What should you do and see while visiting this region of Mexico? In Playa Del Carmen is one of the most beautiful natural parks in all of Mexico called the Xcarat. Explore beautiful Mayan ruins, experience life as it was hundreds of years ago, and enjoy the amazing natural beauty of the region including swimming in cenotes and snorkeling in the warm crystal clear waters.

While Playa does maintain its reputation of being calmer than Cancun, it is slowly becoming more and more of a party town. As more resorts and clubs open up on the renowned 5th avenue and along the beach, they bring along many tourists from varied international locals. Topless sunbathing is quite common on the beaches here, though technically not permitted, reflecting a strong European influence. If you are looking for a truly sleepy Mexican pueblo experience than you will want to visit the nearby Tulum to enjoy a little calmer atmosphere. But if you are young and looking for a good mixture of fun and relaxation, then Playa is the place for you.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to stay here is the fact that it is ideally situated to tour all of the Yucatan. You can catch a quick ferry Cozumel or a short bus to Cancun, you can explore the ruins that fill the area, and you can visit Tulum as well for some much needed R&R. You can pack your luggage light since it’s warm weather! While in Tulum or Cozumel be sure you don’t miss out on taking a snorkel tour or even a dive tour with a certified dive operation to enjoy the beautiful waters and amazing fish. The diving isn’t as good around Playa Del Carmen, though it is still quite extraordinary if you are brand new to the experience.

If you are lucky you might come at a time when they are hosting a sand sculpture competition. This is common in the area since the powdery white sand is perfect for sculpting. Maybe you could even try your hand at the competition and see what your creativity is capable of!

Don’t worry too much about money or changing your money. The dollar is widely welcomed, ATM’s are easily reached and give you the best exchange rate possible for withdrawing cash from your foreign checking account, and Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted as well. The days of travelers checks and changing your money before hand are long gone.

July and August can sometimes have inclement weather such as high heat and rains with a potential hurricane. Though you will generally find cheaper rates if you travel during these times. The rest of the year is very enjoyable, though it never actually gets “cold” per se…

The more you explore Playa Del Carmen, the more you see what it has to offer. It can get crowded during the tourist seasons, so book your rooms in advance. Be sure you make the most of your vacation and get out to see this amazing part of Mexico. With a little research you will be well on your way to having an unforgettable tropical vacation experience!

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The Gran Porto Real was recently renovated and looks similar to one of Mexico’s finest private haciendas. The upscale facilities are easily enjoyed along with the fine dining, restuarants, bars, and as always- excellent service. They have a world class Mayan inspired Spa that has a full range of unique treatments with a Mexican flair and fully equiped gym.

The Real in Playa Del Carmen has been awarded The Cristalisima Plaque, which is the highest international certification awarded by Cristal, part of the National Britannia Group, to hotels that have attained the highest standards possible with regards to the risk management of food handling and hygiene.

The professional culinary team at the Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen, also received another coveted Cristal Plaque. So when you visit this amazing all inclusive you can be sure you will be eating the highest standard of food available in Playa Del Carmen.

Located on a long expanse of private, pristine, white sand beach, this all inclusive stands apart from the crowd. You will easily get lost in their beautiful world of tropical waters, green gardens, Caribbean ocean, and all just minutes away from the best Playa del Carmen hotspots.

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With its pool blending seamlessly with the beach, guests have a chance to enjoy the work-free holiday splurging with high spirits. Plus, they can sleep in bedrooms that have large patios, where they can watch the sunset, sailboats, and other majestic views in the sea. Some exhilirating times can be experience in this resort, with some of the improved facilities, such as Jacuzzi, theatre, disco house, tennis courts, travel agency, car rental center, souvenir shops, currency exchange center, water sports center, internet café, laundry room, medical clinic, and film developing center.

There are also experts who are willing to teach guests scuba diving lessons or guide them in a snorkelling adventure. It is the only resort that offers a state-of-the-art spa service with its very own hydrotherapy zone, bubble beds, eco-massage area, foot bath, shiatsu, body massage, hydro tone tub therapy, and beauty salon. There are also gym classes available for those who are very much conscious of their body figure. Some of the famous gym classes include yoga, Pilates, and tai chi.

Food and restaurants at Sandos Caracol Eco Beach resort and Spa are teeming with both international and local delicacies. Guests can enjoy a scrumptious buffet meal, and content themselves with different tastes of cocktails and tequila. Night parties are exclusively enjoyed by guests, together with the local performers. There are live discos at the house, piano concerts, and other forms of awesome entertainment. Some of the favorite spots of most (especially the borachos) are the Sports bar, beach snack bar, lobby bar, lounge bar, and the swimming pool bars.

