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Caribbean Travel RoundupNewsletter - Paul Graveline, Editor |
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COZUMEL, Mexico (Dec. 10, 2001) - Paradisus Cozumel All-Inclusive
Beach Resort Golf & Country Club is offering guests unlimited golf
privileges at the new adjacent Cozumel Country Club and golf course
when paying full hotel rate. Rates for the resort range from $145
to $400 per person, per night, all-inclusive.
The championship 18-hole, par 72, golf course designed by Steve
Nicklaus of the Nicklaus Design Group, is managed by Club
Corporation International and was constructed by Diamond Golf
International. The greens consist of hybrid Bermuda turf and
feature a practice range, putting green and chipping green with a
practice bunker. The "palapa style" clubhouse includes a fully-
stocked Pro Shop with a full line of high-quality rental equipment
and merchandise, snack bar and seating for 40 people. The Cozumel
Country Club incorporates the natural habitats of the island into
its design and construction. Fairways are built around Cozumel's
trees, mangroves and wetlands to preserve ecologically sensitive
areas.
The 147-room Paradisus Cozumel completed major upgrades and
additions throughout 2001. New ocean view junior suites and a
presidential suite have been added within the resort's tower
building. Deluxe rooms, formerly known as garden view rooms, were
also upgraded with the addition of marble bathrooms and tropical,
garden interiors. La Isla, Café Paraiso Gourmet and La Laguna
restaurants have all been refurbished. The lobby and lobby bar
have been redecorated with exterior terraces, covered with palapas,
which face the Caribbean Sea. By the end of 2001, the resort will
add 12 Paradise Honeymoon Suites with individual Jacuzzis and
private wooden decks.
The Paradisus Cozumel is located on one of Cozumel's best beaches
and combines European elegance with Mayan architecture and Mexican
hospitality. The resort is located just two miles north of town,
and features daily and nightly activities for both children and
adults, horseback riding, a great variety of food and international
brand beverages, kayaks, wind surfing sailing, quiet pool area and
other recreational activities.
Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's most successful
hotel companies with its four brands - Meliá Hotels, Tryp Hotels,
Sol Hotels and Paradisus Resorts - with over 350 hotels in more
than 30 countries worldwide. Sol Meliá's 2001 expansion plans
include new properties in Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, Mexico and
throughout Asia Pacific and Europe.
Individual reservations can be made through a travel
consultant or by calling toll-free 1-800-33MELIA (63542). Group
reservations can be made through a professional meeting and
incentive planner or through Sol Meliá's group desk (CIMAS) by
calling 1-888-33MELIA or via e-mail: Cimas@sol-group.com. Hotel
information can also be obtained by accessing Sol Meliá at
www.solmelia.com.
COZUMEL, Mexico (Dec. 17, 2001) – Nine hotels and resorts located in
Isla.
Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean, have announced
their 2002 honeymoon packages.
Coral Princess Hotel & Resort offers honeymoon packages including
daily breakfast, a bottle of domestic wine and cheese plate, one
romantic dinner at the property's restaurant, deluxe ocean-view
room (upgrade to junior suite subject to availability upon
arrival), 20 percent discount on massages and all taxes and
gratuities. Packages range from three nights at $273 per couple to
seven nights at $584 per couple. Additional nights are available
for $78 per couple. Packages are valid from Jan. 1 to Dec. 20,
2002. For information and reservations, call 1-800-253-2702 or
send e-mail to: reservations@coralprincess.com.
Costa Club Cozumel features honeymoon packages
including three-night hotel accommodations with ocean view, daily
breakfast, one bottle of sparkling wine, floral arrangements, a
romantic dinner at the property's Catamaran Restaurant, round-trip
ground transportation to and from the airport and all taxes and
gratuities. Packages begin at $675 per couple from Jan. 1 to March
31 and $516 per couple from April 1 to Dec. 23, 2002. For
information and reservations, call 1-877-454-4355 or visit
www.costaclubcozumel.com.mx.
El Cozumeleño Beach Resort offers honeymoon packages
including deluxe hotel accommodations, one bottle of domestic
champagne and fresh flowers in room upon arrival, all meals and
beverages, welcome cocktail, room service, daily activities
program, mini golf, game room, non-motorized water sports, gym, two
t-shirts and all taxes and gratuities. Packages range from four
days/three nights beginning at $701 per couple to eight days/seven
nights beginning at $1,529 per couple from April 1 to Dec. 21,
2002. For more information and reservations, call 1-800-437-3923,
send an e-mail to salescoz@cozumel.com.mx or visit
www.elcozumeleno.com.
