so i'm finally taking a real break. just one week, but a break nonetheless. i'm going to spend four days in the mayan riviera (going to chichen itza, for one) and four NIGHTS in cancun [evil]
since i've never been to mexico (yes, really) i'd appreciate some tips. what to do, what not to do (donkey show?)... also, does mexico run on our voltage and use our plugs? or do i need to buy an adapter?
i fly out on my birthday, the 7th! woot!
dude!
congrats!!
...no advice here
this body hasn't left the country (though has been to several places in it)
Xcaret was a lot of fun.
If you get there early enough you can pay to swim with the dolphins.
The underground River is really cool.
http://www.xcaret.com/
surprised no one said dont drink the water. I got the poops pretty bad on my last night in Playa. I think it was the frozen margarita....
Tulum is cool, bring a swimsuit. They charge you extra if you bring a video camera though (at least they did 4 years ago).
Propina= tip. They will often add it to your bill, and try to trick you into giving them a double tip. sneaky.
We did a catamaran/ snorkeling trip- very fun.
definitely wanting to go to xcaret! are scooter rentals commonplace in the riviera? my buddy and i are thinking it would be fun to scoot around some of the towns...
yeah, and i'm going to avoid the water. everything bottled!
tulum: wanted to stay there and then i saw the prices... if i wanted to pay that kind of cash i'd go somewhere else! that said, i still want to go... what's the best way to do tulum on the cheap?
please..... no ash in a thong pics
thats all got
I recommend Xel Ha if you want a day or more of water activities. I don't typically get into resorty-type stops on my vacations, but I have been twice, and I would go again. Great snorkeling, great activities, they don't nickel and dime you on equipment. The food is even good.
A heads up on Xel Ha - you do have to wear their environmentally-friendly sun screen, which seems to have an SPF factor of .0017. If you do go, I suggest keeping an eye on the sun burn.
+.5 on Xcaret - we stayed at the resort for four days - it was nice, but I felt I could have done it all in two.
We attempted to go to Chichen Itza, but we were discouraged by the travel folks at Xcaret - they said something to the effect of "It is really hot. You'll probably die." This was mid-June or so. If you want to check out a Mayan pyramid, there is Tulum, which is in the same neighborhood as Xel Ha, and more importantly, right on the beach.
You don't need an adapter for Mexico - if I remember correctly, all of N America uses the same outlets.
Also, if you have some wiggle room on the itinerary, I would much rather spend four days in Cozumel than in Cancun. San Gabriel (really the only town on the island) has plenty of bars in which to get your b00ze on. So if that is a priority, don't let its reputation as a dive town scare you off. It is a little bit more mellow, and a bit less touristy. Depends on what you want. You'll have fun either way.
Quote from: bobspapa on June 30, 2008, 08:54:44 AM
please..... no ash in a thong pics
thats all got
you know you want me to rock out with my thong out
Pumps In A Bump [puke]
Cancun is a lot of fun... [evil]
I spent two weeks there two summers ago and I think that i slept a whole 12 hours the entire trip...
For the touristy stuff a huge +1 to Xcaret, it is a lot of fun, Also if you're into diving they have some of the best reefs...
You should also see about renting a car or getting on the bus and going to Playa del Carmen, it's a really really chill place...
The mayan ruins are cool, but you only really need to go to one, any more and you're just paying to see the same stuff...
That's a great place to visit Ash!
You're going to have a great time :)
The Riviera Maya is beautiful, and has delicious margaritas!!!!
We stayed at a resort just north of Playa del Carmen, and a few other small towns inland.
Rented a car and drove inland to visit ruins, which was scary because we were stopped by armed soldiers of some sort...
I enjoyed both the relaxation and adventuring/exploration of the yucatan.
Here's some pics from the trip...
yucatan pics (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/i_was_here/)
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on June 30, 2008, 11:05:29 AM
That's a great place to visit Ash!
You're going to have a great time :)
The Riviera Maya is beautiful, and has delicious margaritas!!!!
We stayed at a resort just north of Playa del Carmen, and a few other small towns inland.
