Post: #101

(12-14-2016 08:52 PM)AlphaRN Wrote:  

(11-18-2016 03:03 PM)Luvianka Wrote:  Cozumel. This is serious, guys, don’t go to this island, unless you want to do some professional scuba diving -the place is fucked up beyond repair. To reach here is easy and cheap. The ferry round trip is only MXN 300 (USD 15). But as soon as you get, troubles begin. Why? Because the cruisers have come back big time to the place and every single service is horrendously inflated. As soon as the passengers from the ships land, they storm every taxi site, every car rental, every shop, every restaurant, every excursion stand… Everything. And since they are in a hurry (they are given only six to eight hours to do their touring) they don’t mind to spend big bucks. Taking a taxi to one of the beaches (incredibly beautiful, by the way) is about MXN 400. But be sure to ask the driver to pick you up back some hours later because the service is not available on the coastal highway.
Renting a car is a shit. MXN 900 for just 8 hours. Besides when you drop the car back the agency is going to ask you for a MXN 130 receipt from the gas station. Renting a scooter is MXN 300, but you have to refuel MXN 50 of gas. Renting a Polaris Dune Buggy to travel all the coastal highway and then the dirt road all the way to South end of the island to visit the lighthouse and the crocodile farm is about MXN 2,250… And yes, you have to show them a MXN 130 receipt of gas when you drop the bitch. Night life in Cozumel? Sure thing! Hundreds of hookers who are ready to service all the guys who are not having any luck in the boat. No clubs! The most incredible thing you see is when people leave the cruisers and go directly to the restaurants… Don’t they feed them on board?

I visit Cozumel about twice a year, but I do it for the diving. I agree that once the cruise ships appear, the place becomes a mess. If you want to relax more than chase, or you want to dive, Cozumel can be a great place. Even then, there is still plenty of girls looking for action at the resorts. There are plenty of sluts on girls trips, destination weddings and recently dumped wall victims trying to get their ``groove back.'' Though I don't visit Cozumel to chase, after a few drinks and a girl in the right dress, that can change very quickly. I remember one blonde woman with tits bigger than her head in form-fitting blue dress standing at the bar. Since I had an early morning with a dive trip the next day, I accelerated much quicker than normal. Sometimes things just work out.

Can you tell us more about your dive trips in Cozumel? I dove down there (Yucatan mainland) in the cenotes: dos ojos and the pit which were both awesome but I didn't go to Cozumel and I kinda regret it, would be nice to hear your thoughts about the diving on Cozumel.

Post: #102

No problem Scotian,

Almost all of the diving in Cozumel is drift diving. Its not a sweeping current, but a nice steady one. Usually you just coast along the reefs with minimal effort.

The dive shops: Usually the dive ops there do 2-tank morning dives. They pick you up around 8, take you to the reef and drop you in the water. Pick up back up, head to a beach or float along the water for a surface internval before dropping you back in for your second tank. The ops range in price. I have seen anywhere from $65 US to $110 US with equip. The more expensive ops use the 120 steel tanks, and usually have they call ``valet'' service. They carry and set up your equip, offer towels and fruit between dives and jackets on windy days. The cheaper places still visit the same reefs, but without the personal service. Most the ops use the small 6-pack boats and you go to whatever dive site the divers agree on. Some use the big, slow boats and have a weekly schedule. Usually the profile goes for a deep dive followed by a shallow sites. All shops are supposed to follow NDL diving and require this format as well as a safety stop. The nice thing about Coz is there are approx 80 dive operations on the island, so you can really look around and get exactly what you want.

The reefs: The majority of the dive sites are on the southern end of the island in the protected marine park. They range from walls, to shallows, to caves and swim throughs to 80-feet formations. Tons of fish life, angel fish, snappers, turtles, nurse sharks, crabs, lobsters, groupers, sting rays and even spotted eagle rays. I have also heard the occasional dolphins, hammerheads and reef sharks will be spotted. The reefs are also in very good shape. They are not bleached or over-fished like Jamaica and the Bahamas. They might not have the color of Bonaire (most sites are too-deep for that great color display) or the fish diversity of Fiji, but with the spectrum of sites, easy flights from the U.S. and places to stay on the island that spans from Hostiles to five-star all-inclusive resorts, they have something that can fit a lot of budgets.

