PLAYA DEL CARMEN SEPT 2009

September 29, 2009 in blog, videos

I just got back from Playa Del Carmen!! It was freakin awesome…the weather was perfect – being hurricane season and all lol…

SUMMARY – We stayed at the Gran Porto Real for a few days then upgraded to the Royal across the street. OMG it’s a beautiful resort – a 5 diamond rating or something <–says Donald Trump anyways.  The food was absolutely amazing – I think I had enough Beef Carpaccio and Souffles for awhile….*drool*  All Inclusive food really makes my day.  

Anyhoo…we did a lot in Mexico! Zip-lining, rappelling down a cliff, going into the C-Note caves, snorkeling in Xel Ha, cliff jumping, parasailing, kayaking, climbing the Mayan Ruins, tubing, etc….the list goes on! It really does suck coming back home…

I made a video for you guys! I’m obviously not the best videographer, but I did my best!

OK…you ready?

LONG VERSION…play by play…

We took Air Mexico Airlines first class <—which means coach on every other airline…seriously. Although it was nice to be the first off the airplane! Seats….1A, 1B.  Booyah.

First day at the pool….*hello paradise…hello fruity umbrella drinks!!*

Ah….our first hotel room! Oceanfront…I loved the hammock…so relaxing!!  The first 2 days were pretty chill, ate, lay by the pool, tan…walk on the beach and explore the resort…ate again (I can’t tell you how much I love all inclusive resorts)

We took a tour to the Mayan Ruins with a company where we climbed a whole damn pyramid / ruin.  We were the first ones up…I felt like I was in the Amazing Race…  And I’m pretty sure I’d kick butt in that game…

Walking around thru the jungle….GOD bug bites galore…they still itch.  We were killin mosquitos all week…in the room, jungle, everywhere….god I hate those little bloodsuckers!!!!!

This is where coconut rum came from….delish. I had the tiniest shot of rum in my coconut but the taste was super strong….alcohol + hot sun = bad.

We were walking down the main street right by our hotel and OMG look what I found.  I WANT ONE SOOOO BAD….the one on the right only actually.  The one on the left totally creeped me out.  He looked like he had a human face…with a little weirdo monkey body. *shivers*

Yah…we got kind of burnt…HAHAHAHA I had so many wrist bands on from the hotel, the waterpark etc…OMG. Ouch my skin hurts….on the other hand, this French restaurant in the resort – BEST FOOD EVER….

COCO BONGO…our last night…OPEN BAR. 

If you guys haven’t been here in Mexico…u gotta go…it’s not just a club, they do shows, etc…very entertaining…and open bar.

The aftermath of the open bar LOL – GOODBYE MEXICO!!!! It’s been a hoot.

So what are my thoughts?

HOTELS:

Gran Porto Real – great service, nice resort…pool kinda small and lots of kids…wonderful location – we were right down the street from the entertainment district (5th Ave) where you can shop, go clubbing, and get 30$ hour long massages <—we definitely took advantage of this!

The Royal (across the street)  - AMAZING!! The restaurants were amazing (try the french restaurant – MariaMarie), and the service was great…location was the same as the Gran Porto so it was great and convenient, and the rooms were really nice! The pool and hangout areas were perfect! 2 thumbs up!

**warning** We got totally suckered into a “times share presentation”….ughhhh…and apparently they sucker a lot of people at these hotels!

They told us it was a tour of the hotel and a breakfast at the Royal, and it turned into a Time Share presentation…which took 3 HOURS!!! OMG. So beware!! Oh well, now I know better!

ATTRACTIONS:

We went to an all inclusive water park called Xel-Ha.  They pick you up at your hotel and you have the whole day to eat as you please, drink as you please at this park.  You can cliff dive, float in a tube down the river, go into the cave, walk along the beach, tan, kayak, etc….2 thumbs up as well!

Along 5th Avenue (where the clubs and shopping are located) there’s a ton of spas that offer cheap massages etc.  We chose a place called Veronica’s which was amazing! 30/hour massages!! WHOO!

Anyways, I’m home now….I miss vacation. 

=(

Steph Ly

Here are the rest of the pics!! Enjoy! They’re not in perfect order (I gave up…it wouldn’t work…)

 

Tags: air mexico, coco bongo, gran porto real hotel, mayan ruins, mexico, playa del carmen, steph ly, the royal hotel, xel-ha, zip lining