Cancun or Playa del Carmen?
I thought Playa had a better beach. The good thing about Cancun is that it is closer to sights like Chichen Itza, Meridia, and Isla de Mujeres, and you land at the airport anyway. But Playa is closer to Tulum, which has the best beach for wading that I have ever seen.
Should I avoid going to Playa del Carmen, Mexico?
There was an official travel alert from the US Embassey in Mexico City regarding Carmen de Playa. It had to do with explosive devises detonating on ferries. Official US personnel had travel restrictions. Those restrictions have since been lifted. For the most current and accurate information is found at the official website for Travel Advisories-Bureau of Consular Affairs-US Department of State.You may also wish to join the STEPS (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program). You let the Embassy know when you are entering the country and your itinerary including date of departure. Should there be a crisis you are notified by e-mail and safety recommendations are given. That being said I have traveled in Mexico for many years and have never have an issue. I use the same good judgment that I would exercise in any large American city.
What is the most efficient way to see Tulum, Playa del Carmen, and Cancun in one trip?
Having visited the Riviera Maya about a dozen times, I would highly recommend to allocate most of your time to explore Tulum, of course it all depends on what your preference is for example big resort all inclusive, family friendly, adventure, relax, etc. What I would recommend to do is to skip Cancun and set base in Playa del Carmen for 4 days if you wish to explore places such as Chichen Itza, Cozumel and Cenotes as Playa is a great base for this. Not only does it have a great location but accommodation is affordable. This is what we did when we wanted to explore- just rented out an Airbnb and didnt feel bad to be out and about all day but was still in a very safe, clean apartment with an amazing location. And from there continue on to Tulum and spend another 4 days there just falling in love with Tulum. You can explore many Cenotes near by as well as go to the Tulum Ruins or just simply hanging out by the beach and tasting out restaurants as the food quality is great. I would definitely recommend renting a car just be an alert driver.Here are the links to the both places we stayed and loved in Playa del Carmen and Tulum:Playa: PM 104 - 1 Bdr+WiFI+Pool*SkyBar+Steps5thAve - Apartments for Rent in Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, MexicoTulum: Casa Sieva...4BR Villa w/ Pool & BBQ Sleeps 8 - Houses for Rent in Tulum, Quintana Roo, MexicoI am able to get a 20% of discount for either unit to all my readers - I dont make any commissions - I just love both properties and highly recommend them, so if you are interested send me an email to claudia@zeebalife.com or if you have any other specific questions about the area :)CLAUDIA PADGETT (@zeebalife) • Instagram photos and videos
Is Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Fun?? What is there to do?
I might go there for spring break, i was wondering if it would be a good place to go. I am going with my family and some other relatives. 3 adults, 3 teens, and 2 kids.
Where is the best place (non-touristy) to stay in Playa Del Carmen?
Your best bet is to rent a property and avoid hotels as hotels are always full of tourists. Chose a rental property that is far enough from La Quinta Avenida so you dont get the craziness but close enough that you are accessible to restaurants, grocery stores, bars, beach etc. (From 20th Ave upwards) This is actually exactly what we did during our last trips to Playa in August, October, November, January and February (yes, we like to go there a lot! haha). Here is all about our stay and the property Explore Like a Tourist & Live Like a Local in Playa del Carmen | Zeeba Life (this property sometimes offers 15% off discounts. You can message me if this is of your interest)Yes we still saw at least 2 couples in the building that were visiting, but this is a residential building with strict entry/exit rules , security, noise policy etc so there is no need for concern. The first time we visited Playa we stayed in Aldea Thai Hotel. The whole time we were there all we heard is super loud music and drunk people… not the best when we where on a business trip and had to sleep.
When is the best time to visit Playa del Carmen?
Due to increase in popularity there hasnt been a low season in Playa del Carmen in the last couple of years. Technically the low or “lower” months are June through October as this is Hurricane season. During those lower months I have visited Playa in June, August, October and November. In June it rained every single day of our 4 day visit. In August we had only one day of rain in all our 9 day stay. October and November offered clear blue skies, perfect weather and free o f many tourists.Technically the best time to visit is Winter as there is no rain and its not as hot. This means its high reason , higher prices and lots of tourists. I have visited in December, January and February and though the weather is absolutely perfect, it can get very crowded in places such as Mamitas Beach and La Quinta Avenida.Our favorite months to visit was actually October and November as we got to enjoy lower prices, less crowds and also great weather. Not sure if we got lucky with the weather in October as it can be a little unpredictable, but November always seems to be a better option as it is a shoulder month. Though if you avoid staying in a hotel and rent a rental property instead, you can get much better prices and more space and privacy. That is what we did: Explore Like a Tourist & Live Like a Local in Playa del Carmen | Zeeba Life (Sometimes the property offers 15% discount. If you are interested you can send me message).
If you were going to buy a new condo in either Playa Del Carmen or Tulum, which would make a better investment and rental?
My family and I visited Playa del Carmen and Tulum a few times this year in order to do research on the exact same topic. We met with many developers, realtors, locals etc. The most common answer was that even though tourism is very strong (and growing steadily ) Playa del Carmen is facing an oversupply in inventory and more than that, competitions with hotels is very strong. You can find relatively good quality hotels for a decent price in Playa, so this is direct competition for your rental property. If you do buy a property in Playa, you should aim to provide a hotel service (provided by your property management) at a relative price to hotels in the area. One advantage that Playa has over Tulum, is that it has proven to be a destination and not a “hype”. Tourism is quite strong in Playa and it doesnt seem like it will slow down anytime soon.Tulum is a new market that is trying to grow as fast as it can due to its recent popularity. There are endless of new developments for sale now, the problem is that most of them are selling at high prices compared to the development of the area. If you have been to Tulum you will know that is quite undeveloped and it has a long way to go to come near Playa del Carmen, yet the asking prices of the properties are nearing those of Playa. They are selling you the future not the present. That said, I believe the most “valuable” area is Aldea Zama, any lot outside of Aldea Zama was not advised by any of the people I spoke to. Another thing about Tulum is that there really isnt a public beach, as most of the hotels are on the beach , so to access the beach you need to visit a beach club or hotel for the day some having a minimum consumption per day. Aldea Zama, the closest community to the beach, is still a good 5 min drive, 10 min bike ride away from the main strip and beach access.It is a tricky decision… but during our research we became good friends with a fantastic realtor and some great developers. Let me know if you would like to get in touch with them for more specific information. And if you need a property to stay in Playa del Carmen, as a travel blogger, I am able to offer 15% discount on your entire stay in this property for bookings made directly with me: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/156... Please contact me at hello@zeebalife.com and good luck!
What is the best way to get around in Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Riviera Maya?
Car Rental! Don’t know about you but I love to get behind the wheel and explore all that the destination has to offer at my own pace.Pros of renting a car:Go anywhere (Cancun-Riviera Maya-Chichen itza etc)Gas is sorta cheapRentals are cheap in CancunAir conditioning (jeje)You avoid dealing with crooked taxi drivers (not all but 99%)Cons of renting a carIt may take you a while to get the hang of the driving styles in MexicoCan’t drink because you’re drivingToll fees ( in case you decide to wonder to Chichen itzaHope this help!