Mexico - First Cancun Trip

Good morning all! I'm making my first trip to Cancun next week, staying at Marriott Casa Magna. Is food good (and safe) in the area? Also, how much trouble are we likely to get into travelling around with no Spanish language skills? Thanks!

Please follow the discussion as the thread moves to the Travel->Mexico forum. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Will do. Thanks!

Cancun is so Americanized that you will see all the same high and low end chain stores, fast foods, mall restaurants, and most ridiculously the prices are as high as Hawaii or big city in the US. You will hardly know you are in Mexico. You don't need any Spanish. If you want to feel like you are in Mexico, at the very least go beyond the tourist strip to Downtown Cancun. There is a wonderful restaurant there with an unlikely name called 100% Natural...the food is Mexican but also great smoothies and a bakery. The fish, the enchiladas, all of it is fabulously fresh, very good, and not expensive, and the tables are around a beautiful courtyard fountain. Despite the name, it is a better and more authentic Mexican resturaunt than the high priced tourist traps on the strip. The pluses of Cancun are the beautiful resorts and escape to sunny weather in winter, but if you are really interested in Mexico you'll not find it in Cancun.

Thanks! We're probably going to Chichen Itza and will get away from the tourist area as much as we can.My wife doesn't do well on boats or planes, so it's kind of a crap shoot going there. Will Cozumel be a good day trip even with the boat trip?

Isla Mujeres is much closer to Cancun than Cozumel and can give you a taste of being somewhat away from the artificial environment of Cancun.

IMHO Chichen Itza is best enjoyed on your own as opposed to participating in the ubiquitous van or bus tours. Very easy to drive from Cancun on federal toll highway 180D by rental car. Road signs are self-evident even to non-Spanish speakers. A good way to do this excursion on your own is overnight in Valladolid (a plesant town near the ruins) then get up the next morning and arrive at the site when it opens. You'll be there before it gets hot and before the tour buses start rolling in. You can hire a guide to take you around or just wander about with a guidebook.

Don't even need a car, take the bus to Vallodolid and get a dose of Mexico. Cancun's bus station is very nice and easy to figure out. You can look up on line at ticketbus.mx. There is a more recently partially excavated ruin nearer Vallodolid called Exmal and a major cenote. You can also get closer to Chichen Itza at the stop Piste, and stay at luxury jungle thatch roof bungalows at Mayaland Resort, or at Hacienda Chichen, which was developed out of the quarters of the original archeologists. From Mayaland, we were able about five years ago to hire a private taxi to Merida for $50 but there is also bus service. Merida or Vallodolid on a Sunday afternoon will be very colorful, it is the Mexican families day out in the main square with music, crafts and art and food being sold, then bus back to Cancun. The ADO "luxury bus" will have freezing AC, loud B movie dubbed in Spanish, big plush seats, banyo (bathroom), and lemon water to refresh you. Guessing the cost may be up to $15 or $18 by now. Glad you are interested in getting out of the tourist loop and seeing Mexico. Much as I love Mexico and don't think twice about eating at hotels and established restaurants, be careful about ice or anything but bottled drinks.

Thanks for your comments! I always try to avoid the tourist route, but the places I've been I've tried to learn the language ahead of time and this came up at the last minute. Those suggestions you made sound like fun.

Good morning all! I'm making my first trip to Cancun next week, staying at Marriott Casa Magna. Is food good (and safe) in the area? Also, how much trouble are we likely to get into travelling around with no Spanish language skills? Thanks!

Food safe. Spanish not necessary anywhere though helpful. If your wife doesn't like boats I'd skip the ferries to Isla or Cozumel. Isla wasn't that special IMO.

Anything else? Depending on your departure airline and time, you may want to get to the Cancun airport 3 hours in advance. Check other advice in this forum. Saturdays are the worst, and some airlines (US) are worse than others (UA).

Thanks for the tips Boraxo! We're leaving Cancun on a Sunday on CO. Never knew that CO had a weekend nonstop from Cleveland!

I'm doing a quick quasi M/R to CUN in early Oct, CO has a $258 r/t--which will also put me over the 100,000 EQM mark for the year. After reading advise here will most likely do the shared van to my hotel (Hyatt--using free night award). The question I have is about cash. I've seen lots of notices mentioning that the US dollar is no longer being accepted-- not really a problem, as this is Mexico :) Where are the ATM's at CUN ? I assume, I'll have to pay the van in peso's and use them for anything outside the hotel. Never been to Mexico before, so pardon the ignorance please. I'll only be there one day (out Sat am-- back Sun afternoon), so I will not be needing lots of cash, figured about 100 US should do it ??

