| ryberg |
11-01-2005 09:26 AM |
Playa del Carmen NOW
I've been debating about whether this post would go better on the Wilma forum, but inasmuch as it is really to point out that life and activities here are going on and what the situation is now after Wilma, well I thought it would be better to post it here. Hope nobody disagrees but if so and you want to move it, you certainly can!
Today we return to service and I would like to quote excerpts from the detailed announcement I have just placed on the front page of our site because many of the points are about Playa, really, not just us, and I think they may be helpful for people out there to see. So here goes...
Quote:
PLAYA DEL CARMEN & PLAYA MAYA OPEN FOR BUSINESS!!!
updated 1 November 9:00 AM CST
Hurricane Wilma struck north of Playa del Carmen on October 21st. As of today, November 1st, here is the situation at Playa Maya and in Playa del Carmen:
Our official return to service date remains November 5th and guests who have confirmed stays with an arrival date prior to that date should see [link to our cancellation waiver statement], which covers all aspects of such cases. For visual evidence of the lack of damage and speedy recovery of both the area and the hotel, see our FINAL WILMA PHOTO GALLERY from almost a week ago, which provides a link back to previous Wilma photo galleries. Also possibly worth reviewing are our PREVIOUS WILMA ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Despite that official date, Playa Maya is now open for walk-in guests, with all of the following services/features available and in operation: [long list with occasional commentary, such as that the beach is better here than it was pre-Wilma!].
Also expected back by or shortly after the 5th: cable TV service, our wireless Internet service and free Internet station, and our convenience store, each still involved in some repair/remodeling. Our mini-gym will not return to service as we have decided to discontinue it and convert the space for office/meeting use and a new guest lounge, to better meet the needs and preferences of our guests.
Outside the hotel, things have been in swing now on 5th Ave for a week or so, all our recommended restaurants and tour/activity providers are open and operating, and according to a government official's announcement in yesterday's press, so are other local attractions, such as eco-parks Xel-Ha and Xcaret and the ruins at Tulum. The same office confirmed that Cancun airport, which first returned to service for incoming passengers with a highly publicized arrival on October 28th, will receive at least 56 arrivals this week starting from Monday the 31st, and that that number will only increase as everything returns to normal. Airline announcements corroborate this, such as that of American Airlines, which has already brought in guests and is flying 3 flights daily into Cancun as of November 1st (see Wilma travel notice link on AA main page). For those interested, ferries to Cozumel also resumed at least limited operations this past weekend, and the press has also confirmed my previous report that Playa will play host to 2 cruise ship arrivals for almost 5,000 passengers this week, standing in for Cozumel and Calica in this regard. Finally, all other basic services of the area are also prevalent and in operation, including electricity, water, food, sanitation services, roads, transportation services, banks, exchange houses and medical services.
Thus we close the chapter on Wilma, and can only add that we thank you very much for your messages of support during this period and for your patronage. We look forward to hosting you all again soon!
|
Steve |
