Freedom Paradise

Wratha · 08-15-2004

NOTE: I posted pictures of the resort you may want to look at, under my name, Wratha.

We just returned from a trip to Tulum, 8/5 - 8/12, and we stayed at the Freedom Paradise All-Inclusive Resort. You may have heard of this resort being billed as one that caters to the larger guests. There is much more there besides rooms with larger doors, showers, furniture... you would not even realize this was a 'size-friendly' resort if it was not pointed out to you.

We decided to stay here for two reasons. The most important reason is that we're from the Jersey shore and this time of year it's a nightmare here to do anything beach/water related. I wanted an area virtually free of the sea of people I usually wade through here. I wanted no traffic - not even sounds - and few people. I was not disappointed. Beach realestate was plentiful at FP! Lots of trees, shade, dappled areas, and sun, whatever your taste on the sand, you could find it. Also, the ocean was Right There! We walked out of our room and into the water and snorkled! How cool is that? Again, I digress... The other reason we stayed at an all inclusive is because of the food. We are new visitors to this country in, what we could surmise, was a relatively unpopulated area. We wanted to be sure a meal could be had should we need one. Perhaps this was unthrifty but it was safe, we never went hungry and we never got sick.

Yes, the food did get lame but we had already decided that we were not there for the food. We found the greatest little place, Casa Cenote Restaurant, right down the service road by the hotel. Oh my, if you stay near Tulum, you MUST go there!

I think it needs to be said that we're not your average all-inclusive tourist. We were out most days, missing lunch at the resort but squeezing in breakfast real fast before we left - served at 7-10 am. Then we would be back in time to get dinner, served 7-10 pm. This plan worked well for us. We found it extremely convenient, at 7 am breakfast we'd discuss the day to come, at 8 pm dinner we'd review our day, and the food was an afterthought to keep us from being hungry and occupied while we talked. We also just ate at the buffet part, we never made reservations to eat in one of the restaurants offered - I didn't want to get dressed some nights and just plum forgot to make reservations. I kind of fault the resort for not better advertising the other eateries and what's required, but I don't feel I was short changed by not going. It should be noted that all the food was well prepared, spiced, everything was clean and neat, or I would not have eaten there at all.

The guest population was mostly European and young, however there were also a few families there as well as some older couples. All the time there were tour busses leaving/returning from planned excursions; we rented our own car and did not attend any of these. We were usually the first ones at all the places we went so we could beat those busses in! Anyway, each day at the resort they had a full schedule of events for guests to take advantage of, from morning walks and stretches to evening games and shows by the pool side - we watched a fire dance one night and a Mayan dance troupe another night. They even had local vendors come a couple nights to sell their wares for guests that did not leave the resort to shop.

Every day the room was cleaned and straightened with fresh bottled water and even towel-art left on the bed. I was very satisified with our sheets, towels, and even the cleaning of the sandy floor each day. Our AC went on the blink. I was nice and told them to wait till the next day to fix it while we were at Xel-Ha and out all day, I loved our room and didn't want to change. Sure enough, we came back and it was just freezing in the room!

One thing that I would like to see changed is the ability to call out. We had to go to the front desk to use our calling card.. but then it appears the calling card we used turned from 60 US minutes to 6 MX minutes! So beware of that, we finally used our CC to make calls with but still from the front desk.

It should be noted that we are also low maintenance guests. We usually ask very little from the staff. There really wasn't anything we required beyond the normal daily hotel type of services. Everyday you can trade your beach towels for fresh ones, twice a day if they have a huge supply cleaned. I'm sure others changed their towels more often than that but again, we weren't there all that much.

The 'national' drinks that come with the all inclusive package we not bad at all! As a matter of fact, my hubby wanted to take a bottle of their scotch home. I drank so many of their pina collatas that I eventually got sick of them! So the drinks were good. But being Americans, we wanted coffee... and we found this a problem. Don't expect coffee there before 7 am. We were up at 6 am most days and staired bleary-eyed at the sunrise till it was coffee time. Also expecting coffee throughout the day is a disappointment... they have this instant stuff.. yick!

