WillTravel

I noticed I can get fairly well-priced airfare from Vancouver to Cancun around the Christmas holidays/New Year.

However, I want to be sure that I can reasonably spend 10 days or so there if I eschew the pricey resorts. I'm accustomed to traveling around Mexico by bus, so that does not faze me.
However, I am just unfamiliar with this part of Mexico, so I want to be sure I can arrange a reasonable trip.

Let's say a budget of $100-150/day (I would hope for less, but I don't want to forego any great experiences). This is more than I would typically spend in Mexico for sure.

needsun

try Cancun Clipper Club...very reasonably priced- hotel with kitchenettes and 5 min walk to the beach.

zootsi

You can find many small hotels and b&b's in Playa Del Carmen, Puerto Morelos and Tulum for under $100 a night. Most of them may not be beachfront, but I've found them to be clean and comfortable. Look at the Hotel Banana in Playa - well under $100 a night, great location, two blocks to the beach, and a very nice hotel. There are also many mom & pop lodging options in downtown Tulum and Puerto Morelos at reasonable rates.
As for food, there are lots of inexpensive taco stands, especially in the neighborhoods where the locals eat. You can rent a car for under $300 a week with all insurances at places like Easyway or America. The local busses are very inexpensive if you want to go that route.

jette

You can do the Yucatan quite cheaply just get out of Cancun as fast as you can! ADO bus service is wonderful and very affordable. Ditto suggestions RE Playa or Puerto Morelos. Depending on what you want to see and do with your vacation options are abundant. Beaches? Mayan Ruins? Culture? I'd suggest defining what you want to do and then start researching around those interests. Tons of info here on Fodors and also these sites:

https://www.locogringo.com/

http://www.playa.info/

WillTravel

Thanks everyone. I looked at a map, talked to a friend who had done the Mayan circuit, and read your posts, and I feel confident I can have a great budget location with a flight to Cancun.

suze

Sure you can do it!! I'm not specifically familiar with that side of Mexico, but I know how to do it in Puerto Vallarta.

From the Cancun airport, I'd say look to go either take the ferry over to Isla Mujeres or bus/shuttle down to Playa del Carmen (do not stay in the Cancun resort/hotel zone).

To save money, just stay away from expensive tourist restaurants, don't do fancy tours or activities, if you like to drink set up a bar in your room (to supplement anyway -lol), shop at the grocery store, eat at the local places, check out the grocery store, check local sources for interesting free things to do.

Katzgar

there is a campground on the beach at Tulum. There is a lot of very inexpensive Mexican made liquor sold in liquor stores. eat at street vendors just make sure you saw the food cooked so it hasn't been sitting around.

WillTravel

Those are all things I've done elsewhere in Mexico in many places. I'm sure it will be fine.

hopefulist

We did a loop in 2010, staying about a week in Tulúm Pueblo, then a few nights each in Valladolíd and San Felipe (on the gulf coast), and ending with some time on Isla Mujeres. Other than a few tours (diving, fishing, and snorkeling with whale sharks), we stayed well under that budget.

My photos with blog and travelogue links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations are embedded there. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

WillTravel

Those look lovely, hopefulist!

hopefulist

Thanks - great memories!

kja

As others have said, the Yucatan is quite affordable once you leave Cancun.

I found The Moon Guide especially helpful.

Rohelio

The whole of Riviera Maya is up there when it comes to higher costs. The further inland you go, the more reasonable it becomes. The same can be said for the southern end, the further south you go after Tulum, the better prices become.

Brian0

Probably one of the best asset that you can still have when you gather along to the public places. I love Cancun with all its goods and bad things. I moved to south of Mexic after I decided to leave my lovely East London 2 years ago, and still can’t say it was a bad decision. If you have hard times and you really don’t know if this is a good thing try and use this http://foundreviews.com/living-in-spain-review. There are many reviews places where you can see the best off, but I simply found this before I moved in and simply was the factor to decide.

jamie99

If you can go in early December rather than at Christmas your costs will be much lower, Christmas is pricey and many places charge double or triple during that time. I just got back 10 days ago from Akumal where I stayed in a nice casita for $75 per night including tax, hotel I stayed in last year was that price also (Vista del Mar).

CascadeBob

Good advice has been given. A summary for a budget traveler:

- Escape the industrial tourism of Cancun as soon as possible.
- Ride the busses
- Avoid traveling during Christmas and Easter - Mexico goes to the beach then.

I'll add - most guidebooks like Lonely Planet, Fodor's, Moon Guides, etc provide listings for budget lodgings - BUT, there are always many more than listed in any guidebook. We typically book one night in advance if traveling during peak travel times. After the first night we always find something nice and affordable by asking around or walking around - always. When traveling off-season we don't even book in advance. Remember, guidebooks are good for just that - a guide - nothing more.

Also, we eat where the locals eat - avoid any foreign (American) chains or restaurants - too expensive and usually not that good. In fact, we like to eat in the mercados - they always have little food booths and typically have some of the best food around. If the menus aren't in English, that's the place for us.

Rohelio

Christmas holidays/New Year is peak season... it does not get any pricier than that and everyone knows. Still, you can get a great room several blocks from the beach and be right in the middle of the action. The areas around calle 2, 4, 6 and up and avenidas 10, 15, 20 are very popular for economical hotels and the cost is appr. 500 to 600 pesos per night. You can eat for little if you stick around avenidas 15 up to 30 and the mobile vendors are now located in the park on Benito Juarez. They are no longer allowed to sell on corner streets near the water front or 5th ave. Great pizza and chicken on 30 th. You can also frequent Papa Charlys near Ave. 30 and calle 28 for excellent Italian food and you are allowed to bring your own wine with no charge to open your bottle. On Sundays you can eat all you want at the beach bar called Wah Wah (calle 2nd and the beach)for 120 pesos, hot roast beef potatoes salads , deserts and more. Dont forget MOM's on 30th where they have specials everyday and BBQ and happy hour, they also rent rooms for cheap. Yes, you can live on 100 to 150 Canadian if you are vigilant...