Reviewers Rating: 
Great
Date of visit: March 2002I hope this review finds its way onto the website because this resort has been unmercilessly punished by other travelers for picky reasons. We loved staying at the resort. The food was OK at the main dining area, good at the Mexican restaurant, and fabulous at the Italian restaurant. Do NOT miss the flaming coffee. The entertainment crew was over-the-top rowdy and no-rules oriented. Be careful if you are shy or conservative! The maid staff did a great job and performed even better with about 20 pesos per day tips (you DO tip your maids in the states also, don't you?) Most staff do not know English, but this is THEIR MEXICO folks... YOU should know Spanish! The beach has imported sand that is on the thin side and there are plenty of rocks and coral. Now you know this... buy water socks or reef booties! Besides, we don't care about sand... it is about the ocean and the atmosphere. The snorkeling around the barrier reef is pretty nice... don't be afraid to venture out and explore. Nit picking a little, we would love to have another beer besides Dos Equis draft and we would have loved some premium liquors. We also would have loved to used bicycles that were supposed to be there (but were not). Security is always a concern ANYWHERE in Mexico. Use the in-room safe for all valuables and don't dress/undress during the daylight hours unless you like voyeur resort staff looking at you or walking in on you. There is nothing wrong with this resort for the special price we paid (about $800 per person for a week). You have to keep value in mind. You get what you pay for people!
Outside the resort you are in the middle of nowhere. This is a GOOD thing folks! Do you want a vacation or a noise-laden party??? Lots of uneducated travelers complain about the high cost of cabs and such to get anywhere. All you need are a few pesos or dollars and some knowledge. If you walk out to the main road and wait, a van (collectivo) will come by and you can ride share for about $1 for miles! Just tell them where you want out. Do not do this at night. In fact, I would not travel at all in Mexico at night. Anyway, you can pay a cab $20 to go to Playa del Carmen or go on a collectivo for $1! You can pay a cab $50 to go to Cancun or you can go to Playa for $1 via collectivo, catch a nice coach at the bus station to Cancun for $3.50, and a third bus at Cancun station into the hotel zone for $1 (for a total of about $6). Your choice.
Xel Ha is marvelous and worth a whole day. It is all-inclusive and the food and drinks are good. We snorkeled the entire inlet and had a blast. Xcaret is a great place for adults, but kids will get bored there. Everything is first-rate, but pricey. Tulum is gorgeous but tours are pricey... use a guidebook and take a collectivo. In fact, take a tour to an inland ruin and experience a real Mayan dig and some remaining culture... a much better choice. Again, consult a current guidebook.
Let us know if you have any questions.
Reed & Peggy Nelson
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