Not a trip report- ups/many-downs 2

Softy57 · 02-14-2010

I and my son's significant other[ Penny] were in Playa Feb. 3rd thru 10th. I have no time for a long winded trip report, & don't want to bore,LOL.
I want to hit several "highs", & only two lows.
As usual, travel to Playa/Cancun was fraught with delays, it is winter,snow everywhere! De-iceing the plane....we arrived about 3 hours late. Thanks to our Playa.info transport our guy was still there holding a sign with my name! How cool is that? He stopped at a convenience store pronto so we could get water, we were parched.
For those in the know, my man Stogey just started a new job, and could not get away. Maybe next year. Meantime, I needed a break!
The 1st and largest low was my booking Hacienda Maria Bonita, based on pretty good reviews and me seeing it at night in 2005. A horror. I had a room as far away from the new night-club as possible,and still everything vibrates to the bass! Way more importantly, I have COPD and asthma from years of smoking[my bad!!] The room reeked of mold and mildew. I used my fast acting inhalent to the max to get through the night. Penny has bronchitus and coughed all night. We slept very little, after leaving Boston at 6 A.M. up at 1:00 A.M. Wed. We were out at Java Joe's about 6 A.M. Thurs. so as to breath. There were no hair dryers or lock-boxes as advertised on line.The pool area smelled of sewerage. Pillows were as hard as footballs and shaped like them too!
1st thing thurs, I went to no. end where I have stayed before, Quinto Sol had room, booked it and so glad as was very nice,big room,only hard bed,& they are hard everywhere. Even at Viva Azteca Wyndham AI where we stayed in 2004. Clean,great service,etc.
I had appointment to meet with manager of HMB as they insisted on charging me for the whole seven nights. We stayed one nt. and I offered a cancellation fee,but the manager who never did meet me face to face.. stated that because I did not ask for a room change ,I could not get a refund. I said I would dispute with my credit card & have done. Upshot is the booking agreement says I owe 73 $ if cancelling less than 3 days before and I owe the 1 night we stayed. 146$ and 360$ is already off my credit card. Crooked so beware!!

Softy57 · 02-14-2010

A real high point was going to a bank trying to get a "money -gram" from my son. They didn't have them but a lovely lady said that she was sure Wal-Mart did. As we left the bank a nice gentleman said that "Mega" definately had $$ grams. Just then "lovely lady" came out of bank & nice guy was her man & she loaded us into her SUV to take us to Wal-Mart.I soooo wish I got their names,but they know who they are! I mentioned that I had a map, and she said "a map-chick map?" I said, of course! She said she did a lot of research for Perry and wife and that the maps try to stay very currant. I agreed,restaurants change names,etc,but the cenotes, and m,any features remain helpful. Such a small world. Many thanks to "lovely lady, her man & the wet dog smell SUV" They are awesome.
Another high...Cafe24/Cafezee...5th Ave. & calle 20. Telephono,fax,C.D.'s burned, computers,very cheap prices and the most helpful young people I've met for a long time[except my grand-son],LOL]The young folks here led me through many phone connections,tried to solve my internet problems[of my own making] Were unfailingly pleasant and kind. If they lived in Massachusetts I would want to hire them all!
Good food and libations.
La Hora Feliz- good drinks
Texas Burger Co. Constityentes & 20thcalle,great grilled Chix sandwich. Awesome ribs. Great burgers. Very good Mojitos.
Babe's Noodle Bar 5th between 28th & 30th calle. Best meal I had in Playa. Pork, spinach,mushrooms over Mash. To die for. Crab roll appetizer and teryaki chix good too.
Fridas, formerly Palapa Hemingway, was a really good meal, good waitstaff, but mis-represented.I asked if they accepted credit cards, the very young man out front said "yes" but he would check for sure. He came back and extended his arm to escort us to a table. We enjoyed a good meal but then the "terminal" was giving trouble" according to the manager. He could not or would not look me in the eye! Insisted I pay cash,which I did,but will never go there again. Sleaze.
More about good food tomorrow!

Babaloo · 02-14-2010

Softy, you have two threads on the same trip report

caramba · 02-15-2010

Maybe a mod could merge them for her?

Nice to see you back on the forum, Gail- keep it coming! Sorry you had a bad experience with the first hotel.

