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sfmacaws

Mar 12, 2007, 8:59 PM

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Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I'm kind of immune to sticker shock around here during high season but tonight it got me. We delayed and finally got hungry around 8pm and were lazy (those are all excuses for going to this place) and we went the short distance into Akumal to the local fish restaurant. It's clearly spring break now for at least the lower grades as the whole town is full and the restaurant had more strollers parked than golf carts - barely.

I had the grouper filet in garlic and butter for $90p, it's excellent fish, really fresh. Two good sized filets with 3 slices of carrot and some cole slaw. Mimi had the chicken as she doesn't like fish and it was mediocre but also $90p with the same carrots and cole slaw.

But, what got us was on the menu it listed under soups, Sopa de Limón for $100 Pesos!. Mimi noticed it as she wasn't very hungry, I'd never noticed it. $10 US for a bowl of soup??? I even asked the waiter if it was a typo and he said no, that's the price. It is just a bowl of soup, it comes with the same chips and salsa that everyone gets for sitting down. I saw an order go by later and it is not a humungous bowl either. How much could some chicken broth, stale tortillas and limes cost? I have to think that they are counting on the unwary and unused to pesos tourist.

Next time it is late on a Monday (many restaurants here are closed on Mondays) I'm having scrambled eggs at home. I can't believe we paid $23 US for a light dinner with a beer and a drink and surrounded by screaming rug rats. At least I didn't buy a $10 bowl of soup.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Brian

Mar 13, 2007, 5:26 AM

Post #2 of 36 (5015 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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In Reply To

I have to think that they are counting on the unwary and unused to pesos tourist.

Next time it is late on a Monday (many restaurants here are closed on Mondays) I'm having scrambled eggs at home. I can't believe we paid $23 US for a light dinner with a beer and a drink and surrounded by screaming rug rats. At least I didn't buy a $10 bowl of soup.

jwp_007

Mar 13, 2007, 6:25 AM

Post #3 of 36 (5002 views)

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Re: [Brian] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I was in Playa Del Carmen for a few weeks in December / January. Talked with an old friend of mine who had been a server at La Pirilla and other Ave. 5 restaurants for over 18 years. He told me that he quit the restaurant business and was now cleaning pools in Playacar. Said he quit because workers were being pushed to pad the bills; add service charges, and hurry the customers to free up chairs if they were not spending enough on drinks and food. Being service oriented he could not maintain his pride while cheating people. He said this was now the standard on 5th Ave. in Playa. He blamed high rents; (up to 15k us a month for a storefront on 5th ave); greedy absentee owners; and complacent tourists for the restaurant prices.

Bubba

Mar 13, 2007, 7:53 AM

Post #4 of 36 (4987 views)

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Re: [Brian] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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Anyone who thinks the current exchange rate is 10x1 is "unused to pesos" whether tourist or resident. Unfortunately, lots of folks just divide the pesos cost by 10 in contemplating an item's value rather than thinking in pesos. It is to their detriment...

Aren´t we being a bit picky Brian? So, at approximately 10.94:1 Pesos to the Dollar the Lime Soup was 9.14US not $10.00US. So what? That´s still way too high. Lots of folks do indeed divide pesos by 10 for the sake of simplicity. So do I when shopping for small items. I´m not going to fret about a few pennies and carry around a calculator after reviewing the daily exchange rate.

Now, if you are buying a house for $2,000,000 Pesos, you might want to refine your calculations.

Almost everywhere on the planet people living off of the tourist dollar try to cheat the tourists. Whether in Akumal, Ajijic or the French Riviera you can expect to be resented and milked for that extra Peso or Euro. The Ajijic area is becoming overrun with expats both resident and tourist and there are two things you can bank on. They are resented and overcharged. At least in Ajijic they don´t know they are resented. In the Mayan Highlands they not only overcharge you but they will let you know they resent you if you speak their language.

sfmacaws

Mar 13, 2007, 9:54 AM

Post #5 of 36 (4969 views)

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Re: [Brian] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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...and another actually Brian, I pretty much think in pesos and what really appalled me was that the soup cost $100 pesos. I do the quick version of converting when I want to know the dollar amount to put here for those of you who live in the US. I only pay attention to small changes in the exchange rate when buying large items. It's only tourists who carry a calculator around to figure out what it is in "real" money.