Here's the note on 'Special Conditions' at hotels from hotel website:
Special Conditions
Restrictions on the Acceptance of US Currency
Due to recent local regulations, the acceptance of US Dollars in cash is now restricted across Mexico. Payments with credit/debit cards remain unaffected.

That's ridiculous, USD is accepted everywhere. But you will get shafted on the exchange rate. There are ATMs at the airport and several locations on the hotel strip.

I'm doing a quick quasi M/R to CUN in early Oct.... The question I have is about cash.... Where are the ATM's at CUN? .... I will not be needing lots of cash, figured about 100 US should do it ??

mauld,

You can bill your dining to your room, and pay at check-out with your credit card, so you won't need much cash, as you said.

There is a Banamex ATM directly outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel, on the street curb near the staff entrance. It has better air-conditioning than anywhere in the entire hotel, and modest fees. Check with your credit card company before you leave home to verify if you need an international PIN, and if ATM usage is charged at higher fees or interest rates! I used my debit card at that ATM without incident.

If you're a U.S.A. resident and a member of the AAA auto club, your local AAA office can sell to you a "tip pack" of Mexican pesos, worth approximately $95 at no further fee--call your local office. The exchange rate is mediocre, but it is very convenient, less costly than dealing with banks in the USA, and is what I did. Otherwise, there is a currency exchange in the Airport terminal both at CUN arrival and departure.

Thanks all for the info, just one more quick question regarding departure--
my return flight leaves at 7am on Sunday, the 'suggestion' is that I be at the airport 3 hrs in advance :eek:. I'll not be checking any luggage, and don't plan to buy much in Cancun-- so on a more realistic note, how early would I need to be at the airport. I'll most likely be taking either a taxi or the shared ride van from the Hyatt. Would 2 hrs from hotel to take off be cutting it too close ?

Also, assming I am leaving my hotel at say 4:45am for my 7am flight-- what would the cost of a taxi be from the Hyatt to CUN ? Do they charge an additonal 'night' fee (as many cities seem to do), is the cab metered, or will I have to negotiate the fare before getting in ?? (or have my hotel do so ??)

Due to recent local regulations, the acceptance of US Dollars in cash is now restricted across Mexico. Payments with credit/debit cards remain unaffected.

Total nonsense. No one will refuse US dollars in CUN. I always have a few hundred US dollars on me when I head there in the summers.

We stayed at the Marriott Casa Magna for our trip to Cancun last February. Great hotel, shared van was $14 each way, which you should be able to get on your hotel bill. Stay away from the so called "tourist advisors" offering free information in the corridor leading to the van area after Immigration. They are sales hacks that lease space there. Most, if not all, of the businesses in Cancun seem to take dollars, and the exchange rate is pretty good. The hotels have good exchange rates too. We're going back in November. Have a great time!

Total nonsense. No one will refuse US dollars in CUN. I always have a few hundred US dollars on me when I head there in the summers.

"Because I'm an American, from the greatest country in the world, and my money works everywhere. Because I'm so special, I don't need to respect local customs or use local currency, and when visitors are asked in advance to pay in the national money, I can take it for granted that they don't mean me!

"It's not like my fellow citizens are buying enormous quantities of illegal drugs from other countries, and also paying in US Dollars. It's not like my own government is pressuring foreign countries to reduce drug trafficking by limiting cash transactions to their own currencies within their own borders.

"Not at all. I'm an American. I can go where I please, do what I please, and pay by whatever method I choose. All others must respect my superiority, defer to my cultural, religious, and social standards and norms, and cater to my every whim. And they should speak American, too.

Right? :mad:

"Because I'm an American, from the greatest country in the world, and my money works everywhere. Because I'm so special, I don't need to respect local customs or use local currency, and when visitors are asked in advance to pay in the national money, I can take it for granted that they don't mean me!

"It's not like my fellow citizens are buying enormous quantities of illegal drugs from other countries, and also paying in US Dollars. It's not like my own government is pressuring foreign countries to reduce drug trafficking by limiting cash transactions to their own currencies within their own borders.

"Not at all. I'm an American. I can go where I please, do what I please, and pay by whatever method I choose. All others must respect my superiority, defer to my cultural, religious, and social standards and norms, and cater to my every whim. And they should speak American, too.

Right? :mad:

:rolleyes: :td:

What the hell is this nonsense. Spare us you sorry hippie diatribe, the truth is that US dollars are accepted everywhere(hotels, restaurants, tours, taxis....) in CUN irregardless of what some bureaucracy says. That is a fact.

