All-Inclusives...Cancun, Riviera Maya Playa Del Carmen??

[Dr.Corona]

Any reccomendations on all-inclusives in the Yucatan? Have been to the Moon Palace...awesome facilities but not cheap. Beach is weak. Looking for other places to consider.

[NJPhinPhan]

Oh Gawd...that's a might big list to cover as there are plenty to choose from...

Some of the best:

4 stars

Club Maeva
Catalonia Riviera Maya
Viva Azteca

5 stars

Barcelo Maya
Palladium
Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal
Bahia Principe
Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar/Beach
Sunscape Puerto Adventuras
El Dorado Royale

6 stars

Iberostar Paraiso Lindo
Iberostar Paraiso Maya
Secrets Capri
Secrets Excellence
Riu Palace
Xpu Ha Palace
Royal Hideaway (although it's VERY expensive!)

IMHO, ALL of these resorts beat the Moon Palace, which is rated 6 stars. While it's pretty enough, it's kind of a generic hotel and the beach there isn't very good. I think they should drop that rating a notch for that reason alone.

The 4 star resorts and many of the 5 star resorts will price out less than the Moon Palace is right now, I guarantee it. Top picks of the 5 star hotels I listed...the Barcelo, Palladium, Bahia and the Tucan/Quetzal.

If you need any more info, let me know (this area is my specialty! )

[Margarita No Salt]

It's funny you are bringing up this subject. I just got back from staying at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort just South of Playa Del Carmen. It a beautiful resort and has lots of beach activities. My only complaint about the place is the NIGHT LIFE... It sucks!!! I love the all inclusive.. You can just walk up and help your self to a shot of Tequila or a glass of Corona. If you don't mind the lame night life, this place is AWESOME... 2 swim up bars, snorkeling off of the pier that is just to the north side of the beach, sailing, and oh did I mention Tequila... Barcelo is only a 20 minute taxi ride to Playa, so you can go to Senior Frogs and Carlos & Charlie's. Which amounts to about $14.00 each way. That was nice.. IM me if you would like more information!
Have a GREAT time in MEXICO!!!

[sunseeker]

Cozumel...

[sholleran]

Might want to hit http://www.tripadvisor.com for some feedback on various resorts . . . try to remember the people who write usually had a terrible experience or a fantastic one, and the terrible experience people are more motivated to spread vindictive messages than the happy ones are motivated to share the joy.


BTW, I found I could make my own awesome package by grabbing $199 RT air on a FunJet charter flight from Chicago and using travelyucatan.com or expedia or travelocity to get the hotel I wanted - they all priced them out the same, and cheaper than Funjet as a package.

Enjoy the sun & sand!

[NYCPORT]

Not much of a night life but a place we've been too 5 times is Oasis Akumal. It's very nice, not too fancy, very clean, excellent service, etc. The water and food is safe, nice rooms, a bunch of pools, right on the beach. Only about 70 rooms. We've taken a bunch of people who didn't expect much because of the price and everyone has been amazed at how nice a place it is. Many have gone back again.
Last time I checked it was around $600-700 a week per person for everything including the booze.
PM me if you want more info.

[NJPhinPhan]

It's funny you are bringing up this subject. I just got back from staying at the Barcelo Maya Beach Resort just South of Playa Del Carmen.

Funny you should mention that place....I just got back from there too! My third time there in one year. And I moderate the Unofficial Barcelo Maya Website so I am quite familiar with this resort. I do have to disagree with you about the night life however. As far as all inclusive night life goes, the Barcelo is one of the best, if not THE best in that department. Between the shows and the on site "disco", that's about as hopping as resort living gets. Of course it's not like Manahattan or any other kind of major hang out and party area but it's a fairly isolated all inclusive resort in Mexico...whadda ya want? A 15 minute cab ride into Playa Del Carmen will take care of ALLLL your night life needs, trust me!

sholleran...making you're own "awesome" package is great but do be careful. As a travel agent, I cannot even begin to tell you how many people have come to me complaining about the horrid things that have happened to them when they have booked their own hotel accommodations when traveling out of the country....and how they'll never do it again. Everything from being bumped, the hotel not having any record of their reservation, payments not being forwarded, things that are included when you book those packages NOT being included when you book yourself...and so on and so forth. When you have the services of a good agent behind you, one who books trips with reputable vacation companies, things like this rarely happen as no hotel wants to p*** off a huge company like Apple or Funjet by bumping their people. And FYI...that same good agent should be able to find you a land only price that is better that what Expedia charges if you want to get your own airfare.

Matt...Oasis Akumal is quite a bit more than it used to be, but then again, EVERYTHING in the Mayan Riviera is quite a bit more than it used to be now that this area has become soooo popular. However, it is still one of the least expensive resorts.