Introducing a Special Guest of El Taj Oceanfront

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Ken Schmidt

We love meeting the guests of our hotels! They bring with them a wealth of experience and knowledge from all around the globe. I visited the El Taj Oceanfront recently and met Sarah, who is staying in our premier property for a while. I don’t get to meet as many Australians around here as I would like, so I asked Sarah if she wouldn’t mind telling us about her stay in Playa del Carmen.

Ken and Sarah at El Taj Oceanfront

So Sarah, you are a long way from home, why did you decide to visit Playa del Carmen, Mexico?

I was here last year for a few months, as I heard Playa del Carmen was a beautiful place to visit. It was my first time to Mexico, but I really fell in love with the place and decided to return this year for a longer stay. I am a freelancer and work remotely, so why not work from paradise? Playa is a wonderfully vibrant town full of interesting people from all over the world and it has a relaxed, happy vibe.

And why El Taj Oceanfront?

I love the location, the facilities, and the fact that I have access to The Gym. I really enjoy the yoga classes, especially the class on the beach on Saturday mornings. I also love the pool! The Balinese style water feature and huge Buddha statues make it the ultimate place to relax. The ‘infinity Jacuzzi’ perched above the pool looking out over the ocean is my favorite spot in the entire hotel!

Jacuzzi with a view!

Of course, there’s also the view of the Caribbean Sea from my condo, which is just magnificent.

Room with a view at El Taj Oceanfront

What are you planning to do during your stay with us?

I’m looking forward to exploring Playa del Carmen as well as the surrounding area. There is just so much to see and do on the Riviera Maya, and I think Playa is the perfect base. I’d love to snorkel with the turtles in Akumal, visit Tulum, Coba and discover some other out-of-the-way spots.

I might try some activities like para-sailing, or if I can get up the nerve, sky diving! Of course, I’ll also be spending a lot of time at Indigo Beach Club, relaxing and eating delicious food.

Indigo beach club at El Taj

It’s a tough life in paradise, but someone’s gotta do it!

Can you recommend a must-see place to visit around Playa del Carmen?

I love the cenotes (fresh water lagoons) in the area. You can rent a car or take a taxi to one of the many cenotes along the highway south of Playa del Carmen and swim in the crystal clear waters for a small entrance fee. Last year I visited cenote Azul, which was filled with a multitude of fish! It was incredible for snorkeling as the water was so clear. I hope to visit the other cenotes in the area including Cristalino and Dos Ojos (the two eyes) during my stay this time.

Thanks for talking to us Sarah, it was great getting to know you better. Finally, we’d love it if you would share some more of your experiences with us during your stay!

Of course! I really love this part of the world, so I’d be happy to share some of my adventures with you. Most people I meet seem to return to Playa del Carmen year after year as there is so much to experience. It’s one of those places that once you arrive, you never want to leave.

Stay tuned for more of Sarah’s Playa del Carmen adventures!

Mexican Breakfast in Playa del Carmen… Would You Join Me?

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Yazmín Rodríguez

Audrey is my sister’s best friend. They met years ago at a summer camp in L.A. She has never been in Mexico before she arrived last week to Playa del Carmen for her vacation. She called me to ask for some recommendations for the best beaches and activities at Playa del Carmen but mostly, she wanted to talk about Mexican food. Since this was her first time in Mexico, and she had no clue about our gastronomy, I gave her a Playa del Carmen tour and showed her my favorite places for breakfast.

Normally, her breakfast is cereal with milk or juice, and a toast with peanut butter and jelly, and on weekends she normally eats scrambled eggs with bacon and pancakes. If that’s your normal breakfast as well, and you want to try something different, you have to visit Playa del Carmen and join us on the Mexican food tour!

If I’m thinking about a natural setting among vegetation and trees plus Mexican natural food, my first thought is La Cueva del Chango (The Monkey’s Cave), located on 5^th Avenue and 38^th Street a few blocks from Condo Hotels. Don’t forget to bring your swimming suit, because Shangri-La beach is just a few steps away from this restaurant.

