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. You may also fly into Cozumel and take the ferry to Playa.

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?
July through October, usually consisting of short, afternoon showers.

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.

What types of accommodations are available?
About 100 small hotels in town, ranging from budget to deluxe.
About 60 total individual 1-3 bedroom condo units, all superior rated.
About 50 private 1-4 bedroom homes for vacation rental,
ranging from moderate to deluxe.
Most homes and condos are located in the Playacar development, a gated beach and golf community, at the south edge of town.
South of town there are about a dozen all-inclusive properties.

Are most vacation homes located on the beach?
Most homes are located 1 to 4 short blocks to the beach.
Only four beachfront homes are available for vacation rental.
Most homes have ocean views.

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 4-6 months in advance.

Does Playa del Carmen have a good selection of restaurants?
Over 100 restaurants are located in about an 80 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 area known as Fifth Avenue.

Can we drink the water?
No, because of high mineral content. Most homes and condos provide bottled, purified water as part of the rental. 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 town and there are several good local 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.
Overall quality ranges 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.