Tulum Ex Promptum

[Paulens]

Out of the blue I decided to take some days off and leaving probably this coming Monday. Flight is leaving DC at 9am, arrival to Cancun 11.26am. Not booked yet, need some advice to decide whether I go or not.

I was always shying away from Cancun as for me that's "all inclusive" place where everybody goes. Last year I made Belize, Placencia and loved it very much. I was advised that Tulum would be the right place to go if I liked Placencia. As usual, googling "forums+destination" I found this one. Nice to see so many people in love with Tulum. However, I have not much time to read all the threads as basically I have a bit more than 24 hours to decide, book and leave

I'm planning to stay 3 nights.

Nothing planned, nothing booked in advance AT ALL.

Therefore set of standard questions:

- Unlike my usual travel habits, this time I'm alone and I don't want to rent a car, at least at the airport. What would be the best and fastest way to get there? How expensive would be to take a taxi? Do they accept US dollars or I'll have to change in pesos?

- What are the possibilities to rent a car in Tulum for some local trips? Are there other motorized ways of moving around like vespas or this kind of stff?

- Somehow, reading the threads, I had impression that, except some up-scale all inclusive resorts, other accomodations are pretty much eco-style without AC. First, is it true? Second, how badly hot is the wheather in May (right now, May 12-14)? I'm not too price sensitive and hotelroom or cabana above 100$ is OK, not more that 200$ though. What would be the best option beachfront with AC? Or, if beachfront, AC is not needed?

- How risky is to go without booking the hotel in advance at this time of the year? If I don't have a car, but take a taxi or bus, is there a central place, say "Tourism office" or smthing like that, where I could get the information about avalability of rooms in different hotels? Is there a walking distance between the hotels so that I can just walk and check the room availability in different hotels?

- ATMs? currency echange offices? is it better to take a lot of cash? are credit cards accepted for room payment?

- If the plane back to DC is at 3 pm, what time should I leave Tulum? Are taxis freely available in Tulum to get to the airport? I've read smthng on "collectivos". Are those1)available 2)crowded?

I'll be very thankfulm for any input, I know lot's of answers to my questions can be found in this forum, but I really don't have much time to decide. Thanks!

[Gale in KY]

Welcome to our forum! I too do impromtu trips with very little notice, and have booked as late as the night before departure. Being spontaneous makes for an amazing getaway!

Transportation: Take the bus from the airport to Playa Del Carmen. Then take the bus to Tulum and a taxi from town to your hotel. Taxi's must have a special permit and are not allowed to wait at the airport, they must be called for you and it is expensive. Last I heard, it was around $135 from the airport to Tulum The bus, by contrast, is $12US. It is a very comfortable way to travel. Yes, you can rent a car in Tulum, should the need arise.

Collectivos: Transport vans that run along the main corridor north/south, hwy 307. they are inexpensive and easy to use, but they are also the mode of transportation for many locals and can be crowded at times. They also make many stops along the way between Playa and Tulum, so if time is of the essence, it might be better to use a different mode of transportation. Collectivos only run from Playa Del Carmen to/from Tulum, they do not go as far north as the airport. The bus is really the easiest mode of public transportation, as well as the option of booking a transfer. Be sure to book a private transport, otherwise you will end up stopping at every hotel in the 80 mile stretch and it could take hours to actually arrive at your hotel..lol.

You will need to be at the airport 2 hrs before your flight departs. It is 1 1/2 hrs to Cancun by car, about 2 hrs by bus (you have to deboard in Playa and connect with the airport bus, allow an extra hour to ensure you have enough time. You can also book private transport back to the airport from Tulum, or from the airport to Tulum, online before you leave. There was at one time a very inexpensive transport run out of the Weary Traveler in town, for the return trip to the airport, but I am not sure if it is still operating, you could easily stop in there during your stay to inquire. Remember, international passengers MUST check in no less than 90 minutes before your flight or they can refuse your boarding..the airport can get quite busy at times and it can take awhile to check in, so be sure to allow plenty of time.

May used to be safe to travel to Tulum without a reservation, but having been "discovered" in the last couple of years, I would say book at least your first night.

Only a couple of places along the beachroad with ac, Los Lirios and Parayso. Of these two, hands down, Los Lirios is the better of the two. You are correct, most of the hotels and cabanas in Tulum are "eco friendly". Tulum iBeach Hotels are not on the electric grid, and operate on generator, solar and wind power. Thus, the places with ac will have the biggest generator (noisy). As long as you stay in a beach front room or cabana, you should not miss the ac. Tulum has been very windy this year, good for keeping you cool in the summer heat. Many places have limited electric, only during certain hours etc. A ceiling fan is a great option during the summer months to keep the air flow going. With solar, wind and generator power, it is best not to use any appliances that heat up..i.e. hairdryers, coffeemakers etc. Many of the hotels don't have a plug in the room at all. You can charge cell phones, laptops etc. safely, and most offer this service in their reception areas.

You can most certainly walk Tulum beach and check out the hotels...we do that for entertainment when we are there. LOL. That is what I love most about Tulum, you can walk for miles and miles.

You can do a quick check of the hotels, their locations etc. HERE (http://www.tulum.info/showthread.php?t=2034)

US$ are widely accepted. There are two banks and a number of casa de cambios (money exchange shops) in town, and a couple along the beachroad. Make sure you use small bills that have no tears or writing on them, they won't accept them. Credit cards are accepted in a limited number of places.