Sandos Caracol Eco Beach resort and Spa is located a few kilometers from Cancun International Airport, and provides easy access to Playa del Carmen.

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It is not Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, or Cancun. Many find these areas to be overwhelming, fake, tourist traps, and lacking in anything authentically Mexican. This is the reason Playa (as the locals call it) is so popular: It’s small, quirky, international, beautiful, clean, and stays true to a Mexican style all its own. However, it still has the class of the all inclusive resorts and hotels that it’s bigger neighbors boast as well.

Recent news about Playa Del Carmen however presents a changing city. Many new luxury condominiums and resorts are popping up. It seems Playa isn’t the undiscovered gem it once was. The pristine beaches are being encroached upon giant developments that weren’t part of the original plan for the town. This is the way of progress in Mexico, but for now at least, Playa keeps its local flavor and resists becoming yet another Cancun.

The pedestrian walkways are often filled with tourists at high season, local store owners try every trick in the book to get people to go into their shops, and people of every walk of life can be found hustling and bustling down the 5th avenue. But don’t give up on you Playa Del Carmen Vacation just yet!

Even though the city is increasing in popularity, the pace of life remains slow and relaxed. Especially during the low season, Playa becomes a lazy beach town where everybody wears a half smile in spite of the heat. Local kids play games in the town center, and the evenings are made for strolling along the beach, savoring the pace of life that so many people seek.

A Playa del Carmen beach vacation mixes the rustic beauty that we all love of a traditional Mexican fishing village with the upgrades that many expect from the higher class hot spots. Be sure to check out this area on your next Mexico Vacation!

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Also, your resort or hotel should be able to provide you with a good map of the area, detailing where the restaurants, beaches, and other attractions are. Most of these can be walked to or reached by bus or taxi for those who aren’t into the whole walking thing.

Here are two decent maps to give you an idea of how the city is laid out. The first map is great for getting a general idea of where you are in Playa Del Carmen, the second is good for giving you and idea of where the city is located and what direction the other attractions are.

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Many who visit end up selling their real estate up north and investing in some Playa Del Carmen real estate. Making their dreams of living in a tropical place a reality. For those who want to just vacation, then there are so many vacation packages to choose from that are not only affordable, but also luxurious and unforgettable. One of the best kinds of vacation packages to get in Playa Del Carmen is an all inclusive resort stay. Everything is taken care of for you and you can leave your stresses behind you.

The whole town has gone through a major upgrade in recent years. Now the region is more upscale than ever. It is what Cancun used to be, before Cancun became a tourist trap for spring breakers. Nice restaurants, good looking people, all the amenities you could desire, and boutique hotels galore.

Part of what makes Playa so popular is that it is centrally located for many popular tourist desitnations. All up and down the coast ferries run to Cozumel and buses run to Cancun as well as other nearby must-see parts of Mexico. Playa del Carmen itself provides the perfect retreat from the hubub and craziness of those destinations.

Be sure not to miss the new 5th avenue. It is an expansion of the old 5th avenue, a major pedestrian walkway and shopping center. Most everything you need can be found on 5th avenue in Playa Del Carmen.

Ask your travel agent about what vacation package is right for you on your next vacation to Playa! You won’t regret your stay!

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If you are one of those who are worrying about Swine flu in Playa Del Carmen, then you can rest easy knowing that there is still no reported case in Playa or even in the whole of Yucatan according to Luna Blue’s PlayaZone blog. All hotels, resorts, restaurants, bars, beach clubs and tour operators are still open and in full swing. For a day or two there people were wearing masks, but that only lasted for a little while until people realized just how miserable wearing a mask in the Carribbean heat was!

Of course, if you do feel like you have the flu at all you should certainly go and see the doctor to get checked out. Don’t risk letting it go undiagnosed. Wash your hands regularly, don’t touch commonly touched areaas without using some hand sanitizer (which I believe is also sold out in all of Mexico so bring your own!), and just be intelligent and don’t cough on or get coughed on by anybody who looks sick.

As of now Swine flu is reportedly nothing more than a mild flu, which means it’s nothing to worry about too much, and let’s hope it stays that way!

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If you have traveled internationally EVER, or have ever been in a city, then taking a taxi shouldn’t be that difficult a thing to figure out. They are more expensive if you catch one from the airport, and you can’t get a round trip ticket on a taxi, it’s a taxi… not a car or shuttle service. You just flag one down, tell them the name of your hotel, ask how much, then if you can afford it, get in and enjoy the ride. You generally can’t haggle with the taxi cabs at the airport as they have a set price mandated by the airport itself.

