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01-18-2008, 09:36 PM
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Tour & operator recommendations
Hola! I finally decided it was time to stop being a lurker and post my own questions! This is our first trip to Playa, and we will be staying at the Luna Blue Feb. 13-23.
I've been looking at the Mayan Encounter Tour through Alltournative...any thoughts? Also, Yukatreks w/Mitch (formerly of Playa.info tours) offers tours of Chichen Itza & Villadoid or Ek Balam & Villadoid. As far as Tulum, it sounds like we can easily do that on our own. Thanks for any advice! 
    
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01-18-2008, 10:29 PM
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Thanks for your quick response guys! If Mitch is H O T, then Yukatreks it is!
 I wasn't sure if there was a different tour that would be recommended or even rent a car and go self-guided. I'm glad to hear that Yukatreks is highly recommended.
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01-19-2008, 01:13 AM
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-Josef 
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01-20-2008, 05:05 PM
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a.k.a Lolabella No love, no friendship, can cross the path of our destiny without leaving some mark on it forever. --François Mauriac  July 23rd
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01-20-2008, 06:47 PM
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First of all, thanks for deciding to stay with us. There is a chance that you'll be here for the grand opening of the bar!
There are a lot of tours available in Playa--some you can find online and some you won't discover until you get here. As a general rule, we suggest to our guests they think about sightseeing without tours. Less people, more adventure, and their own time schedule are some of the reasons why we suggest that. However, we realize sometimes people just would prefer to go with a group and a guide. Chichen Itza is an excellent example of a place made more accessible by a tour. We have strong preferences about which tour companies are best. Those preferences are based on our own experiences and the feedback we get from our guests as they book various tour companies. Professionalism is key in our book. Some of the things by which we judge a tour include: does the tour company show up on time, does it ever cancel at the last minute, does it overcrowd its tours, and how does it compare price-wise with its competitors. We have found that size or cost don't always guarantee the best tour. Likewise, the best known or more popular tours don't always offer the best services. We strongly suggest people do some comparison shopping before they choose a tour operator. And, when you get to the hotel, if you'd like some help in that regard, we'd be glad to assist you.
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Tony & Cheri Luna Blue Hotel & Garden Playa del Carmen, Mexico www.lunabluehotel.com Our video: I'm Feeling Luna Blue PlayaZone (our blog) 
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01-20-2008, 07:05 PM
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Yukatrek's Tulum tour is great because it's a very small group, you are given a guided tour of the ruins, you visit and swim/snorkel in two beautiful cenotes and you have a fantastic lunch on a beautiful stretch of beach. Ya can't beat it. It's a popular tour that lives up to its reputation.
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01-21-2008, 01:47 AM
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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! It sounds like there shouldn't be a problem booking a tour after our arrival. I thought perhaps we should book in advance to avoid a specific tour being full. So, no worries then, we'll just figure it out after we get there and hopefully pick your brains a bit!
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01-21-2008, 01:55 AM
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Babaloo,
Thanks too for your input. It sounds like you have a wealth of info. to share. For us newbies, the knowledge you share makes our trip planning so much better. Although I have to admit that I have a little information overload on all the things to see, do, and eat!
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01-21-2008, 09:11 PM
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I haven't yet experienced a Yucatreks tour, but it's at the top of the list if we are looking for an operator. A few years ago, before I knew about Mitch's tours we did the AllTourNative Mayan Encounter. The experience with the tour operator was positive, we had only 8 people on the tour, it was timely and professionally run. Hopefully this hasn't changed over time. The appeal of the Mayan Encounter is the combination of the physical experiences of zip lining and rappelling combined with the cultural experiences of the Mayan Village and Coba. We would have enjoyed a bit more time at Coba.
This year we did an excursion on our own, to Valladolid and Chichen Itza. I agree with T & C that it is great fun to explore on your own. Tulum is very do-able that way. Have a great time!
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01-21-2008, 09:17 PM
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I've met Mitch.
Mitch is hot.  I've never taken one of his tours.  Sunbum...you'll love the Luna Blue!
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01-23-2008, 02:00 AM
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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!
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01-23-2008, 10:21 AM
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I've been to Chitzen Itza 2 times. One time was a partially guided tour, the other was without a guide/tour group. Although the freedom of not being herded around is nice, you get a much better feel for the ruins if you have someone there to explain some of the history to you. Histories vary from tour guide to tour guide, which is why getting recommendations like the one for Mitch are important.
If it's a once in a lifetime trip there, I'd suggest a tour.
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01-23-2008, 11:50 AM
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