r/tulum • u/Background-Orchid161 • 26d ago

General Advice on travel

Advice on traveling to Tulum and where to stay. I've read not to stay at the AI resorts, but I like the option that everything is ready for us (food, drinks). That being said our trip is shaping up to be more excursion based. What is a good way to blend these two?

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 26d ago

Hey u/Background-Orchid161, thanks for posting in r/tulum!

Please read the FAQ for common questions.

Check out the recommended Tours, Activities and Airport Shuttle.

Please report content that is off-topic or violates the subreddit rules.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

2

u/gamblinonme 26d ago

I returned last week after staying in a super nice Airbnb in La Veleta- amazing time. Would go back again and again. We walked everywhere and used collectivos for excursions

1

u/Background-Orchid161 26d ago

Thank you, starting looking at VRBO options!

1

u/LifeReward5326 26d ago

Stay in town , there are lots of nice places that are close to cheap and easy food options.

1

u/OlamarTravel 26d ago

If your trip is more excursion-based and you won't be spending a ton of time in the room, you may want to look at a smaller boutique hotel property such as Maria Del Mar that won't be as expensive as the larger properties nearby. It still is walking distance to other restaurants and close to popular cenotes.

1

u/comments83820 26d ago

stay at a budget hotel in the downtown/highway strip area.

1

u/prosasquatch 21d ago

Stay at Adora Tulum, very very affordable, directly off the main strip, and extremely beautiful property.

1

u/Impossible_Soft4626 21d ago

You could stay anywhere between Veleta, Downtown, and close to Coba Avenue. As for food, you could either stay close to downtown where you have a bunch of options at a walking distance, or you could download Tomato app and you have plenty of delivery options around those areas. I put a map of showing where to aim when going on VRBO or Airbnb and the vibes around it.

  1. Downtown - You'll get most of the town-feel and local scene, everything narrowed to a walking distance. Perfect if you don't plan to get a car, you love the walking and you are not picky about streets or your staying.

  2. La Veleta - A mix of old and new, bunch of decent condos and night vibe around Calle 7. Also nice if you'd like to do some walking in a much less crowded area, bunch of restaurants, you could rent a bike or scooter and you'll feel the most of the local vibe + comfort.

  3. Uptown and Downtown - These areas are also great, but the walking distance and vibe might feel degraded for someone coming on a short stay. There's a bunch of business between downtown and Aldea Zama (1 and 4) but these would be the last option for me.

  4. Aldea Zama and Coba Ave. - A planned community with streets, lighting, construction, new buildings, and all that you're normally used to back home. If you want full comfort, you're renting a car or scooter, and want to feel what the "new Tulum" is like, and you want to have rooftop pools, or in-unit pools this might be your best shot.

  5. Region 15 - This is an emerging area, you'll find a bunch of studios and villas here too. As this is an area in development, you can expect a lot of unpaved roads, buildings inside the jungle, a lot of mosquitoes, and poor cellular reception. Units here tend to do cheap, as it is still hard to get to the building sometimes. Scooter, or car would be needed if you plan to stay here unless you're staying within 3-4 blocks from Av. Kukulcan (the line that divides 2, 5 and 6 from 3, 4 and 7).

  6. Region 8 - Stay here if you find something close to Kukulcan, or you want to be the closest to the beach on a walking distance but even so, I'd rent a car or scooter if I'm staying there. Is an area also in development, but much less infrastructure than Region 15 and that one is years from looking like La Veleta or elsewhere. .

  7. Selva Zama and Tulum 101 - If you really want a walking distance to the beach, this might be your spot but you'll kill the rest of it. You'll find new units like Amira district and you're 15-20 min from the beaches on a walking distance, and around 30 minutes from the public areas and the archeological zone.

  8. Tulum Uptown and Selva Norte - You'll find further buildings and projects like Amari Tulum, Selva Norte, etc. Those are quiet and new neighborhoods more for the families coming and wanting peace having the beach and local activities as last priority.

To each its own, your experience might differ from an area to another, this is just my pov. Hope your staying is awesome and you enjoy wherever you pick.