Fiesta Americana Cozumel Dive Resort, Cozumel features
honeymoon packages including three-night accommodations, a fruit
basket, one bottle of sparkling wine, daily breakfast, a romantic
dinner for two at the property's Miramar Restaurant and a one-night
gift certificate for the couple's next stay. Packages are valid
from Jan. 4 to Dec. 22, 2002 and start at $321 per person, plus
tax. For additional information and reservations, call 1-800-
FIESTA1.
Hacienda San Miguel offers a three and seven-night
honeymoon package including a complimentary upgrade to a deluxe
suite (based on availability), one bottle of champagne, his and her
bathrobes, daily in-room continental breakfast, personalized
certificate and all taxes and gratuities. Packages are $225 for
three nights/four days and $451 for seven nights/eight days, per
couple. For information and reservations, call 1-866-712-6387.
Paradisus Cozumel All-Inclusive Beach Resort & Country
Club offers honeymoon packages including an ocean-view room,
surprise gift, in-room flowers upon arrival, one private dinner for
two on the beach or hotel balcony, one-day car rental (not
including taxes and insurance), round-trip airport transfers,
bottle of domestic champagne and cheese plate, in-room petit fours
each night, one 20-minute horseback ride and all taxes and
gratuities. Three-night/four-day packages include one round of golf
and seven-night/eight-day packages include three rounds of golf at
the adjacent 18-hole, par 72, Nicklaus-designed Cozumel Country
Club and golf course. From Jan. 5 through March 21, 2002, the three-
night package with junior suite is $1078 and with Paradise suite
with Jacuzzi is $1,319. The seven-night package with junior suite
is $2,236 and with Paradise suite with Jacuzzi is $2,800. All
rates are per couple. For more information and reservations, call
1-800-33-MELIA.
Playa Azul Hotel features honeymoon packages including
four nights in the Honeymoon Master suite with ocean front view and
balcony Jacuzzi. Guests will be treated to a candlelight lobster
dinner with a bottle of wine served on their private balcony on the
night of choice. Also included in the packages are daily
breakfasts served a la carte, one bottle of chilled domestic
Chardonnay upon arrival, unlimited golf at the adjacent 18-hole,
par 72, Nicklaus-designed Cozumel golf course and all taxes and
gratuities. Package rates are $1,199 per couple and are valid until
Dec. 20, 2002. For more information and reservations, call 011-52-
987-87-20199.
Reef Club offers a three-night all-inclusive honeymoon
package including a bottle of sparkling wine, an ocean-view room,
fruit basket upon arrival, local souvenir, flower arrangement, a
romantic dinner for two, and a two nights stay certificate to be
used on the couple's first anniversary. The package is $509 per
couple from Jan. 1 through March 31, 2002 and includes all taxes
and gratuities. For information and reservations, call 1-877-
REEFCLUB.xxSol Cabañas del Caribe, Cozumel has honeymoon packages
starting at $563 for three nights/four days and $1,035 for seven
night/eight days. Rates are valid from Jan. 5 through March 31,
2002 and are based per couple. Packages include accommodations, a
surprise gift, in-room flowers upon arrival, one private dinner for
two on the beach or hotel balcony, one-day car rental (not
including taxes and insurance), round-trip airport transfers, bottle
of domestic champagne and cheese plate and in-room petit fours each
night. For information and reservations, call 1-800-33-MELIA.
Other Cozumel hotels and resorts offering honeymoon
packages include Allegro Resort Cozumel (1-800-858-2258), Bahia
Suites & Colonial Suites (011-52-987-87-20209), Casa Del Mar (1-800-
437-9609), Casa Mexicana Cozumel (1-877-228-6747), Days Inn Villa
Iguanas (1-800-325-2525), El Cid - La Ceiba Cozumel (011-52-987-87-
20844), Hotel Meson San Miguel (011-52-987-87-20233), Iberostar
Cozumel Hotel (011-52-987-87-29900), Park Royal Cozumel (011-52-987-
87-20700), Plaza Las Glorias (1-800-342-AMIGO), and Presidente
Inter-Continental Hotel Cozumel (1-800-327-0200).
