Flying Into Cancun Then What?
 

Hi, I am arriving in Cancun and assumed I'd be able to find a budget-friendly beach hotel there but now I am wondering if I'd be happier going to Cozumel or other area. Please, may I have your input? First trip to Mexico for me and my teen boys. Thank you!

ferry to Isla Mujeres
shuttle to Playa del Carmen

Budget friendly beach hotels are hard to come by in the Mayan Riviera area. Lots of AI in Cancun and Playacar and Cozumel though. Budget wise, I would head on straight to Playa del Carmen (especially with teenagers)and find one there. First of all they will just love Playa with all that it has to offer. You could check out the internet for either a condo or a small hotel with kitchenette. They will not be on the beach but 2, 3 or 4 blocks down which is very reasonable in Playa as everything is within walking distance. With a condo you would be able to purchase your food at Wal-Mart or Mega at very reasonable prices and save (especially with teenagers... again )There are hundreds of restaurants to choose from, the most expensive would be on or around 5th ave. The most economical and popular would be around 30th ave. Depending on your boys ages, they will absolutly love Playa and appreciate the whole concept of being so close to one of the most beautiful beaches in Mexico.

Thank you! 18 and 16 and their only requirements are beach and good food I think Playa del Carmen will be a better fit for us than Cancun as we literally want to do nothing!

look at a condo rental in Akumal/Half Moon Bay. Or Tulum.

Akumal and Tulum are a LOT more quiet and more isolated than PdC. I'd think teenagers would prefer the liveliness of Playa del Carmen?

16 and 18... the perfect fit for Playa. Well...any age is good for Playa if you love turquoise waters and white powdery beaches that stretch for miles. The most popular beach area is Mamitas at the end of calle 28. On calle 2 and the beach every Sunday is special at the Wah Wah beach bar and for 120 pesos (starts around 2pm) all you can eat (toes in the sand) which is usually roast beef or pork and everything else. The El Fogon restaurant at the corner of Constituyentes and 30th (great Mexican food and really cheap the only problem is you have to wait in line most of the time). Babes noodle bar on calle 10 (international flavors)mostly Thai. Cafe de Paris on Benito Juarez has the best breakfast and the best prices for breakfast. Playa is very casual and casual dress is appropriate even the more expensive places. Shopping is great but expensive is you buy on Avenida 5 known as La Quinta, you would be better off to shop on 30th or on the main drag called Benito Juarez. If you want peace and quiet walk north on the beach from the last beach bar called Canibal Royal, way less poeple and all you need is a beach towel and a small cooler. Your kids will thank you for this !!!

Thanks to each of you for taking your time to reply. I will certainly take into consideration all the information you have offered.

Please, will you tell me more about Akumal vs. Playa del Carmen?

I will have to see what the boys think they'd prefer as one said he wants to do NOTHING; do I believe him LOL?

Thank you!

If he really wants to do NOTHING!! that is what is in Akumal. Lovely bay, beaches, great snorkeling at the Ya-Kul (sp?)Lagoon, but otherwise, not much to do. Unless you are renting a car for a day or 2, then you are in easy reach of Tulum or Xcaret or many cenotes. Without a car, Akumal is a wonderful, relaxing, lovely spot to do NOTHING!! Playa del Carmen has lots going on, and things to choose from, but you can also do NOTHNG!! Akumal is MY choice, but I'm not a teenager! I agree with Rohelio and Suze...at least in PdC, they could choose if they really want to do NOTHING!

Both Pdc and Akumal are great in their own way. Akumal is all about beach and snorkeling with a handful of good resturants. Playa is party central with a nice beach and plenty of dining and nightlife with a strong European following. Other places to consider would be Tulum and Puerto Morelos. Tulum has a spectacular, wide, nearly empty beach, with lots of funky rental cabanas and small hotels. The actual town of Tulum is a mile inland with lots of good restaurants, shops, and an interesting Mexican-hippie vibe. Puerto Morelos is one of the few towns that still has a real fishing village feel to it. Have you been to locogringo.com?

Akumal is about 25 minutes south of Playa, you can get there by colectivo for 50 pesos or by taxi for about 25.00 US (By the way the colectivo departure area is on calle 2 close to avenida 15). Depending on how long you plan on staying would most certainly impact your stay in Akumal. Usually people go to Akumal for the day and return late afternoon, you can swim in Halfmoon bay all you like and rent equipment to see actual turtles and all kinds of sea life. There are quite a few good restaurants and and a few places to rent. It is a great little place to recouperate. I hear that there are some small stores accross the highway (307) but nothing like in the city. If you plan on catching up on your reading and relax then this is for you. I go at least once a year and brought some friends over one time, they loved it. Keep in mind that you are basicaly between Tulum and Playa and need transportation to go to either. Of course it would be a whole new ball game if you rented a condo or villa and had a rented car. IMO, Akumal is well worth the visit but I would not stay there for a whole week or two especially with two teenagers.

You can do nothing anywhere :-)

Akumal's population is just a little over 1000 people.

Playa del Carmen's is around 150,000.