La Cueva del Chango

La Cueva del Chango is a very special place, because almost everything is homemade, even tortillas are “hechas en casa.” The typical Mexican breakfast is chilaquiles (tortilla with tomato sauce, chicken or egg, served with cream, onion and fresh coriander). We ordered chilaquiles with chicken and achiote (seasoning mixture from Yucatán) sauce served with onion and habanero chilli. We asked for a natural kiwi juice, and were given several options of fresh seasonal fruit juice, such as orange, watermelon, grapefruit, papaya, pineapple, melon, banana, chaya, lemon, and carrot.

I have to admit, the chilaquiles breakfast was very Mexican, but also quite spicy, so not for everyone. If you’re looking for something less spicy, you have to try the molletes, a homemade wheat bread with refried beans and cheese gratin with pico de gallo salsa on top (chopped tomatoes, onion and jalapeno chilli) – this sauce is not so spicy, because the chilli flavor is very subtle when mixed in the sauce.

After all that food we still wanted a dessert, and the waiter offered us a natural vanilla flan (a baked dish consisting of an open-top pastry with a sweet filling), served with an orange sauce. If you are a dessert lover, please don’t miss this flan!

On another note, bring cash to La Cueva del Chango, because they do not accept credit cards.

After this delicious breakfast Audrey and I went to Shangri-La beach, a really beautiful and peaceful white sand paradise with crystal turquoise water. We lay down in the shade of a palm tree, relaxed and listened to the ocean. Audrey was amazed with the view and I reminded her that the Mexican Caribbean looks like that that everyday… She couldn’t wait to plunge into the magnificent ocean.

Shangri-La Beach

After the day of swimming and sun, I took Audrey to my favorite coffee shop – Ah Cacao that also sells premium quality real chocolate from the Mayan lands of Mexico. It’s located on 5^th Avenue and 30^thStreet (the other location is on Constituyentes Avenue and 5^Th Avenue). They have a wide variety of hot and cold drinks, cookies, cakes and homemade bread – the perfect combination for your drinks.

Ah Cacao

I ordered an Iced Coffee Americano, and Audrey took a Chocolate Frappe with real homemade chocolate – you must try this one if you are a chocolate lover!..

Delicious Frappe

These are two of my favorite places in Playa del Carmen for authentic Mexican breakfast and coffee– so enjoy the morning at the beach and Bon Appétit!

Dining in Playa del Carmen

Posted on October 9, 2012 by Raminta

After a week spent looking for the perfect dining in Playa del Carmen experience, I have a few favorites in each category I could think of – and being a spoiled New Yorker, I am quite a tough critic.

When you arrive to Playa del Carmen from New York, you want just a few things – magical views of the beach, toes in the sand, and a cold drink in your hand. Having a nice dinner every night is also a must, and the choice is plentiful, though there are just a few jewels. We set out to find them.

After checking into our beautiful luxury oasis, Maya Villa Condo Hotel, we head straight to Indigo Beach Club for dinner. Located in the luxury El Taj Condo Hotel, with a magnificent designer pool facing the ocean, Indigo is the place to be during the day.

Indigo Beach Restaurant Playa del Carmen

Indigo Beach Club

At night, it invites with a relaxed DJ music, delicious food, and tables right on the sand. We order a fresh ceviche, guacamole and some cold white wine.

Indigo Beach Restaurant

The stars are above us, the waves are splashing into the shore, and we are happy. We have found a perfect restaurant on the beach.

Next night, we want something fancy. We are told we don’t need to look too far – we need to try Imprevist at our own hotel, Maya Villa.

Imprevist dining room

We dress up, walk down the stairs and find ourselves in a romantically lit, elegantly decorated small restaurant. We take the corner table, and admire the stone walls and low-lit beautiful chandeliers. The food arrives, and it’s a beautiful surprise worthy of some of the nicest restaurants in New York. The tuna tartar with avocado is the best in Playa del Carmen (so the locals told us, and they were right!), and risotto with a touch of truffle oil tastes as if it came directly from Italy.

After this experience, I am very impressed. Now we have tried a great beach restaurant, and experienced fancy dining in Playa del Carmen. We only need to fill one more category – a local restaurant. More about this is coming up in my next entry…

Playa del Carmen Tour: At the Mouth of the Well of Itza

Posted on October 4, 2012 by Yazmín Rodríguez

Last Saturday, I woke up at 6:00 AM, and quickly got ready for my next adventure – it’s not every day that we have an opportunity to visit the 7^th Wonder of the World! I put on my sneakers, shorts, a T-shirt, and packed my sunscreen and umbrella. Don’t forget to rest before you go there, because you will walk a lot!

