On-site Property Managers: At Villas Talia, our property managers live on-site. Andrew and Lisa Leigh will welcome you upon arrival and help you feel comfortable during your stay at our condo 101, Casa Nueva. They can help you with their local knowledge of the area in Puerto Aventures and Playa del Carmen. They also provide grocery service and round trip transportation from Cancun airport for a nominal fee.

Transportation: Taxi from Cancun airport will be approximately $80, one way. Colectivo about $20/person, private transportation, rental car at Cancun airport. There is also a car rental facility just outside the gate in Puerto Aventuras.

Cancun International Airport (CUN): Approximate driving time to Puerto Aventuras is between 55-60 minutes and distance is 87 km (54 mi).

Driving directions from Cancun International Airport: From the airport exit, take Hwy 307 south and continue on Tulum Chenonal Hwy 45 miles into Puerto Aventuras. Follow signs posted on the left into the resort area.

Getting there: Authorized group taxi to a hotel is US $36-$75. Direct bus line from Cancun International Airport to Playa del Carmen is US $5–$15. From there, a taxi to the hotel is US $5-$15. Prices are subject to change without prior notification.

Getting around: Puerto Aventuras is a resort community with a commercial district offering shopping, restaurants, and clubs. Taxi from hotel to Playa del Carmen: US $5-$15. Rental cars are available online for US $36-$75 a day. Authorized group taxi to Puerto Aventuras for two to nine people: US $36–$75. Taxi from bus station to hotel: less than US $10. Prices are subject to change without prior notification.

Water and Food: Common sense can greatly reduce your chances of coming down with food- or water-related illnesses. All restaurants in Puerto Aventuras use bottled water and purified ice, as do most in Playa del Carmen. The tap water is safe to use for bathing and brushing your teeth.

Playa also has an abundance of street vendors who practice good sanitation, and many people eat at their stalls without problems. If you are unsure or uncomfortable, pass them by. If you want to find good restaurants, you can always check for recommendations on web sites such as Loco Gringo and Playa.info.

If you want to purchase food to make some meals in the condo, there are two small convenience stores located outside the entrance to PA. There is also a small grocery store, Super Akumal, located across from the Omni hotel. But for the best selection and price, you need to head back toward Playa. Good stores for food and other items include:

• Soriana – on the south side of Playa, just west of 307 (you’ll see the big red S on the sign)
• Sam’s Club – a bit farther north of Soriana, on the east side of 307
• Chedraui – north of Sam’s Club, on the east side of 307
• Wal-Mart - located in Playa, on 30th and 8th, south of Mega

What to wear: While attire in Mexico tends to be casual, most nice restaurants and bars require men to wear shirts and slacks (some allow dressy shorts) and women to wear a dress, pants, or dressy shorts. Bathing suits (particularly for women) should be limited to swimming pools and beach areas unless covered with other clothing. Shorts should never be worn when entering a church.

Laundry: If you need to wash some clothing while you’re here, you can take it to a laundromat and do it yourself, or you can drop it off and let the laundromat employees do it for you. Just drop it off in the morning, and pick it up that afternoon. There is a laundry in PA, in the main area near the restaurants and shops. Information is available in the condo office.

Crime: There is little crime in Riviera Maya. In the tourist areas, you are generally safe late at night. Car break-ins are just about the only crime, especially around the shopping centers. So be sure to lock your doors like you would back at home, and do not leave items in the car. Like any other beach resort, do not leave money or valuables unattended on the beach. We’ve provided an in-room safe for your use and peace of mind during your stay.

Money Matters : The currency is the Mexican peso. U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but you will not usually get the best exchange rate using dollars at local establishments. It is best to exchange your money for pesos at a bank or a money exchange. Be aware that if you pay with US dollars and change is given, you’ll most likely receive pesos.

Casas de cambio (exchange houses) usually give exchange rates close to the rate given at banks, and are easier to use. However, they occasionally do not accept traveler's checks for exchange, and you may sometimes be required to go to a bank to exchange traveler's checks.

Most credit cards are accepted in shops, hotels, and travel agencies. Major purchases are best made with a credit card. Banks and ATMs are plentiful, and there are numerous money exchanges. Cirrus and Plus are the most commonly found ATM networks. ATMs give the best service (24 hours per day) and rates.

Telephone service: The most inexpensive way to make a call to the US or another country while in Mexico is to go to an Internet café that allows you to make an international call. Just look for the signs that advertise this service outside the café. You may be able to use your cell phone while in Mexico. Check with your service provider to see whether your plan allows you to use your phone in PA.

Climate: PA has a warm, tropical climate, which means it tends to be hot and humid. During June through August, expect monsoon-like downpours in the late afternoon or early evening. These storms usually pass by quickly and leave the night dry and cooler. Occasionally the rain lasts through the night. Hurricane season (June through October) usually brings wetter weather, though direct hits by hurricanes are rare. March and April are generally the driest months and July is drier and more predictable than August. Trade winds help keep coastal areas cooler, while interior jungle regions are more humid with higher temperatures. November and early December are perhaps the best times to go, as there are fewer tourists and prices are low. The busy season is from mid-December to April.

Tropical Storms : It is rare for Riviera Maya to get hurricanes, but it is a fact of life that both Emily (July 2005) and Wilma (October 2005) hit the area. Hurricanes tend to move slowly enough for people to avoid danger, and there is a 3-day warning system in the area that will advise you of the situation. Hotels and villas are experienced in keeping guests safe and happy during one of these storms. So, you should not worry about vacationing during this season, when you may get the best deals and the best weather. Casa Nueva and Villas Talia have installed a hurricane screen system in the unlikely chance a hurricane storm develops during your visit.

Entry Requirements : You must now have a valid passport to return to the US, so it makes sense to have one when you enter Mexico!

Language: Spanish is the main language of Mexico, with the native Mayan being spoken only by a small minority of the population. Many people in the area will have a basic knowledge of English. Despite this, it is helpful to know some basic Spanish.
 
Time Zone: Central Standard all year.

Electricity: 110 volts, 60 cycles, same as in the US, so you should have no problems with your electronics.

Holidays: Following are some holidays to be aware of that may affect whether a business is open, or whether you are treated a special celebration while there!

• New Year's Day (1 January) – banks and most businesses are closed
• Constitution Day (5 February)
• Birthday of Benito Juaréz (21 March)
• Good Friday through Easter Monday (four days in March or April; date varies)
• Labor Day (1 May)
• Anniversary of Battle of Puebla (5 May)
• Independence Day (16 September)
• Columbus Day (12 October)
• All Saints' Day (1 November)
• All Souls' Day (2 November)
• Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910 (20 November)
• Christmas Day (25 December)