Post: #26

(02-26-2013 09:08 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 09:00 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 08:29 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 06:00 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Anyone been in March?

Any pitfalls to go during that time?

March is a good time to visit. The only time of year I don't recommend to people is during the BPM Festival in January.

Does it get lame and "American Spring Breaky" though?

Normally spring Break Crowd goes to Cancun and very few end up in PDC.

The only noticeable change is maybe a few more scandanavians than usual.

We've had a bit of rain here lately....its worth noting that in March I wouldn't expect everyday to be sunny and warm. I don't think this a huge pitfall...the rain usually only last a few hours but it's something to consider.

Post: #27

(02-26-2013 08:29 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  

(02-26-2013 06:00 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  Anyone been in March?

Any pitfalls to go during that time?

March is a good time to visit. The only time of year I don't recommend to people is during the BPM Festival in January.

Man this is spot on. I actually went to Playa during BPM which sucked. I left after two nights. That's why I'm going back next weekend. I could tell by the setup that it's a good spot and now prices have dropped tremendously. Logistics were tough during BPM. Ended up paying much more than I wanted.

Post: #28

Okay guys, I plan on hitting up PDC next weekend, maybe Hencredible will be there which would be cool if we could meet up or run into each other.

Right now, I am needing to start figuring out where I'm going to stay, that's issue numero uno. I think I will avoid staying in a hostel, although they can be good for meeting cool people and girls. Basically I want to find a spot that will be good logistically, (allow outside guests with no problems, be close to the action, but not too close that I can't sleep at night, and not be too expensive.)

I keep hearing that Playa is one of the most expensive places in Mexico, since it's my last week I can go a bit above budget, but basically I'd like to find a decent place to stay in the $35-50 range. I could spend a little more, but I really don't want to stay any where that costs more than $70 a night, so that would have to be my absolute max. Anyone know anything about this spot called "Playa del Karma"? It looks like it's the top spot Lonely Planet recommends and is also one of the top rated on tripadvisor.com as well. I hope I'm not booking too last minute as I know it's a popular spot, and might be even more so since it coincides with spring break time.

Also, next main questions are where are the best nightlife spots at the moment? Also what is the dress code like, will clubs not let you in if you are not dressed up enough? I'm on a 6 week trip, so I have been traveling more backpacker style and have not packed any where close to my best clothes. I'm guessing most people don't wear shorts out at night time? I have a couple pairs of jeans, some cool t-shirts, a couple v necks, and one collared Uniqlo polo shirt, plus no dress shoes. So in other words, I'm not going to be optimally dressed for pick up if people dress up at night time, but as long as I can get into the club, I don't really give a fuck.

Post: #29

(03-01-2013 06:14 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  Okay guys, I plan on hitting up PDC next weekend, maybe Hencredible will be there which would be cool if we could meet up or run into each other.

Right now, I am needing to start figuring out where I'm going to stay, that's issue numero uno. I think I will avoid staying in a hostel, although they can be good for meeting cool people and girls. Basically I want to find a spot that will be good logistically, (allow outside guests with no problems, be close to the action, but not too close that I can't sleep at night, and not be too expensive.)

I keep hearing that Playa is one of the most expensive places in Mexico, since it's my last week I can go a bit above budget, but basically I'd like to find a decent place to stay in the $35-50 range. I could spend a little more, but I really don't want to stay any where that costs more than $70 a night, so that would have to be my absolute max. Anyone know anything about this spot called "Playa del Karma"? It looks like it's the top spot Lonely Planet recommends and is also one of the top rated on tripadvisor.com as well. I hope I'm not booking too last minute as I know it's a popular spot, and might be even more so since it coincides with spring break time.

Also, next main questions are where are the best nightlife spots at the moment? Also what is the dress code like, will clubs not let you in if you are not dressed up enough? I'm on a 6 week trip, so I have been traveling more backpacker style and have not packed any where close to my best clothes. I'm guessing most people don't wear shorts out at night time? I have a couple pairs of jeans, some cool t-shirts, a couple v necks, and one collared Uniqlo polo shirt, plus no dress shoes. So in other words, I'm not going to be optimally dressed for pick up if people dress up at night time, but as long as I can get into the club, I don't really give a fuck.

You'll be fine with your clothing...there is no dress code in all the clubs.

Try La'Ambassade or Ula Gula for a few drinks before going out. Both on 10th street.

Then focus your nights on 12th street at Mandala...and later to La Santanera which usually has more Mexicans on holidays and local girls.

With the budget you mentioned you'd be better off in a private room of a hostel. If you can stretch it a little more than that try airbnb.com

A few ideas

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/291030

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/338785

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/531533

Post: #30

Yeah. Exactly what gsinplaya said. For logistics, go on airbnb. You'll find a few listings within your budget. 5th Ave gets quiet beginning a few blocks after its intersection with 12th street (going towards the higher number streets). You should find some spots that are like a 10-minute walk to the 12th street action.

Playa is really small. The nighttime action is concentrated on 12th street. No dress code, but chicks do dress up and some dudes do as well. But you won't have no problem getting in.

I'll be there with a friend next weekend and most definitely will be at those venues on 12th. I'm at the airport right now in Houston waiting to get on this flight to Oaxaca.

