DW

We will be heading over to Cancun mid-August (yes, we know about hurricain season). We are using Cancun as a staging point for a bunch of day trips. <BR> <BR>We don't need all-inclusive, prefer cheap to moderate price range, but would like to be able to snorkel very near the hotel, have an ocean view, a nearby restaurant, a swim-up bar would be neat, and a tour desk would be nice. <BR> <BR>Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. We will be staying 8 days.

C.Clark

Try the Marriott and ask for the entertainment rate, it should be around $55.usd and well worth it. <BR>

don

Staying in the Cancun Hotel Zone would not be particularly conveinient for staging daytrips, especially if you plan to use the great bus system, which is in Centro. On the other hand, staying in town is less than picturesque, although there is lots to do there. Why not stay in Playa del Carmen, about 40 minutes south of the airport? Nice town, friendlier people, small, nice hotels on the beach for sixty bucks per night and a lot less one block in. Everything is walking distance to PDC bus terminal, where you can board buses for Tulum, Chichen Itza, Xel Ha, etc. Restaurants leave most of Cancun's in the dust. You can take a bus directly from the airport for 14 dollars pp or taxi for fifty each way ([email protected] to reserve). Email if you want more info.

DW

Thank you for the info. Does anyone else have some input on this subject?

Carole

The Tankah/Tulum area is a good starting point for exploring. Visit my site at: http://CasaTropical.com for pictures, general info and rates for visiting our area. Our villa is located in Tankah, 3 miles north of the Tulum ruins on a private 1/2 acre property. We are close to many archeological sites, great restaurants, Playa del Carmen (you can take the high speed boat to Cozumel for a day trip), and the Sian Ka'an Biosphere reserve. We also are central to visiting many cenotes in our area as well as beautiful lagoons. <BR> <BR>

Peter B.

Have you considered a driving tour of the Yukatan penninsula? We flew into Cancun and did that a year ago. Great exploring and adventure in the jungles and other cities (Merida, Progresso, Campeche, Champoton, Chatumal, Puerto Moreles). Several of the Mayan ruins have ajoining hotels and are very secluded. You can also find pretty nice places to stay in the middle of the jungles or drive down the east coast to small settlements with secluded hotels. Also, Belize isn't that far away and great for snorkling (get the proper auto insurance from your rental car co.).

dan woodlief

We stayed downtown, about five minutes from the bus station by foot. We used buses to go to Playa del Carmen three times, Chichen Itza and back from Merida, and Tulum. I think Playa del Carmen sounds like the perfect spot. It is where we will stay on our next visit. The beaches are great, I think you can get cheaper beachfront or nearly beachfront accomodations there, and the bus station is very convenient to the beach area. Downtown Cancun is pretty good too because it has cheaper hotels and some very good but inexpensive restaurants. However, Playa del Carmen gives you all these in a smaller location. Playa del Carmen is actually an hour closer to many places of interest, such as Tulum, Coba, Xel-Ha, and Cozumel. Feel free to e-mail me for any specifics. Sorry, I do not know about specific Playa hotels.