Cancun

So I went for the 1400 Upper return offer to Cancun, and I don't know much about it really.

Any recommendations for hotels? What to do? (Sit on the beach is acceptable).

I'm hoping for some decent mexican food

What is people's opinions on all-inclusive hotels? The first 25 on expedia were all-inclusive, but the price range was pretty low to high....

I've never done an all inclusive hotel before, I understand if you are in the middle of nowhere, its appeal, but if its 150 quid per night more than the other hotel, will me and gf spend that much around the area...

And is mexico food and drink cheap? I remember Jamaica not being particularly cheap (about $3 for a little bottle of red stripe).

Hi Smid.

Cancun itself is a holiday resort, and a long line of 4-5* hotels, almost all being All Inclusive these days running down the coastline and referred to as 'The Strip'. I regard it as Little America as every US commercial chain of fast food outlets, bars and shopping malls has set up there in the last 10 years, authentic Mexico it is not. If you do leave the hotels you will be paying US prices for food and beers.

If you want a more Mexican experience, you have to go further south of Cancun itself - Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen etc - but even then it is generally big hotel complexes, still AI but, IMHO, less "Yeeha" and more "Hola"!

What you can do from all the resorts in the region is take day trips out to the ancient Mayan sites of the Yucatan (Chichen Itza being the most famous, but very touristy these days, I prefer to suggest Coba or Uxmal) and the eco parks (check the websites) of Xcaret, Xel-Ha and X-plore. There is some brillaint diving to be had on the reef off the coast, loads of sailing and watersport activities but if you are happy just sitting on a Caribbean beach supping cocktails, then AI in one of the Cancun hotels will fit the bill and be best value for money.

Have a great trip! y)

Hi Smid,
I echo what LizzieP says, head south to Riveria Maya. I stayed in Grand Bahia Principe Coba and cannot reccomend it highly enough from Food, Staff and Location all are excellent.

I did stay in Cancuns 'hotel zone' for a couple of nights due to flight delays and it had a touch of Benidormish (is that a word) feel to it but Im sure theyre are lovely hotels there as well.

To sum up, head south to Riveria Maya y)

PS Dont know when your flying but check the rainfall seasons and dont get caught out because it does come down sum when it rains.

Yes, I've been in Jamaica in September, and I'm aware of the deluge that the Carribean rainfall is. Its end of May, Beginning of June, so the start of that season I think...

What I don't get with all inclusive, is doesn't it kill off all the other restaurants and bars about the place, if your meal and drinks are included? It doesn't appeal much to me, but the number of the damned things was huge...

I can't speak for other parts of the world when it comes to all inclusive, but you'll struggle to find anything else in Cancun certainly of any decent quality. The US bars, clubs and restaurants there are firstly, big corporate chains (Hard Rock Cafe, TGIF's, Planet Hollywood, McD's, Subways etc)there is nothing authentic Mexican.

Tourists from the AI hotels do venture out for a change but are often lured out because there are always hundreds of leaflets being handed out for party nights, BOGOF drinks, 2 for 1 meal deals and so on. It is the US on the cheap and the locals (who get paid an absolute pittance to work in the hotels) all aspire to visit or live in the US so Cancun is a taste of the American Dream for them. ii)

Further South, for sure, you won't find a local, authentic Mexican restaurant anywhere within walking distance of the big AI hotels, but a short taxi ride to the towns will put you back in touch with the local fare. The Yucatan is essentially, sub-tropical rainforest so there never was an abundance of restaurants and bars to put out of business, it has developed purely to cater for the tourists and, dare I say it, for Amercian and European tourists who would never eat or drink anything they don't recognise! The authentic stuff is there if you look beyond the commercial facade, I promise!

It kind of depresses me that I'm going to mexico and it could be Orlando without the house of mouse (not interested in that). But the fact that It is a struggle to _visit_ a country...

So, perhaps maybe a short while in Cancun itself and head elsewhere? I stayed in Jamaica in Negril, and there was plenty there which was Jamaican in itself, but I guess US tourists want to see that, they probably already have enough of what they want from Mexico in their own country....

The towns of Akumal and Tulum are fairly authentic. You could stay at the Akumal beach resort which is not a mega AI and then you would be reasonably well placed to venture out to the local towns. The ruins at Tulum are interesting and the beaches around there are stunning. You are within a 20 - 30 taxi / collectivo ride to Playa del Carmen, which although is touristy has loads of good Mexican food.

All depends on your budget for hotels, i have stayed at grand bahia principe tulum a couple of times and have enjoyed it, lots of similar resorts in the riviera maya. As others have mentioned get out of cancun and look for resorts between just north of playa del carmen right down to tulum. If you do look at the Bahia i would suggest getting the price from their own website as its often much cheaper, Also if its just adults and you dont mind spending a little extra look at the Sian kaan side of the resort, that way you get unlimited A-la cartes and your own beach section.

If you want to get away from AI if you want lots of bars/restaurants you could look at playa del carmen.

Also for a self catering option check out the condos in akumal, I have stayed at one in half moon bay a couple of times. It is a wonderful experience, there are a handful of excellent bars and restaurants and it is a more relaxed feel than a lot of AIs. I was also lucky enough to see a turtle laying her eggs and also turtles hatching when i was there. With akumal you are close to some of the best snorkeling in the riviera maya.

Whatever you decide I am sure you will have lots of fun, we did UC with virgin for our honeymoon to mexico in July. Was amazing!