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Cancun Vacation

I've stayed at the Royal Playa in Playa del Carmen. The main strip there (5th?) is pretty fun...there are a lot of little bars and restaurants to check out and the foods pretty good. Would suggest checking out the menus one day and going back to eat the next. Some of the little bars with bands will try and rip you off by overcharging you so just make sure to keep track.

Its a fun place...another suggestion is to go and visit a Cenote they are underground sinkholes filled with water, fun to swim around and play in. Drink some Mezecal and enjoy the ride.
 
My finace and I are planning a honeymoon now. She wants to go to Mexico somewhere. We are planning to be down there about four nights. Any suggestions of resorts in safe areas?

I'm not too experiended in planning trips in foreign countries so any tips are appreciated. Would it be best to book everything through a travel agent?
 
Been years, but did the Tulum ruins thing (hot as Hades) and also Xel-Ja or Xel-Ha. Fresh water spring-like river that flows gently to the ocean & you snorkel down to the ocean. Not earth-shattering but better than the ruins.

Been a while, so don't know if it is the same name or not. Something to do between the beach-goin/partyin/drinkin
 
isufan said:
My finace and I are planning a honeymoon now. She wants to go to Mexico somewhere. We are planning to be down there about four nights. Any suggestions of resorts in safe areas?

I'm not too experiended in planning trips in foreign countries so any tips are appreciated. Would it be best to book everything through a travel agent?
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First time I'd talk to a travel agent. Depends on what you want, snorkeling and clear water...probably Cancun or somewhere on the Riveria Maya. If you like expeditions, deep sea fishing, awesome sunsets or going into a jungle probably Puerto Vallarta. Depends on the time of year as well, hurricane season could ruin your trip.
 
I would also suggest Xel-Ha. That place was like an adult disney world. It was awesome to snorkle, cliff dive, tube, zip line and everything you want while having every restaurant in the place open to eat and drink for free. I loved my time there and if I ever went back would make sure to hit Xel-Ha.
 
I've been to Mexico several times, most recently last week to Guadalajara for work. You do have to be careful for everyone outside of your resort. Use common sense and you will be fine. Stay where it is well lit and groups of people are around you.

Once you arrive in Cancun, keep walking past the people trying to sell you time shares until you reach the outdoors area. Do look at them, don't pretend you heard something they said. Look straight ahead and ignore them.


Your resort should have plenty of options for you, but I will recommend these:

Go snorkeling within the resort for a minimal fee. There are plent of beautiful areas within a short drive away that look like 'Finding Nemo'.

Xel-Ha. This is an all inclusive natural water park with beer and food included in the price of the trip. It has a lazy river, snorkeling, scuba diving, cliff diving, dolphin swimming, etc. Look it up online as it is one of the more visually stimulating areas I've been to in Mexico. I saw my first ray here (before Croc Hunter was killed by one).

Learn to Wind Surf or something you've always wanted to try. They offer free lessons and what better time to try?

Touring the Tulum ruins is a quicker trip than Chichen-Itza. It also has a pristene beach to enjoy as well.

Enjoy yourself and don't drink the water. The resorts are safe, just don't always trust the workers to not disturb or steal. Lock up your valuables in a safe.
 
Last time we went we paid a lil extra for a personal shuttle to pick us up at.the airport, it was a yukon denali. Just me and the wife, no waiting for god knows however many other people on a bus. Def worth the money. Otherwise you can literally stop at every resort dropping off people before you arrive at yours.
 
isufan said:
My finace and I are planning a honeymoon now. She wants to go to Mexico somewhere. We are planning to be down there about four nights. Any suggestions of resorts in safe areas?

I'm not too experiended in planning trips in foreign countries so any tips are appreciated. Would it be best to book everything through a travel agent?
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Stay away from the border towns. THAT is where the real problem is.

I have been to Mexico probably 25 times or more in the last 26 years. Both Pacific side and Yucatan Peninsula side.

