Originally Posted by
mmdough
Thank you all for your suggestions. Just to clarify, we do not plan to stay in Cancun much but will travel to Valladolid, Merida and maybe Tolum where hopefully will be much less 'touristy'. I do like the idea of less stress and not having to deal with car rentals but also concern that it will not be very convenient if we need to rely on public transportation to go places.
We just got back Sunday from a second trip to the Yucatan. We love it.
We rented from Easyway; highly recommend them. They pick you up at the airport and go to their office a few minutes away. You will get a total online (rental, insurance, state tax) but can get a discount on arrival for AAA or paying cash. They are very nice people. Do take the full insurance. For a week plus one day, a GOL (4 passenger, but really only space for 2 24" bags; the Tsuru we had last year is bigger) cost us U$300.
Ask for a Tarjeton, a card that can get you out of a police "mordida". (which I've not had to use)
Also be careful to watch the Pemex gas attendants; make sure the pump is on zero to start and watch to make sure they fill only to what you ask for and not more (we had someone try to pull a scam).
The roads are good; the drivers all speed, but you should stay at the posted speed to avoid problems. The 'topes', which I am used to from Brazil, are still a pain.
Go directly to Valladolid on the cuota (toll road). Use it as a base for CI and EkBalam ruins and some cenotes, and enjoy the charm and crafts. You can then go to Tulum via Coba ruins, or make a bigger circle to include Merida, Uxmal ruins, the Ruta Puuc ruins, haciendas, missions to Tical and on to Tulum passing the Sian Ka'an biosphere (and do Coba from Tulum).
Tulum beach is magnificent. You won't want to leave. On the entry road, pass the big Chedraui supermarket and turn left at the end of the beach access road, almost to the back entrance to the ruins to the modest Playa das Palmas (just parking on the sand and a cook shack, but reasonable food, nice people and comfortable lounges - or bring your own cooler and supplement with their food) or turn right and go to the chic-er Ana y Jose beach club.
Highly recommend
http://www.siankaantours.org/ and their great local Mayan guide for a biosphere trip (office located near the HSBC bank). Take the sunset one, lots of variety of activities and ecosystems, including floating down the Maya-dug freshwater canals in the mangrove and seeing manatees.
Also go to Akumal to snorkle and see huge turtles and rays; pretty beach, good food at LolHa. You can also snorkle the reef in Tulum, but not as amazing; you can get a couple of hour trip from the folks next to the stand at Playa das Palmas.
The pueblo/town is good for a stroll in the evening to look at shops and get an ice cream or a drink.
If the kids are into some of the adventure parks (Xcaret, Xplor, Xel-Ha, Dolphinius, etc) they are within a fairly easy drive for a day trip from Tulum, as is Playa del Carmen.
Do enjoy.