Named "Cuzamil" by the Maya who inhabited it more than
2,000 years ago, Isla Cozumel or "land of the swallows" is located
in the state of Quintana Roo, east of the Yucatan Peninsula.
Cozumel, approximately 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, has an
international snorkeling and diving reputation with the world's
second-largest reef network featuring limestone caves, tunnels and
rare black coral. Visit Cozumel on the World Wide Web at
www.islacozumel.com.mx.
For more information, contact Kathy Hernandez or Julie Fernandez,
YP&B, (407) 875-1111.
PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic (Dec. 14, 2001) - The Paradisus Punta Cana All-Inclusive Exclusive Beach Resort is in the process of completion of its $4 million hotel renovation program that includes a new in-house medical center, a new Brazilian steakhouse, El Rodizio, a resurfaced and re-designed swimming pool and lounge area and upgrades in furnishings and amenities to all existing suites. "These renovations will complement the resort's existing services and amenities and will provide guests with an upgraded experience at our hotel," said Francisco Castillo, general manager of Paradisus Punta Cana. "Our goal is for all upgrades to be completed before the 2001 Christmas holidays." The exotic Paradisus Punta Cana is located on world-famous Bavaro Beach and offers the very best of the Caribbean with white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and a variety of water sports. The resort's deluxe ultra-inclusive service allows guests to enjoy all meals and snacks, premium brand beverages, entertainment, sports facilities, services and amenities, complimentary and unlimited. Complementing the tropical beauty of the existing environment, the resort has 36 two-story bungalows within steps of the turquoise Caribbean Sea. All accommodations have an elegant living and sleeping areas in a split level design, furnished terrace, air- conditioning, ceiling fan, large bathroom (including hair dryer and shaving mirror), king-sized or double beds, remote-controlled satellite color television, refrigerator, direct telephone and safety deposit box. The resort's entertainment and recreation staff organizes a variety of daily recreational water and land sports including snorkeling, sea bikes, beach volleyball, tennis, beach football, windsurfing, sailing, canoeing, archery, table tennis, badminton, shuffleboard, darts and giant chess. Guests can learn to dive at the resort's scuba-diving school, keep in shape at the fully-equipped fitness center and spa (weight room, gymnasium, sauna and Jacuzzi), take aerobics and water aerobics classes, go for a horseback ride, take a boat tour, or borrow a bicycle or rent a car or motorcycle. Guests also have access to the nearby 18-hole, par 72 José "Pepe" Gancedo- designed Cocotal Golf & Country Club where greens fees are included for hotel guests. Sol Meliá Hotels & Resorts is one of the world's most successful hotel companies with its four brands - Meliá Hotels, Tryp Hotels, Sol Hotels and Paradisus Resorts - with over 350 hotels in more than 30 countries worldwide. Sol Meliá's 2001 expansion plans include new properties in Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, Mexico and throughout Asia Pacific and Europe. Individual reservations can be made through a travel consultant or by calling toll-free 1-800-33MELIA (63542). Group reservations can be made through a professional meeting and incentive planner or through Sol Meliá's group desk (CIMAS) by calling 1-888-33MELIA or via e-mail: Cimas@sol-group.com. Hotel information can also be obtained by accessing Sol Meliá at www.solmelia.com. For more information contact Kathy Hernandez or Julie Fernandez, YP&B, (407) 875-1111 or via e-mail at Kathy_Hernandez@ypb.com or Julie_Fernandez@ypb.com. For images of the properties highlighted in this press release, please visit www.solsearching.com.
