|
Riviera Maya All-Inclusive Vacation Packages
Riviera Maya All Inclusive Hotels
 By: Don James
For our family to return to the same vacation destination two years in a row, you know there must be something special! For spring break this year, our family returned to Playa Del Carmen located in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Normally, we try to go some place different each year to learn about new destinations. So, why did we return to Playa Del Carmen this year?
First of all, Playa Del Carmen is easy to get to from Denver. Apple Vacations operates direct non-stop air charter service from Denver to Cancun, a 2 1/2 hour flight. From Cancun, Playa Del Carmen is a short 45 minute bus ride to the south. With an early morning departure from Denver, you are literally on the beach by lunch and ready for that first cerveza!
 For accommodations, we returned to the Reef Club which is an all-inclusive resort. We like the Reef Club for a variety of reasons. First of all, the Reef Club is located close to town, a 20 minute walk or a $4 cab ride. The resort is clean, well maintained, and is relatively small (approximately 200 rooms) compared to some of the other mega resorts in the area.
The rooms are standard fare, the few complaints we heard concerned the AC not working very well or the hot water running out during the peak shower time (5 to 6 p.m.). The food is good, however after 4 or 5 days you are ready to venture into town to try out one of the local restaurants. The Reef Club has two pools and is located on a great beach which stretches for miles in either direction. On those long beach walks, you truly understand why many refer to this area as the "Mayan Riviera". The Reef Club is also well suited for families, there are lots of activities and kids have no problems meeting up with others their own age.
The town of Playa Del Carmen is well worth a visit, day or night. The main shopping area is located in the center of town on 5th Avenue. For approximately 10 blocks, 5th Ave. is pedestrian only and is full of colorful shops, restaurants, bars, and interesting people (you may even bump into someone you know!)
What our family really enjoys about the Playa Del Carmen area is the  variety of things to do. There are some of us who want nothing more from our vacation than sitting under a palapa, on a nice beach with a good book. For others, there are many excursions to choose from. Some of the more popular activities in the area include golf, shopping, snorkeling, diving, and of course, visiting the Mayan ruins (Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza are all within an easy 2 hour drive of Playa Del Carmen).
We particularly enjoyed snorkeling in the fresh water cenotes which are common in the area. Cenotes are fresh water pools carved out of the limestone by an extensive underground river system. Snorkeling or diving in cenotes is becoming more popular due to the clarity of the water and the experience of snorkeling in underwater caves. Many of the more popular cenotes are listed on highway maps of the region and are relatively easy to find.
And last, but not least, we have found the combination of Playa Del Carmen, the Reef Club, and Apple Vacations, to be a very affordable vacation. The Apple Vacations package (which includes round trip air, airport transfers, accommodations, all meals, and drinks) is really a great value.
When you put it all together, Playa del Carmen is a great destination that is easy to get to, offers plenty to see and do, and provides great value. If you would like to learn more about a vacation to Playa del Carmen, call James TravelPoints. 1-800-538-7461
|
Mexico
