The real deal on AyJ?

[bayzee]

Ok, I think we have narrowed it down to Ana Y Jose's and a place we've always wanted to try in Puerto Morelos (Ceiba del Mar) for our 10 yr. anniversary trip in July.
I have received great service so far from AyJ, promptly ansering all of my e-mails and questions. We plan on booking a suite, all are available for our dates thus far. The prices are high, $2500-2700 per week, depending on the suite. This is a pkg. that does include breakfast, a spa treatment, and transfer.
Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of AyJ (beach, service, nearby restaurants, rooms...)?
And pros and cons of the different suites? We want a beachfront, which is more private/quiet?

We are not renting a car and it's our first visit to Tulum, first non-AI trip, but not to the area. It is a special occasion, but for the price we also don't want to be disappointed.

[Gale in KY]

It's a beautiful property, very well kept and the area of Tulum beach that AYJ's is in, the "mid" beach area is within walking distance to many good restaurants, both to the north and south along the beach. I have not stayed here, but we did stay next door a few weeks ago. It's a perfect location, especially if you don't have a car. The beach is beautiful here, you won't be disappointed in that aspect.

They have some ammenities that aren't that common for Tulum, such as the pool. the one thing that would dissuade me from staying here (aside from the insane prices) is that they have a beach club. With the tour busses of people being brought in for a day on Tulum beach, I would probably look for a place that didn't have a beach club, to avoid feeling crowded..but I have to say that the beach was not at all crowded earlier this month, and it shouldn't be crowded at all in July.

I would probably take a look at Suite#1, it sits at the far right of the property if you are facing it on the beach..it is off by it's self more so than the others and would probably feel a bit more private.

The prices are ridiculous, over $300 a night, even in low season, so I hope your breakfast is gourmet, your transfer is a smooth ride and your massages are the best!:)

Congratulations on your milestone anniversary!

[DougSR]

With the tour busses of people being brought in for a day on Tulum beach, I would probably look for a place that didn't have a beach club, to avoid feeling crowded..but I have to say that the beach was not at all crowded earlier this month, and it shouldn't be crowded at all in July.

Can you explain? Where are these people coming from and why can't they get themselves to the beach on their own? Are they locals or do they come from Akumal? What's up?

[Gale in KY]

They come from AI's all over the RM..Tulum Daytrippers bussed to the beach as part of arranged tours. I suppose the reason they can't get there on their own is that they don't know they can. LOL. If you have ever stayed at an AI, you have seen the "tours" desk in the lobby..they are the culprits who arrange these day trips.

It always amazes me when people that stay at AI's use the tour services of the resort they stay with..and they don't even realize how expensive it is to do that. A good example is a visit to Chichen..over $100 (per person)..when we all know that you can rent a car, buy the gas, stop for lunch and tour the ruins spend less than 1/2 of that

[PhyllisB]

Luvthesun just stayed at AyJ a few weeks ago and posted some pix & thoughts over on the trip report board, you might check that out.

But otherwise Gale has it covered. It is a very nice beach and there is a lot nearby. There are always taxis around there as well. Oh, and I had a very good massage there a couple of years ago. But I can't really offer a comparison to Puerto Morelos.

Have a wonderful anniversary trip!!!!

[Gale in KY]

I might add that Ceiba Del Mar is a VERY upscale resort now..it used to be a laid back casual place, but these days, it is "swanky". It's on a great stretch of beach, kind of out there by it's self, not really close to anything without the benefit of a vehicle. It's close to Puerto Morelos, but not within walking distance if memory serves me correctly, just to the north end of PM. You can grab a cab and be in PM in minutes though.

Here's an aerial view of the resort, from LG.
http://www.locogringo.com/maps/tour/175a-t.html

You can click the arrows to page south to see a good comparison to PM.

PM is a delightful quaint village with great restaurants, a very nice beach and some shops.

[DougSR]

I've never stayed at an AI. I can't stand the hurd mentality. My mind thinks of the bull being led by a ring in the nose. Guess I'll just use my imagination. Does the beachclub (ie. AyJ) get any cash from the beach crashers or the AI? Or do they wait for the decending posse to purchase cocktails?