Anything else I will be glad to answer the best I can.

Post: #103

There's such thing as Mexican Cupid? Damn.

Merenguero, get on SA man...pretty good talent in the area you're at. Couchsurfing is also good if you're into the youngin's

Post: #104

(12-15-2016 11:34 PM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  There's such thing as Mexican Cupid? Damn.

Merenguero, get on SA man...pretty good talent in the area you're at. Couchsurfing is also good if you're into the youngin's

There is such thing as Mexican Cupid, but it's not that great, especially in this area.

Post: #105

I think I've browsed through it before. For Mexico I use Match.com Badoo, Tinder, Terra Chat, Facebook Groups in that order.

Post: #106

Spent NYE here with my girl and 3 nights total. We stayed at La Tortuga Azul Hostel as basically everything was sold out in town and we ended up paying around $600 MXN per night for a private room with private bath and fan and A/C (ac only works after like 10 PM until like 6 AM). Not a bad place to stay but it got a little hot in the room at times in the early morning after the AC shut off...Also the staff gives you a front door key for entering after-hours. So this would be a guest-friendly hostel even though they make you wear a paper bracelet (to ID you as a guest), but there was nobody working the front desk after hours...The walk to the beach was like 5-7 minutes.

Overall, damn, there's a lot of nice talent here on the beach in this town. This is like a day gamers paradise. Would definitely consider coming back here as a single man taking into account cheap flights and easy access from my city and CUN airport.

I second Luvianka's suggestion on Playacar. It's a pretty pleasant beach with a lot of nice talent with some fantastic bikinis showing lots of ass. And the occaisonal European walking by sans bikini top. We spent most of our time on the other beach on the north end of the Cozumel ferry pier (about 500m north) at this Beach Bar called Fusion. They had great $80 MXN margaritas en las rocas and also free chairs and umbrellas as long as you buy a drink - plus some decent beach music. That was our jam for two days being beach bums.

Foodwise, wasn't that impressed with the food in town as there's tons of tourist traps... La Quinta was a bit of a disaster for food and just walking in my opinion. We got sick of it pretty quickly.

Cueva del Chango - Av 38 Norte Mz. 4 Lote 3, Zazil-ha - Pretty nice brunch spot, but very busy after like 10 AM. Had some nice Chilaquiles here and a few other little dishes.

Los Fabulosos - Calle 10 Nte 27 - Respectable taco place doing the al pastor style. They also do grilled meat tacos and grilled queso fundido. Above all, I thought there margaritas en las rocas were the best thing on the menu at $80 MXN.

We also tried El Fogon but thought it was a bit overhyped for their food. Tacos al pastor were good but not great. Although it was quite the popular place.

Getting in/out of town

Best way is either ADO Bus, or, better yet, take a collectivo. I think getting to PDC from Cancun airport was like $178 MXN or something like that with ADO. As far as leaving PDC, avoid Mayab bus company as they are a cheaper bus line but also you're not guaranteed a seat nor do their buses have A/C and they stop all the time along the way and the trip takes forever. Tickets were about $100 MXN or so to Tulum but when our bus pulled up, we found there wasn't even standing room on the bus - it was that full. Luckily they refunded our tickets and we got a collectivo instead...

To get to the collectivo station in PDC, walk to Calle 2 Norte at Avenida 15. You can get an air-conditioned minivan down to Tulum (centro or ruinas) or up to Cancun (centro) for like $40 MXN more or less (can't remember exact price). Much faster and less chaotic than dealing with the bus station and it was a comfortable ride even with luggage. I think the Tulum trip took just under an hour and Cancun was just under an hour as well.

