Explorean May 5-12

[Kimela]

Sounds like you had a fun trip. Thanks for including all the info on FA/Explorean. I'm always wary of "jungle" locations because of mosquitoes. Evidently, I am a royal buffet for those beasts. Did you experience that in your Explorean location? That shot of your balcony made me shudder.

Yes, I’m still scratching a few spots. I honestly don’t think I got them on the Explorean property. I think I got them when we sat outside for dinner at the Italian place at FA. One of my sons serves as the banquet whenever we’re together - the rest of us are off the hook because he’s the feeder! I know it’s no fun for you mosquito-attracters!!

 

[Shawn C]

Sounds like you had a fun trip. Thanks for including all the info on FA/Explorean. I'm always wary of "jungle" locations because of mosquitoes. Evidently, I am a royal buffet for those beasts. Did you experience that in your Explorean location? That shot of your balcony made me shudder.

It's really bad during the rainy season. My wife is a magnet and must have had 40+ bites from dinner in the outdoor area at Explorean one August trip. Now, when we visit that of year, we stay on the FA side and stay indoors at dusk and dawn. She also got destroyed on the patio outside of the Italian restaurant (wanted to eat outdoors during sunset - mistake!).

Outside of rainy season we weren't bothered that much - I don't wear repellent but she does

 

[ggunn]

It's really bad during the rainy season. My wife is a magnet and must have had 40+ bites from dinner in the outdoor area at Explorean one August trip. Now, when we visit that of year, we stay on the FA side and stay indoors at dusk and dawn. She also got destroyed on the patio outside of the Italian restaurant (wanted to eat outdoors during sunset - mistake!).

Outside of rainy season we weren't bothered that much - I don't wear repellent but she does

Any time it rains on Cozumel, look out two days later. We just got back after a dry two week stay and the mo skeets were not bad at all.

 

[wateraddiction]

Great trip report and pics. Thanks for taking the time to do so. FA/Explorian has been our go to AI for many years now as we feel that it has some of the best bang for your buck on the island.

They do have a kids club tucked away near the FA pool. If you have little ones they generally keep them inside for the AC. Older kids will usually spend time doing pool activities. They will not let both parents leave (to dive, for example) unless you pay somewhere around $25 - $30 / hour for direct supervision. We brought our daughter on the boat a few times and she'd snorkel above us as we were doing our safety stops. She is old enough to dive with us now (yay!).

I'm finding FA rates for a family of 4 are comparable to what we pay at Iberostar. So you feel there's more value staying at FA? How long is the boat ride to the reef from FA? I love that there's no pier fee!

 

[Shawn C]

If Iberostar is the same cost as FA, I would stay at FA. The food and service is so much better. There is no pier fee at FA and the distance to the reefs is not that much longer, especially in a fast boat.