Acapulco---NO HOT. Been there, better places.
Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo--- Haven't been there. Know some people who like it.
Mazatlan-- Okay. Weather is moderate but not hot. Beach and water okay but not beautiful like on the Caribbean. Fantastic food. Home to the largest shrimping fleet in North America.
Puerto Vallarta-- Decent. Great weather. Beach and water okay. Not beautiful. Nice mountain backdrop.
Cancun-- Decent. Strip of High Rise Hotels on the Ocean that run on a 7-shaped strip that is 7 miles long on the top and 14 miles long on the side. Beautiful blue water and white sand. Very commercialized. But a good solid destination with nice hotels available. You kind of get what you pay for. AI not a bad option here as food and drink can be a bit spendy. I would stick to the major chains like Riu Resorts, Palace Resorts, REAL Resorts (includes the Royal), etc. Usually better food and drink at these major chains.
Mayan Riviera--Great. These are the big AI resorts that are sprinkled along the coast from the Cancun Airport to south of Tulum. Generally, they are large. Somewhat isolated and you would need a cab to go anywhere off the resort. But for the traveller that likes to stay in just one spot, they are a good option.
Playa del Carmen--Great. My personal favorite. Includes the areas of Playacar. You can stay AI or at a small hotel on the beach non-AI. Or rent a condo on the beach. Accomodations from cheap $30 per night to luxury $500 per night. Beautiful blue water and white sand. Lots of activities. Great food and reasonable costs of drinks. $2 or less for a bottle of beer on the beach served to you under a palapa. I stay in a small 18 room hotel on the ocean with the beach about 20 steps or so from my second floor room with ocean view balcony. Includes a light breakfast. Fifth Avenue is a cobble stone street that stretches for about a mile and a half that is lined with restaurants, bars, and shops. Wal-Mart, Mega, Sam's Club, etc. for those who need to buy supplies, etc. for their stay. Taxis are plentiful if you do not want to walk.

Mexico is very safe, provided that you use your head. Generally, it is all tourist area and very safe. Walking around drunk alone in more native areas or on the beach at 3 or 4 am would not be wise IMO. Still safer than walking around Des Moines. I have felt less safe here in America than I have in Mexico. The resorts and hotels ALL have security so that only guests can access the hotels. Murders have occurred in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, etc., etc. Perhaps no one should go to those towns because they "are not safe".
 
For those interested, the services of a travel agent don't really cost you anything when booking with someone like Funjet Vacations or Apple Vacations. If you are just booking an airfare and going with a hotel direct you can sometimes save a little bit. But it might be worth the money to have an advocate on your behalf and some peace of mind.

I have done both. I will say that Mexico is a safe destination. As safe as any other tropical destination here or abroad.
 
AirWalke said:
Fanatics,

We will be going on our honeymoon next week to Cancun, and my wife and I will be looking for things to do outside of our resort. We're staying in Playa del Carmen, and have already booked ourselves for a day at Xcarat, and are looking for a few other things to do, and maybe some other helpful pointers making a trip like this.
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go swimming with the dolphins -- it's a blast!!
 
bringmagicback said:
Realize im not answering your question but I always tell people the following about Cancun. Ive been numerous times and always stay at the resort 95% of the time.

Coco Bongo is a great place most of the time, the rest of the time its a great place to get mugged. Watch out for the people at the resorts trying to get you to go there, they usually have alternative motives.

Cancun is fun however when you leave the resort make sure you are always prepared for the worse, the police wear masks and carry assualt rifles for a reason (luckily for me seeing truck load after truck load of masked men with M16s drive by was enough for my g/f to want to stay at the resort)

Plan out as much as possible to avoid asking workers at the resort for reccomendations or directions. The same people that are helping you are mugging you later.

Dont drink to much off resort, a guy I know who worked down there has told horror stories about Coco Bongo and The area where Hard Rock is.

Last piece of my rant about Cancun is always be w/ a group if off resort, Ive had friends mugged at gun point on the beach. A friend who was there on his honeymoon get pistol whipped and they tried to take his wife by telling them they were the police, and another friend got the shat beat out of him buying some coke. Which brings me to the last point, dont do mexican drugs.
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Paranoid much -- sheesh.......never felt unsafe in Cancun but I do speak spanish.
 
Stormin said:
Stay away from the border towns. THAT is where the real problem is.

I have been to Mexico probably 25 times or more in the last 26 years. Both Pacific side and Yucatan Peninsula side.

Acapulco---NO HOT. Been there, better places.
Ixtapa-Zihuatenejo--- Haven't been there. Know some people who like it.
Mazatlan-- Okay. Weather is moderate but not hot. Beach and water okay but not beautiful like on the Caribbean. Fantastic food. Home to the largest shrimping fleet in North America.
Puerto Vallarta-- Decent. Great weather. Beach and water okay. Not beautiful. Nice mountain backdrop.
Cancun-- Decent. Strip of High Rise Hotels on the Ocean that run on a 7-shaped strip that is 7 miles long on the top and 14 miles long on the side. Beautiful blue water and white sand. Very commercialized. But a good solid destination with nice hotels available. You kind of get what you pay for. AI not a bad option here as food and drink can be a bit spendy. I would stick to the major chains like Riu Resorts, Palace Resorts, REAL Resorts (includes the Royal), etc. Usually better food and drink at these major chains.
Mayan Riviera--Great. These are the big AI resorts that are sprinkled along the coast from the Cancun Airport to south of Tulum. Generally, they are large. Somewhat isolated and you would need a cab to go anywhere off the resort. But for the traveller that likes to stay in just one spot, they are a good option.
Playa del Carmen--Great. My personal favorite. Includes the areas of Playacar. You can stay AI or at a small hotel on the beach non-AI. Or rent a condo on the beach. Accomodations from cheap $30 per night to luxury $500 per night. Beautiful blue water and white sand. Lots of activities. Great food and reasonable costs of drinks. $2 or less for a bottle of beer on the beach served to you under a palapa. I stay in a small 18 room hotel on the ocean with the beach about 20 steps or so from my second floor room with ocean view balcony. Includes a light breakfast. Fifth Avenue is a cobble stone street that stretches for about a mile and a half that is lined with restaurants, bars, and shops. Wal-Mart, Mega, Sam's Club, etc. for those who need to buy supplies, etc. for their stay. Taxis are plentiful if you do not want to walk.

