We got sick when we went to Temptation in July 2009 and when we went to Rivera Maya in 2005. A number of the guests at Temptation would disappear for long periods, and later said they also had diarrhea. However, there were many people who said they did not get sick at all. We drank water from the restaurants in 2005, so we only drank bottle water in 2009. Still, we were sick toward the end of our vacation in July 2009. So this time (3/19-3/24), we plan to use bottle water for everything, including brushing our teeth. Also, we plan to avoid the ice and see if we can have a illness free trip. People always say that the water is safe, but I do not think so. Although it maybe filtered, there has to be something in it that does not agree with everyone.
I think in general its advised not to drink out of faucets. We stayed at a different resort in 2007, drank bottled water only, but brushed our teeth and rinsed out of the faucets and never had any problems. I think travel and different environments affects people in different ways so its best to use your own judgement that way.
We were there a week ago and we had no problem with the water at the restaurants/bars at Temptations. However, whenever I used the tap water in the room to brush my teeth my stomach started to get a little weird and I got some mild diarrhea. After a few days of that I stopped using the tap water and brushed with bottled water instead and the problems cleared right up. Don't know if the rooms are on a different filter or what, but I'd recommend not drinking from the tap in your room. And like others have said, if you leave a big tip for the maids the first day along with a note that reads "Mas aqua por favor. Gracias!" they'll bring you a new bottle every day. However, don't bother trying to ask at the front desk for more water in your room. They'll just tell you to buy it at the gift shop.
Dehydration causes many illnesses Like some others have said here the tap water should be fine. I brushed my teeth with it and even drank some and no problem whatsoever. I also had iced water at many meals and didn't have any problems with that and I'm 99% certain it was just the resort tap water. Considering that the ice in the drinks is made from the same water you would have to avoid the ice, all of the washed fruit, vegetables, coffee, tea, etc., to fully avoid the water. Personally I couldn't live without coffee and while coffee is made with hot water, if there was a problem with the water it would still affect you since it has almost definitely not been at a rolling boil for at least one minute. The filter/purification system seemed to work when we vacationed. In my experience the vast majority of "illnesses" brought on at resorts is caused by: a) too much to drink (alcohol) b) not enough to drink (water). Both a and b can contribute to dehydration. Alcohol tends to dehydrate you (yes, even beer) :beer4: and lack of water also dehydrates. Keep LOTS of water in your system and avoid excessive sun and "excessive" drinking and in all probability you will be fine. If you're really concerned bring some Imodium just in case. It will usually take care of any "plumbing problems" that you may encounter.artytime:
You will be drinking the water in the resort whether you like it or not, in the form of food, ice, vegetables, etc. So don't get bent out of shape about it. Outside of the resort, I always stick to beer. Mexican beer is all light beer (4-4.5% alc.) so you can just drink it like water all day. There is a little convenience store just outside of the resort to your left (east). They sell meds, (including penicillin, which is a little weird to me).
after 18 trips to cancun, i have found that the above opinion to be very accurate. plus add all the spicy food that most people do not include in their regular diet and the quanity that people tend to eat everyday( come on how often to you eat three large meals a day, :wuerg011:everyday for a week ) just my opinion.
I'll third that... Trust me.. when the water gets you it gets you for several weeks... not a few days. Ask Chris about the time the water at the restaurant we stopped at for lunch on the way back from CI got her. She spent the second week at the resort running from our bed to the toilet and a couple more weeks at home doing the same before it passed. So a couple of days of discomfort is probably too much booze, not enough water and something you never ate before. Jamie
