Luv Tulum: Perfect

[Ed Cevoli]

Hi everybody! I'm back in Ireland after my December trip to Akumal/Tulum. After some deliberation my wife and I decided to stay at Luv Tulum. It really turned out to be perfect, we couldn't have asked for a nicer place. We only wished we had stayed longer. We actually were in Mexico for 11 nights but met my parents in Akumal for the first 7. My mom was extremely excited because for the past 6 years i have lived in Ireland and we don't see each other that often. Akumal is nice, it's just...well, it's not Tulum. Luckily the time share they rent is on the south side of Akumal and not the Bay. Anyway, I'll give a brief summary on Akumal and then Luv Tulum.

The great thing about the house we stayed in Akumal was the snorkeling. The coral reef makes for an abundance of marine life right outside the back door. Over the week we saw 5 wild turtles (not those tagged guys in the bay) and the usual schools of various fish, 2 sting rays and a fair amount of Barracuda, which totally freak you out. I also went fishing with my dad one of the days. Here are a few pics:

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030292/1164685543_GXhM2-M.jpg


http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030430/1164687994_MpcDo-M.jpg



http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030298/1164686037_ymVuB-M.jpg
Mixing Margaritas and pina coladas in akumal- a benefit of a house.

The highlight of our stay in Akumal was witnessing an off-season daytime turtle hatch 20 ft from our house. The turtle guy was on the scene collecting them to release later that night. I got both parts on video and put them on youtube if you want to have a look, they're really cool.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpabI9dBkT0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aICoL73m60Y (this one's the best)

One of the days whilst still staying in Akumal we took a drive to Tulum to eat lunch at Zamas. (I'll be posting a restaurant thread at a later date). The other purpose of this was to scout out Luv Tulum. The girl at Luv Tulum (and it's killing me i can't remember her name), showed us to the room we would be staying. We had reserved the oceanfront king which is their closest building to the water and the room is on the upper level. We were so excited by the look of it and couldn't wait. On the way back to Akumal we decided to stop at Cabanas Copal. When we first came to Tulum in 2002 we stayed here and loved it. We even thought about returning on this trip. I'm glad we didn't. I'm not sure what is going on there but it definitely needs some new or rejuvenated management. As we parked outside of it by the main road there was a huge rubbish pile enclosed in some hanging sheets but still visible as you passed by. Now it could have been recyclables waiting to be picked up as i hoped it would be. But over the next few days it was present everytime i drove from Luv Tulum into Tulum town, so i don't know what it is other than a big pile of rubbish. Anyway, i don't like to badmouth places (especially a place i have fond memories of) but i didn't like seeing a huge pile of rubbish barely enclosed on the side of the road.

I'll post about Luv Tulum soon.

[Ed Cevoli]

If anyone can help, i'm trying to upload more pics but keeps telling me i've exceded my limit. Any ideas?

[beachreader]

Welcome, Ed! Looking forward to more of your trip.

To post photos here, they need to first be on an online photo sharing site (like flickr, shutterfly, smugmug, photobucket, et al).

From there, you can select your photo and there are some variations on how to get the address of the photo. On Smugmug, I click on "share" and select the size I want it to show up, then I come here and click on the little photo icon (looks like a framed picture of a tree in the tool bar at the top of your post box, where the bold, italic, underline stuff is). Click on that and select "from URL", then paste your photo's address into the box. Then you have to unclick the little "retrieve remote file and reference locally" box and hit OK, and your picture will show up here.

It sounds horribly complicated, but once you've done it once, it's really easy. There's a sticky thread on how to post pictures in the FAQ section as well, but it was started a long time ago when the site was a little different.

Everyone figures it out eventually, hope you can too! Let us know if you still have problems and we'll see if we can help.

