Riviera Maya, Mexico

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Would really to check out some ruins.

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Do not go with a group. You can go by yourself and pay the national park fee which is about $6 per person, if I remember right. You can still tour the entire grounds of the Tulum ruins and not have to be dragged around on a tour bus with a group of fat tourist. You can also set your own timeline.

Wife and I rented a car in Playa and drove to the southern entrance of the ruins. Walked around for about 2 hours, which was plenty, and decided to head back. Stopped at Oscar & Lolo for lunch and went to Garden of Eden cenote to swim/snorkel. The whole day was an incredible experience that cost us less than $120 for both of us, including rental car.

Fwiw if you ever watch diners drive in and dives, last weeks episode was in cancun and showed 3 restaurants that all looked legit.

One was a 3rd generation homemade Mexican joint. 85 year old grandma making tortillas and chili relinos. Looked amazing


LINK

Thanks for the advice on going ourselves

I have some incredible pics from the last time I went to Tulum that I'll try to upload later when a storm was rolling in. Really beautiful place with a great beach too that you can hike down to from the ruins on the cliffs. Been there a couple times and got some awesome photo ops both times. Definitely worth an excursion if you're close.

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l Dorado Casitas Royale

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Good call. I stayed at the El Dorado Seaside Suites a few years back and it was fantastic. I assume al the El Dorado properties are similar quality. I've been to three AIs, and this was my first and my favorite.

As for Cubans, you can get them at duty free in the airport. Or pretty much anywhere.

For the ruins, please do yourself a favor and don't waste your time with Chichen Itza. It's packed with tourists, there are shitty vendors everywhere, and they don't let you climb the pyramid any more. Also, from Tulum, it's a several hour drive or ride. Completely not worth the time, despite the name recognition.

The Tulum ruins are very close by, and are pretty neat to see. The buildings are relatively barren, but it's really gorgeous to see everything so close to the beach. Hardly breathtaking, but it was neat.

The one that I would highly recommend is Coba. That one was really, truly amazing to me. It's about half hour from Tulum, and I actually saw it and Tulum on the same "tour," along with a stop at a cenote (definitely visit one of those, too). Coba is completely set in the jungle, and wildly spread out. It's still an active archeological site, so you may even see some excavation going on. This was the one that was really awe inspiring to me. You ride a bike to get around the jungle paths, or there are guys who will do the pedaling for you But, you actually can climb to the top of the pyramid there and see what the old rulers and priests used to see. The climb itself is a little terrifying, if you're out of shape like me. But, the multi-mile view of nothing but jungle was really something.

Good luck, and enjoy. You're in for a treat.

Going to el dorado royals casitas for the third time in May. First two times was just me and my wife. This time it's us and five other couples.

The resort is truly awesome and the staff even better. Do the beach front dinner at sunset but don't expect five star meal. It's a very good meal but I'm more of the setting that you'll enjoy. Service, views, intimate time with your bride is what it's all about. They'll have a some sort of live music come and play for you at your table on the beach as well--remember, it's the setting your after.

We don't leave the resort when we go man. We figure we're paying for all inclusive so we use it up.

Do take $50 or so in ones and a ziplock bag and put them in your swimsuit pocket. Tip a few dollars early in the day and ask for your drinks anyway you like them and they'll make them that way for you.

It's a huge resort and the steakhouse is fabulous but takes reservations. The Italian restaurants are great and we also enjoy the Japanese restaurant.

Let me know if you have any other questions. I've been there during a hurricane and had a blast that trip so it's easy to have fun here.

Post a review with pics please.