The pick-up of this tour was at 7 AM from Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen. They gave us a small breakfast at the bus that includes juice, coffee, bread, fruit and a sandwich. If you’re traveling with kids though or if you want to take a lot of pictures, I recommend not taking a tour, but renting a car, and once at the ruins, hire a guide to take you through this amazing ancient Mayan city.

: Chichen Itza Aerial View

You might be thinking what is the meaning of my story’s title, so I’m going to explain it through my experience at Chichen Itza. Chichen Itza means “at the mouth of the well of Itza.” According to Wikipedia, this derives from chi’, meaning “mouth” or “edge”, and ch’en or ch’e'en, meaning “well.” Itzá is the name of an ethnic-lineage group that gained political and economic dominance of the northern peninsula. One possible translation for Itza is “enchanter (or enchantment) of the water”, from its “sorcerer”, and ha, “water”.

: Valladolid Downtown

It’s an ancient Mayan city, located on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, between Valladolid and Merida, two hours from Playa del Carmen. It has been named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, mostly because of its spectacular and symbolic Kukulcan or El Castillo, the most impressive pyramid. The Maya name “Chichen Itza” means “At the mouth of the well of the Itza.”

The road to the ruins was very comfortable, and our bus made one little stop at small colonial village, Valladolid, where you can buy Mexican art craft and traditional jewelry.

The next stop was Chichen Itza! I prepared my bottle water and umbrella, because the sun was very bright and it was really hot.

: In front ok Kukulcan’s Pyramid

The guide explained that the ruins had different sections, Kukulcan pyramid being the most important and well-known. The temple has 365 steps (one for each day of the year.) Each of the four sides has 91 steps, and the top platform makes the 365th.

Mayan historical sources mention that a man who called himself Kukulcan arrived in Chichen Itza from the west (“Kukul” means “feathered” and “kan” means “serpent”) in the period that ended in 987 AD.

: Equinox

Twice a year, during the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, a fantastic phenomenon happens – at around 3:00 PM, the sunlight bathes the pyramid’s main stairway. It causes an optical effect imitating the body of a serpent going down, until it gets to the huge serpent’s head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway.

One of the other impressive mysteries of this place is how the temple transforms echoes into sounds of nature. If you stand at the base of the staircase and clap your hands, some lucky clappers will hear bird-like sounds, which will be the voice of a quetzal – a sacred bird in Mayan culture.

: Great Court Ball

After this, we continued our journey to the Great Ball Court, measuring 554 feet (168 meters) long and 231 feet (70 meters) wide, and totally open to the blue skies. In Mayan culture, the players tried to hit a 12-pound rubber ball through stone hoops set high on the court walls. As scary as it sounds, the losing captain was being decapitated in the spring renewal ritual.

The last place to visit was the observatory called El Caracol (the snail), because it has an interior staircase that spirals upward like a snail’s shell. One of the theories is that the Mayans used this place to calibrate their astronomical observations.

: Mayaland Restaurant

After this long but very interesting walk I was starving, and the guide took us to the Mayaland restaurant, where we enjoyed a delicious buffet that included Mexican food like cochinita pibil (slow roasted pork tacos), accompanied by a small folkloric dance show.

And this was still not the end of the adventure! Our last stop was the Ik Kil cenote, a big open natural water sink hole in the jungle, with a stairway down to the swimming platform. It’s a good idea to rent a lifevest, because the cenote is really deep. We stayed there just for half an hour, but it was so refreshing to submerge ourselves in the cool water after the long day of walking in the sun.

: Ik Kil Cenote

Next time you come to Playa del Carmen, don’t forget to visit this magical ancient place, and judge yourself why it was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World!

A Day of Adventure at the Heaven on Earth

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Yazmín Rodríguez

Ivette is our new social media assistant and she would like to share a story about her trip to the magical Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve, surrounded by jungle and wilderness, where lagoon meets the Caribbean Sea in all its natural glory.

