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Links Page -- good info here
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Email Drew
Traveling off-season is the first secret, the key to an inexpensive vacation. DATE is now Wednesday April 28 through Wednesday May 5. And don't forget that Drew will be celebrating the big 4-0 at this time! How does $372 for 7 days grab ya?
April 28 Wed depart AUS 13:00 arrive CUN 3:25 $197
That's a 7-day Make My Bet flight, but booked through my travel agent, Aaeros Travel, the Mexico specialists in Austin, TX. Same price as the internet, but booked locally, good because you can talk to a real live person if something goes wrong. Give Mark or his madre Ruth a call at 512-708-1940 or 1-800-952-3767. Tell 'em Drew sent 'ya.
$197 is the best Cancun airfare I've seen in six months, save that one on April 1 for $167 (DAY-YAM!). April Fool's day, I know, but it was real, and it was the fare of the year...Drew wouldn't be able to fly, drive, bus or walk to the Yucatan for less than that.
Prices are air-only, charter air (see the links page), for 7 days and include tax as of 3/23. Supposedly you can get them cheaper for the 3- or 4-day vacation rotation, since the charter airlines also make money on the hotel they want you to buy. And since we're not buying the hotel from them, they figure they're losing money on a 7-day so they charge a little more, according to my travel agent.
This is a really good fare, but the MYB sale that I got that flight from is over.
It couldn't be any easier. If you have a real bank account, take a taxi ($70) or a van ($60), but Drew takes the bus. Not any old bus, but a first class bus that departs right outside the airport terminal. See pic It takes about 40 minutes to get to the bus station in Playa, which is only a couple of blocks from the hotel. $7 one way.
Incidentally, if you really want to save money, take a regular bus as follows: Find the bus stop outside the airport. Pay $1. Ride to the bus station in downtown CANCUN. Find the bus to Playa del Carmen and points beyond. Pay $1. Relax with the chickens, you'll be on the bus for a while, stopping every half a kilometer or so. Don't forget the sweat rag, this bus might not have air. Three hours later, you'll be at the bus station in Playa. This is not a bad way to sight-see, Drew got on the wrong bus once in Puerto Vallarta, and he saw lots of typical Mexican neighborhoods. While interesting, it took forever and at this point all Drew wants to do is get to the beach. Pay the extra five bucks for the air-conditioned first class bus at the airport. Thank Drew when you get to the hotel.
Easy...everything you want to do is within walking distance. If not, taxis are way cheaper than in Cancun. For trips out of town, you pay $1 for a collectivo at the collectivo stand, just so you know what they look like. Right around the corner from Mom's.
Drew's plan is to find a nice but inexpensive hotel. They're all over Playa del Carmen, but you need one with the right vibe. After extensive web research, posts to PdC web forums, and coin tosses, Drew found Mom's Hotel. Actually, replies to the forum posts said that "they treat you like family" so that's what did the trick. Stayed there in January 2004, and yes, they treat you like family. Let's call this "value-added." Mom's web page
Mom's is an awesome hotel, about a 3-star, about 20 nice rooms, about five minutes from the beach, and more importantly, plenty of return business. Ricco, the owner, is from Marble Falls. Awesome, huh? I had a couple of conversations with Ricco, and he's a great guy. Two Americanos, Dana and Mike, and a local, Julio, round out the staff, and they are always willing to take care of problems, offer advice on excursions, or to just make sure that you're OK. I'm getting a king room with air for $25/night, including tax, which comes out $175 for seven days.
Drew rates Mom's a 3-star. Generally, in Mexico, a 6-star is a new, really nice resort, or any Four Seasons resort. A 5-star is a really nice resort, but it's not new. A 4-star is a nice resort. A 3-star is a basic hotel, not on the beach, older, but with lots of charm, so it's a good place to stay if you're trying to save money.
Mom's has:
What Mom's DOES NOT HAVE:
And that's the point. We're looking for a cheap but good vacation, and that means our expectations have been lowered. No giant balcony overlooking the fairway and the ocean waves beyond Drew's done that too, and he likes it!, but a hotel that represents great value for the money. And when you stay at Mom's you actually get to experience more of the local culture, rather than what you'll see walking from your room to the pool in a large resort.
There are lots of other hotels in Playa at all price ranges, see the links page.
Plenty. You can walk wherever you need to go; no need for expensive taxi rides. For transportation out of town, maybe for a snorkeling trip or a tour of archeological sites, the collectivo stand is two blocks away from Mom's. (A collectivo is a brand new 15-passenger van that leaves when it is full. $1 gets you about 20 miles.) Shopping, more expensive restaurants, and entertainment are a couple of blocks away on pedestrian-only 5th street. Diving, fishing, and parasailing are easily found. You'll find whatever you're looking for in Playa Del Carmen, weather it's all-night partying or something a little more relaxing. Drew told me since he’ll be 40 soon, he’ll relax and everyone else can party all night.
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