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Joined: Mar 2007
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Rach72 Offline OP
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Greetings! Hopefully someone can help.... My fiance and I are experiencing some trouble making a decision for our honeymoon. We're going to be traveling Nov. 12-21 and have narrowed our search down to AC or Isla Mujeres based on the following criteria:

1. some pampering available (this can consist of laying in a hammock, with a fruity drink in hand)
2. all inclusive (if available - not crucial)
3. a little night life (we're not looking for mega clubs, just a fun beach bar and maybe some dancing)
4. things to do besides laying on the beach - in particular water sports
5. nice enough lodgings so if we don't want to leave the hotel we can still have fun
6. a fun a town or sights nearby for other adventures
7. room service would be a nice option
8. kid restricted would be great (we love them, just not for our honeymoon smile

I would love some feedback on best place to stay and if AC fits this criteria - from my research it looks like it does, but its hard to tell when you've never been there. Also, if anyone has been to Isla Mujeres as well and can compare the two based on the above, that would be super helpful!
Cheers, Rach72

Joined: May 2001
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Hi Rach 72, for one of the most exclusive ever, is Cayo Espanto, lone celebrities but very expensive, and definately well worth it!!!! LOVE IT! Never been to Isla, but honey, it's mexico......we're better, diving, people, new friends, all. This island is very small, within a week, you will know all and love all. Everyone can send you on more excursions than you have time for. Welcome to San Pedro!!!


Can't find my plane...
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I spent time on Isla in January and San Pedro last month. Returning to San Pedro next week.

You can certainly get pampering either place.

No all inclusives on AC, the only true one on Isla is the Avalon, and it gets really mixed reviews. I think the place is in receivership, I'd hesitate to make long term plans there.

Good music and bars both places.

I think better snorkeling/diving on AC. Also I love the Mayan ruins tours more fun from AC.

I enjoy Isla, but my heart belongs to San Pedro. In all honesty the beaches are nicer on Isla.

You'll have a good time either place. I'd take a look at properties that appeal to you and take it from there.

Joined: Feb 2007
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Isla Mujeres is pretty cool... but I doubt I could spend more than a day or two there, it's only like 2 or 3 sq miles. We spent a day there, nice beach, but otherwise not much happening. Our first trip to AC is in 2 days, so I'll let ya know my impression in a couple of weeks!

Hey JeanH, we'll see ya next Wed at BC's!! What time is Happy Hour? Oh, its anytime, right?


M. Sjulstad
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never been to isla. i'm no expert, but my personal opinion is that you will not be disappointed if you decide on AC. my preference is north of the cut, or FAR south, more "private" beaches (all beaches are public, but some have far less people) and quiet. rent a golf cart to get to town and tool around in, its more fun than it sounds. also gives you freedom to come and go as you please.

no need to consider an all inclusive, there is SO much good food and drink available all over, in all price ranges. more watersports and daytrips avail than you can do in 10 days, easy. and bars? stand in some random place and spit in any direction, you'll hit one.

enjoy!

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Isla is beautiful, and has a fantastic beach. Touring the island is fun, but more than a couple of days leaves you with nothing but the beach. Unfortunately, all of the Cancun clowns that come over on booze cruises or tours leaves the place with a funky feel sometimes. I would suggest AC also. Just my opinion, of course. As Jane said, so many great places to eat within walking distance kind of makes an all-inclusive unnecessary. AC is different. You don't just visit, you become a part of it.


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Rach72 Offline OP
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Great! Thank you everyone for all the info. I checked out Cayo Espanto, it looks AMAZING but its out of our price range.... Any suggestions for the best honeymoon lodging in AC for around $300 or less per night? thanks again smile

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Anonymous
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Kind of depends on how far away from town you want to be. My suggestions are:

North: Capricorn
In Town: Ramon's
South: Xanadu
South: Victoria House

All should meet your price range, but again, depends on how remote you want to be. North locations, in all liklihood, require a water taxi, in town or south locations, golf cart.

Joined: Jun 2005
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There is a short (and I mean really short) article on Isla in this month's Caribbean Travel and Life. You might want to check it out, Rach. It is the "Affordable Day in..." article.

