Cancun

Posted on May 26, 2008 by teresa
Filed Under Travels |

When the days are filled with clouds, chilly winds, and torrential rain most of us think of clear skies and beautiful beaches. Fortunately, I’ve experienced the feel of soft warm sand in between my toes, the heat of the sun beating on my face, and the luxury of wading through turqoise water. This is no reenactment of a sunscreen commercial: it’s Cancun. When one thinks of Cancun, one conjeres up wet tshirt contests, spring break, and drunken parties. Aside from being a well known backdrop for Girls Gone Wild, there’s also the cultural side that you can enjoy. Cancun is rich with sights, sounds, history, and food. Because Cancun has such a variety of things to experience, it can be a daunting task to figure out where to start. Here are some tips to help you out.

Before the trip -
I would suggest at least stay in Cancun for one week to see the major attractions. If you have two weeks, try staying in other areas of the Mayan Rivieria like Playa Del Carmen, Tulum, or Cozumel.

Best Deals: Cancun is a popular destination so airlines and tour groups compete on airfare and packages. Besides researching on online travel sites like Expedia.ca and Travelocity.ca, check out airline sites like Aircanada.com, as I’ve found airlines tend to be a tad lower.

Research: Sometimes checking out sites like Tripadvisor.com to get the inside scoop helps immensely. You get honest feedback and different perspectives about a place. You’ll also learn which hotels are clean and which have nasty bed linen and towels.

Precautions: Remember to get your shots and medication before the trip. Cancun is relatively healthy and clean but your body may not be use to certain elements like the air, water, and food. Also it’s very important to get your Heptitas A and B shots as they can appear from a contaminated ice cube to your chip and salsa.

Pack light and smart: It’s Cancun, you’re not heading to the Arctic circle. There are a lot of opportunities to shop. You can always stock up on your bikinis there if you need to change it up. With footwear, you really need three pairs: sandals, dress, and runners. To save space you can stuff your shoes with socks and undies. Near the end of trip, you might get a wif of odour from your luggage of mixed clean and dirty clothes. One trick to keep your clothes fresh is to remember to keep your used fabric softener sheets. When you pack, place the sheets in between the layers of shirts and shorts. Another incentive to pack light is that airlines are beginning to add an extra charge to the first or second luggage depending on the airline (carry-ons are still free to bring on). And remember airline liquid restrictions are still in place.

During the trip -
Hotels: Same trick with airfare, after scanning which hotels you want to stay at check out the hotel website for potential discounts. I stayed at the gorgeous Gran Sol Melia which admittingly has the best stretch of the beach.

Tours: We opted to book a few tours via the local sightseeing tour group, Best Day. We were impressed with their professionalism, customer service, and friendliness. The downside is you need to wake up early (6am wake up calls!) to board the bus as they travel to other hotels to pick up passengers.

Transportation: You can easily rent a car, take advantage of the extensive local bus system, or take the taxi to travel around. The roads can be intimidating so if you’re an expert driver who had no problems navigating the crazy streets of New York or Hong Kong, you should be fine. The buses are very frequent, goes to key attraction sights, and is only 6 pesos (60 cents) each way. Just remember to ‘flag’ them down to stop for you. We didn’t try using the taxis as we’ve heard it can be sketchy when it comes down to the fees.

Must dos, sights, and eats:
Dos

1) Scuba Dive
2) Take time to relax on the beach and order a margarita
3) Swim in the clear blue waters
4) Golf
5) Swim with the dolphins
6) Shop! Near the hotel zone and downtown there are several malls and stores
6) The hot night clubs such as Coco Bongo and Dady O (skip Senor Frogs). These clubs open their doors around at 10pm or 11pm

Sights
1) Mayan Ruins - Check out the awe-inspiring Mayan Ruins at Chichen Itza, Tulum, and Coba
2) Isla Mujeres - A small colourful island which you can moped, bike, golf cart around in about an hour
3) Cozumel - If you want a quieter vacation, check out this island known to have the world’s second largest coral reef and perfect for water sports
4) Ecological Parks - Discover the wildlife and nature of Cancun by visiting Xel-Ha and Xcaret

Eats
1) Of course one must try the staples of Mexican food like Guacamole & tortilla chips, quesadillas, nachos and tacos. Mexican food tastes better in Mexico ;-)
2) Tamales: Steamed cornmeal stuffed with beef, chicken, or pork.
3) Tik-in-xic Fish: Fish marinated with sour orange juice and baked in banana leafs.
4) Lima Soup: Chicken broth enhanced with lime juice, shredded chicken, & tortilla chips.
5) Panuchos: Fried tortillas stuffed with Mexican beans, with shredded turkey or pork on top.
6) Salbutes: Fried tortillas with shredded turkey, pork, and purple onions.

Cancun is full of life and colours which makes you want to come back year after year. So I think just wrote up my next trip. Maybe I’ll see you on the beach this summer ;-)

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