Vacation Rentals by Owner

Excellent Stay at La Sirena

Guest: CR Keith (Castle Rock, CO)
Date of Stay: 11/18/11 Review Submitted: 02/28/12

TO all; I cannot recommend this place enough. The beautiful top floor condo has an amazing view of Half Moon Bay and the waves breaking on the point across the bay. and is very comfortable. My wife and I enjoyed this place immensely and have been to many different places up and down the Riviera Maya. The kitchen is fully stocked, delicious cold filtered water and anything you need for those who wish to "dine in". There is good internet for those who like me need to stay plugged in and also good cable TV for those relaxing evenings in front of a movie. The bed was very comfortable and with the AC, no hot nights. This is a great accommodation and right down the street is La Lunita with delicious choices eating on the beach under the stars. Especially during lobster season when hey have Lobster Friday. Simply the best. Akumal Beach with convenient parking right down the street with fabulous snorkeling. You owe it to yourself to stay here and the host and owner of the property are first rate all the way.

Owner response:Hi Keith & Julie, I am so very glad you enjoyed your stay in our condo, we are so lucky to have wonderful guests like you, to stay in our beautiful place, that we love SO much! Looking forward to haveing you back again. Aileen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

We loved La Sirena!

Guest: Wendie V. (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 02/22/11 Review Submitted: 03/16/11

The location is excellent, within walking distance to Yal-Ku Lagoon, dining, and Akumal Bay. We had a car and there was plenty space for parking. The condo offers fantastic views of Half Moon Bay. We were able to watch turtles swimming in the bay from our balcony! The airflow is very good - we did not need any air conditioning during our stay and the temps were well into the 80s every day. Also we did not think the steps up to our level were any problem at all. I could see where it would be more difficult for families with very little ones or people who have trouble walking. Loved that both bedrooms had a balcony on the rear side of the building overlooking the grounds, pool, and the sea in the distance. The pool was nice and clean. The sand on the beach is raked every morning. The property is very well maintained and all staff are happy to assist you. Maid service daily and she does the dishes for you! Also wi-fi is available here and it worked great. The water entry is a bit dicey if you don't have water shoes. We knew this in advance so we brought some but we did see plenty of people go out without anything on their feet. They were fine as long as they took their time and were careful. Once out, there is good snorkeling in the bay. I would definitely recommend this property to anyone looking to stay on Half Moon Bay. What struck me the most about this property was the grounds and how the condo building is set back from the road. Lots of other condo buildings on the same road back right up to it. So I think this one is quieter and more private due to that. Aileen described the condo perfectly and was so responsive to my numerous questions. Thank you so much for sharing your piece of paradise with us!

Owner response:Thank you so much Wendie, for your letter, We really appreciate it very much, and feel the same way as you do about our complex, pool, condo, and management. Our condo in LaSirean Aileen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with teenagers, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

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Guest: Ruth & Gus (Alaska)
Date of Stay: 01/21/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/11

8 Feb. 2011 Page 2 of 2 Our first trips to Mexico were for one week, then two, and now we stay for a month plus. This unit is a great place to stay. From here you can explore Mayan ruins, swim in Cenotes, snorkel in the lagoon or the bay, dive to the reef, check out the jungle and soak up the wonderful culture of Mexico. If this sounds good make your plans soon. We are looking at staying longer next time!! :o) The 4 Alaskan Amigos ps A bad weather day in Akumal is so much better than a cold weather day anywhere else.

Owner response:Thank You Gus and Ruth, I know you and your husbands have stayed now twice in our unite in LaSirena #10, and we have enjoyed haveing you. We look forward to seeing you again. Thank you for giving us a good nice review, we appreciate it. Aileen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

La Sirena Page 1 of 2

Guest: Ruth & Gus (Alaska)
Date of Stay: 01/21/11 Review Submitted: 02/08/11

8 Feb. 2011 Page 1 of 2 La Sirena # 10- Our home away from home. Sunrises from the back decks and sunsets from the front deck plus the most magnificent view of the bay you will find anywhere. Lovely fresh breezes and ceiling fans keep the unit very pleasant (air conditioning is also available however we have never used it). The unit is on the 3rd floor and truly has a “bird’s eye view” of everything. Whether you want to snorkel out front, swim in the pool or lounge under a palapa this is the place! There are great restaurants nearby but if you prefer to cook the kitchen is well equipped. Remember you are in Mexico and not all ingredients that you have at home are available here. This is a great opportunity to try your hand at preparing local cuisine! There is a great market on Wednesdays and Saturdays and you can pick up amazing fruits and vegetables. Another option is to have a local lady prepare a meal for you. You can ask for a recommendation at the desk. Twenty plus years ago we started coming to Mexico. We spent several years exploring the west coast and some of the interior of Mexico, and then ten years ago we found our Mexican heaven, Akumal. It is about an hour plus south of Cancun. It is a small village with the most amazing people, snorkeling, diving and turtles. We have stayed in several different condos here but the place we have come to think of as our home away from home is #10 at La Sirena . The staff here is warm, friendly and always helpful. Hector, Alvar, and Marcial man the front office so if you need help with the unit or have questions about the area just ask and you will be taken care of and your questions answered ,always promptly with a warm smile. The housekeeper, Andrea is a very special person. Her wonderful smile and cheerful attitude alone will remind you of why you want to come again and again. We have given her the task of “trying” to teach us some Spanish, she tries, and we try, but we need a lot more lessons, guess that means that we just need to come here more often :o). Housekeeping is provided 7 days a week (what a treat!). Aileen, the condo owner, is charming and great to work with. Our inquiries are always answered promptly and completely. Even though all of our contact with Aileen has been through e-mail and the phone we truly feel we have gotten to know her and consider her a friend. See next review to see the next page. The 4 Alaskan Amigo's

