Tennisgals Trip report

tennisgal · 03-15-2004

I have our trip report of Playa del Carmen - March 5 - 12....

Friday
We left 62 degree weather in Chicago (unusually warm, but heard temperature went back down to the 30s the next day), plane left a little late. We arrived in Cancun about 25 minutes late, so we did not have a gate, we had to transport by bus. We arrived to long lines in immigration, but moved fast, about 15 minutes to get through. We finally found where are luggage was, and had another line to get through customs, but did not get stopped. We found a transport service - Transtar to take us to our hotel for $18 person. Had too make a couple stops first by the all inclusives, look really nice. First vision of our beach was from turning the block by our hotel – Playa Maya. Playa Maya has beach only access. All of the terrific things I have heard about this hotel were true, we were very pleased. We stayed in two rooms, both were great, hotel is directly on the beach. Beach has some rocks, but down 100 feet it is perfect - in front of Treetops hotel.

We headed out on 5th avenue, quite a collection of shops and restaurants-bars. It was almost 5 p.m.
and we had not yet had lunch. Went to Limones for drinks and appetizer - very pretty and cozy, you travel down some steps to the restaurant. We had shrimp Quesadillas and mussels. Next went Bar Marqaritas, were you sit on swings at the bar, talked to a nice couple from Madison. Then went to another bar, Bourbon Street. Talked to another couple from Michigan. We had dinner at La Parilla. Very good. Chicken fajitas and Pork chops. However later that night, I was very ill, maybe too much tequila.

Saturday, slowly feeling better. Breakfast at hotel. My husband went to the Internet cafe, and I headed to the beach. Later on we explored the beach, walked to Capitan Tutix. Headed into town for authetic mexican meal. Found El Almendro restaurant, we had shiskabob and tostadas. More walking and beach that day. Stopped for drinks at the ******. Had dinner at Blue Lobster ...we ordered lobster (quite large) and coconut shrimp, both very good.

Sunday, we had breakfast at hotel, took ferry to Cozumel. Sunday was very slow, not many cruise ships so we were approached by everyone to buy things, rent mopeds or snorkeling trips. We stopped for drinks at Fat Tuesdays. Then took taxi to Chankanaab park. There we went snorkeling, watched a sea lion show, went through botanical garden and ruins. There was a lovely lagoon there where you could see a lot of fish. We heading back to Playa del Carmen, thinking we would watch the sunset, but there were too many clouds. For dinner that night, we went to Karens Pizza, were we enjoyed a great band and ordered Karen’s Pizza.

Monday we had breakfast at hotel, and found the collectivo vans to go to Tulum. The vans were really easy to use. We toured Tulum and had snacks at the italian-mexican restaurant just outside of the ruins. on site. Took collectivo vans back ($2 usd each way each person. Back at Playa, we went for drinks at the Frieda bar. We enjoyed a great dinner at Media Luna, calamari with wasabe and soy sauce and sesame shrimp.

Tuesday, we took taxi a to Puerto Aventuras. We had lunch at the dolphin experience, gross hamburgers. Then we were to go deep see fishing. We used Puerto Aventuras Fishing – a complete nightmare! We arrived only to find that it was cancelled, not enough people. Kind of wondering why I told them where we were staying, a phone call would have been nice. We were told the captain was going to be right there, just having lunch. Then told it was cancelled but they offered to take us out for 2 hours instead of four. We made the mistake of going. We were on our way before we knew it and it was very wavy, so much so, that we couldn’t move around. We tried to get the first mates attention, but could not hear. We weren’t given any instructions, no life vests. At that point, we just wanted to go back in. We were very disappointed. Came back to Playa, sat on beach ordered bucket of beers and sat in sun, best part of the day. Between drinking and dramamine, did not go out that night.

Wednesday, had breakfast at Jaguars restaurant, good coffee. Hung out at the beach. Lunch at Playa Maya, very good shrimp tacos. Went for a nice long walk. Stopped for drinks Bourbon Street, then decided to arrange a tour for Chichen Itza for the next day. We had dinner at Babes noodle house. Great little restaurant. We ordered Pud Thai (hotter than I am used to), spring rolls and Thai
chicken were very good.

