Originally Posted by
henkybaby
I always figured CUN to be some kind of Dante's hell. Please help me find a place early January for 4 days that isn't GBP 150 a night or more...(that is my F&F rate at the IC) I like boutique. Not too far from some nice restaurants, but not necessarily in the middle of everything. Beach yes. I need to see water.
Cancun really is pretty awful. But for a couple of days the relative efficiency of a Disneyfied resort can be fun: and of those resorts the IC is probably one of the best, at least in terms of its beach - which is more north facing and either escapes the brunt of the seaweed dump, or they employ an unseen army of workers to shift it.
The conservation area around Tulum has any number of independent hotels and B&Bs which attach "beach" and "boutique" to their names. Select very carefully as some of the accommodation can be less robust than expected and electricity may be very limited. I've seen one or two AirBNB places in Tulum that look attractive.
Best to make yourself aware of the insurance aspects of car rental if you are attracted to the idea of touring.
Merida is a world (and four hours) away from Cancun. You can get there in comfort and quite cheaply by bus. Bags of charm, some lovely hotels ... and even an Intercontinental