[Ed Cevoli]

After saying goodbye to my parents, Siobhan and I were headed south to Luv Tulum. As we checked in, our "girl" wasn't there but other members of the staff helped us to our room. As we walked along the sand the guy leading us turned and headed up the stairs of one of the buildings BEHIND the oceanfront king. I turned to Siobhan and quietly said that this is not the right room. She asked if we should say something amd i just said, "wait, lets at least look at this room", if we don't like it then we'll say something. As it turns out we loved the room. It wasn't the oceanfront we had looked at pictures of for last 3 months but for some reason we liked it better. It was more secluded definitely. And it still had a great view overlooking the sea. In Luv Tulum there is one front building and 3 (i think) buildings set back a little way. But all have great views of the sea.
http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030468/1164696829_qzHro-M.jpg

[Ed Cevoli]

Another view from the room:

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030615/1164750774_ADtqA-M.jpg

One of the nicest things was the interior of the room.

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030463/1164691542_uUEPM-M.jpg

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030464/1164693351_eQWbN-M.jpg

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030465/1164694749_dg6Nj-M.jpg

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030472/1164698386_zKFC7-M.jpg

[beachreader]

Nice. Glad you figured out the picture thing, these are awesome! Which room did you end up in? It looks huge, and one that we didn't see last fall.

[Solbound]

Very nice place .....so many nice places! Great pics.:cool:

[utmck]

Very nice!!

[TortillayTortuga]

That room was beautiful!

[Ed Cevoli]

We ended up staying in the room Mar for the remainder of our stay. Mar is the middle building of the three in the back. In this picture it is the one with the high ceiling.


http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030508/1165242753_A2JSZ-M.jpg


This is looking up at Mar:



http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030640/1164706267_vezX9-M.jpg

And another view from the balcony:


http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030632/1165243971_wg2uD-M.jpg


At our first breakfast our "girl" had returned. I believe she manages the place during the day. She came right up to us and apologised that we were not put in the room we requested and asked if we would like to move. But by then we were completely enjoying the Mar room and decided to stay there. Breakfast is served on an upper level of a building located on the left side of the resort if you are looking at the sea. The breakfast room:

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030502/1164699946_gowAN-M.jpg


Breakfast consists of yogurt, fresh fruit, toast and jams, and tea or coffee. For an extra $5 you can get eggs any way you like them. I had them the last 2 days and they were very nice.

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030505/1165275975_tSbjZ-M.jpg

[Ed Cevoli]

Luv Tulum has a very secluded feel to it. On the left is a private residence so nobody really hangs out in front of that beach and to the right is Casa Violeta which is also small. After Casa Violeta is Om and that is where the majority of people are in that area. But the overall location is great for nearby restaurants and scouting other resorts. NVR is about 5-10 min walk to the north. And being that there is no restaurant in Luv Tulum it's nice to be able to walk along the beach to dinner. There is also a really nice little cafe on the other side of the street just across from Luv Tulum that does great healthy sandwiches and tacos. We went there twice for lunch. And if you like seafood, Casa Violeta, just next door to Luv, is a gem. It is under new management and is shifting its' focus away from Italian food and bringing in a menu of fresh local seafood cooked Mexican style. I am in the restaurant business myself and I can say it's the best food I've eaten in Tulum. They do a Parrillada of seafood as good as any mixed grill I have had.


http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030488/1165274689_Nwiet-M.jpg

The new manager is from New York and the restaurant is really headed in the right direction. One day a fishing boat was passing by and the boys in Casa Violeta gave a wave and the boat pulled up right in front. It doesn't get any fresher than this:

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030571/1164701186_3Lshu-M.jpg

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030575/1164701946_SQ4V5-M.jpg

When I saw this I went racing into the restaurant and reserved that big Red Snapper he is holding. The wife and I feasted on that for dinner.

[beachreader]

Really nice, thanks so much for all the great pictures! Was the palapa roof inside the room as high as it looks on the outside? Or was there some kind of storage at the very top, so your ceiling was squared off? Just curious, since it kind of looks like maybe there's a water tank or something hidden up there.

Do you mind sharing with us the rate that you paid? Was it different from the ocean front king you had originally been promised? Was it different from what's posted on their website, or did you negotiate a lower rate? One thing Minniemex and I were confused by was that we were quoted very low rates for this high season, none higher than $150, I think, but then she gave us cards with the website. When I got home, I checked the website and the rates were far higher. So I wasn't sure how they were handling their rates.

Did you book it online through the website?

Sorry if this feels kind of personal, asking about money, but it's really something I've been curious about and I think would help people wanting to stay there. Of course, everyone's mileage may vary!