Post: #107

^^^
As far as I can tell neither Fusion nor the building which housed it still exists. Am I missing something?

Post: #108

(01-15-2017 05:44 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  ^^^
As far as I can tell neither Fusion nor the building which housed it still exists. Am I missing something?

It's a couple properties up (away from pier) from the Inti property. It's a little beach bar hut (I mean like a primitive bar with a cloth sun shelter) with a few stationary palm umbrellas as well as portable umbrellas and beach recliners for people ordering drinks from the bar.

Post: #109

(01-15-2017 05:59 PM)bootyhuntah Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 05:44 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  ^^^
As far as I can tell neither Fusion nor the building which housed it still exists. Am I missing something?

It's a couple properties up (away from pier) from the Inti property. It's a little beach bar hut (I mean like a primitive bar with a cloth sun shelter) with a few stationary palm umbrellas as well as portable umbrellas and beach recliners for people ordering drinks from the bar.

I'm completely confused. I have been to the Fusion beach bar/restaurant multiple times in past years. There was also an indoor bar and a hotel on the same property. When I was there just a few weeks ago, the building had been completely demolished and it did not appear that the beach bar/restaurant was still there. Maybe I missed it.

Post: #110

(01-15-2017 06:03 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 05:59 PM)bootyhuntah Wrote:  

(01-15-2017 05:44 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  ^^^
As far as I can tell neither Fusion nor the building which housed it still exists. Am I missing something?

It's a couple properties up (away from pier) from the Inti property. It's a little beach bar hut (I mean like a primitive bar with a cloth sun shelter) with a few stationary palm umbrellas as well as portable umbrellas and beach recliners for people ordering drinks from the bar.

I'm completely confused. I have been to the Fusion beach bar/restaurant multiple times in past years. There was also an indoor bar and a hotel on the same property. When I was there just a few weeks ago, the building had been completely demolished and it did not appear that the beach bar/restaurant was still there. Maybe I missed it.

I see. Yeah, perhaps the property behind it was demolished, I seem to remember that there wasn't much going on directly behind the bar. We asked to use the bathroom and they referred us to the Inti property. The beach access directly in front of the little bar had some smoother boulders blocking easy access to the water but if you walked about 30 ft left, the beach opened up and it was nice and sandy for swimming.

Post: #111

Shooting at BPM Festival nightclub, 5 dead:

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-38635881

BBC Wrote:Mexico BPM music festival: Gunman opens fire at club



A gunman has killed five people at a club hosting an electronic music festival in the Mexican resort of Playa del Carmen, in Quintana Roo state.

Among those killed are two Canadians, an Italian and a Colombian citizen, Quintana Roo Attorney-General Miguel Angel Pech said.

The fifth victim was a woman who died in the stampede which followed the shooting, he said.

The shooting happened at the Blue Parrot club hosting the BPM festival.
...
They said three of those killed were members of the festival's security team "whose lives were lost while trying to protect patrons inside the venue".

Local police chief Rodolfo del Angel later put the number of dead at five and those injured at 15.

He told Milenio TV [in Spanish] that the shooting was triggered "by a disagreement between individuals inside the club".

Bad news for tourism in PdC.

Post: #112

Guys,
Never take the 'Colectivo'. That's the public transportation service for locals. And public transportation for locals has one single rule -There are no rules.
Yes, the last 15 days of December and the very first week of January the place is completely booked out, and all the prices inflated. Avoid these days.
As for the shooting in the Parrot, it's all your fault, gringos -You just want to have drugs and more drugs, and we, Mexicans, are ready to supply them... Just kidding, guys. It's a tragedy, but unfortunaltely it was just a matter of time, the place is flooded with drugs. But the place will recover soon.

Post: #113

With that attitude, don't be surprised when your tourism industry collapses and people flock to other Caribbean destinations.

Post: #114

(01-16-2017 12:14 PM)scotian Wrote:  With that attitude, don't be surprised when your tourism industry collapses and people flock to other Caribbean destinations.

Easy, man! Just kidding.