There is nothing like it in the world - a private villa, private staff, gourmet food and stunning Caribbean views, and above all permission to do absolutely, completely and utterly nothing. This is the dream that Villas By Linda Smith (www.jamaicavillas.com) has been making come true for 15 years for visitors to the north coast of Jamaica, the "Jamaican Riviera" as it has been dubbed. Linda Smith started with just two properties, her own, in the Montego Bay area in 1985. Since then she has personally renovated eleven other properties on behalf of owners and consulted on renovations for countless others. Today she looks after a portfolio of 48 spectacular houses that define the idea of luxury. With a meticulous eye for detail, Linda has helped nearly all the owners of these fine villas and their staff create the perfect setting and the perfect style for clients who desire nothing but the best. If a villa has not received the Linda Smith treatment it is only because it already meets her exacting standards. Looking at a map of Jamaica, most of the villas in the Villas by Linda Smith portfolio can be found in the Montego Bay or Discovery Bay areas, served by the Sangster International Airport at Montego Bay. "I promise my clients - at least those staying in the Montego Bay villas! - that they can have their feet in the pool and a cool drink in their hand 20 minutes after clearing Customs," Linda says. "Why subject them to anything longer than that?" The Big Secret The unabashed luxury of the properties and the total pampering delivered by their staff (Jamaica is the only Caribbean island where fully-staffed villas are the rule, not the exception) conjure up a vacation lifestyle affordable by only the wealthiest of clients. And indeed Villas By Linda Smith caters handsomely to that rarified end of the market. Show business stars like Harrison Ford and Paul McCartney have enjoyed these villas, but so too have families celebrating a major anniversary or birthday; couples seeking the ultimate in romantic settings for their wedding; companies rewarding hard-working teams with a "working week" in the sun; or families with children looking for a vacation to remember. For there is a secret to the villa vacation that few have grasped: that it can actually be more affordable to rent a private, secluded, exclusive, fully-staffed villa than it is to stay in a splashy big hotel surrounded by the rest of humanity. The mathematics are quite simple. When the cost of a weekly villa rental is divided among the number of individuals in a vacation party the per head accommodation cost becomes unbelievably low, under $50 per night in some cases. And the dining has always been a bargain, no matter what the demographics, at $25 per adult per day and less for children (some villas charge $35 for adults). Our guests comment time and time again on the superlative dining and service. But then they also laud to the skies everything else they find on their villa vacations! And so Linda Smith believes the company is ideally placed to fulfill the needs of travelers who are looking for more from their vacation dollars. With careful planning and the assistance of VLS's knowledgeable agents they can have it. (All the agents have stayed in the homes in Linda's portfolio, know the staff and understand the island inside out.) "One of our greatest pleasures is watching potential clients realize that these fabulous homes are affordable and can be theirs," Linda says. Service Across The Board Villas By Linda Smith takes pride in being able to tailor each individual villa vacation to a client's needs. Often this could simply be a question of catering to dietary likes and dislikes or arranging a full-time nanny or a masseuse. But there have been many occasions when guests have asked for particular services that are far beyond everyday vacation requirements. The list of special requests some routine, some extraordinary, includes: reinforced electricity supply for a major American rock band, a piano for a Broadway composer, 1000 white roses for a beach wedding, tennis pro's for private lessons, helicopters and private aircraft, reggae and calypso bands, pig roasts, security guards, nannies who swim, birthday cakes and parties and even special linens. In fact, anything a client might desire. Linda Smith created her business on the simple premise that nothing a guest asks for is too much to provide. As a result, Villas By Linda Smith has acquired a reputation second to none, and it is no surprise that travel and villa agents across the world prefer to send their clients through Linda, because they know how well cared for they will be. Families Villas make wonderful family destinations. There is a host of activities in and around the villas and on the island at large. Our guests tell us that the most appealing aspect of all is the opportunity villa life offers parents to enjoy their own time together, secure in the knowledge that the children are safe and happy. This endorsement is typical. "Our week at Summertime was absolutely our most wonderful family vacation ever. My parents, John and I spent relaxed days doing whatever we wanted to do while the kids were totally entertained with all the games and countless hours in that big pool. The staff treated our children with incredible loving care! The whole family is counting the days till we return to Jamaica." The Properties Jamaica is the third-largest island in the