Waltzingmatilda and anyone with a Playa del Carmen vs. Cozumel opinion

emilyinchile · November 2010

I'm not stalking you, promise, but I just saw you mention that you'd been to both on the HM board. H and I are looking at Playa del Carmen for our anniversary, but your mention of Cozumel got me interested in maybe looking there too. We probably wouldn't stay where you did - budget would be tight plus we've never stayed AI and aren't sure about it - but just generally between the two locations, do you have a preference?

We've never been to either, and with Playa del Carmen we were really excited about seeing ruins and snorkeling as well as having 1 or 2 beach days. We definitely don't want to just sit at the beach for 5 days straight, so access to other activities is important to us, which makes me wonder if being on an island is the best idea. Thanks for your input.

crfische · November 2010

I've been to both. I would take Playa over Cozumel any day.

But I'm not really into scuba-ing, so maybe that has something to do with it.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

I've been to both, and honestly it's a toss up.

Cozumel- actually more to do than you think. We rented a jeep and drove around the island. The best restaurant is on a cliff and it was amazing! We walked to a nearby beach and rented jet skis and boated in the ocean. Of course we took a scuba diving boat tour and snorkeled too. We still had tons of time on the beach though, and there were a lot of options for bars inside the resort.

Playa - like you said, the ruins. We toured a lot and did a zip lining day. It was a totally different experience than Cozumel though. Really fun and we still got to do everything we did at Cozumel, like snorkeling, scuba diving, and jet ski in the ocean.

emilyinchile · November 2010

Thank you, that is helpful. We don't scuba, and I wasn't sure how much of the fun of Cozumel is scuba-based.

Also, hi Fish

Haven't seen you in a couple days!

aplatanada · November 2010

I haven't been to Cozumel, but we took a family vacation to a resort in Playa del Carmen and LOVED it. (And I'm not a resort "type.")

There is amazing snorkeling and lots of Maya ruins near by. It was a few years ago (like 5 or so) but we took a few trips from the resort into the town of Playa and really enjoyed it. The town is small but cute and totally geared towards tourists.

crfische · November 2010

I KNOW! Hi, Emily! I've been busy busy!

emilyinchile · November 2010

Aplat (yeah, that's your name now), we are not resort people either. There is a tiny part of me that wants to try AI, but I also am scared of it being a huge resort filled with stereotypical gringo tourists and bad food. A friend's TA is helping us with this and found a very hip looking boutique hotel that's running a special for $100/night, so I kind of feel like we'd be idiots to turn that down. At that price, we'll have money left to buy SO MANY margaritas! And go on all the sightseeing trips we want.

Fishy, no more busy allowed.

aplatanada · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_waltzingmatilda-anyone-playa-del-carmen-vs-cozumel-opinion?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e6b2fedc-c34e-4bc7-84c0-5a75ba834380Post:1b25ce9a-9603-423d-9eb7-45b9aa37fa14">Re: *Waltzingmatilda* and anyone with a Playa del Carmen vs. Cozumel opinion</a>:
[QUOTE]Aplat (yeah, that's your name now), we are not resort people either. There is a tiny part of me that wants to try AI,<strong> but I also am scared of it being a huge resort filled with stereotypical gringo tourists and bad food.</strong> A friend's TA is helping us with this and found a very hip looking boutique hotel that's running a special for $100/night, so I kind of feel like we'd be idiots to turn that down. At that price, we'll have money left to buy SO MANY margaritas! And go on all the sightseeing trips we want. Fishy, no more busy allowed.
Posted by emilyinchile[/QUOTE]

*nodding in agreement*

I've been to 3 AIs in my lifetime, and the Playa one was the only one I enjoyed. In retrocpect, what I enjoyed about it was leaving it! Going to the ruins, going diving, going into town.

waltzingmatilda13 · November 2010

Hey, I was at lunch.

I agree with what everyone else said basically. Cozumel was definitely more laid back, think real island feel, not like the mainland. We rented a Jeep and drove around. We stopped downtown and shopped then drove to the windward side and ate at Coconuts (restaurant on the cliff). We also went to an ecological park on the southern tip that had a lighthouse and museum and a crocodile reserve. We went snorkeling and I went scuba diving one day. Other people talked about a tour they did at tequila distillery that they said was a lot of fun. There are also some ruins that we did not visit.

We didn't really do anything when we went to Playa 2 years ago because DH had seen the ruins before and went when they still let you walk to the top and we were only there for 4 days. We went snorkeling there, too, but I think the reefs at Cozumel were so much better.

