Cold feet about Isla Mujeres
 

I'm paralyzed with indecision over where to take our vacation the last week of May. Have done way too much research and feeling like I should just stay home! Some of you may know the feeling. Will be going with my husband and toddler (who is <2 years old). Was deciding between Bermuda and Isla Mujeres (very different choices, I know). IM is much more affordable but I'm suddenly getting cold feet. Afraid it's going to be blazing hot. Have heard all these bad reviews about mosquitos at the hotels. Worried we'll be bored out of our minds for 5 days.

I can relax on a beach endlessly. But my toddler will probably only tolerate a short amount of time in the sun if there aren't shaded areas. And my husband is not a beach type. Hence, we liked Bermuda because of the old town and historic places to see. We like the idea of fresh fish and local foods. But I'm worried that you can only walk around a touristy little downtown so many times without wanting to go home.

Tell me the obvious...this isn't the vacation for me right now! Or convince me to go.

It will likely be hot. There's plenty to do IF you want to leave the island. North beach has plenty of shade. But you're right, IM itself is mostly about beach time, eating, and tourist junk.

How about really shaking it up and heading to a highland place. Antigua and Lake Atitlán in Guatemala are beautiful - lots to see and do, good food, nice scenery, and weather in the 70's. Can't wait to head back there in July. There are beautiful highland places in México and Honduras, too.

My photos, blogs, and travelogues are below if you're interested. Good luck, whatever you decide!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Been to IM actually have flown my own airplane

from the US I remember my landing well.

I actually had to land INTO a giant stalled mexican

air force 4 engine cargo plane that they had left there

on the runway for over a month one of the hairiest landings

I have ever made and have made a bunch.

small flat very hot 1 decent hotel on the island snorkel ok

was bored to death after 2 days flew over to Cancun lots

better.... betterbidding.com great deals on Cancun hotels

bidding Priceline.com from $50 head there spirit.com

cheap flights down from FLL first class for the price of

coach Bermuda is nice water will be cooler golf is better

than swimming. My personal fav with youngsters incliding mine

is the Bahamas runawayhill.com my fav perfect pink sand beach.

or atlantis.com for more action kids activities.

If you're worried about Isla being too boring, why not stay over on the mainland instead? When you fly into Cancun instead of taking the ferry to Isla Mujueres, stay somewhere around Playa del Carmen or Akumal instead. That would give you the freedom of plenty of other things to see and do in addition to beach time.

Or maybe this isn't the right time to take a trip? I never force myself if things don't seem to "feel right" and fall easily into place when I'm planning.

What about Puerto Rico? Beach time, old town, etc. and often pretty cheap.

After doing a 4 night stay on Isla Mujeres, yes from your comments, I think you will be bored. When we go on vacation, we are blow and go type people. We want to see and do as much as possible. We are not lay on the beach, soak up the sun, rest and relax on vacation.

We did enjoy IM and glad we went, but 2-3 nights would have been plenty. You'll probably like the area around Playa del Carmen better. There will be something for all of you.

As for May, we love traveling at that time of year. Yes, it will be warm, but not as hot as July or August. Never had any issues with mosquiotos, but I bring spray just in case. If that is too much of an issue for you, than maybe a beach vacation is not what your looking for.

Isla Mujere is great for a two year old. Stay on Playa Norte (Ixchel Condos/Hotel), it's a fabulous shallow, waveless beach for children. Rent a golf cart and tour the Isla, go to the turtle farm and climb to the top of the light house at Punta Sur. Take a daytrip to snorkel at Isla Contoy (bird sanctuary) or hire boat to go fishing. Spend an evening in El Centro eating food from street venders, watch a locals basketball game at the b-ball court in town, have coconut ice cream for dessert. Go to Garraffon Park for the day and snorkel or go to The Dolphin Discovery and swim w/ the dolphins. Shop at the local Mercado and the Super Express, not to mention all of the tourist shops. Don't forget to watch the sunrise one morning from the Cribbean waters and enjoy a cocktail watching the sunset into the water from Sergio's Playa Sol as your toddler plays in the sand. Go shelling on the Caribbean side of the Isla, snorkel in Kings Pool. May is early turtle season, watch for sea turtles nesting on the Caribbean side around 10:00 pm. I just wish I knew about Isla Mujeres when my kids were little, it's a perfect vacation spot for kids. Have Fun!

Wow! Certainly agree with previous post - I guess it's all in what you are accustomed to, but my family and I (G-Pa, mom dad and now 11 yo 6 yo)now spend an overnight on Isla out of each week when we're bored with the perfect pool and gringolandia atmosphere in Cancun! Both kids have been there yearly since year one. Rent a golf cart (which the kids think is the best thrill ride ever), check out the beaches, tiendas, neighborhood restaurants and beach clubs (Loncheros, P Norte, Garrafon), enjoy the baby turtles, pet a nurse shark, watch and/or swin with dolphins, dredge out shells....Downtown Isla is endlessly fascinating for toddlers.

It will be warm but anywhere near the water should be comfortable.

True there is not much "manufactured" excitement but for that there's always disney.


(Somehow I can't imagine a 2 yo getting much out of the colonial thrills of Bermuda).

Truly, I have been to IM once and enjoyed it for a day trip, but was very glad I was staying on the mainland. The Riviera Maya and Cancun are fabulous, so much to do. I wouldn't stay on the island the whole time, but in Playa or Cancun, and make Isla a day trip.