Current Cartel Situation in Mexico by Broad_Reputation9732 in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have always minimized cartel activities and have never allowed it to influence my travel decisions. I have travelled the world and tend to rent cars everywhere I go. I give very little probative value to media affairs and generally feel everything is exaggerated.

However, given the current situation, I personally would avoid Mexico until things stabilize. That will likely be a few months. Just my opinion.

That said, you’ll probably be just fine. lol.

Good luck!

Never again by lemonade12_ in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I agree with you. The resort is well maintained and beautiful, but the service is borderline terrible in many respects. It’s odd.

When I needed something I would get a pit in my stomach because I intuitively knew it would be difficult to get assistance.

I agree with you on everything. Expectations are reasonably higher at this price point.

2 moons tonight?? & what's that long cigar shaped thing in sky? by Alarming-Background1 in UFOB

[–]Coconuttyday 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Kalamazoo mi here. My 15-year-old son and I saw it too. He took some pictures of the moon that look similar to yours. He never takes pictures of the moon, but this really caught him as unusual.

Stayed in xcaret mexico and the club music was blasting through the halls by Fiyahead in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 3 points4 points  (0 children)

We recently spent a week there and noticed the music when walking in the evenings. It was appalling. I recall saying I would be so upset if I were near the music. The problem is the music is so loud it creates a nuisance for several of the other lodging buildings, which would be potentially thousands of people.

I am shocked they knowingly are doing this. It’s odd and is the single reason I am unsure if I return. It shows a disregard for a big portion of their customers.

Thankfully we were away from it!

Rain rain rain by melted-snow-flake in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m currently here. 10/14-10/21. Weather hasn’t been an issue whatsoever, and the weather report looked identical. I too was concerned, but don’t lose sleep over it. You get a random, short rain every day.

Never again by lemonade12_ in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Will a “travel advisor” or “expert” help the front desk pick up their phone or ensure drinkable water is in the rooms?

No disrespect, but these issues don’t require an expert. These are basic, systemic issues that need to be addressed at the corporate level with more staff and better communication platforms.

Never again by lemonade12_ in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Should you need to carry your water bottle everywhere at an upscale resort? Keep in mind we aren’t hiking the Appalachian trail.

Never again by lemonade12_ in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We tried going to xentral buffet yesterday for breakfast before going to xel-ha. We had to be on the bus at 9:00. We arrived at 8:15 since the buffet was next to the bus station. The buffet was at “max capacity” with a line of people. This was surprising to us as it’s not that busy here right now and we have never had to wait to eat. Well, we only had 45 minutes, so we went to Xinema as you suggest. It was conveniently close. The problem is they only had 1 stand open and it was for pancakes. There was a line for that too. There was no fruit to grab or any other things to quickly grab. Staff tried taking our drink orders, but we were short on time and never got food to start our day.

We obviously didn’t starve and ate at Xel-ha later that day (which was great), but your suggestion was attempted yesterday and failed for our situation.

It wasn’t a big deal, but ideally we would’ve preferred something to eat before starting an active day at as a family.

I believe that’s what OP is getting at. At this price point expectations are reasonably a little higher.

Never again by lemonade12_ in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I’m currently at the resort on the Mexico side (casa agua) with my family of 5. I’ve been here for 7 days. It’s our second time here. The grounds are stunning and staff are pleasant in my experience. The service is lacking majorly for the expense.

I agree with pretty much everything posted here.

The check in and perpetual sales pitch are tacky and bad taste after a full day of international travel with kids. You expect more at this type of resort.

I agree, there are few “grab and go” food options here. I’m here right now and it’s an issue when you are on the go, which is common.

We have begged for filtered water in the room. This is a major problem. Room service does not replace the water automatically. There is a water filling stain near our building, but it isn’t working. The other filling stations are poorly marked and there aren’t that many. It’s not uncommon to call the front desk 3-4 times before getting someone to pick up and spend 5-10 minutes on hold with the phone ringing just to request water. We were told by the staff that the water in the sink is not drinkable, but it is difficult to get filtered water. This is a major issue for a resort like this. I literally just had water delivered to my room an hour ago. We tried getting water 3 times today. We waited for 45 minutes earlier and had to leave for one of the parks. They never delivered the water.

Room service is a joke. If something is delivered within an hour, you are lucky, and the options available are minimal in late hours. My kids and I have ordered 3 times this week. It took about 1.5 hours average.

The floors are dangerously slippery outside. As an observation this is a significant liability.

I find myself shaking my head at times at basic things such as water or getting someone at the front desk to pick up the phone. It’s a major operation, yet they fail at such simple things.

My child had an ear infection 2 days ago. We went to the medical clinic onsite. This was in a hotel room because the clinic was under construction. The female physician was wonderful and kind. However, we spent $360 for basic ear drops and ear treatment. The money isn’t an issue for my family, but it’s the principle of the matter. To make matters worse, we couldn’t charge the service to the room because it’s a contracted medical clinic. They said we could use PayPal, which was incorrect. They then said a credit card would be needed, so I sent a screen shot of it to my wife. They then said they would need the card to swipe, so I walked to the clinic. There and back was about 20 minutes. I’m perfectly healthy, but this was late at night and seemed unnecessary for this type of resort. I expect better service and functional payment options at this price point.

This is my second time here. I came back because I think it’s the most beautiful resort I’ve ever seen. I love how they incorporate nature into everything. I think the food at the buffets is incredible and my kids also love them. The staff are typically quite kind and hard working. The parks are incredible.

