The Reef Playcar, Playa del Carmen, MX

We stayed three days in The Reef Playacar.  This hotel is a charming solid 3 1/2 star hotel. Upon arrival you are greeted and then directed to the frontdesk. Beware that there are timeshare agents that will to help but they will try to steer you into sitting in on a meeting and viewing.  Just say no and they will back off.

The lobby has a wall waterfall a business center and bar. The lobby is setup with WI FI.  When you leave this area and you head to your room you walk out into a jungle, complete with a cenote and waterfall. You will also see geko's and agoutis running around.

There is no elevators in this hotel. It is a small resort so it is easy to get to and from the beach.

The resort has two pools and one hot tub. They could have more lounge chairs. If you did not get them early you may not get one. The hotel has four bar areas, one al carte, two snack areas, ice cream parlor (that offer ice cream, specialty coffee, and ice coffee) and one buffet restaurants. There is an entertainment area, and hall for shows,receptions and meetings. The have a board posting with all the activities that would be going for the week.

I did not see any kids clubs, I did see children playing soccer and other games with staff from the hotels.

There where none motorsport activities available as well. The beach area was great and you could walk to town from the beach. It is shorter to walk on the road to town.

The rooms could use some updating as well as the linen, room drapes and taps.

The service given from the staff that was there was excellent. The staff at the buffet restaurant where run off there feet. They could of used a few more people especially at dinner time. We ate later to avoid most the people with the large families and children.

This hotel I would recommend. For the price it was great! It may not be a five star but it is not a mega resort so you can get to know people and build friendships.

I will definetly return to this hotel as it felt like home when you where there.

El Tukan Hotel and Resort, Playa del Carmen

Hi Everyone,

My husband and I are in Playa del Carmen. We flew down with Continental Airlines. We had a great flight and they even served breakfast with no fee attached to it.

We are staying at the El Tukan Hotel and Resort, Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It is rated as a 2 1/2 star but I would give it a 1 1/2 star. It is a basic hotel that offer friendly service, clean older rooms, the bed is okay to sleep in, not a solid rock. There is two small pools one located on site the other at the beach club which is five blocks away walking. The hotel does provid a shuttle.  You are located right on fifth avenue, so you have a choice or restaurants, shopping, entertainment and other services.  The hotel does not offer any entertainment and limited other facilities.  The buffet restaurant does not have A/C and I found that the drinks, yogurt and fruit where quite warm.  If you have a room facing inside towards the pool you avoid the street noise.  The hotel itself is very quite.The location is the best thing. It is a block and half from the beach. Get your towels early before 11 or you will not get any. Rooms are not large, nor is the washroom. You have a fan and A/C and a balcony to sit on.

This hotel would be best for young people on a budget or any other person on a budget.

My visit to Playa del Carmen,Mexico and Area April 9th to 19th, 2010

Start following me on my travel to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.  I will be traveling from Vancouver to Cancun with a stop in Houston.  I will arrive at the airport 3 1/2 hours ahead of departure due to new security screenings. The airline that I will be taking is Continental.  Now Continental is allowing me 1 bag, 1 carry on and a purse free. Max weight allowance is 50lb for both the carry-on, and my one bag.  I have opted to take my computer so that I can keep in touch with family and to keep a working journey of my experiences, good and bad.

I have packed neutral clothing. One light weight skirt, one skort, one short and one capri. Tops: 3 coloured tank tops, 3 dress tops, 3 bathing suites, then underclothing for 3 days.  I am taking a bar of hand wash soap to wash clothing, bio degradedable sunscreen, a small amount of makeup, toiletries,some deet for bugs, blow dryer as there isn't one in our hotel and beach towels. Shoes one dress, one walking, and one pair for the beach.  As my slip-ons that I use at the airport are good walking shoes they will not have to be packed and make it easy to get on an off for security purposes. I also packed some S hooks that will drap over show stall bars or railings to dry off clothing. The clothing I packed in those mesh bags that you can buy at the dollar store to keep everything neat and easy to put away.

The weight of my suitecase is 25lbs.. Leaving me with room for trinkets that I may bring home.

Follow my journey starting April 9th,2010