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"Tips" for booking hotels in The
Land of the Maya
There
are a wide variety of
accommodation options in the various regions of Land of the Maya.
Hotels in all
price ranges, all-inclusive resorts and condos and villas. Important Note:
Hotels in all regions of the Maya World can become fully booked months
in advance for mid-December to New Year's dates and also the week
before Easter. In addition,
if
you don't plan ahead the prices can be double the usual
prices.
If you plan
to travel during the holidays, make your reservations well in advance!
Cancun & the Riviera Maya: With such a mulitude of choices, hotel websites that can be misleading,
TripAdvisor reviews that are often confusing, it can be complicated to
decide which hotel or resort in Cancun or the Riviera Maya best meets
your needs. And,
if you are a family the cost of accommodations can vary greatly.
Some resorts charge an extra
fee for children and some do not. Also, the policies in
regard to at
what age a teen is considered to be an adult vary. Check the
"fine
print" so there won't be any suprises upon check-out. In many
cases it is more economical to reserve a
multi-bedroom
villa or condo.
Cancun: Location is
important as some hotels are on great beaches and others are not.
Some are in the "heart" of nightclubs and tourist
attractions. Others are in more quiet locations with less
crowded beaches. When choosing a hotel, the difference
between "lagoon view", "partial ocean view" and "ocean view" is
important. Room type/class can also have a huge impact on
your
vacation experience.
Riviera Maya:
Most of the hotels in the Riviera Maya are all-inclusive resorts
located in isolated pockets along
the coast and
are designed to attend to all your needs so you don't ever need to
leave the resort if you don't want to. All meals, drinks and
some
hotel activities are included in the package. However,
because
the beachfront area of the properties are used for commuity areas
(pool, beach bar, etc.) the hotel rooms are located in the back of the
property in the jungle. In some of the larger properties you
need
to take a golf cart to get from from your room to beach.
These resorts vary greatly in terms of the quality of food and
services. If you want a hotel room directly on the beach
there
are only a few all-inclusive resorts that offer that. Some of
the
smaller boutique hotels offer better beachfront options. Or,
if
you prefer a hotel that gives you more independance and is within
walking
distance of nightlife, restaurants, shops, etc. you need to choose a
hotel in Playa del Carmen (in town, not Playacar) or Akumal.
Playa del
Carmen: The
main city of Playa del Carmen has a multitude of hotels in all price
ranges. If you like to be close to a variety of nightlife and
restaurant options "Playa" is the place for you. However,
noise
is a major issue. Nightclubs "rock" until 4 am and many
hotels do
not have proper insulation. The outer neighborhoods in Playa
del
Carmen are better for those who want a more quiet vacation.
Akumal: There
are a few small hotels on the beach in Akumal and a couple of larger
resorts but lodging options are
primarily condos and villas.
They offer spacious living spaces, privacy, most are just steps from
the beach and have amazing ocean views. Some are in condo
complexes
that offer full hotel amenities. Many of the larger villas
have private swimming pools. Akumal has several excellent
restaurants so worry not, staying in a condo doesn't mean you have to
cook! And, from any of these condos or villas it is a short
swim
or kayak to the nearby coral reef which has amazing snorkeling.
Tulum: Tulum has two types of hotels: Those in the small village of Tulum
that
are not on the beach. And the cabana hotels on the beach
outside
of Tulum village. If it is important to you that your hotel
is on
the
beach be very careful when reserving a room in Tulum as some hotels in
the
village don't inform you that they are a 30 minute walk from
the beach. Important note for families:
The Tulum beach allows topless sunbathing.
Yucatan Peninsula & Merida: Tourist class
accommodations in
the Yucatan Peninsula are primarily in the major cities of Merida,
Campeche City and Chetumal. Merida, the capital of Yucatan
State, has the most hotel options in every price range and is a well
located base from which to explore
the archaeological, historical, cultural and natural sites of the area.
The finest luxury
hotels in the Yucatan are the beautifully restored "haciendas".
Elegant estates occupied by the upper classes during the
Spanish colonial period. Take a step back to a time in
spacious well appointed suites while still enjoying the amenities of a
modern resort.
Palenque & San Cristobal
de las Casas: Hotel choices in
Palenque are
somewhat limited. There are very inexpensive
"camping" bungalows, several cheap but "funky" small hotels, and a few
decent mid-range choices. As far as luxury
hotels go, there is only one and it only has 7 rooms so it is best to
book that well in advance no matter what your travel dates are.
Note: All hotels in Palenque are
always fully booked months
in advance for mid-December to New Year's dates. If you plan
to travel during the Holidays, plan well in advance! San
Cristobal de las Casas is another city center in Chiapas that has many
hotels, most of them budget to mid-range. There are also some
very nice, upscale, boutique hotels. As the city is in the
mountains having heat or a fireplace in your room is more important
than having a/c.
Tikal: Hotels in Tikal vary from rustic
jungle lodges in Tikal Park to budget hotels in Flores to upscale
hotels on Lake Peten. There are 3 hotels in Tikal Park and
there is the advantage of staying directly in the park. But
they do not have a/c and to conserve energy they turn off the
electricity at night. There are several budget/midrange
hotels in Flores if you don't mind being 45 minutes from Tikal Park.
On Lake Peten there are a couple of very upscale choices.
The Guatemala Highlands: Beautiful colonial Antigua has numerous hotels in all price
ranges. Most are in old historic buildings that have a lovely
colonial ambiance but room quality can vary greatly. Some of
the
better hotels are in wonderfully restored former convents. Note:
If you plan to go during Easter you must plan well in advance
as
rooms in Antigua are usually fully booked months in advance.
Further west is gorgeous Lake Atitlan, which has budget and
mid-range hotels in Panajachel and across the lake in some of the small
villages.
There are also some very nice luxury options on the lake.
Belize: The mainland of
Belize has
beautiful jungle lodges located in lush pristine
tropical locations. Choices range from simple to
upscale luxury.
Offshore, on the Cayes, accommodations range from simple
bungalows on the beach to luxury
resorts. There are also many apartments or condos with full
kitchens that are perfect for families. With world class diving on the
world's 2nd largest coral
barrier reef (including the legendary "Blue Hole") and easy access to
amazing snorkeling it is a prime
vacation
destination in the Maya World.
Copan: There
only a few hotels in Copan, most of which are budget hotels located in
downtown Copan. Aside from that there are only a couple of
mid-range choices and one slightly more upscale property located
outside of town. Because of the limited choices we suggest
reserving your hotel in Copan well in advance.
For FREE travel info phone
us toll free 7 days a week at
877-620-8715. Outside U.S.
(1)505-255-2279. Or
e-mail us at [email protected].
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