Is AC a must in July?

[Thor Henning]

We are planing a week at one of the eco hotels inTulum, July 2010. We have been in Playa before, and we have allways had AC. Will it be ok in Tulum without AC?

[Margoinmexico]

I have spent the last 3 summers in Quintata Roo, and I find them quite pleasant.....but that is me. I don't hear myself complain about weather much.

People say...."WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SUMMER?:eek: Like it is some kind of hell or something....NOT!

Yes, it is hot, but not as hot as say Missouri..... no it doesn't cool down much at night, yes there is often a light breeze off of the ocean, so get ocean front and a ceiling fan. Yes, I hear a lot of people complain, yes some people like the summer better than the winter.

One of the things I love about the summer is the calmness and the clearness of the water. I swim everyday. In the winter, not so much, because I'm spoiled by the summer. HINT: All the beautiful pictures you see of the places on line? They are taken in the summer!

So, drink Michaladas, (they have ice in them) swim a lot and you will love the summer in Tulum. :beerchug:

[Thor Henning]

Sounds like I should go for it.
:p

[Margoinmexico]

Sounds like I should go for it.
:p

ABSOLUTELY!!!:sun:

[beachreader]

Definitely get beachfront and ceiling (or standing) fans, but other than that, I was fine with August, and I'm sure July is the same. And I agree with Margo, the water is perfect in the summertime!

Let us know when you get your choices narrowed down, maybe someone here will have first-hand summertime experience there.

[PhyllisB]

Welcome!!!!!

The only thing I'd add is that you should consider personal preferences as well. Are you typically always hot when everyone else is just fine? Are you/your family typically always cold when everyone else is just fine? I'm not sure what your climate is typically like where you live in Norway. If it tends towards the cooler side, then July in Tulum might feel quite warm to you. I know of a certain Minnesotan who thought it was dreadfully hot on her last trip (August)--still had an excellent time, but I do remember some comments about how hot it was to her. So it's all relative.

That being said, you can probably adjust to the heat/humidity within a day or two. On the beach, where the breeze is, isn't so bad. It's going into town, or visiting ruins, that kind of thing, that could get really really hot and you'd want to do some of those activities either early morning or later in the evening, I think. Cenotes you could visit anytime since the water will cool you down!

Definitely stay oceanfront/beachfront, so you can get the breeze. Don't book any "garden" rooms! Those would be in the jungle, further away from the breeze and closer to the mosquitos!

Just my dos pesos!

[susan]

Welcome!!!!!

I know of a certain Minnesotan who thought it was dreadfully hot on her last trip (August)--still had an excellent time, but I do remember some comments about how hot it was to her. So it's all relative.



Hey- are you talking about me:mad: boy last time I tell you anything;)

It was HOT and I think even BR would admit that the MA unit at NV needed another fan as there really wasn't any airflow thru the unit depsite being beach front. The big shaded deck was a huge plus though during the day.

That said would I go back in August- definately, but we went for whale sharks and turtles. If one wants to do places like Coba or any other inland ruin sites I don't know if I could recommend that. If you are on the beach you don't need air conditioning but fans are a requirement.

[Thor Henning]

I have been to both Cuba and Chichen Itza and loved the trips. I was more worrying about hot nights. But I think we will go for a week in Tulum. How about Sueños?

Btw, Norway is as cold as Minnesota.
:)

[KennyG]

I'm pretty sensitive to heat. I have too cool off frequently in the sea. I was in one of the lower Corazón suites at NVR in September and it was too hot for me at night, even with the door wide open. Even though I love NVR, I have to say that many of the units are not well designed in regards to airflow and capturing the seabreeze across the room or across the bed. If it were me, in the summer at NVR, I would have to go for Alma del Mar or Ola or maybe Sueño Caribeño for a cross-breeze. It's embarrassing to say, but in September, I actually took a beach mattress and put it on the deck with pillow and sheets and slept there. I'm sure the staff thought I was crazy. The night watchmen could see I was there because there was a full moon.

Anyway, I've seen others on another site complain about being hot there and about not being able to have the overhead fan on because it was squeaky, which it was for me too, keeping me awake, and it didn't move much air anyway because of its poor design. Plus, I would rather not have any fan so I can hear the waves and the wind.

I guess that in any place, for ventilation, it would be better to be in a unit with the palapa roof as opposed to the lower unit of a 2-story building where the unit's ceiling is sealed.

[topshelf]

I have been to both Cuba and Chichen Itza and loved the trips. I was more worrying about hot nights. But I think we will go for a week in Tulum. How about Sueños?

Btw, Norway is as cold as Minnesota.
:)

We were at Suenos for a week in July this summer and between the fan and the breeze from the beach we were just fine.

[beachreader]

Another nice thing about Suenos is the pool. Since the sea is likely to be calm in July, you might not feel you need it, but it's nice to have the option.

[PhyllisB]

Oh, Suenos is one of my absolute favorite places. You'd love it! I honeymooned there in 2005. Fantastic management, great rooms and wonderfully cared for grounds. Nothing but good things to say about them. Again, I'd be sure to try to get one of the buildings closest to the water, and if it fits into your budget, the breeze will probably be better on the 2nd floor (the master suites). The pool is an added bonus for cooling down, too.

I had a hunch Norway and Minnesota weren't so different! :D

[manitou]

Great to see you here, Thor!
Welcome to tulum.info!

[Thor Henning]

Great to see you here, Thor!
Welcome to tulum.info!
Thank you Russ! As you can see we have started planing our trip to the Riviera Maya in June-July 2010. This will be our first time in Tulum appart from one day trip to the ruins and one day trip with the bus to Tulum Pueblo.

[last minute]

The other posters have given good advice! We were in Tulum last August 09 and we stayed in three places - Nueva Vida - Ola unit, Los Lirios, and Zulum. The Ola unit at NV was plenty breezy for me, but not for my bf. Los Lirios is one of the only hotels on Tulum beach with a/c, but not really an eco-hotel. But if you are sensitive to the heat, it's a good option. Zulum has great cross-breeze if you're on the second or third floor. The second floor rooms at Zulum are bigger, but the top floor is neat in a cozy way. Good luck with your choices.

I don't know how to link to my trip report, but check it out for more info and photos. It's called 9 days, 4 hotels, 1 paradise.

[chamba]

be careful, once you get adjusted to life in the weather, you may not ever go back. A/C makes me sick here, I always prefer to be in the weather. no matter how hot n humid, it always beats my hometown heat.

[Kenster]

That was at the top of my list of concerns a dozen years ago when I was planning my first trip to Tulum. I needn't have worried. I am warm natured and don't have a lot of tolerance for heat but I've never been miserably hot in Tulum. It's certainly not as hot as Houston in summer time. I've always stayed at either Cabanas Copal or Azulik, neither of which have A/C.
You need to book a sea view cabana. I've found that usually the sea breeze is plenty strong to keep you comfortable at night. I don't mind being hot during the day but do not enjoy being hot and sweaty when trying to sleep at night.
I usually go April - June. I've only been down there once as late as July. July was by far the hottest in my experiences. The days on the beach were nice, especially if you can find some palapa shade and a cold beer. Nights were not bad. The only time I was really uncomfortable at night was when a thunderstorm was nearby and the winds either ceased, or reversed and started flowing off the hot land rather than the cool sea. But these conditions do not last very long.
Have fun!