Just got back from Isla Mujeres

[Hank_Hill 19,087]

....he just said it wasn't clean.

[troph 24,929]

....he just said it wasn't clean.

I assumed sarcasm with the good stay away the police will kill you for chance and bury you over the top comments.

[Hank_Hill 19,087]

mmmmm I don't think so. I've been murdered every time I've gone

[VABuckeye 2,472]

While they may not kill you the cops will certainly pull you over for no good reason and shake you down for all that spare change. 

[wood 11,637]

3 hours ago, troph said:

 

Haha didn’t know Cozumel was clean - I heard there was plenty. Only been once and that was walking around the town further in past the hordes of cruise ship passengers.

 

Yeah, the cruise ships did a number on Cozumel long before the sargassum...

[Mac8111 2,119]

Just book the Secreto


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[SimonBolivar 10,962]

Booked for three days in January at Privilege Aluxes and almost pulled the trigger on all-inclusive this time (Like $60 more), but since I've never done Bastos and North Garden still exists that's a no go.

[riloh05 107]

booked yesterday. on island this evening. cheers.

[tejas60 3,537]

is the seaweed still bad on the beaches? heading back to Playa del Carmen in June...

[Abogado Peligroso 89]

I was at the grand velas riviera maya for Christmas in playa.   No seaweed at all.  

[Buzzrock 15,032]

Man it’s been 18 mos since my last trip. Jonesing.

[justhookit 4,192]

On 1/9/2020 at 8:01 PM, tejas60 said:

is the seaweed still bad on the beaches? heading back to Playa del Carmen in June...

I’d ask this question a little lot closer to your trip. But yes I have a friend that got back 2 days ago and there was none now. There is also none in Port A right now but our seaweed season doesn’t start up until spring.

Edited January 12, 2020 by justhookit

[HookEm 2,472]

Finally decided to book a trip to Isla Mujeres after reading this thread for years.  Going in mid July with the family.  Probably be hot af, but who cares we will just get in the ocean.

Looking to book Ixchel Beach Hotel. For those who have been, is there any real difference between a 2 BR suite and the 2 BR Penthouse?  For the penthouse, I can't tell if the patio and hot tub on the roof are private or not.  Anybody been in any of these?  Also anybody ever gotten a roll-away bed at Ixchel?

[4th and 5 4,928]

penthouse patio and hot tub are private

 

[Hmbre97 6,333]

I tried googling and couldn't get an answer. Is there a particular time of year the seaweed is more prevalent or is it just luck of the draw? I was at Moon Palace last October and the shit was everywhere. It was such a cock tease looking out from my room and seeing perfect water 2-300 yards off the beach.

[4th and 5 4,928]

Rarely seaweed on playa norte 

[VABuckeye 2,472]

12 hours ago, Hmbre97 said:

I tried googling and couldn't get an answer. Is there a particular time of year the seaweed is more prevalent or is it just luck of the draw? I was at Moon Palace last October and the shit was everywhere. It was such a cock tease looking out from my room and seeing perfect water 2-300 yards off the beach.

If you're Caribbean side sargassum is more likely and particularly so if there have been storms recently.  As mentioned Play Norte rarely gets seaweed.  There's a point on the west side that shelters it.

[texasdago 7,651]

On 2/24/2020 at 11:25 AM, HookEm said:

Finally decided to book a trip to Isla Mujeres after reading this thread for years.  Going in mid July with the family.  Probably be hot af, but who cares we will just get in the ocean.

Looking to book Ixchel Beach Hotel. For those who have been, is there any real difference between a 2 BR suite and the 2 BR Penthouse?  For the penthouse, I can't tell if the patio and hot tub on the roof are private or not.  Anybody been in any of these?  Also anybody ever gotten a roll-away bed at Ixchel?

Either way, the 2 BR suites are awesome.  See if you can get one in the front corners.  Those are awesome EXCEPT when there is a party in the palapa because you will hear that allllll night long.

[wood 11,637]

On 2/25/2020 at 1:46 PM, texasdago said:

Either way, the 2 BR suites are awesome.  See if you can get one in the front corners.  Those are awesome EXCEPT when there is a party in the palapa because you will hear that allllll night long.

But tbh you'll hear those palapa parties all night long from anywhere in Ixchel. 

Also, the 2 BR suites farthest from the beach, above the lobby in phase one are huge and fantastic. L-shaped, with a bigger living area & a bigger balcony. They face directly toward the beach. We used to stay in the one on the 2nd floor. It was owned by the guy who owned Beaver Liquors in Beaver Creek. /csb

I say phase 1 because we never stayed in anything like that in phase 2. I assume they have something similar there, but not certain.

[Buzzrock 15,032]

Got this from my last AirBNB contact:

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

1 minute ago, Buzzrock said:

Got this from my last AirBNB contact:

Yep. The locals on Holbox, IM and Cozumel are really hurting right now. I donated to the Coz food bank, hope you guys that enjoy the islands will do the same for the others.