[beachreader]

Wow, how great that Casa Violeta is doing so well under new management! Darn, now they're back on my "must do" list, and I was hoping to narrow things down. I love that they buy their seafood right from the boat!

[Ed Cevoli]

I went to the Luv Tulum website and called the owner directly. I believe his name is Tom. He told me that he had just taken over last spring and was running the prices at 50% off from what it says on the website. If I remember correctly he told me he could do the oceanfront king for 130 plus tax. I told him if he could do it for 130 with the tax i would definitely take it. He had no problem with that so i'd say he will negotiate with people if the week is free. He then sent me an online reservation form to book it.

I know the restaurant at Casa Violeta is under new management but i don't think that applies to the cabanas.

The ceiling is as high as the roof. It is very spacious inside.

[Ed Cevoli]

I know in previous threads people had mentioned the large structure being built at the very south end of Tulum. It is huge, by the way, much taller than anything around. Did anybody find out what it's going to be?

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030638/1165245130_BKDjZ-M.jpg

[utmck]

Westy -

This needs to be your one venture out and find out some details of what this is????

[TortillayTortuga]

We've walked by that place a few times, progress seems S____L____O____W____!!!!!!! We'll ask around in a few weeks!

[TortillayTortuga]

I went to the Luv Tulum website and called the owner directly. I believe his name is Tom. He told me that he had just taken over last spring and was running the prices at 50% off from what it says on the website. If I remember correctly he told me he could do the oceanfront king for 130 plus tax. I told him if he could do it for 130 with the tax i would definitely take it. He had no problem with that so i'd say he will negotiate with people if the week is free. He then sent me an online reservation form to book it.

I know the restaurant at Casa Violeta is under new management but i don't think that applies to the cabanas.

The ceiling is as high as the roof. It is very spacious inside.

$130 is crazy inexpensive!

[beachreader]

That is fantastic, Ed, thanks for letting us know. I really was surprised that the website's prices were so high after being told they'd continue to stay low.

This building is owned by someone Margo knows, I think she said the plan was that it would be a healing center of some sort when it's finally done. They're clearly making it with eco-friendly materials, looks like driftwood and such, so maybe that kind of thing takes longer?

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030638/1165245130_BKDjZ-M.jpg

[TortillayTortuga]

That is fantastic, Ed, thanks for letting us know. I really was surprised that the website's prices were so high after being told they'd continue to stay low.

This building is owned by someone Margo knows, I think she said the plan was that it would be a healing center of some sort when it's finally done. They're clearly making it with eco-friendly materials, looks like driftwood and such, so maybe that kind of thing takes longer?



http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030638/1165245130_BKDjZ-M.jpg

Yes...that's right Beachreader. I'll have to go back to the Tequila Limes and Tears TR, I think Margo mentioned it there.

By the way...where is Margo? She seems like she's been MIA lately.

[beachreader]

She's just really busy with her classes and massages, and limited broadband slows her down online. She checks in when she can!

[Libelula]

This strange structure is right next to a house my friends manage and then next to that is Be Tulum. The interesting thing is that they said nothing is supposed to be taller than the trees/palms in Tulum. This guy is pushing it. It's a monstrosity. The other interesting thing is that I have seen him naked and don't even know his name. (He likes to sunbathe nude). I typically know the guys I have seen nude. Luv Tulum looks amazing. Thank you so much for sharing your photos. Your room was so fantastic. I love the tile. I wonder do they have a plan when they do tile like that or do they get artistic liberty? I love the way it just looks like someone's imagination and creativity took over.

[Ed Cevoli]

Well, it's much taller than the surrounding treelines. Here's another view which shows how large it is:

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030637/1166463160_JeuDX-M.jpg

BTW, those guys workin on it are pretty nuts. They are high up there!

[manitou]

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030464/1164693351_eQWbN-M.jpg
Is that a Crumpler laptop bag? If so, I have the same one. The room looks gorgeous!
Did you see any signs of the fire that was at Luv earlier?
Great report and wonderful photos. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

[Grasshopper]

Wow, how great that Casa Violeta is doing so well under new management! Darn, now they're back on my "must do" list, and I was hoping to narrow things down. I love that they buy their seafood right from the boat!