I never leave the country without some US currency in my pocket. Sorry if that offends you. :rolleyes:

:rolleyes: :td:

What the hell is this nonsense. Spare us you sorry hippie diatribe, the truth is that US dollars are accepted everywhere(hotels, restaurants, tours, taxis....) in CUN irregardless of what some bureaucracy says. That is a fact.

I never leave the country without some US currency in my pocket. Sorry if that offends you. :rolleyes:

Thank you for seeing the sarcastic intent of my post; that you responded with name-calling and the exact sort of arrogant attitude I describe helps explain why American tourists have the reputation they do around the world.

If going to Cancun, I suggest that you carry Pesos in your pocket; if Toronto, then CAD.

Just because some restauranteurs and cab drivers and tourism companies might acquiesce to accept USD despite their own request that you pay in MXN (or CAD), it's more a reflection of their desire to get payment without having to call the local police on an uncooperative tourist. Don't confuse congenial hospitality with preference.

Thank you for seeing the sarcastic intent of my post;

FYI, :mad: normally doesn't convey sarcasm.


that you responded with name-calling and the exact sort of arrogant attitude I describe helps explain why American tourists have the reputation they do around the world.


As I travel for work, most of my time abroad is spent in non-tourist capacity. The arrogance lies with you and your assumption that you know me and how I use currency abroad.


If going to Cancun, I suggest that you carry Pesos in your pocket; if Toronto, then CAD.


I suggest you mind your own business. I will carry whatever I want in my pocket. I use local currency when needed, but I still carry US dollars in my wallet. I will continue to carry US dollars whenever I leave the country.



Just because some restauranteurs and cab drivers and tourism companies might acquiesce to accept USD despite their own request that you pay in MXN (or CAD), it's more a reflection of their desire to get payment without having to call the local police on an uncooperative tourist. Don't confuse congenial hospitality with preference.

:rolleyes:

Acquiesce? Have you actually been to CUN? Everything you're posting leads me to believe you haven't.

Prices are often quoted in peso and dollars. Many times vendors will only quote in dollars only. My hotel bill even comes quoted in pesos and dollars, with the option to pay in either currency or both.

To answer the question, I arrive at the Cancun airport 1-1/2 to 2 hours
before flight time, which is plenty of time for weekdays in November (not Thanksgiving) when I go. The airport is efficient and modern. There might be a need to arrive 3 hours early on the busiest days of the year, otherwise no.

:rolleyes: :td:

What the hell is this nonsense. Spare us you sorry hippie diatribe, the truth is that US dollars are accepted everywhere(hotels, restaurants, tours, taxis....) in CUN irregardless of what some bureaucracy says. That is a fact.

I never leave the country without some US currency in my pocket. Sorry if that offends you. :rolleyes:

+1 While USD may not be accepted for payment in G8 countries like UK, France, Germany, etc. it is generally true (IME) for developing countries in central america and 100% true for all tourist areas in Mexico.

Thank you for seeing the sarcastic intent of my post; that you responded with name-calling and the exact sort of arrogant attitude I describe helps explain why American tourists have the reputation they do around the world.

If going to Cancun, I suggest that you carry Pesos in your pocket; if Toronto, then CAD.

Just because some restauranteurs and cab drivers and tourism companies might acquiesce to accept USD despite their own request that you pay in MXN (or CAD), it's more a reflection of their desire to get payment without having to call the local police on an uncooperative tourist. Don't confuse congenial hospitality with preference.

Your sarcasm was noted but the implication (that USD are not accepted for payment in Mexico) was 100% incorrect.

Note that OP was not asking for a rant on what you consider to be polite behavior, he was asking a practical question about necessity of forex. Clearly you have NOT traveled to some developing nations where USD is the preferred method of payment due to the weakness of the local currency. You need to get out more. :D

"Because I'm an American, from the greatest country in the world, and my money works everywhere. Because I'm so special, I don't need to respect local customs or use local currency, and when visitors are asked in advance to pay in the national money, I can take it for granted that they don't mean me!

"It's not like my fellow citizens are buying enormous quantities of illegal drugs from other countries, and also paying in US Dollars. It's not like my own government is pressuring foreign countries to reduce drug trafficking by limiting cash transactions to their own currencies within their own borders.

"Not at all. I'm an American. I can go where I please, do what I please, and pay by whatever method I choose. All others must respect my superiority, defer to my cultural, religious, and social standards and norms, and cater to my every whim. And they should speak American, too.

Right? :mad:

OMG, you are SO right! And if you think this attitude is bad in CUN, you should SEE what goes on in Panama! Americans forcing US dollars down the local's throats...wait....

(see, THAT is how sarcasm is done! :))

(see, THAT is how sarcasm is done! :))

LOL! I almost missed your fine print. ;)