You can book tours when you get there.
Adults only usually mean no children under a certain age are allowed. Desire and Temptation are two adult resorts that may involve "more". The others are just wonderful places where you don't have to listen to children playing Marco Polo!

sunbum1944 re San Carlos -- San Carlos is great! So great that I moved here four years ago. You can fly into Guaymas (15 minutes away) or for more options fly into Hermosillo, the capital of Sonora (1 hour). There's a Tufesa bus from the airport to Guaymas. It's also an easy five hour drive south of Tucson.

www.whatsupsancarlos.com

SFG, Just avoid the resorts "Desire" and "Hidden Beach" and you will be OK (unless of course that is what you are looking for!). Also I would book transport to hotel before hand, most tour operators offer this as part of package but if you want private transport check out:

http://www.cancunvalet.com/

There are others but we have used this one and have been very happy with them.

hi SFG~ My experience in Mexico is all on the west coast... Puerto Vallarta, La Paz, Cabo San Lucas. And it sounds like you're going to the Mayan Riviera side, so I'll let others who know that area answer.

But for myself, I don't ever book thru tour companies or packaged deals, I arrange everything myself separately. Flight direct with the airline, hotels direct with the hotel, transportation with that company (or in PV you just grab a taxi at the airport is the easiest cheapest way).

Some things are good to book online in advance - like the airport shuttle in Cabo, or "activities" in PV, because I you save some money that way.

But I wouldn't do it just because it's part of a package they are trying to sell you. If would either find specific things and book them myself in advance with a decent reputable tour company. Or I would wait until I arrived and work with my hotel's front desk to make arrangements.

I like the *waiting until you are there* approach, because I don't know about you and Mrs Sunflower, but I like a LOT of time for relaxing, and wouldn't want to feel over scheduled or that there are things I HAVE to do every single day when I'm at a gorgeous Mexican beach just enjoying myself.

If you will have a rental car, you can drive yourself to stuff like the Mayan ruins, Xel-Ha, etc and save yourself money on the tours. Or if possible book private tours through companies like entertainment-plus.net and avoid all the stops for shopping at places that pay a kickback to the tour companies. I have only ever taken a tour or two in PV (last year took a great trip to San Blas there), never in RM.

I would not recommend getting a rental car in Mexico. I've been going since the 1970's, and used to drive. I wouldn't dream of driving there now.

As others have said, I wouldn't go to the Cancun area in September. Either save your pennies and wait until later in the year, or pick another locale.

I'm all about mitigating risk when there are all sorts of other options. But, either way, enjoy. annie

Not to confuse the issue, but another alternative would be Oaxaca and Huatulco. You can fly direct to Oaxaca via Continental, take in the ruins of Monte Alban and Mitla, (tho they're not Mayan), visit a coouple of small villages for pottery, weavings, and the like, then a 40 minute flight to Huatulco. You can do AI right on one of the bays, or stay in town at a small hotel. Huatulco has an international airport or you can connect in DF for your return. Oaxaca city is about 5000 ft. or so ASL so it will be cooler. There really is no place like it in all of Mexico. It's very tourist friendly, without being resort-ish. The food is simply fantastic: 7 different moles, coffee, chocolate, & of course chapulines. I don't know about umbrella drinks, but the local 'coctel Donaji' is truly unique: kind of a tequila sunrise with Mezcal and worm salt on the rim. Or buy your own crema de Mezcal. Marimba music in the zocalo. The museums and colonial architecture are first-rate, and the ruins are 10 minutes from town. And you can be at the beach in less than an hour via Aerotoucan if it doesn't bother you to fly in an 8 passenger Cessna over the mountains.

The above posting by MFNYC concernign Playa del Carmen is spot on. It is a much mroe subdued vibe and much of the town is "real" Mexican. I have rented a car in Mexico from Hertz - a bit more pricey but worth the piece of mind that the locals will not pull any tricks on you and will help ou if you are ever in trouble. Coba and Tulum are close adn Chichen Itza is about 2 hours away. Also, a nice day trip from PDC is the ferry to Cozimel - which will be less lively as this will be the off season. You may wish to consider The Royal Haciendas, just norht of town - http://www.royalresorts.com/the-royal-haciendas.asp
a timeshare development that rents rooms and villas like a hotel - very well run. Sales pitches are very softly offered.
They will even help you find umbrellas for your drinks - NOT AI, however. UPscale clientelle - very relaxing.