I have gotten kind of inured to the prices, but that one seemed really over the top. I was eating at a friend's restaurant next door to this one the other night. We sat and talked to them a long time and when we finally paid, the waitress brought me a US $5 bill in change. That has always irritated me and I said so. My friend was surprised and we had a heated discussion about it. At the end, I have to admit that I probably shouldn't react so badly to it. They said that the tourists in this area rarely change their money so if they want to stay in business they have to accept dollars and by the end of the evening they often don't have enough in pesos to make change.

Like all retail businesses here, they exchange pesos for dollars at 10:1 and he relayed an interesting thing with his wait staff. He's explained to them that they can exchange the dollars at a much better rate at the money exchange - there are several even in this small town - but they don't want to do it and cash all their tips into the till for 10 pesos on the dollar.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

Brian

Mar 13, 2007, 10:00 AM

Post #6 of 36 (4966 views)

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A 10% difference is substantial. Better to do the simple math using 11x1, then. Don't forget, in the "bargaining" thread ,people here were agonizing over whether they should haggle a few pesos when making purchases, right?

Brian

(This post was edited by Brian on Mar 13, 2007, 10:02 AM)

sfmacaws

Mar 13, 2007, 10:14 AM

Post #7 of 36 (4961 views)

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Re: [Brian] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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Why would I do the math Brian? I don't have dollars in my pocket. I know what things should cost in PESOS, I bargain in PESOS, and I pay my gringo tax in PESOS. The only time to 'do the math' is when you are changing dollars into pesos or you are trying to discuss it with someone who doesn't think in pesos.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

roni_smith

Mar 13, 2007, 12:04 PM

Post #8 of 36 (4950 views)

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Jonna,

Whatta shocker!! We found a new place in December, La Pesca - it is on 30th right across from Mega - the only palapa roof in that block, I believe. It was opened by a guy who cooked at the Blue Lobster for many years. Good food and reasonable - of course you won't want to drive up to Playa for every meal.....
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Papirex

Mar 13, 2007, 1:17 PM

Post #9 of 36 (4938 views)

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I have to agree with you Jonna, I think 100% in Pesos here. It’s a waste of time to try to equate prices in Pesos to the cost in Dollars. I spend Pesos here, not Dollars. The only time the exchange rate concerns me is in the months when the Peso takes a little bump upward and I get fewer of them at an ATM for my Dollars.

About six years ago, the Peso jumped up to be the second strongest currency in the world against the Dollar. If I remember correctly the exchange rate was about 9 to the Dollar then. That made some difference in our buying power for about a year and a half, until the Mexican federal government stopped artificially supporting the Peso, and it dropped down to a more realistic value.

I have more important things to think about. Carlos Slim – Wal-Mart and DST – are the dogs hungry? - Staying alive.

Rex
"The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved" - Victor Hugo

(This post was edited by RexC on Mar 13, 2007, 1:18 PM)

sfmacaws

Mar 13, 2007, 2:50 PM

Post #10 of 36 (4925 views)

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Re: [RexC] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I wasn't thrilled when it was in the 9s either. Back in those days I used to balance my checking account in Quicken - I don't bother now - and I'd enter the amount /10 and then change it when I got the statement. I was a happy camper when it was over 10 and not so happy when it was under.

Ron, I will check out the new fish place when I'm in Playa alone. It's tough getting Mimi into a fish restaurant, just the smell of it cooking gags her. I've been dragging her to the fish taco place on the highway lately as it is my new favorite food but it's outside, there's always a breeze and she likes their shrimp tacos. The only way I got her to the one in Akumal is that nothing else was open and you can sit outside far away from the kitchen.

A lady on my pond forum just told me her brother owns Dr Taco in Playa, across from Blockbuster and the bank with the swipe machine. I'm going to have to try it soon and tell her it's wonderful no matter what. Amazingly small world though.

We also tried the Argentine place you mentioned to us which is in that same area. I have to say I wasn't thrilled, the first time for that at an Argentine restaurant. Is the owner Dutch? The night we were there, there were a lot of Dutch there and they all seemed to know a guy that acted like he owned the place. He had a new, bright yellow, Hummer - the car of choice in certain circles. He had a hell of a time parallel parking it right in front, Mimi and I were laughing at him, discreetly of course. Anyway, the service was really, really slow. The meat was good but the prices were pretty astronomical especially compared to the excellent Argentine restaurant on the outskirts of Cancun. We think he gets his meat at HC de Monterrey and the service, prices and atmosphere is better there.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

S & C

Mar 13, 2007, 3:15 PM

Post #11 of 36 (4920 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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Regardless of using 10 or 11 as a rate the fact remains that prices for most things in this area have gone way up.
I've been coming to the Tulum area for 15 years and feel we have had a hugh jump over the last 6 months to a year. Going to dinner in Akumal has always been more than in Tulum. The same with Cancun and Playa. They all have some niche places that you can find but for the most part they are now high priced.
The Tulum beach road used to have nice funky places with inexpensive estaurants but not now! The beach road restaurants for the most part are mediocre and expensive and the room rates are really up there, (especially when you consider that the generators go off at 10 pm and many have sand floors and cold water showers).

