Thursday, September 17, 2009

I did it...

Yep, I did it. Last Sunday I was checking airfares to Cancun for Christmas break, and clicked on "Purchase." I couldn't help it...some kind of strange power came over my mouse-clicking finger, and I had no control. I guess it's the pull of that turquoise water. Surprisingly, it's the best fare I've gotten in my last five flights to Cancun...except for the $117 fare I paid with VivaAerobus, but you can't count that because they cancelled the flight. So I have to post my trademark Isla picture because I be heading there in three months.





















Since I get two gratis weeks over Christmas now, there's no way I was just going to stay home. I did that last year and was just about climbing the walls by the end of the two weeks. So I will be gone for ten days on this trip and one of my sons is planning to join me for a few days while I'm there.

But I'm doing something different this time. I'm going to go to Playa del Carmen first. I really want to see different parts of Mexico and I know that if I go to Isla first, I will get into that "Isla Mode" where I don't want to do anything or go anywhere else. (What IS it about that place??) So I've already arranged for a five night stay at Luna Blue in Playa BEFORE I get to Isla. I would also like to take a trip to Chichen Itza and/or Tulum while I'm there. And I've been told that Valladolid is an "authentic colonial" Mexican town, so I'm sure it would offer many good photo ops. When I went to Isla last July after selling my house, I was so stressed right up till then, that I couldn't really enjoy the trip. And when you know that you have to go back to moving to another place, it makes it even harder to relax.

At first, I wasn't even going to go to Isla and just spend all my time on the mainland. But when I was looking for places to stay, I did a random check on Isla for hotels, expecting all of them to be full for the holidays. The thing about Mexican hotels is that you have to send e-mails to most of them to see if they have vacancies, and in most cases, it can take a half a day to about two days to get a response! Some of them haven't responded at all...maybe because they're booked. So, remember that new hotel across from Justicia Social that I posted on my last trip?





















The Bahia Chac Chi. I googled it to find their website and saw that their prices were between $60 and $70. Figuring they would be a lot higher over Christmas, I put in my dates and it came back the same. I couldn't pass it up. Then when I reserved four nights, it came back with an additional discount, so it comes out to a total (tax included) of $63.00 per night. I splurged and got the sea view as opposed to the inside view. I would much rather see that blue water than this blue water.
















So, we'll see how it goes. After the Privilege Aluxes disaster, I'm a little nervous about trying a different place (especially when it's so new and modern), but you just can't beat that price...especially during the holidays. One thing I'm glad about is that they provide irons and ironing boards. Ha! Can you ever imagine ironing anything while on Isla?? "No, wait, Honey...I have to iron my bathing suit and tank top before I go out." Hahaha!

Well, if anything, the new digs will make for an interesting blog post.

6 comments:

Life's a Beach! said...

Congrats Deb! I've always wanted to spend the holidays on Isla! And I think you'll like the hotel. I noticed awhile back that they had seriously reduced their rates!

Life's a Beach! said...

By the way, it's easy to get from Playa to Tulum. You can either go by bus or van. We took a coop van. It was cheap and dropped us right across the street from where the shuttles run down the road to the ruins.

Ann said...

That's great! We have splurged & are spending 2 weeks next year, but someday I hope to go more than once in a year! Our student is graduating from HS next year so maybe for that......JoAnne & I are working on a few things!

Vee said...

Congratulations, Deb. Great news! You'll have a blast, I'm sure.

Isla Deb said...

Beck - Yes, I plan on taking the colectivo to Tulum because it's so inexpensive. And I'm actually thinking this hotel might be better because it's away from Hidalgo. I was on Isla during Christmas of 2007 and I couldn't believe how loud it was on Christmas Eve night.

Ann - Good for you for splurging. And I think you should make it a twice-a-year thing!

Vee - Thanks...and my son is definitely going to be there so that will be fun. He's so anxious to see Chichen Itza.

Islagringo said...

Welcome back! I remember well the days of being a tourist here and never leaving the island..no matter how much we said we were going to!

You will be amazed at Playa. It is not quaint at all, more of a big tourist trap. Beaches not that great and expensive. Ok, enough wet blanket. Tulum is beautiful!

Did you know you can take a trip to Chichen Itza from the island? Oh, I forgot, you never want to leave! I'll be anxious to hear about the new hotel. Be glad you got a front room.