-Blog Managers

Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve

I was at my office and I read a couple of interesting things about Sian Ka’an, so I talked to the Condo Hotels’ concierge and arranged a wildlife tour for me and my friends.

The tour operator picked us up here at the beautiful El Taj hotel in a gray Jeep Wrangler, and our adventure began.

The Biosphere Reserve, surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, is at two hours from Playa del Carmen. It’s a long way, so I recommend you take your IPod with your favorite playlist and sing along all the way!

You shouldn’t also forget to bring some purified water to drink and to keep your Jeep’s tank full, because you won’t find any gas stations or convenience stores along the way.

But getting there is an adventure in itself. You can admire how different colors of the sea change from blue to turquoise, and see all the rich variety of tropical plants along the path. The other reason why you won’t get bored is that the road is not paved (remember that is a nature reserve) so you will find a lot of bumps, just be ready for the adventure… and try no to eat too much before your tour!

The road to Sian Ka'an

Sian Ka’an means Beginning of the Sky, and it’s a natural reserve with amazing mangroves and the Coral Reef, the second largest in the world. You can also find great beaches with white sand and more than 300 species of birds!

This tour included a boat ride and snorkeling, so once we got to Punta Allen, we went straight to the boats, and they gave us our snorkeling equipment and took us by boat to the sea.

: Boat to the snorkeling spot

Just before we got under the water to snorkel, I saw a beautiful view right in front of my eyes – it was a family of dolphins swimming around the boat! We continued our way to snorkeling, and, believe or not, we saw a manatee, also right in front of our eyes! It was amazing to see these mammals so close and in their natural habitat.

The snorkeling was amazing, too. After all, it’s the second largest coral reef in the world, in its most pristine part. We saw a lot of marine animals – starfishes, barracudas, squid, ocean surgeonfish and other colorful species.

Heaven on earth!!!

After that our tour guide took us to the seashore, and there were no words to describe how beautiful it’s natural beauty… We were surrounded by nothing else but white sand, palms and turqoise water… If you are looking for inspiration, you’re definitely going to find it here, it’s like heaven on earth.

When we were back on the land, we were starving, so we entered a small local restaurant, and ordered some fresh fish and lobster. We enjoyed an interesting little talk, magnificent sunset, delicious lobster and white wine. That was our day in paradise.

Rick’s Playa Part 2: In Love with El Taj

Posted on September 24, 2012 by Raminta

In August, 2011 my wife Jane and I, our son Ricky, his girlfriend Ange and two of Jane’s sisters – Bobbi and Sue – had a too short 4-night vacation at El Taj in Playa del Carmen.

We stayed at El Taj in Playa del Carmen at the end of an 8-day adventure in the Yucatan that I wrote about here.

I promised I’d be back with the rest of the story, and here it is. We picked unit 336 because a) it was a spectacular hotel in Playa del Carmen b) it could accommodate six people c) it overlooked the beach and d) with apologies for repeating myself, but it was SPEC-TA-CU-LAR! In fact, the entire El Taj property was so amazing that we vowed to return as soon as we could (and we’re going back at the end of 2012).

Rick Howe in Unit 336 at El Taj

If you haven’t been to Playa del Carmen, or if you haven’t been to El Taj, I need to paint a picture for you. One side of El Taj overlooks the Caribbean, and the other side lies on a quiet back street in Playa. You walk in the front door and up a short flight of stairs and you are transported to an astonishing Caribbean/Balinese world. When you stand there, surrounded by authentic furniture and decorations and statuary from Bali, and the sounds and smells from the water, and the smiles of the staff . . . everything you thought, everything you felt, especially everything you worried about, simply evaporates.

We travel to Mexico a LOT! El Taj is IN Mexico, but it is NOT simply Mexican!

Rooftop Hot Tub at El Taj

It is a sensory hybrid that you must experience to believe. I have read some comparisons between El Taj and resorts like Disney’s Polynesian Resort at Walt Disney World. I’ve been to The Polynesian – when Ricky was young it was one of our favorite places at WDW (mostly because it’s on the Monorail), but the “Poly,” as the folks who work there call it, is as artificial as a movie set. It may look authentic on the surface, but behind the paint is plywood and styrofoam. And I’ve made the mistake of staying at Hilton and Hyatt properties in various resort locations, including Waikoloa Village on the Big Island of Hawaii. And right under the surface it’s all the same: plywood and styrofoam.