Rented a car and drove inland to visit ruins, which was scary because we were stopped by armed soldiers of some sort...
I enjoyed both the relaxation and adventuring/exploration of the yucatan.
Here's some pics from the trip...
yucatan pics (http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/i_was_here/)
awesome pic
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/i_was_here/DSC00285.jpg)
Hey Ash, I would really really really advise you to NOT do the scooter thing. The drivers in the Riviera Maya area are nuts and if something DOES happen to you, the hospital experience may be less than ideal. Stick to the cage.
Quote from: il d00d on June 30, 2008, 09:31:55 AM
I recommend Xel Ha if you want a day or more of water activities. I don't typically get into resorty-type stops on my vacations, but I have been twice, and I would go again. Great snorkeling, great activities, they don't nickel and dime you on equipment. The food is even good.
A heads up on Xel Ha - you do have to wear their environmentally-friendly sun screen, which seems to have an SPF factor of .0017. If you do go, I suggest keeping an eye on the sun burn.
+1
Essentially a super large, but mostly natural set-in-rocks, swimming pool along the coast with a huge variety of places to swim ... snorkeling, innertubing on a current, cave swimming, laying out in the sun, checking out the sea life, even your own version of cliff diving a la Acapulco style. Gotta love the minimal liability worries of a 3rd world country! [thumbsup]
Quote from: il d00d on June 30, 2008, 09:31:55 AM
We attempted to go to Chichen Itza, but we were discouraged by the travel folks at Xcaret - they said something to the effect of "It is really hot. You'll probably die." This was mid-June or so.
We rented a car from Cancun to spend the day as we wanted at Chichen Itza and not be bound to the schedule of a tourist bus. No worries on the roads as they were pretty well developed for this route to the ruins (i.e. no getting-lost-in-the-jungle-rip-out-your-machete type of manuevers). My only bit of advice if you rent is to avoid a gas station where someone is standing near the pumps. Because my Spanish is very limited I couldn't tell if the guy was an employee of the station (not all of them wear uniforms) or if he was just someone loitering around. ??? Regardless, he kept telling us we had to pay him extra to simply use the pump. He did not actually pump the gas either, so we figured it was a gringo surcharge. >:(
We visited in mid-summer and yes, it was hot and stagnant with no breeze. Be sure to bring tons of water, and we were suggested to bring along some mosquito repellent but never used it. I didn't think it was so hot that it's to be avoided unless you're super sensitive to heat. (Now, if you want hot at any ruins of the world, go to Borobordur in Indonesia in the middle of summer with 10,000% humidity and 200 degrees in direct sun walking around a temple of made from black rock. I swore my shoes melted off several layers of sole, as well as my personal soul. But I digress.)
Oh yeah, I dare you not to use the rope. [evil]
Quote from: il d00d on June 30, 2008, 09:31:55 AM
If you want to check out a Mayan pyramid, there is Tulum, which is in the same neighborhood as Xel Ha, and more importantly, right on the beach.
Tulum is worth a visit. Though not as grand as Chichen Itza, it's still a nice addition on a trek through history. And as noted, being on the beach is a definite plus.
Quote from: il d00d on June 30, 2008, 09:31:55 AM
Also, if you have some wiggle room on the itinerary, I would much rather spend four days in Cozumel than in Cancun. San Gabriel (really the only town on the island) has plenty of bars in which to get your b00ze on. So if that is a priority, don't let its reputation as a dive town scare you off. It is a little bit more mellow, and a bit less touristy. Depends on what you want. You'll have fun either way.
+ 1
Cozumel is a more true Mexican experience compared to Cancun IMO. However, it can get touristy because it's a usual port of call for cruise ships.
Hawaii's safer ;)
sounds like a kickass trip, ash!
oh yeah, no real advice from me, either... the only countries I've visited are the US and canada [cheeky]
yall are awesome! i'm getting so pumped!!! :D
we rented the car, and took off into the jungle in search of less touristy ruins... and it was an experience!
small children ran along side the car as we drove through their village,
we were stopped by some kind of military group with very large machine guns,
and yes, the gas station attendant TRIED to rip us off, so be very careful.
the ruins at coba were still being excavated, and we saw wild monkeys!!!
