Is it right for us?

[debbie421]

OK, I think I've read through every post on the forum! We're considering having a wedding in Tulum and are trying to decide if it's right for us. Get ready for an e-novel, here's my thoughts.....
PROS: We hate AI, anything touristy, and chains. We love small independent hotels and restaurants, anything foodie, and beautiful beaches. We also like places with things to do (Tulum has water sports, ruins, great places to eat, etc).
CONS: We're city people. So much so that we actually live downtown. Some of the things I read about could be just fine, I've just never experienced them. Needing bug nets on the beds, not flushing toilet paper (where do you put it, does it stink up the room??), no hair dryers (how do you get ready for a wedding or dinner?), no tv's, no internet, no A/C (although sounds like you don't need it in winter, when we would come). It may be great, I just can't picture it.
So the question is, anyone like us who loves Tulum? Also, which place is the best for a wedding? I'm guessing Ana y Jose from the reviews. People keep talking about expensive, but expensive in Tulum still seems pretty cheap.
I promise I'm not sensitive, please give me your honest thoughts.



P.S. This is also posted on trip advisor, sorry if you've already read it.

[minniemex]

First off http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/Avitars/welcome.gif to the board!!

Wow, lots of questions!! LOL ~

You cannot get around the "hair" problem - almost all places in Tulum will not accomodate hair dryers, curling irons or any "heating" type element for your hair. If this is a problem, you should just stop right here, because it is not going to happen. I am not sure if Ana Y Joses will accommodate these, you would have to email them and ask. It that is the case, then they would be your only choice as far as I know. We really haven't had a member who got married down there and shared all the trials of planning this with us. Maybe you can do that!!

It is funny I just posted to a wedding thread about Nueva Vida de Ramiro doing weddings - http://www.nuevavida.com.mx/-Weddings/weddings.html (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nuevavida.com. mx%2F-Weddings%2Fweddings.html)

You might want to email them and ask about the hair appliances.

Ok, now on to the paper in a basket thing. Yes, sometimes it does stink, but you are not going to be staying next to it your whole trip are ya?? It is always emptied daily. I have never found it to be a problem at all. It was really freaky the first time I encountered it but you get used to it really quickly.

The water sports in Tulum are very limited in my estimation. There are no wave runners lurking about (maybe at Paraiso??) ~ I think the only water sports is playing in the waves or the occasional wind surfer.

The freedom of being unplugged for a week or two is wonderful!! It really isn't for everyone, so if you think you couldn't live without this for even a short period of time, you might be looking in the wrong place.

A thought just crossed my mind ~ up at Xpu Ha there is Al Cielo!! Xpu Ha is another beautiful beach, only 2nd to Tulum in my mind, and I think it might be just the place you are looking for!! Check it out ~
http://www.alcielohotel.com/ (http://www.tulum.info/redirector.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alcielohotel.c om%2F)

Let us know what you think.

[Linda S.]

There are some placed in Akumal that specialize in weddings, Vista Del mar, and I would think Lol-Ha (at least they would do a dinner). Maybe think about having the wedding there, and then sneaking off to Tulum for the honeymoon. Don't worry about your hair!!! No matter what you do to it, once you get out in the wind, salt air and humidity- your work will all be undone.

[debbie421]

The water sports in Tulum are very limited in my estimation. There are no wave runners lurking about (maybe at Paraiso??) ~ I think the only water sports is playing in the waves or the occasional wind surfer.



This makes me happy! Wave runners fall under the touristy category for me. I meant snorkel, scuba dive, kite surfing lessons, sea kayaks, long open water swims, etc.

I'm OK about the hair as long as there's a salon that could do my hair on my wedding day. Which I believe I've read about in this forum.

I'm also OK about no A/C and no tv (I do love to read) and I just remembered we did a week in Costa Rica and I didn't check the internet once. So maybe I'm on board after all!

[DougSR]

Yes scuba diving, no snorkeling (the reef is too far out), yes to sea kayaks at La Zebras, yes to swims and yes to kiteboarding (though it's gonna cost you).

I gotta say, I love Linda S' idea. In fact, I know my posse very well and if I were doing it I would leave them with the AC, hair dryers, TVs, and snorkeling in Akumal and use Tulum as my secret honeymoon retreat. 30 minute drive. Go over there for one or two nights alone. Perfect.

[AnyMan]

Another alternative would be to rent a hotel room or two in pueblo for the wedding party to get ready in. The would have power for hair appliances and are generally not that expensive.

Also, another water sport that I enjoyed while in Tulum was boogie boarding. Pick up a board at the PDC Walmart for $13 USD.