Softy57 · 02-15-2010

It's been so long since I had any time to hang here and I forget how to do things. Also I just turned 65 last week and the old brain cells are popping off at an alarming rate. Not to mention all those I burned in the name of fun!

**Heather** · 02-15-2010

Softy, the lady who helped you in the bank, was it Claudia? Very tall with long brown hair? She used to do a lot of research for Mapchick and she's an absolute angel!

Softy57 · 02-15-2010

Starbucks was right across from the Quinto so I made a coffee run every A.M. but like D'unkin better. We had good breakfasts at Java Joe's, Blue Parrot and Baretto, once each, but the best by far was Vagabunda,where we became regulars.
We didn't do a lot as this was a vacay to relax, but we enjoyed Xcaret for most of a day,though we got rained out, and visited Tunkun Chi[sp?] to see cenotes and spen an hour in the undergroung river,which was awesome. Seeing active stalactites and stalagmites was interesting. Also spent a day on my favorite beace,Xpu Ha,at La Playa Beach Club. Nice lunch & drinks.
Only other low was the lunch at Xcaret. It was the worst food we had anywhere in Playa. Still , Playa gets into your heart and soul and you crave the sun and relaxed ambience. Casual dress,friendly people. Whhats not to like? Except hard beds!!

Hope to return again next year with Stogey so he can get some diving in.

Hey Caramba,stop by for a mojito with Brian sometime....I usually have fresh mint ready.

Softy57 · 02-15-2010

It could have been. She was tall, atractive, and long hair,light brownish I think and curly. Lovely people and I was P.O.'d I didn't get names. I'm a ditz[sometimes].

**Heather** · 02-15-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Softy57

It could have been. She was tall, atractive, and long hair,light brownish I think and curly. Lovely people and I was P.O.'d I didn't get names. I'm a ditz[sometimes].

Sounds like Claudia. Her "guy" is also very tall. Claudia drives an SUV and has a dog, and is always "rescuing" people in need, so it sure sounds like her.

STOGEY · 02-16-2010

I do think it was Claudia from your description. After proof-reading my post from last night I think my spelling is as bad as Stogeys, LOL. I need to stop posting after being up for 17hours. I'm logged in as Stogey too,as his computer is faster and I have a lot to do! Thanks for solving the mystery for me. Softy

Rissask · 02-16-2010

Nice to see you posting, Gail.

We really like Vagabunda too!

caramba · 02-16-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Softy57

Starbucks was right across from the Quinto so I made a coffee run every A.M. but like D'unkin better. We had good breakfasts at Java Joe's, Blue Parrot and Baretto, once each, but the best by far was Vagabunda,where we became regulars.
We didn't do a lot as this was a vacay to relax, but we enjoyed Xcaret for most of a day,though we got rained out, and visited Tunkun Chi[sp?] to see cenotes and spen an hour in the undergroung river,which was awesome. Seeing active stalactites and stalagmites was interesting. Also spent a day on my favorite beace,Xpu Ha,at La Playa Beach Club. Nice lunch & drinks.
Only other low was the lunch at Xcaret. It was the worst food we had anywhere in Playa. Still , Playa gets into your heart and soul and you crave the sun and relaxed ambience. Casual dress,friendly people. Whhats not to like? Except hard beds!!

Hope to return again next year with Stogey so he can get some diving in.

Hey Caramba,stop by for a mojito with Brian sometime....I usually have fresh mint ready.

We will do our best to stop by when the weather warms up! It would be great to see you.

stingray64 · 02-20-2010

Hi Softy! I see on Stogey's name the you are from Salisbury, Mass! Wow! I love that area. Spent a few summers on the beach in early 2000. Hoping to get back this year. Still have a few friends down there. Heard about the new complex on the beach..looking forward to seeing it.

STOGEY · 02-20-2010

Yes, we have a really nice beach here in the summer. By about July 15th the water gets warm enough for me to get in it! Tourists see me swimming in Sept & think I'm crazy,but that is when the water is it's warmest. The new venue at the Beach is Tupelo Concert Hall, with live music,blues,jazz,comedy, & some well known names to come,I guess. In the same building is a new upscale restaurant "Seaglass", pricey but worth it so I hear. Across the street where the "Sands Club" used to be is another new eatery, Capri Seaside Italian Grill & Bar. I heard this is good also but haven't tried it. Hope you get a chance to come down this summer and spend some tourist dollars!!! We need it,LOL. Feel free to P.M. me ifyou are coming so we can get together for a libation. Always up to meet new "playa peeps".: softy

stingray64 · 02-21-2010

will let ypu know when softy..new to the forum, but always up to meeting new people!!

