Caribbean and Central America Travel Answers

I took my Mum to the Riviera Maya three years ago. Mum would have been 65 at the time (not that much older than your Dad). We went to a resort called Moon Palace, which had everything! It's a large resort but the way it's laid out means there's plenty of space and it doesn't feel huge. The rooms are wonderful and great for a special occasion. It attracts people of all ages, but mainly forty-somethings and upwards. All the guests are extremely friendly. There are 12 or 13 restaurants within the resort itself, and each one is different. There are buses to transport you from one section of the resort to the other. It's all inclusive so everything is free, even day trips! There is a 36 hole golf course if your Dad is a golfer. It's right on the beach, too. Even though all the beaches here are public, it's far removed from the heart of Cancun so the only people you'll meet on the beaches are the hotel guests. While I was there I met a woman who had flown her friends there to celebrate her 50th birthday. I've written a couple of tips which you can read on my pages and I can send you more pics if you are interested.

We love the Mayan Riviera. We usually stay at a condo in Akumal. The beach in Akumal is beautiful and the "La Buena Vida" restaurant and bar is my favorite place. Good food, ambience,nice people. Many of the people in Akumal live year round and are very friendly. Every time we go, we meet someone new and they give us great tips and where to go and how to get there. you can email me for more info at vijalludlow@comcast.net

Another nice place in the Carribean is the Dominican Republic: great beaches, beautiful nature and historical places. There are some good small resorts around Puerto Plata.Samana is more preserved and has beautiful nature, it is more isolated though.

Virgin Gorda & St. John both offer the kind of pristine tropical fantasy perfection you dream about, but they are further south in the islands that are more mountainous (volcanic origins), so that may make getting around a bit more difficult. They would need to rent a car to get around, and driving on the left on their narrow curvy roads can be harrowing. My VG page has got a pretty good review of many hotels available on VG if you are interested, I was just there last December, and the hotel I stayed in (Fischer's Cove) might be a good choice. The Riviera Maya is getting way over built up every since some developers coined that catchy name for it, but there are still plenty of lovely looonnnggg sugar sand beaches and a lot of nice day trips your parents can take. I'd agree that you should head south towards Tulum to avoid the big crowds. The Yucatan Peninsula is very flat, but the interior is quite inhospitable & rough for hiking, so stick to recommended trails. Locogringo.com has some excellent coverage of villas & condos for rent, as well as smaller hotels & big resorts. Look up Akumal or Tulum to get you started. It's really up to you to select the one that fits your budget & requirements, but they have lots of photos & good descriptions to help you out. A little ways north of Tulum is the big snorkelers park Xel-Ha, which also has a lovely walking trail around the bay with lots of birds to see (including my very first spotting of tree ducks!). And the ruins at Tulum are wonderful, just go early in the morning to avoid the heat.

Oh, why not go tubbing for something fun & original! Of course, I'm not quite sure how that's done....

Too right, many apologies. YES, go tubing in the cenotes, it is a wonderful experience!!!

Many thanks to everyone for all your suggestions! We'll look into all of these places...although it's hard to read about them without wanting to hop on a plane right away! Happy travels, Maya

We loved Tulum. It is a quaint and pretty low key little town. Enjoyed immensely the little markets and restaurants, not to mention Tulum ruins and beaches, especially Paraiso. We are a bit older ourselves but still very active, and absolutely enjoyed staying in town at a small hotel called Luna del Sur. This was a wonderful experience for us, as it was safe, immaculate and close to town and beaches. We also went on the Sian Ka'an tour which the hotel owner helped us arrange (she was the friendliest and most helpful hostess we've ever met) and think yout Dad will find it as spectacular as we did. Best of luck!