Ironically, the neighboring resort was a Margaritaville. I’m not a stay at a resort kinda guy but I wondered to myself, what kind of looser do you have to be to wanna stay at a Margaritaville?
Cancun ….cool fucking city
- Thread starter CFetters_Nacho_Lover
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You are correct. It’s almost due south as the crow flies. We flew out of Lexington which is probably half the size, maybe less than Cincinnati, and still got us there on a better schedule.
This was my second time in Mexico, first was in 1987 with my parents. The friends we normally go to Kauai with have some vacation package through Iberia Star resorts and invited us. I like Mexico in general but definitely am not a resort guy and calling Cancun an American section 8 city was an appropriate description.
I kept look at my fellow Americans and noticing the difference between them and the fellow Americans I saw in Hawaii last month. Worse than the Americans was the super high number of dirty cheating Canadians.
Going in October.
First time back since the Hyatt Regrncy opened circa 1988. Don’t expect to bump into Sam Kinnison this tim
@CFetters_Nacho_Lover should consider using this as a new avatar
Cancun is fine depending on your worldliness. Its close to the mainland US so there are a lot of ways to see it (and Xelha, Tulum, and Playa) that will not break a young person's bank. I was there more than thirty years ago as I had not yet married my wife and could not travel anywhere but North America on a buddy pass. The one thing I remember most vividly was taking a tour bus to one the surrounding destinations and the escort scooted a milk crate down the bus aisle handing out beer to passengers. Safety be damned. Still enjoyed since every place was new. I had already been to Miami so I was not at all disappointed by the overpriced and semi-fake paradise tourist traps. Also, in fairness, I had lived in Hawaii for a nearly a dozen years so I knew what to expect/avoid.
On our honeymoon, a year or so later, my wife and I honeymooned in Hong Kong with a side trip to Bali. In Indonesia, we hired a guide for two days to see what the locals considered worthwhile. At the end of the first day, the guide insisted we pay at the end of the second day. We found the vendor on the streets as locals weren't allowed into the gated resorts. So, they had no way to find us if we ditched them. That was probably one of the most unusual things I have ever experienced. I can only attribute this to my wife's (born and raised in Hawaii) local beliefs, habits and personality. And, maybe her naivety as I am not sure if I would do the same thing today.
But here is the deal. Those speaking badly, of these destinations, likely did not see the physical places that make the destination desirable to those who know it well. And, if you didn't enjoy your experience with locals, it is VERY LIKELY that it was because of your obnoxious superiority vibe turned off the number one attraction (the people).
There are at least a hundred worthwhile things to do while visiting Hawaii and only a handful in its most popular destinations (Waikiki and Maui). An erupting volcano and mountains with snow are two things that few people ever see but can be seen today as we speak. And there are great uncrowded sandy beaches within a short drive from these hot/cold spots.
Here is the thing. If you don't want to be there the local people don't want you there. I always looked at Miami as the poor man's Hawaii and rightfully so. But that likely limited my experiences. Despite its obvious physical/geographic limitations locals (including creep) know it better. Just don't tell him I said that.
On our honeymoon, a year or so later, my wife and I honeymooned in Hong Kong with a side trip to Bali. In Indonesia, we hired a guide for two days to see what the locals considered worthwhile. At the end of the first day, the guide insisted we pay at the end of the second day. We found the vendor on the streets as locals weren't allowed into the gated resorts. So, they had no way to find us if we ditched them. That was probably one of the most unusual things I have ever experienced. I can only attribute this to my wife's (born and raised in Hawaii) local beliefs, habits and personality. And, maybe her naivety as I am not sure if I would do the same thing today.
But here is the deal. Those speaking badly, of these destinations, likely did not see the physical places that make the destination desirable to those who know it well. And, if you didn't enjoy your experience with locals, it is VERY LIKELY that it was because of your obnoxious superiority vibe turned off the number one attraction (the people).
There are at least a hundred worthwhile things to do while visiting Hawaii and only a handful in its most popular destinations (Waikiki and Maui). An erupting volcano and mountains with snow are two things that few people ever see but can be seen today as we speak. And there are great uncrowded sandy beaches within a short drive from these hot/cold spots.
Here is the thing. If you don't want to be there the local people don't want you there. I always looked at Miami as the poor man's Hawaii and rightfully so. But that likely limited my experiences. Despite its obvious physical/geographic limitations locals (including creep) know it better. Just don't tell him I said that.
