geeare

Greetings to all!
My wife and I (both in our early 50's---no kids) are trying to decide between two destinations...Cancun or Cozumel for 5 nights or so. We visited Cozumel last May for a day while cruising, but have never visited Mexico otherwise. Looking for suggestions. Where would YOU go and what would YOU do?

Thanks alot for all help!

summer04

Before deciding, I would do a lot of research on both, as they are entirely different. I'm your age and used to go to Mexico a lot in the 70's & 80's. We saw Cozumel on a cruise a few years ago and I thought it was very quaint. My husband is a diver, so he would be happy there, but I like nicer resorts than it has to offer. Mexico has great resorts at reasonable prices. What we decided to do is go to Cancun for 5 nights to the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach hotel. After that, we are going to the Riu Palace in Playacar for 5 nights. In Cancun, we can eat out at the wonderful restaurants they have and in Playacar, it's all inclusive. You should definitely take time to research the Riviera Maya (south of Cancun) as there are many wonderful AI resorts. It took me a long time to sort them out and decide on one that was right for us. www.locogringo.com is a very informative site to help you with the Riviera Maya. Good luck!

ParrotMom

We stopped at Cozumel on a cruise many years ago and loved it so much we went back for a week.. My feeling is that Cancun is Miami South...and although things don't stay the same, I'd go back in a heartbeat.. Oh yes. we were about your age at the time. We found many great restaurants at the time.. You may look into Puerta Adventuras....away from the mob.. There is a new Sunscape there that has just been done over..

Ryberg

I would say hedge your bets geographically and stay in Playa del Carmen, which has surpassed Cozumel in popularity and now offers as many options as Cancun only in a more cosmopolitan and more relaxed and relaxing atmosphere.

Steve

zootsi

I agree with the above - Playa Del Carmen has a great beach, lots to do, and no concrete high rises. We did 3 days in Playa, and 4 days in Akumal and had a great time.

RobertSDF

I prefer Cozumel--I am in Valladolid now and will be there tomorrow. Playa del Carmen is a good choice---and Cancun is way at the bottom of my list of favorites!

xxxx

Is Miami Beach really as bad as Cancun (guess my feelings about Cancun are obvious!!)
I've never been to Miami Beach but it's "on my list." Maybe I can cross it out?
To me, Cancun was Las Vegas with beach.

MikeT

Miami Beach is much worse than Cancun

xxxx

Guess it's off the list!

SusanInToronto

Well, I don't like Cancun at all, but I did like Miami. I surprised my husband with a trip there for his 50th birthday (a few years ago) and we loved it. But as I said, I don't like Cancun at all!

cdt

Several years ago we thought about going to Cancun; wound up in Aruba.

Then we thought about Playa del Carmen; wound up in the Turks & Caicos.

Last week we finally made it to Mexico - stayed in Akumal. Took daytrips to Playa, Cozumel, Cancun. Glad we stayed in Akumal.

I would not choose Coz unless my top priority was diving or snorkeling.

RADennis

Hi,
Absolutely do your research. But it really depends on what you want to do and what type of vacation you prefer. Personally, I LOVE Cozumel, I took my kids there last year and had the best time. If you want an American style trip (food and partying), Cancun is the place... You want all of the luxury of American style with true Mexican flavor, Playa Del Carmen or The Riviera (LOTS of Europeans on this side. The resorts over here are the most lavish you'll find on Mexico's East coast... You want relaxation and nature, Cozumel. I like a little peace and quiet. The places to stay are more like hotels than resorts and they really do cater more to divers because Cozumel is one of the top dive sites in the world. The Island is also quite geared for the cruise ship crowd, but is very peaceful otherwise. Well, I've put in my 42 cents. Whatever you decide, have fun!!

Little_Man

just wanted to chime in with a different opinion...I've been to Cancun twice and loved it. Just gorgeous beaches and beautiful water. Staying at the JW Marriott may have helped my favorable opinion, too! I could go back time and time again...

tigerhawk

This is sort of like asking Orlando or Key Largo - summer04 is right. Ask yourselves what you want out of your trip and then you'll know. I have been to both frequently and it all depends. I go to Cancun when I want an easy, relatively inexpensive getaway. I stay at an all-inclusive, watch the ocean, have a few drinks and go home. For those so inclined, Cancun has the restaurants, the nightlife, the access to the mainland Mayan ruins, the parasailing, etc. Because the hotels are larger, you will find in many of the moderate priced ones, folks will get up at 6 AM to put towels on their beach chairs to hold them - by 9 all the "best" chairs are full - obviously not a problem if you look at the more upscale resorts. Don't go to Cancun in either March or April unless you want to be in a hotel/restaurant/bar packed with college spring breakers. It's madness.