Sorry, a bit off topic. Manzanillo forums:

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/

Probably the best of the forums, locals and visitors alike populate this forum and chat about all things Playa.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g150812-i23-Playa_del_Carmen_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

A very good forum for getting lots of help, especially good for suggestions on Playa Del Carmen lodging.

http://intheroo.com/playa-del-carmen-forums/

A business directory for the area, and also a very active forum.

http://www.iloveplaya.com/forum/

Yet another great forum with plenty of information for you to chew on.

Hope that helps you plan your next Playa Del Carmen vacation.

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This hotel is one of the luxurious all inclusive resorts in Playa del Carmen that fully caters to the needs of its visitors. In other words, this hotel is considered as a “user-friendly” place to be. With its state of the art sleek designs, and fully functional facilities, guests will feel that they are have their every desire catered to. In fact, this hotel is a top choice of international visitors who are coming from other parts of the globe.

There are several amenities that the Blue Bay hotel takes pride in: One is the luxurious room for couples or the whole family. It is designed in such a way that guest will not only discover comfort, but will feel it while they are having a vacation at the most unspoiled beach spots in Mexico. Another item that the hotel boasts is the swimming pool that is large enough to hold a pool party at the beach. Other facilities include a “game spot” for bored children, tranquillity spas for exhausted and dead beat visitors, and a spacious gym for those who wants to keep their bodies toned up while taking a break.

For those who want to talk business, the hotel also offers conference rooms that are large enough to hold visitors for meetings, seminars, and organizational conferences. Blue Bay Grand Esmerelda also offers several activities to be enjoyed at the beach, such as snorkelling, scuba diving, and other water sports. There are also resto bars that are overflowing with Mexican delicacies and tequilas.

More information regarding Blue Bay Grand Esmerelda Hotel is available at their official website.

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Playa Del Carmen Vacation

Playa del Carmen is a beautiful small city found on the East Coast of Mexico, it has some outstanding ocean views, and gorgeous water since it borders the Carribbean Sea. It is just about 35 miles South of Cancun in the stunning heart of Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. You won’t need a car in Playa since the town isn’t that large, most places can be reached on foot. To say it is one of the good tropical vacations is an understatement. Playa Del Carmen is perfectly located to make it a great vacation getaway! Not too close to major tourist hot spots, but just close enough to make them easily accessible.

Playa Del Carmen Hotels

Hotels and resorts can be found in all price ranges. You can stay as cheaply or as expensively as you want, either at a youth hostel, or at a five star hotel or resort. There are over one hundred Playa del Carmen hotels to choose from and all are within town and walking distance to the beach.

Restaurants

Again, you can eat as expensively or as cheaply as you desire here. The options are overwhelming, from traditional Mayan cuisine and Mexican taco stands to international food like Italian, French, Thai, Argentinian and more! Be sure to check out Juarez Avenue or past 10th Avenue to sample some Mexican flavor! Most upscale restaurants line 5th Avenue, the downtown area’s pedestrian walkway.

Traveling in Playa Del Carmen

“Playa” as it is called locally is a very laid back town. Most days can be spent relaxing under a beachside umbrella or in a hammock gazing out at the stunning Mayan Riviera beaches while holding an icey cold margarita. There is a steady breeze to cool you off on even the hottest days, and if that’s not enough a dip in the crystal clear waters will be sure to refresh and invigorate. Come visit and kick off your shoes and enjoy lunch at one of the beachside bars and restaurants with your toes in the cool, white sand. You won’t soon forget the experience!

In the afternoon there is plenty of shopping and exploring to be done on the 5th avenue of Playa. Check out the local arts and crafts and get souvieners of your vacation.

Day Trips From Playa Del Carmen

Playa is located in a very good location, perfect for exploring other parts of Mexico. There are many opportunities for day-trips from Playa del Carmen: You could go snorkeling in the azul oceans, adventure into Mayan ruins, swim in a one-of-a-kind cenote, or explore the always pleasing island of Isla Mujeres.

Getting around in Playa couldn’t be easier. Where you can’t walk, you can take a bus. A water taxi leaves regularly for Cozumel to go and see the world famous coral reefs, and a bus leaves every 15 minutes for nearby Cancun.

Be sure to visit Playa del Carmen on your next Mexico vacation! It is perfectly situated as a base for so many fun activities, you will truly get to experience everything that is offered in Mexico’s Riviera Maya.

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