MEE TOO BR.... the list is getting bigger not shorter, but DARN i think I can handle it . LOL

BTW - More please, I am really enjoying your report!

[beachreader]

So to get a fresh fish like that, assuming we're not there at the moment of purchase, do we just walk in sometime during the day and ask what's fresh that morning and see if I can reserve it? Anyone know how to ask that in Spanish? Hmm, need to go find Chamba's thread and ask that there.

This doesn't seem related, but is, how do we ask if we can share something? If my friend comes, we'll be sharing a lot of dishes, and I'm thinking a bigass fish like that will be more than enough for two?

OK, off to find the Word of the Day Thread now.

[Ed Cevoli]

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030464/1164693351_eQWbN-M.jpg
Is that a Crumpler laptop bag? If so, I have the same one. The room looks gorgeous!
Did you see any signs of the fire that was at Luv earlier?
Great report and wonderful photos. Thanks so much for taking the time to post.

HaHa, it is a Crumpler bag! Good eyes. I use for my carry on stuffed with all my electrics. Notebook, Docking station, chargers, etc.

Didn't see any signs of a fire. Didn't even know there was one.

[Ed Cevoli]

So to get a fresh fish like that, assuming we're not there at the moment of purchase, do we just walk in sometime during the day and ask what's fresh that morning and see if I can reserve it? Anyone know how to ask that in Spanish? Hmm, need to go find Chamba's thread and ask that there.

This doesn't seem related, but is, how do we ask if we can share something? If my friend comes, we'll be sharing a lot of dishes, and I'm thinking a bigass fish like that will be more than enough for two?

OK, off to find the Word of the Day Thread now.

I see on your ticker you're going in 11 days. So Tom, the guy from NYC will still be there. And Matteo, from Italy, speaks perfect English and runs the bar so you needn't worry. If you want to share, and like seafood, definitely try their parrillada. They have it in 3 different sizes, with or without Lobster i believe. When I popped in during the day after i saw that fish they showed me everything they got in that day, i'm sure they will do the same if you ask

[utmck]

Well, it's much taller than the surrounding treelines. Here's another view which shows how large it is:

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030637/1166463160_JeuDX-M.jpg

BTW, those guys workin on it are pretty nuts. They are high up there!



Westy -

I think you need to distract these guys the same way Lainie did!!!!! They definitely appreciated it!!!

[Westybchbum]

More, Ed, more!!!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG I love that room and the whole fresh fish thing. Thanks for getting us something new to feast our eyes and our thoughts on! Yes, Margo's friend originally from Boston I believe is making that monstrous building into a healers retreat. It sounded cool what they were doing with it but the building itself makes quite the statement. I still say it looks like Noah's ark upside down. Those guys working are in bare feet with completely amazed me when I saw that. OUCH.

[beachreader]

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how it looks finished. I'm sure with the palapa roof it will blend in with the surrounding jungle a lot better, and I'm sure it's going to be a beautiful place. I love how they're using driftwood and all those cool shapes.

[Solbound]

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing how it looks finished. I'm sure with the palapa roof it will blend in with the surrounding jungle a lot better, and I'm sure it's going to be a beautiful place. I love how they're using driftwood and all those cool shapes.

I agree!

[Ed Cevoli]

Just a few more pics of the places we went to near Luv Tulum. Siobhan and I both really liked Zebra for drinks. They use only pure cane sugar for all of their cocktails that require sugar. I have a weakness for Mojitos and theirs is top notch. That's a garnish of the cane sugar in the drink. And we passed by on Sunday eve and the place was packed for Salsa night.



http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030530/1166625028_XPJoo-M.jpg

We went back that night and ordered the mixed grill. They bring a mini barbeque to your table and cook the meat and fish right in front of you. It's a bit more of a novelty than anything else but still very nice.



http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030671/1166629568_yaMdq-M.jpg


http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030672/1166619540_CcHTm-M.jpg


We didn't eat at Om any of the nights be we stopped in for drinks a few times. Something about those reds makes it very atmosheric.

