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PdC fav Resturants? #82423
01/16/2016 09:41 AM
01/16/2016 09:41 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
jphart Offline OP
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jphart  Offline OP
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
Just about finished reservation process for stay in Playa del Carmen over Easter. Staying btwn 1st and beach, just south of Constitution.

Good beachfront lunch spots?

Got some favorite Resturants on Fifth or others for lunch and diner??
Adult married couple, not looking for late night venues <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Kiss.gif" alt="" />

Thanks,


JPH
I spent my money on booze, broads, and boats...the rest I wasted.
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Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: jphart] #82424
01/16/2016 01:22 PM
01/16/2016 01:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
ChunkyDunkin Offline
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ChunkyDunkin  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
Good for you <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
We have had 2 trips to Playa and are in process of booking early 2017. First off, with peso running just over 18 to 1 against the dollar you will find things incredibly "cheap" unless it's a US import product. When we were last down the peso was about 14.5 to 1 and I thought it was great.
Do pay in pesos, not dollars. Get your peso's from a bank ATM not the cambios or the ATM's you see along 5th.
ScotiaBank (affiliated with Bank of America) is just up Constituentes(sp?) and a good place to get pesos. If you happen to have a BOA debit you can also save on ATM and a bit on currency exchange. There is the ADO bus service from the airport to 1st and 5th which is fairly cheap but you will have to taxi or haul luggage to your location or there are several shuttle services that will do door to door. Watch out for the taxi's, they will overcharge you every chance they can. Also, the taxi's lined up and waiting have an up-front extra charge. Taxi's are all over the place so if going very far (walking is great) get out and flag one down.
There is a very active Playa del Carment forum on TripAdvisor, check that out.
PM me if you have any more questions.
Have a great trip, hope for no sargassum on the beach.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: jphart] #82425
01/16/2016 01:47 PM
01/16/2016 01:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
ChunkyDunkin Offline
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ChunkyDunkin  Offline
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Posts: 879
Great PacNW
As to your question, head to the beach either on Constituentes or an access south of there and walk the beach south. You will see lots of small beach bars/restaurants along the way. We kind of liked El Pirate but there are lots. If you get to the very north end at Coco Beach (past 46th/CTM) there is Cannibal Royale which has either beach seating or a nice upstairs lounge area. For breakfast, again if you get up to the north end is Cueva dl Chango (sp)toward the beach on 38th which is a great place. Lots of the beach bars will give free lounges/umbrella if doing lunch/drinks. Do try The Dirty Martini (Wed? happy hour special) which is right behind El Pirate. A ton of restaurants on 5th but if you get off 5th a block or two you will find cheaper dining, not that it will be expensive anyhow. Oh, do hit the rooftop bar at the hotel, Hotel Cacao?, that is on 5th north a bit and has the tile/stone volkswagon beetle mock up out front. Also the Saltblock? restaurant right next to Club de la Cervaza. Had many a great meals and beers there.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: jphart] #82426
01/16/2016 01:50 PM
01/16/2016 01:50 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
ChunkyDunkin Offline
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ChunkyDunkin  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
Hey bug, you chime in too.
See you around Jan 18/19 next year. Looking to stay at Nazi Ti Ha.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: ChunkyDunkin] #82427
01/17/2016 05:21 AM
01/17/2016 05:21 AM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
jphart Offline OP
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jphart  Offline OP
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
Thanks, you are confirming our choice!
Have stayed at the All Inclusives several times with friends and business groups. Stayed at El Faro with our family Xmas 2012 and liked the area enough to come back.

The Plantation House gets excellent reviews, and will be our home for a while.