Cozumel was built for divers - altho with more cruise ships there are now many non-divers but the hotel industry is based on divers. The beaches are smaller, there is less nightlife, and no megaresorts. It is somewhat more expensive, and somewhat more difficult to get to [fewer flights]. There are fewer side trips for those who like lots to do and don't dive. However it is less "party town" than Cancun, quieter, more tranquil even during spring break season - without the long white beach, megabars and megaclubs, students frankly have little interest in Cozumel, unless they end up there by accident.

jwr

okay, we, too, are planning a trip somewhere warm.....want to go in just a couple of weeks for a long weekend to celebrate our 25th anniversary. This thread has been quite informative so far, as we were considering Mexico, but do NOT want to deal with the spring break crowd, or be swarmed on the beach by peddlers.
The all-inclusive sounds like something we'd be interested in. Does anyone have one in particular to recommend?

holalola

Cozumel, Cozumel, Cozumel! It's my home away from home. Cancun is beautiful, but it's way too commercial for my tastes. Cozumel operates at a much slower pace. The Presidente Intercontinental is a wonderful resort with great service. The snorkeling from the hotel is spectacular. The new spa is a great addition to the property. There are several very good restaurants in town - especially if you are willing to break away from the tourist spots. Especia's, Cafe San Miguel, La Choza and Prima's are a few of my favorites. I've heard great things about the new chef at Acuario's - I'm planning to put him to the test in a couple of weeks. As far as spring break goes, Cozumel doesn't get nearly the crowds or the crazies that PDC and Cancun attract. And, hotels like the Presidente don't allow spring breakers, so you've got nothing to worry about there. Just my 2 cents... hope it helps!

Ryberg

"...hotels like the Presidente don't allow spring breakers..."

I hear this comment occasionally and always have to ask: how do they know who is a spring breaker? I mean given that people are virtually always booking their trips not in person but from afar, and given that many of those stays (especially at larger resorts) are booked through an agency, as well, there's really no way to know whether Mr. X or a reservation being made by an agent on behalf of Mr. X is going to turn out to be a reservation for a spring breaker or any other type of person.

About the only thing you could do would be to flag the system to alert you perhaps to an unusually high number of people in a room or suite, perhaps, assuming that spring breakers room that way, but that's a very weak filter and even then, other non-spring breakers also do the same thing sometimes (especially families, who often travel at the same time, as well).

I would not put too much stock in any comments to the effect that a given place doesn't allow a given type of traveller -- unless there is some easily verifiable condition in place via a flat rule, such as "no one under 16" -- because it's just not really possible to proceed under such a policy.

Steve

ReddVelvet

Riviera Maya hands down. Just returned from my first visit ever to Mexico. Did alot of research and ended up at the Iberostar Maya a 5* all inclusive paradise. It was to die for. We day tripped into Playa Del Carmen via the resort's free shuttle and I just fell in love with Playa. Next time I wouldn't mind staying in Playa. It's such a fun place day or night. Took a taxi into Cancun just to see what it was like. Vegas on a beach. Row after row of concrete. No charm at all. You didn't even feel like you were in Mexico. You actually felt like you were in the USA. I hated it and didn't even want to get out of the cab. My friends dragged me out but I made sure that the cabbie waited for us cause I knew I wouldn't be long. I couldn't wait to get out of ther and head back to Playa where you actually felt like you were on a tropical island. The Iberostar chain is the best of the best. They have 4 side by side and 2 in Playa and 1 in Cozumel and you can go to anyone of them and hang out or eat when you stay at their resorts. What a fab idea. They had so much for everyone to do or there were qiete private pools just to get some peace if you wanted. In the Maya all units are junior suites and are to die for.
Already planning to go back. Can't wait.

geeare

Thanks to everyone for the great responses!

Gary