Suenos or Neuva vida

[Bouldergal]

I am going to Tulum for the first time in Sept. I am staying six nights in town and would like to stay in an oceanfront room for the last three nights. Any suggestions about the two hotels or any other recommendations, including best rooms?

[PhyllisB]

Hey Bouldergal! Welcome!!!

You've presented us with a tough choice!!! You can hardly go wrong -- probably a lot depends on how much you want to spend.

Personally I'd choose Suenos, because it's a smaller property and feels just a little more intimate to me. Nueva Vida is pretty big. Not that it's a high rise or anything, it isn't, but they have a lot of rooms.

When I stayed at Suenos I stayed in an ocean-front junior suite, which was just fine with me. I hopped off the patio and right onto the sand. I don't remember the building name, but it was the building on the far north end of the property.

There are a few folks here who have also stayed in the upper level ocean front rooms - great views from up there, and king size beds. It would be beautiful too.

I think the two buildings on the end - the north end and south end - are the best - they are the closest to the ocean.

Both places have food service - Suenos has a dining palapa that's up on the dune, great view, and breakfast is included in your rate. And it's *delicious*. Huge fruit plate, pastries, fresh OJ, toast, coffee. When I went, you had to arrange to have dinner there if you wanted it (let them know a day or so in advance so they could get fresh ingredients), but I think now they have an actual menu and regular dinner service???? Hopefully someone who has stayed here recently will add their experience. Nueva Vida has a restaurant (Casa Banana) on the jungle side of the road and I believe it has room service available.

I have only heard good things about the service at Nueva, and the owners of Suenos are fantastic too. So service-wise I think it's a toss up.

There are lots of Nueva Vida experts here, so I'll let them chime in!

[topshelf]

We recently got back from staying in a Master Suite at Suenos and it was perfect! I narrowed it down to the same two properties and I don't think you can really go wrong. When we were there NV had a more crowded beach, but for some that is a plus and some a minus.

I'll be posting some pics of Suenos hopefully some time next week in my trip report, but if you do a search you can already find great pics of both.

Good luck!

[minniemex]

http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k83/Minniemex/A1/welcome.gif to the board Bouldergal!!

I have not stayed at Suenos, but I have stayed at Nueva. I think either would be an excellent choice. Suenos does have the pool which would be really great for this time of year. I agree with what has been said, you can't make a bad choice between them. Nueva also includes a "continental breakfast". Just do a search and there have been lots of reports on the properties lately. Let us know which you choose!!:wave:

[beachreader]

What room are you looking at in Nueva Vida? They have quite a variety of room types, so it would be good to know your starting point.

What's your budget?

[Bouldergal]

I have looked at the rooms at Neuva Vida for $159. a night, however, I've just been offered a cabana at Puerto del Cielo for an incredible price. I can't seem to find any reviews or info on the place. Has anyone stayed there or seen a cabana. It's half the price of Neuva Vida.

[PhyllisB]

Have you done a search on the forum? I'm thinking I've seen some threads about it. Not sure if anyone has stayed there or not.

[beachreader]

It's Puerta (with an 'a') del Cielo. That stumped me the first time I was looking for info on it. If you do a search here (Advanced search), spell it both ways and you should find a bit.

I don't think anyone from here has actually stayed there, though. I know the cabanas are quite small, but the one I saw was smack dab in the middle of the beach, so you should get good breeze. Ask them anyway if they have fans and screens on the windows. It's a beautiful stretch of beach, very deep/wide right there. Good ceviche and guac at the restaurant, sorry I'm not much help otherwise.

It is right next door to Playa Azul, and they have some late parties there, but with all the wind and surf sounds, it's probable that you won't be able to hear anything. "Right next door" is relative in this case, as both properties have very wide beachfronts, so you'll probably be a couple hundred yards from the PA restaurant.

And I've heard their Sunday afternoon bbq (at PA) is actually quite fun, so maybe the proximity is a good thing!

[PhyllisB]

Well, I wouldn't be so sure that you wouldn't hear the party over the surf. I remember waking up at Luna in the middle of the night and hearing the boom boom boom of the bass. It didn't wake me up, so if you fall asleep early you probably wouldn't notice it, but I did hear it at Luna. So I'd bet you could hear it next door.

It was probably around 1am. Not sure what day of the week it was though.

[Bouldergal]

Thanks everyone for all your help and info. I thought I'd add that there is a recent review of Puerta del Cielo on Trip Advisor but, unfortunately, it is filed under Bacalar rather than Tulum. If you read the review it does refer to the cabanas at Puerta. If you're going soon the manager told me that the restaurant at Playa Azul is closed so that it's very quiet.

[beachreader]

Thanks for the info!

Did your contact say how long they'd be closed? It's a brand-new building so I can't imagine they're renovating. Maybe they just close down for hurricane season or something? Interesting.

[Bouldergal]

The woman I've been corresponding with is Heather Froeming from Extreme Control Kiteboarding which is located next door to the hotel I believe. She is the one to contact and is very helpful in contacting Puerta del Cielo. Her email is "Hotel Uolis Nah" <uolisnah@gmail.com. Try emailing her for info concerning Playa Azul and Puerta del Cielo. Hope that helps.

[itsjustme]

Me and the dh ate a wonderful evening meal in March of this year at Puerta Del Cielo and had a fun waiter. We stayed at a home a few doors south from PDC. Yes, we could hear the BOOM...BOOM..BOOM from somewhere.
Also this past June us girls did a day trip to Tulum and hung out for the afternoon at Puerta Del Cielo. Had great service, food, beach and pool. They did show us one of the 2 bed units (not bungalow). From what I remember (no pictures taken of the rooms) nice size bathroom and 2 queen (?) beds in the large main room...I believe some shelving for clothes. I thought that they were pretty nice. They offered a price for December at like $69/per nite which included continental breakfast. REALLY!! The beach bungalows where occupied at the time.

[beachreader]

A little bird just told me that :

"As of Sept. 1st, Playa Azul is closing their restaurant for dinner. The restaurant will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lounge is closed at night during off season. "

In case anyone else is interested in that info. Like maybe everyone who wants it quiet in that neighborhood can go in off season! ;)

[minniemex]

A little bird just told me that :

"As of Sept. 1st, Playa Azul is closing their restaurant for dinner. The restaurant will be open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lounge is closed at night during off season. "

In case anyone else is interested in that info. Like maybe everyone who wants it quiet in that neighborhood can go in off season! ;)

That is really great news, as a lot of travel shoulder and off season!!

[PhyllisB]

I bet they will open it up for paid receptions, though -- e.g. weddings...

[Margoinmexico]

They offered a price for December at like $69/per nite which included continental breakfast. REALLY!! .

:wave:Wowowowowowow! We need to check that out! that is an incredible price! can't imagine what their OFF season price is?

It is one of those places that I've always wished they would let ME design the use of the property....lots of potential there....;)
It is a very nice place........my friend Martin built the bar and pool there, and I was good friends with the original manager Raul.... so I was there often while it was being built...........and have stopped for a drink a few times......nice people. but it's always dead, no cars or people when I go by there.....I may have to go on vacation for a couple of nights and see what it's all about!

[Bouldergal]

I'll let you know after I get back