So it's checkout time at the Shore Club, and this is when you find out about all the ridiculous taxes, we have 3 types of tax added to the quoted price for the room which bumps up the charges massively. What is wrong with the US, same yesterday in the shops.... Just quote the full price to pay and show the tax on the receipt, don't quote the before tax amount only ... then we don't all have to get a bloody calculator out to work out what you need us to pay and if we can afford it. It's these little annoyances that just make you feel like never coming back!
Thankfully though we are leaving.... So it's off to the airport, we head to checkin with American and this is when Helen gets a shock that her bags are over weight, it's all in pounds which is confusing as well. 10lbs over and it's $10 per pound charge. I have to pay for an extra bag but that is only $40, and to be honest as I have pretty much got away with it to now on all my flights I'm not that upset to pay it. Helen creates her additional hand luggage out of a spare bag of mine and we make our way through customs.
The flight is 2hrs and you get a drink, just soft drinks are free the rest you pay and no food or anything else. Thankfully we had bought lunch which was lovely (my advice to do that because the food on American airlines i don't think should actually be classified as food, it's bloody awful, every flight I have ever had with them it's been the worst food of any airline and I have flown with many!!). We arrive in Mexico and its nice to feel some warmth, its still a bit cloudy here but warmer by far from Miami.
It takes us about 45minutes to get to Playa Del Carmen, driving in you see the huge all inclusive hotels and the usual street setup with the electricity wires overhead and small sprawling houses, typical of this sort of place and like Central America, Caribbean really. Our reception in the hotel is really great, the place is lovely and we find we have been upgraded due to a mishap with out booking and have a balcony room.
The room is nice, very white, really lovely. More blackout blinds and sound proofing!! We are given out vouchers for various places to eat, drink etc. and told about the pool party on Friday and the like. After unpacking we head to our pool bar for a drink, maybe two... And the to Mi Pueblo for some food. This is we're we discover just how hot the Mexican food is, and it is hot!
We have learnt from Miami too, big portions so from now on we are sharing. Shared started and main, we have shrimp and lobster, it was lovely. I love the little warm bags the flour tortillas come in, they are quilted like a blanket. I think the drink goes to Helen's head a little as after dinner we seem to embark on a crazy shopping spree, so to save her from buying everything from sunglasses, to bags and shoes made out of crocodile I advise a cooling off period. We get them to put the items on hold on the promise to return tomorrow (none alcohol fuelled) and check she still likes them.
I think Helen is a little over excited with the range of shops in the area... To be honest there are bargains to be made especially with the fact that every 50m there is a sunglasses shop! There are so many shops with sales people trying to draw you in though that 5th Ave is a little frustrating to walk down. It's very Americanised here, but then that is the main tourist attracted and tourism is 90% of employment here too so they are all after your money in one way or another.
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