Post: #31

Seems like a bit of the data on the PDC is a little old so I'll chime in with some new info.

Beach/Daygame -

Mamitas, Kool, Canibal Royal....you'll find most of the local girls will be up just north of the mamitas beach club between mamitas and shangri-la.

I also recommend spending time at some of the beachfront bars further south during the day.

Checkout Fusion, & Zenzi

You'll find some nice waitresses working there and often this is the part of the beach where most of the argentinian girls will be.

Restaurants -

I recommend using the time you eat wisely. You can often find nice girls waitressing or hosting at the restaurants, and coffee shops. If your spanish is limited it should be ok because they all speak english. You'll have more luck if you can convince them you are wanting to move to playa as most will avoid tourists when hooking up. A good example is Tequilla Barrel.

These are my favourite restaurants in terms of food quality.

Breakfast - La cueva del chango, Chez celine, or Fusion

Mexican Food - try El fogon, or Dona Mary. Dona Mary is a local favourite. Very cheap & good food on 30th and 28th near Mega.

Venezualan Food - Kaxapa Factory

Argentinian Food - El Diez

Seafood - Los Aguachillies

Pizza - La Piola

Quick Snack - Brochetas (near Mamitas) -good for a bite after a day at the beach, Burro Playero

Other Favourites - Oh Lala, Rincon Yucateo, Gluay Maai Thai

Accomodation

You'll find the best value on Aribnb.com.....don't position yourself too close to 12th street as it will likely be noisy.

If you have a decent budget to work with this place is perfect for logistics.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/222199

Nightlife

Checkout http://www.eventsplaya.com to see what is happening when you are there but I've listed below my favourite spots.

Start your night with a drink at Lambassade, Ula Gula, or Diablito Cha Cha Cha.

Focus your nights in Mandala as it's where you will find the best quality women. Lots of Mexicans, Europeans and Scandanavians. If downstairs gets too crazy check out the rooftop bar which can be fun.

If argentinians are more your style a few drinks at Pura Vida is ok but it's not my favourite spot by any stretch.

Finish your night at La Santanera. Best to go there with a girl though but if your spanish is good you'll find more latinas here who can be easy pickings. I prefer the rooftop bar in Santanera.

Get yourself a heytell account if you have a smartphone. This will be the best way to get in contact with girls you meet. They all love it here.

If you find yourself looking for a good spot to take a date check out La Azotea. Cool, upscale bar with nice views over the beach. Best on a Thursday for ladies night.

Things to do

There are a lot of Cenotes between playa and tulum for example cenote azul. Definitely worth a daytrip to check out.

If you are into ruins head to Coba.

Akumal is a cool spot that you can swim with turtles and relax on the beach.

Tulum is chilled and worth exploring for a day.

If you need a car for the day checkout Blueway Car Rental near the Cozumel Ferry for the cheapest prices. Alternatively you can get around pretty easily on the Collectivos to most of the spots and its really cheap.

If you are looking for a workout checkout The gym, or evolve. The gym at the moment has a 30 day free pass you can get. I'm not 100% sure of the conditions for the pass but I think if you can provide them with a local address it should be fine. Both gyms are really nice, well equipped and clean.

Yoga Classes can be a goldmine here for women and are often free. You'll see flyers up for classes on 5th street, at the gyms etc. I can ask around as to where has the most girls if someone needs that info.

Women

It can be hit or miss at night. Some nights I've been out where the ratios were crazy. 3 girls to every guy....some nights its the opposite. In the past Sunday nights have been my favourite but it seems to change almost every week here.

If you can lock down a girl before heading out at night your life will be easier. Try daygaming in the restaurants, beach clubs and cafes. It will be harder for you with the locals (as a tourist) but i recommend letting them know that you really want to move here so they view you differently.

The argentinian girls are definitely easier here than what you would find in argentina. If you can pull of the surfer look you'll have an edge...they seem to get excited for that.

The backpackers and overseas tourists usually end up in Coco Bongo, Coco Maya, and Blue Parrot at night. If this is your style then go for it but you wont find any high end latinas there.

As mentioned by el jefe avoid the israelis - not worth the time.

If you are planning on coming to Playa Del Carmen you'll find it good for most of the year. I've seen it best usually around December and February. Avoid coming here in January especially during BPM Festival.

Got any questions happy to respond.

Post: #32

Great intel from gsinplaya. I'm going to lean on these resto recs this weekend. I fly out to PDC tomorrow morning. I was just there for BPM in January so I already know the layout but this is a good deal of data for a place that's relatively small. Good stuff.

Post: #33

gsinplaya,

Thanks for the sheet.

I never posted mine Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Restaurant and Nightclub Data Sheet on here. Check it out, I want to get your feedback on it.

You mention a lot of the same places as me. I love El Fogon. That place is legit.

Mandala is my spot too. I think InternationalSwagger and Qwest liked some place better than Mandala, and I don't think I went. Can't remember the name.

Hen, you should ask those guys before you go.

I am interested to seeing what you like best on this trip too.

Quote:Start your night with a drink at Lambassade, Ula Gula, or Diablito Cha Cha Cha.

Is Diablito Cha Cha Cha, the spot right across from Mandala?

