Anyone been to Tulum?

8 years ago

We returned from a wedding there last week. The weather at this time of the year was really nice, but Tulum wasn't really my cup o' tea. For one thing, it's VERY expensive. I highly doubt workers are getting all that money....I feel a little badly that I didn't know I wasn't supposed to put any tp in the toilet; that was a new idea to me and our hotel didn't have a sign posted. I'm pretty sure the infrastructure wasn't meant for the crowds in Tulum! It appears all fresh water has to be trucked in, judging from the number of water trucks on the streets all day.

The ruins were lovely and it was nice to be able to walk around the area--there were lots of large lizards to spot as well. We didn't make it to one of the cenotes (caves) that the underground river has carved out but I'm sure I wouldn't have wanted to try out the 55-degree water. The white-sand beaches were very, very pretty and it was nice to walk along them. However, if you stopped near the chairs at some of the nicer hotels, security would question you and imply you should leave. Some of our relatives were staying at this hotel so we were fine, but the feeling I got wasn't a happy one.

Maybe I'm being too harsh. I guess I feel this area was developed solely for the well-off and exposure to native people (Mayans, Mexicans) was minimal. Has anyone else visited this area?

Featured Answer

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

8 years ago

Have been to that area a number of times. In fact, just back from Christmas week in Playa del Carmen. Love that area!! So much to see and do and find the locals very friendly and accommodating to touristas with any money to spend :-) We do stay at an all-inclusive resort, but take day trips to various locations.....we have done the ruins at Tulum, spent a day at Xcaret, explored a cenote, snorkled with sea turtles at Akumal. And of course went into town to shop and have lunch.

Never felt the slightest bit at risk and the better resorts are perfectly safe. I wouldn't hesitate one second to go back!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (9)

wanda_va
8 years ago
In the 1980s, we spent a week in Cancun and took the day trip to Chichen Itza. I loved the pyramids! I was able to climb up the main pyramid--going up was fine; coming down was scary. It was one of the most exciting days for me, because I have always been fascinated by the ancient ruins. We stayed in a very large townhome right on the water, and the accommodations and beach were great. I was with my parents, my brother, my favorite aunt, and my best friend, so the vacation was memorable. However, I did not like Cancun. The people were not friendly to Americans, and tried to separate us from our money in any way possible. I did not feel safe...and that was more than 30 years ago. I would not go there now.
Elmer J Fudd
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
We went to various places in Mexico pretty regularly with our kids when they were younger and often for a week or two. We alternated between Mexico and Hawaii. The west coast resorts of Mexico - Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Zihuatanejo, a Club Med here and there-being closer and cheaper. I like Mexico and its people but it's not as safe as it used to be.