Quote from: bobspapa on June 30, 2008, 12:19:56 PM
awesome pic
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/i_was_here/DSC00285.jpg)
Extremely cool pic. [thumbsup]
Hmm, I think I see the Red Dot in the water to the left. So
that's where the damn thing is.....
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 01:39:51 PM
yall are awesome! i'm getting so pumped!!! :D
Thanks snookums. :-*
You're gonna have fun.. remember what they consider hot in Mexico (food wise) is like 100 times hotter than anything you've ever had.
Drink water only from sealed bottles of mineral water.
Buy a poncho.
My sister is doing some volunteer work starting last saturday in deep, rural Mexico.. no phone lines, electricity and very undernourished people. She loves volunteer work and Mexican people are really wonderful.
so is she cute?
too easy... ;)
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 09:35:17 AM
you know you want me to rock out with my thong out
Blah..I couldn't read beyond this! ^^^
[puke]
[cheeky]
Have fun Ash!!
Quote from: IZ on June 30, 2008, 03:25:55 PM
Blah..I couldn't read beyond this! ^^^
[puke]
what if i stuff it with tofurkey bacon?
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:26:39 PM
what if i stuff it with tofurkey bacon?
the sharks would think you're dinner, and then spit you out [laugh]
IZ to the rescuuuuuue! [laugh]
If you're going to be doing any snorkeling or diving..get a shark cage dude!!
Hammerheads out like crazy down there!!
hmmm... might do that. although sharks scare me more than jumping out of planes...
but i do LOVE them.... awesome creatures!
i wanna go to me-hee-koe now 8)
cuz of the tofurkey bacon thongs?
i knew you were freaky! :D
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:42:46 PM
hmmm... might do that. although sharks scare me more than jumping out of planes...
but i do LOVE them.... awesome creatures!
LOL..I'm just tryng to scare you. Same here..they scare the sh*t out of me but find them fascinating. That's why I did the sharkcage in Hawaii! [thumbsup]
BTW.. I do transcribing on a daily basis. You're phonetics need a little work! [cheeky]
Quote from: IZ on June 30, 2008, 03:52:52 PM
BTW.. I do transcribing on a daily basis. You're phonetics need a little work! [cheeky]
well YOUR spelling sucks! [laugh]
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:52:36 PM
cuz of the tofurkey bacon thongs?
i knew you were freaky! :D
Seriously, Ash if you got a pic of you wearing a bacon thong in Mexico with a shark going in for a taste ..you would be my f*cking hero!
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:53:50 PM
well YOUR spelling sucks! [laugh]
Got me on that one. I'm trying to do ten things at once!! [cheeky]
Quote from: IZ on June 30, 2008, 03:56:08 PM
Got me on that one. I'm trying to do ten things at once!! [cheeky]
please don't tell me what the other nine are... [puke]
Quote from: IZ on June 30, 2008, 03:54:47 PM
Seriously, Ash if you got a pic of you wearing a bacon thong in Mexico with a shark going in for a taste ..you would be my f*cking hero!
...because you like eunuchs?
I was in Cancun for a couple days, work related :P , but they paid for my wife to go too. [thumbsup]
Definitely take a risk and wander off the beaten path, touristy stuff isn't as fun as the real raw deal.
Also, I intentionally drank the water just to see and no shits for me. ;D
Make sure to feed the iguanas, they'll appreciate it.
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:57:44 PM
...because you like eunuchs?
Come on..what's the shark supposed to bite off?
YOU'RE a cute, little Asian chick, right?! ;D
Quote from: lethe on June 30, 2008, 03:58:47 PM
Make sure to feed the iguanas, they'll appreciate it.
I hear the Mexicans make bacon out of iguana?!
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:19:17 PM
so is she cute?
too easy... ;)
As cute as a baseball bat to the balls ;D :P ;)
I wanna see this iguana-bacon-thong picture.. just out of non-gay curiousity. [laugh]
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 03:52:36 PM
cuz of the tofurkey bacon thongs?
