Page 1 of 2
And I thought we were bad....what I am rding on the Mx board
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:15 pm
by PA Girl
Like many others, I am sure, sometimes I read a post or question and think to myself "wow, you are worried about that? or you can't do without what for the week?"
We are planning a family (3 generation) trip to Xcaret next year.
Because I like to over-educate myself and obsess, I started following a certain travel forum and I am giggling at some of the things I am reading.
A few things that travelers on the board are VERY concerned about:
Where to find 18% cream coffee creamer? Must be 18%, no exceptions. Bring from home or can I buy it locally?
What type of Mexican cheese is similar to provolone?
Now, being that I have been known to take my own speciality meats to STJ, I have no business poking fun at these posts but seriously, can't you live without provolone for the week? And if you don't like half and half, won't regular milk due for your coffee?
My Mexican AI vacation may prove to be very interesting......
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:25 pm
by Lovermont
That's sort of funny and a little bit sad. It really begs the question "why travel?" 'Cause really, perhaps they should just stay at home and drink their 18% creamer and provolone in the comfort of their dining room.
Years ago, while in Taxco, Mexico, we overheard a neighbor in our hotel proclaim "I'm not drinking anything except beer while I'm in this country" in the loudest, brashest, ethnocentric American tourist voice. It just made us cringe.
Lovermont
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 2:34 pm
by XOXO
That is really funny! I am very fussy--but wow!
We are going to Playa Del Carmin this year--we plan to make it to xcaret for a day trip. We are looking forward to it.
Gina
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:47 pm
by pipanale
I get a kick out of the people who can't "behave" when they travel.
And this comes from a cooler person. And the person who packs his own cookware to take on beach vacations in state...because mine is better and what the hell, it's only a 2 1/2 hour ride and I can use the space on the roof of the car too is I want to, or take 2 cars on vacation to hold all the household crap.
We went to an All Inclusive in the DR last year. It catered to a mostly European crowd. On TripAdvisor (The bastion of travel silliness if you ask me), people flamed the place...all Americans. "They don't have Heinz Ketchup!" "They don't make eggs like I do!"
My review said "If you're an American who can't get along for a week without things being exactly like they are at home, stay away please. You will hate the resort"
I love to read bad travel reviews/complaints. It's so much fun
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 3:58 pm
by PA Girl
The cheese and creamer concerns should not now surprise me as a formerly repressed memory just came to mind -
When we took the in-laws to Punta Cana several years back, the non-American food was bad enough but the lack of Budwiser probably ruined the experience for them. I seriously thought FIL was going to ask to go back to FL when he found out there was no Bud Light at the resort.
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:20 pm
by alw1977
What is 18% creamer? Do they mean half and half? Are they from the UK? Wikipedia says half and half is, in fact, 18% fat in the US. Good lord, people are crazy. Who the h*ll really cares? This is why I cannot board a cruise ship or stay at a large resort - other people are overrated.
Sorry, 33.5 weeks pregnant and cranky. Even in my current state, I'm not that picky of an eater!
Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:26 pm
by P-600
I have definitely noticed there are way more silly complaints from vacationers when they stay at all inclusives. I don't know what people expect

Hello people!! you are in a third world country-- pray you don't get a parasite! Who cares what kind of cheese they have!

Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 8:46 am
by PA Girl
alw1977 wrote:What is 18% creamer? Do they mean half and half? Are they from the UK? Wikipedia says half and half is, in fact, 18% fat in the US. Good lord, people are crazy. Who the h*ll really cares? This is why I cannot board a cruise ship or stay at a large resort - other people are overrated.
Sorry, 33.5 weeks pregnant and cranky. Even in my current state, I'm not that picky of an eater!
From what I am gathering, I think there is a big European and Canadian pressence of the boards.
Husband and I challenge ourselves to not eat anything on vacation that we could easily get at home. Example - we will get the grilled snapper at Lime Inn over steak or pasta, a mahi sandwich instead of a burger.
Anyway, we practiced our silly little game while on the DR vacation and it freaked out the ILs. They couldn't believe that I was eating "weird" food all the time when there was pizza on the buffet.
Alw1977, you are in the home stretch!
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 11:32 am
by pipanale
PA Girl wrote:From what I am gathering, I think there is a big European and Canadian pressence of the boards.
Husband and I challenge ourselves to not eat anything on vacation that we could easily get at home. Example - we will get the grilled snapper at Lime Inn over steak or pasta, a mahi sandwich instead of a burger.
Anyway, we practiced our silly little game while on the DR vacation and it freaked out the ILs. They couldn't believe that I was eating "weird" food all the time when there was pizza on the buffet.
Alw1977, you are in the home stretch!
We hit the "Native food" section of the buffet hard in the DR. Because, I can not get my choice of chunk off of a huge grouper at home.
But...cauliflower for breakfast? That scared me a tad. I had eggs
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:50 pm
by SS in NC
Pip...
Those weren't eggs
Posted: Fri Nov 20, 2009 6:31 pm
by cypressgirl
Have you ever seen a Mexican breakfast buffet? Who knows what's in that stuff, but I figure if the cats roaming around the tables don't die, I won't either. If you don't come home sick as a dog from Mexico, then it was a great trip. (Don't eat the fresh produce...especially the lettuce.) The water is beautiful and the people are wonderful. Have a great time. I'm only half kidding...but watch out for the produce. Their irrigation is somewhat nasty, if you get my drift.
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 9:58 am
by PA Girl
Today's head scratcher is "Will flat ironed hair hold up in Mexico?" Debate on whether or not to take the flat iron.
cypressgirl wrote: Their irrigation is somewhat nasty, if you get my drift.
Yeah, I do. I was in Mexico in 1993 and one of my friends got violently, scarey sick and we had to call a doctor. It definately wasn't from drinking alcohol.
The odd thing is, we were off the beaten track for some time and it wasn't until we got to the big resort area that she got sick. Within a half hour of eating, she was down. We split our meals that night so it was dumb luck that I didn't get sick too.
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:34 am
by cypressgirl
Flatiron...good question...it's very humid there, so it may not look like you want it, but I can't go anywhere without my hair styling products and tools. If you have room, I'd pack it for the peace of mind. (I know guys don't get this)

Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:41 am
by Maggy
PA-girl, I totally agree with you. You can live without a lot for a week. Isn't that a part of what's fun with traveling?
Being in that resort for a week (Occidental Xcaret) I found a lot of different food that was totally fine to eat (and I'm kind of picky). We were a whole group of people (conference with at least 100 persons) and I didn't hear about anyone that was sick. I ate most of it, even lettuce and icecream and was fine. I had low expectations, so I was actually positively surpriced.
The only thing I didn't do, was driking their tap water, but you got lots of water bottles from the resort every day.
Have fun!
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 1:08 pm
by PA Girl
Maggy - We are staying at that resort. My mom booked the rooms over the weekend.