I'm headed to Cancun for a wedding......suggestions?

[Scout1071]

I'll be there for 7 days. Actually staying in the Mayan Riviera. Paridisius Riveria.

I've never been to Mexico or the Cancun region before and looking for fun things to do or just general advice.

Thanks in advance!

[mike_c]

1. head south....

Or west. Get out of gringo-ville. The peninsula is a wonderful place. Go to Merida.

[Robeson]

2. You'll love it. Its fun. Have a great time!.....

[Floogeldy]

3. Bring cash to bribe the Federales when they squeeze you for no reason

Good luck.

[Scout1071]

5. The bride had to bribe the policia last month when she went

to meet with the hotel and wedding coordinators. First night they were there and were leaving a bar. She said they basically got pulled over as soon as they backed out of the parking spot. They were threatened with jail and the other friend said here's a $100 - get lost. And they did. The police actually insisted on driving them back to the hotel but dropped them off a block from the entrance. Obviously not wanting to be seen by the hotel staff.

[Floogeldy]

10. It ain't over

The whole party has been nailed as exploitable, I'm sorry to say.

[Scout1071]

13. Just this week on my local news they warned about corrupt

police in Cancun. Apparently the Mexican govt is finally warning tourists not to make any payments direct to the police and to report it straight away.

Gotta tell you, with all the fluffy crap news I get in KC, it must be a problem if they are warning KC residents!

[tjwash]

18. Careful, a lot of those "federales" are not.

They are just people dressed up as policia milking money from the tourists. That's an old time scam down there. Also there is a kidnapping ring down there that uses the same type scam. Travel in groups, and stay out of the trouble spots.

[rawtribe]

4. I like the eco parks

my favorites are Xcaret and Xelha, bring a swim suit.

See the ruins of Tulum, the Mayan beach house also see Coba.

If you want night life be sure to check out Playa Del Carmen, allot more fun then Cancun.

Even if you just sit on the beach you'll have a great time.

[gmoney]

6. Go to the ruins at Chichen Itza

The pyramids and other structures are amazing... plus you get a nice bus ride through countryside and see a little bit of "real" Mexico. It'll take you a whole day, but it's time well spent. Take your camera and spare beverages.

[Radio_Lady]

12. Be sure you take your anti-nausea pills before you take that ride.

Bonine, Marezine, Dramamine, whatever. The bus ride is VERY bumpy and it takes hours over, and hours back.

Also, I suggest bringing lots of bottled water and a small battery-powered fan. The inland plain that Chichen-Itza is located on can be VERY HOT AND HUMID, and extremely uncomfortable. My husband climbed the steps to the top of the sun pyramid. I thought he was nuts, and I stayed at the little drink stand, dabbing myself and my pulse points with ice. Don't miss the ball court -- where they played a very unique game.

If you can tolerate heat, it's a great adventure.

[seabeyond]

7. i stayed in akumal for a week

was wonderful. it is 45 minutes south. has a lovely beach in a cove. good time of the year to go. have a blast

oh, and even though i tried not drinking the water or eating the lettuce, i got sick. more than a week after the trip wasnt so much fun, lol

[yellowdogintexas]

19. TIP: get chewable Pepto. chew 2 tablets, 3x a day starting 24 hrs

before you leave and continuing for 24 hours after you get home.

We did. We ate everything. We did not get sick.

We drank the lemonade (awesome) ate seafood, fresh food, you name it.

This was on recommendation of my physician by the way. The pepto coats your system so the little bugs can't invade, apparantly. WArning: the pepto does turn your poop black and will constipate you somewhat.

Also bottled water is readily available. This is a high tourist area and they don't want to make the customers ill, so ice and beverages are made with bottled or purified water.


Have a great time and we expect a full report. Our next vacation will probably be down there somewhere. We loved Cozumel and intended to go over to the mainland to one of the ecoparks, but just couldn't get ourselves off that island. So we decided the next trip would have to be to that part of Mexico.

take photos and post.

[Scout1071]

8. Thanks for the tips. Anyone familiar with the Paridisius Riviera?

[rawtribe]

9. It's on the web

http://www.paradisusrivieracancun.solmelia.com/

Looks nice!

[Scout1071]

14. I've been to the website, but hoping that a DU'er may have

first hand experience. But thanks for pointing out the link!

[LeftPeopleFinishFirst]

11. Suggestion

Pack me in your suitcase.

[Scout1071]

15. I would, but you appear to be a Yankee's fan and that just won't

do. It's the small market fan in me (i.e. Royals Fan.)

Very hard to watch all of our former players having so much success elsewhere just because we could never afford to keep them after we develop them. We've basically become a developmental team for the Yankess and Red Sox. I will now step off my soap box and return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

That is all.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. snorkel. or dive if you are certified. Go over to Cozumel for a day

on the ferry and snorkel over there. Go out to the beaches on the east side of Cozumel:


as close to a private beach as I have ever seen. Mid week on the East side of Cozumel in August




The palapas are part of a beach bar/restaurant; there are about 5 of them on the east side of the island about 3 miles or so apart; there are lots of places you can just pull off the road and have the place to yourself. More surf here than on the west and south which is blocked by the reef, and is much calmer.

This is and has been a diver/snorkler's paradise for a long time.

Good shopping too. just shop deeper in town ..the closer to the harbor, the more expensive.

[Scout1071]

22. Thanks for the pics. I can actually feel my sunburn setting in

just looking at them.

Great advice everyone - and I will definitely be taking plenty of pics for the report back to DU.

[tjwash]

17. Bring your own bottled water, and stay away from the water fountains.

nt

[Zorra]

20. Tulum and surrounding area. n/t

[MissMarple]

21. Playa del Carmen is just south of your resort.

It's an old, funky beach town that is kind of fun to walk around, shop and have lunch or dinner. It's getting more developed, but is still more authentic than Cancun.

Ahh...sun, water, sand, umbrella drinks. :bounce: