Yucatan Peninsula: Xpu-Ha Palace: "Loved the Xpu-Ha Palace" Date: December 7, 2003 We stayed at the Xpu Ha Palace Nov. 16th through 23rd, and we all loved it. We had four rooms in the Reef Village in the Sargento group. Although all the…Read More

Yucatan Peninsula: Xpu-Ha Palace: "Loved the Xpu-Ha Palace" Date: December 7, 2003

We stayed at the Xpu Ha Palace Nov. 16th through 23rd, and we all loved it. We had four rooms in the Reef Village in the Sargento group. Although all the rooms were on the lower level, we found this to be a great location. We were close to the main restaurants and pool, and just a short walk to the river and snorkeling inlet and snack grill. We had no trouble with bugs although we had a visit or two from the wild raccoons at night robbing our room service trays on our porch. Got some great pictures!

Beware of the bees at the river area. There are cans of fish food hanging around to feed the fish. My girlfriend got stung by a bee hiding under the food. She called medical and a paramedic came to her room at no additional charge. But she still had to go to her doctor upon arriving home right away. Her finger was VERY infected, swollen, and red.

We had no trouble getting around, though some of our group preferred to walk. I never had to wait longer than five minutes for the trolley to pick me up. The beach area was very nice and we never had a problem getting chairs, and we needed quite a few with our big group.

The food was good but we did get a bit tired of the same things by the end of the week stay. The waiters were GREAT. All the staff everywhere we went were very helpful, friendly, and cheerful and bent over backwards to help with our requests.

I thought the evening shows started a bit too early. We missed most of them because we were still at dinner. They start at 8pm every night at the lobby bar but only last for 45 minutes--way too short. After that the lobby bar area clears out and its pretty quiet.

A few of us ladies went next door to the Spa Palace for a massage. Their spa was very nice once we finally got in! There was a bit of confusion when we arrived about our appointments, and it took us about a half an hour to straighten this problem out, which got a bit frustrating and definitely was not a good way to start a relaxing experience. The 90-minute massage helped bring me back to a relaxed state of mind! Very good!

We had a 50th anniversary celebration while there also. The staff brought the happy couple a beautiful cake right on time as requested, left it in their room, and when the couple arrived in their room an hour later, they were very surprised. We brought the cake to dinner that evening and the staff lit candles and sang to the couple. It was a very nice presentation indeed!

All in all this vacation was a good one, and I would go back to the Xpu-Ha Palace again. This was my eighth trip to the Cancun area and this hotel was one of the better ones I have stayed at. Go have fun at Xpu-Ha Palace, it's a great vacation!

Dining: This all-inclusive resort is one of the best for dining and spa activities. They have 6 places for dinner. All 6 are sit down and order from the menu type of dining. They have a vegetarian, Italian, steak house, oriental,…Read More

Dining: This all-inclusive resort is one of the best for dining and spa activities. They have 6 places for dinner. All 6 are sit down and order from the menu type of dining. They have a vegetarian, Italian, steak house, oriental, Mediterranean, and of course, Mexican! We did not make it to all of them, but the ones we did go to were excellent. The food was not only very good, the presentation was great. There was no need to make reservations; however, if you needed to wait they all have a bar or waiting area where you can have a cocktail. When 2 or more of you at a table order wine, they bring the bottle to the table.

The breakfast and lunch buffets were great, as well. Large selection of food, and if you wanted something they else, just ask they will jump through hoops to get it for you. We very seldom ate lunch, but the one time we did, we had grilled shrimp and red snapper!

Surprisingly, this all-inclusive resort offers ROOM SERVICE! They have a limited menu, but a few of the items include: filet mignon, fresh fish, shrimp cocktail, smoked salmon, sandwiches, etc. However, you may experience a problem if ordering alcoholic beverages - they may deliver a glass of wine, but NEVER a bottle - and sometimes it is even hard to get them to deliver any type of alcoholic beverage without pre-arranging it during the day with the appropriate folks.

So, if you want a romantic dinner on your patio, complete with wine, etc. make sure you pre-arrange it with your representative.

Spa Treatments: The hot rock massage is terrific! Also the Temazcal is wonderful! It is the ancient Mayan "sweat box" balancing treatment. Very spiritual and cleansing. If you don't like closed, dark spaces - this is not for you. They also have a sound pool, cold water plunge, and whirlpools for use at no charge. There are so many treatments that it is hard to list them all. This resort also offers an extensive gym - workout area and even an obstacle course (for those who just can't relax on vacation!).

Pool/Beach/Lagoon area: We never had to fight for a beach chair. This resort does not have a beach, but is located directly on the Caribbean. They have a breaking wall where the waves crash. They have built a lagoon inside the breaking wall that is sea water and sandy bottom. Great place to snorkel, kayak, swim, or just sit in the water and sip a cocktail. The pool area on the "Spa" side is not quite as nice as the "Aventura" side of this resort (this side is a little more lively - the "Spa" side is more laid back). Each side of the resort has its own pool complete with swim-up bar. I didn't think I would miss the beach - but I did! I like walking along the beach and you can't do that here. However, midnight dips in the lagoon is very nice and quiet - no waves!! Remember this is an "adults only" resort - no one under 18 yrs of age!

We spent a day on the beach at Playa del Carmen, so I got my "beach fix!" Most people go to Playa del Carmen for shopping; I went for beach and relaxing with a couple cocktails. There are guys that stroll up and down the beach playing music and will come right over to where you are sitting and sing and play for you! From what I hear from the couple that was with us, the shopping was OK, but the resort had alot of the same things in their gift shops for a lower price!

I would highly recommend this resort. The only downfall on my part would be the lack of a beach. Enjoy!

One of the scuba diving expeditions takes us to Cozumel. We dive and then are taken to a hotel for lunch. After lunch we are boated to the 'downtown' area where we are given 2 hours to shop. Cozumel is a mish-mash of very expensive designer…Read More

One of the scuba diving expeditions takes us to Cozumel. We dive and then are taken to a hotel for lunch.

After lunch we are boated to the 'downtown' area where we are given 2 hours to shop.

Cozumel is a mish-mash of very expensive designer shops next to local artisans and small 'tacky tourist' shops where you can purchase the requisite cheap straw sombreros, bottles of sand, and coconuts turned into pirate heads.

I would not recommend Cozumel for a week's vacation, but it is an interesting place to spend the afternoon.

Monday, February 28th Off to Chitzen Itza - the largest Mayan ruin excavation in Mexico. The day starts at 8am & gets us back to the hotel at 7pm. Shopping stop on the way so Andrew can purchase chess set #2 and Mayan mask…Read More

Monday, February 28th
Off to Chitzen Itza - the largest Mayan ruin excavation in Mexico. The day starts at 8am & gets us back to the hotel at 7pm. Shopping stop on the way so Andrew can purchase chess set #2 and Mayan mask #2. I buy a handmade leather purse & sunglasses to replace the ones that fell apart yesterday.

The guide takes us around Chitzen Itza for a couple of hours and then we head for lunch at the Mayaland hotel. At lunch, we are entertained by Mexican dancers who later beg for tips. After lunch, we climb to the top of the pyramid and then realize that we must climb down as well - OH NO!!!

Dinner that night is "Mexican Night" - a big hit with my taste buds - after a ½ hour wait at 8:50pm!!!!

Tuesday, February 29th
Finally - diving!!! We take a trip with Aquaworld, the dive centre on the resort (also for non-divers). Participants have their choice of diving, snorkeling, sub-sea boat or shopping time in the morning. Off to Cozumel (a boat ride away) to dive the world-famous Palancar Wall & Palancar Reef. We see our first barracuda of the week, so I am now allowed to sing that old tune "OOOh, Barracuda!!" Other marine life includes angelfish, stingrays, parrotfish, zebra fish, and doctorfish. After the 2 dives, we head to a hotel for lunch (lunch is included in all the excursions) and then back onto the boat. The boat then heads towards downtown Cozumel so that I can buy the necessary tacky tourist items for the family at home - huge sombreros, t-shirts, and a rain stick. Andrew picks up Mayan mask #3. That evening, we head off to Playa del Carmen with a scheduled excursion through Signature Vacations - it's all you can drink at Senor Frog's. We go along for the promised shopping time. We see a mariachi band. We wander off the beaten tourist trail into the real city and see a whore house - El Chaterra - where you can get what you want for 5 pesos ($1 Cnd = 6.3 pesos). After the stores close we go back to Sr. Frog’s & wait for the drunks until midnite.

Wednesday, March 1st
Another diving day - this time in cenotes (underground freshwater river which is the area's water supply pre-purification). We see stalagmites and stalactites (don't ask me which are which) and must use lights in the caves.