These days, we take beach vacations in-state or to Hawaii. We haven't been to Mexico in a long time, 10 years or more, and I suspect we may never go back.
Related Discussions
Has anyone been laid-off? Or had been laid-off but found a job?
Q
Comments (1)
Yes, we have been talking about it in the thread linked below. You can search the forum from the page that lists the titles of the threads. Scroll down to the bottom and you will find the search box. Welcome! One resource my friend uses for lower cost food is Angel Food Ministries. You pay $30 and get a big box of food. Around Boston, there are churches in Roxbury, Brockton, Woburn, and Jamaica Plains that participate in the program. Learn more at AngelFoodMinistries.com. Here is a link that might be useful: Husband Laid Off thread
...See More
Anyone been to Amsterdam? Looking for advice.
Q
Comments (46)
Stacy, my daughter & I were in Amsterdam the 3rd week of April last year. It was still cool (low 50s) with showers almost every day, but the trees were budding out & the grass was greening. I didn't see any mention here of the tram/street car service, which is very good. Lots of routes & they run about every ten minutes. It's not inexpensive - a day ticket is a better deal rather than a single fare. Almost all the tram stops have route maps on the backs of the stop shelters. The Rijksmuseum had just opened when we arrived & we spent a couple of hours in the Dutch masters area. They do close at 5 PM. There is a very pleasant-looking restaurant in the center of the bldg. English is spoken everywhere - we never had a problem. Be sure to try a Dutch pancake with butter & powdered sugar - a national treasure, & big - about 10 inches across. Yum yum. There's a local restaurant across from the flower market that has good ones. Many sidewalks, especially along the canals, are cobbled - my ankles got tired of holding me straight. Wish I could tuck into your suitcase - you will be enthralled.
...See More
Has Anyone been to Wales?
Q
Comments (10)
We went to Snowdonia, just because I liked the name. It was fun. Wales had been the source of power to England back in the days when coal was the source of power. I discovered on our trip that Wales now supplied power in the form of electricity. On the way to Snowdonia we saw modern windmills. At Snowdonia there is a stored power station inside a mountain, where water is pumped up at times of low demand and released as hydropower when needed. I was fascinated. We also toured Caernarfon Castle.
...See More
Anyone here ever been to the ABQ Balloon Festival?
Q
Comments (14)
I'm a Burqueno, and I rent out my house on Vrbo for Balloon Fiesta. For the Fiesta itself, you're really only going to be at the field for a few hours in the morning. The early morning. Like, 5-8am morning. The balloons are inflated and go up and . . . then it's chainsaw carving competitions and later in the evening drone and fireworks shows. If you're like me, the latter ain't your jam. I agree with those who recommend you sign up for a park and ride shuttle. Parking at the park is a nightmare. As for which days to see the balloons, I'm a fan of the Special Shapes Rodeo, when is when all the . . .well . . . specially shaped balloons go up. Many folks also like the mass ascensions, when rows and rows of them go up almost simultaneously (but these are mostly the traditionally-shaped balloons). Schedule is here: https://balloonfiesta.com/files/galleries/2025_Event_Schedule.pdf One to two days of balloons may be plenty for the two of you. The weather is always an unknown factor, though. If the winds are even a smidge too high, the balloons don't go up. And you won't know that until the day of, or even the hour of. Others have mentioned Old Town, which is charming if touristy. Near Old Town are the Albuquerque Museum and the NM Museum of Natural History, which are both pretty good. Feel free to skip the zoo and aquarium and botanical garden. I think someone mentioned Los Poblanos, which is an historic dairy farm in the north valley, now a lavender farm with a charming hotel and wonderful restaurant. https://lospoblanos.com/ Re the tram, you can buy tickets 30 days in advance, and I would recommend you do so. It will be super busy during Fiesta. Santa Fe is great, of course. If you stay there, you could potentially ride the Rail Runner train down to the Journal Center stop that is closest to the balloon park, and shuttle from there (I'm sure there is a package online somewhere). You may want to consider visiting some of the many pueblos. The most interesting to visit of those roughly near ABQ is (IMHO) Acoma Sky City. If you're in Santa Fe, I recommend Tesuque or San Ildefonso. If you're up for a bit more driving, go up to Taos and visit Taos pueblo .Visiting can be a bit tricky because of cultural celebrations that may close the pueblos on various days, so plan ahead. Sandia Pueblo is at the north end of the metro and always has a big arts and crafts show (a regular show, not restricted to pueblo items) during Fiesta weekends. If you have a scientific bent or an interest in the Manhattan project, the Bradbury Museum in Los Alamos is interesting, and ABQ even has the National Museum of Nuclear Science and History. If you want to just take some beautiful drives, I recommend going to Taos. Take the high road up and the low road back for an amazing variety of scenery. You can also do the loop out to Jemez Pueblo/Jemez Springs, up through Valles Caldera and up to Los Alamos and back. There is also the Turquoise Trail, which is Hwy 14 that runs east of the Sandias, roughly from the far east edges of the ABQ metro to Santa Fe. This goes through Madrid, also mentioned above. The weather here is different. It's a diurnal cycle that can swing 40 degrees in a day. You'll be bundled up early in the AM for balloons, then in shirtsleeves in the afternoon. Layers are the way to go. I can offer restaurant ideas once you know more about where and when. NM is amazing - come visit!
...See More
moonie_57 (8 NC)
8 years ago
Yes, many years ago and as Fun2b said, it wasn't as developed as it is today. We loved exploring. It's very common in Mexico to not flush tp. I've been quite turned off with large trash cans of used tp in restrooms.
User
8 years ago
It's been awhile, Yes...I've been to Tulum Mexico. The city by the sea. A I recall the stone carvings show the story of a cleft palate child who was a "gift from the gods" and made king. We went to Xel-Ha the same day. LOVED EVERY MINUTE!
User
8 years ago
I went to Mexico on a school trip in the 80's. My parents only allowed me to go to a country where I studied the language and Spain was out because TWA kept having their airplanes hijacked so I ended up in Mexico. We stopped at Tulum, but I didn't make it inside the pyramids there. I remember it being beautiful. We stayed in Valladolid and Merida for a few nights and visited the pyramids at Chichen Itza and Uxmal. We also climbed to the top of the pyramid at Chichen Itza. That's quite a drop down if you fall. I wasn't afraid of heights then. That ball court is something else and so was the virgin pit. We did quite a bit of shopping in those towns too. We were in Cancun for a couple of nights. The draw there was the white sandy beach.

I was 18 and blond. People were friendly everywhere we went. We sometimes got too much attention. We were able to drink there, but I was only interested in drinking for taste. I wanted the fruity drinks with the fun names. I didn't do anything stupid and didn't get drunk. We went to some of the nightclubs and there was one in Cancun where the guys kept trying to buy me drinks. It made me uncomfortable. They were too pushy.

I had a great time and would love to go back and take my kids and husband. I don't feel like it is all that safe there even in the resorts. Unless something changes, I won't go back.
C Marlin
8 years ago
I love Mexico and have been to Cancun, pretty but too master planned for me. I've traveled on road trips to many places in Mexico, we lived down there for four years. Can't say I'd take long road trips today, but I'll always love Mexico and visit Sayulita every few years.
OklaMoni
8 years ago
I have only ever been to a border town, once, walked across and back the same day. No real memory there.

But I have friends (Jenn and Curtis) that cycled all over Mexico, and they were amazed by the country as a whole. Another friend (Russ), facebook friend is there right now, and was on some pyramid yesterday. He also had a great time in Mexico.

Both sets of friend liked the non touristy places a WHOLE lot, and Jenn didn't go to the touristy places at all. Jenn has a journal here: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/CJBikeTours2017
blubird
8 years ago
While in a cruise in the early '90s, we spent the day at XelHa and Tulum. There were no hotels or gift shops, you had to be escorted on a tour as everything was being excavated. I do remember that there were bathroom facilities for the tourist which consisted of a small building with toilet stalls, but no running water or TP. You had to tip the young children standing outside to give you some toilet paper and then they went in with buckets of water to ‘flush’ the toilets to some sort of holding facility.

Anyone been to Tulum?

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Comments (9)

wanda_va

Elmer J Fudd

Related Discussions

moonie_57 (8 NC)

User

User

C Marlin

OklaMoni

blubird

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US