Post: #34

(03-14-2013 11:01 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  gsinplaya,

Thanks for the sheet.

I never posted mine Playa Del Carmen, Mexico Restaurant and Nightclub Data Sheet on here. Check it out, I want to get your feedback on it.

You mention a lot of the same places as me. I love El Fogon. That place is legit.

Mandala is my spot too. I think InternationalSwagger and Qwest liked some place better than Mandala, and I don't think I went. Can't remember the name.

Hen, you should ask those guys before you go.

I am interested to seeing what you like best on this trip too.

Quote:Start your night with a drink at Lambassade, Ula Gula, or Diablito Cha Cha Cha.

Is Diablito Cha Cha Cha, the spot right across from Mandala?

Yeah I talked to those dudes before my first trip for BPM. I think they said they liked Diablito more than Mandala and, yes, it's the spot right across. I think one of them pulled there. Personally I thought Diablito was lame. The logistics were horrible. The chairs and tables were setup in a way that made it difficult to get to the bar and approach people. Plus there were no targets when I was there. Mandala was much better.

I also liked Palazzo which is on 12 st but on the other side of 5th ave. Nice setup.

I went during BPM which is a time of year I don't recommend anyone visit Playa. This weekend should be nicer.

Post: #35

This weekend is a federal holiday "puente" so you are going to have a great time.

Post: #36

(03-14-2013 11:21 PM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  Yeah I talked to those dudes before my first trip for BPM. I think they said they liked Diablito more than Mandala and, yes, it's the spot right across. I think one of them pulled there. Personally I thought Diablito was lame. The logistics were horrible. The chairs and tables were setup in a way that made it difficult to get to the bar and approach people. Plus there were no targets when I was there. Mandala was much better.

I also liked Palazzo which is on 12 st but on the other side of 5th ave. Nice setup.

I went during BPM which is a time of year I don't recommend anyone visit Playa. This weekend should be nicer.

Yup, I pulled one night out of Diablito. The night we hit Mandala it was not good at all but like gsinplaya said this is the kind of place that changes weekend to weekend. Places like this which are quick weekend getaways you just have know the venues and then see whats good when you are there. There are no hard and fast rules as to what is "hot" at the moment like there are in big cities such as LA, NY, Miami, etc. Any venue can really hold the talent on a given night.

Another one of the boys is there right now and swooped a Mexican cop last night. Not sure the venue. Good luck Hen and keep us posted!

Post: #37

Im in the DF at the moment but know there a few guys either in playa now or going there this weekend so Ill post some quick info here now and expand on it when Im back in playa next week.

There is a new club called Baraderes Day Club Terrace (near coco maya) - there is a private party there on Sat night and I spotted on my facebook a fair amount of local talent is attending. Might be amazing, might be terrible...I dont know... but for anyone in town it could be worth taking a look.

check eventsplaya website for more info on that event

Palazzo was mentioned by a few people...this spot is a good fall back plan if mandala is not great which can definitely happen. All spots can be hit or miss. Palazzo has a similar upscale feel as Mandala so by default you are likely to get the high end latinas in there. However I find that the layout is not great as people tend to be sectioned off from each other. Having said that - dont rule it out - it can be very good.

Keep a few ideas up your sleave for venues to attend and youll always find something good...id say avoid spots like blue parrot though but it depends on your style and taste in women

A good way to start the night is at Diablito Cha Cha Cha (across from mandala as mentioned) From here you can keep an eye on where the talent is going on 12th.

Contrary to what most people think I suggest getting into clubs like Mandala early in the night (11:30-12)....the later you leave it the more likely it is to be filled with guys.

Post: #38

(03-15-2013 02:48 PM)Qwest Wrote:  

(03-14-2013 11:21 PM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  Yeah I talked to those dudes before my first trip for BPM. I think they said they liked Diablito more than Mandala and, yes, it's the spot right across. I think one of them pulled there. Personally I thought Diablito was lame. The logistics were horrible. The chairs and tables were setup in a way that made it difficult to get to the bar and approach people. Plus there were no targets when I was there. Mandala was much better.

I also liked Palazzo which is on 12 st but on the other side of 5th ave. Nice setup.

I went during BPM which is a time of year I don't recommend anyone visit Playa. This weekend should be nicer.

Yup, I pulled one night out of Diablito. The night we hit Mandala it was not good at all but like gsinplaya said this is the kind of place that changes weekend to weekend. Places like this which are quick weekend getaways you just have know the venues and then see whats good when you are there. There are no hard and fast rules as to what is "hot" at the moment like there are in big cities such as LA, NY, Miami, etc. Any venue can really hold the talent on a given night.

Another one of the boys is there right now and swooped a Mexican cop last night. Not sure the venue. Good luck Hen and keep us posted!

True dat Qwest. That was the case last night actually with Mandala. Didnt even go inside because it was a straight up cockfest from our view on the street. Went to Coco Maya instead and linked up with a couple of the boys you mentioned. I came down with a homie myself so we just chopped it up for a bit and my boy bagged a chick from the dance floor and trying to connect with her today if possible. We then hit Palazzo. Nice club but the setup was not made for pickup. Constant bumping into people, loud music and a lot of dudes and social circles. Not enough cute chicks out in general.

