Mexico and Cuba
 

I'm looking at travelling to Mexico and Cuba with my 18 year old son at the end of a bigger family holiday on the US West Coast (we are from Sydney). We were really wanting to see Cuba but given we have to travel via Mexico, thought it would be worth checking out.

We really only have 10 or 11 nights starting from and returning to LA. I was thinking of 2-3 nights in Cancun, 5 nights in Havana and 2-3 nights in Mexico City. Any thoughts/suggestions?

We are looking for a more buget/non-resort experience although I'm sure my son would enjoy some partying. Are there quieter, less tourity places to stay near Cancun? Are we spreading ourselves too thin in each place? Would we be better to just go to Cancun or Mexico City rather than both?

Peter

Are there quieter, less tourity places to stay near Cancun?

Isla Mujeres (an island off Cancun) or Akumal and Tulum (south along the coast past Playa del Carmen).

Tulum is a couple hours south of Cancun. Beaches are gorgeous, but, it's quite a distance for just a couple of days. I'd look into Puerto Morelos, only about 20 minutes from Cancun airport.

Nice little town, enough bars/restaurants/snorkeling to entertain you.

With such a short time, I'd answer yes to choosing just one place in Mexico. Cancun (or anywhere along the beach) and Mexico City couldn't really be more different.

Another possible combination for city and beach would be Puerto Vallarta & Guadalajara (5 hrs bus ride between them).

Mexico City is one of the great cities of the world. Two nites would not be enough, although three (two full days) might be adequate for a first visit.

You might also try Merida in combination with Havana. Merida is a colonial city near the coast with good air transportation and close to Uxmal, one of the better Mayan sites.

I'd spend more time in Mexico City.

If you're flying to Cancun, I would recommend staying in Playa Del Carmen. I liked Cancun, but I didn't feel like I was in Mexico; I felt like I was in Vegas, only with a (very nice) beach instead of casinos. In Playa, I felt like I was in Mexico. The beach is just as nice as Cancun's, there's plenty of night life, and you can easily visit Cozumel for snorkeling/diving and Tulum for the ruins and incredible beach. Both are about 45 minutes to an hour from Playa -- Cozumel by ferry and Tulum by bus.

Oh, and I would highly recommend Puerto Vallarta, too. One other thing: If you're going to Mexico in July or August, the heat and humidity could be brutal.

"the heat and humidity could be brutal"

Another benefit of Mexico City, where the elevation keeps things a little cooler.

Thanks for all you suggestions. The main reason I was looking at Mexico City and/or Cancun was that they have good connections to Havana. I'm realising it would be better not to spread ourselves too thin so I think I'll just do Yucatan and Havana (and save Mexico City for next time).

So I'm thinking 5 nights in Yucatan and 5 nights in Havana - maybe Cancun/Playa Del Carmen, Merida and Tulum.

<Cancun/Playa Del Carmen, Merida and Tulum.>

that's still a lot of ground to cover for only 5 nights.

"Cancun/Playa Del Carmen . . . and Tulum."

Pick one.

"Merida"

Would be my choice. Vibrant city, proximity to Uxmal.