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<t3chan@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1103223162.202425.261140@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com...

> Usually at hotel, are there lots of local tours from different
> companies ? If so, which company offers good trip at reasonable rate ?
> AMSTAR ? How much does the tour guide usually charge?
>
> Is the tour price fixed or can be bargained ?

Tours are generally fixed price, unless you're buying for a group.
Prices will vary considerably depending on the company or person and a
number of other factors.
>
> I am sure there are lots of shops selling sourvenior where would
> you say it's the cheaper places to buy ? (Hotel, Cancun downtown city,
> or along beach ?

I hope you don't think you're going to be in Cancun. Puerto Aventuras is
roughly 75 miles south of Cancun.

Don't expect to find bargains anywhere in that area. For a careful
shopper the best prices are probably found along the highway between Playa
del Carmen and Tulum, which is the area you'll be in. I particularly like
the stalls outside the main gate at Akumal, mostly because the family
selling hammocks there has a very good product at reasonable prices. In
Mexico the best prices are generally found in the places with the lowest
overhead--which leaves hotels and downtown Cancun out. Puerto is a carefully
controlled gated community. You won't see any vendors on the beach.

> I like driving scooter, i tried that in Varadero, is it safe to do it
> in Cancun ? Is it pricey?

Scooters aren't particularly safe anywhere. It's only pricey in
comparison to using public transportation. I don't recall scooter rentals
being available at Puerto. The only place in the area where it's common is
Cozumel. As note elsewhere I certainly wouldn't want to drive one on the
main highway--it's hair raising enough in a car--driving customs in that
area are a bit wild and it's a very busy highway.

I took a look at one of the websites on your hotel:
http://www.jmtravel.com/sunscape_puerto_aventuras.htm As is to be expected
they're a bit long on the BS. Their drive times must be based on getting an
extremely fast taxi and then only counting the time it took to get to the
city limits. Nothing in Puerto is secluded. At 100 yards out the reef is out
of the reach of all but the most experienced snorkelers or people who rent a
boat. Even then it's not a place for novices. There's a strong current once
you get out of protected areas. Most of the ocean diving in the region is
done with an experienced boat operator to follow the group as you ride the
current. I've dived out of Puerto a lot. The dive boats generally head
south--anywhere from a bit south of the marina to well south of Puerto.To
see turtles Akumal is an even better choice and no diver should miss
Cozumel. There are many places in the area that are suitable and worthwhile
for inexperienced snorkelers--the coves at Akumal or Xel-ha, for
example--anything with a sand bottom is likely to be pretty boring.

TB

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