Playa Del Carmen Area - Off the beaten path..

I just got back from a site visit to Tulum. It is a bit farther than Playa del Carmen but its a really easy drive. There is only one main road you have to drive to get from cancun airport to tulum and it's is a nice paved highway. It takes around 1:45 to 2 hrs to drive. It's easy to rent a car and there are a lot of other transport options such as shuttle services and buses. I think if you are willing to drive to playa del carmen it wouldn't be that much of a difference to drive to Tulum. I will post my site visit reviews later today if you are interested.

Sarah

Akumal sounds perfect for you. Our friends got married there in January 2007. It is perfect little town and the beaches there are very nice as well. they got married on the beach outside of the restaurant La Buena Vida. It was perfect! Yah-kul Lagoon (sp?) is easily accessible and has excellent snorkeling - tons to see. Very off the beaten path but a quick taxi ride into the city of Playa.

i don't know how much you're willing to spend but there are some pretty private, amazing places with gorgeous beaches in the PDC area. There is Secrets Silversands or Secrets Maroma (opening this year), there is also Hotel Maroma. Hotel Maroma is pretty eco friendly and looks fantastic. The above places are very high end but from what i've been reading on other site, SO worth the splurge if you and your guests can handle it. Otherwise i know there are some awesome places on Isla Mujeres or even in Puerto Morelos.

It will also depend on if you're looking for an all inclusive or something more like a villa. I have found amazing places all over the PDC and Cancun area that i have rejected for one reason or another. (i.e. not all inclusive, no night life, too many bad reviews, etc). I think i may have a list somewhere and if you have a specific one in mind i may have an email with a price list from that specific hotel/resort. I have emailed so many places but i save all the emails

Carla:

that sound gorgeous! If you decide to do that for sure you MUST post pictures on here i think it would be awesome to have pictures in a wedding dress in Venice along a little walkway or in a gondola under a bridge...ahhhh so many places around the world

i bet you could find some great deals further inland too in Mexico, away from the more popular places.

Good luck finding a place, the hunt should be fun!