[laugh] [laugh] no [laugh] [laugh]
Quote from: NuTTs on June 30, 2008, 04:19:56 PM
As cute as a baseball bat to the balls ;D :P ;)
attaboy :P
Get a metal watch band that has to be unbuckled and pulled of your hand. Only carry what cash and ID is absolutely required and keep it secure. Your pocket doesn't count trust me(damn kids, watch out if they try to put any friendship braclets on you). Lastly just because you're completely sauced and the bar has a dirt floor does NOT mean it's ok to pee in the corner. The Policia will put you in a truck drive you miles into the dark countryside and with their assault rifles demand all your cash and then leave you to walk back. Scary shit.
Quote from: bobspapa on June 30, 2008, 12:19:56 PM
awesome pic
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/i_was_here/DSC00285.jpg)
That looks like it's from Tulum ?
...didn't read any of the thread....
stay away from the chicks in the donkey show...
...all I got.
I had a choice of going to the Yucatan or going to Jamaica and I really wanted to see the Myan ruins (this was in '73) but I chose Jamaica. I had a great time at Mo' Bay and the wacky weed was outrageous ,very cheap ,and plentiful . No snakes on the Island , but their was alot of political unrest at that time . Appleton Distillery was a neat place to visit and the Blue Mountain coffee is still the best I've ever had.
I would've liked the Mexico trip but glad I went to Jamaica.
p.s. A friend got Montezuma's Revenge . The whole plane got it on the retun flight . My friend figured it must have been from the ice cubes in their drinks on the plane from Mexico.
Quote from: ducpainter on June 30, 2008, 05:21:21 PM
...didn't read any of the thread....
Try not to be a chick in the donkey show...again
...all I got.
FIXED ;D
Wife and I were in Playa Del Carmen for a week at the start of June. There is a bar in Playa called La Bodeguita del Medio (Little Store in the middle) right at the entrance of 5th ave. It's a spin off of the original bar in Havana - you've never had a mojito until you've had one made with cuban rum! We got plastered there a few times.
Also, was walking down a street looking for a restaurant someone recommended, when I saw a Ducati dealership! They had one 695, a KTM Duke and a few scooters. Tried to buy a t-shirt but their "showroom" wasn't what you would expect. Still cool though, couldn't tell you where it was at.
Quote from: Ash on June 30, 2008, 08:52:36 AM
yeah, and i'm going to avoid the water. everything bottled!
Remember to use bottled water to brush your teeth too. Or you'll be sorry.... [laugh]
A good friend of mine works for the Border Patrol. He says that Mexico has recently had alot of problems with the gangs and drug cartels. Shoot-outs in the streets, kidnapping for ransom, etc. One of the drug lords' sons was hit in the streets, and they used a bazooka. Missed the dude, but took out the building behind him. Moral: stay in the resorts or very touristy places.
Have fun. [thumbsup]
And bring me back some good Mescal. ;)
Quote from: il d00d on June 30, 2008, 09:31:55 AMI would much rather spend four days in Cozumel than in Cancun. San Gabriel (really the only town on the island)
+eleventybillion on Cozumel vs. Cancun, but the main town is San Miguel.
All your electrical stuff will work, but consider taking an extension cord since some rooms have few outlets and they're always in the wrong place.
Don't worry about the water too much. Just don't drink out of the tap (or use tap water to brush your teeth) and you'll be fine. All ice is commercially made from filtered water. Any water used to make licquados, jamaica, tamarindo, etc. will have come from a bottle. No need to worry about drinks in restaurants, ice cream shops, or even from street vendors. NOBODY who lives there drinks tap water.
In years of travelling in the Yucatan/Cozumel area I've never gotten sick. I'm a big fan of streetmeat and refreshing beverages bought from carts.
Quote from: IZ on June 30, 2008, 03:42:00 PM
If you're going to be doing any snorkeling or diving..get a shark cage dude!!
Hammerheads out like crazy down there!!