Prices in Tulum pueblo restaurants have also gone up but are more reasonable than most areas around here. Spending our first winter down here has been an eye opener on prices. Coming for a few weeks at a time you may not notice it as much but staying long term you get to se and feel it more.
When people from the NE US nochalantly tell you, yeah the food was god and it was almost like what we pay at home, you know things have changed.

The Riviera Maya has to be the most expensive place in Mexico!
Stan

roni_smith

Mar 13, 2007, 6:40 PM

Post #12 of 36 (4906 views)

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Argentinian place

Tango Taco (between 10th and 15th near Calle 10 - could be 8, could be 12th :) or La Parilla de Manolo Capelli (near 10th and 26)? We liked the latter better. I also read that - well, here is the URL for a thread on another forum.

http://www.playa.info/playa-del-carmen-forum/31242-la-farola-argentina-grill.html
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roni_smith

Mar 13, 2007, 6:45 PM

Post #13 of 36 (4903 views)

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Re: [S & C] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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Stan,

I think it depends on where you eat. I love some of the taquerias on 30th Ave in Playa, along with HC de Monterey on Calle 1 Sur. All of those are good deals. Generally, if you eat on or near 5th Ave in Playa, you're going to pay more. We also usually have a condo, so that late afternoon snack can made dinner less expensive - in fact, at Babe's Noodles you can get 1/2 size entrees.
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hopalog

Mar 13, 2007, 9:18 PM

Post #14 of 36 (4889 views)

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Re: [roni_smith] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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Bananas NINE pesos/kilo. Sandia EIGHT pesos/kilo. Water TWENTY FOUR pesos/garrafon. Mangos TWENTY FIVE pesos/kilo (I know they aren't in season yet, but in Veracruz they are 12 pesos/kilo). NO HANDMADE tortillas!!! I'm absolutely disgusted with the prices here (Playa del Carmen) and they are MUCH higher than 2005. Hell, they are astronomical compared to Veracruz (state) this year. Add in all the tourists and I'm already done. We adored the penninsula up to about Tulum. I am just astounded at the prices here. At least we got a Guia Roji for 175 pesos (paid 180 in 2005 for the last one we bought). This one seems thinner though... Sigh.

Hell's Half Acre

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sfmacaws

Mar 14, 2007, 12:14 AM

Post #15 of 36 (4879 views)

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Re: [roni_smith] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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It was Tango Taco, 10th X 10th. I haven't tried the other one.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

roni_smith

Mar 14, 2007, 5:50 AM

Post #16 of 36 (4872 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws hopalong stan] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I like this stuff :).

Jonna, sorry that one of my recommendations didn't work out for you. The place I called La Parilla de Manolo Capelli - I have also heard and read it referred to as Asador de Manolo.

Hopalong, I hear you about the cost, but remeber with us it was just my wife and I on a two week vacation that included Merida, Isla de Mujures (you want expensive, run out of sunscreen on the island) and in Playa del Carmen. That is a lot different than your trip - I loved your blog, btw.

Playa is expensive. We know people who have retired there and south of there (Paamul, Akumal). We enjoy vacationing there, but would not retire there due, in part, to costs. If we were to retire on the Yucatan peninsula, there are many other places. You guys could teach me tons I don't know about those other places. When you read someone from Playa who spent a month in San Miguel and thought it was much less expensive than Playa.....
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yucatandreamer

Mar 14, 2007, 10:30 AM

Post #17 of 36 (4851 views)

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Re: [roni_smith] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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This discussion came along just at the right time. We are going to meet someone in Playa del Carmen next week and they want me to book a "neat" restaurant in town. By neat I assume something charming, Mexican and not too scary.
It doesn't have to be inexpensive but should be decent value. We will be there for lunch. We may need to talk some business so not too loud. The other party is my financial adviser who is on holiday on the Maya Riviera. We are going to drive over from Merida for a few days to combine pleasure with a little business.