[John in DC]

Budget issues permitting, you might also consider renting a string of houses on either Soliman Bay or Tankah Bay, just north of Tulum. I know if several weddings that have gone that route, where the couple, families and guests all stayed on Soliamn.

There was one infamous wedding three years ago when a rich family from the DF rented literally every single rentable house on the bay. Apparently there were hundreds of guests. They brought in massive catering from the DF and Miami, along with musical entertainment for several days, and all the generators necessary to provide power for the whole shebang. They even put underwater lights out in the bay so it glowed in the dark. So you could do something like that.

Or rent a couple of huts at Zazil Kin.:)

[austxdan]

They brought in massive catering from the DF and Miami, along with musical entertainment for several days, and all the generators necessary to provide power for the whole shebang. They even put underwater lights out in the bay so it glowed in the dark.

Sounds like a Saturday night party at Ak'iin :mad:




D.

[AdGuy]

Yes scuba diving, no snorkeling (the reef is too far out).

Doug...snorkeling and scuba diving are both possible. The fact that the reef is not within an easy swim isn't a factor. There are plenty of operators who will take you out for either diving or snorkeling. :)

[Helly]

A few thoughts from a fellow city girl (I never even CAMPED until I was 42 -- 4 years ago!!):

Toilet paper: I got so used to this that when I got home I had to remember that it was ok to flush it!! At our place, the tp bucket had a lid and I didn't smell it once. In fact, I don't remember smelling it even in public restrooms (of which I used a lot, 'cause I'm that kind of girl).

Snorkeling: We were disappointed with the snorkeling even when taking a a boat out to the reef at Tulum -- our guide told us that the hurricanes had killed a lot of the reef and, from what we saw, that appeared to be true. Snorkeling in a cenote is FUN though and we drove up to Akumal for a day and even in the middle of Tropical Storm Arthur last week the snorkeling at the lagoon of Yal-ku was great.

Ana y Jose is very pretty and much more typical of a U.S. hotel in my opinion. I know that La Luna does weddings there, but it's a much more rustic feel than AyJ (which I loved, but your mileage may vary)...

Congratulations and have a great wedding!! :)

[Helly]

I was totally comfy without AC even the last week in May...but that WAS with wearing a bathing suit pretty much every day...a wedding gown might be more uncomfy...can you wear a white bathing suit? ;)

[Gale in KY]

TP Issue-No where in the area should you flush..the sanitary system is antiquated and can't handle paper. Odor..bring along a can of Odor Be Gone..works great, just spray the can when you think of it.

The area is the BEST for an active adventurer.

Kayaking..many of the hotels rent kayaks..it's a great way to explore the coastline, there are also several businesses that offer kayak tours.
Use your Kayak to head out to the reef for some snorkeling. I have seen some snorkel pics and video of the reef out from Parasio, it's vibrant color is awesome..it's not abused by humans so it's still alive and healthy.

Boogie Boarding..wave action is perfect for boogie boarding. Kite Boarding is a BIG thing in Tulum..Extreme Sports offers classes and rentals.

Sian Kaan-lots of tours, kayak, fishing, snorkeling, mangrove tours..and an education along with the fun..it gets my best choice award.

Inland..Selvatica and a couple others offer Ziplines, Cenote snorkeling and tours etc. A great break from the beach should you need one.

http://www.cancunvista.com/travel/selvatura_canopy_expedition.htm

Don't forget the ruins..Muyil offers the chance to explore like "Indy"..lol..as you will most probably have the place to yourself. Coba and Tulum are very accessible. Muyil sits on the laguna, I believe they still offer boat tours from the ruins? I think Windy just visited and can fill us in on that. Sian Kaan offers the forest and float tour, includes a visit to Muyil and boat tour of the laguna.

Punta Laguna Monkey Reserve-Coba Rd. Lee's report from here was very interesting and informative.

Wedding-No place better for a beach, barefoot wedding than Tulum. I can't even imagine a heavy traditional wedding dress though..you will see lots of Mayan dresses that are absoultely perfect for a beach wedding..made of ligthweight gauze..cool and airy. Don't forget prospective hubby either..ligthweight gauze for him too..I saw a guy wearing a nice white gauze shirt and shorts at a wedding at Ak'kn when I was there in early May. Check out the shops in Tulum and along the beachroad, I saw a dress there that was so lovely and would be perfect..it was a halter type sundress with intricate hand stitching detail. The Maya women are amazing with hand stitching and since they wear the clothes they make, you know they are good for the climate. A couple of the little shops along the beachroad are family owned and the clothing is made by the ladies in the family. You can also find similiar items in Akumal, and Playa...well, Playa is the place to find just about anything..lol...lots of selection there. If you can buy your attire when you arrive there, you won't have to worry about lugging it down there either.