Post: #115

(01-16-2017 11:54 AM)Luvianka Wrote:  Guys,
Never take the 'Colectivo'. That's the public transportation service for locals. And public transportation for locals has one single rule -There are no rules.
Yes, the last 15 days of December and the very first week of January the place is completely booked out, and all the prices inflated. Avoid these days.
As for the shooting in the Parrot, it's all your fault, gringos -You just want to have drugs and more drugs, and we, Mexicans, are ready to supply them... Just kidding, guys. It's a tragedy, but unfortunaltely it was just a matter of time, the place is flooded with drugs. But the place will recover soon.

I made the prediction in private to other forum members and some other people that this stuff would start happening and would continue until this drug stuff on La Quinta and 12th is almost completely gone. Am I psychic? Hell no, but I have over thirty years experience travelling to multiple Mexican cities and when I can't walk literally a few feet on La Quinta without someone being in my face trying to sell me drugs, it's painfully obvious that things are about to pop off. While last night's events were tragic, that's nothing compared to what will very likely happen in Playa over the next two years or so. When you have literally thousands of guys in a very small space, doing the same illegal thing, most of whom aren't making jack fucking shit, what do you think is going to happen? Once the smoke clears from all the violence and the amount of pinches fregones is finally minimal, I will consider going back.

Post: #116

(01-16-2017 11:54 AM)Luvianka Wrote:  Guys,
Never take the 'Colectivo'. That's the public transportation service for locals. And public transportation for locals has one single rule -There are no rules.
Yes, the last 15 days of December and the very first week of January the place is completely booked out, and all the prices inflated. Avoid these days.
As for the shooting in the Parrot, it's all your fault, gringos -You just want to have drugs and more drugs, and we, Mexicans, are ready to supply them... Just kidding, guys. It's a tragedy, but unfortunaltely it was just a matter of time, the place is flooded with drugs. But the place will recover soon.

The colectivo is an official white transport vehicle and seems to be not only safe but very efficient . Seemed way more legitimate than many bus rides I've taken in other places. I'm looking at you, chicken buses of Guatemala...

Post: #117

(01-16-2017 01:22 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 11:54 AM)Luvianka Wrote:  Guys,
Never take the 'Colectivo'. That's the public transportation service for locals. And public transportation for locals has one single rule -There are no rules.
Yes, the last 15 days of December and the very first week of January the place is completely booked out, and all the prices inflated. Avoid these days.
As for the shooting in the Parrot, it's all your fault, gringos -You just want to have drugs and more drugs, and we, Mexicans, are ready to supply them... Just kidding, guys. It's a tragedy, but unfortunaltely it was just a matter of time, the place is flooded with drugs. But the place will recover soon.

I made the prediction in private to other forum members and some other people that this stuff would start happening and would continue until this drug stuff on La Quinta and 12th is almost completely gone. Am I psychic? Hell no, but I have over thirty years experience travelling to multiple Mexican cities and when I can't walk literally a few feet on La Quinta without someone being in my face trying to sell me drugs, it's painfully obvious that things are about to pop off. While last night's events were tragic, that's nothing compared to what will very likely happen in Playa over the next two years or so. When you have literally thousands of guys in a very small space, doing the same illegal thing, most of whom aren't making jack fucking shit, what do you think is going to happen? Once the smoke clears from all the violence and the amount of pinches fregones is finally minimal, I will consider going back.

I tend to agree, but, according to most Mexican analysts, this very sad incident is and will remain an isolated occurrence, as the Zeta somehow control (and milk) the place, and obviously don't want to frighten the tourists...

http://www.clarin.com/mundo/mexico-playa...7iiIg.html

"Los Zetas no hacen esto porque van a matar su propio negocio"

Post: #118

(01-17-2017 06:31 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 01:22 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 11:54 AM)Luvianka Wrote:  Guys,
Never take the 'Colectivo'. That's the public transportation service for locals. And public transportation for locals has one single rule -There are no rules.
Yes, the last 15 days of December and the very first week of January the place is completely booked out, and all the prices inflated. Avoid these days.
As for the shooting in the Parrot, it's all your fault, gringos -You just want to have drugs and more drugs, and we, Mexicans, are ready to supply them... Just kidding, guys. It's a tragedy, but unfortunaltely it was just a matter of time, the place is flooded with drugs. But the place will recover soon.