After Palazzo my boy and I hit the street for some street game and looked for a smaller bar type venue where we could actually get to spit. Saw a couple of cute Mex chicks on the street and I approached and convinced them to come to a bar with us (Tabu). We got some drinks and just grinded on them for a few songs. Then we were ready to close and take it back to the hotel...they turned out to be working chicks lol. Wasnt trying to do p4p but my boy was all about it at that point lol. One of the boys you mentioned came down and tried to talk them into something with my boy but they were asking for $150 and would only do one dude each. Ended up heading back to hotel at 5am to fight another day.

The beach today was nice. Approached a few chicks and made small talk and went out for a swim. Had some brews and just chilled.

Anything goes tonight. Wont be extra picky about quality. Just want to get my dick wet at this point.

Has anyone been to Cancun? There were a lot of spring breakers on my flight. Playa isnt as busy as it was during BPM. Looking forward to tonight though.

Post: #39

Good stuff. I figured you were connecting with them.

Cancun should be FILLED with horny college girls right now! They go there en mass for Spring Break. Totally different kind of debauchery though which you have to be ready for. Cheap tequila, annoying dudes, but there will be some easy chicks!

Post: #40

(03-16-2013 05:43 PM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  After Palazzo my boy and I hit the street for some street game and looked for a smaller bar type venue where we could actually get to spit. Saw a couple of cute Mex chicks on the street and I approached and convinced them to come to a bar with us (Tabu). We got some drinks and just grinded on them for a few songs.

I actually thought Tabu had one of the better set ups, as far as how the bar was set up logistically speaking, but it definitely had waaay less talent than Mandala or Palazzo, although I would agree that Palazzo is kind of awkward how it's set up.

My level of game is less advanced than many of the true playboys on this forum, but one problem that I faced at the clubs in Playa was that they were often too loud to really have a conversation, unless you isolate a girl away from the dancefloor and music. I guess part of that is just having solid enough game to hook a chick, and get her into you enough that she is willing to shift away from her group, and comply to sit with you in a quieter more isolated area. My issue was outside of a direct dancefloor approach where you're going almost 100% non-verbal (which def is not my forte), you pretty much had to yell in a girls ear if you want to open her, and even then it was hard for her to hear you.

Mandala had lots of hot women, but the nights I went were kind of tough for me, at least I felt kind of out of place and my vibe was completely off. Mandala and Palazzo to a lesser extent had the most upscale vibes, and it seemed like there was a wealthy crowd that almost seemed a little pretentious at times. I wasn't dressed like shit, but was far from having my nicest clothes, and it seemed like almost everyone at Mandala was pretty dressed up. I think rocking some nice threads, at least a crisp button down shirt, or blazer will help your cause there.

Going off my observations (which is very limited, so take it with a grain of salt), the four types of game that seemed to work best in PDC are as follows...

#1 (Baller game): Being dressed up in your nicest clothes, be prepared to spend beaucoup dollars because Playa is expensive. Get bottle service at Mandala or Palazzo, which gets you a private, reserved seating area and tables, with your own bottle of liquor, ice, glasses, and mixers. At risk of sounding like a massive hater, dare I say that some of the guys with bottle service looked lame to me, but they for sure had hot bitches with them. I can't say whether or not these guys pulled, but it looked like having the perks of bottle service gave them a lot of status in the club, and brought in hot women that were giving them the time of day.

#2 (Dancefloor game): Because the music is so loud at a lot of these clubs a lot of times you may have to rely on dancefloor game. I thought I was a decent dancer, but I realized in Playa that my dancefloor game is not tight, which is largely due to living in a place with almost only dive bars and very infrequently hitting a dancefloor, unless I already have a chick. Anyhow not only will you may have to do dancefloor approaches, but dancing is often the focal point of these clubs, so if you suck at dancing it can turn women off, or conversely if you are a good dancer, it can turn them on.

#3 (Tall, good looking guy game): I hate to say this, because it's cliche, and to some stating the obvious, to others a cop out and an excuse for sub-par game... But, I got to say, being a tall good-looking guy can make all the difference when it comes to picking up women. A lot of the guys that I witnessed that looked like they were doing well, were your typical tall, handsome dudes. Playa is full of hot women, and these hot women are often looking for the best looking dudes, which I guess I can't necessarily blame them on. I think if you fall closer to average on the looks spectrum, you better bring some A+ world class game, or have some kind of social status.

#4 (The numbers game): This may follow under the umbrella of stating the obvious. A lot of guys have to run the numbers game and approach a massive amount of chicks before they land one that is DTF, but I'd say that if you aren't checking any of the aforementioned boxes, you really need to approach a great deal of girls while out running night game. Even more importantly than night game, I think approaching lots of women in the day time is a good idea, which regretfully I didn't do. The combination of attitudes, loud music, large social groups, etc., in my opinion can necessitate doing a lot of approaches, unless ofcourse you hook a girl early. I think if you really pound the pavement and approach a bunch you can fuck for sure, but it's just a matter of whether you are willing to deal with a bunch of rejection and keep on plowing until you score.

Post: #41

(03-16-2013 06:45 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 05:43 PM)Hencredible Casanova Wrote:  After Palazzo my boy and I hit the street for some street game and looked for a smaller bar type venue where we could actually get to spit. Saw a couple of cute Mex chicks on the street and I approached and convinced them to come to a bar with us (Tabu). We got some drinks and just grinded on them for a few songs.