We have never been to Playa and would appreciate your suggestions. Thank you.

jacpowell

Mar 14, 2007, 11:00 AM

Post #18 of 36 (4846 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I haven't been to Playa in a number of years, but there used to be a Maya place that served pibil dishes - my favoritest Mexican food! I wish I could tell you the name and location, but it was about halfway up the block on the right side of a side street perpendicular to the beach (back to the beach) off the main drag. Toward the Cancun end of town. I hope it's still there, not because I plan to return to Playa but because I hope others can enjoy it. Seems like the owner was a Greek woman? Gorgeous person! Swanning around as though owning a restaurant was easy as pie.

jacpowell

Mar 14, 2007, 11:06 AM

Post #19 of 36 (4844 views)

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Re: [jacpowell] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I forgot to say that I agree that coming to Mexico is not the same bargain it was some years ago. Things cost more, and the marketplace tolerates it.

In my case, part of the difficulty is that I have trouble with decimals, so I'm always surprised when 20 pesos is 2 dollars instead of 20 cents. But as is often the case, when you've been someplace a while you stop thinking of dollars and start thinking in the local currency. Of course, I'm always a tourist, and frequent touristy areas even when I'm "living on the economy" - but once in a while I stop and think, "This dish on the menu costs twice as much as the average daily wage of a worker in this state." Makes you think!

Usually the only things that can be considered bargains are the items you buy at a mercado or tianquis or from one of the women selling hot food on the sidewalk in front of her house (with all the usual health and safety caveats.)

roni_smith

Mar 14, 2007, 11:20 AM

Post #20 of 36 (4839 views)

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Re: [jacpowell] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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Yaxche may be the one to which you refer.
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sfmacaws

Mar 14, 2007, 11:21 AM

Post #21 of 36 (4838 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I'm guessing that YucatanDreamer wants something other than chochinita pibil since they live in an area more Mayan than this coast.

How about taking them to Babe's? It's a Thai/nouvelle place that is on Calle 10 just above 5th. It appears very small from the street but they do have more tables inside and in back. Outside is the most fun though as the people watching is great. It's very casual though and I'm thinking somewhere less casual would be appropriate.

Damn! Esperanza told me about a restaurant off 5th that is hot with the foodies, I saw it once but didn't go in and now I can't remember the name. That would probably be perfect. I'll go look for the name.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

sfmacaws

Mar 14, 2007, 11:36 AM

Post #22 of 36 (4834 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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I found it. Yaxche is the name and here is the web site Esperanza sent me. http://www.mayacuisine.com/

She said it gets good reviews on the foodie forums and it sounds like it would be the perfect place for a semi-business lunch.

For more casual fare, I highly recommend HC de Monterrey if you want some fork-tender, highly flavorful arrachera. It's on 1st between 15th and 20th, on the left as the street is one way towards the highway. It closes around 7pm. Get the nacional. It's the best beef there is.

Also closing in late afternoon, my current fav of La Floresta on the southbound lateral of 307 just before the CFE plant. Wonderful fish and shrimp tacos and ceviche. Big palapa with tables so it is cool up under there.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

sfmacaws

Mar 14, 2007, 11:39 AM

Post #23 of 36 (4833 views)

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Re: [roni_smith] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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ooops! I just saw that Ron already had it. Sorry Ron.

and yes, it is Mayan food but with a Euro twist? Whatever that means.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

(This post was edited by sfmacaws on Mar 14, 2007, 11:40 AM)

yucatandreamer

Mar 14, 2007, 12:15 PM

Post #24 of 36 (4828 views)

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Thank you, I had seen Yaxche on line and thought it might be perfect for tourists from British Columbia. I was only afraid it might be all hype and bad food.(you are right SFMacaws, I would prefer something Thai and I will try that out with just Greg. We are there for a couple of days. thanks) We will make reservations.

S & C

Mar 14, 2007, 2:17 PM

Post #25 of 36 (4815 views)

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Re: [yucatandreamer] Tourist Prices on the Riviera Maya

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5th ave in Playa is the pedestrian walkway and has plenty of restaurants. Babe's is a great place to eat as is John Gray's, (just around the corner on 5th in a small mall type area.
We had great chinese the other night at Mr Cao's (I think). The chef is the guy that used to cook for Hola Asia in Puerto Morelos. This place is on 10th ave just across from the plaza pelicanos, (up around calle 10 or 12).
From the outside the place looked empty but we entered anyway only to find a nice courtyard in the back where people were sitting. I had a delicious whole Thai fish with veggies. I think this would be abetter place to meet and talk than Babe's only becasue Babe's is usually noisier.

Jonna, you weren't supposed to tell anyone about La Floresta!!!!
That is one place we rarely tell people about. Now you spilled the beans so you need to retract it.
Stan

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