Posada Margherita - Any recent reviews?

[yalie98]

Planning a special trip with my family and seems like PM is the only option for our dates - I see some past posts that there have been some bad reviews but I cannot really seem to find them - any recent thoughts from everyone on the Posada? Taking my parents and siblings and want it to be nice.

[beachreader]

Do you mean for dinner, or for sleeping?

And when are you going, that they're your only option? :confused:

[yalie98]

For sleeping one family room and one regular room - over Thanksgiving week - some others are available like Ana y Jose's are available but a bit too much for our price range.

[PhyllisB]

Wish we could be more helpful! I don't know that anyone has stayed there or reported back on it in a year or more. I think there was a very brief review a long time ago - I'll see if I can find it in the archives. But we all have other favorite places (at least for sleeping!).

How much space do you need? Maybe we can help you find some alternatives that might have more information out there for you to review.

[beachreader]

Where else have you tried and found no room?

I don't know if they have availability, but Nueva Vida has some great larger rooms, so does Tita Tulum. Playa Mambo has the penthouse room with one king bed and two smaller singles (good for kids), and the other two beachfront rooms have a king bed and another bed up in a loft.

Cabanas La Luna has the wonderful Capt. Dale house, with a king bed and two doubles up in the loft, and some other options.

Suenos Tulum has a pool, rare and kind of great to have especially if there are kids. They have two "beach suites" which are a bit below the primary dune, but allow kids. Their other rooms are on the 2nd or 3rd floors, and they don't allow kids in those. It sounds, though, that you need two rooms, so that could work.

Again, I don't know which of these might have availability, just wondering where you've already checked.

None of that is answering your original question, which is how is it to stay at PM. I really don't know, I'm sorry. I don't think anyone here has actually slept at PM. It always struck me as a bit expensive for what you get, because the rooms are not on the beachfront, because the restaurant takes up the main beachfront space.

How much are they asking for those rooms?

[yalie98]

Thanks for the replies; Suenos and the others are booked - and/or eliminated because my parents are insistent on ceiling fans at least and bathrooms that have some privacy as they will be in a family type room in most instances - as for PM rates, the family room which has a queen, double and a twin and another room with king, etc. i think are 230 and 150 respectively.

[PhyllisB]

Well, my memory deceives me. I thought I remembered a brief post that someone posted a long time ago about staying there (my memory is that they thought it was just OK, they didn't love it, didn't hate it, but would probably stay somewhere else next time - I think they thought it was a little run down?), but I can't find it for the life of me.

That was a long time ago anyway. Things could be totally different there now. But the rooms are set back a ways, so the breeze off the beach isn't as strong. Now, in late November, you might be glad for that. It can get chilly!

[PhyllisB]

Have you thought about a condo in/around Rancho San Eric area in the reserve? I think there are a couple down there. Not sure what they were called now... Dale stayed in one, and so did Heenan, so you might find them in the trip reports if you do a search for posts by them in the TR part of the forum.

[yalie98]

I have not even heard of them - will check it out - how far in the reserve? fans at night? this is a big sticking point with my parents.

[PhyllisB]

Most places have fans these days. I'm sure the condos would. Can't remember what they were called, but it isn't far into the biosphere. You'd want to have a rental car to get up to other restaurants, or into town -- not a lot that would be in walking distance, probably. But it isn't far into the reserve at all.

[PhyllisB]

Links!

Dale's report:

http://tulum.info/showthread.php?t=2885

Heenan's report - Casa Sortilegio:

http://tulum.info/showthread.php?t=2857

[PhyllisB]

Aren't there a couple of family-size suites/apts at La Conchita and Tierras del Sol too?

[yalie98]

La Conchita is booked and havent heard back from TDS

[beachreader]

I'm pretty sure all of the places I mentioned have ceiling fans, though I'm not sure about Tita Tulum. I think Phyllis can speak to that one.

Of course, if your parents want actual air-conditioning, you could go to Los Lirios. Very large rooms, doors on the bathroom, etc, and they've been running some crazy specials for summer, perhaps you'd get a good rate for T-Day as well. LocoGringo handles them if you want to go see some pictures.

In fact, LG handles a number of house-type properties as well, so you might go check with them and ask them for other ideas.

Again, I don't mean to slam Posada Margerita, I'm sure it's a nice place, but for those rates I think you can do much better than back behind the restaurant.

[yalie98]

I had thought about Los Lirios but there were so many icky reviews out there about musty rooms, broken a/c etc...so I am very reluctant..

[PhyllisB]

Tita definitely has fans. And bathrooms with a door.

[beachreader]

Tita Tulum would be perfect for your group, then. Very family-friendly, great beach, nice restaurant right there but not blocking any rooms.

[minniemex]

Have you tried Los Arrecifes??

http://www.losarrecifestulum.com/

[minniemex]

Ok, what about Casa de las Palmas??

http://www.tulumbeachhouse.com/rates.html

[yalie98]

i have emailed re palmas but havent heard back yet - and los arrecifes doesnt seem quite as nice from pics as i might like for my parents

[pepper]

I think Posada Margherita should be fine considering nothing else is available and the price range.

