Akumal Vacation 2009: That is I rockin’ the Timbuk2 murse which is the perfect carrier for my Canon G10 and Dell Mini 9. We found a store near Tulum called Shalom. Last year we found a different one in Playa del Carmen. Very entertaining. I learned a lot on this trip and I’d like to share some thoughts. The best breakfast/lunch place in Akumal is Turtle Bay Cafe. The best dinner place is La Lunita. Beer is cheaper at El Pueblito (compared to its neighbor Super Chomak). Never run low on cash in rural Mexico. If one ATM is down, they’re all down. They can also run out of money. If you see locals selling bug spray, BUY IT. They are located where mosquitoes are rampant like the Tulum ruins. Akumal has a gym called Peak Gym. It’s $10 per day for a decent vacation facility. If you follow the speed limit on the highway, you will get passed by honking/flashing drivers. This includes buses and large trucks. Locals are afraid to say “I don’t know.” They would rather point in a random direction. Airport gates are only “placeholders.” There are also no announcements. This means if you go to the gate printed on your ticket, you will miss your flight. Use pesos. Akumal uses an arbitrary exchange rate designed to screw Americans. Never accept the first price you hear for souvenirs. MOST IMPORTANT TRAVEL LESSON: Stand right in front of where luggage appears at baggage claim. Old, senile people will take any luggage that is similar to theirs without checking. I seriously saw my bag being slowly pushed by me on a Smarte Carte in SFO. There’s a reason I have my business card in plastic dangling from the handle. Moron. Yes I realize that some of these are general travel tips unrelated to Akumal/Mexico. I still deemed them important enough to share.

Akumal Vacation 2009:

That is I rockin’ the Timbuk2 murse which is the perfect carrier for my Canon G10 and Dell Mini 9. We found a store near Tulum called Shalom. Last year we found a different one in Playa del Carmen. Very entertaining.

I learned a lot on this trip and I’d like to share some thoughts.

The best breakfast/lunch place in Akumal is Turtle Bay Cafe.
The best dinner place is La Lunita.
Beer is cheaper at El Pueblito (compared to its neighbor Super Chomak).
Never run low on cash in rural Mexico. If one ATM is down, they’re all down. They can also run out of money.
If you see locals selling bug spray, BUY IT. They are located where mosquitoes are rampant like the Tulum ruins.
Akumal has a gym called Peak Gym. It’s $10 per day for a decent vacation facility.
If you follow the speed limit on the highway, you will get passed by honking/flashing drivers. This includes buses and large trucks.
Locals are afraid to say “I don’t know.” They would rather point in a random direction.
Airport gates are only “placeholders.” There are also no announcements. This means if you go to the gate printed on your ticket, you will miss your flight.
Use pesos. Akumal uses an arbitrary exchange rate designed to screw Americans.
Never accept the first price you hear for souvenirs.

MOST IMPORTANT TRAVEL LESSON:
Stand right in front of where luggage appears at baggage claim. Old, senile people will take any luggage that is similar to theirs without checking. I seriously saw my bag being slowly pushed by me on a Smarte Carte in SFO. There’s a reason I have my business card in plastic dangling from the handle. Moron.

Yes I realize that some of these are general travel tips unrelated to Akumal/Mexico. I still deemed them important enough to share.