Plugs for Mexico - days out in Akumal & beyond?

DUKE

I was there last year for my birthday & we did all that stuff, do the lot you wont regret it! If you get the bus to Coba (It's ever so cheap) take a jacket or little blanket to keep you warm as it's freezing on the air con buses. The Monkey Sanctuary is a must, but you do have to book in advance (although we didn't know this & just turned up, luckily 2 people didn't turn up so they were able to fit us in). This was one of the best experiences of my life! http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g150812-d1130074-Reviews-The_Jungle_Place-Playa_del_Carmen_Yucatan_Peninsula.html

814man

I have mixed feelings about Xcaret, Xel Ha etc. Having been to them all and also explored the area I'd suggest that you can have just as great days on on your own by getting slightly off the beaten track and exploring. Having said that they do offer a relaxing way to experience lots of stuff in a single day and place. My suggestion would be to wait until you get there and talk to others who have actually been to find out what will suit you best. And by others of course I dont mean the travel reps who are on commission to sell the tours to you.
And whilst I am that subject depending who you book through your travel company may well be trying to convince you to take mexican currency. This is just nonesence and the only reason they do it is to try to make profit on the exchange. You can use US$ and credit cards at almost all locations and the hotel has a mix of both US and local currency cash machines. The ultimate hypocracy of this policy where Thomas Cook in UK tried to inform us we must only take mexican currency was that thier trips in the resort are priced and paid for in US$.

814man

I cant make any comment about Coco Bongos having not been there but would just relay a discussion I heard around the pool one day. Seems that there is quite a strict age regulation to get in and someone from our hotel who looked slightly under the age, although he was in fact over it, had been asked to provide his passport to the tour rep in resort when making the booking to go on the official organised trip. However on arrival at the club he was refused entry as he didnt actually take his passport with him and the club would not take the word of the tour rep about the age check. Rather spoilt the night for the family and they couldn't get any refund as I understood it.