The last thing to mention is that they have a very small store there should you forget anything at home. This store also has a computer where you can buy time for whatever you want to do - we emailed pictures home - and emailed home more because the phone situation was so frustrating.

Overall, I'd go back. At night our eyes didn't have to fight with light-smog, we could see so many stars! Like we were in our own planetarium and you could just reach out and touch the heavens! Ahem, I seem to keep straying, but... Very friendly and helpful staff, clean, pretty, quiet and secluded, and close to those things we wanted to do, yes, I'd go back... in a heartbeat!

Wratha

**Shammy** · 08-15-2004

Wratha,

Great report!

Thanks for writing a review of a resort that many people don't even know about, glad you had a nice time.

And welome back to the Joisey Shore! I'm in Brick so I know EXACTLY how you feel about OUR beaches in the summer!

Wratha · 08-15-2004

Thanks, Shammy! I'd just like to add that if anyone wants to know anything else, please ask me, here or in a pm. For the reclusive type, this resort was great! For the extroverted party animal, perhaps a resort closer to a city would be better.

Oh, and do try to enjoy the rest of your summer, Shammy. Unfortunately, it seems they don't stop showing up at our shores until darn near Halloween now. I am putting in a pool and to heck with the bennies on the parkway! I'll stay home.

**Shammy** · 08-15-2004

Been there, done that with the pool thing already!

And FYI...last week was the first time I took the kids to the beach!

And that was only because they BEGGED!
Heading down Rt. 35 in Bay Head was a nightmare, and it was 9AM on a weekday! We were packed in like sardines...I'm a tad bit clostrophobic and it was freakin me out! Had some lady plop her double stroller about 2 inches from my foot.

By 1pm, we were outta there and back to the comforts of my own backyard.

Ick...Joisey is yucky in the summer for us non bennies, huh?

We're headed to Florida this week to try and find a little more beach breathing space. Hoping no nasty 'ol hurricanes come blowing through though.

