I have been combing these boards to find what I hope is a nice mix of downtown and hotel zone restaurants and activities. The problem I have is I'm taking my 2 daughters (16 and 19) and their best friends (17 and 19). The big girls have been away at college so they are going to be pretty comfortable with the party scene and legal to drink in Cancun. I want to find some moderate nightlife/entertainment that isn't over the top that we can all go to for a few hours in the evening. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Saturday – arrive 11:45 - transfer with Brant – check in Royal Sands Dinner: 6:30 La Habichuela (make resv) Taxi to Wal-Mart for provisions – Taxi back to hotel Sunday Dinner: Hacienda Sisal – Royal Sands (make resv) Evening: Bar at Hacienda Sisal Monday Lunch: Mocambo then shop at Plaza Caracol across the street Dinner: Captains Cove Evening: Pancho's and Willie's after dinner Tuesday - Tulum Xel-ha all-inclusive Private Express with Brant Wednesday - Morning beach – afternoon shop downtown Canun Dinner: La Parilla (maybe the sports bar to play pool) Evening: Black Pearl Thursday AquaWorld or Isla Mujera Dinner: El Asador or downtown Isla Evening: Friday Dinner: El Asador or Paloma Bonita or Carlos N Charlie Evening: Carlos N Charlie Saturday – check out – depart with Brant for 1:40 flight Thanks again, Alice revised 040207
Honestly, my suggestion would be play it by ear a bit more. There's no reason to have every little thing planned out for you. Who knows what new friebds you (or the girls) are going to meet or what might be going on that you don't know about now. I say pick one places you wnat to eat and plan to get there sometime during you stay but play the rest of it by ear...except for your day at Tulum nd Xel-Ha. No reason not to preplan that. As for the rest of your activitries (ie shopping) you'll have plenty of tiem for that but again, I don't think it needs to be planned out specifically. Enjoy all of what Cancun has to offer...don't be tied to a schedule.
Is Captains Cove open? I agree with the sentiment to stay flexible... and add El Cejas to one of your choices! Right in the middle of Market28. Is Captains Cove open again? Last year it was still wiped out (from Hurricane Wilma) Steve and Laurie Jones Auburn, GA
Don't forget to go to Isla! First - I think Alice is being particularly prudent. It's good to have a plan so that you're not spending all day taxi-ing from one off-the-cuff across town to another instead of enjoying what's nearby - which is what can easily happen if you don't have a plan. And it's particularly prudent to have a plan when you've got a party of 5 you want to keep coordinated and on the same page. I'm afraid Alice, that I can't advice you on any low-key clubs - or any good advice on clubs in Cancun at all for that matter, given that I visit them only on rare occasion. I would, however, consider spending at least one afternoon on the Island (Mujeres) and then partying that night on the strip there as it is very entertaining and at the same time, very safe and very low key. It's also less expensive than Cancun proper. You can get a ferry to take you there from either of the last 2 bus stops of the Number 1-A bus that goes that route. (You can catch that bus anywhere along the single street on which the hotel zone is built and it will have the words "Puerto Morelos" painted on the front window.) If you'd like an idea of what you'll see there, there are some excellent videos available here in the forum in Chicago Tom's posts: http://www.cancuncare.com/forum/search.php?search_author=ChicagoTom and I have a feeling that Chicago Tom would respond promptly and positively to any inquiries.
Thanks again Karen. I am a major planner, but not afraid to abandon anything we are not up for. Alice
Steve and Laurie - thanks for responding. Do you have an opinion on which of the downtown restaurants on my itinerary I should replace with El Cejas? Thanks, Alice
My wife and I were not overly impressed with Labna. Something about it didn't hit me right. That said, different strokes...ya know.
Naoautorizada - Thank you, and I loved ChicagoTom's video. I'm from the Chicago area also, so his trip reports caught my eye. I will see if the girls want to go to Isla, I didn't add it origanally because I didn't want to be too busy while we are there. Thanks for the suggestion. Alice
El Cejas is only open for lunch so if you go there you could do it in conjunction with shoppingat MArket 28. El Cejas is in Market 28. If it wer me, I would forget Perico's or Labna and head to La Parilla. I think the food there is much better than both other places and it has a very nice dinner atmosphere as well...not as touristy as Pericos but I tend to avoid touristy places as much as possible. You could then try El Asador as it was one of your choices for another night along with La Parilla. The two are totally different kinds of places with totally different atmospheres. It would be nice to experience then both.
Thanks Karen I was struggling with Perico's because it seemed a bit too crazy. I personally do not enjoy a "Chuckie Cheese" type atmosphere but I have read many great reviews. I'm going to switch it to La Parilla's. What is Market 28 like? Is it an open air market? Is it clothes or souvenirs? I want to make sure the girls get to check out at least one traditional open air market but I know they are going to want to shop for handbags, shoes, swimsuits and clothes in general also. Thanks, Alice
