Tulum cabana accommodations

[robyn66]

Hi all,

I'm looking into different cabana options for the holidays. Does anyone have any comments about the following places: Uno Astrolodge, Shambala Petit Hotel, Cabanas Copal or Suenos Tulum (the beach suites at Suenos in particular - photos or feedback). I've heard good things about Suenos but would like to know what people think about the beach suites there. And any other cabana suggestions would be appreciated as well. I wanted to stay at La Luna but they're booked.

Thanks!

[PhyllisB]

I have and always will love Suenos! I am not sure what is meant by "beach suite" -- we stayed in a Junior Suite when we went in 2005. You can link to my pix below, in my signature. I think all the rooms there are fabulous, though.

Are the beach suites set a little further back, in the 3 level buildings? Our junior suite was a 2-level building on the north edge of the property -- I think maybe the buildings a little further in on the property are the 3 level ones. Not sure. But all the rooms are gorgeous. I'd stay there in a heartbeat.

If you do a search for Shambala you should find some info on them. I've never stayed there but I think a few folks have done trip reports from there.

Gale and Kimba are our resident fans of Copal. I'll let them chime in. All I know is that if you stay there, you really need to get a Seaview King room if you want to get the breeze off the water. I think the beach is a little on the small side, not sure. It's also clothing optional. They are on the stretch of Tulum that has a lot of rocky outcroppings with little beach coves in between--which is a bit different from the wide sand that goes forever down on the southern end, from Uno Astrolodge and further south.

Check out WindyCity's trip reports -- he stays at Azulik and that shares the same beach w/ Copal, their sister-property.

Just my initial two or three cents!

[robyn66]

Thanks Phyllis, for your 3 cents! :) The beach suites are the 2 little stand-alone cabanas on the sand dunes just behind the beach chairs... Do you recall seeing them when you stayed there?

[PhyllisB]

Gosh I don't remember any standalone cabanas at Suenos. But it was a while ago! Doug might be the best source for info on this, since he was just there!

Beachreader did a write up of the rooms at Uno Astrolodge too. She didn't stay there but checked them out when she was down there on her last trip. I don't think anyone from the board has stayed there, at least not that I've seen mentioned, but it looks like a neat property!

[PhyllisB]

I will add that Suenos is a fantastic place to stay, in general. Fantastic dining area, fabulous breakfasts, wonderful owners. The rooms are so beautiful, too. I am so eager to get back there now that they've reopened!!!!

[beachreader]

I wanna go too, just need to figure out if I can afford it!

Yes, Uno is a very cool place, very eco--probably the most eco place along the road, since they use composting toilets. Check out my trip report, the Electra unit is the really huge one right on the beach. Not much in the way of beach furniture, just a hammock or two and some pillow and straw mats, but a very cool, very rustic, very quiet place.

Shambala is right next door, much better beach furniture, more "advanced" decor and vibe, more color, etc. Also a very cool place.

If you've checked all of these places and they all have availability and you can afford it, I'd probably go with Suenos. Aside from everything else, the pool kind of puts it over the top for a special holiday. Sometimes it's just too windy on the beach, and I'd love that option of a pool.

[robyn66]

i'm waiting to hear back from uno astrolodge about their availability. the cost at suenos is high because of the xmas holiday but i'm leaning toward that. shambala, i just found out, has an 8 night minimum which might be a problem. plus i don't really like the layout of shambala that much. it looks like there isn't much privacy and that there aren't little individual seating areas in the front of each cabana... did you get a look at the layout when you were there?

[beachreader]

Yes, I got a good look, and you're right, there aren't little private sitting areas. Everyone's so close to the beach, they just go there. Plenty of Adirondack chairs and beach beds, but they are all lined up pretty tightly. I'd be taking a couple off the end and dragging them away. I don't like listening to other people's conversations that close-up when I'm on the beach.

[robyn66]

I completely agree, plus I like just chilling in front of my cabana for privacy when I don't feel like being on a beach with other people...

[Gale in KY]

Welcome Robyn!
Copal-No other place in Tulum has the 'vibe" that Copal has. I find it to be the essence of Tulum from days gone by. Alot of people see a crowded little hippy cabana place on the cliff above the beach, but in reality it is so mucn more than that. It's a place where you do as you wish, where candlelight trumps electric..where you actually see the stars in the night sky by the zillions. The cabanas are small, rustic but clean and the beds are amazingly comfortable.

The restaurant isn't the best, but you won't starve, even if you never leave the property to explore all the wonderful meals that can be found in the pueblo and along the beachroad.

Maya Spa is there too, they offer a wide variety of treatments and massages. I highly recommend the hot stone treatment, omg, it is wonderful, and the healing massage/treatment with Daniel, Copal's resident authentic shaman. He is what he is known to be, and after you meet him, you KNOW he is.