[beachreader]

The AyJ beach club is actually a kilometer or two to the north of AyJ the hotel. It's up next to Posada Margerita and Casa de Miel.

And they do charge for the use of their very spiffy chairs, though there are far too many chairs on their little stretch of beach, and I've never seen them full, so they could totally remove a row of chairs and give everyone a little bit nicer experience for the $10 or whatever they're charging this year. Good food, though, at the beach club.

I think that Luvthesun will be able to help you with specific AyJ questions, but I will say that if the pool thing is important to you, you'll likely be disappointed with AyJ's pool. It's pretty small, and behind a building which protects it from the beach winds, but still. If you're used to AI-type pools, this won't match that at all.

I don't mean to throw a wrench into your plans, but just thought you might want to know.

[beachreader]

I am completely blanking on the fancy hotel in Xpu-Ha. Not Al Cielo, which I would also recommend but has no pool, but the one right next door, where SoKaliBeachBoy went for that wedding. Anyway, there's that one and Maroma that I would love to go someday, but I know Maroma is more money than Ceiba del Mar, just don't know about the one in Xpu-Ha because I can't look it up without knowing the name! :mad: Frustrating, this getting old thing.

Anyway, one big advantage of Ceiba del Mar to me is that it's sooo close to the airport. 20 minutes, maybe. That's kind of nice. But of course the rooms, while very spiffy, look like you won't be right on the sand when you open the door. Hmmm, tough choice.

I mean, for me, I'd take Tulum, just trying to put myself in your shoes and find the place that will most suit your expectations of luxury for your 10th anniversary.

[pepper]

:)..Hey old lady...:)

It's Esencia next to Al Cielo - and it's crazy expensive.

[bayzee]

Thanks everyone for the responses. We love Xpu-ha and have stayed there several times. It is Acencia and we know the property well, maybe too upscale for us. LOL We have eaten at AlCielo a few times as well, have seen all of the rooms and would stay there in a heartbeat but there is no A/C and in July, and dining is limited here without a car. The a/c is the only request my DH has.

We just got back from Puerto Morelos and explored the area fairly well, the location of the resorts, hotels and villas. We checked out some some places. We really liked the charm of PM, with some great restaurant choices despite its small size. Ceiba is an easy walk into town on the beach, about 15 mins.

We understand why people choose AI's. While we know we have graduated from these types of vacations, it is very cost effective. We also find the hurding to get on our nerves. But we can use extra money to eat out and explore the area, which we do and so do many others. This trip, on the offish season, will be more expensive than any 5* AI we've been to at Christmas and March. I know the experience will be different and that's what were hoping for, plus it's a special occasion.

Can anyone clarify....Are people, other than guests, allowed to use the beach at AyJ hotel? This could be a deal beaker!

[susan]

We stayed at Zulum last week which is next door to AyJ. Even for that high period there was relatively little activity on the beach in front of AyJ and judging from the number of cars parked over there I would guess they had a full or nearly full house.

[minniemex]

Can anyone clarify....Are people, other than guests, allowed to use the beach at AyJ hotel? This could be a deal beaker!

AyJ Hotel and AyJ Beach Club are two different places. I know that one of the posts made it sound like they are one and the same, but they are in two locations - the beach club is located about half a kilometer further north of the hotel. The hotel has it's own beach chairs & beds apart from the beach club and I would think that people coming to use the beach at the hotel would be rare now with the addition of the beach club.

[FITZ]

We stayed next door to A&J last Dec. The beach there is just beautiful and not crowded. The beach club located a hike north of the hotel, does get very crowded. A&J hotel does not offer a "private" beach area, and people from the outside are welcomed to drink and eat there. Neither of which I would reccomend. The service was worse then the food and drink, which was not good when we visited.
The private pools are small and the main pool was an OK size. Not really big. I can't recall if they had any direct beach front rooms. Most, if not all, are set back.

[pepper]

Since AyJ has a fairly large restaurant open to the public, you get more non-guests at AyJ hanging around the deck and in the restaurant. Not sure how well they police the beach chairs and the pool (small anyway) to kick out non-guests.

For a hotel in Tulum, AyJ can get crowded. But it may not be a crowd to you. I'd say at max, there would be 20-30 people on the beach.

