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Bump, and someone please help me......

Cathie, been out of town over the long weekend but glad to help if I can... however the last two times I have been to Shangri-La I have had my kids with me so my excursions have been extremely limited!!! We did take the ferry to Cozumel and my 2 year old threw up all over me. Thank goodness I was wearing a bikini top so I could just throw away my Tshirt :) We took the next ferry back and hung out on the beach all day - honestly, our favorite activity. The beach at the hotel is second to none. LOVE Shangri-La and I will definitely be back. I really enjoy the mellowness of the hotel - make sure you stay ocean front or ocean view, nothing else! This is a true beach vacation. No hallways, no lobbies, you are right ON the beach and it is fantastic!!!

Things I would like to do... Maybe an Alltournative zip line tour or something active. We are not big formal tour types and would never take a bus to tour ruins or anything like that. We would rent a car and do it on our own. My husband is a big fly-fisherman and Ascension Bay has fantastic fly fishing if you are into that. For a long trip I might take the kids to Xcaret...

The Caribe pool bar has 2 for 1 happy hour starting at 5... then we love going to dinner in town (not every night, though). Yax-che is our favorite and then we walk over the Blue Parrot for early evening drinks....

Hope that helps!

Let's see what else... we have friends that stay at Shangri-La also and my friend's favorite activity is a walk on the beach into town each day. It is a pretty decent walk and at a brisk pace is nice exercise... they have yoga classes in town which the receptionist at the hotel attends. I went when they had yoga across the street, but when they redid 38th street I think the yoga moved... When I went it was awesome and good practice for my elementary spanish.

If I think of anything else I will post...

Cathie: Re: booking on line or waiting. I booked Xcaret online before we went because we did not want to take a chance on missing the dolphin swim. The day I picked it rained....and rained...and rained. It was miserable. I swore I would never book ahead again. The problem is some tours fill up so fast that booking online is the only way to ensure a spot. I don't know about the shangri-la but the Lindo had tour kiosks set up outside the lobby that made booking the tours while in PDC very easy. And not that much more expensive than what you can get online.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. So, people, say I do wait until I get there to plan a little trip somewhere....who/where do I find/book it? I'm thinking snorkeling (where's a good spot?), or going over to Cozumel (sans puking children, worth it?), seeing some Mayan ruins (which ones/how?), and possibly some jungle action (no idea what I have in mind here). Aside from fun stuff, I'm also having a case of Shangri-La Room Anxiety. We're booked in Aventura, oceanview (not a penthouse) but looking for anyone who may have stayed there and had a really bad view. Cierra at TurqReef has been especially nice/patient re: the room issue but of course, can't guarantee anything. We've saved FIVE YEARS to take this trip, and may not get the chance to go again for many more (or ever). Thanks again to all responding, Cathie in KC.

Cathie, you cannot go wrong with any ocean front or ocean view room. You do not want (so I have read) a "partial" ocean view.. but that's not what you have. Personally I would not want the penthouse. The beauty of this hotel is being right ON the beach, literally sand at the foot of your porch. It sounds like you have everything all set!!! You will have a blast. Enjoy!

Thanks. Any advice/tips re: the other questions? Still looking for JuneBride, or anyone else who's been to the Shangri-La recently.

I have been to Mexico on vacation for the past 3 years with friends, family, children and husband. Next year, we want to go alone and enjoy our time together without anyone else. I was looking at the Shangri-La but I am wondering if it is an all-inclusive? We really like to do the all-inclusives and also I like the looks of that hotel.

Any help on this would be great.

Cathie9, I totally understand about saving up... I work summer school each summer just to be able to go away for a few days. Next year I want to be gone a few days longer. We have always just gone for 4 days/nights. (Not long enough in my opinion.)

Thanks!

txcowgirl - I am traveling to the Shangri-La in December - CANT WAIT! It is a partial AI, includes breakfast and dinner only. It's close enough to be able to walk to town for different meals though, that's what I think makes this a nice option. Check out their website for all kinds of information. I'm expecting to fully enjoy every minute of my vacation there, although I have not yet stayed thier myself.