Recommend Costa Rica over Mexico. Far fewer soldiers wandering around with machine guns.
My brother, in his seventies, got back from a trip to Mexico recently. He travels solo and I thought he was nuts based upon his itinerary. Different tims, indeed.
There are way more interesting places in this world to see than drinking tequila at Cabo Wabo.
Mexico makes sense economically but for a couple hundie more in air fare, Costa Rica, Belize, El Salvador and Panama get you cool fucking cities and colder cheaper beer.
Agreed. I have flown to Mexico once. But, for those who haven't, then enjoy.
My brother has traveled to many countries and targets specific areas for (usually) a historical reason. He has a long enough "to travel list" that I am surprised that he had anything left to see in Mexico. Like many of us rather than repeating destinations there are a hundred other places left to see before checking out.
To each his own.
A lot depends on what stage of life one is in.
Mexico was fine for when our kids were younger. Beaches, body surfing, they could drink at 18, riding inflatable dongs behind speed boats was a family activity, etc. Now they are older and someone else's problem (spouses).
Throbber can get hammered and ride inflatables at home.
Mexico was fine for when our kids were younger. Beaches, body surfing, they could drink at 18, riding inflatable dongs behind speed boats was a family activity, etc. Now they are older and someone else's problem (spouses).
Throbber can get hammered and ride inflatables at home.
Pics?
Americans taking the gold medal celebration thing a bit too far. This ain’t Detroit.
SECDAWG
Well-known poster
¡Hola!
Been there, done that. Has been over 25 years ago, however. Was a great time. Spent a week there at the Gran Caribe Real. Flew over from NO. Went all inclusive. Was asked did we want all inclusive, was like, $300 more. I asked what would that gain me? They said, “well, all the food, events and alcohol you can drink with no additional charge”….
I said, sign us up, put that band on my wrist because we will absolutely make up that difference just in alcohol.
Get there and it was great. Got the band on the wrist, graat looking resort, swim up bar, private beach…the whole smear. Just great. Hell, the margaritas were in a small cup. I could tell them, “make it a double shot!” No problem. Free of charge. Had several eating places in this resort, from a huge buffet, to great steak/seafood restaurants to fine dining…low light, romantic, piano playing softly. Whatever. Swim in the pool and up to the bar, whatever you want. Grab a spot on the beach in your own chairs, little fine Señorita comes around and taking orders, go snorkeling and come back, have a good drink.
Was an event every night. Was never boring. I remember going to the main “regular” high class restaurant(not the sure enough fine dining, did that another night) and looking at the menu and they had “Collisal Shrimp” dinner for about $35 and a “Rib Eye Steak” dinner for about the same. And I was like, man, both of these look great….little waiter guysm came around and was like, “ready to odoh??””
I was like, “yeah, but I’m undecided on this shrimp dinner or the rib eye steak dinner”…
He said, “Oh, you all inclusive! Get both!”
Hells, yeah, bring both!
Word to the wise. Go all inclusive anytime you can. I learned this at that time.
Now don’t get me wrong, it’s a tourist trap. Best stay at the resort instead of the city or bus rides. You’ll get hammered from every dollar you have, from every side shop selling shit necklaces to bandannas. Some of the excursions are great. Boat rides you can actually take the boat through the rivers and mangroves and snorkel in the Caribbean, lobster cruises can be fun, even scuba diving.
But Cancun/Cozmel is a tourist trap. It can be a great time just at the resort. And do a few good excursions. But stay away from “downtown”.
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I picked a good time to come home from Mexico.
Mrs Nacho and I keep talking about spending January through March somewhere warm.
I’m thinking real estate prices in Mexico will be dropping soon.
There's a reason why it costs a lot more money to vacation in Hawaii versus Mexico. I will take Hawaii and its higher prices 10/10 times.
Yeah, was in Mexico in October, probably not going back anytime soon. Even when it was good there was always this lingering feeling like if one thing goes wrong all bets are off and it's hard to truly enjoy yourself and it feels like every single thing is trying to rip you off at all times. Car transport was a big one - don't use the taxis they're run by the cartels and will fuck with you, they're the only country in the world that only accepts car insurance in their country so they rape you there, lots of horror stories about if you get pulled over by the "cops" while driving, don't drive at night, don't go out at night, jesus man, yeah I'll just go somewhere else.
I was in PV in 84 and the cops were by far the biggest danger