Wow!, I didn't realize the peso was that low! Great values. Any real savings using pesos v credit cards? (Have CC w/out fees)

Last edited by jphart; 01/17/2016 05:25 AM.
Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: jphart] #82428
01/18/2016 02:17 PM
01/18/2016 02:17 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
ChunkyDunkin Offline
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ChunkyDunkin  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
Actually, I think cc (without fees) is the best rate available. Usually the current actual market, bank-to-bank, rate. At ATM you may get hit with a conversion fee and something just over market. Downside to use of cc is the MX govt, as far as I know, taps into ALL the bank, PayPal, etc transactions and takes I think 19% tax. Businesses have to account for this in sales pricing. So when dealing with small places or street vendors one might get a better deal using cash/pesos.
Enjoy, most stuff will fell like it's free.
We tried Kool Beach club one time and found it too crowded. Mamitias is about the same. Preferred the smaller places.
As I said in last post, Cannibal Royale at Coco Beach is a nice place for lounging. From just past there and north is a long (hopefully walk-able) beach that takes you up to a nice shallow cove good for wading out, lite swimming, etc. IF you like long walks.
Enjoy

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: ChunkyDunkin] #82429
01/18/2016 05:01 PM
01/18/2016 05:01 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
bugambilias Offline
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bugambilias  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
Quote
ChunkyDunkin said:
Hey bug, you chime in too.
See you around Jan 18/19 next year. Looking to stay at Natz Ti Ha.


<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Hope we get to see you before that!!!

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/dine.gif" alt="" />

All our favorites are off fifth. We eat at Mom's Bar at least once a week. Papa Charlies gets a lot of our business as does El Fogon. Added last year are Ferrons Jerk chicken (for ribs) and Don Chendo sees us frequently for pizza, salads and pasta. La Vagabunda Fiesta is our choice for breakfast. Chunky mentioned another favorite for ceveche at lunch, La Pirata.

Our credit cards stay in our wallets except for large purchases. We'll use them to buy day passes, big grocery orders, booze and that kind of spending. For all the rest we get pesos from an ATM connected to a real honest to god bank. We do not use credit cards at restaurants or small independent stores.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: ChunkyDunkin] #82430
01/19/2016 10:56 AM
01/19/2016 10:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 879
Great PacNW
ChunkyDunkin Offline
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ChunkyDunkin  Offline
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Posts: 879
Great PacNW
I stand corrected. As I got to thinking (seldom happens) I believe the 19% is the lodging tax the govt. takes. The amount they tack onto electronically visible purchases is something less.
Hey Bug........come visit SXM next fall. You'd love the beach.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: ChunkyDunkin] #82431
01/19/2016 09:39 PM
01/19/2016 09:39 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,451
Finger Lake Region
crmoores Offline
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crmoores  Offline
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Finger Lake Region
We love the fish tacos at - believe it or not - the Texas Burger Co on 5th. Casa Sophia is an excellent Italian and pizza restaurant south of town near Sam's Club and MexLaw offices. Worth the short taxi fro town. We also love Coco's Cabanas on Xcalacoco Beach north of the Grand Coral.
We use the cambios for convenient currency exchange when on short week trips, when we move there we'll use the bank ATM exclusively of course.
The north end of 5th is so much nicer. Do use pesos as most restaurants and bars have a terrible conversion rate - 12/1 versus the current 16/1. Use cc for bigger purchases as recommended.
Enjoy your time there!


"Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.”
-Anthony Bourdain
Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: crmoores] #82432
01/20/2016 10:41 PM
01/20/2016 10:41 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
jphart Offline OP
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jphart  Offline OP
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,212
JAX
Thanks mucho!
Actually, change in plans...
Decided to try a little further north at Natz-in-ah, 38/40th instead.
Lots of choices...one thing to like about Playa.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: jphart] #82433
01/27/2016 05:09 PM
01/27/2016 05:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,451
Finger Lake Region
crmoores Offline
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crmoores  Offline
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Posts: 1,451
Finger Lake Region
Yes, and the north end is so much nicer! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />
Check out Mayan Bistro at the Aventura Mexicana boutique hotel - amazing dishes, the chicken dish is to die for <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: crmoores] #82434
02/19/2016 12:40 PM
02/19/2016 12:40 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 65
Minnesota, USA
coronawomen Offline
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coronawomen  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 65
Minnesota, USA
QUESTION: I've been reading these posts, thank you for all the insight on where to go for drinks or eats.

