Mayan Riviera or Punta Cana? | Debbie's Caribbean Resort Reviews Forums

My TA just informed me that we will be able to go to Mayan Riviera out of Halifax this Xmas. ;DAirtransat is offering a bigger choice this year (for Xmas) It used to be only Puerto Plata or Punta Cana.

So, now I have to do more research on some resorts in Mexico …Xmas is our main vacation, (we don’t take summer holidays, except the odd long weekend) So, I always do my homework and dig around for the ‘facts’ on different resorts…thanks to Debbie’s Review site and all of the folks who post their vacation stories (good & bad).

I’m looking at either Akumal Beach, MR or Blau Natura Park, PC or BlueBay Getaway, POP….any thoughts or comments We like a resort that is not too big, not too many little kids, we don’t require luxury or to be waited on hand & foot. We are low maintenance and laid back. Clean rooms and decent food are a must (marble floors & crystal chandeliers are not).

Wow, this is great news. We were actually thinking of going away this Xmas as well and we’re told that only Punta Cana had direct flights. That’s awesome to hear the MR has now been added. We were there in Feb of this year and absolutely loved it. We stayed at the Bahia Principe Coba so I can comment on the Akumal as it was right next door and it was fabulous! We have also been to PC and loved it as well. Each country had diff perks and diff things to offer. You’ll have a great time at either place.

Both MR and PC are beautiful destinatins. We stayed at the Akumal Beach Resort on our first trip to Mexico and absolutely loved the experience there. In Punta Cana, we found too much motorized water sports being allowed and the fumes some days was overwhelming on the beach without a breeze (not to mention the noise of the see-dos all afternoon). At Akumal, because the reef, no motorized sports are allowed but the snorkeling is amazing and you are really close to the fascinating Mayan ruins of Tulum. Playa del Carmen is a charming little town with lots to do and see…..and the shopping…….wow!

The Akumal Beach Resort and the Bahia Principe Akumal are two different resorts!!We stayed at the Akumal Beach Resort at Christmas 2003 and loved it. I did write a very lengthy review but perhaps it is now archived with the older reviews at Debbie’s main website.We also vacationed in Punta Cana a year ago and did not enjoy it anywhere near as much as the Mayan Riviera. The motorized water sports and fumes in Punta Cana were so overwhelming that I ended up with headaches by mid-afternoon and had to leave the beach area.

Given the choice, I would chose the Mayan Riviera over Punta Cana, and I would also highly recommend the 3 star Akumal Beach Resort.

Thanks for your replies guys

And it is ‘Akumal Beach Resort’ I’m considering, not BP Akumal.Sounds like my kind of beach. We are not into motorized water sports and much prefer a more ‘natural’ environment at the ocean.

Some of the beaches we’ve been on seem to be overwhelmed with the ‘hussle & bussle’ of anything with a motor…kinda makes you feel like you’re in the middle of a busy intersection downtown

I’d rather sit back and watch a wind-surfer and do a little kayaking. ;D

And of course snorkel to see the colourful fishes, etc.

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