We started our love affair with Mexico at the eastern resort cities of Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Ixtapa. As much as we love those areas, it was the perfect turquoise waters of Cancun that kept bringing us back! We would visit several times a year with our children. As they grew older and we started traveling by ourselves, we discovered the Riviera Maya. The low rise resorts and glorious private beaches were in sharp contrast to the bustle of Cancun. Then we discovered 5th Ave in Playa del Carmen. A cobblestone pedestrian walkway with shoppes ranging from trinket stores, to restaurants and bars of every type and price to Gucci, Rolex and Fendi. Just sit outside at a street side table, sipping your favorite cocktail and you will hear 15 different languages in 3 minutes as the crowd passes you by. At the southern end of 5th Ave is the Ferry Pier offering departures to Cozumel on the hour. Just south of the pier is the entrance to Playacar. A guard gated, master planned golf community offering condos, villas, private homes and World Class Resorts. This is where we found Casa Tres Palapas. A two-story Villa with a large palapa carport out front. Another palapa covers the patio which is literally steps from the sparkling pool. A third palapa shades the private patio just outside the downstairs master bedroom. Space, luxury and the perfect location was why we chose Casa Tres Palapas as our home.