I actually thought Tabu had one of the better set ups, as far as how the bar was set up logistically speaking, but it definitely had waaay less talent than Mandala or Palazzo, although I would agree that Palazzo is kind of awkward how it's set up.

My level of game is less advanced than many of the true playboys on this forum, but one problem that I faced at the clubs in Playa was that they were often too loud to really have a conversation, unless you isolate a girl away from the dancefloor and music. I guess part of that is just having solid enough game to hook a chick, and get her into you enough that she is willing to shift away from her group, and comply to sit with you in a quieter more isolated area. My issue was outside of a direct dancefloor approach where you're going almost 100% non-verbal (which def is not my forte), you pretty much had to yell in a girls ear if you want to open her, and even then it was hard for her to hear you.

Mandala had lots of hot women, but the nights I went were kind of tough for me, at least I felt kind of out of place and my vibe was completely off. Mandala and Palazzo to a lesser extent had the most upscale vibes, and it seemed like there was a wealthy crowd that almost seemed a little pretentious at times. I wasn't dressed like shit, but was far from having my nicest clothes, and it seemed like almost everyone at Mandala was pretty dressed up. I think rocking some nice threads, at least a crisp button down shirt, or blazer will help your cause there.

Going off my observations (which is very limited, so take it with a grain of salt), the four types of game that seemed to work best in PDC are as follows...

#1 (Baller game): Being dressed up in your nicest clothes, be prepared to spend beaucoup dollars because Playa is expensive. Get bottle service at Mandala or Palazzo, which gets you a private, reserved seating area and tables, with your own bottle of liquor, ice, glasses, and mixers. At risk of sounding like a massive hater, dare I say that some of the guys with bottle service looked lame to me, but they for sure had hot bitches with them. I can't say whether or not these guys pulled, but it looked like having the perks of bottle service gave them a lot of status in the club, and brought in hot women that were giving them the time of day.

#2 (Dancefloor game): Because the music is so loud at a lot of these clubs a lot of times you may have to rely on dancefloor game. I thought I was a decent dancer, but I realized in Playa that my dancefloor game is not tight, which is largely due to living in a place with almost only dive bars and very infrequently hitting a dancefloor, unless I already have a chick. Anyhow not only will you may have to do dancefloor approaches, but dancing is often the focal point of these clubs, so if you suck at dancing it can turn women off, or conversely if you are a good dancer, it can turn them on.

#3 (Tall, good looking guy game): I hate to say this, because it's cliche, and to some stating the obvious, to others a cop out and an excuse for sub-par game... But, I got to say, being a tall good-looking guy can make all the difference when it comes to picking up women. A lot of the guys that I witnessed that looked like they were doing well, were your typical tall, handsome dudes. Playa is full of hot women, and these hot women are often looking for the best looking dudes, which I guess I can't necessarily blame them on. I think if you fall closer to average on the looks spectrum, you better bring some A+ world class game, or have some kind of social status.

#4 (The numbers game): This may follow under the umbrella of stating the obvious. A lot of guys have to run the numbers game and approach a massive amount of chicks before they land one that is DTF, but I'd say that if you aren't checking any of the aforementioned boxes, you really need to approach a great deal of girls while out running night game. Even more importantly than night game, I think approaching lots of women in the day time is a good idea, which regretfully I didn't do. The combination of attitudes, loud music, large social groups, etc., in my opinion can necessitate doing a lot of approaches, unless ofcourse you hook a girl early. I think if you really pound the pavement and approach a bunch you can fuck for sure, but it's just a matter of whether you are willing to deal with a bunch of rejection and keep on plowing until you score.

yeah i think the majority of the girls that i have taken home from Mandala have been straight off the dancefloor.

did you try the rooftop at mandala? sounds like it might have been more your style

Post: #42

(03-16-2013 06:45 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  Mandala had lots of hot women, but the nights I went were kind of tough for me, at least I felt kind of out of place and my vibe was completely off. Mandala and Palazzo to a lesser extent had the most upscale vibes, and it seemed like there was a wealthy crowd that almost seemed a little pretentious at times. I wasn't dressed like shit, but was far from having my nicest clothes, and it seemed like almost everyone at Mandala was pretty dressed up. I think rocking some nice threads, at least a crisp button down shirt, or blazer will help your cause there.

Yeah, OG when you posted about clothes in PDC, I didn't want to throw salt on your Game and tell you that you needed to dress dope.

Or open a can of worms from the "Style Haters" on the forum, but yeah, dressing sharp does help for sure in PDC. For sure it helps at Mandala.

(03-16-2013 10:49 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  did you try the rooftop at mandala? sounds like it might have been more your style

Say what?

There is a rooftop at Mandala?

How do you get there?

Post: #43

(03-17-2013 02:49 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 06:45 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  Mandala had lots of hot women, but the nights I went were kind of tough for me, at least I felt kind of out of place and my vibe was completely off. Mandala and Palazzo to a lesser extent had the most upscale vibes, and it seemed like there was a wealthy crowd that almost seemed a little pretentious at times. I wasn't dressed like shit, but was far from having my nicest clothes, and it seemed like almost everyone at Mandala was pretty dressed up. I think rocking some nice threads, at least a crisp button down shirt, or blazer will help your cause there.

