Mahekal-about to book but scared...

[NurseLovesVaca]

I have had the Mahekal on my my radar for the last year. It just looks so cute and quaint. I am really close to biting the bullet and booking for May 2012. ($2200 total for one week). However, I can also get an all inclusive for the same price as the Mahekal. I have only ever done AI, and I'm scared we are going to run out of money for our 3rd meal and drinks! Can anybody who has been there reaffirm my decision? How much do you think we will be spending on lunch or dinner for a week for 2 people? Ahhhh so torn...

[roni]

Originally Posted by NurseLovesVaca

I have had the Mahekal on my my radar for the last year. It just looks so cute and quaint. I am really close to biting the bullet and booking for May 2012. ($2200 total for one week). However, I can also get an all inclusive for the same price as the Mahekal. I have only ever done AI, and I'm scared we are going to run out of money for our 3rd meal and drinks! Can anybody who has been there reaffirm my decision? How much do you think we will be spending on lunch or dinner for a week for 2 people? Ahhhh so torn...

Book somewhere for $700-$1000 a week and you will have plenty of money for breakfast, lunch, supper and drinks

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by NurseLovesVaca

I have had the Mahekal on my my radar for the last year. It just looks so cute and quaint. I am really close to biting the bullet and booking for May 2012. ($2200 total for one week). However, I can also get an all inclusive for the same price as the Mahekal. I have only ever done AI, and I'm scared we are going to run out of money for our 3rd meal and drinks! Can anybody who has been there reaffirm my decision? How much do you think we will be spending on lunch or dinner for a week for 2 people? Ahhhh so torn...

So with Mahekal you get breakfast and one other meal daily....and no drinks at all-is that right? Can you buy drinks to have on the beach - is there a fridge in the room? That will help offset costs too.


We spend about 1000 pesos per day on food and drinks and cab fare, rough budget, when we stay AI. So maybe 500 pesos or so daily or one meal and drinks. Rough estimate. That would be an average for the week, some cheap meals, some higher end places.

[mexipat]

Originally Posted by Rissask

So with Mahekal you get breakfast and one other meal daily....and no drinks at all-is that right? Can you buy drinks to have on the beach - is there a fridge in the room? That will help offset costs too.


We spend about 1000 pesos per day on food and drinks and cab fare, rough budget, when we stay AI. So maybe 500 pesos or so daily or one meal and drinks. Rough estimate. That would be an average for the week, some cheap meals, some higher end places.

I must be missing something here. Why would you spend 1000 pesos for food etc at an AI? That sounds like a reasonable budget for food etc if you just rent a condo.

[krazzy]

Originally Posted by mexipat

I must be missing something here. Why would you spend 1000 pesos for food etc at an AI? That sounds like a reasonable budget for food etc if you just rent a condo.

I agree , we go non AI and AI frequently , a rough budget for two non AI would be 100 to 150 dollars a day with drinks etc, you do not have to eat alacarte everyday , there are cheaper places in playa to eat check out the
Changarros y más. section in this forum for some ideas and excellent places to eat

[roni]

Different folks vacation differently

[NurseLovesVaca]

No fridge, thus we'd be buying all our drinks and one meal per day. Never been actually into PDC before (always done AI) so was not sure how much a meal out was. Thanks!

[snappysammy]

mahekal is a really nice place to stay

you can get a little cooler and some ice and save some coin
and there are lots of good options for meals that are not too pricey

[Emosh73]

Originally Posted by snappysammy

mahekal is a really nice place to stay

you can get a little cooler and some ice and save some coin
and there are lots of good options for meals that are not too pricey

Does anyone know where in PDC sells portable collapsible coolers?

[Sue]

Originally Posted by Emosh73

Does anyone know where in PDC sells portable collapsible coolers?

Sam's Club usually has them. Maybe Walmart, too.

[queencityfan]

We loved staying at Mahekal! Great breakfast everyday and good lunches available.

Why not get a hard sided cooler ( keeps ice longer) that will fit in the overhead and use it as your carry-on, that's what we do and it works great.

If you do not want to do that almost every store in Playa sells the styrofoam coolers cheap. Make one trip to Mega, stock up on beer and fill your cooler as needed. They do sell small bags of ice at the resort but you can also just walk up to the corner store at 38th and 5th and buy your own.

The beach is so nice there and they do not rent out their chairs to anyone so you can always get a seat.

[Rissask]

Originally Posted by mexipat

I must be missing something here. Why would you spend 1000 pesos for food etc at an AI? That sounds like a reasonable budget for food etc if you just rent a condo.

No, I was missing something. The word 'non'....that figure of 1000 pesos a day is our typical budget for when we stay NON-AI.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Cocotel]

I love Mahekal; stayed there every year. As Snappy suggested, we always buy a styrofoam cooler and keep drinks in the room. We buy ice from the bar or the little store on the corner close by. Hoping to be back there next spring! You should book it!!

[Paw'boy]

Originally Posted by queencityfan

We loved staying at Mahekal! Great breakfast everyday and good lunches available.

Why not get a hard sided cooler ( keeps ice longer) that will fit in the overhead and use it as your carry-on, that's what we do and it works great.

If you do not want to do that almost every store in Playa sells the styrofoam coolers cheap. Make one trip to Mega, stock up on beer and fill your cooler as needed. They do sell small bags of ice at the resort but you can also just walk up to the corner store at 38th and 5th and buy your own.

The beach is so nice there and they do not rent out their chairs to anyone so you can always get a seat.

Try to go green and bring a collapsible w/ you, those styros are horrible for the environment. There are places in the US that won't even sell them anymore, Nantucket is one I know of.

[Cocotel]

oops, so sorry to suggest styrofoam! We will no longer use those! You could also use a soft-sided cooler as a carry-on, then have it for the beach. Just an idea.