I made the prediction in private to other forum members and some other people that this stuff would start happening and would continue until this drug stuff on La Quinta and 12th is almost completely gone. Am I psychic? Hell no, but I have over thirty years experience travelling to multiple Mexican cities and when I can't walk literally a few feet on La Quinta without someone being in my face trying to sell me drugs, it's painfully obvious that things are about to pop off. While last night's events were tragic, that's nothing compared to what will very likely happen in Playa over the next two years or so. When you have literally thousands of guys in a very small space, doing the same illegal thing, most of whom aren't making jack fucking shit, what do you think is going to happen? Once the smoke clears from all the violence and the amount of pinches fregones is finally minimal, I will consider going back.

I tend to agree, but, according to most Mexican analysts, this very sad incident is and will remain an isolated occurrence, as the Zeta somehow control (and milk) the place, and obviously don't want to frighten the tourists...

http://www.clarin.com/mundo/mexico-playa...7iiIg.html

"Los Zetas no hacen esto porque van a matar su propio negocio"

I agree that this particular type of incident probably won't happen too much, if at all, in the future, but a ton of violence among guys in the drug trade in Playa is on the way. I've heard countless different versions of what actually happened at Blue Parrot and the only one which makes sense to me is the one where a group of guys were trying to get into Blue Parrot, refused to be patted down, were refused entry, then two of the guys opened fire on the security, forced themselves into the club, and started shooting inside. People film and take pictures of every goddamn thing all the fucking time to post on Instagram or whatever the hell it is, yet there are no videos or pictures of the actual shooting in existence. There are some videos or pictures, but ever single one of them was taken after the fact.

Edit: For whatever reason, that article which Going Strong linked was written by an Argentine.

Post: #119

http://www.infobae.com/america/america-l...ectronica/

It appears as though things are getting worse. The DA's office that is investigating the nightclub shooting was attacked today.

Post: #120

(01-17-2017 08:27 PM)Carolinian Wrote:  http://www.infobae.com/america/america-l...ectronica/

It appears as though things are getting worse. A member of the DA's office that is investigating the nightclub shooting was gunned down today in Playa.

Did I read that right or did that shooting today happen in Cancun? I've been reading the local news over the past few weeks on that place as I spent a night there back in December and there is plenty of drama going on with the cartels there at the moment with targeted assassinations around town.

Post: #121

^You're right, the shooting today happened in Cancun.

Post: #122

(01-17-2017 06:49 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-17-2017 06:31 PM)Going strong Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 01:22 PM)Merenguero Wrote:  

(01-16-2017 11:54 AM)Luvianka Wrote:  Guys,
Never take the 'Colectivo'. That's the public transportation service for locals. And public transportation for locals has one single rule -There are no rules.
Yes, the last 15 days of December and the very first week of January the place is completely booked out, and all the prices inflated. Avoid these days.
As for the shooting in the Parrot, it's all your fault, gringos -You just want to have drugs and more drugs, and we, Mexicans, are ready to supply them... Just kidding, guys. It's a tragedy, but unfortunaltely it was just a matter of time, the place is flooded with drugs. But the place will recover soon.

I made the prediction in private to other forum members and some other people that this stuff would start happening and would continue until this drug stuff on La Quinta and 12th is almost completely gone. Am I psychic? Hell no, but I have over thirty years experience travelling to multiple Mexican cities and when I can't walk literally a few feet on La Quinta without someone being in my face trying to sell me drugs, it's painfully obvious that things are about to pop off. While last night's events were tragic, that's nothing compared to what will very likely happen in Playa over the next two years or so. When you have literally thousands of guys in a very small space, doing the same illegal thing, most of whom aren't making jack fucking shit, what do you think is going to happen? Once the smoke clears from all the violence and the amount of pinches fregones is finally minimal, I will consider going back.