A box lunch and then we are carted back to the hotel. That afternoon, Andrew decides to start a water fight in the room, which has a very slippery marble floor. He falls very hard and we think he may have broken his leg. Kim goes to find ice to put on his elevated leg, but the hotel staff treats ice like an endangered species. It takes several attempts to get a bag of ice for Andrew. Dinner that night is "international night", or, as we would call it in Canada, LEFTOVERS - a little Mexican, a little Italian, a little everything from earlier in the week.

Thursday, March 2nd
The last diving day of the trip. This time it's local - right in front of our resort, about 150m out from the beach. We're in a smaller boat than before, and only 6 divers. There are fishies, fishies everywhere.

Between the 2 dives, 2 of the divers are so seasick that they request a return to shore. Just before we're ready to head back into the water for the 2nd dive, I decide I must feed the fish, so I projectile vomit. I believe it is seasickness. On the 2nd dive we see a stingray, a sea turtle & a moray eel, along with all the usual (by now) tropical exotic fish. By the time we make it back to shore, someone else is seasick. We sign out bikes from the resort & have mechanical difficulties - do not take out bikes - they all fail!!! We wander around the town, picking up souvenirs, for the afternoon, and meet the Jewish owner of a small dive shop who hails from Ontario. We find the post office, which closes at 2pm.

We meet a lady that afternoon that is visiting Oasis for the 3rd time. She says that this is the 1st time she has had the food problems we encountered daily. We are stopped by several people requesting information on what to do, where to go, how to do this. By supper (oriental night) I feel sick again, take a Gravol and fall asleep by 8pm

Friday, March 3rd
Is it really our last day? I'm still feeling queasy & take another Gravol. We spend time on the beach, snorkel, and wander to the post office where they tell us they can't mail our parcel because they don't have a scale, so they can't weigh it. In the afternoon we go back to Playa del Carmen where we eat at McDonald's, which is combined with Domino Pizza & has a thatched roof. We do the last of the shopping - this time I pick up a bundle of pottery items at a little shop outside of the city. We head back to the resort for a last minute dip in the pool and then get the van back to the airport in Cancun. Our van was scheduled to leave the resort at 5:15pm - we were rolling the luggage out at 5pm and the van driver was waiting for us.

His comment was that we are lucky we were ready when he arrived because he has other people to pick up. By the time we get to the airport I realize that I have not been seasick, but saved the infamous Montezuma's Revenge for the end of the trip.

Saturday, March 4th
Back in Canada at 3:30am. I will soon find out that I have picked up a parasite - yes I've brought a friend back home with me - and require medication. Andrew, of course, is just fine. Glad to be back home.

Friday, February 25th Our flight leaves today at 4:30pm. Due to several problems during the day, we make it to the airport at 3:58pm (2 minutes before the check-in closes). Well, at least we don't wait around for the flight. Even though…Read More

Friday, February 25th
Our flight leaves today at 4:30pm. Due to several problems during the day, we make it to the airport at 3:58pm (2 minutes before the check-in closes). Well, at least we don't wait around for the flight. Even though I measured my carry-on luggage to compare it to the dimensions in the Signature brochure, I am told it is too large to take on board. I am forced to decide what to take on board & they take my suitcase away. We decide immediately that Air Transat is not for us: no movie on the 5 hour flight, cramped leg room, icky food, and the pilot doesn't know that there is a 2 hour time difference between Halifax & Cancun. Also, the flight attendants could not properly explain themselves in English - all the crew was French. We arrive in Cancun on time, pick up the wrong suitcases & head out through customs.

It is not until we are on the van waiting to head to the resort that we realize we have strangers' luggage. Rush back into airport to find panicked travelers looking for their suitcases (which match ours). The van ride to the resort is shared with four people from PEI. They have brought a few Coronas along for the 130km/hr trip (it's a 50km zone). A quick look around the resort & we're off to bed - it's been a long day. But first, we note that the toilet is broken (won't flush).

Saturday, February 26th
We wake at 7:00am to a beautiful day - sun, sand, and surf!!! Today we take it easy. We meet with our Signature rep, Leslie, who gives a bit of information & advice. Snorkel, kayak, lay on beach, drink something in a pineapple. We set up our excursions and diving for the rest of the week.

We head to lunch, but must wait 20 minutes to get in. I decide to get my hair braided & inquire as to the price - I am told 20 pesos (about $3 Cnd) - however after it is done the wench decides she meant 20 pesos per braid - that totals to 160 pesos - I am not impressed, especially since it happened at the resort!!! Many drinks later (did I mention the resort is all-inclusive?) the sunsets and it is time to eat again. But first we must wait to get into the buffet - 45 minutes - this becomes a recurring theme throughout the week, as well as our broken toilet (it is broken & repaired at least 6 times throughout the week). When you go to Mexico do not, I repeat, DO NOT tell ANYONE you will call them - give them the phone # of the resort before you leave. The reason for this is that you can not always count on 1) a dial tone 2) the ability to reach Canada 3) the ability to use a calling card 4) the hotel phone to be capable of dialing a 1-800 number. I had to charge a call to a credit card, so that I could call my parents.