My main thing about PM is the lacking details that you find at other hotels that make it so special. I think the rooms are kinda sparse. Also none seem to face the sea - lacking in breeze, but in Nov, that really shouldn't be an issue. If it were summer, it would be a problem.

I wonder if Ocho and AyJ have avail? And if they are willing to negotiate on the price.
La Zebra might even be an option - and ask for any unadvertised specials.
It seems NV would have something - and they do have ceiling fans.

[beachreader]

Casa de las Palmas would be perfect for any family, it would be great if they're available T-Day week, but I know they've been booking well in advance for various holidays. I thought they had an availability calendar on their site, but apparently not anymore.

Margo (the manager of las Palmas) is still in the US, and I think she's actually with the owners of the house, so I don't know if anyone's checking their e-mails at the moment--I'm sure they'll get back to you asap. Do hold off on booking anywhere until you hear from them. At $2500 for the week, that's less than what you'd be paying at Posada M. and you get so much more.

What about Nueva Vida de Ramiro? Most of their rooms have doors on the bathrooms and fans, either standing or ceiling, but they're pretty popular so may book up on the holidays too.

[yalie98]

I emailed NVR and waiting to hear -it would be a good choice.

Seems like Casa is not available as when you try to check availability for my dates it kicks you to La Zebra...

Have spoken with Ocho but it is a bit expensive and ends up in the $4000 range to make it work.

[yalie98]

And Ana y Jose's dont seem willing to negotiate at all - also ended up being over $4000 for 5 - 6 nights

[Toni]

We spent a week at PM 2 years ago. We were on the second floor unit w/ocean view. Nice balcony etc. But it was so hot and there is limited lighting in the room. No screens, or fans. Altho when we left we saw some of the first floor units had floor tower fans. I would have killed for one. We were there late Oct. Very quiet, known for it's great food, but we probably would not stay there again. It is very clean, the staff was nice, we had no complaints other than too hot, no screens and very hard to sleep, at one point we were going to sleep on the beach. It was pretty warm!! :o


from the beach:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/espanamaya/015.jpg

From our room:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/espanamaya/032.jpg

Balcony:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/espanamaya/126-1.jpg

Room: As you can see it is pretty spartan!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v309/espanamaya/123-1.jpg

[yalie98]

Thanks - very helpful and very much pushing me to find something else! Hopefully something will work out!

[PhyllisB]

I *knew* someone had stayed there!!!!! I wasn't crazy!!! Sorry Toni, just didn't remember it was you!

[pepper]

I didn't see that you tried La Zebra yet. They are showing avail for your dates in the owner's suite and #3. The owner's suite has a bathroom door while the rest of the cabanas have a half wall - all have fans.

I was going to book with them this summer, but stayed at Casa de las Palmas instead since it was avail. Anyway, La Zebra had unadvertised special rates. If you inquire - ask them. They offered the us the owner's suite for $195/nt.

[yalie98]

That is great to know - just emailed them - how does it compare to NVR?

[pepper]

In some ways, I'd say it's at the same level as NV. But LaZ sort of has it's nose in the air with it's chic-ness, but don't let that stand in your way.

NV seems more friendly and old world. They have many different rooms, cabanas, etc. But I like the restaurant - foodwise and location wise - at LaZ better.

[yalie98]

Thanks for your perspective - I have emailed them as the online booking shows the owners suites for 340 and want to see if there is a special for sure at that rate.

[minniemex]

Just a quick question. Does anyone know if the beach has recovered down by Playa Kin Ha, Posada Margherita, etc??

It was in pretty rough shape just a short while ago.

[minniemex]

Oh, and I forgot, I wanted to post a picture of these rooms at Playa Kin Ha. I don't know what they are like inside at all but know that they are new since Dean. They face right out to the ocean, and you could really share that wonderful balcony! For some reason I think they are rented by Italians a lot and the Turkey season might not be a big time of the year for them?? I am just guessing. Worth a try I think though.

http://minniemex.smugmug.com/photos/446856995_njsCj-L.jpg

[northern boy]

We have stayed there twice, about two weeks apart, heading to Belize and then back up.
It was high season (Christmas / News Years) so quite pricey for what we got. We had the first room on the left as you walk from the parking lot towards reception. None of the rooms are ocean front and this one wasn't even ocean view that I can remember. We thought the room was great, spartan, but still great. Lots of room, semi-private patio, washroom door etc.
As far as meals, we still go there every trip and have not been disapointed yet. Excellent service and food; prices comparable to Hemingways.
PM has memories for us. We met the owner, name escapes me right now, while walking the beach from our shack two lots down, in 2002. He treated us to "tea" served in china cups because he did not have a liquor licence yet.
We will probably keep going back for meals but are not likely to take a room again.

Paul