02-14-2010	#1 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,729	Not a trip report- ups/many-downs 2 I and my son's significant other[ Penny] were in Playa Feb. 3rd thru 10th. I have no time for a long winded trip report, & don't want to bore,LOL. I want to hit several "highs", & only two lows. As usual, travel to Playa/Cancun was fraught with delays, it is winter,snow everywhere! De-iceing the plane....we arrived about 3 hours late. Thanks to our Playa.info transport our guy was still there holding a sign with my name! How cool is that? He stopped at a convenience store pronto so we could get water, we were parched. For those in the know, my man Stogey just started a new job, and could not get away. Maybe next year. Meantime, I needed a break! The 1st and largest low was my booking Hacienda Maria Bonita, based on pretty good reviews and me seeing it at night in 2005. A horror. I had a room as far away from the new night-club as possible,and still everything vibrates to the bass! Way more importantly, I have COPD and asthma from years of smoking[my bad!!] The room reeked of mold and mildew. I used my fast acting inhalent to the max to get through the night. Penny has bronchitus and coughed all night. We slept very little, after leaving Boston at 6 A.M. up at 1:00 A.M. Wed. We were out at Java Joe's about 6 A.M. Thurs. so as to breath. There were no hair dryers or lock-boxes as advertised on line.The pool area smelled of sewerage. Pillows were as hard as footballs and shaped like them too! 1st thing thurs, I went to no. end where I have stayed before, Quinto Sol had room, booked it and so glad as was very nice,big room,only hard bed,& they are hard everywhere. Even at Viva Azteca Wyndham AI where we stayed in 2004. Clean,great service,etc. I had appointment to meet with manager of HMB as they insisted on charging me for the whole seven nights. We stayed one nt. and I offered a cancellation fee,but the manager who never did meet me face to face.. stated that because I did not ask for a room change ,I could not get a refund. I said I would dispute with my credit card & have done. Upshot is the booking agreement says I owe 73 $ if cancelling less than 3 days before and I owe the 1 night we stayed. 146$ and 360$ is already off my credit card. Crooked so beware!! __________________ If you need a shoulder to cry on...pull off to the side of the road-" Maxine". Moderated Naughty Chica

02-14-2010	#2 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,729	Not a trip report- ups/many-downs 2 A real high point was going to a bank trying to get a "money -gram" from my son. They didn't have them but a lovely lady said that she was sure Wal-Mart did. As we left the bank a nice gentleman said that "Mega" definately had $$ grams. Just then "lovely lady" came out of bank & nice guy was her man & she loaded us into her SUV to take us to Wal-Mart.I soooo wish I got their names,but they know who they are! I mentioned that I had a map, and she said "a map-chick map?" I said, of course! She said she did a lot of research for Perry and wife and that the maps try to stay very currant. I agreed,restaurants change names,etc,but the cenotes, and m,any features remain helpful. Such a small world. Many thanks to "lovely lady, her man & the wet dog smell SUV" They are awesome. Another high...Cafe24/Cafezee...5th Ave. & calle 20. Telephono,fax,C.D.'s burned, computers,very cheap prices and the most helpful young people I've met for a long time[except my grand-son],LOL]The young folks here led me through many phone connections,tried to solve my internet problems[of my own making] Were unfailingly pleasant and kind. If they lived in Massachusetts I would want to hire them all! Good food and libations. La Hora Feliz- good drinks Texas Burger Co. Constityentes & 20thcalle,great grilled Chix sandwich. Awesome ribs. Great burgers. Very good Mojitos. Babe's Noodle Bar 5th between 28th & 30th calle. Best meal I had in Playa. Pork, spinach,mushrooms over Mash. To die for. Crab roll appetizer and teryaki chix good too. Fridas, formerly Palapa Hemingway, was a really good meal, good waitstaff, but mis-represented.I asked if they accepted credit cards, the very young man out front said "yes" but he would check for sure. He came back and extended his arm to escort us to a table. We enjoyed a good meal but then the "terminal" was giving trouble" according to the manager. He could not or would not look me in the eye! Insisted I pay cash,which I did,but will never go there again. Sleaze. More about good food tomorrow!

02-15-2010	#5 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,729	sorry baba It's been so long since I had any time to hang here and I forget how to do things. Also I just turned 65 last week and the old brain cells are popping off at an alarming rate. Not to mention all those I burned in the name of fun!

02-15-2010	#7 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,729	to continue Starbucks was right across from the Quinto so I made a coffee run every A.M. but like D'unkin better. We had good breakfasts at Java Joe's, Blue Parrot and Baretto, once each, but the best by far was Vagabunda,where we became regulars. We didn't do a lot as this was a vacay to relax, but we enjoyed Xcaret for most of a day,though we got rained out, and visited Tunkun Chi[sp?] to see cenotes and spen an hour in the undergroung river,which was awesome. Seeing active stalactites and stalagmites was interesting. Also spent a day on my favorite beace,Xpu Ha,at La Playa Beach Club. Nice lunch & drinks. Only other low was the lunch at Xcaret. It was the worst food we had anywhere in Playa. Still , Playa gets into your heart and soul and you crave the sun and relaxed ambience. Casual dress,friendly people. Whhats not to like? Except hard beds!! Hope to return again next year with Stogey so he can get some diving in. Hey Caramba,stop by for a mojito with Brian sometime....I usually have fresh mint ready.

02-15-2010	#8 (permalink)
Softy57 añejo Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Massachusetts,U.S.A. Posts: 1,729	Heather It could have been. She was tall, atractive, and long hair,light brownish I think and curly. Lovely people and I was P.O.'d I didn't get names. I'm a ditz[sometimes].

02-14-2010	#3 (permalink)
Babaloo añejo Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 22,482	Softy, you have two threads on the same trip report

02-15-2010	#4 (permalink)
caramba añejo Join Date: May 2002 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 6,644	Maybe a mod could merge them for her? Nice to see you back on the forum, Gail- keep it coming! Sorry you had a bad experience with the first hotel.

02-15-2010	#6 (permalink)
Heather employee of the month Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Playa del Carmen Posts: 14,591	Softy, the lady who helped you in the bank, was it Claudia? Very tall with long brown hair? She used to do a lot of research for Mapchick and she's an absolute angel!

02-16-2010	#10 (permalink)
STOGEY Allah Akhbar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: salisbury, mass. Posts: 16,420	Agreed I do think it was Claudia from your description. After proof-reading my post from last night I think my spelling is as bad as Stogeys, LOL. I need to stop posting after being up for 17hours. I'm logged in as Stogey too,as his computer is faster and I have a lot to do! Thanks for solving the mystery for me. Softy

02-16-2010	#11 (permalink)
Rissask Canada Dry Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 49,569	Nice to see you posting, Gail. We really like Vagabunda too!

02-20-2010	#13 (permalink)
stingray64 very sparkly Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 36	Hi Softy! I see on Stogey's name the you are from Salisbury, Mass! Wow! I love that area. Spent a few summers on the beach in early 2000. Hoping to get back this year. Still have a few friends down there. Heard about the new complex on the beach..looking forward to seeing it.

02-20-2010	#14 (permalink)
STOGEY Allah Akhbar Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: salisbury, mass. Posts: 16,420	Salisbury Beach Yes, we have a really nice beach here in the summer. By about July 15th the water gets warm enough for me to get in it! Tourists see me swimming in Sept & think I'm crazy,but that is when the water is it's warmest. The new venue at the Beach is Tupelo Concert Hall, with live music,blues,jazz,comedy, & some well known names to come,I guess. In the same building is a new upscale restaurant "Seaglass", pricey but worth it so I hear. Across the street where the "Sands Club" used to be is another new eatery, Capri Seaside Italian Grill & Bar. I heard this is good also but haven't tried it. Hope you get a chance to come down this summer and spend some tourist dollars!!! We need it,LOL. Feel free to P.M. me ifyou are coming so we can get together for a libation. Always up to meet new "playa peeps".: softy

02-21-2010	#15 (permalink)
stingray64 very sparkly Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada Posts: 36	will let ypu know when softy..new to the forum, but always up to meeting new people!!

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