El Taj, on the other hand, is completely authentic. The art is ART. The statues are BRONZE. The furniture is HAND-MADE. We know – we’ve been to Bali. It rings true in every corner, at every step. El Taj is gorgeous. A magical fantasy.

View from the private rooftop at El Taj

But yet, for all that, Mexico is just a few steps out the door. We arrived on a Wednesday late afternoon, having driven from Merida with stops at the Dzitnup Cenote, the Pyramid at Coba, and Tulum. We wanted to go out to a great Mexican restaurant for dinner. The folks at the front desk gave us a list of restaurants who offered discounts to guests of El Taj and the other Condo Hotels properties. I fired up Trip Advisor on my little laptop and checked restaurant reviews in Playa del Carmen, and based on the reviews we picked Mi Pueblo on Fifth Ave at about 8th St. North. Outdoor seating for people-watching, Mariachi Bands (who take requests), and delicious food. It was a great place to start off our vacation’s first night – eat and shop on Fifth Ave – all in one location.

The next morning Ricky and Ange wanted some adventure, so the front desk arranged for them to go up to Maroma for horseback riding, jet-skiing and snorkeling.

Horseback Riding at Maroma

A whole day adventure that was convenient, reasonably priced and so much fun that the kids are going to do it all again when we return.

The adults opted for Indigo Beach Club in front of El Taj, lunch on the sand, swimming in the Caribbean and time in the pools. And then we all went shopping! With a few side excursions, Fifth Ave is the main commerce area in Playa, about 20 blocks of pedestrian walkway that is the envy of every resort town. Food, fashion, jewelry, art and artifacts, furniture, tequila, cigars, bars, clubs, shoes, handmade clothing and more. I suspect you might be able to explore every store on Fifth Ave if you spent five hours a day for about ten days. But I’m a guy – I shop fast. Jane’s sisters would probably take twice – no, three times – that long.

That night we tried another Trip Advisor-recommended restaurant – La Mission, on Tenth Ave (which is only one block west of Fifth Ave – go figure), a little south of 2nd St. North. We were greeted by Juan, who must be either the owner or manager – his English was very good. It was a little warm (you should sit back away from the grill in the front), but the food and the music was wonderful.

The next day, while the family was out baking in the sun at Indigo Beach at El Taj, I opted for a massage right there on the beach. And while I was drifting away, Ricky arranged for a boat to carry us down the beach (towards Akumal, I believe) for some snorkeling. Sounded good to me. But when we got there what did we see? Turtles. Sea turtles.

On the way to swim with the turtles

Swimming around us. The guys on the boat had little bait fish with them. So when I held out a little fish underwater, this BIG BEAUTIFUL turtle – who was SMILING! – swam right up and grabbed it out of my hand.

That night we had our third dinner in Playa del Carmen, again with a recommendation from Trip Advisor. This time we drove up to 38th St. North to Origenes, and the meal was spectacular! We got GREAT service and WONDERFUL food, accompanied by two very talented musicians.

Origenes in Playa del Carmen

Sat outdoors on a cool evening, although inside seating was also available. All the food was wonderful, and we’re pretty picky (lots of travel experience to Mexico over the years): Calamares Fritos (Fried Calamari), Camarones Mango (Shrimp with Mango), Fetuccini con Mariscos (Fetuccini with Seafood), Pasta Rellena con Huitlacoche (home-made Ravioli with corn truffles), Pesca del dia al Ajillo (fresh fish with LOTS of garlic!!!). Yumm!!

The next day Ricky proposed to Ange (!!!!!), having slipped the engagement ring on her finger while she slept. There is another long story there, but that day was spent with the warmth of the ocean, the warmth of El Taj, and the radiant warmth of their love for each other. So to celebrate, we arranged for a private chef to prepare dinner for us in our place.

Rocio arrived at our condo loaded with groceries, and with an assistant. It was fascinating to watch a professional chef prepare our dinner – washing, sorting, slicing, cooking and tasting in OUR kitchen! We had already told her we would dine “up on the roof,” so she brought all of our courses upstairs for our gastronomic pleasure. She served all six of us and waited politely for our approval.