Yeah, OG when you posted about clothes in PDC, I didn't want to throw salt on your Game and tell you that you needed to dress dope.

Or open a can of worms from the "Style Haters" on the forum, but yeah, dressing sharp does help for sure in PDC. For sure it helps at Mandala.

(03-16-2013 10:49 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  did you try the rooftop at mandala? sounds like it might have been more your style

Say what?

There is a rooftop at Mandala?

How do you get there?

after you walk in the front entrance head up the first set of stairs on the right towards the restrooms. On the left prior to the restrooms you'll see another flight of stairs which leads up to the rooftop.

The rooftop is not huge but has a bar, dancefloor and is setup well.

Post: #44

(03-17-2013 07:09 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 02:49 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 06:45 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  Mandala had lots of hot women, but the nights I went were kind of tough for me, at least I felt kind of out of place and my vibe was completely off. Mandala and Palazzo to a lesser extent had the most upscale vibes, and it seemed like there was a wealthy crowd that almost seemed a little pretentious at times. I wasn't dressed like shit, but was far from having my nicest clothes, and it seemed like almost everyone at Mandala was pretty dressed up. I think rocking some nice threads, at least a crisp button down shirt, or blazer will help your cause there.

Yeah, OG when you posted about clothes in PDC, I didn't want to throw salt on your Game and tell you that you needed to dress dope.

Or open a can of worms from the "Style Haters" on the forum, but yeah, dressing sharp does help for sure in PDC. For sure it helps at Mandala.

(03-16-2013 10:49 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  did you try the rooftop at mandala? sounds like it might have been more your style

Say what?

There is a rooftop at Mandala?

How do you get there?

after you walk in the front entrance head up the first set of stairs on the right towards the restrooms. On the left prior to the restrooms you'll see another flight of stairs which leads up to the rooftop.

The rooftop is not huge but has a bar, dancefloor and is setup well.

Ah.

I do vaguely remember that.

I think I only made it to the restrooms.

Is the rooftop a VIP? Or more of the same?

Post: #45

(03-17-2013 07:42 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 07:09 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  

(03-17-2013 02:49 PM)thegmanifesto Wrote:  

(03-16-2013 06:45 PM)OGNorCal707 Wrote:  Mandala had lots of hot women, but the nights I went were kind of tough for me, at least I felt kind of out of place and my vibe was completely off. Mandala and Palazzo to a lesser extent had the most upscale vibes, and it seemed like there was a wealthy crowd that almost seemed a little pretentious at times. I wasn't dressed like shit, but was far from having my nicest clothes, and it seemed like almost everyone at Mandala was pretty dressed up. I think rocking some nice threads, at least a crisp button down shirt, or blazer will help your cause there.

Yeah, OG when you posted about clothes in PDC, I didn't want to throw salt on your Game and tell you that you needed to dress dope.

Or open a can of worms from the "Style Haters" on the forum, but yeah, dressing sharp does help for sure in PDC. For sure it helps at Mandala.

(03-16-2013 10:49 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  did you try the rooftop at mandala? sounds like it might have been more your style

Say what?

There is a rooftop at Mandala?

How do you get there?

after you walk in the front entrance head up the first set of stairs on the right towards the restrooms. On the left prior to the restrooms you'll see another flight of stairs which leads up to the rooftop.

The rooftop is not huge but has a bar, dancefloor and is setup well.

Ah.

I do vaguely remember that.

I think I only made it to the restrooms.

Is the rooftop a VIP? Or more of the same?

no its not VIP...more of the same.

Post: #46

As promised, I will divulge my weekend in Playa with no filter. I had a great time though I didn't pull in my two nights there, so there isn't much to report there. This outcome, of course, is entirely possible for anyone regardless of experience. It's just kinda surprising since Playa is a vacay destination with girls presumably in vacay mode so it's not like much game is needed. Those type of locales are really just about hitting a venue, finding a girl (or her finding you), drinking/dancing and finishing the job. Whereas in normal cities you come across regular people who go all out for all sorts of reasons so conversation is a big part of the equation.

I've gone to places like DF and even Oaxaca and pulled on the first night and in other places like Montreal it happened on the third or fourth night. Just never know what you're going to run into. I had a blast nonetheless.

Second day in Playa I went out and got breakfast at La Cueva del Chango. Food in general in Playa isn't nothing special so I can't really endorse anything here.

I then hit the beach as I mentioned before. My boy and I walked the long stretch from Mamitas all the way past Senor Frogs where it's clothing optional. Saw a few tities on display which was nice. Rapped to a few chicks and posted up at one beach bar and had some brews. Afterwards we hit up El Diez for dinner. Wasn't all that impressed though.

Then I went back to the hotel and napped it out for about three hours. I did this the first night as well. From Fri - Sun I only slept for about six hours in total. Awoke, like the night before, at midnight and then made moves at like 12:30am.

Mandala had a long line so we hit Coco Maya to grab a drink first before going to Mandala. There was nothing special going on in there. Great location on the beach which would otherwise make for a great venue. You would think prime real estate like that would make for an exclusive and more poppin' venue but it's not the case.