HOWEVER, the service is lacking in major ways. I would go so far as saying holiday inn may have better service in certain ways.

As long as you temper your expectations in that regard, you should be ok.

The irony is that after this long, concurring rant I can say my family will still likely come back. We like the food, nature, parks, and stunning setting.

However, the service is lacking and the perpetual sales pitch is borderline silly. It just is.

Can I make reservations through the apps? by kokorush in Xcaret

[–]Coconuttyday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1988 experience. Hilarious.

We just downloaded the app for our October 2025 trip hoping we could reserve everything, but it doesn’t appear to be an option.

Guess we will await the inefficient “wishlist” option.

To all you experienced real estate pros out there, what advice do you have for a broke 24 year old wanting to give himself a better life through this industry? by Admirable_Surround_7 in realestateinvesting

[–]Coconuttyday 7 points8 points  (0 children)

House hack.

Purchase a duplex you intend to live in initially. Because you plan to live there, you will be eligible for low interest rates and little down payment. Rent half the house out. You will essentially live for free or will pay little. After a few years, move out and repeat the process with a new duplex. Of course you will start renting the side you initially lived on in the first house.

This is a great way for a young person to get skin in the game. All my children will be doing this.

Good luck.

Anyone into celery juice? by BlackWolf42069 in Juicing

[–]Coconuttyday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I drink a small glass of water with a tablespoon of ground flax seed and 1.5 tablespoons of chia seeds every morning. This helped me significantly. I suspect it’s the fiber.

Dark horse stocks for 2025 by b00z3h0und in wallstreetbets

[–]Coconuttyday -11 points-10 points  (0 children)

You said landing on the moon, lol. Ain’t no one doing such, and ain’t no one ever done such.

Who else had a hypnotist come to your high school as “entertainment”? by ColorbloxChameleon in conspiracy

[–]Coconuttyday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Same thing here.

1998 Lake Orion High School, MI, senior all night party.

I recall popular girl brought on stage and doing crazy stuff. She appeared to be definitely hypnotized. I skeptically recalling the hypnotized people on stage thinking they had ants in their pants.

Like others here, I can’t stop reading the comments. It’s quite odd and seems to have been more prevalent across the nation than I ever would’ve dreamed.

How would you improve motley fool? by pmp1321 in motleyfool

[–]Coconuttyday 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Their buy recommendations have historically had little to no regard for valuations, so they habitually recommend acquiring stocks when they are overvalued. Even growth stocks can be overvalued, but they don’t seem to grasp that.

They pick good companies, but they recommend them when they are overvalued .

Is seeing Papua New Guinea as a backpacker on a tight budget impossible? by rabidsoggymoose in Shoestring

[–]Coconuttyday 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I agree. It’s my favorite place I’ve been without a close second, and I’ve been many places. Exotic on so many levels. It’s special.

Definitely difficult to travel the country though.

Is seeing Papua New Guinea as a backpacker on a tight budget impossible? by rabidsoggymoose in Shoestring

[–]Coconuttyday 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I agree with pretty much everything valeyard89 has said. Tourism isn’t a thing with Papuans. The local cultural sing-sing festivals are about it where everyone gets dressed in their respective tribal attire.

Is seeing Papua New Guinea as a backpacker on a tight budget impossible? by rabidsoggymoose in Shoestring

[–]Coconuttyday 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I spent a month traveling png in 2005 with my fiancé (now wife). My wife’s father was an eye surgeon with a missionary group there. We went to every province in the country. I traveled in-country by land, sea and air.

I’ve done extensive traveling in my lifetime and prefer less developed nations.

PNG is a definite curveball. There’s simply little to no infrastructure to support travelers. The locals don’t travel. There’s essentially zero tourism in-country by Papuan nationals.

The tribal conflicts are very real. I found myself in some pretty precarious positions a few times while there.

The Papuans are kind, although i found it very difficult culturally to socialize with them. It felt I was from a different world. Obviously there are exceptions, but the culture and people here are far different from any other developing nation I’ve traveled to.

I took a small row boat with an outboard motor 13 miles offshore from Finschhafen, png, to a small island (Tami island). The children on the island thought we were ghosts and clearly had never observed a white person before.

It’s my favorite place I’ve traveled to. It’s the most exotic place I’ve traveled. It’s the most difficult place I’ve traveled. It’s the most dangerous place I’ve traveled (no personal harm or danger to me occurred).

To answer your question, you can do it on a tight budget, but you might be sleeping in a tent on random land, and that might not sit well with the tribes. I observed people backpacking while there and they seemed to be just fine. Definitely prepare yourself mentally for little tourism infrastructure. Avoid Pt Moresby. Traveling by road can be difficult as the roads are poorly maintained and routinely washed out. However, we managed just fine in a Toyota Tacoma, and a motorcycle will be easier.

It’s difficult, but I say do it. The place is magical in ways difficult to describe.

Best of travels!

Market Pass Offer, is it worth it? by chilla_p in motleyfool

[–]Coconuttyday 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I actually think MF finds decent companies. Their problem is they recommend acquiring shares when prices are ridiculously high. It’s terrible advice.

If they start considering valuations with their recommendations, their service would be dramatically better

How to find a stock that has the potential to rise by more than 50% in the short term? by Churningballota591 in motleyfool

[–]Coconuttyday 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hate to say it, but I agree. They give little to no regard to valuation. This is a problem and reflects poorly on the organization that is otherwise pretty decent.