[Paulens]

Thank you very much, Gale. This is exactly the kind of advice I needed. really appreciate your post. So, if I choose beach front without AC, except cabanas tulum, that everybody recommends, what else could be good value(meaning beachfront with restaurant and bar etc..)?

[Gale in KY]

Don't totally discount the places without a restaurant or bar..it's just part of the fun to venture out and discover the great food at different places along the beach. In March with BR, we ate only a couple of quick meals at CT..breakfast one morning and one lunch. Our other meals were at different places we could walk up and down the beach to.

That being said, a good choice should be made not based on price alone, but if you have a car, where on Tulum beach you would like to be (the southern end is easier with a car to drive back and forth) close to the pueblo etc.

I haven't stayed at these, but they do peak my interest:

Cabanas La Luna is in a great location, but does't have restaurant or bar.
It would be very easy to stay here without a car though, as there are several places to eat/drink nearby, within a 5 minute walk.

On the north end, closer to the pueblo and in a busier area of the beachroad, La Vita E Bella offers a really good restaurant/bar, a beautiful beach and nice cabanas. There are a couple of places very closeby for some variety.

Further south, Tita Tulum is beautiful, but be sure to confirm your reservation, they lost ours last week. I am sure this was a fluke thing, as no one has ever mentioned this happening before and I don't hold it against them.

Nueva Vida De Rimero..be sure to get beachfront, their restaurant is not beachfront, but across the road on the jungle side.

Posada Lamar..quirky little place, really nice decor.

Uno Astrolodge..Electra or Maia Cabins are closest to the beach. No restaurant, but they are in the area of alot of good places closeby.

And finally, if you decide to splurge, a bit outside your price range, but worth a second look..and a third..Ocho Tulum. Although I am known for my budget lodging choices, I would defintely hit the credit card to stay here.

I am sure others will chime in with their ideas..keep in mind there is no bad place in Tulum..as long as you have the beach!

[Salome]

Gale...the list you compiled is fantastic. It is exactly what I have been looking for. We are so looking forward to our short visit. I am afraid after reading all of your posts that we will need to come back again very soon!!

[Gale in KY]

I have to add a bonus point to La Luna..they have ceiling fans INSIDE the mosquito netting over the bed. Mosquito netting blocks alot of airflow..and it would be great to have some fan action you could actually feel. If it stays as windy as it has been, VERY windy on Friday last week in Tulum, like winter wind..mosqutios and other buggers shouldn't be a problem close to the beach, they can't handle to wind, but if it dies down, a mosquito net will be a must this time of year.

[Paulens]

zillion thanks, Gale. just stupid question - what is pueblo?
and another one - where to rent a car in Tulum?

[Gale in KY]

The Pueblo is the town of Tulum. Tulum is actually three different areas, the Ruins, the Pueblo and the Hotel Zone along the beachroad.

There are a couple of car rental places in town, and a few of the hotels offer car rental as well, Ana Y Jose's is one where the service is available.

[Paulens]

Thanks again, Gale. That's it. I'm booked for tomorrow 9am. How long does it take to get there by bus? I would like to avoid arriving after dark. Would it be better to stay the first night at Playa del Carmen? I'm just starting to check availability in hotels.

How big is the language problem?

[Paulens]

are US cell phones working there or you have to buy local pay-and-go cards? are outlets US standard or European or local? howdifficult/easy would it be to make international calls?

Thanks again!

[Gale in KY]

I don't think there is any rhyme or reason to cell phones in Mexico. LOL. Most people have no problem..me, well..mine usually turns out to be a mrere clock with no service.

Be sure to tell your provider to activate international service and then hope for the best.

I have international service and my ATT didn't work.
Had international service and my Verizon didn't work either.

But..
My daughter in law had TMobile and didn't have international service, people could call her, she couldn't call out.
Twirley has Altell, they told her no service, her phone worked perfectly.

Now, here's a great idea for those who want to be sure they are connected.

CancunValet offers a rental phone. $5 a day minimum and that includes $.69 a minute calls to/from Mexico. Example: If you are there for 6 days, your cost is $30, whether you use the phone or not, but you are allowed enough calls to go up to that $30 in charges at $.69 a minute. GREAT IDEA.

Phone worked fine, no problems and it was great to be able to check in and say Hola to the folks back home.

[beachreader]

For only a 3-night trip, you'll want to maximize your beach time (or I would). For that reason, I might pop for a round-trip non-stop transfer, using CancunValet or one of the other services (check Playa.Info for names and contact info).

It'll be really expensive, upwards of $200 perhaps, but you'll be there in the quickest amount of time possible and shouldn't have any worries getting back up to the airport on time. Make sure you insist on non-stop and private, so you don't have to wait for anyone else's flight to arrive. Of course, this is the most expensive method of transportation.

Otherwise, you might look into renting a car. This is the second-fastest way of getting down there and back, and with the added bonus of having the flexibility of getting around once you're there. Check EasyWay or Buster or Continental and see what they can offer you for a quick rental. It'll probably be less than the transfer and still faster than the bus.

No offense to the bus fans, but my time on the beach is worth a lot to me, and even though the ADO buses are very nice, if you don't hit the schedule just right, it could take 4 hours to get to Tulum.

I'd rent the car right from the get-go. Driving down 307 is pretty easy, stay in the speed limits and you'll be fine.

[Solbound]

Paulens welcome, beachreader forgot to warn you about the topes (speed bumps) you would have to seriously slow down for if you drive yourself! Have a great trip!

[DougSR]

You know some of the topes have been removed. The ones in front of the fire station and the first couple as you turn to go south...gone!