INTERNATIONAL SUMMER INSTITUTE & Pre-INSTITUTE 2008

General Information

Hotel Las Palapas
Playa del Carmen, Mexico
June 14-15 and June 15-20, 2008

Hotel Las Palapas provides a charming and relaxing setting for the ISI and Pre-ISI. Located in a tropical garden on a beautiful white sand beach. A swimming pool, spa, and restaurant are available for your pleasure. All rooms are palapas and have balconies and hammocks.) There are many fabulous restaurants nearby at reasonable and upscale prices. (See websites: www.laspalapas.com and www.playadelcarmen.com). The ISI special per-person room rate is based on two persons per room. There is a supplemental cost per night for a single room.

Playa del Carmen has perfect beach weather! The temperature can be in the low 80s in the am and in the high 80s-90s during the afternoon and cooler at night. The dress for the ISI is casual, cool, and comfortable—shorts, sundresses, capris, etc. It’s the beach:  bring your sandals, hat, sunglasses, bathing suit, and suntan lotion.! Snorkeling eqiupment and other gear and boats can be rented.

Transportation: Fly into Cancan on a commercial airline flight or take advantage of numerous charter flights. Playa del Carmen is about 30 miles from the Cancun airport. Take a taxi or bus. For rates and van/shuttle bus reservations see Travel Riviera Maya website: cancunairporttransportation.com. For people traveling together, it is worth sharing a taxi or van. Other options: cancunlimo.com; cancunairporttransportation.com.
For people arriving early or late, make reservations through the internet.

Taxi and Van: The cost of a taxi is about 80 US$. Taxis can be shared (thus, the cost is shared.) The cost of a shared van is about 20 US$. Taxi and van prices are set by the Cancun tourist bureau and are fixed. On return to the airport from the hotel, the cost of a taxi is about half the amount.

Bus: The bus is the most economical transporation (about 8 US$). The bus (Riviera Bus) leaves the Cancun airport every half-hour and goes directly to the bus terminal in Playa del Carmen. Buy your ticket in the airport - a ticket stand is just outside the baggage area. No reservation is needed. Once in Playa del Carmen, take a taxi from the bus terminal to the hotel (about 30-40 pesos or 3-4 US$). It's easy and it's fun!

Sightseeing: Since you will be traveling all the way to the Mayan Riviera (www.mayanriviera.com ) and the Yucatan (www.yucatantoday.com), you will want to take advantage of the surrounds -- filled with opportunities to experience the Mayan culture and geography. There are multiple websites on the Mayan Riviera and Playa del Carmen. Check them out. Have fun!

Guests: Friends and family are welcome to join you at the ISI and to participate in the receptions and cultural activities.

Passport Requirement: All U. S. citizens traveling to Mexico must have a valid U.S. Passport as of January 1st, 2007.

Questions: For general questions about the Pre-ISI and ISI, please contact Harlene at harleneanderson@earthlink.net.
For questions about Mexico, please contact Sylvia at sylvialondon@prodigy.net.mx.