Just back from Cancun, where were the Americans?
Jan 7th, 2017, 07:24 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just back from Cancun, where were the Americans?
We spent Christmas and New Years in Cancun and the Yucatan. We spent 2 nights at the El Presidente Hotel in Cancun, very nice beach and the excellent restaurants were reasonably priced, then rented a car and drove the Ruta Puuc, visited Uxmal, and then ruins and cenotes around Valladolid. We visited the major sites Chichen Itza and Uxmal at opening so that we would be done by 11 before the heat and crowds set in.
But with the exception of Carnival cruise ship tour arriving from Progresso at Uxmal right when we were leaving, we hardly saw any Americans! Our typical tourist cohort was half Spanish speaking, about a quarter French speaking, and the rest Germans, Dutch, Russians, and English speakers.
Here I was expecting to be part of an American tidal wave washing over Cancun and the Yucatan, but we hardly saw any Americans, anywhere except at the airport. Where do they go?
But with the exception of Carnival cruise ship tour arriving from Progresso at Uxmal right when we were leaving, we hardly saw any Americans! Our typical tourist cohort was half Spanish speaking, about a quarter French speaking, and the rest Germans, Dutch, Russians, and English speakers.
Here I was expecting to be part of an American tidal wave washing over Cancun and the Yucatan, but we hardly saw any Americans, anywhere except at the airport. Where do they go?
Jan 7th, 2017, 11:05 AM
#4
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I didn't see many Americans when we stayed in Uxmal to visit that ruin and a few of the Ruta Puuc, saw several busloads of folks from Sweden and Netherlands.
But I do spend most of my time at the beach, usually Akumal with a day here and there at Tulum, Xpu-Ha and Puerto Morelos.
But I do spend most of my time at the beach, usually Akumal with a day here and there at Tulum, Xpu-Ha and Puerto Morelos.
Jan 8th, 2017, 08:30 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,721
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We typically go to Akumal, Playa Del Carmen or Tulum. The typical tourist mix is Italian, Canadian, Argentinian, American and other European. I'd guess that US citizens make up about 30-40% of the mix.
Jan 10th, 2017, 04:48 AM
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So is it an all-inclusive thing? Are Americans and Canadians at the all-inclusive hotels/resorts, or on shore excursions from cruises?
Our pay-for-food hotel right in the Hotel Zone of Cancun had few Americans, so it's not a simple "Americans are at the beach" concept.
Anyway, I was surprised how easy it was to dodge tourists hordes if that was your intention, even at mega sites like Chichen Itza or Uxmal in one of the busiest weeks of the year. Just be done by 11.
Our pay-for-food hotel right in the Hotel Zone of Cancun had few Americans, so it's not a simple "Americans are at the beach" concept.
Anyway, I was surprised how easy it was to dodge tourists hordes if that was your intention, even at mega sites like Chichen Itza or Uxmal in one of the busiest weeks of the year. Just be done by 11.
Jan 10th, 2017, 03:50 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 13,617
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We did a 2 week road trip around the Yucatan a few years ago and saw a mix of Americans and people from other countries. We didn't see much of the tourist hoards of any nationality due to where we went and what time we went there - like you said - visit popular sites earlier in the day, visit the lesser sites whenever since hardly anybody will be there anyway. The day we visited the Ruta Puuc sites, I think we saw the same 5 or 6 people all day long 
A lot of the times it was just us, the ghosts, and the iguanas.
We didn't go to Cancun or to any AIs, so I don't know the mix of nationalities to expect there. Based on the traffic on the TA boards though, it does seem that a lot of Americans go to AI resorts, a lot of Canadians also.
A lot of the times it was just us, the ghosts, and the iguanas. We didn't go to Cancun or to any AIs, so I don't know the mix of nationalities to expect there. Based on the traffic on the TA boards though, it does seem that a lot of Americans go to AI resorts, a lot of Canadians also.
Jan 11th, 2017, 05:48 AM
#12
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,420
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"How does one distinguish an American from a Canadian by sight?"
By the maple leaf patches all over the Canadians' clothing and luggage? (as with the backpackers in Europe)
Or by overhearing the "Aye" at the end of each sentence?
By the maple leaf patches all over the Canadians' clothing and luggage? (as with the backpackers in Europe)
Or by overhearing the "Aye" at the end of each sentence?
Jan 11th, 2017, 09:14 AM
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,903
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Although accents are fading everywhere, I'm pretty good at identifying Canadian vowel sounds. I have to say Vancouver and Toronto vowel sounds are now nearly identical to the northern US.
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Elainee
Mexico & Central America
17
Mar 21st, 2012 08:08 PM