Private Chef at El Taj Rocio Norzagaray

It was all delicious. Rocio was wonderful, and we couldn’t have been happier. So we’ve already arranged for her to prepare another dinner for us when we return.

Playa del Carmen is unlike any resort I have even been to in my 62 years. And El Taj is simply magical. If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to drop me a line. I’m a yapper, and I love to share. My email address is rickhowe@aol.com

Condo Hotels vs Traditional Hotels

Posted on September 12, 2012 by Raminta

Currently, condo style hotels in Playa del Carmen are on the rise.

El Taj Oceanfront by Sarah Natasha

There is no wonder, because how else will you solve a teenager plus parents situation – would you put them in the same hotel room with two beds? I don’t think so. Get a separate room for kids and one for parents? Sure, but it can get costly and, especially if kids are younger, parents might want to have them closer… but not too close.

Living room at El Taj Oceanfront condo hotel

Or let’s say there is a group of friends traveling together. Wouldn’t it be sweet to stay at a luxury private condo with a large common living room, modern equipped kitchen and a private rooftop with a Jacuzzi and sweeping views of the turquoise Caribbean waters?

It’s even better yet if your condo hotel is located in the best downtown area of the Mexican Caribbean paradise-like playground, Playa del Carmen.

Private rooftop with a Jacuzzi at Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen

Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen offer luxury condo style accommodations, and function as a 5-star hotel with daily maid service, a private Beach Club, two restaurants (La Sirena serves freshest seafood in the area and Imprevist is the most romantic gourmet restaurant in Playa).

Indigo Beach Club has the most comfortable Bali-imported beds I have ever tried. Get up in the morning at El Taj, the beachfront property, roll down the stairs to the Beach Club, and enjoy the delicious oceanfront breakfast buffet. Spend the day on one of these luxurious beach beds, with a beach attendant carefully adjusting your umbrella to provide you with shade all day long.

Indigo Beach Club

Try fresh ceviche or oven brick pizza for lunch. In the evening, stroll on the famous pedestrian 5th Avenue (a block away from the hotel) with all the outdoor bars and restaurants.

Finish the evening with a delicious tasting gourmet menu at Imprevist.

Dining Room at Imprevist

Traditional hotel with a small room? An all-inclusive tucked away in the jungle? These are just for the amateurs.

Beach Clubs in Playa del Carmen

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Raminta

Indigo Beach Club

Playa del Carmen is all about fun in the sun. Its beaches are some of the most beautiful you will ever see, and the vibe of an international beach town has made it famous worldwide in the past years. It’s hard to believe that only fifteen years ago Playa was only a small fishing village with unpaved streets.

Today, it still preserves the charm of a small fishing village, but at the same time this Mexican Caribbean beach town has developed into a glamorous international beach spot with multi-national restaurants and bars lining its famous pedestrian 5th Avenue and during the day, most of the fun concentrates in its Beach Clubs. There are many, but a few stand out.

Indigo Beach Club at El Taj

Indigo Beach Club is located at the luxurious and lavish El Taj hotel in Playa del Carmen, and it follows the hotel’s Bali theme with comfortable authentic Balinese beach beds and umbrellas, and super attentive staff.

Indigo restaurant serves fresh ceviches, brick oven pizzas, and prides itself in an Asian-Mediterranean fusion menu.

On Sundays, there is always a live band performing and a buffet served. Check out their famous breakfasts, too, served right on the beach.

Mamitas Beach Club is a Playa staple and has been around for years. While some say that its glory has been lost and transfered to Indigo, Mamitas still has a draw among tourists with its loud lounge music and party-on-the-beach vibe.

Canibal Royal is located a bit further from the downtown area, but it’s worth the hike (or a cab ride). The food is a gourmet Asian-Mexican cuisine, and it features a fun, laid back vibe, preferred by many locals.

Playa del Carmen’s beach clubs are where the fun happens, St. Tropez style. So be ready to be immersed in a carefree, relaxed atmosphere, and order a margarita. And another one.

