“The old adage, ‘If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is’ isn’t always correct. In fact, the suspicion, cynicism, and doubt that are inherent in this belief can and does keep people from taking advantage of excellent opportunities.” ~ Richard Carlson
Wouldn’t it be nice if we, as travelers, could trust the opinions of those who went before us?
Unfortunately, we can’t. Recently I was booking a budget hotel through Expedia, and the traveler reviews left me suspicious. One review would claim the hotel as ‘a great find’. The next review would deem it ‘not up to standard’.
This extreme contrast between reviews got me thinking about Xcalak. The challenges of living on a remote beach add to Xcalak’s charm. At least, that’s my opinion.
But for others, would spending time in Xcalak be a trip to the abyss of awfulness? To find out I dug up some negative views on the place I love. Here’s what I found:
“Who wants to drive 2 1/2 hours one way from the nearest large road. And to make matters worse, the roads are all dead straight and filled with holes.”
“It was very windy most of my time there, so fishing was off and it wasn’t possible to dive.”
“Unfortunately the water at the beach was brown due to sea grass.”
“Wifi was functional…not fast but functional if you didn’t do too much.”
“Over priced even for low season compared to hotels up the coast.”
“We were told we were using too much electricity leaving the fans on when we were not home.”
OK, some these opinions are valid (see Off-Grid in Xcalak). High-volume tourism lets places like Tulum and Playa del Carmen provide cheap services and every comfort. Xcalak doesn’t compete.
But it doesn’t have to.
Xcalak draws a different type of traveler. People who enjoy themselves even without catering and concierges. Here, you glimpse the realities of living on a beach with enough comforts to keep the living easy.
Travelers who see Xcalak’s ‘faults’ as positive say better things. Here are their reviews:
“The road through Xcalak is a bit rough. Just drive slow. There’s no rush anyway… you’re here!”
“You can do as much or as little as you want at this idyllic vacation spot.”
“A long ways away from the crowded beaches of Cancun and that’s exactly what we were looking for.”
“Going back to the real world with a lot of tourists was a shock.”
“This is a place for you to truly find yourself, become closer with a loved one, or to spend time with good friends.”
So ask yourself: what type of vacation are you looking for? Head to the all-inclusives if you need a complete stop from life. Or be a grown-ass adult who gets fulfilment from a beautiful location without needing to be downright pampered, and give Xcalak a try.