Some info please - Ladies...Gents

Planning on coming through 2nd week in March, probably with a buddy, otherwise, maybe find a group from the states or wherever, that know what the story is there and that could show me a good time. (ladies !)
I'm from Johannesburg, South Africa, and the first time travelling abroad other than Europe, so I have a couple of questions:
Recommendations on accomodation?
How much spending money do you recommend per day, going all out?
VIP Packages any good with reference to the parties etc?
Airport transfers to place of residence?

 

I wouldn't mind helping. Granted I have way less knowledge than Mormis, fletch, or hw! lol

accomodations depends on your age, preference, and personality.

If you are under 22, enjoy being around psycho college kids, crazy, wild, don't mind being around noise 24/7, want to be shtfaced every night, want to bring a crap load of drunk girls back to your room to bang, and deal with kids above you who overflow the toilet(and your wall may be dripping).... then I would definitely suggest the Oasis or Grand Oasis.

If you are crazy, but fun... and more mature, like seeing titties, getting buzzed/drunk while playing tequila volleyball, would like a nice day spa at your resort, a bunch of really yummy restaurants(including the buffet) and what used to be known to be the best patch of beach.... but now they are dredging and i believe Steve said it's completed near this hotel.... I would recommend the GOLDEN Parnassus, which is adults only, and topless!

If you enjoy all of the previous paragraph but a little more relaxed... and you don't mind having children at your resort(there is still an adult pool on the 2nd/3rd floor) and even more amazing restaurants with a beautiful open air lobby and gorgeous rooms, I would recommend the GREAT Parnassus.

If you like a much crazier, livelier verson of adults only.... Sorta of like the grand oasis but slightly tamer and a crowd of 23-65..... topless also with very sexy games, i would recommend temptations.

all of the above are all inclusive(drinks, food, room service, taxes, fees, and tip included)



Going all out... hmmm.... most clubs are 50 USD or around 50 USD to get in, but that includes open bar. I would recommend NEVER taking taxies.... only the bus. Everyone takes the bus. I think it is 3 pesos and will take you ANYWHERE you want(for the most part). 3 pesos is like..... 44 cents american, lol. It is best to change some money to pesos with american express before leaving to go to cancun.... or some other way of exchanging money. the airport CAN be expensive to exchange.... but sometimes it isn't that bad of a deal. There are many places downtown, like at La Isla shopping mall or in the flea market and sometimes have a good rate. I say this because if you give one american dollar for the bus.... it'll be like you're paying for more than 2 people. even though it is only a dollar, they do NOT give change.... and you will have wasted money. They will give you a pink(usually) paper. It has discounts on it and you NEED to keep it while you are on the bus. Sometime inspectors get on and if you don't have one you're screwed! lol

so okay.... sorry back to spending money. so we have club($50) and bus fare (about $1 USD or 6 pesos round trip). I truly recommend an all inclusive hotel since all food is included... everyone usually eats outside of the hotel at least once or twice. This is usually like..... 20-30 bucks for 2 people, depending on if you go to McDonald's or a restaurant can make it cheaper or more expensive.

I would recommend the booze cruise. You pay a set amount and they take you to like 4 different clubs in one night. I think I paid like 200 for it @ Oasis in 2004. but it was fun.

You will honestly have fun no matter where you go or what you do.

The cheapest transfer I've seen is this one: Cancun Airport Transfer | Shared Cancun Transfer Just $9

It's really difficult to say how much you would need everyday. I always say no more than 100 a day. That would also be if you went to the club every single day, ate out at least one meal a day, round trip bus, and bought 2-4 cheap souvenirs daily. Now some days you may not eat out or go to the club... and those days you can go to Isla Mujeres, snorkeling, waverunner-ing, a trip to xel-ha, playa del carmen, or wherever. There is also the jungle tour.... but I absolutely hated it. Their jungle is just a bunch of trees and bushes. You are basically just paying to drive your own boat around and get sunburn for a short while.... oh.. and they do give you a bottle of water! how nice of them. lol.

