suze

crosscheck, I absolutely agree with that. While I personally love Mexico, it's not a place I'd ever try to convince anyone else to go who was hesitant. Because it's more challenging to travel there (language, money, infrastructure, food/water, etc.) and often presents a bit more unexpected "adventures" than Hawaii.

BeniciaChris

I have been to both and love both--but for January I would choose a beach in Mexico-In fact a girlfriend & I are flying to PV for 2 weeks next Sat. My husband & I are going to Cancun in Nov/Dec for 2 weeks. PV is safe-I have single girlfriends who go there for a month at a time.
One just got back & said it was 85 for the month-enjoy

mrinternational00

Hawaii on $1000 each? Hahaha Hawaii is a ripoff. Flight plus hotel is usually $1000 each so if you are ok not eating and walking everywhere you go, plus not spend any money, then Hawaii is for you! There is far more to see in Mexico and less lame American tourists who are 'afraid' of people who speak Spanish. Mexico all the way. Usually you can find all inclusives for under $800 which leaves some play money too.

Stewbear

In fact food is very expensive in Hawaii. You can not eat pineapples for every meal! LOL
Seriously I can eat for a month what you will pay in Hawaii in a week.

suze

I don't find that to be true at all. I spend similar in Puerto Vallarta and in Waikiki for a 1-2 week vacation. It guess it might be different living there full-time, and of course like anywhere, it depends where you shop or choose to eat out.

KVR

Single travel is always going to be less expensive then couple or family travel.

For the people who go on vacation and actually eat in recommended restaurants, do activities/tours and go shopping, they will find a much better value for their money in Mexico than in Hawaii.

It also depends on what area of the US you are flying from. The further away from LAX you are, the more expensive airlines tickets will be. Minus sales, frequent flyers miles, etc.

Our trips to Hawaii and Alaska had to be the most expensive vacations we have taken to date, but we did and saw a lot in those days as we know we will probably never go back. Mexico is the best value overall which is why we tend to go at least once per year. Looking forward to our next trip back.

suze

<<Single travel is always going to be less expensive then couple or family travel.>>

How can that be true? Whether you are one person, two, or a family of 6, it depends where you choose to stay, eat, what you choose to do.

If I stayed solo at The Ritz and ate at 5-star restaurants, my vacations would cost more than a budget-minded couple or family.

KVR

Usually, the more people in your party the more you have to spend. The way you say that you travel is going to be the exception and not the norm. We've have had this debate numerous of times.

Stewbear

Suze I'will say PV is at there high end of places I have been to in Mexico but still lots of bargain places if you get out of tourists areas.
I eat out one meal a day in Zihuatanejo seldom paying over $10 US & usually far less.
Places like Papa Loca you are hard pressed to spend $5 US & I can get Sunday Roast Lamb at an excellent restaurant for under $8 US.
Pozole Alley meals are about $3.
Also it is not the cheapest in Mexico. Guanajuato has excellent cafes for 3 to 4 dollars. Acapulco is 30% cheaper than Zihua.

suze

<<Usually, the more people in your party the more you have to spend.>>

I don't agree. Why? Don't you figure budget on a "per person" cost basis? If anything it can cost less for a group or family because you have 2-4 people splitting the cost of a hotel room or apartment, while I have to pay the entire bill myself.

<<The way you say that you travel is going to be the exception and not the norm.>>

I'm not sure what you mean by "the way I SAY I travel". Lots of people are mid-range or budget travelers. It's not like I'm claiming Europe on $5/day or anything. I allow $75-100 per person per day (not counting air fare or lodging) in both Hawaii and Mexico, that's hardly unusual or a shoestring budget.

suze

Stewbear, I know there are bargains in Puerto Vallarta. I'm just saying there are also bargains in Waikiki.

KVR

Suze, as usual, we're going to have to agree to disagree. We travel so much differently. As I stated before that doesn't make our different ways right or wrong, just different. I still stand by my opinions whether you agree or not. I hope others reading this gets helpful info out of it.

suze

KVR, I'm not sure what we are disagreeing about, but OK.

TC

<i>"Single travel is always going to be <u>less</u> expensive then couple or family travel."</i>

KVR: I would also disagree with this statement. Many, many places have a "single supplement" for lone travelers. Meaning they pay the same overall price for a hotel room, cruise or tour as a couple would pay. That can make single travel twice as expensive.

suze

Thank you TC (although I have never paid a single supplement myself, I do have to pay for whatever lodging expense 100% on my own, or the entire expense of a rental car, etc. no expenses split or shared with companions).

Stewbear

As a none drinker it does not effect me but often groups will party more raising the over all cost.
Also when I am alone in say Zihuatanejo I can get by easily on 250 pesos a day. When my wife is along that goes to at least 700.

KVR

TC, I understand your point, but that was not what I was talking about.

Stewbear makes the better point.

Generally speaking as an overall price for the entire vacation, people pay more as a couple/family than as a single. Typically, they are spending more money on airfare, hotel room(s), food, drinks, activities, tours and shopping. Things as a single traveler might not do on their vacation.

Suze and I have had this conversation many times. When she travels she pays for one airline seat. We pay for 2. She usually picks a modest hotel. We typically go for an AI or medium price hotel. On occasion, we have splurged for a really nice hotel. She eats in local markets and cafes or brings food/drinks back to her room. We go out to nice/romantic restaurants and we go to bars even if we are doing AI or not. We take tours and do activities. She stated she does not. We shop, she says she doesn't as much. She can easily go to Hawaii or any other "expensive" destination and get by with the basics that it has to offer. Most couples/families don't vacation that way. They want to see, do, explore, eat, drink and get everything they can out of their vacation.

That was the point I was trying to make. With more people in the party, the vacation costs more. Most single travelers don't do, eat or drink as much as a couple or family.

When I respond to an OP's original question, I keep that in mind. Who is all going on this vacation and what to they want to get out of it. It is much less expensive to go to Mexico and do all of those things, than Hawaii. Especially if they stay at an AI and not have to shell out high prices for food and drinks. If we stay at an AI and choose to eat/drink off property I include that in our activities budget.

suze

The point you continually miss in this conversation KVR is to be accurate you need to do a *per person* cost analysis.

Of course 2 plane tickets cost twice as much as only buying 1 plane ticket. Of course a family of 4 eats more food than 1 person does.

To accurately and fairly compare vacation costs you need to do it on a per person basis.

What you or others choose to do or not do as far as tours and activities, I'm not sure how you can speak for all families everywhere. Plenty of people travel on a budget. My point is always to encourage people that they CAN go to Hawaii without robbing a bank first.


Where families or groups can save is sharing the cost of a hotel room, spliting the cost of a rental car, etc.

suze

Oh and the time I went to Waikiki with a dear friend, we didn't do any tours or activities either. He's low key, like me. We just went to the beach together every day, and ate lunch from the ABC Store. I admit we did have many many more mai tais than I would have had on my own, I'll give you that one.

KVR

Then it goes back to what I said before: "as usual, we're going to have to agree to disagree".