Later in the week, we found a store in the town that would allow you to call long distance to Canada for 20 pesos per minute - this would probably be your best bet, in an emergency.

Sunday, February 27th
In the morning we grab a taxi to visit Tulum, the only known Mayan ruins on the water. Before you get in a taxi, confirm the price of the trip - we found out that the taxi would take us to Tulum, wait 2 hours for us (no extra charge) and take us back to the resort. It is beautiful and we see many iguanas - it should be an iguana theme park. We spend a few minutes in the shops at Tulum, where Andrew buys his first chess set and first Mayan mask of the vacation. We head back to the resort for lunch and snorkeling. There are many tropical fish (angel fish, blue tangs) within snorkeling distance of the resort, so we take full advantage of it. We are heading back to our room when we are dragged into a game of tequila volleyball in the pool, by David, one of the entertainment coordinators at the resort. Tequila Volleyball is an amazing discovery - if you screw up you must take a shot of tequila. It is during this event that I hear my name being called from the pool deck - Terry Chin is staying at the same resort, but he is leaving that night. We head off to swim with the dolphins - an amazing thing. Those dolphins are very strong. After dolphins, we take our first walk around Pto Aventuras. That evening we have a reservation at the "fancy" restaurant - a delicious meal for both of us, including the homemade coconut ice cream for dessert.

The new addition of the Spa Palace, which has been added to the property of the Aventura Palace in the Mayan Riviera, is a slice of heaven! Imagine a whole week of all-inclusive premium accomodations, food, and drinks on the ocean in sunny Mexico! As…Read More

The new addition of the Spa Palace, which has been added to the property of the Aventura Palace in the Mayan Riviera, is a slice of heaven! Imagine a whole week of all-inclusive premium accomodations, food, and drinks on the ocean in sunny Mexico! As if that weren't enough, the new spa section emphasizes the spa experience. This is an adults-only resort. It is a serene environment with New Age music playing in many areas, a Zen meditation room, massage rooms out on the ocean, and a luxurious indoor spa with hot tub, Swedish showers, saunas, and cooling waterfalls. They even have an area with hair dryers, hot rollers, lotion, hairspray, etc.! (The spa areas do separate the men from the women, which was fine by me!) This resort also has a fully equipped gym, pool aerobics, step classes, more lively music and games at the Aventura pool area, paddleboating, snorkeling, etc., etc. Spend one week of your hectic life feeling like royalty. You're worth it!Close

Xpu Ha was only partially rebuilt after hurricanes Wilma and then Gustav. It is much smaller, with only one restaurant and a snack bar, and no swimmable beach. I hope they continue restoring it.Service (like all Palace resorts we've been to) is still excellent, however.We…Read More

Xpu Ha was only partially rebuilt after hurricanes Wilma and then Gustav. It is much smaller, with only one restaurant and a snack bar, and no swimmable beach. I hope they continue restoring it.

Service (like all Palace resorts we've been to) is still excellent, however.

We liked that Xpu Ha was less busy than their other resorts (we stayed at Aventura Spa). But I fear it might not be enough traffic to stay open.

Families will maybe like the kid's pool. Water slides, etc. The pool you drop into is shallow enough that an adult (me) will hit bottom on landing, however. Not sure about kids...

Highlight of our two afternoons at Xpu Ha was the snorkeling. We snorkeled there before the hurricanes, and it was MUCH better of course. They lost a lot of what was a very large, diverse (salt, mixed, fresh) snorkeling area.

What they have now is one small inlet at the bottom of which is as much parts of the old resort (made very safe) as it is wildlife. There are LOTS of fish, though, and the area and wildlife there seem to be very healthy.

There's a net past which it is unsafe to go, but if you're lucky you'll get a visitor from the ocean. We swam twice there while a manatee was grazing on the bottom. I was alone in the inlet when it came in the first time, so had him all to myself for 10 minutes or so. It was probably 12 feet long, I'd guess maybe 1200 pounds. It went right beneath me and was very impressive. They're gentle, of course, but I couldn't help start thinking, "so just what does scare or piss off a manatee?" I did not find out, thankfully.Close