Thursday – went to Chichen Itza. Stopped at a Mayan village, really just shops to buy trinkets. Group of Italian were not minding time, came back late. Took time away from our next stop at a cenote, very beautiful. I was very disappointed, didn’t have enough time to change and swim, wished I would have had swim suit on already. Italians late again, bus left without them. Next lunch and then onto the ruins. We had a great tour guide (booked through Tierra Maya Tours) who took us through the ruins. We went to the top of the Pyramid of Kukúlcan or El Castillo. Felt nervous walking around up there. Took our time going back down. Arrived back to Playa del Carmen by 7 p.m. Went back to Karen’s to try other menu items. We order calamari appetizer, and two entrees: Karen’s garlic grilled shrimp and spaghetti with shrimp both very good.

Friday, last day. Awoke early, went to get coffee at Java Joes. Had breakfast at our hotel. Enjoyed the beach as long as we could before heading to the airport. Saved some last minute shopping to do at the airport, unfortunately, the cash register system went down, was not able to make purchase, had to leave to catch flight. I will not save my shopping anymore, what I wanted to buy was Mexican vanilla and some spicy sauces.

Things I really enjoyed:

Drinks at Frieda bar
Snorkeling in Cozumel
Swimming in the Ocean
Tulum
Chichen Itza
Walking/dining 5th Avenue

Overall, this was a great vacation. The temperature was great, the beach and water were beautiful. I am glad we decided to go non AI. We enjoyed trying the different restaurants and bars. The MapChick’s Map (Laura and Perry) was very informative and helpful. Also, I gained a lot of information beforehand from this forum, and I appreciate it. It seems like several people on here are very passionate about Playa. I am not sure if we will visit Playa again, but if we do, we would definitely stay at Playa Maya again. I hope you enjoyed this report and let me know if you have any questions.

tennisgal · 03-18-2004

I starting making a web page, here you can see some of my pictures:

http://tmeves.freeservers.com/photo2.html[/url]

**tommy** · 03-18-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by "tennisgal"

I starting making a web page, here you can see some of my pictures:

http://tmeves.freeservers.com/photo2.html[/url]

great report,but i cant get the pics to open???????????????

tennisgal · 03-18-2004

sorry about the link, I will read up and figure out how to use this forum

tennisgal · 03-18-2004

trying link again....

