Mexico vacation suggestions please!
Nov 18, 2005 | 8:48 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
Programs: FA
Posts: 6,483
Mexico vacation suggestions please!
My spouse and I are looking spend a week in Mexico next October (not sure where yet, and that's where you guys can help!). We want to go to a place that offers a lot for our money (we are on a tight budget!). We want to avoid the hotspots (ie: Cancun, Ixtapa, etc.) where prices tend to be higher. Can anyone suggest a place that's both safe and of good value (ie: cheap food, lodging, etc.)? Thanks in advance.
LAX
LAX
Nov 18, 2005 | 6:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: DFW
Programs: PLAT -- 2.7Million
Posts: 2,063
Originally Posted by LAX
My spouse and I are looking spend a week in Mexico next October (not sure where yet, and that's where you guys can help!). We want to go to a place that offers a lot for our money (we are on a tight budget!). We want to avoid the hotspots (ie: Cancun, Ixtapa, etc.) where prices tend to be higher. Can anyone suggest a place that's both safe and of good value (ie: cheap food, lodging, etc.)? Thanks in advance.
LAX
LAX
Do you want a beach? Mountains? Small towns or big cities? Culture? Staying in one place or moving around?
Nov 19, 2005 | 6:04 pm
#4
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Toronto
Programs: AC*50K, IHG Platinum, Accor Gold, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 379
If you don't mind being in the mountains a bit, go to Oaxaca. It's a true gem, fantastic local food, and you'll find everything to be cheap and very friendly people. You're close to a few ruins and you can even divide your trip and go to Puerto Escondido (via air, unless you really need to rough it on the windy bus route). Gives us more information and I'll provide more as well.
Nov 20, 2005 | 10:04 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
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Sorry for not being more specific in my OP. Well, we are both not crazy about beach, but do want to spend some time there. Mountains sound good, too, and it would be a nice bonus to have some ruins nearby. We definitely don't want to move around as we want to relax more than sightsee. Getting a good dose of local foods is a must (I heard seafoods are really cheap in Mexico)! As for timing, we will most likely go in early October for about a week. Lastly, we would like to avoid driving if possible and safety is also very important. Thanks and I look forward to hearing more from you all.
LAX
LAX
Nov 29, 2005 | 8:25 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1
Mexico Vacation
Early October is low season on the east coast of Mexico. It is also hurricane season. Since you aren't really interested in the beach, you might enjoy the area south of Playa del Carmen nearer Tulum. October has some terrific deals at all-inclusive resorts.
Our travel agent indicated that in Mexico if you are involved in a traffic accident, you may just be incarcerated until everything is sorted.
Our travel agent indicated that in Mexico if you are involved in a traffic accident, you may just be incarcerated until everything is sorted.
Dec 1, 2005 | 1:13 am
#8
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: AA LT PLAT - BONVOY PLAT
Posts: 208
Originally Posted by LAX
Sorry for not being more specific in my OP. Well, we are both not crazy about beach, but do want to spend some time there. Mountains sound good, too, and it would be a nice bonus to have some ruins nearby. We definitely don't want to move around as we want to relax more than sightsee. Getting a good dose of local foods is a must (I heard seafoods are really cheap in Mexico)! As for timing, we will most likely go in early October for about a week. Lastly, we would like to avoid driving if possible and safety is also very important. Thanks and I look forward to hearing more from you all.
LAX
LAX
Dec 1, 2005 | 9:18 pm
#9
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: SAN
Programs: Skyteam
Posts: 4
Another option
Aeromexico will more than likely have some sort of faresaver for that time. There's Manzanillo which is a coastal city, very low key and has an airport (ZLO). There are many beach places around and some small mountain towns, Barra De Navidad is a beautiful place close by (about 45 minutes from ZLO) it has a nice resort and a beautiful beach. There are other beaches close by too...
Dec 8, 2005 | 9:38 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 143
For a beachy, scenic break, you might want to try Baja. It's got beautiful geysers and nice waves. It's a bit cold to surf in December, but some people do it anyway. You could fly to San Diego, then drive across the border, past Tijuana to a town like Ensenada. That's what I did one December, and I found that town very pleasant and very cheap. It was very different from Cancun, or the usual suspects, and not as remote as Oaxaca. The people are very down-to-earth, curious and interesting, and make you feel like you belong.
Dec 9, 2005 | 8:42 am
#11
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA
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Posts: 6,483
PVR vs SJD
I think narrowed the list down to these two. Which is better for the combination of good/cheap food and lodging? What about activities besides the beach? Are all-inclusive deals good for either location if food and lodging are supposedly cheap? Thanks.
LAX
Edit to add: I just read about MZT! It sounds like it's cheaper than both SJD and PVR. Any comparisons to either?
LAX
Edit to add: I just read about MZT! It sounds like it's cheaper than both SJD and PVR. Any comparisons to either?
Last edited by LAX; Dec 9, 2005 at 12:47 pm
Dec 14, 2005 | 10:22 pm
#12
Join Date: Jun 2004
Programs: united airlines
Posts: 4,967
Originally Posted by LAX
I think narrowed the list down to these two. Which is better for the combination of good/cheap food and lodging? What about activities besides the beach? Are all-inclusive deals good for either location if food and lodging are supposedly cheap? Thanks.
LAX
Edit to add: I just read about MZT! It sounds like it's cheaper than both SJD and PVR. Any comparisons to either?
LAX
Edit to add: I just read about MZT! It sounds like it's cheaper than both SJD and PVR. Any comparisons to either?
Dec 19, 2005 | 4:23 pm
#13
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Posts: 1,065
Try the state of Colima. You can goto the City of, then hit the coast (Manzanillo).
Morelia is also a nice city, and not very expensive.
Where ever you go, Mexico is cheaper if you stick to Hotels and restaurants that Middle Class Mexican's goto.
For example, I was at a five star beach resort and ordered aracherra at the Hotel restaurant. It was 250 pesos or about $25. Basically, uncut fajitas with french fries. In a sit down restaurant in town, it would have cost me less than $5. On a street stand only a few dollars (iron stomach).
Stay local and do as the locals do and you can go for less than $100 a day. If you stick to American places or high dollar places, then it can be $500 a day.
Morelia is also a nice city, and not very expensive.
Where ever you go, Mexico is cheaper if you stick to Hotels and restaurants that Middle Class Mexican's goto.
For example, I was at a five star beach resort and ordered aracherra at the Hotel restaurant. It was 250 pesos or about $25. Basically, uncut fajitas with french fries. In a sit down restaurant in town, it would have cost me less than $5. On a street stand only a few dollars (iron stomach).
Stay local and do as the locals do and you can go for less than $100 a day. If you stick to American places or high dollar places, then it can be $500 a day.