I tend to agree, but, according to most Mexican analysts, this very sad incident is and will remain an isolated occurrence, as the Zeta somehow control (and milk) the place, and obviously don't want to frighten the tourists...

http://www.clarin.com/mundo/mexico-playa...7iiIg.html

"Los Zetas no hacen esto porque van a matar su propio negocio"

I agree that this particular type of incident probably won't happen too much, if at all, in the future, but a ton of violence among guys in the drug trade in Playa is on the way. I've heard countless different versions of what actually happened at Blue Parrot and the only one which makes sense to me is the one where a group of guys were trying to get into Blue Parrot, refused to be patted down, were refused entry, then two of the guys opened fire on the security, forced themselves into the club, and started shooting inside. People film and take pictures of every goddamn thing all the fucking time to post on Instagram or whatever the hell it is, yet there are no videos or pictures of the actual shooting in existence. There are some videos or pictures, but ever single one of them was taken after the fact.

Edit: For whatever reason, that article which Going Strong linked was written by an Argentine.

The reason being, it's an article taken from the biggest, most influential newspaper (in Spanish-language) in the whole world, Clarin, which happens to be Argentine. Clarin is a very solid and (the most) respected (main-stream) source of information on all Latin American issues, of course. I have no hesitations quoting it, or La Nacion, because they are like, 98% trustworthy (for Clarin), and 99% trustworthy (La Nacion).

On a side note, Playa is full of Argentines, especially (not wealthy) beach-going players. Hard competition for young backpacking female tourists...

Post: #123

Going Strong on Tuesday, firmly stating that the Zetas wouldn't be so stupid as to attacking again (for the sake of their business interests in tourism, in QR):



Going Strong on Wednesday, seeing that the Zetas did attack again , in QR (disregarding their business interests in tourism):

Post: #124

(01-18-2017 02:12 PM)Going strong Wrote:  Going Strong on Tuesday, firmly stating that the Zetas wouldn't be so stupid as to attacking again (for the sake of their business interests in tourism, in QR):


Going Strong on Wednesday, seeing that the Zetas did attack again , in QR (disregarding their business interests in tourism):

Easy, man. Actually the group in control of the drugs market in Cancun is 'Los Sureños' (the Southerners). I guess the Zetas are making a push to get into the area and control it. However, it seems that the Government is not going to allow it. So, authorities are going to read both of them the riot act and get everything back to normal.

Post: #125

(01-18-2017 02:22 PM)Luvianka Wrote:  

(01-18-2017 02:12 PM)Going strong Wrote:  Going Strong on Tuesday, firmly stating that the Zetas wouldn't be so stupid as to attacking again (for the sake of their business interests in tourism, in QR):


Going Strong on Wednesday, seeing that the Zetas did attack again , in QR (disregarding their business interests in tourism):

Easy, man. Actually the group in control of the drugs market in Cancun is 'Los Sureños' (the Southerners). I guess the Zetas are making a push to get into the area and control it. However, it seems that Government is not going to allow it. So, authorities are going to read both of them the riot act and get everything back to normal.

For obvious reasons, BPM isn't coming back to Playa.

Edit: It's now pretty clear what happened here. The organizer of BPM is some guy from Toronto named Phillip Pulitano (a lot of people from Toronto own businesses in Playa and every one I've met doesn't even speak Spanish). He is also the co-owner of Blue Parrot. I'm pretty sure I never met him. Some criminal organization (people love throwing the word zetas or cartels around) demanded some money from either him or someone associated with him for him having BPM in Playa. He, or someone on his behalf, refused then some guys showed up at the club with guns and we all know what happened next. If I were him, I would get the hell out of Playa as soon as possible and stay away for a good amount of time, if not forever. People aren't so smart, so who knows what he'll do.