[La Luna]

The Hair Salon is Nora Grey in Tulum.

[ilovewyoming]

Ok, you all... Toilet paper that you can't flush...
How about some baggies:..sandwich size, Insert wet/ etc toilet paper, seal up, put in garbage can and then:
No smell, no worries...I think the Room cleaners would be VERY appreciative. Have been doing this after the first year we were there, and was somewhat surprised: as i used so much MORE paper than needed that first year, wrapping it all up in a nice protective ball!!!!:)

[debbie421]

You guys are the best! Thanks for all the replies. We've decided to go for it. My top choice is Ana y Jose, but I emailed them last week and haven't heard back. I will also contact La Luna.

Do most of you use the tours or just go exploring on your own?

[ilovewyoming]

We just explore on our own, and use this forum for good ideas... We go for 2 weeks and don't want to be on any agenda , due to the fact :
That is the way life is AWAY from fun in the sun and beach and beautiful sunsets/sunrises/ in Tulum... ahhhhh, can't wait until October! We rent a car and just explore. It's great being on your own, having a sometimes lazy/relaxed schedule. Ana Y Jose: Never been there, but have heard good things. Maybe more pricey for us, but then we stayed at Suenos a few years back and that was a stretch for the dollars, and now it is even more pricey..
Enjoy! How can you NOT? :)

[PhyllisB]

Yep, we explore on our own too. I think most of the folks here do. The closest we've gotten to any tour activities was a Sian Ka'an kayak tour, through CeSiak, and that's something I'd like to do as part of a tour because I don't really know the reserve at all. And their tours (from what I gather) are very small.

I'd never do a tour to the ruins. Big busload of people arriving mid-day --- hot and crowded, and no opportunities to veer off course if you see something that catches your interest. But I would recommend hiring a guide if you want to get the historical details. They are usually pretty great.

[minniemex]

You guys are the best! Thanks for all the replies. We've decided to go for it. My top choice is Ana y Jose, but I emailed them last week and haven't heard back. I will also contact La Luna.

Do most of you use the tours or just go exploring on your own?

Debbie it would be great if you could keep this thread going and let us know how things progress. I think it would be a wonderful thing to have for people looking to get married in the future. First question ~ does Ana Y Joses allow hair appliances??

[debbie421]

They haven't emailed me back yet! I keep trying to remember about Mexico time since I only emailed them last week. I'm planning on trying out the stylist someone mentioned here for the big day.

[longbeach]

Ana Y Jose is a fantastic place for a wedding. They have all the amenities you will want, incl hair dryers. I could not think of a more beautiful place to have a wedding.
We stayed there in Feb 08 and it was amazing. PM me if you need additional details

[DougSR]

What email address did you use. Perhaps these would be helpful.

manager@anayjosebeachclub.com

director@anayjosebeachclub.com

[AmoTulum]

We just stayed at Ocho Tulum and they had a wedding this past saturday. It appeared that everything turned out great and was beautiful! They have a pretty nice sized restauranttoo . A pro to getting married in Tulum: you will not have other guests around like at an AI. The beaches there are pretty isolated, so you really have a sense of being on the beach on your own.

The rooms at Ocho are very nice, the breeze was enough. I actually got cold at night several times and we were there this past week. The food there is delicous, the drinks are great too.

TP- no doesn't smell. They clean everyday and trash can gets emptied out every day. I wouldn't take a blow dryer, pointless. For your wedding, get your hair done at Nora Grey, like someone suggested. You are going to love Tulum, I regret not having gotten married in Tulum!

[beachreader]

My pick for a wedding would be Cabanas La Luna--they have a wedding arbor that is so pretty, and a bit more private than standing right on the public beach (not that there are so many people down there that it would feel particularly "public").

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8dd34b3127ccec3cbb5996a7800000016108Aas2rVo2ZuQ e3nw8


Get your wedding-day hair done at the salon in Tulum that Rene mentioned (Nora Grey), but for the rest of the time, just clip it up or shake it out in the wind.

Another great thing about La Luna is that it's very close to Zulum, Ana y Jose and Cabanas Tulum, which provide a wide range of price points and amenities for your guests to choose from.

I have never smelled the TP. Most places give you a little trash can with a lid on it, and the lid seems to be enough to keep whatever odors there are in there. I do have a little thing of odor-killer that I bring if I'm sharing a room with someone (some places don't have doors on the bathrooms), and I sprayed a little bit in the can if I thought about it.