Copal is rustic for sure, the bathrooms in particular, but each cabana has it's own.

I think it is worth every penny, but be sure to get a seaview king or quad so you catch the breeze from the water. I wouldn't even consider a garden or jungle cabana, even in the winter.

Have you looked at Tierras Del Sol? It's a great little place from what I have seen.

Shambala-Sonofabeach did a trip report here..check it out.

[pepper]

All I can add is that it won't be too hot at night during the holidays - in fact, it might be chilly and that would be the perfect time to be in the beach suites at Suenos because you won't have to rely on a cool breeze to help you sleep at night.

[Gale in KY]

Pepper..Even in January, I was glad to have the breeze. When it laid down the room was a bit "stuffy", so I can't imagine being in a room away from the water. It's not too bad if you are staying somewhere with a fan to circulate the air, but when you have no fan, it can get warm and stuffy, even in a seafront accomodation. I think being up high makes a difference too..as in a ssecond floor room, to catch the most of the breeze.

Refer to Toni's comment about "women of a certain age"..lol. The older I get the more I appreciate the fan and the breeze..lol.

I guess it all depends on a person's tolerance for heat..Being from Texas, you guys may be a bit more accustomed to hot weather than I am here, and perhaps for someone from even further to the north, it feels hot to them when it may be simply a nice warm day to others.

On the flip side of that, yes, I was glad to have a blanket on the bed during Jan. when it was very windy and a storm blew in..that particular night, it was actually chilly!

[pepper]

That's a good point, Gale.

I was freezing at night when we went in January about 5-6 yrs ago. We stayed at Capt LaFitte (full elec), pregnant and my back was killing me!! I was thankful for the heating pad I had brought for my back - it kept me warm at night...:D

Guess this Michigan girl has been in Texas TOO long:D

[Gincuresall]

Even though we didnt stay there, we checked out Suenos and got a tour of the property and the rooms from the daughter of the owner (cant remember her name but seemed american and was real nice) The property looked good and one big plus was that they had pool....nice after a day of salt and sand.

Although I really like the look and feel of Suenos, I think that it was pretty pricey compared to what you could get at other establishements (~ $240/night low season)

They were building some really cool lounges on the beach when we were there....

http://images.costcophotocenter.com/232323232%7Ffp43236%3Enu%3D328%3B%3E759%3E%3B98%3E WSNRCG%3D323339%3B%3A66333nu0mrj

[robyn66]

Thanks everyone for your input! I've finally decided on Cabanas Copal - which was my original choice but now I've just been sent into shock by seeing the airfare at that time of year for about $1200! I was originally booked to go to Tulum a few years ago when they were hit by the unfortunate hurricane and I had to cancel and the airfare was like $200 - now I know prices are getting high because of fuel but omg, $1200! I'm wondering now if I should go to another destination alltogether! OY.

[Gale in KY]

I think you will be happy with Copal, as long as you know what to expect before you go. I love that place and would stay there again..if they would let you have coolers with ice for drinks in the cabanas.

Airfare..I feel your pain..it's never been good here, with CVG being one of the most expensive airports to fly in and out of in the entire country..I am lucky to have 5 other airports within a two hour drive, so I do have some selection and can shop a bit.

If it's feasible, try searching neighboring airports. If you can fly mid-week, it is often cheaper..and if you can, try doing a flight search in the middle of the night..lol..seriously, sometimes you can save a bit on flights that get discounted in the wee hours of the morning. Try searching for air specials on Wed., when alot of the airlines post their weekly specials.

Sign up for Travelzoo and Shermans email specials..they often have some great bargains. I found one with Travelzoo a few years ago that was a "vacation package"..but the whole thing was less than airfare alone that I had been finding, so I booked the vacation and then just didn't stay at the hotel!

And it could be that Cozumel is a less expensive destination airport..it is for me out of Cincinnati..you have to include the cost of the ferry to get across the bay to Playa, but even with that, I saved about $100 by flying into Cozumel when I traveled with Beachreader in March.

[robyn66]

Oh, yeah, I didn't think of Cozumel, I'll check and see what my options are flying there. We're kind of locked into the days we can travel because it's the holiday week we're going - it's my husbands birthday that we're celebrating in Tulum and it happens to fall the week between XMas and New Years! So, not only are we paying higher hotel prices but also, airfare prices as well, apparently! Normally, NYC to Cancun is not expensive at all so I was really shocked at that price! And yes, I've heard about the 'midnight' searches! :) :) I'll keep looking at airfare now, before I book a place... And yeah, I belong to all those travel sites... I'm a pretty big traveler! :) I appreciate the advice! Thanks!

[robyn66]

I just checked Cozumel. No go. Ugh.