I am a new guy to this forum. I have always found in the past that i get the best information on new places from forums like this. I am taking my wife to Cancun this winter. We live in Minnesota and a respite from the subzero temps is almost a necessity. I have many questions, and forgive me if I ramble or if I ask questions too broad to be answered here. Lots of people here (MN) go to the tropics in the winter and hole up at an all inclusive resort. Drinking watered down liquor, eating mediocre food; leaving the states to go somewhere and pretend they are still in America. I am not saying all inclusive is bad, but when I travel, I want to soak in the local culture. We like to eat, drink, snorkel, be by the ocean and shop. So here are my questions. 1. Prices all inclusive vs ala carte? Can we go AC and still have a reasonably priced vacation? 2. Probably should be #1, but SAFETY of AI vs AC. Can we be reasonably safe while taking in local haunts and going off the beaten path? 3. Condo vs Hotel. We like to get condos on VRBO. We have done if for Hawaii and Florida, and in our minds it is the way to go. Same for Cancun? I have lots of other questions, and hopefully some of you can help me out. Like I said I KNOW NOTHING. Thank you in advance.
By what you have said I would advise you not to go to Cancun. Everything in the Zona Hotelera is either AI or hotels, not many people leave either except to go to the clubs or shopping at La Isla or the Kukulcan Mall and the rest of Cancun is on the inland side of the lagoon.
Have you considered Cozumel Akumal or Tulum? We have stayed in all 4 and I would say that if AI is not your thing, then a smaller resort or renting a villa would be a better experience in those areas. If the Cancun area is a must, there are those types of places available. I would just put the other locations ahead of Cancun as far as a cultural experience.
If you would like to rent a condo and enjoy the local culture, I would suggest Puerto Vallarta. We have gone to Cancun and Puerto Vallarta twice each in the past few years and Old Town PV is definitely better if you want to rent a condo and experience the local culture.
What about checking out some bed and breakfasts, I hear there is some great ones around Akumal. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
There are still hotels that do ala carte. Our first few times to Cancun, we stayed at the Omni for one, we didn't do all inclusive. We ate at the many restaurants in the hotel zone. And, there are some that are awesome. Our biggest regret was the beverages during the day at the pool. That bill can rise very quickly. And when you pay that off before you leave you often wonder if that was the best option. That is why I never can understand people complaining about "watered" down drinks in the AI plan. Ask them to make it stronger. You already paid for them. Long story short, my wife and I have done both plans and find that the vacation was less expensive if we did the all inclusive. Hope that helps.
If you enjoy cafeteria food and watered downed drinks definitely AI. Baut if you really want to enjoy the city, culture and the many fine restaurants if Cancun rent a condo and enjoy. There really is no other way in my opinion.