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030494/1166623107_JSAvy-M.jpg


http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030667/1166628087_t2oXD-M.jpg


Also wanted to know: has anyone eaten at Hemingway cabanas? I drove in one afternoon to check it out. There wasn't a menu, just the days specials written on a board- I love that. I didn't get around to eating there but i will the next time. And their cabanas looked really amazing.

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030491/1166608474_ungZv-M.jpg

[courtleigh]

LOVING your report!!! I haven't been around in a while and yours is the first report I clicked on...ohhhh...bittersweet!!! :D Isn't Luv gorgeous? And I have dreams about that fishing boat coming up and the fresh seafood at Casa Violetta. It is the BEST! :)

And I think I know why king oceanfront wasn't available...heh. :) I agree, though, I prefer the more setback rooms as well. There's a bit more privacy and it's just very picturesque up there.

Thanks for the Tulum fix! :D

[merriebeth]

Hi Ed,

We just booked Luv for March. Thank you so much for your report!
I have a couple of questions for you...

Did you have an outlet in the room? I must keep my ipod charged; music is a key component of my vacation. Are the windows screened? I can't really tell from the pictures. Is there a bar there or did you have to walk to get you beach beverage?

Thanks for your info!
Beth

[Ed Cevoli]

Hi Ed,

We just booked Luv for March. Thank you so much for your report!
I have a couple of questions for you...

Did you have an outlet in the room? I must keep my ipod charged; music is a key component of my vacation. Are the windows screened? I can't really tell from the pictures. Is there a bar there or did you have to walk to get you beach beverage?

Thanks for your info!
Beth

Yes there is an outlet, i bring my ipod and docking station everywhere I go. But there is not 24 hr electricity, so ask when it will be on. I think it's the morning and early evening. There wasn't a bar during our stay but just heard somewhere that they opened a restaurant. If not, no worries, Casa Violeta is next door and I think it's 2x1 cocktails all day. When you open the two doors to the balcony (in room Mar) there is no screen, but we never had a problem.

[merriebeth]

Excellent! Now I will have drinks and music! Thanks!

[letele]

Fantastic photos, thank you so much for sharing! Luv looks lovely (harhar) and the back buildings do look very nice indeed!

[CoconutShrimp]

http://emc1028.smugmug.com/Holidays/Tulum/P1030530/1166625028_XPJoo-M.jpg

Now that is a picture I miss dearly, but am truly enjoying it on this very snowing morning.

Enjoying your trip report Ed! Keep it coming.

[idealist]

Has anyone stayed in the Estrellas room at Luv Tulum? I know it's tiny, but would it be unbearable for two people? Thanks!

[beachreader]

Is that the cheapest room? We stopped in there in September, and it's pretty cave-like. I wouldn't mind it as a single too much, but the ceiling is pretty low, and I believe Minniemex felt it would be too close. I took a bad picture of it, might be on our thread about Luv.

[idealist]

Yes it is the cheapest room and I saw your photos online. It looked small from the photos, but I wanted to know if anyone had stayed there. We figure that we won't be in the room very much. Did it have an ocean front view? Thats what the website says.

[minniemex]

For some reason the only picture I got was of the door.

http://minniemex.smugmug.com/photos/1028124851_YRkoA-L.jpg

I believe that all the rooms at Luv have an ocean view. It just might not be full on, maybe building to the right, seaview to the left.

[beachreader]

I think, if you stand at the window, you'll see the ocean. I wouldn't say the room is flooded with sunlight, but you can see the sea from the window, though I don't think from the bed. If you're not spending much time in the room, go for it. If you don't like it when you're there, I'm sure they'll be happy to move you to a different room.

[Ed Cevoli]

I think, if you stand at the window, you'll see the ocean. I wouldn't say the room is flooded with sunlight, but you can see the sea from the window, though I don't think from the bed. If you're not spending much time in the room, go for it. If you don't like it when you're there, I'm sure they'll be happy to move you to a different room.

I agree, you can probably see the sea albeit not the best view but you will be on the beach pretty much. I think I read somewhere on TA that somebody stayed in the bottom room and could hear everything above them. There were cement floors in my room so I don't agree with that as you couldn't make a sound when you walked around. But the other rooms could be different.