So we finally went to Mandala. My boy wasn't trying to pay a cover and go in because like the night before it looked like a sausage fest. But a 200 peso cover is nothing at all, like $15. I figured it wasn't going to get any better in Playa so make the best of it. Entered the club and he hit the bar while I went around to see what was good. It was way too packed so I hit the top floor to get some air and it was almost impossible to even move. So many dudes and no way to maneuver in style. I went back down and didn't see my boy so I assumed he left as some other dude Qwest knows about hit me up to meet at Mandala. I walked outside and saw him in front just after he paid the cover and got his wristband. Told him Mandala was wack and that maybe it's better to see what else is good and come back later if nothing else pops. He mentioned Pura Vida which is a bar across from La Santanera. I decided to roll with that and text my boy I went to Mandala with asking where he was.

Get into Pura Vida and already it wasn't my scene. It was a hipster type of bar and I was easily the best dressed person in there. But at least the music was low and you could converse with females should they arrive. There were a couple sets of regular chicks in there and I went to get a drink at the bar when an attractive blonde chick walked in with her friend and made eye contact with me and held it. She took a seat on the opposite table from where I was standing. I finished getting my drink and then turned around to face her and she motioned for me to come over and stood up and asked me to dance. She spoke in Spanish which confused me because I thought she was European. She told me she was from Argentina and I immediately had a visceral feeling of disappointment. I consider Argentine chicks a waste of time having spent about a month in their country and seeing how their vibe was. I didn't even bother getting at them when I was there and just enjoyed the love I was getting from gringas. Don't me wrong. Argentine chicks are attractive and feminine but I don't understand their prude nature at all. They act like a man wanting to have sex with them is an alien concept.

But....this one seemed different. She told me it was her birthday and she had clearly already got started with the drinking. She was feeling up one me close as we were dancing. She was asking me a lot of questions demonstrating IOI (i.e. why I was in Playa, etc). She seemed blown away when I mentioned I had been to Argentina. She even turned around to her friend to tell her these things I was saying to her. Her friend then took pics of us as we were dancing. A little bit later the dude I went into Pura Vida with came back from the ATM. I told him I could use a wing and to talk to my girl's friend but warned him about Argentine girls and their nature. He did that as I continued dancing with my chick. I felt I needed to take things up a notch to speed up the seduction so I motioned everyone to come to the bar with me and bought a round of tequila shots for all four of us.

We went back to the dance floor and my friend told me he thinks my girl's friend is going to cockblock. He said she was demonstrating the exact behavior I had explained to him about Argentine girls. She came over to talk to my chick and I can't remember too many details but I stepped away and got another drink (for me) and some dude came in to dance with my girl. I didn't care to intervene and saw that her cockblocking friend was freed up so I wanted to see if I could get her comfy. We talked at the bar and she was very aloof. I then pulled her to come dance and she said she wanted to lead. I told her I'm the man so I lead and some Argentine song came on. We danced but just couldn't really connect at all. I then learned from her that the bar was owned by an Argentine and that most of the clientele was from Argentina. Had I known beforehand I would have never went.

The dude who danced with the girl I was going for was turned down after one song and then another dude tried to get in and the same thing happened. Cockblock then takes homegirl and leaves the venue. I was annoyed.

Throughout that ordeal my friend I traveled to PDC with was still in Mandela. Turns out he never left the venue but was getting a drink. He was texting me saying he was upset that we went in Mandela when it's a cockfest but right after those two Argentine girls left Pura Vida, he text me saying he's in Mandela about to go home with a chick also from Argentina. My heart sank in my chest. I can't tell you how profound that news was. This friend I'm speaking of ONLY talks to black chicks. We always clown him when we travel because no matter the country he'll find the one black chick in the club and talk to her. We could be in Iceland and he'll find the one black chick in the whole country at the club. It's not that he doesn't like other women, it's just that's what he's used to and always pursues in DC.

Anyway, even though he's not one to lie on his dick, I kept texting him saying "bullshit mf." I immediately regretted leaving Mandela and went back but he was back in the hotel. He then told me to come through while she was still in the hotel room. It was a quick beat and he did it for the flag apparently. I did a quick sprint back and went up to the room. He opened the door and I look to the right and see this seemingly black chick standing in the balcony. I'm thinking to myself did he really bag a Dominican or some shit and just makeup a country? She turns around and you can immediately tell she's a 30-something year-old girl. He found the blackest girl from Argentina I've ever seen. That's the last country you would think she was from. I went to the bathroom and laughed hysterically. Apparently she had friends who looked better than her but homeboy didn't tell me until way later unfortunately. But my boy just did her for the flag and said he would have even preferred paying the Mexican pro we met the night before.

My friend at Pura Vida was texting me to hit up some more spots so I met up with him and hit Mandela again but it was the same deal. We then went to La Santanera and my boy from the hotel came back out and met us there.

LS was a cool spot logistically. Same cover price as Mandela and they don't close til' 6am. Gotta love the late night hours in Playa. I respect any spot that stays open in the am. Real talk.

