Cancún Travel Forum

Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Sun July 5, 2009 01:18 AM UTC

We are planning a trip to Cancun the week before Christmas for 7 days and be back by Christmas Eve. We are thinking about staying either at the Grand Caribe Resort & Spa (Blvd 11.5KM), or Barcelo Tucancun Beach in Cancun. Maybe even Gran Porto Real at PDC. Any advise from all your experience travellers? Is there any special activities going on during that time of the year?

ctso

7 replies

[Reply]

Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Sun July 5, 2009 04:00 AM UTC

Cancun is a dump

go to PDC

or better yet, go to a nice beach and island like the Turks or Barbadose or Aruba or the Bahamas

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StumpTim

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Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Sun July 5, 2009 07:28 PM UTC

While I don't agree that Cancun is a dump, for me it is a bit too touristy so I prefer to head further south to the PDC area. Some people even say that it is too touristy and go even further south but I still like the PDC area. A lot of restaurants if you decide to go non all inclusive. The Gran Porto Real is in a nice location right on the beach, right near 5th Avenue where the shopping and restaurants are, if you prefer more local establishments, you just need to go off 5th Avenue a couple of blocks to find them. You can take a ferry over to Cozumel from PDC, you are closer to the ruins at Tulum and Coba.

We usually stay in Playacar south of PDC but I think I prefer the location closer into town if the price were right.

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Dabs

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Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Sun July 5, 2009 11:03 PM UTC

I have stayed at both Real hotels mentioned. The Gran Porto is much better IMO. If you can up it a bit for the Royal next door, go for it.
As Tim and Kristi stated, PDC and more so Playacar, are preferred to Cancun.

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YVRDave

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Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Tue July 7, 2009 09:17 PM UTC

Go for the Royal in Cancun, 5 nights with airfare from Savannah GA, go all inclusive around $2,000, or the Flamingo suite, all inclusive for $1,300.
Prices are about 45% lower than usual . The Royal is Royal.

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brkilbourne

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Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Tue July 7, 2009 10:30 PM UTC

Stayed there too, still prefer PDC. The Beach at the Royal Cancun is eroded too much right now. They do have the little part created by the break water but it is not the same

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YVRDave

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Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Wed July 8, 2009 08:54 PM UTC

I agree about the beach.

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brkilbourne

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Re: Cancun or Playa Del Carmen
Posted: Sat July 18, 2009 06:57 AM UTC

PDC is more laid back and less touristy than Cancun. Cancun is one highrise after another and geared towards the younger crowds who are there to party.
I would upgrade to the Royal Porto Real for the better beach and accomodations.
Even though they are All inclusives..Do eat at a few of the many fine restuarants in town.

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