Where is Playa del Carmen?
45 minutes drive time south of the Cancun airport on Mexico’s Caribbean coast known as the Maya Riviera.
Which airport do we fly into?
Cancun is the easiest, airport code CUN.
A new airport at Coba (inland from Tulum is under construction.
When is the best time to vacation in Playa?
Playa del Carmen is now a year-round destination.
The busiest months are December through April.
June, July, and August have become popular months, almost a mini-high season now.
May, September, October, and November are the slowest months but also growing in popularity. November is our personal favorite month.
When is the rainy season?
June through November, usually consisting of short, afternoon showers.
There is a risk of tropical storms/hurricanes during these months.
Isn’t summer hot?
Summer is hot with average high temperatures of 90º F, but not any hotter than Florida in the summer. Air-conditioning is becoming more prevalent.
Are most vacation homes located on the beach?
Most homes are located 1 to 4 short blocks to the beach.
Only a few beachfront homes are available for vacation rental.
How far in advance should we make reservations?
For Christmas, New Year’s, January, February, and March,
we recommend 10 to 14 months in advance.
For May through August, we recommend 6 months in advance.
For October through November, we recommend 1-4 months in advance.
Does Playa del Carmen have a good selection of restaurants?
100's of restaurants are located in about an 200 square block area offering about 15 different cuisines ranging from real Mexican to Thai.
A lot of restaurants offer sidewalk dining along Playa’s famed pedestrian-only Fifth Avenue.
Grocery Stores?
Walmart, Sam's Club, Chedraui and several others plus the local version
of convenient stores are easily accessible. You will need a taxi or rental car
to conveniently going to WalMart or one of the other large groceries.
Can we drink the water?
No, because of high mineral content. Most homes and condos provide bottled, purified water
as part of the rental. Some of the newer condo-hotel properties have purification systems.
Restaurants prepare both food and ice with purified water.
Are there a lot of things to do?
More than you could ever do in one lifetime, from watersports to ecology parks to Mayan ruins to shopping to colonial cities.
What if we do not speak Spanish?
Don’t worry about it. Most natives in the travel industry speak English and other languages. If you get to an area where people do not speak English, well that’s just part of the fun. The locals are friendly and helpful.
Is Playa del Carmen safe?
Yes, as it all of Mexico outside of Mexico city, with a much lower crime rate than most areas of the USA. Just use common sense and don’t flash a lot of cash and jewelry.
Should we exchange dollars for pesos?
We recommend that you exchange dollars for pesos in town. It is much easier to look at a price in pesos and pay in pesos than trying to do the mental exchange calculations on the spot. Some of the tourist attractions only take pesos, also.
Do we need a rental car?
You do not need a rental car in Playa del Carmen and there are good tour operators you can
use for day trips. However, we personally always rent a car for the independence.
We can arrange transportation to and from the Cancun airport. Taxis are also available, just
confirm the rate before getting in.
Are your property listings paid advertisements?
No. We have specifically selected and inspected each property.
We meet with the property managers several times a year and speak with them daily.
What should I expect when I rent a villa or condo?
Each home or condo will be clean, well-maintained, and well furnished, but
overall quality does range from moderate to deluxe.
Each home or condo is individually furnished by the owner so furnishings vary.
Each home has a well-furnished kitchen, towels and linens are included, and maid service is
provided either 3 or 6 days per week depending upon the property.
