Semi-resort for non-resort family?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -thank you to those who offered specific suggestions.

The reason we are not interested in resorts is that we are not seeking organized activities or entertainment, pools, drinks, all-you-can-eat…
I am hoping for hikes to ruins and simple lodging from where to walk out onto a clean beach. If close to a city, beautiful architecture would matter, and in that case we’d spring for a historic hotel. Sounded simple enough to me, but maybe not.

How is this not just a hotel? What aspects of a resort do you want?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here -thank you to those who offered specific suggestions.

The reason we are not interested in resorts is that we are not seeking organized activities or entertainment, pools, drinks, all-you-can-eat…
I am hoping for hikes to ruins and simple lodging from where to walk out onto a clean beach. If close to a city, beautiful architecture would matter, and in that case we’d spring for a historic hotel. Sounded simple enough to me, but maybe not.

You didn’t articulate any of that.

Exactly. What you describe is what we look for when we do beach vacations and I still had no idea what you initially meant by a "semi resort for a non -resort family".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here -thank you to those who offered specific suggestions.

The reason we are not interested in resorts is that we are not seeking organized activities or entertainment, pools, drinks, all-you-can-eat…
I am hoping for hikes to ruins and simple lodging from where to walk out onto a clean beach. If close to a city, beautiful architecture would matter, and in that case we’d spring for a historic hotel. Sounded simple enough to me, but maybe not.

So you want a non all inclusive hotel that's on the beach and/or in historical part of a city.

[Anonymous]

So you're looking for a place to stay while you engage activities you desire is that it?

So just go to a fun place where you like stuff around?

PR is good but CR would be PR x 10. Mexico is great for relaxing for sure. I mean Santa Fe and Sedona are beautiful then and offer tons of outdoor activities. If you're specifically seeking historical ruins to explore look at Central America I guess.

[Anonymous]

Valladolifad near chicken itza is also lovely as a small colonial town to spend a day or night.

I’m not sure there is something quite what OP is describing. Is it even safe to just take a hike to most of these ruins? I can think of one set of ruins I hike to south of Mexico City but it was with a Mexican friend Whose grandpatents lived in that town. I’m not sure I’d want to go wandering through the jungle in Central America or Yucatán in a hike but I guess others are more adventurous. And I admit that my view may be colored by the fact that o really liked the Mexican TV show Bandidos (watch it!!)

There are small resorts or hotels in Costa Rica that are like what OP is describing but no real ruins there.

San Juan is a great city for wandering and tjrre are good hikes but maybe not all walkable from the same place.

I said Belize before and I’d reiterate that as a possibility but would need to take a tour to get inland to the ruins.

Most of the cool ruins are inland. I think tulum is the only one near a beach and it’s not that great.

[Anonymous]

Puerto Rico

[Anonymous]

Stay at the Marriott stellaris in Condado in PR. 10 min from airport. 10 min to old San Juan. Walkable to a ton of restaurants. 45 min to El Junque. Some resort activities but not a full resort. Pools and beach access (tho water is very rough). It’s so easy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Valladolifad near chicken itza is also lovely as a small colonial town to spend a day or night.

I’m not sure there is something quite what OP is describing. Is it even safe to just take a hike to most of these ruins? I can think of one set of ruins I hike to south of Mexico City but it was with a Mexican friend Whose grandpatents lived in that town. I’m not sure I’d want to go wandering through the jungle in Central America or Yucatán in a hike but I guess others are more adventurous. And I admit that my view may be colored by the fact that o really liked the Mexican TV show Bandidos (watch it!!)

There are small resorts or hotels in Costa Rica that are like what OP is describing but no real ruins there.

San Juan is a great city for wandering and tjrre are good hikes but maybe not all walkable from the same place.

I said Belize before and I’d reiterate that as a possibility but would need to take a tour to get inland to the ruins.

Most of the cool ruins are inland. I think tulum is the only one near a beach and it’s not that great.