http://tmeves.freeservers.com/photo2.html

03-15-2004	#1 (permalink)
tennisgal lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 16	Tennisgals Trip report I have our trip report of Playa del Carmen - March 5 - 12.... Friday We left 62 degree weather in Chicago (unusually warm, but heard temperature went back down to the 30s the next day), plane left a little late. We arrived in Cancun about 25 minutes late, so we did not have a gate, we had to transport by bus. We arrived to long lines in immigration, but moved fast, about 15 minutes to get through. We finally found where are luggage was, and had another line to get through customs, but did not get stopped. We found a transport service - Transtar to take us to our hotel for $18 person. Had too make a couple stops first by the all inclusives, look really nice. First vision of our beach was from turning the block by our hotel – Playa Maya. Playa Maya has beach only access. All of the terrific things I have heard about this hotel were true, we were very pleased. We stayed in two rooms, both were great, hotel is directly on the beach. Beach has some rocks, but down 100 feet it is perfect - in front of Treetops hotel. We headed out on 5th avenue, quite a collection of shops and restaurants-bars. It was almost 5 p.m. and we had not yet had lunch. Went to Limones for drinks and appetizer - very pretty and cozy, you travel down some steps to the restaurant. We had shrimp Quesadillas and mussels. Next went Bar Marqaritas, were you sit on swings at the bar, talked to a nice couple from Madison. Then went to another bar, Bourbon Street. Talked to another couple from Michigan. We had dinner at La Parilla. Very good. Chicken fajitas and Pork chops. However later that night, I was very ill, maybe too much tequila. Saturday, slowly feeling better. Breakfast at hotel. My husband went to the Internet cafe, and I headed to the beach. Later on we explored the beach, walked to Capitan Tutix. Headed into town for authetic mexican meal. Found El Almendro restaurant, we had shiskabob and tostadas. More walking and beach that day. Stopped for drinks at the ******. Had dinner at Blue Lobster ...we ordered lobster (quite large) and coconut shrimp, both very good. Sunday, we had breakfast at hotel, took ferry to Cozumel. Sunday was very slow, not many cruise ships so we were approached by everyone to buy things, rent mopeds or snorkeling trips. We stopped for drinks at Fat Tuesdays. Then took taxi to Chankanaab park. There we went snorkeling, watched a sea lion show, went through botanical garden and ruins. There was a lovely lagoon there where you could see a lot of fish. We heading back to Playa del Carmen, thinking we would watch the sunset, but there were too many clouds. For dinner that night, we went to Karens Pizza, were we enjoyed a great band and ordered Karen’s Pizza. Monday we had breakfast at hotel, and found the collectivo vans to go to Tulum. The vans were really easy to use. We toured Tulum and had snacks at the italian-mexican restaurant just outside of the ruins. on site. Took collectivo vans back ($2 usd each way each person. Back at Playa, we went for drinks at the Frieda bar. We enjoyed a great dinner at Media Luna, calamari with wasabe and soy sauce and sesame shrimp. Tuesday, we took taxi a to Puerto Aventuras. We had lunch at the dolphin experience, gross hamburgers. Then we were to go deep see fishing. We used Puerto Aventuras Fishing – a complete nightmare! We arrived only to find that it was cancelled, not enough people. Kind of wondering why I told them where we were staying, a phone call would have been nice. We were told the captain was going to be right there, just having lunch. Then told it was cancelled but they offered to take us out for 2 hours instead of four. We made the mistake of going. We were on our way before we knew it and it was very wavy, so much so, that we couldn’t move around. We tried to get the first mates attention, but could not hear. We weren’t given any instructions, no life vests. At that point, we just wanted to go back in. We were very disappointed. Came back to Playa, sat on beach ordered bucket of beers and sat in sun, best part of the day. Between drinking and dramamine, did not go out that night. Wednesday, had breakfast at Jaguars restaurant, good coffee. Hung out at the beach. Lunch at Playa Maya, very good shrimp tacos. Went for a nice long walk. Stopped for drinks Bourbon Street, then decided to arrange a tour for Chichen Itza for the next day. We had dinner at Babes noodle house. Great little restaurant. We ordered Pud Thai (hotter than I am used to), spring rolls and Thai chicken were very good. Thursday – went to Chichen Itza. Stopped at a Mayan village, really just shops to buy trinkets. Group of Italian were not minding time, came back late. Took time away from our next stop at a cenote, very beautiful. I was very disappointed, didn’t have enough time to change and swim, wished I would have had swim suit on already. Italians late again, bus left without them. Next lunch and then onto the ruins. We had a great tour guide (booked through Tierra Maya Tours) who took us through the ruins. We went to the top of the Pyramid of Kukúlcan or El Castillo. Felt nervous walking around up there. Took our time going back down. Arrived back to Playa del Carmen by 7 p.m. Went back to Karen’s to try other menu items. We order calamari appetizer, and two entrees: Karen’s garlic grilled shrimp and spaghetti with shrimp both very good. Friday, last day. Awoke early, went to get coffee at Java Joes. Had breakfast at our hotel. Enjoyed the beach as long as we could before heading to the airport. Saved some last minute shopping to do at the airport, unfortunately, the cash register system went down, was not able to make purchase, had to leave to catch flight. I will not save my shopping anymore, what I wanted to buy was Mexican vanilla and some spicy sauces. Things I really enjoyed: Drinks at Frieda bar Snorkeling in Cozumel Swimming in the Ocean Tulum Chichen Itza Walking/dining 5th Avenue Overall, this was a great vacation. The temperature was great, the beach and water were beautiful. I am glad we decided to go non AI. We enjoyed trying the different restaurants and bars. The MapChick’s Map (Laura and Perry) was very informative and helpful. Also, I gained a lot of information beforehand from this forum, and I appreciate it. It seems like several people on here are very passionate about Playa. I am not sure if we will visit Playa again, but if we do, we would definitely stay at Playa Maya again. I hope you enjoyed this report and let me know if you have any questions.

03-18-2004	#2 (permalink)
tennisgal lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 16	I starting making a web page, here you can see some of my pictures: http://tmeves.freeservers.com/photo2.html[/url]

03-18-2004	#4 (permalink)
tennisgal lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 16	sorry about the link, I will read up and figure out how to use this forum

03-18-2004	#5 (permalink)
tennisgal lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 16	trying link again.... http://tmeves.freeservers.com/photo2.html

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