Like Helly, sometimes I have to remember to put it in the toilet when I'm back in the States. :)

Other places that I think would do a beautiful wedding and would be on my list after La Luna: Shambala Petit, Suenos Tulum, Ocho.

[debbie421]

Gorgeous picture! I'm actually leaning strongly towards Ana y Jose, but Ocho Tulum is making the list as well. I emailed them today. Where is Ocho on the beach? It's too new to be on any maps.....

[mpanjer]

Debbie,

I'm thinking of getting married in Tulum too. We should keep in contact and share info. I'd love to hear how what you decide.

I have some information that Ana Y Jose sent me about cost. If you want it send me an email to mpanjer
It doesn't cover everything, so I have no idea about total costs.

Mel

[gmay10]

My wife and I used Mexidivers for our tours (they are just before the bumpy road and across from Zamas). We had a great experience with them and they were not pushy at all. We went deep sea fishing for 1/2 day and took an all day Mayan tour that took us to the ruins, a cenote, canoing, hiking, rappelling, zip lining, Mayan shaman ritual, and a Mayan lunch. There were about 10- 15 people. I will be writing about it in my trip report. It is actually Day 6-coming soon.

[debbie421]

I know it's been forever, but just bumping this up since I STILL haven't decided yet! Now I'm worried about guests with children. I know, talk about bridezilla. Anyway feel free to add more comments, especially weather destruction comments. Good to know what we're getting into.....

[PhyllisB]

What are you worried about (in terms of the kids), specifically?

[debbie421]

Well, we aren't kid people, so I'm not sure what they need. Are we supposed to pick a place we love knowing there's no "kids club" or babysitting service at the hotel? Or that kid food might be tough to get? I'm not sure how all that works.

[PhyllisB]

I guess it depends on the # of guests you think would bring kids... and whether you want them at the wedding/reception or not. If you don't want them at the wedding, then it's hard not offering babysitting or something like that. Families with kids may not be inclined to travel to Mexico for a wedding, too.

Pepper has brought her kids to Tulum several times, as have some other folks here. It works for some people & doesn't work as well for others, I imagine, just depends on the family. I think you'd probably be able to find kid-friendly food, though.

What size wedding are you thinking? Do you have a preference for time of year? I'm assuming you'd want to avoid hurricane season. I think that starts officially in June or July and goes through early November. A May wedding might be really nice. You'd probably purchase trip insurance (and suggest that your guests do so as well) to protect your travel/lodging expenses. If you had a wedding during hurricane season, say October/November, you'd have to be sure to read the fine print of the policy to make sure it covers weather disasters (many don't cover hurricanes). I don't know if there is any "wedding insurance" or anything like that but that would be an idea worth investigating. Given the cancellation policies of the hotels in Tulum, you'd definitely want to have some kind of insurance I'd think.

It seems to me that Akumal might be a better choice for the wedding (keeping Tulum for the honeymoon), as other people have mentioned--some of larger hotels there would probably have a wedding coordinator who could help you out with a lot of these details, and a lot more options for lodging. The AI's there would have kids clubs too.

Personally, planning a wedding out of the country that isn't just the most simple, stand on the beach quickie thing with a small group, would make me crazy! Just too many variables!

Have you been to Tulum before, or are you planning a visit to the area sometime soon so that you can scope it out? I definitely wouldn't recommend making a decision on it without a visit. As much as I think we all provide a reliable glimpse of Tulum & solid recommendations/feedback here, we are all VERY biased!!!! And not everyone loves Tulum the way we do (thank goodness for that!).

[AdGuy]

Where is Ocho on the beach? It's too new to be on any maps.....


Ocho is just north of Las Ranitas...right at Kilometer 6.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i317/FloridaAdGuy/tulum_map.jpg

[Monique]

Hi,

Just wanted to give some info. We got married at Ana y Jose 5 years ago. Yes! just bare feet in the sand. It was lovely. The restaurant waiters were our witnesses. The person that arranged everything (Elsa) is not there any more, but Jackie, the manager, is still there I think. Ana y Jose had electricity in the rooms than, so you can use a hairdryer, iron for your clothes, etc. The receptionist brought an iron from his home, because I forgot mine.

Be careful that your marriage is registrated in the right way in Mexico. When we came home one stamp missing and the papers had to go back to Mexico and it took about 6 months for all this.

By the way, we stayed in Ocho this year and they also had power in the rooms. Unfortunatly it took a long time for things to charge to full. The hairdryer was also on "low".... They also had a wedding when we were there, so I know they can organise it. With some music and a buffet.

Monique