Cancun - Accommodation and Chichen Itza
 

Hi

We are travelling from Australia in September and have organised a few days in Cancun so that we can see the ruins of Chichen Itza.

I have been researching accommodation and there is so much to choose from I have no idea what I should try and be near, if anything?

Our budget would be under $200USD per day, and we aren't party animals that need nightclubs all night. Our main concern would be 'clean' and 'location'. Of course, I'm not sure what location I should be looking for!!

Also, we would like to do an organised trip to Chichen Itza, but preferably something that lets us go at our own pace - are there any independant tours you can take where they drive you there and drive you home but that's the extent of it??

Thanks in advance, sorry for waffling on!!

Even though you are interested in an organized tour I would recommend that you rent a car and drive out there and spend the night. The first time we went we took a tour and it was OK. Twice we've gone on our own and stayed the night.

Hi, SusieQ78 -

> We . . . have organised a few days in Cancun so that we can see the ruins of Chichen Itza. I have been researching accommodation and there is so much to choose from I have no idea what I should try and be near, if anything?

To see Chichen Itza, I chose to stay in Valladolid, but I also wanted to see that city and some other things nearby (Ek Balam and the Cenotes de Dzitnup). For accomodation even closer to Chichen Itza, the Hotel Dolores Alba Chichen appears to get good reviews.


> are there any independant tours you can take where they drive you there [Chichen Itza] and drive you home but that's the extent of it??

You can take a bus.

Enjoy!

Susie the advantage of staying in Cancun of course is the beach setting and the wide array of dining and shopping. I can not really direct you to a hotel in the price range you are looking at but I am sure there are some there. We have always stayed at more expensive ones like the Marriot, Le Meridian, etc. Perhaps you should visit TripAdvisor and look at the reviews and pricing. That might help.

Now for the Chichen Itza trip I might suggest Grey Line tours from Cancun. We used them a few years ago and it was fine. Nice air conditioned bus (coach) that went to the ruins with a stop for a quick look see in Valladolid, then lunch at the hotel at the ruins, then own our own all afternoon with a late afternoon return to Cancun, arriving early evening. So it was an organized tour but once at ruins can explore on your own at your own pace.

Other interesting ruins to visit if time allows are Tulum and Coba. Both are south of Cancun and would require transport.

I am just back from Cancun... my family did the private Chichen Itza tour listed on this website: http://www.entertainment-plus.net/index.cfm?aff=jo_sa

Fabulous experience... our driver was Javier. He picked us up at the hotel at 730A, drove us to Chichen Itza; he also hooked us up with a guide at Chichen Itza. After spending about 3 hours at Chichen Itza, we visited 2 Cenotes, as well as the town of Valladolid. Lunch was included at the first stop after Chichen Itza. A long day, but very fun and full of good times. I would absolutely recommend this company and Javier as the driver. He was very attentive. I made all of the arrangements via email. Have a great time and safe travels.

We did the Chichen Itza tour in April. The only problem with a tour is that we were on a bus that held about 50 people and there were 8 more buses with the same amount of people going to the same destination at the same time. Very crowded. However, it was a good tour and we enjoyed it.

Private tours are going to be very expensive, but if you can swing it look into it further.

I would recommend James and Anna. You'll have to find your own way to Playa del Carmen for pick-up. We did their tour to Tulum in Sept. '07 and they only allow a limited number of people. They avoid the times the huge crowds will be there.

http://www.playa.info/tours-anna-jam...alladolid.html

Thankyou so much for all the helpful information - very helpful re the private tours. Accommodation in Cancun seems to be really expensive - we may have to increase our budget!!

The Ambiance Villas ken ha should be well within your price range. It has a wonderful beach - one of the better beaches in Cancun, and a fine location. Our room, actually a suite, was excellent. I have pictures of the Ambiance Villas posted at:
www.flickr.com/photos/basingstoke2/collections.
Click on the Mexico collection. There are pictures of Chichen Itza there too, as well as Tulum, etc.