[Lynnette]

If air conditioning is a deciding factor, make sure that the beachfront suite that you want has it. I think only the garden rooms and a few around the pool have a/c at Ana y Jose.

[PhyllisB]

"Crowded" can be a bit relative in Tulum, too.... I consider 5-6 people nearby a crowd! :)

Seriously though, take a gander at Luv's report over on the trip report forum.

You might also consider Las Ranitas, but I don't think they have A/C. Because of the electric grid setup, there are very few places that do that are right on the beach.

[minniemex]

Bayzee - can you explain what type of experience you really want?? I understand your previous experiences have been AI's and you are ready to branch out but I don't know exactly what is a must for you and what you are expecting. I would hate for this special experience to not be what you expect.

I love the looks of Ceiba Del Mar - the beach looks wonderful and you have a choice of restaurants on site and access to PM - It also looks very upscale from anything you would find in Tulum. I wonder if this would be a better first choice away from an AI?? The only thing I didn't think it had was direct access to the sand from your room. But then Ana y Joses isn't really any closer either.

[beachreader]

The other thing about Ceiba is that they only have 88 rooms, so you'd be unlikely to have 150 sharing the property in July. A/C and luxe rooms, probably more service-oriented than anywhere in Tulum, and a fancy pool.

The two properties (Ceiba and AyJ) are very very different in my book. Tough call, but if you can afford it and do enjoy the luxury and refreshment of having a proper pool, I'd probably do Ceiba del Mar for the anniversary. The reviews on TA are remarkable, almost every one of them 5 dots, except one cranky person who got food poisoning (or something).

Luvthesun, however, really loved AyJ and had a great experience with their restaurant and general service. If she doesn't check in today, maybe send her a PM?

[longbeach]

We recently stayed at Ana y Jose. It was one of the loveliest hotels we have stayed at in a long time. The restaurant was magnificent. Very quietly elegant. The only rooms to stay at are the ones facing the beach...all other have a variety of negatives features. Except for the cost (which I consider fairly reasonable for such a lovely resort) Ana Y Jose is close to perfect

[John in DC]

I never got the impression that traffic from the restaurant messed up the beach experience for the hotel guests. A few years ago, my wife and I stopped by Ana y Jose for drinks in the early afternoon and just plopped down in chairs under a palapa. We enjoyed the beach all afternoon, along with some tasty beverages and snacks. This would have been in May or June, and there were maybe 15 other people as far as you could see in either direction. We joked how crowded that seemed.

We haven't been back to AyJ for a long time, but every time we have been, we thought it was a pretty class act, if a bit pricey.

[Lynnette]

It used to be that AyJ was the ONLY place on the beach for great food & drinks. Times have changed. On our last visit, we thought the food was just OK and the service awful....definitely not worth the $$$. The beach is still beautiful, though!!

[beachwolverine]

Bayzee,

We stayed a Ceiba our first year to Mexico about five years ago - let's see...
year one - Ceiba
year two - PDC at Playa Maya
year three - Akumal, Hotel Akumal Caribe
year four - Akumal, Luna Azul on Half Moon
year five - Virgin Gorda in British Virgin Islands (what the hell was that trip?)
year six - Akumal, Seven Seas on Akumal Sur (this May)

Sorry, but I had to count - That means Ceiba was in 2003 and things have probably changed. We liked Ceiba, and Hola Asia in PM remains one of our favorite restaurants. We enjoy snorkeling and at Ceiba we were picked up at their dock by a small boat that took us to the reef - very good snorkeling. I know the beach looks good at Ceiba, but there is a lot of seaweed that gets washed up each day and hopefully they are better now about raking it each morning. The seaweed is right offshore and makes swimming not quite as pleasant. Very nice pool and restaurant on the grounds. We were there soon after they opened and the place was not full and did not feel crowded at all.

We've never stayed at A&J, but have had lunch there and used the beach.

My take is - if you want relaxation only - Ceiba is probably slightly better than A&J. If you want relaxation AND some exploring, more diverse restaurants, etc. then I think A&J's is ahead by a mile.

The only restaurant I put above Hola Asia is Hechizo - just minutes south of A&J. There are all sorts of great restaurants and places to explore along the Tulum coast. Plus going into town is fun with many delightful local places to eat and shop.