I love Akumal and was just there for 9 days the first week of May, stayed in two nice casitas on Half Moon Bay for under $100 per night including tax. PDC is just too big for me but your boys might enjoy it. I did book thru Locogringo and they are good, used them many times. Just kind of depends on what you want. My friend had a rental car (I paid for gas)and we drove to Casa Cenote in Tankah for their Sunday Texas BBQ, and down to Tulum another day to visit some friends staying there, and the last day we drove to Xpuha Beach with friends to visit and have lunch at La Playita beach bar, great trip.
Hope you have a good time wherever you end up.

Thank you again for replies.

I'm going to choose Playa del Carmen in case the boys get bored doing "nothing".

Now to find something beachfront that I can afford.

Thanks so much!

https://www.locogringo.com/
(as also suggested above)

LOL the boy who wanted to "do nothing" is now thinking he might want to visit some ruins.

"Do nothing" indeed!

Why I think PdC sounds like a good fit is because there's plenty to see and do that will be easy walking distance. So the 3 of you won't have to be joined at the hip 24/7, but can each have times to do some things on your own. Someone wants to be lazy by the pool, someone wants to explore or go shopping downtown, etc.

Have you ever been to Playa del Carmen Suze ?

Nope, I've never been on the Caribbean side of Mexico. Everything I said here I know from reading several travel forums from people who love that area. I always go to Puerto Vallarta myself.

" Everything I said here I know from reading several travel forums from people who love that area."

The purpose of a travel forum is to help travellers in planning a visit get an initial 'feel' for a particular country, region or city. After reading the EXPERIENCES of others, it will be easier for first time and seasoned visitors to make sensible, safe decisions about where to stay, eat, where and how to do their shopping, how to get around and be aware of the various do's and dont's.

I believe it to be improper for people to comment and advice others on important and costly decisions when all they have to go on is something they heard or read. Experience is key here and should be a prerequisite, otherwise it's just a personal opinion and/or comment! If you have never been, then say so, this way the reader is aware and will act accordingly.

I would say Playa del Carmen is much much better than Cancun. More friendly place with nice hotels and lots of restaurants. You can go to spend day in isla Mujeres its nice island, Cozumel great place for renting a car and going around the island, one part of cozumel is touristic, but other side is amazing wild beaches and cute restaurants by the sea side. Dont forget to visit Tulum and swim with turtles in Akumal! For more travel ideas try http://goroo.mx . It might help! Have fun!

Thank you all for your replies I appreciate all the information!

I've just been thrown a monkey wrench; number one son wants to do water sports while his brother does nothing.

Does this influence which area to stay?

That should make no difference. Playa del Carmen has plenty of places to do water sports while your other son relaxes.

Excellent, thank you! Playa del Carmen it is. Now where shall I stay? Beachfront on a budget :) Any suggestions? I like the rooms at Petit Lafitte but have read that the beach is not very nice and the location is remote.

I'm reading another post that mentions Playa Maya is this a good hotel to consider? Thank you!

Rohelio, you said in another post that the beach at Playa Maya isn't that great...what property has a great beach? White powdery sand type beach.

Playa Maya would suit your purposes. You can eat your included breakfast with your toes in the sand!

Have you considered an all inclusive resort? There are plenty in the Playa area.
All inclusive resorts usually offer water activities right there. That way one son can just veg out on the beach while your other son enjoys the water sports. AI resorts offer activities throughout the day and your sons could eat non stop whenever they want.

I haven't been to Playa in 2 years, but I believe the beach in front of Playa Maya is fine. 90% if the beachfront in PDC is powdery white sand. Depending on storms and such, some spots become narrow or wide, and sometimes some rock is exposed, but all in all PDC beaches are great. The beaches at the northern end of town are generally wider. Playa Maya is just about in the center of downtown.

I hadn't considered an all inclusive but your description sounds perfect! Can you point me to any?

Thank you zootsi!

There are a LOT of all inclusive resorts in the area. Can you give us some idea of your budget? We'll be better able to point you in the right direction that way.

My budget? I'm working on numbers now but if pressed I'd say I'm after clean/safe/cheap. Another post suggested the Royal Play del Carmen, do you know it?

Sorry for the typo, I get excited and spaz out!

Royal Playa del Carmen is adults only and is not cheap. Their sister resort the Gran Porto Real is across the street and is less money.
Look into the resorts in the Playacar area. The Iberostar Tucan/Quetzal is a great resort. Not too big, lots of animals to see. Right next door is Sandos Playacar. Both are very family friendly and on the same great stretch of beach.

You really have to define what you mean by "cheap" - give us a an actual dollar amount, otherwise everyone is just guessing on what you can afford.

Thank you I will check out these resorts!

I like both the Iberostar and the Gran Porto Real do you have a preference between the two? Or any others in that price range I should check out?

Thanks so much for your input. I agree with two teenage boys eating constantly, AI is the way to go and both of these properties look promising.

The Iberostar is on a nicer stretch of beach and has a nice pool area also. It is about a half hour walk or $5 taxi ride into the town of Playa. The Gran Porto is right in Playa.
I personally would choose the Iberostar. I had also mentioned Sandos Playacar which is right next door to the Iberostar.