Mexico first timers. Hotel recs please.

[skippy67]

It'll just be me and DH. Will probably go all inclusive or half board. Would like a lovely hotel with a beautiful beach nearby, and good food. DH will probably want to do an excursion or two. Short transfer would be nice too. Is Playa Del Carmen nice? From my very minimal research so far, Cancun isn't recommended? We'll be going early September. Budget up to £1,700pp. Thanks

Hello! Ive been to Mexico lots of times and for that budget at that time of year you'll have lots of options.

Id recommend riviera maya as the region.

Ive recently been to the grand sirensis which was nice but very large!

What are you after in terms of size/activity levels etc

Weather is a factor . Hurricane season runs between June and the end of October, they can also get a lot of tropical storms in those months too.

November to April are the best months to visit.

Are you aware of the sargassum issues? It should/might be over by September though so may not be an problem for you but good to be aware. It's also hurricane season so be aware of that. Personally I like Akumal, it's quieter and more high end, but it depends if you're looking for a very touristy city with a lot of nightlife as PDC certainly looks very lively (haven't stayed there though only gone past).

Thanks! Re size, the bigger the better! Activities are more a "nice to have" than an essential for us.

Can you recommend any hotels in Akumal? As I said, we're first timers, so open to suggestions.

look at safety reviews there are real hot spots of crime

Playa del Carmen was my honeymoon 25 years ago. Loved it we stayed at Riu Yukatan. I have no idea what it would be like now though

Glad you have a great honeymoon 25 years ago, but I'm looking for slightly more recent experiences...😂

Bump

I've stayed at the riu Yucatan and tequila more recently and they're still both really good. The only thing is the sargassum in the summer, they try to clear it but there's a lot.

Thank you. I'll check these out.

Another vote for Akumal. Tulum is also lovely but has changed a lot in the last 10 years - it's a bit of a party town now (amazing beaches though and beautiful ruins on the sea). Playa del Carmen nice but a but a bit Cancun Lite but honestly the whole Yucatan/Maya Riviera is lovely.

But yeah... Akumal. No specific recommendations but you can easily look at hotels on the beach there - it's not massive.

Isla Mujeres generally avoids sargassum

Def second checking out areas re safety. DD's best friend came home early from their holiday after there was a drugs related shoot out - in their hotel lobby and they saw people gunned down.

I appreciate that's not the norm, but it was traumatic for them.

TRS Yucatan in Riviera Maya is adults only and is beautiful. It's part of the Grand Palladium group of hotels so you can use the facilities in the other hotels but retreat back to the adults only TRS for quiet relaxation. Absolute luxury.

Stayed at the Rui Yucatan in Playa del Carmen about a year ago and it was great, quite lively but several good restaurants as well as the big buffet and a lovely beach right off the pool area.

I stayed at the Casitas Royale a couple of years ago. So many great restaurants and beautiful pool areas, lots of Bali beds on the beach etc I think perhaps a bit over your budget but maybe achievable during hurricane season.

We’re frequently Mexico visitors. We’ve stayed 3 times at Occidental’s Xcaret which has its only entrance to the ecological part. Cannot recommend it enough. It has a cove Beach that’s shallow so you can snorkel and look at the tropical fish but no sweeping golden stretch like you get at some of the hotels in Playacar.

It’s all inclusive and if you can stretch to Royal Level then do so because the difference in the food quality is amazing and you’re treated, well, like Royalty 😁

Xcaret park is next door and stunning. You can float down underground rivers and they have an amazing show celebrating Mexico which is unmissable.

Playa del Carmen is the closest town and you can catch the ferry over to Cozumel if you fancy a day trip. There are Mayan Ruins on site at the hotel as you’re in the jungle and lots of excursions to keep you busy.

There are always tons of offers going on on the Occidental App if you aren’t booking a package. Nearest airport is Cancun.

Terrible spelling, sorry! Occidental Xcaret has it’s own entrance to Xcaret Ecological Park…in fact it has two as you can float down to a private entrance on a gondola and enter from the sea front too without leaving the hotel.