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, tourists without a car, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Simply Wonderful!

Guest: Dot (Snohomish, WA, USA)
Date of Stay: 01/08/11 Review Submitted: 02/02/11

We enjoyed our stay in Aileen’s condo very much. The condo was quite nice and was equipped with everything we needed. It was very clean and comfortable, and the décor was very nice. The view from all three balconies was fantastic and we really enjoyed the beautiful sunrises and sunsets from the front balcony overlooking Half Moon Bay. The onsite managers were great as was the maid service, I felt spoiled having someone wash our dishes and make the beds everyday! We did not need to use the A/C at all due to the tropical breezes. I enjoyed hearing all of the birds every morning and seeing the coatimundi in the jungle in the evening. The snorkeling in Akumal was wonderful; nearby Yal Kul Lagoon was so beautiful with all of the colorful fish and in Akumal Bay we saw several turtles, fish and a small manta ray. We rented a car for our stay and drove to see the ruins in Tulum and Chichen Itza, but one of the highlights of our vacation was a trip to nearby Rio Secreto. The cenote was amazing; I’ve never seen anything like it and would highly recommend seeing it. The shrimp tacos, nachos and margaritas at La Buena Vida were great and the thai fish tacos at Gynn’ Ak were fantastic but the most romantic place we ate was La Lunita, just a short walk from the condo. It was fabulous sitting at a table right on the beach with our toes in the sand and the moon and stars overhead. Thank you Aileen for all of your helpful advice and thanks again for sharing your lovely condo with us, we hope to return soon!

Owner response:Thank YOU! we were very happy to work with you and share our condo, with you. We also enjoy the condo sooooo much, and it makes us so happy to know others feel as we do. We look forward to seeing you again another time. Aileen

Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

Guest: Steve70 (Minnesota)
Date of Stay: 03/04/09 Review Submitted: 03/04/09

We had the pleasure of staying in Aileen's condo a couple of weeks ago and we thoroughly enjoyed it. If anything, the pictures do not do justice of the view. The condo is on the 3rd floor and is an end unit so it is very private. It is located about 1.5 miles from the main shopping area. Most people rent a car. We rented a golf cart for part of the time and just walked the rest. Car rental makes more sense than the golf cart as it is about the same cost. Everything in the condo was in good working order and I cannot imagine anything else we would have needed. We spent move of our nights on the balcony overlooking the ocean. There is really no need to use the A.C.. The kitchen is fully equipped and the staff at LaSirena were very helpful and friendly. I brought my own snorkel equipment but didn't need to as there is plenty of gear there. You are literally foot steps from the ocean and the snorkeling is good(bring water shoes). In the lagoon, there were millions of fish! Very close walk and I would recommend spending the $9 to go there. The Italian restaurant, Que Onda, was just a couple of blocks away and that was our favorite restaurant in Akumal. They make their own pasta and it was wonderful! The maid did our dishes daily. Felt a little guilty at first but got over it. If you are going to Akumal, I would strongly suggest that you consider LaSirena # 10.

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Guest: Dave and Lisa McKell (Mason, OH)
Date of Stay: 05/04/08 Review Submitted: 05/04/08

We had a real nice time. It was the perfect getaway and we really needed it. Everything worked out well. You have a great place…let me know if you want to sell it. Also, having the car worked out very well. We also took a side trip down to the Grand Cenote (Tulum) as well as some of the beaches down there. That’s a beautiful area too. Other than that trip, we pretty much ate at all the local spots. I liked the shrimp tacos at La Buena Vida and the snorkeling was great (we did that the most) at Half Moon and Yal Ku. It made my trip when I saw and followed a turtle! Thanks again for all the extra guidance. Dave

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Guest: Tina & Kevin Harris (Canada)
Date of Stay: 04/05/08 Review Submitted: 04/05/08

Hello Aileen! Thank-you for asking. We had a wonderful time. A fairy-tale vacation. Your condo is lovely and suited us perfectly. It is very well-supplied and I appreciated the plastic cups and plates as we have two boys age 6 and 8. We enjoyed the breeze from the ocean (some nights the blasting wind!) and the incredible view. Andrea was very nice and did a super job for us. If we can save up our pesos we hope to be back soon! Thanks again, Tina