[Buzzrock 15,032]

I doubt the email I received is a scam, but I still don’t love sending money to a random PayPal address. The food bank is a good idea.

[4th and 5 4,928]

We were supposed to go in November, that got cancelled due to an emergency surgery. We rescheduled to this Thursday. I guess this trip is cursed. 

[VABuckeye 2,472]

Man I love Isla. I feel for the people there. 

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

On 3/30/2020 at 3:51 PM, Buzzrock said:

I doubt the email I received is a scam, but I still don’t love sending money to a random PayPal address. The food bank is a good idea.

 

On 3/30/2020 at 9:38 PM, VABuckeye said:

Man I love Isla. I feel for the people there. 

in addition (or as an alternative to food bank donations), If any of you guys have friends/favorite bartenders/taxi drivers/waiters/etc.. down there, please hit them up on Xoom/Paypal with $20 (or whatever) and say dinner is on you. The peso is crashing right now and your USD buys a shitload more than it did the last time you were there (24 to 1 right now).

They will seriously appreciate and remember it. My roommates in Cozumel have been out of work for 2+ weeks and are only surviving because they aren't paying rent (we're covering it for as long as possible).

[wood 11,637]

On 3/30/2020 at 9:38 PM, VABuckeye said:

Man I love Isla. I feel for the people there. 

This here.

Been checking in on the Ixchel webcam from time to time, and Playa Norte is just completely empty. It's heartbreaking ... both for the people there, and just because I wanna be there so bad.

 

Edited April 4, 2020 by wood

[tejas60 3,537]

dammit. my May trip got canceled. hate it for me and them.

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

here's a little good news for QRoo. The various lockdowns have been extended to May 30, but looks like they plan to resume work/school starting June 1. They obviously expect to have some tourism in June.

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

and they are definitely ramping up for June tourism

https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fsipse.com%2Fnovedades%2Fconfirmado-aerolineas-reactivaran-sus-vuelos-hacia-cancun-turismo-aeropuerto-363526.html

Quote

The Quintana Roo Tourism Promotion Council (CPTQ) announced the tourist revival of the state, with the restart of operations of the airlines from June , so they are preparing a special campaign that will be launched in late May.

Darío Flota Ocampo, director of the state agency, mentioned that airlines from Canada, the United States and Europe have already confirmed that their arrivals in the Mexican Caribbean, which is expected to reactivate mainly convention and wedding tourism. The campaign they list is focused on promoting and reactivating the sector.

“Some of the airlines that through virtual meetings have announced that they are resuming their operations at the Cancun International Airport are Air Canada, Air Transat, Delta Airlines, Copa Airlines, Air Europa, Sunwing, Southwest, and Aeroméxico that will start their flights from United States and Canada ”, he explained.

 

[wood 11,637]

Cancun hotels 2 for 1 ... likely to be followed by other areas.

Cancún hotels prepare campaign for post-virus tourism https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/cancun-hotels-prepare-campaign-for-post-virus-tourism/

[wood 11,637]

Good news re: the beach erosion I posted about a while ago, which resulted from the hurricane damaging the anti-erosion sandbags ...

This was March 2016:

March 2018:

In this shot you can see the destroyed bladders in the water off the point. The beach used to go all the way out there.

It's gotten worse since then, but I just found out that a new anti-erosion sandbag/bladder has been installed by the Mayan Beach Club/Nautibeach in late 2019, and the beach has already improved a lot. Ixchel and the businesses in front of the hotel have also just agreed to purchase and install two new bladders to help reclaim the sand. They should be installed in the next month or so. One will go in the water by Chimbos and the other by Palapa Leidy (which is where the damaged one is in front of Ixchel. Hopefully this will help with the erosion on this part of the beach.

Edited May 7, 2020 by wood

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

QRoo government just told hotels they aren't opening June 1st. Maybe sometime in June.

 

https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/coronavirus/quintana-roo-government-rejects-june-1-reopening-by-hotels/?fbclid=IwAR2fZYDPUOfeeVCEU5cL77KshvYVsPBKmWW3-K50L2_DMp_2JDdoE6AH3So

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

The QRoo governor just basically said that barring a catastrophe, we're open on June 10th.

https://www.riviera-maya-news.com/cancun-riviera-maya-could-see-tourism-reopen-by-june-10/2020.html?fbclid=IwAR3rn4fonKa7MP6ZiQJ_liUyEOWgaQQ0Kkwz9AAIXHwM1tEPsEnr3uyLLWc

 

Quote

For Quintana Roo tourism is an essential activity and we will fight for it to be recognized, reactivate it gradually and recover our economy. If so, we would receive the first tourists between June 8 and 10 with strict health protocols, prioritizing health care. #TogetherWe'll Go Forward See Less

 

[wood 11,637]

Hmm ... July in Isla is sounding pretty good. I wonder if travel will be a big problem.