Cabo san lucas is really wonderful place in mexico...there is one wonderful hotel at cabo is casadorada....It has really some good beach,resorts and also some nice accommodation facilities also....

The way you described what you liked about N.O. forget the beach and go to Oaxaca. Great time of year and low season for tourists. Abundant cultural things to do for as long as you want and cheap drinks. I would suggest Las Golondrinas for a nice hotel that will easily be in your price range. If you gotta have the beach go to PE or Huatulco (research them as they are very different) for a couple of days while you are in Oaxaca State.

You sure have lots of suggestions. I have a question. Are you located more on the East or West coast of the US? I think that would make a huge difference in where you choose to go. If you're located East of the Mississippi, I would consider the Yucatan. Its going to be easier and therefore cheaper to get to. If you're located in California, then consider the west coast of Mexico or even Hawaii.

I'm a Cozumel gal. I spend a month there every year. While the cruise ships do stop there (pouring money into the culture) there are so many places you can settle in and never encounter a cruiser. Take a condo or a boutique hotel on the north end of town on the best snorkeling reef, with the most amazing blue water views you can imagine. Don't do an all-inclusive unless you are a big drinker. The food is terrible. There are a ton of wonderful little romantic restaurants in town. The shopping is good, there are a few little ruins on the island or you can take a one day flying trip to Chichen Itza to see the big ruins -- leaving before breakfast, you'll miss all the bus tourists and be back in time for happy hour. The town square offers a wonderful glimpse of local life on Sunday nights when all the town's people come out with their children to dance, eat and enjoy each other's company. You can take in a local ballgame, take a cooking class, shop in the local food markets, enjoy a spa. Its all there. However, I agree -- September weather can be iffey.

I think Cozumel or one of the AI resorts (if you want to go that route) outside Playa del Carmen are great suggestions for a relaxing beach vacation.

I think Oaxaca is not really what someone's looking for who has never been to Mexico, doesn't speak Spanish, and is specifically looking for a relaxing on the beach w/ tropical drinks vacation. The two don't really match up.

I'm going to chime in about the weather in September again.
We're currently in the Yucatan and this is the rainiest July we've seen. it's not constant but other years have been very sunny and this is much more of a mix of clouds and sun and certainly more rain.
I know the predictions are for a very active hurricane season. If there were one year I would take a miss on this area in September, this would be it!

Thanks for all of the advice. While I know that we will be rolling the dice on the weather this really is the only time we both could get away. When you all fist suggested we look at going a different time we thought about trying to move it back but October starts the holiday rush for our family and we would not be free again until next year. Alas we must roll the dice on this one and pray for good weather.

I think I have settled on where we will be staying. I think we will go to Playa Del Carmen, it seems to be close to everything we are looking to do and will stay at the Mahekal Beach resort.

http://www.mahekalplaya.com/

It seems to be a quiet place and I love the bungalows, so unless any of you have any better suggestions on a hotel I think I may be ready to book this sucker.

Your choice sounds like a good one. Just an FYI on some notes from TripAdvisor regarding Mahekal. Best to be forwarned.

<i>"There are no tv's, phones, internet or radios in the rooms" (probably not a big deal based on your wish list)

"the beach has a sulfur (eggy) smell" (this happens in a lot of Mexico and usually isn't constant)

"no snorkeling from the beach - nothing to see" (but lots of other great places for an afternoon trip nearby)</i>

Other than that it sounds lovely. Enjoy!

I think it looks very nice and like what you describe wanting. I hope it works out well for you and Mrs Sun.

Place sounds nice, there is a recent post over on Trip Advisor Mexico forums from someone who just got back from a stay there and loved it very much, check it out. Myself, I prefer farther south and usually stay at Akumal although have also been to Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres. Have a good time.

I'm really excited for you Sunflowerguy!! I hope you both love Mexico as much as I do. I think this is going to be GREAT! Do keep this thread for future reference because there are a lot of good ideas here, if you do both enjoy it and want to return in the future.

Mexico is not what you want SFG. Go to Tortola, Virgin Gorda or St John.

<i>Mexico is not what you want SFG</i>

What a terribly unhelpful response, LLindaC. At this late date, it appears to have been posted just to make the poor man feel bad about his choice and offers absolutely nothing of value. Surely you can do better.