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Guest: Val (Shakopee, MN)
Date of Stay: 03/07/08 Review Submitted: 03/07/08

Hi Aileen, We have been to Akumal about 8-9 times and your condo is by far the best place we have stayed. We totally agree with all the positive comments other's in your guest book have made.The views from your balcony ( all 3)are probably the best views in all of Akumal.We loved the peace and tranquility of watching the sunset everynight. Going to sleep to the sound of the waves and waking to the bird calls in the morning made us feel like we were in our own little paradise! One of the restaurants not menioned by some of the others is Lucy's. It's just a small place behind the grocery store but it has the BEST shrimp tacos and homemade ice cream---yummy! The one tour we would recommend is the Sian Ka'an Biosphere national preserve down by Tulum. You can book the tour right at the travel place in Akumal. Anyone interested in ecology will love this place. Thank you so much Aileen for sharing your home with us, anyone who stays here will NOT be disappointed. Val and Gary --2-15 to 3-5-08

Owner response:Val & Gary, Thank you for your wonderful comment, We certainly feel the same way about our wonderful place! Your comments are appreciated. Aileen

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Guest: Terry Nelson (Florence CO)
Date of Stay: 02/07/08 Review Submitted: 02/06/08

We really enjoyed our stay in Akumal. The condo was very clean and tastefully decorated. The location is great. Not far from the village, yet very private. I would recomend staying here to anyone. Great food, snorkeling, and fun in general. Thanks Aileen. Terry Nelson

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Guest: Cherie and Eric Siegmund (Damascus,Oregon)
Date of Stay: 01/30/08 Review Submitted: 01/30/08

Aileen, Jan.30,08Yes you were on my mind to give a call to. But we just returned to Snow and employees not showing up for work and such.Your place was wonderful! What a view, spent most of our evening time on the patio.Snorkeling was great everywhere we went, especially in Akumal bay with the turtles and barracudas.We went out to Coba, which was fantastic and then to 3 Mayan cenotes close by Coba. This was quite an experienceClimbing down into these caves and swimming in the beautiful clear water.We went to Aktun chen and Tulum as well.But the dinners were the best, especially at La Lunita! I speak Spanish and a person came out to our table, it was the chef; we talked about the way he makes his sauces, butter, salsa etc. Just as we were having dessert he sent another (but different) plate of food out to my table. Wow! And the last night we were there we went back, had another long conversation about his cooking ( I think I called him an artist in the cocina) and after eating my plate of food he sent me another plate of 2 types of langostinos. Lucky and fat me!I have a recipe I am going to send him in return. So in a nutshell we had a wonderful time and can’t wait to come back.Thank you so much for your gracious offer of your place, it really made our vacation awesome. I think La Sirena is one of the nicest condos on the beach. Cherie & Eric Siegmund

Owner response:Cherie, I am so happy you had a wonderful time that is what it is all about. AA

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Guest: linda 3 (Canon city, colorado)
Date of Stay: 01/24/08 Review Submitted: 01/24/08

La Sierena Condo in Akumal/Half moon bay is absolutely awesome! The view from the condo is fabulous thru the giant picture windows. Has a large veranda that I can spend a whole day on.(PLUS two more smaller private verandas). Waking up in the morning to the most gorgeous clear blue water view of the Caribbean Bay is fabulous. Unbelievable! Simply walk down the stairs to snorkel. La Seirena has perfect swimming/snorkeling areas. Calm waters. Pool on site is very nice, even has a lap pool. The apartment decor is authentic and extremely comfortable. Very clean. Kitchen has everything you need and MORE. Akumal town is such a fun getaway. Plenty of good eateries and a grocery store I loved. Plenty of shops for great souvenirs. I will definetly return.

Owner response:Thank you Linda for a nice letter. AA

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Guest: John K. (-)
Date of Stay: 01/24/08 Review Submitted: 01/24/08

LaSirena #10 was a very relaxing place for my family (boy, age 11 and girl, age 8) to stay. We love the location which is ideally private, yet very accessible to great snorkling (half moon bay), pool, restaurants and pleasant walks. I have placed this unit with its location as my favorite place to go in Mexico. I can't wait to go back. Thank you Aileen and LaSirena staff for being great hosts.

Owner response:Thank You John/Patty I do appreciate your kind words! Aileen and Mark

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Guest: Connie Nelson (Rockville, MD)
Date of Stay: 11/19/07 Review Submitted: 11/19/07

Hello Aileen, We arrived in Akumal today. The condo is beautiful - Thank you again for sharing your home. The view is spectacular and the weather is delightful. We spent the evening on the balcony and look forward to exploring tomorrow. Hector was very helpful and is obviously very proud of this fabulous place! Couldn't pull up the picture you sent -on Villas Marlin, but will see the real thing on Saturday. I can see why you love this place! Connie Nelson

Owner response:Thank you Connie, I know you stayed your last nite in Villas Marlin so that is your reason for me sending that picture to you. I am glad you had a wonderful stay in both places..Aileen

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