We're a gay couple thinking of taking advantage of NWA's current hotel/air package sale, and are considering Los Cabos, Cancun, and Merida. We're looking for a quiet, beach/spa/resort time, but want to make sure the destination is friendly, or at least non-instrusive.

Any help/opinions appreciated, including hotel recommendations. Thanks very much.

It seems to me, that a lot of gay couples travel to/live in Puerto Vallarta. You may want to check that town out too.

Merida isn't really on the beach, but it is beautiful. It has a small gay community. Cancun is less attractive, but on the beach. There are a couple of gay bars (that are actually pretty nice) in downtown Cancun and I don't think you'd find the resorts to be hostile. Don't know much about Cabo.

As the other poster said, Puerto Vallarta is THE gay destination in Mexico, sort of like a Mexican Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Guadalajara and Mexico City are also very gay friendly.

If NWA's deals include Puerto Vallarta, by all means go. Even if NWA's deals don't include PV, you should still consider PV. It's a great, friendly place - as quiet or as happening as you want it to be. You could stay close to town at a big resort hotel like the Westin (VERY nice), or you could stay at a hotel in town, near or even right on the gay beach. Great restaurants, and nightlife, too, if the mood strikes.

I don't think anyone would describe Los Cabos or Cancun as quiet.

Have fun!

I know you didn't mention it but like the posters above, Puerto Vallarta is what I think of when I hear gay & Mexico & beach time in the same question. It's a fantastic town to visit. It's more lively then quiet so may not be quite what you have in mind but the gay part is completely a non-issue in PV.

Playa del Carmen about 45 south of Cancun is gay friendly and there's a lot to see and do in the region.

Gorgeous (much nicer than PV's) beaches if that is important to you.

Thanks so much for these suggestions! I should have mentioned that we wouldn't mind doing quiet sites either, like the pyramids. We initially shied away from PV since it sounded a bit too mainstream (i.e., like Ft. Lauderdale or Miami, in Mexico) but we may need to reconsider. Thanks again...keep 'em comin'.

My take on PV is that there's something for everyone. It can be high-end exclusive resorts and fancy restaurants, or funky local hotels and taco stands, or in between. It could be all-gay-all-day at the Blue Chairs beach or sedate, private, relaxing with a trip up north along the coast to small towns.

That said, the ocean and beaches are more pristine and stereotypically beautiful over on the Caribbean side. West coast beaches are mostly a bit more rough and the water not as crystal clear.

I really like Merida. It is less touristy and feels Mexican, but still sophisticated. I don't know if NWA flies into Merida or not, although you could get a bus from Cancun. You can also go from Merida to other places in the Yucutan. I don't see that a gay couple would feel uncomfortable.

The other similar option would be Oaxaca.

I saw Merida and the pyramids when I was 13 and have often thought of returning. This may be the trip! Has anyone actually taken the bus from Cancun? Is it very long? Thanks again for all these good suggestions. I'm going to start looking for lodging now in both Cancun and Merida.

Consider the Colonial cities - no beaches, but...
M

ascoli... you might want to make a new post asking bus time from cancun to merida? i'm sure someone here knows the answer but they might not think to open this post with the gay topic.

Oh, right. Thanks, Suze.

I think it's like a four hour bus ride from Cancun on very nice buses. They leave fairly often since Cancun/Merida is a pretty typical route.