| Playa Sonrisa All You Need Is Your Smile! A Casual Paradise for Couples Caribbean Costa Maya, Xcalak, Mexico |
| Traveler's Tips |
| Check In Time: 2:00 pm. Lunch Hours: 12:00 noon ~ 2:00 pm. Dinner time: 7:30 pm. Check out time: 11:00 am For Delayed Departures see "Day Use" below. Cash is King: Outside of the busy tourist zones very few places accept credit cards - not even most gas stations. Traveller's Checks are NOT widely accepted outside of Cancun or at Playa Sonrisa. Playa Sonrisa does not accept credit cards onsite - only for lodging IN ADVANCE of arrival. (For Payments see link on Rates Page). Please Bring CASH for onsite meals & beverages We accept Pesos or Dollars and convert at the current rate at a "good" Casa de Cambio (not the poor airport rate). Also be sure to bring plenty of cash to cover gasoline, Meals, beverages & activities such as scuba, fishing, massages & shopping. There are NO unusual security issues with carrying cash on your person, provided you use common sense as you would anywhere. US Dollars are widely accepted, but at shops & restaurants you will get a very poor exchange rate of 10.0 pesos = $1 US Dollar but the real range fluctuates around 10.6 ~ 10.8 pesos to the Dollar. So if you convert part of your cash to Pesos you will in effect get a 6% ~ 8% "discount". AVOID the 'Caseta de Cambio' at the Airport - you will get a better exchange rate anywhere else. The BEST EXCHANGE RATE is from ATM machines. Most common bank networks work here just like home. (Consider contacting your bank before your trip to raise your daily withdrawal limit - typically $300 per day max). There is NO Bank, ATM or Casa de Cambio in Xcalak so be sure to bring plenty of cash for gasoline, meals, beverages & activities such as scuba diving, fishing & shopping. Gasoline: Be advised that PEMEX gas stations are not found in every village (nor in Xcalak) so plan accordingly. A new Pemex is now open in Mahahual (but may run out of gas) and Bacalar has 2 Pemex's and 2 ATM's. Topes: Watch out for "Tope" road signs - which means "speed bump" and are found in every town and village. And believe me - if you don't slow down for the first one, you will for the next! Driving After Dark is not recommended - not because of 'Banditos' - but because we share the road with slow moving bicycles, livestock, wildlife and an occasional drunk driver. And it's just easier & less stressful to travel unfamiliar roads in daylight. See link below for more driving tips and directions. Car Rentals: From Cancun a taxi w/ driver will cost a negotiable $400 US one-way to Playa Sonrisa, so most guests choose the comfort & convenience of a rental car. See the link below for more info on car rentals. Bus Service: There is twice daily bus service to Xcalak. Not very convenient schedules, but if you are adventurous and speak a little Spanish it is a very economical way to travel. Another factor to consider is our location 7 km north of Xcalak, but only 1 (undependable) taxi in the village. Click the link below for more info on Bus Service. Day Use: Playa Sonrisa allows Day Use visitors, restricted to Naturist Couples Only. See Info link below. *Departing Guests > no charge for use of beach until noon. Day Use Fee discounted 33% for use after noon. The Weather: January-February-March is "High Season" not because the weather is "perfect" here, but because it is so far from perfect up north and many travelers want a winter escape from the cold & snow. We are "in the Tropics" but at latitude 18° North it is our wintertime also - so us tropical wimps can sometimes get chilly. But "chilly" is a relative term, and with winter daytime highs typically in the mid-70's to low-80's & overnight low temps in the 60's or 70´s it may not be "bake your bones" warm, but is certainly pleasant enough to enjoy both the beach and water activities. The best weather of the year is late spring (April & early May) - which curiously enough coincides with a low number of visitors. Early summer is nice also. By late summer it gets pretty hot & humid (this is the tropics) - although quite tolerable if you stay casual next to the refreshing Caribbean Sea. And what better time for a beach vacation than summertime? "Rainy Season", a.k.a. Hurricane Season, is technically June thru November. But that doesn't mean 6 months of steady rain and/or tropical storms. Even in rainy season most days are predominately sunny with occasional showers & thunderstorms, not days on end of pouring rain unless a tropical storm or hurricane is visiting. Statistically there is only about a 5% chance of a tropical storm or hurricane disrupting any particular week. Autumn is the least pleasant weather - tropical hot, humid, and the mosquitoes can be bothersome, although we usually enjoy a cooling offshore breeze which keeps the insects seeking refuge in the jungle. But during these months you will enjoy Low Season rates, similar good deals on airfare & rental cars, and guaranteed NO crowds. (Not that we ever have big crowds, but in low season you are apt to feel like Tom Hanks in 'Shipwrecked' - with margaritas!). Just bring a lightweight pair of long pants to cover your legs in evenings (sweats or jammies - after all, it's a casual place) and some insect repellent. (Our giftshop "SMALMART" carries almost nothing, but it does have small spray bottles of repellent for $40 pesos - almost free today!) And when the rains go away in December so do the bugs. But it's the weather - and who can predict it?!? We have gorgeous days all 12 months of the year, also some days that aren't quite perfect. But we can guarantee you won't be shovelling snow or scraping ice from your windshield! Power & Water: Please see "Room Interiors" for info on our electric power & water limitations. Communications: Our phone and computer are NOT available for guest use, however feel free to give our email address playasonrisa@yahoo.com to family, friends or bosses for emergency contact and we will deliver important messages. We do have a wireless router so if you bring a laptop you MAY be able to connect (no promises). There is a public phone and a public internet kiosk in the village. One Last Thing: Sorry to be repetitive but some people still underestimate their capacity for fun so be sure to bring plenty of cash! |
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| Driving Directions |
| Car Rentals |
| Day Visitors |
| Back to Rates |
| Bus Service |