In hundreds of dives over 28 years I've never seen a hammerhead in Cozumel. There *are* occasional sightings, but you've got to get to very out-of-the way sites to glimpse pelagic fish like those. Even though I've tried hard I haven't managed to.
Hammerheads should not be among anyone's worries in that area.
Haha, dang.. after reading most of this thread again.. our favorite hot asian chick is gonna end up going to Tejas as an alternative. That donkey show sounds promising, for the donkey.
I was just kidding about my sis. [cheeky]
Quote from: NuTTs on June 30, 2008, 10:43:03 PM
I was just kidding about my sis. [cheeky]
hey how bout some girl on girl then!
again, too easy.
i'm such a hot mess.
Quote from: Ash on July 01, 2008, 12:10:46 AM
hey how bout some girl on girl then!
again, too easy.
i'm such a hot mess.
You're gonna have to pay [coffee]
ash.... have a great trip :)
you deserve a vacation... relax and have fun!!!!!! [beer]
thanks mel... i really do.
for example, i am working right now, trying to get my SOX certification done (or appropriately delegated)....
i can't wait to sip a pina colada on a peaceful beach with a cheap hooker.
wait. did i just say that?
Quote from: Ash on July 05, 2008, 04:20:36 PM
thanks mel... i really do.
for example, i am working right now, trying to get my SOX certification done (or appropriately delegated)....
i can't wait to sip a pina colada on a peaceful beach with a cheap hooker.
wait. did i just say that?
yes... you did.
margarita's... drink margarita's dude...
but the hooker is ok?
i dont like margaritas
Quote from: Ash on July 05, 2008, 04:23:45 PM
but the hooker is ok?
i dont like margaritas
margarita's in mexico is different... trust me...
no... the hooker is yucko
how can you not like margarita's? You have to get at least one margarita.
Margaritas didn't start out as very Mexican, so unless you especially like them there's no particular point in getting one in Mexico.
If you don't like them, have a michelada. It's lots of lime juice with several drops of hot sauce (usually something like Bufalo or Valentina rather than Tabasco), some worchestershire sauce or Maggi (sometimes both), and ice in a salt-rimmed glass topped up with beer. Wonderful in the extreme. In the Yucatan, you're not likely to get the type that's made of tomato juice or Clamato and beer, which is very fortunate in my opinion. When you order a michelada without specifiying anything more, the waiter or bartender will say "de...?" indicating that you need to specify what beer. In Cancun, Sol would be a good choice, but I like XX Amber or even Negra Modelo.
If you like Tequila but not margaritas, try a Vampiro. It's tequila with grapefruit juice and sangrita. There's also "tequila completo," which is a shot of tequila and a shot of sangrita. (Sangrita is made from chiles and lime or bitter orange juice with grenadine. Sometimes people confuse it with or replace it with tomato juice. It's got nothing to do with sangria.) Tequila con coca (cola) is pretty good, too.
Coco Loco is great, too. It's a coco frio (fresh, cold "water coconut") with the top cut off. A little of the coconut water is poured out to make room, and a shot of nearly everything white behind the bar is poured in: tequila, rum, gin (yes, gin and coconut sounds bizarre, but it's great) and ice is added. Once you're done drinking, ask the bartender to cut open the coconut and give you some salsa (usually Bufalo is used) and lime. Sauce up the jelly-like young coconut inside and eat it with a spoon. Yum!
If you don't like tequila, Cuba's pretty close, so Mojitos would be appropriate. Of course, mojitos are nearly always appropriate.
If you read really carefully between the lines, you might detect that I absolutely love going to the Yucatan. What you might not be able to tell is that I really don't drink all that much because I'm always diving the next day. It's so often true that one hobby interferes with another.
Awesome post! If you read on my lines, you'll know I LOVE drinking!
Quote from: Ash on July 05, 2008, 08:31:57 PM
Awesome post! If you read on my lines, you'll know I LOVE drinking!
I think, somehow, that I had detected that... 8)
Quote from: Ash on July 05, 2008, 08:31:57 PM
Awesome post! If you read on my lines, you'll know I LOVE drinking!
have fun in me-hee-koe ash :)