Okay. Despite an impressive backlog of work which accumulated while on vacation and succumbing to the flu upon my return (has anyone needed a vacation from a vacation?), I have finally gotten around to writing this review which I should have completed several weeks ago. Mea culpa. Believe me, Hotel Riu Dunamar is worth the wait.
For the months of February and September 2018, snorkeling tours will not be allowed to enter Akumal Bay in a further attempt to try and allow the ecosystem to recover from overuse (an estimated 22-23 million visitors each year visit the Akumal area, while snorkeling with the turtles in Akumal Bay is supposedly ranked the 10th most visited destination in the world for international tourists). If you’re going to only swim and/or snorkel by yourselves without a tour guide, that is still permitted as long as the buoy restrictions are respected.
For those of you wondering about the room categories or guest room buildings at the new Hotel Xcaret Mexico, here is a quick review of what I have discovered about them.
Use caution when choosing to take a colectivo/combi in the Riviera Maya; there has been a recent report of a robbery of a driver/passengers in the route from PDC to Puerto Aventuras on a Saturday night around 9:15 p.m. Three individuals reportedly stopped the vehicle on the pretense of wanting transportation, got inside, then threatened to use force/guns if valuables including cell phones/purses, etc. were not handed over. The robbers got away, so if they were successful once they may decide to do the same crime again. Others may also see this as a quick way to make money and follow suit.
My daughter and her husband (age range 25-30) visited this resort from the dates of Oct. 14-21, 2017. This is a review of their stay at the Valentin.
While everyone expected the Mexican government to give the official OK to a DreamWorks theme park in the Riviera Maya, they have instead decided to authorize the building of a Mayan-inspired amusement park and resort in the area of Punta Maroma in the Riviera Maya (located north of Playa del Carmen).
A short circuit was to blame for a fire which broke out on the 4th floor of the Grand Oasis Cancun hotel. While the flames spread to several rooms, the three responding fire units helped to keep this one under control with only room damage. The last big fire this hotel experienced was in 2013 when the entire hotel was evacuated.
For those interested in where the buoys/roped-off areas are for snorkelers in Akumal Bay, here is a pic which was posted by Kay Walten of Locogringo.com. For the month of Sept. 2017, all guided tours are officially suspended from the bay (but that doesn’t necessarily mean there won’t be any out there), while general visitors may still snorkel outside the roped-off areas. Here is the map I found on Kay’s Facebook page. Notice how these areas extend onto the front sea area of the Secrets property.
Palladium Hotels and Resorts has renamed The Royal Suites Yucatan by Palladium; it will be called TRS Yucatan Hotel by Palladium. The rebranding will involve guest room renovations, guest rooms with a private pool, the addition of an infinity pool and Ibiza-style beach club, and new dining venues. Additional staff will be hired in order to provide a higher level of customer service. This part of the Palladium resort complex will remain adults-only.
Mexican authorities have recently done an investigation on 31 resorts, restaurants, and nightclubs in both Cancun and the Riviera Maya in order to see who may be serving illicit/bootleg alcohol. Their investigation resulted in the following findings: Continue reading