Cancun vs. Playa Del Carmen Area
 

Hi:

We've never been to Mexico and thinking about going next month. Looking for thoughts regarding staying in Cancun or the Playa Del Carmen area. Any thoughts on what the differences might be would be very appreciated. I know nothing about Mexico at all so anything you could provide me with would be great.

Thanks again

I've only stayed in Cancun once, about 10 years ago. Hated it from the first hour I was there. Nothing but big, expensive resorts and lots of concrete. It did have lovely beaches, but the water was rough and sometimes you couldn't swim.

My own fault, I didn't do enough research.

My first trip to Playa del Carmen was about eight years ago. We loved it. Little hotel for about US$50.00, right on the beach. Unfortunately, most of those little hotels are now gone. Last I was there a couple of years ago, it was busier, but still lots of fun. Great beach bars, great restaurants in an area that is totally walkable.

In other words, head to Playa, or, if you're looking for a smaller more Mexican type place, head to Isla Mujeres.

Thank you!!

There are other options besides those two places--literally dozens if not hundreds of places in places like Tulum and Puerto Morelos.

Cancun is what it is--luxury hotels completely separated from anything resembling local culture. We stayed at the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, which had a very calm beach. Plenty of good restaurants--but again, expect middle to high end cuisine, not authentic local offerings.

Camcun is like being in any commercialized city. There are nice beaches, but it is no where near as relaxing and layed back as Playa. I much prefer the Playa del Carmen area, especially if you want more of the "Mexico" feeling.

I have never been but this is my impression...

Cancun is a built-environment for tourists. It's a resort strip of large hotels on a beach similar looking to Miami. While Playa del Carmen is a small town with a busy main street and lots of shops, restaurants, hotels, catering to tourists but with more authentic local flare and style, also beach resorts but more spread out and laid back.

You can do some quick internet research to see photos of the differences between the two places.

I vote for Playa del Carmen :-)

We have no desire to go to Cancun. We have been to Playa del Carmen, Akumal, Puerto Morelos, and Tulum - loved them all. Playa is a fairly large city, but with no high rises, and a great beach. The locogringo.com website has tons of info, aerial photos, beach info, etc, on the whole area.

Cancun is like Miami Beach more than it is like Mexico. Playa Del Carmen, has become more and more touristy in the past few years but still has a Mexican feel to it. The town of PDC is hopping with lots of restaurants (of all kinds), entertainment and shopping. Just a couple of blocks off the main drag (5th Av) you have much more authentic Mexican eateries.

Also PDC is more convenient to many of the ruins and other tourist sights (Tulum, Coba, Akumel, eco-parks, etc) with very inexpensive and good public transportation (colectivo vans) to get there.

Also the beaches have been recently restored and are very nice. I'm a fan of PDC, and like to be within walking distance of the town. We've done condo rentals with our kids and it's been great.

Thank you to all for the great information!! When I called Cont. to book air the rep. recommended Riveria Maya overall, she said it would be a great fit since we're traveling with our 2 yo. In her opinion PDC is more of a night life hot spot, she really didn't have much positive to share about Cancun in general. I will check out the locogringo website mentioned above to find out more. I'm know so little about Mexico I thought PDC was the Riveria Maya. Any other thoughts are very much appreciated.

Thanks!!

<I thought PDC was the Riveria Maya>

It is :-)

PDC is part of the Riviera Maya, but there is more to the Riviera Maya than just PDC.

Thanks, I'm going to look into some of the Hotels throughout the area. They recommended a hotel called Barcelo Maya. If anyone has any info on that I would appreciate it or other hotels in the area they were happy with.

Thanks

Oh sorry. Yes what schmerl said. Playa del Carmen is "on" or part of the Mayan Riviera, but that term applies to much of the rest of that coastline as well.

Do you want to be in a big all inclusive, self contained resort, or a small hotel - they each have their pros and cons.

I have been to Playa Del Carmen several times and Cancun as well! Playa takes the cake-it has become much more of a tourist spot over the past 5 years but nothing like Cancun...

dmg.
Barcelo Maya is part of a HUGE all inclusive resort. It is on a nice beach and you can snorkel off part of the beach. There is a water park for children so there will be lots of families there. It is a short ride to the town of Playa from there.
If you tell us what you are looking for, we could recommend some resorts since there are so many.

I have never stayed in an all inclusive resort before however for this trip it might be the thing to do. We're probably looking at about 5 night stay. I don't believe we will rent a car, I'm guessing the hotels will have transportation to the Ruins or other places of interest. I have a friend who recommended the Palace resorts although I think they stay in Cancun. She recommended Moon Palace I believe. The Cont. rep. recommended Barcelo. I checked out the Marriott but they seem to be in Cancun only (I was hoping to use points). Most of the time when we travel we rent a villa, then make our own breakfast, coffee and eat dinner's out so we can try different restaurants. For this trip my husband is leaning toward a hotel with an all inclusive plan and probably staying on the grounds. With that in mind I'm thinking we might be better off where there are things within walking distance just for a change of pace. This is more of a new experience for us to stay on the grounds of the hotel, maybe easier with a small child as well. Again thoughts/information are very appreciated.

If you want a low key all inclusive with a beach that's a 10, check out the Akumal Beach Resort. Also right next door is the Akumal Caribe, a nice small non AI, with a good restaurant on premises. They are both on Akumal Bay beach which is calm and great for snorkeling and swimming.

