundred times while in the water), the boats moored out front, and the jet skis constantly whizzing in and out of there. There were some Italians there, but my husband is Italian and speaks it fluently. If someone was rude and they spoke Italian, he was rude right back to them! We met some very nice, friendly Italians while we were there and our son played with their kids even though they couldn't understand each other. Your vacation is what you make of it. Sorry you didn't enjoy yourselves, but I don't think you should judge Playa del Carmen based on your bus breaking down and a hotel you didn't like with guests you didn't like. We don't stay in AIs anymore for that sole reason. If you stay in a regular hotel or rent a condo you don't feel like you HAVE to stay there because it's all-inclusive. You can visit any beach you want and eat for a lot less than you paid for an AI. Just my dos pesos...

jrudq · 01-20-2010

I am sorry you had such a bad time. You are obviously on a board with people who love Playa and are very passionate about it...

I have been on trips where mishaps happen, things break down and there are rude people (of many different nationalities; often American) but you really hit the jackpot! I tend to work hard at seeing the glass half full in those circumstances, as I treasure my vacation time and dollar and want to get the very best of it. I hope there was something you enjoyed.

Better luck next time.

J
Illusion Boutique

2/18

haarmom · 01-20-2010

Wow. I didn't think everyone would be so hurt that I didn't like their vacation town.
Maybe it was all of you that were rude on the beach.
From what you are all saying, apparently in Playa you have to let everything not bother you and just let people do whatever and its ok.
WTF?

01-20-2010	#1 (permalink)
haarmom lost on fifth Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 13	I hate Playa del Carmen I hated Playa. Just got back and not even a full day in I wanted to go home. What we wanted was the typical beach vacation- to lay on the beach with tropical drinks and beers and check out the local fare. To start off, our transfer (through Best Day) took over 3 hours. Halfway to Playa the transmission completely went out in the van, so we sat on the side of the highway with our bags til a new van came to get us. We stayed at Grand Coco Bay. We had never been to Playa so we didnt know anything about it. We based everything off the location and the reviews of the beach. The websites say its a 3.5 star. I would give it a 2, and that is being very very generous. If there was no beach it would be a half star. The drinks at the hotel were horrendous. I ordered every single drink I could think of during our stay and never drank more than a sip. And I am not picky. It all tasted the same, like they used a filler or something. Yuck. There were so many Europeans there that I now have a hatred for anything Italian. None of them have manners. They all think they are gods gift to the world. GCB also catered to them, with service and food choices. We tipped very well when it was deserved. I did not see a single European tip but yet they got better service. Numerous times I was at the bar, waiting for my turn to get something, and they would just walk up to the front of the line and get waited on. If someone said something to them they just smiled. Our first day there we sat on the beach for an hour and left our towels and things on our chairs to go get a snack and beers. Not 10 minutes went by and we came back to our chairs, but our things were moved to a pile in the sand a few feet away and there were a man and a woman in our chairs! I politely asked for our chairs back, making a joke out of it even though I was extremely mad, and they giggled to eachother and said something in Italian. And didnt move. They pointed to another set of chairs. How nice of them!!!!!!! Things like that happened our entire stay. If I wanted a European vacation, I would have gone to Europe. As I went to turn on the light next to the bed, I was LITERALLY ELECTROCUTED. Not shocked. ELECTROCUTED. It was a sconce style lamp on the wall with the brass piece on the bottom that you turn. Needless to say we did not use the lights in our room the rest of the time, just the switch light in the bathroom. We went to 5th (and off streets) everyday. Our hotel food and drinks sucked, so we ate and drank at a few places there. We wanted a real mexican vacation with real mexican food and drinks and atmosphere, but I found everyone to be rude- the waitstaff, the patrons, etc. Everyone scamming. You cant even look in the direction of someone without being hassled. I wanted to go into a few shops and look at a few things but didnt because they all stand in the entryways and hassle you. We walked the beach a few times and everyone must have thought that they owned the beach because we had to move for everyone. Nobody even veered out of the way. I was hockey checked a few times a day. I wasnt going to Mexico thinking that everyone would be American. I wasnt going to Mexico thinking that it would be catered to Americans. I wanted Mexico! I have been to other places and this trip to Playa was definately by far the worst place I have ever been. I will never be back, and if you read this, please tell everyone who ever asks about Grand Coco Bay to never go there. EVER!!!! Last edited by haarmom; 01-20-2010 at 11:29 AM.. Reason: attacked for having a bad time