If we had to choose we would go back to Cozumel before we'd go back to Playa del Carmen.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_waltzingmatilda-anyone-playa-del-carmen-vs-cozumel-opinion?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:e6b2fedc-c34e-4bc7-84c0-5a75ba834380Post:9f23880e-113b-46b3-bbdd-bd786394f609">Re: *Waltzingmatilda* and anyone with a Playa del Carmen vs. Cozumel opinion</a>:
[QUOTE]Hey, I was at lunch. I agree with what everyone else said basically. Cozumel was definitely more laid back, think real island feel, not like the mainland. We rented a Jeep and drove around. We stopped downtown and shopped then drove to the windward side and ate at <strong>Coconuts (restaurant on the cliff)</strong>. We also went to an ecological park on the southern tip that had a lighthouse and museum and a crocodile reserve. We went snorkeling and I went scuba diving one day. Other people talked about a tour they did at tequila distillery that they said was a lot of fun. There are also some ruins that we did not visit. We didn't really do anything when we went to Playa 2 years ago because DH had seen the ruins before and went when they still let you walk to the top and we were only there for 4 days. We went snorkeling there, too, but I think the reefs at Cozumel were so much better. If we had to choose we would go back to Cozumel before we'd go back to Playa del Carmen.
Posted by waltzingmatilda13[/QUOTE]

That's where we ate too! We stayed at an AI and didn't have any issues with stereotypical tourists, but we also traveled outside the resort. I agree with you, Cozumel was my favorite.

waltzingmatilda13 · November 2010

Every review we read before we went said we had to eat at Coconuts. It was so yummy, but apparently we got there on the windiest day ever! Even the owner said he had never seen it that windy before. The sand was like tiny little missiles it stung so bad. We had to hide on the other side of the bar.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

Oh wow! The view is awesome but I could see where it could backfire on a windy day.

waltzingmatilda13 · November 2010

Totally off topic, but your in your sig pic you look exactly like one of my sister's best friends from high school. I always have to do a double take.

[Deleted User] · November 2010

Haha really. There are a couple people on here that I do that with too, it's weird.

emilyinchile · November 2010

Thank you all, this has been really helpful. I think Playa del Carmen sounds more like what we're looking for on this trip just because we do want to be more active. I had looked at a lot of the things Mrs.Jesse mentions, but before this post I didn't know we could go to Cozumel for the day, so that's another possible activity!

You all are great travel agents

waltzingmatilda13 · November 2010

There is a ferry that runs between Playa del Carmen and the main downtown area of Cozumel. I think it's only about a 30 minute ride, too, but don't quote me on that.

phillychica85 · November 2010

A little late, but I'd also say go for Playa over Cozumel. Playa is near to some spectacular ruins-Tulum and a slightly lesser known one to American tourists (mainly because they're still being excavated) Coba.

smokeybailey · November 2010

I stayed south of Playa. We visited Playa one day but liked being off all alone. Plus we took the collectivos into Tulum. We liked that town much more.

El Dorado Seaside Suites.

andij1616 · November 2010

We just went to Playa in August for our honeymoon and LOVED it! We stayed at La Tortuga, which is a boutique hotel just a block off of 5th Ave. We took a day trip to Xel-Ha, which was incredible. DH went snorkeling there and loved it. We also took a day trip to Coba, where we got to see the ruins, zipline, swim in a cenote, etc. It was fantastic. There is so much to do in Playa!

KentuckyKate · November 2010

PLAYA! I have been to Playa 11 times and Cozumel 4 times. My parents own a couple properties down there, so I know the area like the back of my hand, if you're interested in any tips or recommendations!

KentuckyKate · November 2010

Also, if you're looking for a boutique hotel, I wouldn't recommend La Tortuga like PP said because it's not on the beach. Playa Palms is about the same price and in the same location, and it actually sits on the beach and includes beach chairs and towels and stuff. Also, the webcam on playa.info that shows the beach is mounted right there, so when I'm down there I always walk by it and call people and have them look at me and stuff. Dorky, but fun. (BTW- Playa Palms is not my parents' property, so I'm not being vendory right now, I just like it.)

Anyway, look at www.playa.info. It's a forum with different message boards all about Playa Del Carmen. You'll be able to find information about anything you want to know on there.

Waltzingmatilda and anyone with a Playa del Carmen vs. Cozumel opinion

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