Cancun, the Southside

The water of Cancun is like bath water, very easy to jump right in. The snorkeling is excellent. Chichen Itza is a must if you are in to archeological sights. Cancun is a lot of different things for a lot of different people. I'm sure you can find something you like.

Quick Tips:

The hotel zone bus system is excellent and a cheap way to get around. We always took the bus, even when were to dine at the Ritz. Also a bus ride to Chichen Itza would be a comfortable and relaxing way to get there.

Best Way To Get Around:

The bus.

Best Things Nearby:
It is a five-minute walk past Club Med to the Punta Nizuc Reef, start of the second largest reef in the world, second only to the Great Barrier Reef by Australia

Best Things About the Resort:
The suites are roomy, well decorated, with great ocean front views. The kitchens are well equipped and have good size refrigerators.

Resort Experience:
If you like Mexico, Club Regina has resorts all over the coastal hot spots, including a few inland in more traditional Mexico. The people so far have been extremely nice and helpful.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Excellent
• Amenities: Excellent
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

To say the least the Ritz Carlton is 5-star dining, but you will pay for it. We ate there five nights and spent US$700 -- well worth it. Friday night is a seafood buffet that is out of this world, featuring lobster tails. There were all types of shrimp dishes, ceviche (que rico), oysters on the half shell, and all types of fish and other seafood. Wednesday is a Mexican Fiesta with traditional music. This is one of the less expensive nights and well worth it. They even served all the Mexican coffee (tequila, kalua and coffee) you could drink and they also had a chilled bottle of good port we almost consumed by ourselves (my wife and I). When we return we will definitely be going for these two nights. Bien provecho!

What? You went to Cancun and you didn't go to Senor Frogs? No problem--just tell'm you did and buy a T-shirt.

The food was okay. We sat outside on the deck, pretty good view of the lagoon, and here I go again, lots of fish to see. The help seemed friendly, but we were there only for lunch and it wasn't during spring break. Oh gee, I wish I could have gone there for dinner because, as I hear, it really gets crazy and HOT.

I have recently begun to enjoy snorkeling in tropical areas.

The snorkeling at Punta Nizuc was easily accessible and no cost. The variety and amount of fish was amazing. I saw very large sting rays to a very large grouper (about 500 lbs). The colors of the fish were very beautiful. The barracudas were a little intimidating (4-5 feet), but no problems.

The walk past Club Med was a little hard to endure with all the topless, g-string wearing, sunbathing mujeres, but I managed. I can't wait to go back.

We drove a rental car the 200 or so miles from Cancun on the old road (free). Lots to see of authentic Mexico, but it took five hours. The way back we drove the toll road, which costs about US$40, and it only took two hours. Chichen Itza is a spectacular sight to see. The weather can be extremely hot. Take lots of water.

El Garrafon Park is located on Isla Mujeres, about a 30 minute boat ride from Cancun. We paid around $40 each for a package trip to the park. It included the ride, a buffet lunch at a very quaint, clean restaurant, and use of the park facilities (pool, showers, lockers, and some really nice hammocks in the shade).

There is a small charge ($2) for snorkeling. The reef is right on the shore and about 100 yards long. There are very many colorful fish to see of various sizes. I was lucky enough to have an encounter with are very large sting ray (6 foot wingspan).

A short walk to the southern tip of the island is a small Mayan ruin. The views from the path are very picturesque. The hammocks in the shade made for an excellent siesta.