OH! I almost forgot. I really recommend carrying money for tips. I don't know what currency you use, but i will give you an example using american US dollars. (USD). Most usually bring 250 one dollar bills..... and tip everyone here and there. Last year I used 250 in a week. DO NOT feel obligated to tip someone if you had bad or less than admirable service. I have left people nothing. Yes it does say that tips are included in the all inclusive price.... but unfortunately waiters split it with gardeners, front desk, maids, janitors, and everyone else.... and its based upon your week. So they may end up getting only a few dollar for your entire stay. So if you have a wonderful waiter, leave them some extra.

I have a technique I use... and people look at me strange when I do it in the US,... but i dont care. I have a stack of about 15 one dollar bills in my pocket or on the side of the table under my glass. Everytime the waiter comes back to me.... whether its taking my order, bringing me a drink, getting me a refill, bringing my food out, asking if we are okay, i give them 1 dollar. This way, if they honestly have good service, they should make out with almost 7-10 bucks by the time we leave per meal. My favorite people..... i start out by tipping a 20. This keeps your drinks nice and strong, instead of watered down, and gets you good customer service.

If you stayed a week and spent 3 nights clubbing, 3 exploring, and 1 relaxing.... you should be okay with 4 or 500 USD.

 

Just to touch on what HammieJ said.....
Buses are 7.5 pesos each time you get on..still a great price. And you can give $1 USD, but don't expect change back.
As for $$, I feel the best way to get a good rate is to Come to Cancun with USD, but not all your money that way. Go to a ATM and withdraw Pesos from a Banks ATM. You get the absolute best rate that way. If you are staying in the HZ for your entire stay, most places take USD, but you get your change in Pesos and may get a 10% conversion. Buy soveigners in Pesos, and tip in USD.
I hope that wasn't too confusing.
As for Hotels...I will forever push the Royal Solaris or the Riu. Take what HammieJ said about the above Hotels and make it one place...minus the boobies.

 

Oh sweets!!!! what a long post!!!! lol

Mr. Hunk (lol) Hammie is right in most things... the one thing i find not absolutely correct is the bus fare, it is 7.50 pesos... and cabs are not thaaaaaaaaat dangerous, they are just ridiculously expensive... follow her advise and take the bus

about the hotels... there are tons of diff hotels where you could stay... it all depends on what you are looking for, there are also apartments for rent, which arent all inclusive (which is what im doing) but since i was a local and know how to move around, i wouldnt really have trouble... for you, id suggest an all inclusive (if you are staying at oasis for example) because you will be spending most of your time there and just eating there you wont spend money on buses or food or drinks... now, if you are stayin at another hotel which isnt the oasis, but still plan on going to the oasis for the day, id suggest you stayed where they have "european plan" (just the room included) for the day passes in the oasis allow you to use the hotel from 11 to 6, and you get open bar, buffet and snack bar for 25 USD or so...

thats just only me... you will find tons of information here

hope i could help!

welcome to the boards!!!

 

haha you are awesome! thanks! yeah the site i used for the bus fare was the same one i found in 2004. lol i knew it had to have gone up somehow! lolMaybe next year i will try one of those. Do they have an adult pool or area at those anywhere?

Also I wanted to do the bank thing.... but my bank charges madddddd money for atm withdrawal overseas

 

hahahahahahaha oh tori ur funny!!!!

 

I know there are more hotels than those silly.... i was just naming my favorites that i have some experience with or know a lot of people that went there. I also would like to add the Melia hotels. I LOVEEE them, so beautiful

 

My boyfriend right now works at the Gran Melia, and HATES it!!! Yes, it is beautiful, but he is booored. He is used to a somewhat party crowed, and he says not much goes on there. Can't speak for the ME. Keeping our fingers crossed he is at a Riu by SB.

Hammie....that sucks about your bank. I am living here and still use my US bank and they don't charge me a cent for withdrawls...and if the MX bank charges a withdraw fee, my bank reinburs me. CRAZY, I know

 

What they said except...

1. Nothing wrong with taking Taxis. I've taken tons of Taxis in Cancun. Some charges you a little more than others but most of the time it's fine.

2. Jungle tour is fucking awesome. I had a great time driving my own boat around and snorkling. DEFINITELY remember to put a shitload of sun tan lotion on.

 

WOW^^^^^ thats alot of information to be reading!! cwins: