Some Guidance Pls...looking for non-AI luxury hotel

[TxH]

hey guys and gals. I am trying to plan a last-munite trip for early Feb, and trying to find the best place to stay in the PDC area given our needs/wants. I figure the collective knowledge of this board can direct me the right way!

I am not a big fan of the whole AI concept, and always want to be able to tour around the town and see the area, not just shuffle off to one more buffet. Earlier this year I was in Coz and stayed in town in a condo and had a great time exploring the towns neighborhoods.

For this trip I am taking the wife, so we need to stay somewhere considerably nicer than I require, and it must be on the beach. What we would really like is something of a "boutique" style hotel, that is fairly luxurious, with great service, and directly on the beach. Something fairly hip (think the Delano in South Beach), would be a plus, but not mandatory. We are fairly open to price (within reason....).

The Royal Hideaway looks very interesting (for an AI), but at over $700/nite, its a bit pricey when we know we will end up eating most dinners and drinking in town anyway, not taking full advantage of the "free" food and drink (a whole lot different than passing on the "free" stuff at $250/nite).

So bottom line is:

-Non-AI
-Upscale / luxury accomodations
-excellent service
-Directly on beach
-on a "good" beach (up to typical PDC standards)
-hopefully beach drink service or at least easy access to hotel bar from beach
-within a 15 min cab ride from the town of PDC
-Under $500/nite (doesn't have to be a huge suite, just very nice room)

So, is there such a thing?? So much of what I can find online is AI-related, I am hoping there are some smaller gems that don't get the press of the bigger resorts that people can direct me too.

Thanks in advance. cant wait till feb

[andy766]

Shangri-La Caribe or Las Palapas right in the middle of north beach. It's a 5 minute walk from town. If you want service stay at the Playa Maya in town.

[barbj050]

maroma....or cant think of the name but it is something like paraiso de bonita....very upscale....

[denisea]

Ikal del Mar in Xcalacoco, located approximately 10 minutes North of Playa del Carmen, was rated as one of the 52 best new hotels in the world by Conde Naste Traveler May 2002. Very, very expensive for the Riviera Maya.

[BetsyNY]

Isn't Hotel Deseo by the same people who did the Delano in South Beach? Check under "Hotels" on this site. Mosquito Blue looks pretty hip too.

[spolich]

try the Hacienda Vista Real - Not on the beach, but they have Beach club arrangement with the Reef Club, and it is top-notch luxurious - at half the price of a baech place..
go to
vistareal.com.mx

Regards,

Spolich

[Becky]

Hotel Deseo and Mosquito Blue will meet your "hip" requirements. However, I think Hotel Playa Maya better meets all your other requirements... great service and directly on the beach. If you search this forum, you'll find it highly recommended.

Becky

[barbj050]

delano is not related to the deseo but the deseo is related to the habitat hotel in mexico city.....

[JEZ]

Hi!
Upper scale rooms at the ****** are quite good and this is on the beach in the center of PDC. Consider the Faro, also v nice and again on the sand shore. Mosquito Blue is a chic boutique hotel, though not on the beach but highly reccomended. Other emails suggested Maroma hotel, but prices start at approx 700 UD and up and up. You can pay 2300 per night for the best suites though it definately will provide the ultimate in discreet style. Julia Roberts, Prime minister Blair etc have all stayed here need I say more and it is owned by Orient Express Hotels!

Shangri La is nice too!

Hope you find what you need,
JEZ Skipper Fat Cat

[TxH]

after looking at all the suggestions, it seems to me that El Faro fits us best given what we are looking for. Very reasonable pricing, too, imho.

Hopefully they will have availability the days we want to go.

thanks again to everyone one who gave their input, lots of very good ideas...........I will be back soliciting restaurant and beach bar recommendations later


cheers

TxH

[spolich]

:lol: Senoir Frogs...need I say more? 8)

[Koop]

Post subject: Some Guidance Pls...looking for NON-AI luxury hotel
This is same note as TxH wrote in this forum(1/21) but for April, with 2 preteens that want a POOL and want to spend less than $160( I know it's there)
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Holá. I am trying to plan a trip for early April, and trying to find the best place to stay in the PDC area given our needs/wants. I figure the collective knowledge of this board can direct me the right way!

I am not a fan of the whole AI concept!!
For this trip I am taking my wife and 2 preteens who want a pool(probably biger tha MAYA, and it must be on the beach. What we would really like is something of a "boutique" style hotel, that is fairly luxurious, with great service, and directly on the beach.
So bottom line is:

-Non-AI
-Upscale / luxury accomodations
-good service
-Directly on beach
-on a really nice beach (up to typical PDC standards)
-hopefully beach drink service or at least easy access to hotel bar from beach
-within a 5 min van/shuttle ride from the town of PDC
-Under $160/nite (doesn't have to be a huge suite, just nice room ocean view)
-activities close enough for kids to partake
So, is there such a thing?? So much of what I can find online is AI-related, I am hoping there are some smaller gems that don't get the press of the bigger resorts that people can direct me too.
Which condo is nicer?(Arch, Xaman-ha or Marina?-may resort to that...
Thanks in advance.
I spent lots of time in PDC 25 years ago!!!

¡Muchas gracías!

[ryberg]

Responding to your comments on the other thread you started here!

Steve