<p>Would be our first time.
Puerto Vallarta? Cabo? the Riviera?
And where to stay?</p>
<p>Please share your favorite areas and hotels.</p>
<p>On Riv Maya …only opened last Nov - just in time for the swine flu scare and ecom crash…</p>
<p>we went for a week over Labor Day (anniv trip) - there are 4-5 dinner restaurants that are OUTSTANDING - got the review before hand from NYT - excellent excellent service.</p>
<p>good luck and enjoy!!</p>
<p>More information might be needed here. Who is going? Adults only? Children? Young adults? What time of year? What do you like to do: rest/swim? party? adventure-hiking, etc? Eating out? Sightseeing?</p>
<p>We have enjoyed small European hotels right in Playa del Carmen (not the all inclusive resort scene at all). There were many good restaurants, easy beach access and you can do day trips to Tulum, diving in cenotes, etc. if you want to sight-see. If you want more remote, there is a tiny eco-resort called Danzante near Loreto/La Paz; lots of water sport oppotunities, tiny, remote, owned by interesting expats…</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you.
In answer to ebee . . . 2 adults, and 2 young adults (20 and 18); going in June. Definitely rest/swim and eat out, and sightsee. Will probably be too hot then for anything too strenuous in terms of sports. Girls may want to party some, but not me or H.
Keep all the ideas coming!</p>
<p>Cozumel, Iberostar. We have been to Mexico about 13 times or so. We would check out other places, like Grand Cayman or Jamaica, but always go back to Cozumel. We have stayed at El Presidente, Fiesta Americana and last 2 times at Iberostar. We liked it the most because of beautiful grounds and no high rises, and being able to go snorkeling off shore from pier, no need to enter barefeet walking on stones (yuuk, hurts) but somebody else might not like old buildings / rooms. Food was very good and safe, available whole day. Awesome beach with tons of shady spots.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t do Puerto Vallarta or Cabo with that profile. Cozumel and the Riveria are better bets. You should also check out the trip advisor forums for those areas. You’ll find out more than you want to know!</p>
<p>I would think about a cruise. That way you unpack once, and can sample several ports. Check out cruisecritic.com for great discussions.</p>
<p>June is hotter than the inside of a goat in Mexico, and humid as all get out. If I had to go then (in June) I would probably want a nice place with great amenities (air conditioned, lots of pools and cabanas). La Paz is gorgeous, on the Sea of Cortes and a short trek to the Mayan Ruins. Rates should be lower in June.</p>
<p>We rented a house in Puerto Morelos on VRBO. Sweet little fishing village between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen. You can get houses with their own pool, ours did not have one. We rented a minivan so that we could visit the tourist sites. We did the zip line thru the jungle, explored some underground caves and took a day trip to Chichen Itza. I would highly recommend going to Xel-Ha. We had a great day of snorkeling there and all you can eat and drink is included. We don’t like being around the crowds in the big tourist cities. The people in the small villages are so friendly and helpful. We had a lovely garden in the backyard with our own mangoes!</p>
<p>June? Forget about what I have said, you, probably will be misearable in Mexico in June. We have never gone in June, we usually go in early December or end of Mrch/beginning of April. June is not my choice of vacation, too hot.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people may disagree…however…w/your daughters being 18 & 20…you may wish to consider Club Med. We have a 20 yr DD. She could do what she wanted-lots of other people her age-and we could, too.</p>
<p>Yes, I am trying to decide if June will be just too hot. People I know who have gone say that while yes, it’s hot, it was still fine. It’s a personal threshold, of course. Unfortunately, it’s the only time all four of us can go.<br>
We cruised once to Alaska, and I didn’t really like the whole cruising experience. Thanks for all the suggestions, though!</p>
<p>Check out Club Med Ixtapa. I was there years ago and enjoyed it. I think the reviews on Trip Advisor are very favorable. The rainy season starts at the end of June, but I think it still rains mainly in the evening. It will be hot though - but cooler by the water of course.</p>
<p>We have gone to Cancun 3x in June. Yes it is very hot for sightseeing, and we did spend a day to see the Myan Ruins. The rest of the time we were swimming, snorkeling, etc. and we were very happy. We were extremely hot when we were at the Mayan Ruins, but it did not stop us from going. We stayed once in the Moon Palace (better deal when for us after your youngest turned 12 and our oldest was under 18, than the hotel we stayed in the first times. The hotel we stayed in the first 2 times I cannot remember the name of, but the 2nd time we did not like it as well because it was beginning to show its age). We liked the Moon Palace a lot. I would also recommend Xel Ha.</p>
<p>I’ve also stayed at the Moon Palace in Cancun. Nice place and they offer shuttles to all of their other resorts. We spent the day at Xei Ha which is more eco touristy. I would not rent a house with that profile. We just spent a week last June at a penthouse condo in Punta De Mita. Had our D who is 18 and S who is 20. They were a bit bored. We would have been better off with a club med or all inclusive where they could probably have hung out with others their ages. They were originally supposed to bring friends but the parents got nervous about the safety in Mexico.</p>
<p>I (and my 17 & 20yo) LOVED the Grand Palladium complex in the Riviera Maya. We had never been to Mexico and spent months researching before deciding. I think the tipping point was the fact that there are actually 2 entire web sites for the Palladium founded and run by crazed “Palladium Addicts.” A key thing to note, especially since you are going in June, is that many all inclusives do not have a/c in the buffets or ala carts - the Palladium does. It is a big complex that had stuff for everyone - sandy beach, rocky beach w/ salt water pool, spa ( with lots of FREE things - like sauna, hot tub, pool, this walk on stones thing), night club, bars, unlimited ala cartes (very unusual), several buffets, friendly staff, huge pools, small pools, sports, snorkeling, sailing, etc. There’s just so much to do - my now 19 and 22 y/o kids are begging to go back this Christmas.</p>
<p>Here’s where the ‘addicts’ hang out</p>
<p>[Palladium</a> Addict](<a href=“http://palladiumaddict.net/]Palladium”>http://palladiumaddict.net/)
[Unofficial</a> Palladium Resort & Spa](<a href=“http://www.unofficialpalladium.com/]Unofficial”>http://www.unofficialpalladium.com/)</p>
<p>Here is a good site with information on all the many resorts in the Riviera Maya area</p>
<p>[Riviera</a> Maya Hotels, Resorts, Rentals: Mexican Caribbean Vacation](<a href=“http://www.locogringo.com/]Riviera”>http://www.locogringo.com/)</p>
<p>PM if you have questions!</p>
<p>Lisa</p>
<p>Ditto the Club Med recs. The Cancun and Ixtapa villages are both great.</p>
<p>TooRealistic and everyone else – Thank you so much! Now I have places to check out. You are all the best.</p>
<p>We go to Playa area every year. Our girls 18 and 21 love it. Their favorite places are Barcelo Maya and Riu Palace. Very Nice. You can walk in to town from the Palace, the Barcelo is a $20 taxi ride each way. The older the kids the closer to town they usually like to be to hit the shopping and clubs. Check this forum for excellent suggestions:
[Playa</a> del Carmen info](<a href=“http://www.playa.info/index.html]Playa”>http://www.playa.info/index.html)</p>
<p>If you won’t be going in to Playa often there are some new resort south of Cancun and North of Playa to check out.</p>