Hi there,<BR><BR>I would love to get away to the beach in Mexico for a week or so in early Dec. I'm on a very tight budget and have never traveled in Mexico before. Can anyone suggest a great little beach town and a charming inn? Or even a super cheap package deal to somewhere that wouldn't be too plastic and touristy? Appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks. Steve

Hi Steve,<BR>Check out locogringo.com and look into Akumal, Tankah or Playa del Carmen.

I recommend Playa del Carmen. I have been going there for 14 years and will be happy to answer any questions or recommendations on hotels, restaurants, fishing and snorkeling, renting a car etc. Feel free to e-mail me.

Steve, where are you coming from? If you're from the west coast of Canada or U.S., air fare to the east coast of Mexico could be pricy and vice versa.

I would recommend Zippolite if you are on a budget. Get a flight to Oaxaca and then a bus to Zippolite. The beach is beautiful and not many people make it there so you can get away from most of the tourist crowds. Just watch out for the rip tide. You can just hang a hammock on the beach for a few cents a night, or there are some basic beach huts or if you want to splash out there are some nicer huts on the hill at the end of the beach.

The most peaceful rest and one of the most beautiful, secluded beaches can be found along the beaches of Tulum. I highly recommend Cabanas Copal. I'll be going back for my third visit there this summer. Rustic cabanas in a heavenly setting right on the beach. Great staff! Their website is<BR>CabanasCopal.com<BR>Tell them Ken sent you. They'll treat your right.

Check out Isla Mujeres. You could get a cheap flight to Cancun, then take the ferry over to the Island. Accommodation and dining on Isla are very reasonable and Playa Norte is a terrific beach. www.isla-mujeres.net has information on accommodation and a very active forum, where you can ask questions.

Hi Steve<BR>I echo one of your responses who asked where are you flying from. We live on the west coast of Canada and find that fares are cheapest to Mexico's pacific coast. We have found great deals for PV and Manzanillo. Try little towns like Melaque (loved it there), Barra de Navidad outside Manzanillo or Bucerias and Sayulita outside PV. Lots of great little places to stay for next to nothing! This year we check out Puerto Morelos and Akumal. While I can't wait to see this side of Mexico, it is definitley more expensive to travel there and accomodation is pricier too. If, however you are from the east coast you may find lots of great flight deals. Whatever you decide Good luck and enjoy!

Dear Steve,<BR>These places all seem so romantic. Be sure you go along with someone you really like.<BR>Good luck,<BR>Vee

What a strange comment from 'Vee'. What if Steve is single? Then he should not vacation at a cheap charming beach in Mexico?<BR><BR>Please be a little more sensitive &amp; just sign me, solo &amp; having a ball in Mexico

Thank you everyone for your responses to my question. I can see that I should have mentioned that I am coming from the San Francisco Bay area. I have been checking airfares and it's much more affordable to go to the west coast of Mexico. Anyone have any ideas where to shop for airfares other than the usual travelocity.com and expedia.com? It seems like I am best off getting a ticket to somewhere big like Puerto Vallarta. Any suggestions for a beach town that is not too far. Will I need to rent a car? Any wonderful, charming hotels to recommend?<BR>Thanks again in advance for your help.<BR><BR>Steve

Steve, I've been to Puerto Vallarta 14 times (trip 15 next month!). Traveling from Seattle I fly Alaska Airlines.<BR><BR>You can find cheap and charming within the south part of town in PV ($15-50US/night), town's not really all that big, and the mega plastico resorts are mostly grouped north of town.<BR><BR>Or possibly from the airport you could go direct to the bus station &amp; catch one heading north out to Bucerias, Punta Mita, Sayulita, etc. You could rent a car but not really necessary.<BR><BR>I have several favorite hotel suggestions, but they are all within PV because once I get down there and relax, I never make it much further!!

Steve--<BR>check out Suntrips charters. They fly from Oakland. We've flown from Denver and had good luck, cheap prices, and nonstop flights. There's a website (I think it's suntrips.com), although it's not that good, but if you check in your Sunday travel section, you'll see their ads. They often run specials. <BR>Sandy

PV is OK and can be good fun in the evenings but it is very touristy. There is a lot to do but the beach is not that great, it is fine though.<BR><BR>If you are after more laid back beaches you should head south of Acapulco to Zippolite etc. There isn't much in the way of fancy hotels down there, just basic beach huts otherwise you can just hang your hammock on the beach.

Hey John-<BR><BR>What you just described is great! Can you offer more specifics on that? It sounds just what my group is looking for.<BR><BR>thanks!

I went there eight or so years ago.<BR><BR>Zippolite (&quot;beach of the dead&quot is a long beach with big waves (and a strong riptide). You have to be careful swimminmg there - a few people drown there every year (probably swimming whilst drunk). As it is off the beaten track only people who travel independently get there. I stayed for a month and there was a group of roughly 20 people there for most of the time I was there. It is dirt cheap there and the seafood is great. Yopu need to fly to Oaxaca and catch a bus. There are other nice beaches around but Zippolite is kind of famous. I suggest you get a guidebook to learn more. An LP book or one aimed more at backp[ackers will tell you more than a fodors book.<BR><BR>PS - I heard a hurricane ruined a lot of the beach huts in 2000 but i guess they will have been rebuilt. Best to check before you go. Also, this area around Oaxaca is probably one of the poorest in Mexico and crime is a problem. Once you are at Zippolite you will be OK but be careful getting there - bandits hold up buses at night so travel during the day - a guide book can tell you a lot more tha i can,.

I have heard that Zippolite beaches are known as nudist havens? Any truth to this?

It's Zipolite (1 P not 2) and yes that beach is extremely well-known (and respected in certain circles) as a HAVEN for drugs, nudity, bongos on the beach, etc. If you're thinking of it I'd do some research over on Lonely Planet's website (BB called Thorn Tree) or Let's Go type guidebooks which are much more aimed at the &quot;alternative&quot; lifestyles that make up Zipolite (instead of Fodors).<BR>

Thanks again everyone. I have now gotten a Alaska airline ticket to PV $312 rt seemed pretty good. Now I just have to decide where to stay in that area. A friend likes to take the boat to Yelapa and stay there. I have never been to the PV area or Mexico for that matter. Any suggestions? Susan, I would take your hotel recommendations in the PV area. What are the pros and cons of staying in the more touristy areas?Looking for local color, nice clean, comfortable, charming inn or cabanas, relaxing beach and sun, good food. Thanks again for sharing your information. Steve

Hey Steve...now that you have your flight to PV booked have you decided if you want to stay right IN Puerto Vallarta or elsewhere? If I can help answer any questions about Bucerias (lovely little town just north of PV) please feel free to email me!