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It depends what you value most for your vacation. IPB has a better beach but you can only use the facilities of Beach and Del Mar. El Cid guests can use all the facilities at the 3 properties. The beach at El Cid is not as good as Paraiso beach. IPB has more teen activities. El Cid has a small teen club. It really depends on what you value most and who has the best price. I am working on 9 different videos about the whole El Cid properties. I hope to launch at least one per weekend on the channel.

@@newtravelescapes thank you so much. From a food and entertainment perspective, would you have a preference? Also, does the ipb have a water park for teens?

@@ehsansyed5227 honestly, for me, I would say it is between Iberostar Maya or either hotel Marina El Cid or Ventus El Cid. Iberostar Beach just doesn't offer as much as Iberostar Maya. IPB limits restaurant reservations and the pool is nice but a bit boring for teens. Iberostar Maya has the water park and lazy river. Hotel Marina El Cid has a large main pool with a jumping rock and water slide and unlimited a la carte dining reservations. You also have easy access to Ventus and Ventus Ha'. I have been working on my Hotel Marina El Cid review today and I hope to have the walk through video up Friday and the full review up Sunday or vice versa. Lol That might give you a better sense of the resort.

I have not seen a foam party at any of the El Cid properties because of the little kids. It can be a bit dangerous for them if parents aren't careful. If there is one I have never seen it. Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya has a fantastic foam party once a week. Probably the best we have been to. 😊

There are a few but not many. They have glass bottles in your room and refill stations all around the resort to reduce plastic waste. I like to bring my own thermal one to reuse.😊

Thank you!!! Enjoy your trip 😊

My pleasure. I totally understand why you assumed you didn't need to pay it. When it first came out I thought it was a scam too until I did a dive into the State Laws of QRoo. Tons of misinformation out there and I don't want to see anyone's vacay ruined because they get caught unaware. Have a great trip!!! Hopefully, it doesn't rain too much for you. We just got back Monday and it rained all week with a tropical storm. Still a lot of fun but we didn't get much of a tan Lol! 🤪

@@newtravelescapes thanks! I am nervous about the rain but hopefully it will be a good time nonetheless!

@@TraciRene which resort did you choose?

@@newtravelescapes Grand Park Royal

@@TraciRene I haven't stayed there before. Have a great trip! 😊

You are absolutely correct!! Thanks for sharing 😊

Technically and officially, payment is asked for "before you leave the state", how ever way that may be.

@@michaelchase1911 I've read your 6 other posts on this and other VISITAX videos on this channel and just like this channel creator I don't care what anyone else decides to do. That's their choice. I simply added information I got in a response email from the official administration @ sata. groo . gob . mx ( written this way not to be algorithmically deleted as spam) that told me foreigners are not required to pay this fee if they don't leave the airport property. That's "technically and officially" the response I got about layovers from the Quintana Roo Mexico Tributaria Government website when I clicked on " for any clarification ". I just printed out the email and added it to my travel documents.

Last week actually. We were there for the last tropical storm. 🙂

Thank you David! I appreciate that. 🙂 Enjoy your weekend!

As far as I know, you needed to have a visitax QR code to prove you have paid it. I'm glad you had no issue. 🙂The many names for all of the different taxes makes it very confusing. How was Flair? I have never flown them.

There no state employees of any kind to show proof of. The misinformation about this tax is off the charts... due to Travelkore.

Thank you! Have a great weekend. ☺️

I need to do our families taxes, we are traveling in a group of 6 , which site did you pay your tax on? So it’s $39 each person ?

I just paid it last week at $17 USD pp. What site were you using? If you look at the Travelkore QR in the video and see the date. That was my most recent one.

I totally agree. 🙂

Because a family of 4 from Canada already pays over $2100 JUST IN TAX to visit the state, when is enough enough? Obviously there is a colossal waste of tax money going on all over, I wouldn't be so keen to contribute, it's literally a general ledger tax...

@@michaelchase1911 I agree we pay way too much tax already with how wasteful our governments seem to be with it. But, for myself, even though I am unhappy with everything to do with the Visitax, I'm not risking not paying it.

Thank you David! I'm not surprised you haven't heard of these resorts but honestly, they are a great bang for your buck. I hope you enjoy our info about each of them. We did actually look at flying into Tulum to go through that airport. I also want to figure out which transfer companies are working out of Tulum. I really want to try Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness. It is another one that seems to fly under the radar but actually has 5/5 after 10k reviews on Tripadvisor so they must be doing something right. Lol 😃 Secrets Akumal is right next door so if I can figure out a split trip those two are on my list. 😊 Have a great weekend!!