Playa Beach Club

Destination Weddings in Playa del Carmen and “Trash the Dress” Concept

Posted on August 24, 2012 by Raminta

Every girl has a dream of a fairy tale wedding. These days, fairy tales are becoming a reality as more and more couples choose to escape the kitsch-like environment of the boring events spaces of their native town, and to head for a tropical, romantic, and – equally important – affordable destination weddings.

View from the pool at El Taj Oceanfront

On my recent visit to El Taj Oceanfront in Playa del Carmen, the atmosphere was festive. A beautiful bride in a tropically coral wedding dress was running up and down the stairs at this beachfront boutique hotel in Playa del Carmen and suddenly, she jumped into the pool with a glass wall, while the wedding photographer was snapping pictures of her floating underwater, her hair wild and and her dress hugging her body.

That was a typical photo shoot of “trash the dress,” which is a new concept in destination weddings. A romantic, tropical foreign country encourages more liberty and breaks traditional wedding standards by inspiring imagination and fearlessness in young modern brides. So instead of having their wedding dress spend decades in a closet till it gets yellow and old, they opt for having amazing pictures in their wedding dress that will stay forever, even for the future generations. These pictures can be of her in the sea, of her underwater, on the beach, in a pool, in the jungle…. you name it!

Trash the Dress photoshoot. By Del Sol

The vibrant, international Mexican beach town of Playa del Carmen, to me, is a perfect location for such joyful, free-spirited photo shoot (with its turquoise Caribbean Sea, jungle cenotes, which are natural sink holes, and amazing pools).

Wedding Photography at El Taj Hotel in Playa del Carmen

Wedding photoshoot at El Taj. Photographed by Del Sol

And in Playa, El Taj is the dream hotel for a perfect luxurious wedding. It faces the white sand beach and offers upscale multi-bedroom units with living rooms, private terraces, outdoor Jacuzzis and rooftops. Host your family and friends here, and have an amazing photo shoot with Del Sol Photography, which specializes in the most creative and daring wedding photography.

A living room at El Taj Oceanfront

I believe that your family and friends would be thankful, too, for the most unforgettable wedding experience of their lives. Hey, some blue Caribbean water and Mexican mariachi music cannot hurt. And if you stay at a penthouse at El Taj Oceanfront with 180 degree views of the bright blue sea, even better.

Contact Linda with questions about El Taj weddings: lindamktg@msn.com.

The Best Golf Is Here in Playa del Carmen

Posted on August 22, 2012 by Ken Schmidt

During a recent trip back to the States, my brother dragged me out on the golf course in Florida. I forgot how great it was to play outdoors in the sunshine and I have to admit that he gave me the bug to get the clubs out again. I dragged myself out of the office and headed out to the El Camaleon Mayakoba. Of course I was a concerned knowing that this is the only PGA Tour course played in Mexico and, being a little rusty in my skills, it could present an interesting challenge.

As I headed out to the starter, I ran into my good friends at Teed Off Tee Times. Cheryl and Kevin were just finishing up a round with the manager of the Fairmont Mayakoba. They tagged along with me for a few holes to gab and give me a little company.

The course is incredible, with long, sweeping runways and the view is breathtaking. Then there are the holes that line the Riviera Maya beach. The sound of the waves and ocean breeze make it a truly amazing experience.

One hole a group of Tejon came running across the tee box and all around you will find different sizes of iguanas checking to make sure you fill your divots.

The result was that I shot a ummm… I must have misplaced the scorecard (haha), but remember only losing 6 balls, which is a major feat for my rusty game. I recommend and encourage this beautiful Playa del Carmen golf course for any guest of Condo Hotels Playa del Carmen.

Playa Del Carmen :: Your Premier Vacation Destination

Category Archives: Blog

Introducing a Special Guest of El Taj Oceanfront

Mexican Breakfast in Playa del Carmen… Would You Join Me?

Dining in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen Tour: At the Mouth of the Well of Itza

A Day of Adventure at the Heaven on Earth

Rick’s Playa Part 2: In Love with El Taj

Condo Hotels vs Traditional Hotels

Beach Clubs in Playa del Carmen

Destination Weddings in Playa del Carmen and “Trash the Dress” Concept

The Best Golf Is Here in Playa del Carmen

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