Tour & operator recommendations

[Cyndy]

I did both the El Balam-Vallodolid tour with Mitch AND the Alltournative Mayan Encounter last May. Both were excellent. I would have a hard time choosing one over the other. The ruins at Ek Balam are amazing, mainly because the carvings are in pristine shape - phenomenal. I liked the Mayan Encounter because of the variety of experiences it offers - the zip-line, rappelling into a cenote, canoeing on a lagoon, Mayan blessing ceremony, Mayan ruins. Quite a day...

I agree with what everyone else has said: Mitch is HOT, and knowledgable, and very personable. The Mayan Encounter guys were as well...What a dilemma!!!

[Sharon]

Originally Posted by sunbum

Tony & Cheri,

Thank you very much for your personal response. I'm glad to hear that our trip will be coinciding with the Luna Blue bar opening! Are you going to have a special Luna Blue drink? I'll have one of those please!

Oooh.....maybe something made with Hypnotiq

hypnotiq.jpg

I know....I know. Who made me a moderator???

[sunbum]

Originally Posted by Cyndy

I did both the El Balam-Vallodolid tour with Mitch AND the Alltournative Mayan Encounter last May. Both were excellent. I would have a hard time choosing one over the other. The ruins at Ek Balam are amazing, mainly because the carvings are in pristine shape - phenomenal. I liked the Mayan Encounter because of the variety of experiences it offers - the zip-line, rappelling into a cenote, canoeing on a lagoon, Mayan blessing ceremony, Mayan ruins. Quite a day...

I agree with what everyone else has said: Mitch is HOT, and knowledgable, and very personable. The Mayan Encounter guys were as well...What a dilemma!!!

Cyndy

Thanks for the tour info. As we have never been to Playa before, it sounds like Chichen Itza is a must see. I'd love to say we can do that next year, but who knows? We're taking this 10 day trip sans our 5 yr. and 8 yr. old children. My in-laws will be caring for them and while they are great, I don't want to ask too often. So maybe we'll have to plan a family trip next time.

I'd love to see both Chichen Itza and Ek Balam w/Villadolid, but maybe that's just too long. I think we are leaning towards both the Mayan Encounter and Chichen Itza/Villadolid. We were at a holiday party, and some acquaintances there had just returned from Playa and loved the Mayan Encounter tour.

So, maybe we won't have to chose between the hot guys!

[sunbum]

Originally Posted by Sharon

Oooh.....maybe something made with Hypnotiq

Attachment 12

I know....I know. Who made me a moderator???

Sharon,

Tell me about this Hypnotiq! I've never heard of it (not that I'm that well versed in matters of alcohol).

[John]

Originally Posted by sunbum

I'd love to see both Chichen Itza and Ek Balam w/Villadolid

I know you'd really like to see them, but you can take a sneak peek at our photo galleries: Photos from Ek Balam. Photos from Chitzen Itza.

I'm too tired right now to see if we have any Valladolid pictures, but we may have taken some.

[Cyndy]

Originally Posted by sunbum

Sharon,

Tell me about this Hypnotiq! I've never heard of it (not that I'm that well hearsed in matters of alcohol).

Pretty turquoise vodka liqueur (fruit juice and I think a little bit of Cognac).

[DavidB]

Nice pictures John. How far from Playa is Ek Balam from Playa?

[John]

Originally Posted by DavidB

Nice pictures John. How far from Playa is Ek Balam from Playa?

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong (and I've been wrong before), but via Tulum, I believe we made it to Ek Balam in about 2.5 hours. Chitzen Itza was another 1.5 hours.

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Originally Posted by sunbum

Alwaysmissinpdc,

When you toured Villadolid and Chichen Itza did you just grab a map and a rental car? I'm leaning towards a tour since it is quite a distance. I'm also a little leary of having to deal w/a rental car agency!

More than you asked for, but I'm jonesing for the Yucatan Peninsula right now...

I grabbed a map. I read. I read some more. I asked people questions via private messages about the route. Going on your own is not without stress, but we enjoyed the adventure

I can't remember what car rental agency we used, but it was foolish of me to be sold on the "car delivered to your hotel" bit. We were picked up at the hotel - late, and then taken to the agency office for the usual paperwork. It would have been much more expeditious for us to walk to the agency and git er done. Other than that, no problems with the rental. Also keep in mind that rules of road the road in Mexico are different.

Keep in mind, we stayed overnight in Valladolid and visited Chichen early the next day. If we only had time for one day with no overnight outside of Playa, we would definitely do a tour. It's nice to have some adventures on vacation, but relaxation is also a goal, yes? Then again, you might be younger than me.

If you visit ruins on your own hire a guide. It's well worth it. My husband and I feel that the $60.00 US we paid for a guide, plus well deserved overtipping was some of the best money we ever spent in Mexico. I think the Yucatreks tour includes a guide, a big plus. Friends of our visited Chichen years ago on a big bus tour. They were let loose and told when to be back at the bus...they missed a lot.

Would love to read about what you decide and your experiences!

[sunbum]

Originally Posted by John

I know you'd really like to see them, but you can take a sneak peek at our photo galleries: Photos from Ek Balam. Photos from Chitzen Itza.

I'm too tired right now to see if we have any Valladolid pictures, but we may have taken some.

John,

Thanks for sharing those great photos! I am so looking forward to seeing the ruins in person. The beautiful blue skies and people wearing shorts looks wonderful too! Can't wait to leave the cold weather behind for 10 days.

[sunbum]

Originally Posted by alwaysmissinpdc

More than you asked for, but I'm jonesing for the Yucatan Peninsula right now...

I grabbed a map. I read. I read some more. I asked people questions via private messages about the route. Going on your own is not without stress, but we enjoyed the adventure

I can't remember what car rental agency we used, but it was foolish of me to be sold on the "car delivered to your hotel" bit. We were picked up at the hotel - late, and then taken to the agency office for the usual paperwork. It would have been much more expeditious for us to walk to the agency and git er done. Other than that, no problems with the rental. Also keep in mind that rules of road the road in Mexico are different.

Keep in mind, we stayed overnight in Valladolid and visited Chichen early the next day. If we only had time for one day with no overnight outside of Playa, we would definitely do a tour. It's nice to have some adventures on vacation, but relaxation is also a goal, yes? Then again, you might be younger than me.

If you visit ruins on your own hire a guide. It's well worth it. My husband and I feel that the $60.00 US we paid for a guide, plus well deserved overtipping was some of the best money we ever spent in Mexico. I think the Yucatreks tour includes a guide, a big plus. Friends of our visited Chichen years ago on a big bus tour. They were let loose and told when to be back at the bus...they missed a lot.

Would love to read about what you decide and your experiences!

Thanks for all the info! When are you going to be back in PDC?

[alwaysmissinpdc]

Originally Posted by sunbum

Thanks for all the info! When are you going to be back in PDC?

You're welcome! We were putting together a trip for June as a nephew's grad present. He decided he didn't want to go, long story, he's going through some stuff - makes me want to kidnap him for a week.

We prefer Playa in April/early May or fall. I can't travel Jan-Mar. Anyways, we need to rework our plans.