Moon Palace is in Cancun, and has a sea-weedy beach. We have done both the AI and the condo rentals in PDC. The town of PDC has so many great restaurants, it's hard to go back to the mostly mediocre food of an AI.

We rented a couple of times at Xaman Ha condos in PDC (just a couple of short blocks to 5th Av (the main drag). The condo includes bottled water and all the usual hotel amenities. It's on the beach, has a pool, and is very family friendly. It's one of the older condo complexes. There are newer ones, mostly at the other end of town, and some right in town. There are also a few big grocery store in PDC so it's easy to stock up on the necessities.

The AIs tend to be big (although not all). IMHO the food gets tiring after a couple of days. The pool area also tends to be noisy with music and activities for most of the day. On the other hand, it does make life pretty easy, especially when traveling with children.

For a great AI that is not too big look into the Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal. Great for families, about a five minute taxi ride from downtown Playa del Carmen. It is is the gated area of Playacar. Wonderful beach.

To me, it's an easy call -- Playa over Cancun any day. Cancun is basically Vegas by the sea (minus casinos), a town that was built to be a resort and feels more like it's part of the U.S. than Mexico. Playa is a real town, sort of like Mexico's answer to South Beach in that it has a trendy vibe. But you feel like you're in a foreign country if you're from the U.S. The beach is great and the town is lively, with street performers at night that the 2-year-old will probably enjoy. It's short drive to Tulum, Xel-Ha, X-Caret, Akumal, Puerto Morelos and an easy ferry ride to Cozumel.
One thing: Prices in Playa seemed to be higher than I remember in Puerto Vallarta (which might also be a good option for you) and Cancun, more in the New York range.

I am going solo to Mexico for memorial weekend and debating between Cancun and PDC. I am 32 y.o single male looking for combo of good partying, food,culture and meet friendly locals/tourists (since will be by myself all the time)

Any suggestions would be helpful ?

thanks

Goodfella, consider a hotel in Playa Del Carmen, there are many right off of 5th av (main drag) and on the beach. Cancun may be for a younger party crowd (more of a college scene). PDC has many good restaurants, and a lively night life. It's also near many sights (Tulum, Coba), with easy transportation via Collectivos (public van service).

Seems like I'm the only one who ever puts in a good word for Cancun. I've gone twice before and am so excited to be going back to Cancun this summer. The first time I ever saw the beach there, I was in awe. Couldnt stop drinking in the beauty of the water.

I have also stayed in Playa and love it, too. Its just that I don't like the hotel options there as well as in Cancun. We stayed in a condo there, which was nice, but I missed the luxury hotel experience.

Playa's beach is not as nice, water not quite as pretty. I didn't like the beach experience at Mamitas: packed in like sardines, and the water was too calm. And as a 40 something American woman I was surprised to find that I felt a little uncomfortable around all the topless women! Not that there's anything wrong at all with it, just my native New England modesty~!

In sum, Playa is the more interesting town; Cancun is the better resort. Depends on what you want. This year I'm looking forward to the Cancun Ritz Carlton. Will rent a car and spend a day in Playa and drive down to Tulum, which has the most incredible beach I've ever had the pleasure to see.

Either way, the whole area is my favorite to go...

I agree with Little_Man. I have been to both Playa and Cancun and while I agree that Playa has more of a mexican feel Cancun's beaches are by far better. I have been all around Carribean and the beaches In Cancun are as beautiful as some of the best ones in the Carribean. I'm talking pool clear and aquamarine water with super clean and powder like sand. Also the resorts in Cancun are amazing. If you want luxury and exceptional beach then Cancun is your choice. I recommend Ritz Carlton - has the best stretch of sand and clear aquamarine water. Fiesta Americana Coral Reef is nice too but the beach is not as nice. These are 5 star non-inclusive resorts which is how we like it. I'm not a fan of all inclusive mediocre food when there are so many options all around.

Plus Cancun is 15 minutes from the airport whereas Playa is an hour. People are complaining about Cancun either 1. stayed at crappy AI resort 2. stayed in the wrong area of Cancun. Only Ocean side of Cancun has the best beaches with the aquamarine water I mentioned. The rest of the area has crappy beaches as it's looking at the lagoon. If you look at the map of cancun hotel zone is like a shape of number 7. The best beaches are along the leg of number 7 - right in the middle. The head of 7 has crappy beaches.

If you decide on PDC, it seems to me to be a bit of a waste to stay in a all inclusive, b/c there are so many good places to eat there.

If I was staying at an all-inclusive, I'd be less concerned about location (Playa vs. Cancun) and more concerned about the facilities, rooms, dining options and beach at the resort.

excellent point, tom42.

We have stayed in them all...Cancun, Akumal, Tulum. All good! Even stayed at Marriott, JP and Ritz C. Hotels in Cancun very nice, great beach, just like staying in Miami but better beaches. No surprises, very easy with baby, excellent ac and services.
Next week we are staying in ai Tulum. That is good also. But check to be sure resort has crib, high chair, ac, maybe someone to watch child while you have "date night" dinner, food child will eat, place to buy diapers, etc. Plus safe baby water area!!! or maybe you are still into bucket of sea water for kid to splash.

A lot of people make the comparison of Cancun to Miami Beach. I get it but I actually prefer Miami Beach over Cancun. I think Miami Beach has more character than Cancun. That being said, I've been to Cancun a number of times, mostly as a convenient middle ground to meet a friend who lives in Merida. I may be going back this summer but am looking into PDC, Isla Mujeres or Playa Morelos.

Actually, I thought Playa had more of a South Beach feel than Cancun.