Cancun

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Cancun - Mexico or not?

An August 2005 trip to Cancun by doonhamer32

Cichen ItzaMore Photos

This was a wonderful family holiday to a country (and continent) new to us.

  • 9 reviews
  • 1 photo

Cancun - Mexico or not?Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Everyone we spoke to about Cancun before we went told us that "it's not the real Mexico." That's okay, we live in London, and that's not the "real" England.
We found Cancun to be a fascinating place, with the Hotel Zone being very much a pleasure zone, contrasting strongly with the downtown area, where there are less tourists and many more locals. This made it seem like a two-centre holiday in one place.
While there were a few niggles, nothing really affected our enjoyment, and we all came home seriously chilled.
And the answer to the big question--is it Mexico or not?--yes and no!

Quick Tips:

Avoid the "open bar" deals available in most places: either the place is so busy you'll struggle to get a drink at all or the bar staff will want tips before they serve you--or sometimes it's both of these! It get a bit much when you've paid up to upfront.

Best Way To Get Around:

Within the Hotel Zone, use the buses, without a doubt. The Zone is some 25km from end to end, and the local buses run up and down every couple of minutes for a flat fare of about £0.35. It's a great value!

Caribbean Princess ResortBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

We were not supposed to stay at this hotel, but the one we booked with was closed due to hurricane damage and we ended up here.
First, I have never stayed anywhere with a staff like this. They really did go out of their way to make our stay memorable; nothing was too much trouble.
The hotel is small, with only some 80-odd rooms, which is tiny for Cancun, but this helps give it a family feel, and you can make friends very easily. The hotel is on the lagoon side but runs a (free) daily bus to the City Beach Club, where you have free use of the sundeck, water slide, and beach. There is a bar and lunch menu there (not included).
The Caribbean Princess has two pools, a leisure pool, and a smaller "quiet" pool. There is a kid's pool and water slide as well. The rooms are nice, a reasonable size, with air-conditioning and cool tiled floors. The meals are all buffet service, although the a la carte menu is included in your package (except for lobster and T-bones).
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Caribbean Princess Resort
CALLE GALEON D9 5 KM AP 370 Cancun, Mexico
52-998-849-4770

Jimmy Buffett's MargaritavilleBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

For a family of parrotheads, this was heaven. There was good food, good beer, and Jimmy's music--what more could we want? That said, if you're not into Jimmy Buffett or don't know his music, this place may not be for you; then again, you might just enjoy yourself--you never know!
There is a good selection of food, with a separate kid's menu and some great cocktails, some of them alcohol-free, so the kids can have one as well.
The staff is very helpful, and the place gets lively after 8pm, so time your visit for what you want to do. The attached merchandise store is a magnet for Buffett fans like us, but if you're not a fan, give it a miss.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville
Blvd. Kukulcan Quintana Roo, Mexico 77500
+52 (9988) 852-375

Pat O'Brien'sBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is overpriced and overrated, I'm afraid. The beer is double the price charged by other bars in the locality (even the same plaza), and while the view over the lagoon is lovely, it doesn't compensate for the poor-quality food and high prices.
  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Pat O'Brien's
Plaza Flamingo Cancun, Mexico
(98) 83-08-32

The CityBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The City Beach Club"

Attached to The City nightclub, the beach club is a great way to work on your tan or get some swimming in. Entry was free, as part of a deal with our hotel (Caribbean Princess), as was use of the sun deck. Waiter service ensured we were never thirsty or hungry, and the few steps down onto the beach itself led to one of the quietest stretches of beach we found in Cancun. The water was perfect for swimming or just splashing around, and the Beach Club had a water slide and a water toboggan that were great fun.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

The City
Blvd. Kukulkan, Km. 9.5 Cancun, Mexico
883-2077

Chichen ItzaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Chichen Itza Tour"

Cichen Itza
We booked this trip in the resort and were not disappointed. After an early pick up (7:30am), we were given coffee/OJ and sweet rolls on the coach, and off we went, stopping at a "Mayan market" on the way for some retail therapy. Then it was on to a cenote for a quick swim before lunch at a hotel in Chichen Itza. After lunch, it was on to the main site with a 2-hour guided tour. Then we did about the same again on our own. The place is stunning and very humbling when you think what the Mayans knew long before we did. There is lots to see, with plenty of refreshment options available, but TAKE A HAT, as there is very little shade and it does get very hot.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Chichen Itza
Chichen Itza, Mexico

XcaretBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

We had booked this trip direct before we left the UK and were very impressed with the organisation, down to dealing with our change of hotel (and therefore our pick-up point and time).
The park has something for everyone, from snorkelling to swimming the underground river and from walking on the sea bed to swimming with dolphins.
If you decide to visit, make sure you leave enough time to see the show at 7pm (some tours leave at 5:30pm), and pay the extra for dinner at the show when you book, as it is well worth it--you get the best seats.
For a better idea of the park, visit the website at www.xcaret.com, where you can also book online.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Xcaret
Km 282 Chetumal - Puerto Juarez highway Cancun, Mexico 77710
(984) 883-3144

Wet & Wild Water ParkBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Swimming with Dolphins"

There are many places in Cancun where one can swim with dolphins, but we chose Wet 'n' Wild because the dolphins are in huge pens off the beach, not in an aquarium-like pond. This was one of those "lifetime" moments, especially for my daughter. There was a 15-minute orientation talk and then 45 minutes in the sea with the dolphins for $100 a head, not a lot to pay for the memories, or the look on your daughter's face as she is towed along by two dolphins. If you haven't done it, do it the first chance you get.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Wet & Wild Water Park
Boulevard Kukulcan Km 25 Cancun, Mexico

XcaretBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Sea Trek"

Walk on the bottom of the sea--$45 buys you half an hour on the bottom of the sea at Xcaret. You put on something akin to a diving helmet (with an air hose), climb down a ladder into the sea, follow the divers and underwater rail down some 10m, and walk around among the fish. This is great way for non-swimmers (or those with little confidence in open water) to get down there and see what all the fuss is about.
Book on arrival, as there are only eight or so places in each slot, and they go very quickly (our preferred time sold out as we bought the tickets!).
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by doonhamer32 on November 15, 2005

Xcaret
Km 282 Chetumal - Puerto Juarez highway Cancun, Mexico 77710
(984) 883-3144

About the Writer

doonhamer32
doonhamer32
London , United Kingdom

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