Adventure and AI- is it possible?

[playainjune]

I'm gathering lots of info reading previous posts, esp Shammy's!

Honeymooned in Cancun 15 years ago-never forgot the beach and warm, clear water. Now returning with our two kids and need some help narrowing down hotel options.

Parameters for our 2 week end-of-June trip:

not on a 'budget', per se, but of course love a great deal
2 40ish adults traveling with 2 kids, 12 and 9
relatively mature kids, all things 'teen' appeal to them
spent 3 weeks in Africa last summer so somewhat seasoned travelers, but ready for an 'easier' trip this year (nothing too rustic for Mom!)
that said, we love excursions and adventures, including food, can't imagine staying on one property the entire time (but maybe...?)
must be on a great beach, husband will spend hours body surfing not to mention tweenagers
a little afraid of AI (food on honeymoon was so so bad), but kids will be crazy for the pool and activities
kids are active, athletic, and super social and won't need any childcare

Can anyone recommend the some ideal places to stay, or even maybe ideas for a split stay with one week on an AI property (Barcelo?) and one week in the 5th Ave mix and being more adventurous (Playa Maya sounds cool or maybe somewhere in Tulum?)

Thanks!!

[Babaloo]

Your husband may be disappointed in the lack of body surfing.
The sea is relatively calm in June - too calm for quality body surfing.
In fact, except for extraordinary conditions, body surfing is out most of the year.

[wolfpf]

Just to throw another idea out there.... There are also some great condos available that would offer alot more room for your money, and though they wouldn't come with any meals, you would have the option of making/keeping snacks and drinks around. Just a thought (just as an example Las Palmas Vacation Rental - VRBO 199185 - 2 BR Playa del Carmen Condo in Mexico, Perfect Location in Little Italy! Rent as 1 or 2 Bedroom! )

[Rissask]

Of course you can be adventurous staying at an AI!

There are pros and cons to both staying in town in a non AI hotel or condo, and AI. We enjoy both types of vacation- our preference is condo stays in places like Playa, at least when the town is not super busy (we would not want to be in town over xmas-NYE, or Easter, for example). But places like PDC have so many great restaurants, beach clubs and bars, that you really can't go wrong staying non AI.


But for our upcoming trip we are staying at the Barcelo Palace, since we are going with a few other couples. We chose the Barcelo since we can snorkel from shore and it is a pretty good location for those who want to do day trips up and down the coast. Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Coba, the Monkey Place, diving, fishing out of Puerto Aventuras, Xplor, and Xel Ha and Akumal- those are all places that some of the people going with us are going to during our ten day stay.

We have done split trips twice in the past- but they were both 2 week vacations-the first week at an AI, second week at a condo.....I am not sure I would want to bother doing a split trip for just one week....but that is just me. It's a bit of a hassle moving, and vacation time is precious!

[playainjune]

Thanks for the info about body surfing. So is the sea calmer in Playa, or was what my husband spent hours doing in the water in Cancun not really body surfing?
I think a rental would be perfect for the adults, but I'm afraid my kids will be bored. Two weeks is a long time to keep them entertained! Are there any non-AI rentals or hotels with fabulous pools?

[Matt J]

Look at Sandos Playacar. The beach activities are very family oriented and when we were there it seems as if kids of all ages enjoyed it.

Try XPLORE for a jungle atv and zip lining excursion.
And let the kids swim with the dolphins, they will enjoy it.

Take the ferry over to Cozumel for a day, rent a jeep and drive around the island. You can't get lost - it's just a big circle so to speak.
There are also snorkeling boats that take you out from Cozumel to snorkel and feed you lunch for the day etc.

[playainjune]

Maybe I forgot to mention that our trip is 2 weeks long. In Africa we split 2 weeks between 3 locals with lots of driving time to get to each one. It was a lot, but how often do you go to Africa?
This time I can see splitting the time in half. If we start at an AI, will my kids be wishing they were still there after we leave and go to a condo in town?
If we spend the entire stay at Barcelo, for instance, is it amenable to trips off the property every other day or so? Or would that just be a huge waste of money when paying for AI?

[playainjune]

Thanks for all the ideas, everyone!
How would the Sandos and Barcelo compare, for those who know both?
The activities we are planning so far are:
Akumel
ruins
cenotes
Crococun Zoo (worth it after going on Safari?)
fishing
maybe Isla or Cozumel
What am I missing?

[Babaloo]

Originally Posted by playainjune

Thanks for the info about body surfing. So is the sea calmer in Playa,

It must be.
But that's not to say that there are not days when the sea is rougher than normal.

[Rissask]

I think it also goes by beach structure and geography (for lack of better terminology? )

In Nuevo Vallarta for example, even when the ocean is very calm, there are nice long rollers for boogie boarding. It is a very long gradual smooth slope and no reef offshore to impede the wave action.

If you have 2 weeks (sorry I misunderstood!) how about one week on Isla Mujeres (AI or partial AI at the Privilege Aluxes would be nice for kids that age, if maybe a bit quiet- but there is lots to do on the island for a week- although some might say otherwise ) and then one week at an AI either in Playa or Playacar so you are close to town to explore and the bus station to do day trips?

Just another spanner to throw in the works.

[playainjune]

Spent a day on a topless beach on Isla 15 years ago, guess it would be a different experience with my kids! I remember it being very quiet and rustic there, though things have probably changed a lot.
So it sound like Playacar is really a bit far from the action in PDC to make daily trips out?

[Shammy]

You can easily do an AI stay for a week and a non AI stay in Playa for the other week. Air gets booked for the whole 2 weeks and the AI hotel for either the first or second week. Then you're on your own for the other week's accommodations. But can be done, and is a good option if you want to experience both!

[playainjune]

Thanks, Shammy.
So do you have recommendations for each of the 2 weeks? One AI, and one not?

[Shammy]

It's totally up to you, only you can decide what works best for your family. Me personally - I'd go nuts in an AI for two weeks, and I only sell AI's! Some people won't, some even stay 3 weeks. Personal opinion, that's all.

[Matt J]

I agree with Shammy -- all AI one week and maybe a condo or a partial AI the second week.

Such as Sandos Playacar the first week and Adventure Mexicana the second week -- is that the name of it Shammy -- the AI in Playa that offers two meals a day?