As
promised on my TripAdvisor review,
here is my Trip report, focusing on some tips and info I wish I knew.
Let
me start off by saying this –
we had
an awesome time in Akumal, and at the Hotel
Akumal Caribe.
As
far as vacations go, this one was probably the best we’ve had, or at least
definitely in the top 3.
The
hotel staff, and also the surrounding restaurant staff, was always very
helpful.
Everyone
was just friendly.
Anway,
here’s some info I wrote down, and thought I’d share.
1) Occasionally, mosquitoes can
be a little aggressive.
We
ended up using Off
spray anytime we went out to eat, just in case.
One
evening, we sat at the corner of the pool deck (there’s a couple of cushioned
chairs with a table, and the mosquitoes attacked my feet and ankles). Bug OFF was our friend for the rest of the
stay.
2) If you happen to drive a car –
the Spanish word for “Parking” is “Estacionamiento”,
so the “No Parking” sign is a big E with a slash thru it.
See this link ->> No Parking sign
so the “No Parking” sign is a big E with a slash thru it.
See this link ->> No Parking sign
3) Overall, we loved the food at
the Lol-Ha (next door), and the La Cueva (next to Turtle Bay Café). The French Toast at breakfast (at the Lol-Ha)
was to-die-for. Yum Yum.
4) Our reservation stated that “continental
breakfast included”. What this actually
means is this: When you check in, you receive vouchers – 1 for each day of your
stay.
Each voucher is worth 178 pesos (that’s about $10 USD, as of the August 2015).
The Lol-Ha restaurant actually has an entry on their menu called “Continental breakfast”,
priced at 89 pesos (that’s 178 pesos for 2).
But, you can actually use the voucher towards anything on your bill for breakfast.
In other words, they’ll just deduct 178 pesos from your total.
Each voucher is worth 178 pesos (that’s about $10 USD, as of the August 2015).
The Lol-Ha restaurant actually has an entry on their menu called “Continental breakfast”,
priced at 89 pesos (that’s 178 pesos for 2).
But, you can actually use the voucher towards anything on your bill for breakfast.
In other words, they’ll just deduct 178 pesos from your total.
5) We rented a car by the Cancun
airport, but we ended up using the car a lot less than we thought we would.
They rent cars (and also golf carts and bicycles) at the Hotel Caribe.
When I asked, I was told the cheapest car would run $60 USD for 24 hours (this includes the basic mandatory insurance). This price is current as of early Sept 2015.
When I asked, I was told the cheapest car would run $60 USD for 24 hours (this includes the basic mandatory insurance). This price is current as of early Sept 2015.
6) We had a bungalow reserved,
but we ended up switching to the hotel building (the 3-story, 21-rooms), and
got a room on the ground-floor. (the
windows in the bungalows face the parking lot – didn’t feel very private)
As for the hotel room we got (room 406) -
Excellent view, and a short 30 yards out the back sliding door to the pool and beach,
but it still managed to feel more private than the bungalows.
As for the hotel room we got (room 406) -
Excellent view, and a short 30 yards out the back sliding door to the pool and beach,
but it still managed to feel more private than the bungalows.
7) There are no TVs in the rooms, which didn’t bother us.
I had no problems with the WiFi reception, and we did manage to watch a couple of Netflix videos right before bedtime.
8) All the beaches in the area
are public beaches, so you’ll see locals, along with guests from other hotels,
using the beach in front of the hotel.
The hotel uses a rope to separate the hotel from the beach, and on the hotel side of the rope are the lounge chairs, hammocks, and palapas. (lounge chairs and hammocks aren’t always set up – just ask the hotel staff to get them for you – they have no problem with that).
The hotel uses a rope to separate the hotel from the beach, and on the hotel side of the rope are the lounge chairs, hammocks, and palapas. (lounge chairs and hammocks aren’t always set up – just ask the hotel staff to get them for you – they have no problem with that).
9) The rooms come with the
standard little ice buckets – but the hotel has no ice machine.
a. Option 1 – buy ice at the
local convenience store (near the front desk)
b. Option 2 – take your ice
bucket to the Lol-Ha bar, and they will fill it up for free. (just don’t abuse
Option 2) J
10) Words/phrases
a. Cheese – queso
b. Finished – Terminado (often heard from the waiter when he’s asking
if you’re finished with your meal)
c. Bill – cuenta
d. Good morning – Buenos Dias
e. Good Afternoon – Buenas tardes
f. Good evening – Buenas noches
g. How are you? – Como esta
h. I’m fine – Muy bien
i.
Thank
you – Gracias
j.
Yes/no
– si/no
k. Yes, please – Si, por farvor
l.
You’re
welcome – de nada
m. Hello – Hola
11) Need to wash your clothes
during your stay?
a. No laundry room at the hotel,
but there are a couple of laundrymats across the freeway in the Akumal Pueblo.