08-15-2004	#1 (permalink)
Wratha into ruins Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Jersey, Manahawkin Posts: 74	Freedom Paradise NOTE: I posted pictures of the resort you may want to look at, under my name, Wratha. We just returned from a trip to Tulum, 8/5 - 8/12, and we stayed at the Freedom Paradise All-Inclusive Resort. You may have heard of this resort being billed as one that caters to the larger guests. There is much more there besides rooms with larger doors, showers, furniture... you would not even realize this was a 'size-friendly' resort if it was not pointed out to you. We decided to stay here for two reasons. The most important reason is that we're from the Jersey shore and this time of year it's a nightmare here to do anything beach/water related. I wanted an area virtually free of the sea of people I usually wade through here. I wanted no traffic - not even sounds - and few people. I was not disappointed. Beach realestate was plentiful at FP! Lots of trees, shade, dappled areas, and sun, whatever your taste on the sand, you could find it. Also, the ocean was Right There! We walked out of our room and into the water and snorkled! How cool is that? Again, I digress... The other reason we stayed at an all inclusive is because of the food. We are new visitors to this country in, what we could surmise, was a relatively unpopulated area. We wanted to be sure a meal could be had should we need one. Perhaps this was unthrifty but it was safe, we never went hungry and we never got sick. Yes, the food did get lame but we had already decided that we were not there for the food. We found the greatest little place, Casa Cenote Restaurant, right down the service road by the hotel. Oh my, if you stay near Tulum, you MUST go there! I think it needs to be said that we're not your average all-inclusive tourist. We were out most days, missing lunch at the resort but squeezing in breakfast real fast before we left - served at 7-10 am. Then we would be back in time to get dinner, served 7-10 pm. This plan worked well for us. We found it extremely convenient, at 7 am breakfast we'd discuss the day to come, at 8 pm dinner we'd review our day, and the food was an afterthought to keep us from being hungry and occupied while we talked. We also just ate at the buffet part, we never made reservations to eat in one of the restaurants offered - I didn't want to get dressed some nights and just plum forgot to make reservations. I kind of fault the resort for not better advertising the other eateries and what's required, but I don't feel I was short changed by not going. It should be noted that all the food was well prepared, spiced, everything was clean and neat, or I would not have eaten there at all. The guest population was mostly European and young, however there were also a few families there as well as some older couples. All the time there were tour busses leaving/returning from planned excursions; we rented our own car and did not attend any of these. We were usually the first ones at all the places we went so we could beat those busses in! Anyway, each day at the resort they had a full schedule of events for guests to take advantage of, from morning walks and stretches to evening games and shows by the pool side - we watched a fire dance one night and a Mayan dance troupe another night. They even had local vendors come a couple nights to sell their wares for guests that did not leave the resort to shop. Every day the room was cleaned and straightened with fresh bottled water and even towel-art left on the bed. I was very satisified with our sheets, towels, and even the cleaning of the sandy floor each day. Our AC went on the blink. I was nice and told them to wait till the next day to fix it while we were at Xel-Ha and out all day, I loved our room and didn't want to change. Sure enough, we came back and it was just freezing in the room! One thing that I would like to see changed is the ability to call out. We had to go to the front desk to use our calling card.. but then it appears the calling card we used turned from 60 US minutes to 6 MX minutes! So beware of that, we finally used our CC to make calls with but still from the front desk. It should be noted that we are also low maintenance guests. We usually ask very little from the staff. There really wasn't anything we required beyond the normal daily hotel type of services. Everyday you can trade your beach towels for fresh ones, twice a day if they have a huge supply cleaned. I'm sure others changed their towels more often than that but again, we weren't there all that much. The 'national' drinks that come with the all inclusive package we not bad at all! As a matter of fact, my hubby wanted to take a bottle of their scotch home. I drank so many of their pina collatas that I eventually got sick of them! So the drinks were good. But being Americans, we wanted coffee... and we found this a problem. Don't expect coffee there before 7 am. We were up at 6 am most days and staired bleary-eyed at the sunrise till it was coffee time. Also expecting coffee throughout the day is a disappointment... they have this instant stuff.. yick! The last thing to mention is that they have a very small store there should you forget anything at home. This store also has a computer where you can buy time for whatever you want to do - we emailed pictures home - and emailed home more because the phone situation was so frustrating. Overall, I'd go back. At night our eyes didn't have to fight with light-smog, we could see so many stars! Like we were in our own planetarium and you could just reach out and touch the heavens! Ahem, I seem to keep straying, but... Very friendly and helpful staff, clean, pretty, quiet and secluded, and close to those things we wanted to do, yes, I'd go back... in a heartbeat! Wratha

08-15-2004	#2 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 10,522	Wratha, Great report! Thanks for writing a review of a resort that many people don't even know about, glad you had a nice time. And welome back to the Joisey Shore! I'm in Brick so I know EXACTLY how you feel about OUR beaches in the summer!

08-15-2004	#3 (permalink)
Wratha into ruins Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: New Jersey, Manahawkin Posts: 74	Thanks, Shammy! I'd just like to add that if anyone wants to know anything else, please ask me, here or in a pm. For the reclusive type, this resort was great! For the extroverted party animal, perhaps a resort closer to a city would be better. Oh, and do try to enjoy the rest of your summer, Shammy. Unfortunately, it seems they don't stop showing up at our shores until darn near Halloween now. I am putting in a pool and to heck with the bennies on the parkway! I'll stay home.

08-15-2004	#4 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 10,522	Been there, done that with the pool thing already! And FYI...last week was the first time I took the kids to the beach! And that was only because they BEGGED! Heading down Rt. 35 in Bay Head was a nightmare, and it was 9AM on a weekday! We were packed in like sardines...I'm a tad bit clostrophobic and it was freakin me out! Had some lady plop her double stroller about 2 inches from my foot. By 1pm, we were outta there and back to the comforts of my own backyard. Ick...Joisey is yucky in the summer for us non bennies, huh? We're headed to Florida this week to try and find a little more beach breathing space. Hoping no nasty 'ol hurricanes come blowing through though.

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