LS had a main floor and a rooftop. The problem was the music was that lounge stuff that induces people to chill out. The rooftop seemed like the kind of upscale crowd that finds Mandala too aggressive. I saw a lot of couples and clicks but no real available girls. Wish I had known about the spot before though because it seems like it probably sees some good nights.

Ended up staying out til' sunrise and then took the ferry to Cozumel in the morning and flew out. I recommend considering Cozumel and not just Cancun for getting to/from Playa. The ferry is much more pleasant than the 1hr bus ride from Cancun.

Speaking of Cancun, I bet it was the place to be this weekend since it's Spring Break. Never been but a couple of the boys Qwest mentioned are hitting that up in addition to Playa so I'll pick their brains about it.

I guess Playa really is hit or miss in terms of talent and strong weekends. I can see where gsinplaya is coming from. I may come back again later in the year (Fall) to see the cenotes and Tulum. If so, it would be a longer trip of probably 5 days, so Playa probably hasn't seen the last of me

Post: #47

For guys who don't want to pay covers, I recommend getting to the bars early around 11 when things are pretty empty, Mandala will stamp your wrist if you ask them, and that gets you in for free later once they start charging a cover. I don't know if the same thing applies over at Palazzo, but it may worth checking out as well, a $15 cover adds up if you want to hit a few venues and they are all charging to get in. I think Blue Parrot may not charge any cover at all, but I also got a bracelet from them early just to play it safe.

Also my first night out I had the luck to start talking to this guy who was selling all you can drink bracelets for Coco Maya and it turned out he lived in San Francisco for a few years, and he hooked me up by getting me free admission into all the clubs, since he knew all the door people. It seems like the people who hustle for all the bars/clubs on 12th St. know all the door people, so if you can make friends with one, they might be able to get you in for free too.

From my experience I found Playa to be a spot where it's tough to rolo solo and having at least one solid wingman if not a small crew might work in ones' favor. Most girls all seemed to be in groups of 3+, and it can be hard to get in with them, or extract one from their crew. I also felt slightly out of place, when I was rolling solo and everyone else was with a big group of their friends. One night I did run some street game and was doing good with two young 19 year old Swedish girls that were straight fine, but I felt I had to focus my attention on gaming just one of them, and inevitably her friend got bored, started playing with her iphone, and pulled her friend to go to another bar.

Post: #48

yeah its really hard to come in for a short period of time and be guaranteed an amazing few days. Sounds like you did everything right though but just had bad luck.

Its interesting alot of my friends who have been here for several years are moving on from playa as they feel like it is not what it used to be a year or 2 ago.

I hate to pass the same judgement but at times i feel the same way and am weighing up my options at the moment.

I'm Australian and for the first year I was here I never met one other Australian in Playa....now it seems like everywhere I go there are Australian guys in the bars.

There is no doubt that word has spread about Playa and with that more guys rush to come here which can ruin a place pretty quickly.

Over the weekend i spent some time on campus at UNAM in Mexico City and in the past I had seen a huge amount of posters advertising group holidays for the students to go to playa for semana Santa. On this trip there were none and most packages were for Oaxaca.

I think Playa is a great spot and I'm not bagging on it but I think it's worthwhile to make these points so people have the right expectations.

I have no doubt that anyone who spends more than a few days here can have a great time but I think it is not as easy as what it was in the past and the town can go through periods of time where it is overrun by guys.

I made the point in my data sheet that it is often easier to find girls during the day or early evening in the cafes, restaurants, beach clubs etc and then take them with you to the clubs. This might be the best option for people only in town for a short period of time.

I'll be interested to hear reports from other guys who are returning to playa for a 2nd or 3rd time as to whether they see any drastic changes in the place.

Post: #49

(03-18-2013 09:22 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  yeah its really hard to come in for a short period of time and be guaranteed an amazing few days. Sounds like you did everything right though but just had bad luck.

2 nights isn't a whole lot of time but Friday and Saturday are big pickup nights and in a place like Playa it's totally possible to pull (or should be).

I could have spent more time in one venue as opposed to hopping around, but I get FOMO bad if I know there's a few good venues and find myself in one that's not really hitting. But sometimes sticking around is a good gamble because there are times when a flock of chicks can enter at random and change the equation up. Also, I was out in the street by the time Mandala had stopped letting people in regardless if they had wristbands. The people inside at that time still had time I guess but if you haven't pulled by 5am it's unlikely you will come up IMO.

(03-18-2013 09:22 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  I'm Australian and for the first year I was here I never met one other Australian in Playa....now it seems like everywhere I go there are Australian guys in the bars.

Yeah surprisingly I didn't find any chicks from Europe or Australia this weekend. It was pretty much mostly Argentinians and Mexicans. BPM seemed to draw more people from outside Latin America.

(03-18-2013 09:22 PM)gsinplaya Wrote:  There is no doubt that word has spread about Playa and with that more guys rush to come here which can ruin a place pretty quickly.

I saw a ton of guys out in packs. Usually 3-man teams. Seemed like a lot of them went home empty handed. During BPM I saw mostly couples in that the hot girls came down with a guy. I chalk that up to the expensive prices that time of year. Chicks hate spending their own money and usually will only go during times like that if a dude is picking up the check.

Post: #50

Just curious why is it to be avoided during BPM? Massive cockfest full of Anglos and eurotrash Im guessing and super expensive?