[VABuckeye 2,472]

It does sound good but I can tell you it’s hot as hades.  We were there last July. 

Edited May 22, 2020 by VABuckeye

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

1 hour ago, wood said:

Hmm ... July in Isla is sounding pretty good. I wonder if travel will be a big problem.

It won't. I'm driving from Austin to Cozumel next week and don't anticipate any issues. Mexico has never stopped issuing tourist visas (FMMs) since the initial March "travel restriction/ban". Flying is even easier.

One of the guys on scubaboard was talking about flying from DFW to CZM last week on AA. He was sitting close to a US couple who were headed to a Tulum Airbnb. He had to give them the bad news that their Airbnb host was a lying shitbag, that all the beaches/bars/restaurants/ruins were closed and they would basically be trapped in their Airbnb for a week. Mexican immigration gave zero fucks about them.

[wood 11,637]

3 hours ago, VABuckeye said:

It does sound good but I can tell you it’s hot as hades.  We were there last July. 

I don't mind it. We've been in July several times. It's hot, but it's always been cooler there than it is in Austin while we're away.

[wood 11,637]

3 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

It won't. I'm driving from Austin to Cozumel next week and don't anticipate any issues. Mexico has never stopped issuing tourist visas (FMMs) since the initial March "travel restriction/ban". Flying is even easier.

One of the guys on scubaboard was talking about flying from DFW to CZM last week on AA. He was sitting close to a US couple who were headed to a Tulum Airbnb. He had to give them the bad news that their Airbnb host was a lying shitbag, that all the beaches/bars/restaurants/ruins were closed and they would basically be trapped in their Airbnb for a week. Mexican immigration gave zero fucks about them.

Yeah I wonder how long it'll take for a decent amount of that stuff to open back up...

[VABuckeye 2,472]

7 hours ago, wood said:

I don't mind it. We've been in July several times. It's hot, but it's always been cooler there than it is in Austin while we're away.

Isla will probably be one of the first places we hit.  Sitting around shooting the shit with Fredy at his place and eating at Bastos again are both high on my ist.

[Biff Tannen 45,786]

16 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

I'm driving from Austin to Cozumel next week and don't anticipate any issues.

That's quite the fucking drive.

[SimonBolivar 10,962]

1 hour ago, Biff Tannen said:

That's quite the fucking drive.

Last time we were on Isla we saw some Colorado plates. Sounds like an exciting journey if you have your mordidas ready.

[NeverMarryAStripper 22,058]

17 hours ago, rage-a-holic said:

It won't. I'm driving from Austin to Cozumel next week and don't anticipate any issues. Mexico has never stopped issuing tourist visas (FMMs) since the initial March "travel restriction/ban". Flying is even easier.

One of the guys on scubaboard was talking about flying from DFW to CZM last week on AA. He was sitting close to a US couple who were headed to a Tulum Airbnb. He had to give them the bad news that their Airbnb host was a lying shitbag, that all the beaches/bars/restaurants/ruins were closed and they would basically be trapped in their Airbnb for a week. Mexican immigration gave zero fucks about them.

If the big grocery store in Tulum is open just buy groceries and booze and sit on the gorgeous beach and drink

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

5 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

If the big grocery store in Tulum is open just buy groceries and booze and sit on the gorgeous beach and drink

The beaches are closed. If you try to hang out on a beach in QRoo right now, you either get arrested or heavily fined.

I'm expecting that to change first week of June.

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

54 minutes ago, SimonBolivar said:

Last time we were on Isla we saw some Colorado plates. Sounds like an exciting journey if you have your mordidas ready.

I'll have my buddy with me who is a Mexican citizen. I generally let him do all the talking.

Mordidas are nothing to worry about. Just continue being polite and ask for the ticket. They don't want to write a ticket.

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

2 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

That's quite the fucking drive.

Fuck yeah. At least 38 hours from Austin, but we're gonna hang out in SLP, then Palenque, then Mahahual/Xcalak before we take the ferry from Playa. Should be interesting to drive on empty cuotas.

[Your Mom 4,884]

Just fyi, SWA pushed Mexico flights back to July 1.  

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

44 minutes ago, Your Mom said:

Just fyi, SWA pushed Mexico flights back to July 1.  

Yeah, they did that yesterday. They are just not taking new reservations to keep the middle seats empty. They will still be flying in June to Mexico and honoring existing bookings.

[Your Mom 4,884]

I'm pretty sure this is a new update today.  No SWA international service before July 1.  

[rage-a-holic 4,553]

32 minutes ago, Your Mom said:

I'm pretty sure this is a new update today.  No SWA international service before July 1.  

Yep. The rep I talked to said this was a notice they just got at noon today. No big deal, I was flying back on AA, just had SW booked as a backup.

[wood 11,637]

11 hours ago, Biff Tannen said:

That's quite the fucking drive.

Yeah and that last 11 miles can be pretty got damn tricky in a car.