Air & Travel Package:

We have found the travel details to be in quite a different range depending on when you book, on which airline and/or if it is a charter.

The Cancun airport is located just outside Cancun, Mexico, and is equal distance to Playa Del Carmen, as it is to Cancun (ie. each are a 40 minute trip to the town from the airport - one goes north-east and the other goes south-east).

Last year, we used Go Travel Direct from Ottawa and flew out with their parent company - Zoom Airlines. This year Zoom upgraded their plane and as a result we are anticipating larger groups of people this season (hopefully bringing the price down even more) direct from Ottawa to the Cancun, Mexico airport.

The Go Travel Direct package was about $1,349 CDN per person, plus taxes and agent fees (~$200), and this included the charter flight direct from Ottawa, a hotel bus transfer to and from the airport in Cancun, and the all- inclusive stay at the "Continental Plaza" in Playa Del Carmen (or 'Playacar' if you are looking online) .

You *CAN* do this (ie. take the GoTravel package) as we are arranging a large group booking, and we are also trying to arrange a reasonable rate within Playa Del Carmen at the hotel for those who will fly in direct to Cancun from places other than Ottawa. If you need information on this, please email or call us and we will try to help the best we can.

If you are looking to come down for a couple days only, or if you are looking for a special, all-inclusive deal and have dates that will vary, please visit TripCentral.ca from Carlson WagonLit Travel, as it looks like you can make a booking for only a few nights and take packages that are all inclusive or not all inclusive - your choice.

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UPDATE: Looks like we are going to be booking with GoTravelDirect because they are the most accomodating for everyone (ie. they will arrange flight and packages from Ottawa direct, with good departure times). Their pricing is great, and so is their service. They have promised a group rate as well, and are planning for the four-star Continental Plaza, Playacar (in Playa Del Carmen)

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Anyone looking to *SHOP* for rates, we do suggest looking at TripCentral.ca as it offers the best overview of all hotels and schedules. Keep in mind, the closer you book to December, potentially the better the rate you may get (as last minute deals take off to fill hotel commitments from the agencies). Anyhow, see what you can get from this site and choose your departure gateway.

If you would like to do something like an adventure tour while you are down there, please let us know and we can have our friend at LiahonaQuest set things up for you over the week... basically, you will get to the wedding, but you will also get all over the Yucatan on an adventure you will never forget!

Our Hotel Suggestion:

Continental Plaza, Playacar
(do the all-inclusive package - you can do ground only from GoTravel)

For everyone staying in Playa Del Carmen (and we hope everyone will be!), we are recommending an all-inclusive, four-star hotel called the Continental Plaza. We stayed at this hotel last year, and we suggest it because it was nice and comfortable, and more importantly it is only a 2-minute walk from the edge of town and has everything you will need!

Although you can stay anywhere in Playa located on the edge of town in an area built on ancient ruins called Playacar. Some of the reasons we selected the Continental Plaza include include:

    - very reasonable price with all inclusive package from Ottawa
    - everyone gets a breathtaking ocean view to wake too
    - all drinks and meals are included with several options all day
    - there is a swim-up, poolside and oceanside bar/grill
    - all hotel rooms have air conditioning and cable tv
    - all rooms have a fridge, hot showers, and flushable toilets!
    - there is a small hair salon and beauty parlor on site
    - room service is available as is a dry cleaning service
    - if you dont like the food at the hotel, Playa is 2 minutes away

Playa is a 30 min ferry ride to Cozumel where you will see several cruise ships light up, docked at the island overnight. In Playa you can leave the hotel and walk into town for shops, dining, internet cafes, and even ATM Scotia banking!

The almost all-inclusive hotel offer for the Continental Plaza is one of the best locations in the Playa del Carmen! You can enjoy the sizzling nightlife of Playa del Carmen with its open-air bars and restaurants, relax by the ocean-view pool or get out and explore Mayan Ruins and national parks.

No worries amigo. Walk slow in Playa. Get in the groove... and just relax (we are the ones who should be stressed!!!!).