Eventhough we stay in Akumal, we spend a lot of time in Tulum - it is a great place.

The good news is you will be happy in either place and that is all that matters.

Cheers,
BW

[dionski]

With AYJ is that it was one of the original "PLACES IN TULUM" making it one of the first anchor spots in the area. First visited Tulum in 95 at Cabanas Tulum and spent more than a little time next door at AnJ and had a great time.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/464305597_36d6bc48be_o.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/193/464312369_4a7c4f81c9_o.jpg

Contrast that with Today

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/464305535_52e592e586_o.jpg

Notice The Topas it is by far the largest I have encountered South of Playa!

We returned last year and first morning returned for breakfast which was disappointing and mucho dinero! We did not let that stop us from returning when we had the urge for a CHI CHI (insert frozen drink of choice) and appys on the deck outside. Nice

Ana y Jose today is still that anchor, the place (along with Zamas) that people have "heard of" in Tulum. It is also one of the most Hotel like on the beach.

I think you can get more for your money at many other places.

That is why we will once again leave a few days open so that we can check out the latest and greatest "PLACE IN TULUM"

JM:twocents::D

d2

[John in DC]

I remember the old sign. I had forgotten that it was called Cabanas Ana y Jose back then.

[bayzee]

Thanks everyone for your imput.
We are looking for an R&R place and we like exploring.
We have not been to Tulum other than the ruins, and we've done all of the touristy things there is to do in the area. We usually come to the area twice a year. We have not used a resort pool in a long time, so the pool doesn't matter to us. A good book, great beach, good food & drink and nice room with a/c is what we're looking for! :) It is our anniversary, so we weren't looking for a camping experience, but we don't have to be pampered either. Thanks to all of the great trip reports, I've seen many places that I would stay at, but without a/c. This is very limiting, but I realize that this is the way the Tulum experience should be.

According to the AyJ's website all of the suites have a/c? Is this not the case?

Beachwolverine- I also noticed a lot seaweed in PM. I thought it was just the really strong winds when we were there a couple of weeks ago.

[Uno Mas]

I have stayed at Ana y Jose twice and for the most part they aren't given the credit they deserve. I think for the money and for what you get it's right in line. They have some of the nicest rooms and most comfortable beds in the area IMO. AC is a huge bonus and for me worth paying for. They have even added CD players and mini-bars to the rooms. The restaruant is overpriced but I didn't eat there but just a few times.
I did the rustic cabana thing the first time and it felt like camping (which I love to do), but if you are paying $175 a night you expect a bit more.

My choice is Suite Arena, private/secluded yet a partial beach view and you are the only people in the building.
My only 2 gripes are the restaruant/drinks prices (I bring a cooler) and the rocks in the ocean (about 20 meters out). Beach is perfect and non-crowded, don't confuse the beach club with the hotel, polar opposites. The pool is perfect for the size of the hotel. We never had more than 2 other people with us while swimming. All the cars in the aprking lot are mostly rentals, they run a car rental from the front desk also and that giant tope is there to protect the guests since you have to cross the road to get to the hotel.

[beachreader]

I actually rather like their giant tope. Much preferable to the dreaded rope topes that still litter the area. Besides, it's a good landmark so I always know where I am on the beach road.

[susan]

I kind of like the rope topes I was thinking of using them in my own neighborhood to slow down traffic. A kind of admire the efficiency of the topes. I also used the topes to know where I was on the road at night.

[DougSR]

I also used the topes to know where I was on the road at night.

You know it's coming...street lights. How weird will that be?

[luvthesun]

For some reason, my computer would not connect for a few days..but I'm glad I spotted this thread

hi Bayzee... I just stayed @ A&J earlier this month. The service and rooms at A&J are really nice, but I don't think I would want to stay there again. The spa is nice, as is the beach, but still... the vibe of the place is just a little "uptight" for me. If you read my trip report, you can see some pics. The breakfast was good, but not great. Feel free to send me a private message, and I will answer any questions you may have, honestly.
It all depends on what you want from your vacation. For me, I would rather stay in a place that is slightly more lively .... and I'm not that much of a party girl.