Mexico is very safe, provided that you use your head. Generally, it is all tourist area and very safe. Walking around drunk alone in more native areas or on the beach at 3 or 4 am would not be wise IMO. Still safer than walking around Des Moines. I have felt less safe here in America than I have in Mexico. The resorts and hotels ALL have security so that only guests can access the hotels. Murders have occurred in Minneapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, etc., etc. Perhaps no one should go to those towns because they "are not safe".
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Great info.
 
Stormin said:
For those interested, the services of a travel agent don't really cost you anything when booking with someone like Funjet Vacations or Apple Vacations. If you are just booking an airfare and going with a hotel direct you can sometimes save a little bit. But it might be worth the money to have an advocate on your behalf and some peace of mind.

I have done both. I will say that Mexico is a safe destination. As safe as any other tropical destination here or abroad.
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I just booked my honeymoon to Puerto Morelos (just south of Cancun) through Apple. The agent was very helpful. While we are on the subject, does anyone have any advice about bring money and exchanging it for pesos for any reason, or should I just bring a bunch of $1s to tip?
 
isufan said:
My finace and I are planning a honeymoon now. She wants to go to Mexico somewhere. We are planning to be down there about four nights. Any suggestions of resorts in safe areas?

I'm not too experiended in planning trips in foreign countries so any tips are appreciated. Would it be best to book everything through a travel agent?
Click to expand...


We stayed at The Excellence Rivera Cancun a couple of years ago. It was great. Service was top notch, food was outstanding and the alcohol was top shelf.....and they didn't skimp on it. 15 minutes from the Cancun airport too. We lost our luggage on the way there. Got to the resort ad the concierge took care of everything. It was very reassuring.

We booked it through travelocity. Worked pretty slick. Booked flights resort and transportation all at once.

My suggestion would be to read the resort reviews on travelocity/orbitz etc. See what people are saying about their stay. Was the staff friendly/ helpful? Was the food good? Thing such as this. Once you get to your all inclusive resort you have already paid for everything so you are a captive audience.
 
CycloneSupt6 said:
I just booked my honeymoon to Puerto Morelos (just south of Cancun) through Apple. The agent was very helpful. While we are on the subject, does anyone have any advice about bring money and exchanging it for pesos for any reason, or should I just bring a bunch of $1s to tip?
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My experience was that it was pointless to exchange for peso's. Everyone seems to be flexible in what their prices are and I just used ones to tip everyone. But be careful as many shop owners will try to really do bad math on converting. But like I said barter and walk if they don't like what you have to offer as chances are there is more right next door. The only Pesos I got were ones that came home with me for the kids. Everything there though was usually listed in both pesos and US Dollars.
 
CycloneSupt6 said:
I just booked my honeymoon to Puerto Morelos (just south of Cancun) through Apple. The agent was very helpful. While we are on the subject, does anyone have any advice about bring money and exchanging it for pesos for any reason, or should I just bring a bunch of $1s to tip?
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I would bring $1's to tip. It is easy for you that way. I am familiar with Puerto Morelos which is just north of Playa. You could probably exchange some money at the resort. But chances are the exchange is not that great. There is an ATM at the airport. But I have not used that one. I use the ATM's at Playa at the Scotia Bank on Calle 2 and have had no issues. The Casa de Cambios are not a bad way to go for just some spending money if you get to town. Bring smaller bills, if in doubt, and any business will take them for your bill. Some just do not give as great an exchange rate.

Some people say you should always tip in pesos. But I have never found anyone turn down American money. FTR, tipping in Mexico is generally 10% to 15%. I usually tip 15% or a bit better. If at an All-inclusive you do not have to tip every round. $1 or $2 ever so often. Most packages include tips supposedly. But I still tip some.
 
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