Caribbean. The bays to the north of the island spread like a chain of sapphires along the coastline, and are home to the majority of the beautiful homes in the company's portfolio. Sweeping back from the shore rise the Blue Mountains and the legendary Cockpit Country, where one finds homes that trace their roots back to the island's colonial times. Indeed history imbues every strand of Jamaica's fabric, as does the British virtue for understated elegance, and it all sits delightfully at ease with the modern accents brought to the villas by contemporary designers and artists. And that means Linda's clients can choose from a dazzling variety of styles and decors. Noble House is a unique Caribbean treasure, a beachfront estate with Oriental accents and filled with antiques collected by one- time owner Broadway Billy Rose. Good Hope is an 18th Century plantation great house perched high in Cockpit Country, offering breathtaking views and once described by Conde Nast Traveler as "the best place in the world to see the sun rise." Silent Waters is a new property occupying 18 acres high above Montego Bay. Its setting and style evoke glamour, romance and a taste for fine living. The whole is so beautifully landscaped that a helicopter pad and tennis courts can sit comfortably next to hidden ponds and meditation areas. Amanoka is a gorgeous property on Discovery Bay, to the east of Montego Bay. Built from materials imported from China and Indonesia, this splendid villa sweeps down to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean and its own white sand beach. Coral Cove also sits on the waters of Discovery Bay, but is in marked contrast to the opulence of Amanoka. Two simple cottages on a 150 foot-white sandy beach offer a casual, relaxing holiday experience. These are just a few highlights from an eclectic portfolio that contains something to suit every taste and aspiration. Don't Just Sit There, Do Nothing! The art of providing a great vacation lies in taking care of every conceivable need a guest may have so that the only possible debate is between doing absolutely nothing and taking advantage of the wide range of activities Jamaica has to offer. This might mean golf at some of the Caribbean's top courses, including Tryall; horseback riding in the mountains that soar above the sea; water sports galore; shopping; sightseeing, by land or by air; river rafting; sampling local rums and coffee; nature tours; beach parties_.the list is seemingly endless. But many guests prefer simply to stay in their villas. So exquisite are these properties that they are a destination in their own right, and some guests say they like nothing more than to luxuriate in the relaxing ambience and be looked after from dawn to dusk.dusk.
Date 14 Dec 2001
Orientation: The street that parallels the water and goes along
the beaches is Avenida Rafael Melgar. The streets that parallel it
inland are avenues and named 5 Ave. Norte, 10 Ave. Norte, 15 Ave.
Norte, etc. So 2 streets from the water is 10 Ave. Norte.
Downtown is the dividing point for the cross streets that lead
away from the water. They are the Calles. South of downtown they are
odd numbers, Calle 3 Sur, Calle 5 Sur, etc and north of town they
are even, Calle 2 Norte, Calle 4 Norte, etc. There are a few named
streets intervening on either side of Calle 1 Sur, Benito Juarez, &
Rosado Salas.
The airport is only about 10 minutes from town, located about Calle
14 Norte and 90 Ave. Norte.
Major car rental companies are at the airport, but the lesser ones
are only in town. If you don't rent a car at the airport, then you
*have* to take a taxi or van to the place you are staying (strong
union I hear).
Restaurants:
There are two excellent, dependable restaurants that stand out.
Guido's (formerly called Pizza Rolandi) on Melgar north of the town
square about between 6-8. They have a delightful courtyard for
outdoor dining, a mostly Italian menu and dependable preparation. Be
sure to look at their daily specials, which are usually out of the
ordinary. The other one is Prima Pasta. It is on a second floor,
open air, Italian menu and high quality. It's on Salas between 5-
10.
Other places we can recommend are:
Popeyes (pronounced Po-pay-yes) is a storefront seafood place
that we go to for seafood cocktails (shrimp, calamari, pulpo, etc)
The small is about $5 and enough for lunch. Murals of the Popeye
cartoon characters are on the walls. It is on 2 North near 30 Norte
(around the corner from the large San Francisco Grocery store which
is on 30th)
La Cocay is a very civilized French restaurant. A tad pricy,
but worth the money. It's on 20th South over by Corpus Christie
Church (near 23 Sur). Good wine list there as well.
Near Cocay is a sister restaurant, a little cafe called El
Turix that serves traditional Yucatanian dishes. Cheap, small menu
(we usually try one of everything on the menu), outdoor seating if
the weather is nice and fun. The owners are friendly and would love
to talk to you.
There's a Hard Rock Cafe on Melgar with customary fare and
surprisingly decent food.
La Choza offers a whole fish grilled that's not on the menu
that's worth going in for. It's on Salas at 10 Sur. The other
traditional Mexican dishes are fair to ok, but the fish is superb.
Los Morros Del Morrelitos on 35th has a large menu, austere
decor, but good traditional food.
La Mission is another good traditional place for Mexican fare.
It's downtown, near the main square.