Talking about using Pesos........we were planning on using US dollars for everything. We got tons of small bills for this reason. We haven't been to Mexico since 1993, should we be bringing Pesos and using them, what is best?
Exchange rate at my bank right now is 18 to 1.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: coronawomen] #82435
02/19/2016 03:45 PM
02/19/2016 03:45 PM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 154
New Hampshire
yanque6 Offline
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yanque6  Offline
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Posts: 154
New Hampshire
Just back from Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel. Definetly go with pesos for resturants and shopping.It may be easier to get them there from an ATM in a bank. Do not use the free standing ATMs on the street. I got 18.67 to the dollar from Santander bank a couple blocks west of the ADO bus terminal.
A couple of good spots for lunch, Kaxapa Factory calle 10 north between 15th and 20th Ave. also La Cueva Del Chango, Calle 38 north just east of 5th Ave.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: coronawomen] #82436
02/20/2016 09:27 AM
02/20/2016 09:27 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
bugambilias Offline
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bugambilias  Offline
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Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
Quote
coronawomen said: we were planning on using US dollars for everything. We got tons of small bills for this reason.


Why?

You might want to reconsider both of those decisions.

The local currency is the peso.
Carrying "tons" of cash on vacation could become a problem.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: bugambilias] #82437
02/21/2016 02:42 PM
02/21/2016 02:42 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 65
Minnesota, USA
coronawomen Offline
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coronawomen  Offline
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Posts: 65
Minnesota, USA
Sorry bugambilia's, wrong choice of word using "tons".
I would never carry a large amount of cash on me when on vacation.
I just meant back in 93' american money was used more than peso's when we were in Cancun, therefore using lots of small bills vs. using 20's or larger US bills.

I've read people saying us US money when buying items as the people of Mexico get a better exchange rate yet I've read where people say use only peso's. Thus wondering which is best to us, peso's or american dollars.

I'm leaning towards bringing both with us ~
Thank you.

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: coronawomen] #82438
02/22/2016 08:34 AM
02/22/2016 08:34 AM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
bugambilias Offline
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bugambilias  Offline
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Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
Quote
coronawomen said:

I've read people saying us US money when buying items as the people of Mexico get a better exchange rate yet I've read where people say use only peso's. Thus wondering which is best to us, peso's or american dollars.


Just like we posted in your other thread...

There is no magic power in a dollar bill.

Pesos, dollars and Euros are just different ways to denominate money. If a merchant has to do a conversion they always round up. The exchange rate is the exchange rate no matter your nationality.

As an example, is distance between two places longer or shorter if we measure in miles or kilometers? An object is the same size if we discover it's dimensions in inches or centimeters.

The advantage to using pesos is, most items are priced in pesos! We saw a cruise ship tourist, aloha shirt, gold Rolex, bracelet and neck chain, white socks and sandals strolling on 5th Ave with a group of friends in tow. A shopkeeper was displaying hand carved masks. The price was displayed $150. (pesos) The tourist loudly proclaimed that his entourage should "watch this".
"Hey Pancho," He peeled a one hundred dollar bill from a roll. "I'll bet you'll take this for that mask." The shopkeeper paused, "Si." The shopkeeper was very cool as he made the exchange. The Tourist received his mask, strutted off and proclaimed, "See, that's how you deal with these people."

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: bugambilias] #82439
02/22/2016 09:03 AM
02/22/2016 09:03 AM
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 82,471
Central Florida!
Carol_Hill Offline
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Carol_Hill  Offline
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Posts: 82,471
Central Florida!
<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Rofl.gif" alt="" /> Great story!!!


Carol Hill
Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: bugambilias] #82440
02/23/2016 09:14 PM
02/23/2016 09:14 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 186
southern Oregon
kubotaman Offline
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kubotaman  Offline
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southern Oregon
That is a hilarious story! But surely you jest... is it possible for a guy to be that much of a bore? (Hope he wasn't an American.)

Re: PdC fav Resturants? [Re: kubotaman] #82441
02/23/2016 09:20 PM
02/23/2016 09:20 PM
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
bugambilias Offline
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bugambilias  Offline
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Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
Quote
kubotaman said:
That is a hilarious story! But surely you jest... is it possible for a guy to be that much of a bore? (Hope he wasn't an American.)


No joke.

He sure looked/sounded/acted American to me.


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