Come play in Playa del Carmen!

Looking for a resort experience with a bit more adventure? I highly recommend Playa del Carmen, a coastal resort town along Mexico's Yucatan peninsula. Located an hour's drive south from the Cancun airport, and directly across from the island of Cozumel, Playa del Carmen has white sandy beaches, warm, clear water and stunning snorkeling opportunities. Travel a little farther south and swim with giant turtles off the beach in Akumal. Hire a guide and swim through cenotes - underground freshwater rivers. Grab a ferry and swim with dolphins in Cozumel. Have I established that the possibilities are endless? Last summer, I took the kids for a week of fun in the sun. We stayed at the Gran Porto Resort and Spa, a beautiful hacienda style resort, adjacent to the beach and a three minute walk to Fifth Avenue. We enjoyed the beach front pool, as well as the pool on the 3^rd floor. It was adjacent to a sushi bar, a great place for a late afternoon snack. The down side to this hotel is the immediate oceanfront.

The beach in front of the Gran Porto has taken a serious beating over the years; hurricanes have eroded the beach down to a rocky and often sand-bagged shoreline. But not to fear! Five minutes in either direction will take you to expansive white sand, and a smooth sandy bottom. This was a minor inconvenience, because what really makes the Gran Porto stand out, is its proximity to Fifth Avenue. Any time of day or night, venture out to this cobble-stoned, pedestrian-only smorgasbord of restaurants, shops, bars and street performers.

The Gran Porto is at one end, the ferry docks to the island of Cozumel at the other. Expect to spend several hours just walking and gawking, or grab a seat at a bar, restaurant or hookah lounge and people watch. We tried a little fish spa therapy and had our feet nibbled by dozens of toothless Garra Rufa fish who feast on dead skin. Refreshed and exfoliated, we continued on, stopping to have our pictures taken with Mayan warriors and a friendly marmoset. There are of course tourist shops galore, but there are also local artisan shops selling unique and beautiful hand crafted items.













What do you need to be aware of on Fifth Avenue? Beware the popular "We met last night at the hotel" scam. One too many tourists must have fallen for this friendly ploy to get you into their shop in the guise of drunken camaraderie the evening before, because I guarantee, half the shop owners will claim to have spent an evening with you.

There are a lot of places on the street to change your money - the rate is better than the hotels, but take the time to peruse the options as the rates will vary. As well, keep in mind that a number of the bigger stores will accept American currency and even give back change in the American dollar. Sadly, I imagine that is no longer the case with the Canadian dollar which has nose-dived in recent months. Should you buy a tour from a hawker on the street? We did, and it was probably the best, and certainly one of the least expensive tours we did, particularly in comparison with the high rates of tours sold from the hotel lobby. Can I guarantee you will always be satisfied? No. It is buyer beware. Be sure to take a handful of American ones with you - the street performers deserve to be tipped. It's a lot like Bourbon Street, in New Orleans, only prettier, and with a view of the beach every block. Who could ask for more?