There is a rotisserie chicken place on 30th near 4 Norte called
Lena's for carry outs that has wonderful chicken. Ask Kathy for the
exact cross street.
Lobster Cove on Melgar near the Plaza Las Glorias hotel is a
nice place to see sunsets. It has decent food as well.
In general, avoid ordering Pok Chuk or Yucatanian Pork Chops unless
you like very salty dishes.
Two over-rated restaurants that we did not care for much were Las
Palmeras, right in the town square and Ernesto's Fajita FactoryxxFor
breakfasts and lunches: Jeannie's Waffle House on Melgar is good.
The Museum Cafe on Melgar is very nice. You can eat outside
overlooking the water. Rock N Java on Melgar (towards Plaza Las
Glorias) has sandwiches, salads and.desserts. Desserts or o.k., but
nothing special.
Bakeries: Zermatts on Ave 5 at 4 Norte is worth checking out for
bread, sweets, desserts, muffins, etc. Their whole grain bread is
wonderful. Esquisse on Salas is a coffee house, but we carry
out desserts from there.
Ice Cream stand: on 30th near Kathy's house (she can tell you
where). Worth the trip for good ice cream with some unusual flavors
(corn?).. We liked the lime ice, pistachio ice cream, & coconut
sherbet. We don't recommend the coconut ice cream or chocolate.
Supermarkets: Chedraui on Melgar near 21 South (near Plaza Las
Glorias) is the newest supermarket in town. It's like a small super
K-Mart.
San Francisco on Ave.30th is more of a food market.
NOTE- many items are available in short supply for small periods
of time. If you don't see something try the other one or come back
another day. Both have carry-out food and bakeries that are worth
trying. Try the Pork Pibil from San Francisco.
Beaches:
We go snarling off the beach and have found the best spots for
good reefs and lots of fish near shore. All beaches are public and
you can go to any one, even if there is a hotel there.
The beach at El Presidente Hotel especially the north side has
some of the best snorkeling. For those adventurous folk, the area
north of the marina north of El Presidente is called Paradise Reef
and that's where we go the most, but it's hard to find. Take the
driveway to the marina (the driveway before the main entrance to the
hotel) and turn right and go along the marina and then along the
dirt road for a while until you get to the first place you can pull
off and park. Walk down the rocks and enter there. There are
frequently glass bottom boats that go near by to see the sea-life.
Snokeling tours also come here.
Playa Corona has a beautiful miniature reef next to shore. A very
easy snorkel and well worth going to. Take the frontage road South
of town until you get to the signs. It's past El Presidente.
If you want deep water scoring, drive to Playa Palancar and rent
a boat trip out to Palancar Reef (Palancar Gardens is one site) It's
about
$25-35/person and the best way to go. If you take a boat trip from
town, you will have to be in the boat for about an hour until you
get to the reef. If you drive to the beach, the reef is only 10
minutes away. They'll drop you off on one side of the reef and let
the current take you over the reef and pick you up on the other side
(you'll have a guide with you). You'll see larger fish and deep
water coral formations that aren't visible from shore. It might be
worth doing once while you are there.
Dzul-Ha also has good snorkeling.
Chankanaab is a park with a botanic garden, restaurant, and neat
looking iguanas. The snorkeling is not exceptional, but the park is
pretty.
Laundromat: Is on Calle 11 Sur at 5 Ave. South.
Internet access: Across from the laundromat upstairs. Cheap and
slow, but available.
