77780 Travel Guide
Mexico Hotel Reviews
Kiteboarding and Sand-Biking are Big Attractions at La Zebra
October 17, 2007 at 11:31 AM | 2 Comments
Down on Tulum Beach in Mexico the La Zebra Beach Cantina & Cabanas are adding to their already established repertoire of having retro jungle vibes (and sometimes free tequila) by ramping up their onsite adventure activity sideline.
Combining transport, a workout and a lot of fun, La Zebra is offering guests the use of its special sand-bikes. The sand-bikes are specially geared and have extra fat tires so you can hit the beach in front of La Zebra and ride for miles (or until you want to turn back for more tequila).
And for more extreme adventurers, La Zebra has hooked up with a local kiteboarding school to offer lessons and equipment hire--apparently the wind situation makes this beach an ideal spot for kiteboarding year round.
And at the end of the day there are still plenty of chances to sample some local tequila (including regular Friday night tequila tasting parties) or to eat up a storm with Sunday's salsa fiesta pit roast grill meal. Must be something for everyone with all that mix.
Related Stories:
· Retro Jungle Vibes and Free Tequila at La Zebra [HotelChatter]
· Hotels in Tulum [HotelChatter]
Hotel Renovations
'Retro-Jungle Vibes' and Free Tequila at La Zebra
July 9, 2007 at 9:20 AM | 0 Comments
Heading to the Mayan Riviera? Check out the newly renovated La Zebra Cantina & Cabanas in Tulum (about two hours south of Cancun), a nine-cabana property that promises an authentic Mexican beachfront experience.
La Zebra boasts a "retro-jungle" vibe and they describe their own decor as "jungle chic." Hmmm... we have no idea how chic or retro jungles can be, but the pictures on the website look pretty neat.
Good Rate
Good Rate: Under $140 a Night All-Inclusive at Grand Oasis Riviera Maya
November 7, 2006 at 12:58 PM | 0 Comments
[Ed. Note: Welcome to our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature where we look at hotel prices in the same city and decide which is better worth your hard-earned benjamins. The rate listed here was valid on November 7, 2006 and is subject to change.]
We'll be the first to admit that your basic all-inclusive beach vacation is not really stimulating, culturally immersive, or liable to be a culinary highlight of your travels. But hey, when it's less than $140 a night for a couple or a family, that's a deal.
Let's face it. Sometimes you just want to go lie on a beach somewhere warm. If the colder weather is already getting you down, you can't go wrong with this deal at Grand Oasis Riviera Maya, near Tulum on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. It's $138 double for the room, all meals, all the bottom-shelf alcohol you can stomach, taxes, and use of all the amenties. (As in no dreaded "resort fee" for the gym or the windsurfing equipment.) They'll even let you drag the little ones along for nothing and provide a transfer all the way from the Cancun airport.
We've actually stayed at this resort in the past. It does have a few little quirks---it attracts a huge number of Italian tourists for one thing---but all in all it's a great value. The food is decent, the staff has the right attitude, and both the beaches and pools are nice.
You need to go through this BookIt.com site to get the rate. The hotel's own website is for the whole Oasis chain and is close to useless.
Related Stories:
· Grand Oasis Riviera Maya reviews [TripAdvisor]
Bad Rate
Hotel Responds: Mexican Sex Toys are not Cheap
July 21, 2006 at 1:05 PM | 1 Comment
A few week's back Hotel Maven Tim Leffel wrote a hotel story about Mezzanine, a hotel in Tulum Mexico. Today hotel management at the Mezzanine has responded defending their Lovers Package. Bravo Mezzanine! Among other things, the hotel says:
If [you] can find a supplier in Mexico that can supply me Kama Sutra products for $35 USD please let me know and I will gladly drop the price of our Lovers Package.
Hmm. We wonder if our friends at Booty Parlor can help 'em out here? Maybe they know someone.
Anyway, point is, there is never a right answer when it comes to hotel deals and hotel reviews. That is why we are here folks. To be the voice of hotel review reason, moderating the hotel debate, presenting all sides, with a dash of Pomeranc, of course.
Give us your tired hotel reviews, your poor hotel hate mail, your huddled masses of hotel photos yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming hotel stays. Send these, hotel managers, guests, mavens, and employees, tempest-tossed, to us.
Full email response from Mezzanine, unedited and uninterrupted, after the jump.
Bad Rate
Bad Rate :: Overpriced Lover's Package
June 6, 2006 at 9:30 AM | 0 Comments
[Ed. Note: This is the Bad Rate in our Good Rate/Bad Rate feature. The screenshot above was taken on June 6, 2006 and rates are subject to change. Enjoy.]
At first glance, this sexy deal from the trendy boutique hotel Mezzanine in Tulum, Mexico seems like it has a lot to offer for relationship rejuvenation, but don't get too anxious.
Billed as the "Lover's Package Deluxe," the offering includes three nights accommodation with breakfast (nice), dinner for two (nice), and two massages (nice).
After that, close inspection reveals that they are touting a bottle of Concha y Torro Sauvignon Blanc with dinner (usually on sale for less than 10 bucks at any wine store), a bottle of Moet & Chandon Champagne in your room (a bit better), and a box of KamaSutra sex enhancers (retail $35) like this Lover's Paint Box, shown above. Total value--$840. Package deal price--$973. The room alone is just $170 per night, or $510 total for three nights. Even if you wanted all the enhancement, you would do better off getting it a la carte.
And did we mention that they don't take credit cards, but require a non-refundable 50 percent deposit to secure your reservation and that the disco music pumps until at least 2:00 a.m.?
Related Stories:
· Mezzanine reviews [TripAdvisor]