01-20-2010	#8 (permalink)
Doggiemom añejo Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Humble, Texas Posts: 9,364	Transportation breaking down.....$hit happens sometimes. It sounds like you REALLY hated your choice of hotel, honestly I have heard it is not one of the best AI's around. As for your experience IN Playa.....I find it very harsh and have NEVER experienced anything like that in my many many many trips there..... Sometimes ya just gotta roll with it and try and make the best of a bad experience!

01-20-2010	#2 (permalink)
webfeets way into it Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hillsboro, OR Posts: 175	ELECTROCUTED?! Soooo...you're writing from beyond the grave?! (Sorry, couldn't help myself...)

01-20-2010	#3 (permalink)
Charcoal very sparkly Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 35	Not just electrocuted, LITERALLY electrocuted... haarmom, you sound pleasant enough. I'm sure you'll have better experiences elsewhere.

01-20-2010	#4 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 22,549	Sounds like your trip sucked It happens It's a shame you didn't experience the charm of Playa that brings so many people back My only suggestion is to research your accommodations a bit better next time

01-20-2010	#6 (permalink)
Charcoal very sparkly Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 35	"I like smiling. Smiling is my favorite!"

01-20-2010	#7 (permalink)
Heather employee of the month Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 14,600	Oh my, what a miserable time you had. I don't blame you for not wanting to come back. Good luck anywhere else you go, I hope you don't run into any terrible Europeans. Now I'm heading over to a PdC website in Italian to see what the Italians staying in GCB had to say about this unhappy American they saw at every step, putting a damper on their pleasant trip.

01-20-2010	#13 (permalink)
maestranba añejo Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,102	Since you're posting on this forum I assume you did some research before your trip. We've stayed at GCB and I agree, the food sucks. But we got such a good deal that we just ate breakfast and had lunch at the snack bar there and went out for dinner every night. The beer was fine, as well as the Don Julio tequila at the lobby bar. I didn't drink the mixed drinks because they always seem watered down at the AIs. We didn't care for the beach there either due to lots of rocks in the sand (I must have stubbed my toes a hundred times while in the water), the boats moored out front, and the jet skis constantly whizzing in and out of there. There were some Italians there, but my husband is Italian and speaks it fluently. If someone was rude and they spoke Italian, he was rude right back to them! We met some very nice, friendly Italians while we were there and our son played with their kids even though they couldn't understand each other. Your vacation is what you make of it. Sorry you didn't enjoy yourselves, but I don't think you should judge Playa del Carmen based on your bus breaking down and a hotel you didn't like with guests you didn't like. We don't stay in AIs anymore for that sole reason. If you stay in a regular hotel or rent a condo you don't feel like you HAVE to stay there because it's all-inclusive. You can visit any beach you want and eat for a lot less than you paid for an AI. Just my dos pesos...

01-20-2010	#14 (permalink)
jrudq way into it Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 228	I am sorry you had such a bad time. You are obviously on a board with people who love Playa and are very passionate about it... I have been on trips where mishaps happen, things break down and there are rude people (of many different nationalities; often American) but you really hit the jackpot! I tend to work hard at seeing the glass half full in those circumstances, as I treasure my vacation time and dollar and want to get the very best of it. I hope there was something you enjoyed. Better luck next time. J Illusion Boutique 2/18

01-20-2010	#15 (permalink)
haarmom lost on fifth Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 13	Wow. I didn't think everyone would be so hurt that I didn't like their vacation town. Maybe it was all of you that were rude on the beach. From what you are all saying, apparently in Playa you have to let everything not bother you and just let people do whatever and its ok. WTF?

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