Following is my report of a visit to the Riu Palace, December 1 through 8 of 2001. This was my husband's and my first experience at an all-inclusive resort and our first time to the Mayan Riviera area. In preparation for our trip, we bought the equivalent of USD200 in pesos the day before we left. I had read in my travel books that a service charge is added when making purchases by credit card and that smaller restaurants and shops in Mexico do not take credit cards. I had also read that you should not buy a large amount of pesos in one day, as the exchange rate fluctuates daily. We made several ATM withdrawals for pesos while in Mexico without any problems, though I had read that the ATM machines were fairly notorious for running out of cash. We also went to a big drugstore and purchased Pepto Bismol chewable tablets. Pepto Bismol is recommended for mild cases of turista. We also bought, based on recommendation, bug spray with 10% DEET. We needed the first item, but not the second. There was barely an insect to contend with during our visit and we had perfectly gorgeous, warm, sunny weather with only one rainy afternoon. On the morning of December 1, we made our way to the airport. Security at the airport was heavily staffed, with more signs and stricter measures, yet all went smoothly and we arrived at our gate with a couple of hours to spare. We landed at the sunny Cancun airport three hours later with daylight to spare. We went from the plane to the airport shuttle bus, through the immigration line, picked up our luggage and pushed the button for the green go light at customs. Again, all went smoothly. We heard later that the line we were in at immigration, the one for those holding passports, went much faster than the line for those who were carrying other forms of proof of citizenship. We looked for the uniformed person holding up the Vacation Express sign in the airport lobby as we passed through the gauntlet of sales people trying to get our attention. Not finding him, we went outside, looked over the crowd and found our man. We walked to the van and were offered ice-cold beers. Once on its way, the van stopped first at El Dorado Royale, which appears isolated from other resorts, then at Gran Porto Real, sitting at the northern edge of Playa del Carmen. We then entered the beautifully manicured Playacar district, south of Playa del Carmen , and soon we were at the Riu Palace. We checked in and were led immediately to our room. It was on the ground level and faced a grassy area with sculptures and hibiscus plants. A row of palm trees and other vegetation provided a privacy screen between the side of our resort and the neighboring resort, the Viva Maya. We changed into shorts and went to meet the Royale Tours representative in the lobby at 5:30 p.m. I was interested in seeing Tulum and so he described a tour combining a tour of the ruins at Tulum and snorkeling at Xel-Ha. It sounded nice, but the price was over $100 per person. We settled, instead, on a trip to Tulum and snorkeling at a lagoon in Akumal. We were very hungry at that point, as we had not eaten a meal since breakfast. Snacks (raisins, cookies, pretzels, etc.) were offered on the flight to Cancun, although it was at a time when lunch normally would be served. We had been told that on the first evening we may make a choice between the 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. dinner seatings in the main restaurant, Don Julian, and then the next day were to contact the headwaiter to reserve one of these seatings for the remainder of the week. We chose the earlier seating that evening and then walked on the beach after dinner. There was a full moon and it was very lovely. Unfortunately, the beach was steeply eroded. It left a narrow strip of firm sand to walk on by the water's edge. A four-foot drop separated this strip from the big expanse of soft sand beach. I found the sleeping conditions at the Palace not exactly to my liking. If given a choice, I would have chosen one queen or king size mattress rather than two double beds, made up separately. I found the mattress too firm and the pillows too flat and the room felt clammy to me. We tried sleeping with the sliding doors open to the night air. The temperature was comfortable, but the noise from the Viva Maya bar next door kept me awake. The next morning, when brushing my teeth, I found a small sign to the left of the bathroom sink indicating that the water was not potable. To be safe, we kept bottled water in the bathroom for the remainder of the week to be used for brushing our teeth. We went on to enjoy breakfast outdoors on the terrace of Don Julian and then went to the pool. The pool at the Riu Palace is beautiful! The central bar area is painted blue and white like a house you might see on a Greek Island. Fountains pour out water over the swim-up bar. A huge hibiscus flower and trailing vines are laid out in tile work at the bottom of the curvy edged pool. Tropical trees and vegetation surround the pool in circling bands. There are plenty of lounge chairs. There are quieter areas, away from the swim-up bar, there are shaded areas and there are areas with more action. We stayed in the latter area because it was fun to people watch. In this area, water aerobics were taught each morning. Each day, also, there was a volleyball game in the pool before lunch. We went to the restaurants near the beach for lunch. One of the restaurants serves Italian (La Traviata), the other Mexican (El Patio.) The restaurants are connected and you can easily sample from both sides. All of the seating is open air. You can't see the ocean from the restaurants, but the view of the resort grounds and the coconut tree grove on the beach is very pleasant. We enjoyed