| Author | Message | ||
     StellaLuna Citizen Username: Stellaluna Post Number: 62 Registered: 6-2005 |
We are thinking about a vacation to Cancun next year; the 3 (college-age) kids and 2 parents. We want beach and to see Chichen-Itza (sp?) and Tulum. We were thinking of a long Memorial Day weekend (5 days?) Is this enough time, is the weather suitable and what is a good place to stay --nice but won't break the bank. Thanks in advance. | ||
| jet Citizen Username: Jet Post Number: 1211 Registered: 7-2001 |
Chichen-Itza is a haul. Tulum is not, bout' 50mi nice jeep ride. I would stay in Playa del Carmen which is near Tulum, while there you can day trip to Cozumel which is visiable from the beach . The kids are going to want to stay in Cancun. As for hotels some are along the sea , others around the corner are on the bay , last time I was there it was windy & rough on the sea side but it was placid on the bay side. I think it was the Hotel Americana on the bay side. | ||
| The3ofUs Citizen Username: The3ofus Post Number: 89 Registered: 4-2006 |
tulum is boring and cancun is nasty unless you like huge hotel after hotel after hotel on a beach with nothing but ugly topography behind it. we got deathly ill in mexico...will never go there again. it really is not pretty there at all. | ||
| Virtual It Girl Citizen Username: Shh Post Number: 4999 Registered: 5-2001 |
Just came back from Cozumel...it was a stop on our cruise. We would definitely go back there. Water was beautiful and calm. Friendly cab driver made it easy to see smaller ruins close by. We spent the afternoon at Paradise Beach, there are several resorts nearby. Not too built up yet. | ||
| Boomie Citizen Username: Boomie Post Number: 465 Registered: 7-2005 |
Its a fine length for the trip - Cancun is not that long a plane ride. We spent 5 days there last winter. Lovely. | ||
| Maplewoody Citizen Username: Maplewoody Post Number: 1333 Registered: 5-2001  |
Ditto jet's suggestion on Playa del Carmen. It's GORGEOUS there! | ||
| IShep Citizen Username: Twinsmom Post Number: 191 Registered: 1-2003 |
I totally disagree about Tulum being boring or ugly. The ruins are fascinating and beautiful, and unique as they are right on a beach with powdery sand and turquoise-colored water. Stunning. There are beaches near Tulum that are also gorgeous, my favorite being Playa Paraiso. I'm not much for touristy Cancun, but the beaches can't be beat. Tulum seems to attract more Europeans, and I hear it's a great place for those into Yoga. Cancun seems to attract more Americans and those interested in all-inclusive-type resorts (not that there's anything wrong with that, just not our style). Also, Chichen Itza is a haul from Tulum (when you have young kids in tow, especially), but totally "doable". We opted for Coba in the jungle which was not too far away. The eco-preserve water parks (Xel-Ha and Xcaret) are beautiful too...and not schmaltzy/super-touristy at all. You can swim with beautiful tropical fish and even dolphins (if you're willing to shell out the cash for that experience). Our favorite thing to do there is to swim in the cenotes. Just another point of view... | ||
| StellaLuna Citizen Username: Stellaluna Post Number: 64 Registered: 6-2005 |
Thannks, all. IShep, your post sounds just want the boys (all older so not hard to travel around) want to do. They loved the Mayan exhibit at the Met, so that is why they sugested Mexico. | ||
| phyllis Citizen Username: Phyllis Post Number: 587 Registered: 6-2001 |
My folks have had a time share in Cancun for years and our whole family loves it. They were dreading going when a friend invited them to their time share - but they loved it so much they bought into one on the spot - not typical behavior for them! Their place is in a complex at the beginning of the hotel zone (the Royal Resorts) so it feels a bit removed from the wild and wacky Cancun of the springbreakers. It's also close to Tulum. We've been out to C.I. and loved it, but it's a hike. If you can find a good tour guide than you can spend the ride listening to to the history if that's what you're into. We also love getting on the public bus and heading into downtown Cancun. Sure it's touristy, but it's certainly not NJ and is less ticky tacky (in my opinion anyway) than Tijuana. There are some fine restaurants and a couple of really family-friendly ones including a place called Perricos. The snorkling is great - much much better than Thailand where we were hoping for great things. Yes, Cancun is a tourist destination and there are several things not to like, but there are many great things about it. If you haven't already discovered, air fare is very expensive. |