OP here -thank you. You must be lovely IRL.

[Anonymous]

OP you might also want to think about Hawaii. The big island or Kauai would have lots of places with casual beaches and hikes … the big island also has the petroglyphs which are cool.

[Anonymous]

Most ruins I would assume require a licensed guide, if you’re traveling responsibly. I second the recommendation for Belize or Guatemala. Love the Coppola resorts, but you will still have to figure out transport to the ruins. Is unclear whether you are looking for a luxury hotel, eg Coppola resorts, or just a basic hotel. If just a basic hotel, my mom stayed in the Hilton in San Juan and enjoyed it. Like a block from the beach, I think. Or Sheraton in Puerto Vallarta, but again you have to either rent a car or figure out your transport, like a regular vacation.

Based on your post, I would avoid Riviera Maya/Tulum, as it sounds like the type of commercial area you dislike. Maybe st Lucia?

I agree with previous posters that your initial post and follow up are not worded in such a way as to elicit a lot of help/sympathy. Maybe reconsider next time

[Anonymous]

DP. There's nothing in OP's post that requires "sympathy", just needed some clarification.

[Anonymous]

Op, sorry to revive this thread but was researching something else and came upon this Mayan ruin near the “costa maya”:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chacchoben

It’s about an hour inland from the beach area but looks like there are lots of smaller type beach hotels at costa maya. I haven’t been to that area but it looks sort of like an Unresort type thing so I thought of you.

[Anonymous]

Do you need beach proximity every day? If not, you could do a Belize jungle lodge with plus a few days at the beach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Valladolifad near chicken itza is also lovely as a small colonial town to spend a day or night.

I’m not sure there is something quite what OP is describing. Is it even safe to just take a hike to most of these ruins? I can think of one set of ruins I hike to south of Mexico City but it was with a Mexican friend Whose grandpatents lived in that town. I’m not sure I’d want to go wandering through the jungle in Central America or Yucatán in a hike but I guess others are more adventurous. And I admit that my view may be colored by the fact that o really liked the Mexican TV show Bandidos (watch it!!)

There are small resorts or hotels in Costa Rica that are like what OP is describing but no real ruins there.

San Juan is a great city for wandering and tjrre are good hikes but maybe not all walkable from the same place.

I said Belize before and I’d reiterate that as a possibility but would need to take a tour to get inland to the ruins.

Most of the cool ruins are inland. I think tulum is the only one near a beach and it’s not that great.

OP here -thank you. You must be lovely IRL.

What’s wrong with you? Do your own research if you’re going to be so vague and then hostile to everyone responding to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Valladolifad near chicken itza is also lovely as a small colonial town to spend a day or night.

I’m not sure there is something quite what OP is describing. Is it even safe to just take a hike to most of these ruins? I can think of one set of ruins I hike to south of Mexico City but it was with a Mexican friend Whose grandpatents lived in that town. I’m not sure I’d want to go wandering through the jungle in Central America or Yucatán in a hike but I guess others are more adventurous. And I admit that my view may be colored by the fact that o really liked the Mexican TV show Bandidos (watch it!!)

There are small resorts or hotels in Costa Rica that are like what OP is describing but no real ruins there.

San Juan is a great city for wandering and tjrre are good hikes but maybe not all walkable from the same place.

I said Belize before and I’d reiterate that as a possibility but would need to take a tour to get inland to the ruins.

Most of the cool ruins are inland. I think tulum is the only one near a beach and it’s not that great.

OP here -thank you. You must be lovely IRL.

What’s wrong with you? Do your own research if you’re going to be so vague and then hostile to everyone responding to you.

OP here again. Huh? I was thanking the poster. Thanking her for taking the time to give useful suggestions. If she’s that kind online, where everyone seemingly jumps in with hostility and preconceptions, she must be lovely IRL.

I might have not explained myself well, but better reading skills would help you.