the salad and cold foods bar at La Traviata and only ate at El Patio one day when chips and salsa looked good to us. On that day, I bit down on something excruciatingly spicy hot while eating the salsa. I was in extreme pain. My husband jogged over to the ice cream freezer and brought to me a scoop of coconut ice cream. It cooled the burn and I decided I would not eat anymore salsa at El Patio! After lunch, we took the beach access path to the Riu Tequila, which runs behind La Traviata. We were picked up by the backfiring guest shuttle and zipped to the lobby of the Tequila. During our stay, we walked around at each of the Riu resorts in the area, the Playacar, Tequila and Yucatan. The lobbies of each are grand, open-air affairs, very impressive and lovely. The pool areas of the resorts varied, but I felt that none were as nice as that at the Palace. That evening, my husband went to the resort's palapa hut near the beach for a back massage. At the palapa hut, you can have a massage, have your hair braided and have a temporary tattoo applied, all for a fee. They were busy at the Palace hut, so my husband went over to the hut at the Riu Yucatan and had a very good back massage. He returned after dark, yet the evening was still young. This is when I discovered that there is no entertainment provided in the early evenings at the Palace and there is no place to go for a snack while awaiting the 8:45 dinner seating we had chosen for the remainder of the week. The next day we changed our dinner reservation to the 6:30 seating and requested a table outside on the terrace. We found that we did not have to be at our table precisely at 6:30 p.m. We showed up as late as 7:15, trying to be considerate of the wait staff who had to prepare the tables for the later seating by not lingering too long over dinner. My husband took a windsurfing lesson the next day (for an extra fee.) The instructor, while good natured and patient, spoke limited English, making communication a challenge. Later in the day, my husband played volleyball in the pool. After the game, the teams waded over to the swim-up bar for Riviera Mayas. Getting involved in activities at the resort is a good way to meet people and I wish I had participated more. I would have found it helpful if there had been an orientation meeting at the beginning of the week to describe the various offerings and activities at the Palace. There was a board located near the doorway of the main restaurant listing the times of activities during the week, but it did not indicate where the activities took place. When I asked for a sheet of paper listing when and where the activities occurred, I was told that there was none available as the activities had recently changed. On Tuesday after breakfast, we walked to downtown Playa del Carmen. We walked on the main road, saying "No, gracias," several times to the persistent time share salesman who stands near the gates of the Viva Maya Resort, past the row of shops at the Playacar Plaza and then through the residential district with some beautiful homes and with several homes under construction. It was about a 25 minute walk to the edge of town. We had to pass through a gauntlet of aggressive vendors vying for our attention on Avenida 5. We stopped in a few market shops, but found the prices, for the most part, surprisingly high. We also found that when we offered a few dollars less, we were flatly refused. I had more fun shopping at the Playacar Plaza later in the week, where I bought Christmas presents for my family members. We did have a nice lunch in Playa del Carmen at La Parilla, which was recommended by my Frommer's guide. That evening back at the Palace, vendors set up tables around the main fountain. We enjoyed browsing in that very pleasant setting before going to dinner. On Wednesday, we met our tour guide in the lobby. We stopped by the Barcelo Maya and picked up a group there, all Canadian women, and then we were off to Tulum. The ruins at Tulum are located a short drive south of the Playacar district. They are in a beautiful setting, on a cliff overlooking the sea. Visiting there, especially with a good tour guide, gives you a glimpse into how the Mayans lived in this trade-based, caste divided city. Afterwards, our group went to Akumal for snorkeling. We saw brightly colored angelfish and observed sea turtles feeding on the ocean floor. I was recruited by one of the activity coordinators, Elvis, on Thursday for what he called karaoke happening that evening. It turned out to be live music, back up dancers, a feather boa flung around my neck, a faulty microphone in my hand and a sheet of paper with lyrics on a podium in front of me. The male participants had a large, ill-fitting sombrero plopped on their heads. One man completely stole the show, singing, "I did it my way," in a very dramatic fashion and passionately flinging his sombrero into the audience. At 11 p.m. we went to the discos at the Riu Tequila and Riu Yucatan. They are laid out the same, with very small dance floors. They were kind of smelly and not much was going on. With the evening outside so beautiful, it didn't feel right being cooped up there while we waited to see if things started hopping, so we moseyed on back to the Palace. On our last evening, we discovered that a wonderful pianist played at Bar Cubana off the main lobby. We enjoyed listening while we had after dinner drinks. What did I like most about our experience? The weather, the tropical foliage, the good-natured staff, the beautiful pool at the Palace, the visit to Tulum, the fresh juice bar at breakfast, eating every meal on an open air terrace and the Palace grounds lit up at night with little, white lights.
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