Hi Howard! We just got back from the El Cid properties on Monday. It rained all week but it did mean I got a lot of writing done while we were there. Lol! 😁 I happened to find a great deal at $1250 pp as a whole package on Sunwing to stay a week. WestJet often has it as a good package price as well (when they are not on strike 🫤). We did a multigenerational trip here for my parents 50th and it was a great fit. How was Ocean Maya? I can't wait to try that resort. 😊 Have a great holiday weekend ☺️

@@newtravelescapes Ocean Maya was good There was lots of seaweed but we knew that would be the case in summer The biggest thing we like about that resort is the people who work there Many of them have been there since our first visit ten years ago It's not the fanciest high end place and the rooms are just ok but we like the small size and it just seems to fit us

@@howardgarrett7865 that sounds great, Howard. The staff can make such a big difference in a resort experience. I can't wait to try it for myself. 🙂

I actually don't recommend it although I think it would be an awesome idea. I may be way off base, but in the past I have heard too many stories from travellers renting a car to explore only to be given bogus tickets or fines from those claiming to be police. I haven't done it in years and I hope it is much better than it used to be but I really don't know. Maybe if you are fluent in Spanish it would be different. The Ado busses run all over the place for about $2 a ride and those are very reliable.

@@newtravelescapes So my wife and I are arriving on Tuesday July 2 for our anniversary . We are staying at the grand oasis palms. I saw your recommended 5 top shuttle services. So would you recommend shuttle or public transportation to the resort? We will also need a return ride to the airport later that week. I really appreciate your response 😄

@@eric35020 I highly recommend USA Transfers. We have used them many times and once again this past Monday. Their website is user friendly. You can go on. Input your info. Book round trip transfers. They will pick you up just outside the doors of the terminal. Drop you at your resort. And let you know when they will pick you up for your return flight. They are very safe and reliable. You can also pay with CC in advance or pay them cash when you arrive. USA Transfers also does private tours if there is anything special you would like to see or do off of the resort. I find them much better than excursions booked through the resorts. I hope this helps. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with. 😊 Have a great trip!!

@@newtravelescapes thank you I sure will. You have really been a great help

I just used them this past Monday for our trip and they are consistently friendly and reliable. Have a great time! 😊

Thank you for your kind words! I'm so glad you find the reviews helpful. Have a wonderful trip 😊

Thank you so much! 😊

Yes. You need to be 18+. Here is an updated video that may help. If you are arriving into T2 there aren't EGates there yet. czcams.com/video/npz73tflAJY/video.html

Glad it was helpful! 🙂

Honestly, if you can swing it Lindo or Maya are a step up and not much increase in price. If not, then I would choose Beach myself. We are just wrapping up a trip to the El Cid properties in Riviera Maya - Marina El Cid, Ventus El Cid and Ventus Ha El Cid. They are about 10-15 minutes north of the Iberostars. They are another good choice for a destination wedding. I'll try to have videos up about those three as fast as I can but they are a good comparable resort. 😊

We tip them. Usually 150 to 250 MXN depending on how many people are in our group, if they are on time, and how personable the driver is.

Honestly, EOB is pretty chill and 'couply'. Check out Excellence Playa Mujeres just north of Cancun airport (40 min drive). It is the quality of excellence but EPM draws a more lively crowd. Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya is a nice blend of party with good restaurants. Great activities staff! Avoid the base rooms at VIRM but Golden room categories are fantastic. Drinks at the pool are not as good as Excellence but easily overcome if you keep it simple. Excellence El Carmen in Punta Cana, DR is also a good one have a look at. Hope that helps gets you started. 🙂. Have fun planning such an awesome celebration 🎉

Updated video coming up Sunday.

Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad it was helpful. 😊 The Kitchen Table is sometimes open for lunch depending on resort capacity. Breakfast almost always. Lunch is hit and miss. Have a great trip!! 🙂

Try the Travelkore website. czcams.com/video/lpt6h1OZwhs/video.html

Thanks!😊

Lol! Well played! I love Excellence resorts. 😊

My pleasure 😊 You're right. You will need to use the regular lines to go through immigration when travelling with kids. They move pretty quickly these days now that there are more E-Gates available to move people through.

@@newtravelescapes Thank you

@@lyoliko I'm happy to help. 😊. I'll be back through CUN tomorrow so I hope to have something new to report.

​@@newtravelescapes Have a nice holiday!!! We arrive at the end of the month

@@lyoliko nice! Which resort are you staying at?