Having been to both, I have to agree with the others. While Isla is beautiful, it doesn't seem have enough to keep me busy after a day or two. According to the CTL article, Isla is only 5 miles long and 1/2 mile wide (good estimate, 6string!), so with 10 days on your hands, you could literally walk the whole island multiple times!

AC offers so much, from beach to ruins to snorkeling to boat rides to great restaurants to mainland excursions to impromptu golf cart tours, just to name a few. And you won't even miss the all-inclusive resort! It is much more fun to sample a little bit of everything and not be tied down to one resort anyway!

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If you want an all inclusive, there is a very nice one in Belize (and no kids allowed!). www.kanantik.com Not on AC but on the southern shore of the mainland on a very nice beach.

Joined: Mar 2007
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Another laid back funky fishing village is Placencia. 45 minutes by plane from the International Airport. You can get both water activities (dive, snorkel, fish, private boat charter) to going to do some hiking to Jaguar Preserve, ruins, cave swimming to horseback riding. A few beach bars in the village and some great food! and yes, it has great beach!

check it out www.placencia.com


Joined: Feb 2007
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Well using that name is certainly a way of luring them in!

Joined: May 2003
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The longest I've stayed on Isla has been five days at a time. That's been just about right for me. I never got bored at all, and certainly could have stayed longer. If you think Mexico might be the place for you, consider splitting your trip between Isla and Playa del Carmen. Playa is a fun beach town too, larger and much more developed than either Amergris or Isla. There are great day trips from there. You could even stay at one of the all inclusives thar are right in town. Seems a shame though, because like Isla and AC, there are numerous wonderful restuarants in Playa.

All this sounds like I'm pushing for Isla. Not really. I greatly prefer Ambergris. I don't speak much Spanish, it isn't hard be in Isla without speaking the language, but I always wish that I could converse more easily with the locals. There's also the hassle with the water. I don't even brush my teeth with the water on Isla.


Joined: Mar 2004
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cool Coming up short of $$ to come to San Pedro last year, I started to look for cheap fares to some place warm and sunny. Cancun came up with a great airfare deal, but Cancun is too busy for us (Bryan in a Pastor so we really were looking for some serious R&R). I did find a message board on Cancun and a thread on "day trips" and someone had posted that Isla Mujeres was toooo boring for them - perfect for us last year! We stayed 10 days, enjoyed the amazing scenery, did lots of walking and caught up on some much needed down time.

Having said all that, we were fortunate to have visited San Pedro the 2 years previous, and are anxiously waiting for the end of April for our 3rd trip.

For me, the main difference between the two are the people, nothing against the people who live on Isla Mujeres, but the folks on Ambergris (locals and visitors) all give you the feeling of having known them even before you meet them.

I also think that you'll find lots more options on AC, from all the "down time" that any one needs to all the day trips, fun night life, etc on AC.


"The truly happy person is the one who can enjoy the scenery even when he must take a detour"
Joined: Mar 2007
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Congrats on your wedding!!! I am also getting married in Nov- we are actually having our wedding on AC. My fiance and I are going down for the first time this Wednesday to scope out the island and we are going to tour a lot of the resorts to choose one for our wedding guests. When we get back on April 2nd, I will definately be able to comment on whats going on down there from a brides perspective. I'll let you know what we find!

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When we used to do Coz every year (years back) Playa was just a pier, the golf course complex and a few little shops by the pier. It would have been interesting to see Isla back at that time. When the boat people moved into Cozumel, and the island started importing workers from the mainland, it was time to move south again, and we ended up in Ambergris. At that time,we wished we had found it sooner also.


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congrats to you both! we are getting married in (actually, off) Placencia in May, after a few days in cayo. i have been to Bz several times, but first time to Placencia.

i have to agree with wannabe, not on isla, but that area in general. it is really nice and all, but mexico just isn't belize. and a major part of that is the people. Everyone i have dealt with has been fantastic (gratuitous plug for Barb's Belize - thanks, barb!! couldn't have done this one without you!)

i wish you girls all the best.

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