Tell the airline staff you have a connection and ask them where to go. They will lead you to the fastest way through. 😊

It's a really nice resort. Enjoy your trip!! 😊

I have but it was before I started making videos about our vacation experiences. They are definitely comparable in service and food. Moxche is more modern and larger. Akumal is more traditional and has a much better beach. Secrets Maroma is still my favourite. 😊

Thank you so much!!

Honestly, with some mobility concerns I don't recommend the Ayung. It is gorgeous but it is built into a valley on the hillside. The pathways are steep. There are a lot of stairs. Even stairs to get up to the restaurant or down to the pool. They do have golf carts you can call to take you where you want to go but you can't avoid stairs here. IF you want to stay here with knee problems I suggest a ground floor room at the very least. I don't believe they have any elevators anywhere so you would still be doing some stairs every day. Hope that helps a bit. 😊

@@newtravelescapes Thanks for the info

What do you mean?

Electronic passport / Biometric passport

Totally depends on what you are looking for. Zilara Cancun and Ziva Cancun are adjoining properties so there are technically more kids around but not in an annoying way. Zilara Riviera Maya is a stand alone resort and beside it (north side) is another adults only property so we saw very few kids the week we were there. Zilara Riviera Maya is a bit less expensive so it may fit better into your budget. To me the management is better at Zilara Cancun but that can change at any time so it is not a real factor. Beach quality fluctuates depending on the time of year but generally Cancun gets a little bit less seaweed but again, that is really hit or miss so don't count on it. Hope that helps a bit. 😊

We always have to go through customs. Immigration can now be done through the E Gates or the regular lines. We do have an updated video showing current changes at the airport. czcams.com/video/npz73tflAJY/video.htmlsi=iFpdPRnj5NBWC0kk Hope this is helpful. 😊

Hi! I am referring to the shows in the theater in the Plaza area. There is still included entertainment options for the different resorts but there are also upgraded options that you can pay for. We didn't pay for the theater option after speaking to some guests who didn't feel it was worth the expense. Imo it would be nice if they included one show in the theater for guests staying a week or more but at this time, they don't.

The signs are by baggage claim when you land.

I agree with you. People aren't paying it and at the moment nothing is happening if you don't. Currently, the State has not waived its right to collect taxes due from the date the law changed (December 23rd 2022). This still leaves many of us guessing as to whether we could be presented with a bill for all unpaid taxes right back to this date. This has been alluded to by the State so they must be tracking whether or not you have paid through your passport scans. Tim Scurry from Travelkore told Open Jaw that he’s heard of travellers who’ve asked if they need to make up missed payments have been told that is the case. I trust Mr. Scurry's take on this so for us, we will pay it and count it as far as our vacation costs. If there is a chance that we will be refused entry without paying back taxes I'm not risking it. Is it still the stupidest tax implementation I have seen in a decade? It sure is. 😜

T3. We also have videos through T4 if it is helpful but they are very similar. 😊

Thank you so much!!! Yes, the Ado buses are reliable and inexpensive. If you can figure out the schedule in advance and where you are going they are a very good option. Thanks for sharing your experiences and also for your kind words. 😊

Thank you! 😊 You install your airline's App. Make sure you input your reservation number and other info. Enable push notifications for that App and they should send you any pertinent changes you need to know about (i.e: gate changes, delays, boarding etc). The staff is usually pretty helpful at YYZ so you can ask an airline representative if there is anything you want to double check. They are also decent at keeping the reader boards updated when changes occur. I suggest getting checked in with your airline first, drop your bag, go through security, and find your gate. Then when you know where your gate is (basically get the "lay of the land") then grab a coffee somewhere and relax until boarding.

Thanks for the kind words. I'm very happy it was helpful. Have a great trip 😊

My pleasure 😊

We thought that too but that wasn't the case for us and several others while we were there. The resort manager explained to us that If we wanted to partake of the all inclusive parts of the resort - so ALL food or drinks - after 3pm we needed to buy a day pass for each person. Yes, I suppose you can sit in the lobby until your transfer arrives and not eat or drink anything but our transfers did not pick us up until after 6 pm. I didn't really want to sit in the lobby from 3pm on waiting for a shuttle. We thought we could have a late lunch at 3pm and wait in a restaurant but they said 'no' to that too. Nothing to eat or drink past 3 without paying. We were also told we could not use the resort spa showers without booking a treatment of some kind. I was not impressed to say the least. I hope it works out better for you. ☺️ Enjoy your trip! The cocktails are fantastic 👍😃