Fiesta Americana Cancun
Apr 23rd, 1997, 09:01 PM
#1
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Fiesta Americana Cancun
My husband and I are visiting Cancun this summer with our good friends. We have made reservations at the Fiesta Americana Cancun. All the travel books seem to rate it fairly, but we are looking for human experience. Any input/advice. Also, our first time in Cancun. Will we like as much as we love Maui? We'd appreciate your comments.
Apr 25th, 1997, 05:54 AM
#2
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I have not stayed at the Americana, but I have been to Cancun twice. The first time I stayed at the Westin and the second at the Continental Villas. In my Apple Vacation book the Americana is rated well. Cancun is so different from Maui. It is not at all lush and green but the areas around the hotels is landscaped beautifully. The workers take great pains to keep everything clean and gardens well tended. On one side of the hotel strip is the Gulf of Mexico and the other is a lagoon. Outside of many shopping plazas and hotels you will find a statue or some artifact from one of the many archaeological sites in the area. The people could not be more gracious or willing to please. I found the food of wonderful quality and a great dollar value. Cancun is on the new side so the water in all hotels and restaurants is pure and you may drink as much as you want. If you take any tours your guide will tell you if the water is unpure in an area. The hotels carry bottled water which I would take along when visiting any ruins. Cancun has only one road so you can't get lost. Their bus system is very dependable and the bus drivers will drop you off wherever you want. If you hire a taxi establish the price before you get in. Ask at the front desk of your hotel what they would consider a fair price from point (a) to point(b) and go from there. Have a great trip!
Apr 25th, 1997, 05:54 AM
#3
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I have not stayed at the Americana, but I have been to Cancun twice. The first time I stayed at the Westin and the second at the Continental Villas. In my Apple Vacation book the Americana is rated well. Cancun is so different from Maui. It is not at all lush and green but the areas around the hotels is landscaped beautifully. The workers take great pains to keep everything clean and gardens well tended. On one side of the hotel strip is the Gulf of Mexico and the other is a lagoon. Outside of many shopping plazas and hotels you will find a statue or some artifact from one of the many archaeological sites in the area. The people could not be more gracious or willing to please. I found the food of wonderful quality and a great dollar value. Cancun is on the new side so the water in all hotels and restaurants is pure and you may drink as much as you want. If you take any tours your guide will tell you if the water is unpure in an area. The hotels carry bottled water which I would take along when visiting any ruins. Cancun has only one road so you can't get lost. Their bus system is very dependable and the bus drivers will drop you off wherever you want. If you hire a taxi establish the price before you get in. Ask at the front desk of your hotel what they would consider a fair price from point (a) to point(b) and go from there. Have a great trip!
Apr 26th, 1997, 10:57 AM
#4
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Hi, I just got back from Cancun 4 days ago. We had a great time. We stayed at the Fiesta Americana Coral Beach, and it was beautiful. We found it to be a bit on the stuffy side, but enjoyed it none-the-less. I don't know about the Fiesta Americana Cancun, but I'd like to offer you some tips. Take pesos with you. You will get a much better rate of exchange here in the US than you will in Mexico. Getting pesos here will save you @8.00 per $100.00 exchanged. It is much easier to pay in pesos when you are charged for something. You won't have to worry about doing the peso to US dollar conversion. Also, many businesses there also use a lower than average rate of exchange, so you end up paying more! Also, I recommend using the bus for transportation. We found the taxis to be very overpriced. A five minute cab ride for two people cost $5.00 US. The same ride on the bus cost only 3 pesos per person, or about 40 cents each. There is only one road in Cancun, so the bus system is relatively easy. Just ask the bus driver if his bus is going where you want to go.
We found two really good restaurants while we were there. The first was Pat O'Brien's. The food was excellent. The crowd was a mix of families, couples, and college kids. The college kids stood out the most 'cause they were making the most noise! Pat O'Brien's has a fun laid-back atmosphere. The other place we were impressed with was a restaurant close to Pat O'Brien's called Zuppa. The food was fabulous and the prices were great. An appetizer, two dinners and two sodas were only $42.00, and that is including the tip. Considering the high quality level of the food and service, we found this to be an excellent price. The atmosphere was more towards the formal side, but I would still call it relaxed. I highly recommend Zuppa!
Lastly, you might consider a trip to one of the Mayan ruins. We went to both Tulum and Chitzen Itza. Even if you never gave the ruins much thought, one has to appreciate the effort that must have gone into making these cities. I would probably recommend Chitzen over Tulum because it's bigger, and there is more to see. You can also climb up the pyramid and other structures there, whereas in Tulum, most structures are roped off. We rented a car and drove to both ourselves, but there are tour buses that will take you. There is no admission fee to Chitzen on Sunday, we just happened to go there that day
. I hope you have a good time. Please feel free to respond if you have more specific questions, and don't forget the sunscreen. We saw quite a few tomatoes walking around!!!!!
We found two really good restaurants while we were there. The first was Pat O'Brien's. The food was excellent. The crowd was a mix of families, couples, and college kids. The college kids stood out the most 'cause they were making the most noise! Pat O'Brien's has a fun laid-back atmosphere. The other place we were impressed with was a restaurant close to Pat O'Brien's called Zuppa. The food was fabulous and the prices were great. An appetizer, two dinners and two sodas were only $42.00, and that is including the tip. Considering the high quality level of the food and service, we found this to be an excellent price. The atmosphere was more towards the formal side, but I would still call it relaxed. I highly recommend Zuppa!
Lastly, you might consider a trip to one of the Mayan ruins. We went to both Tulum and Chitzen Itza. Even if you never gave the ruins much thought, one has to appreciate the effort that must have gone into making these cities. I would probably recommend Chitzen over Tulum because it's bigger, and there is more to see. You can also climb up the pyramid and other structures there, whereas in Tulum, most structures are roped off. We rented a car and drove to both ourselves, but there are tour buses that will take you. There is no admission fee to Chitzen on Sunday, we just happened to go there that day
. I hope you have a good time. Please feel free to respond if you have more specific questions, and don't forget the sunscreen. We saw quite a few tomatoes walking around!!!!!
Apr 27th, 1997, 07:52 AM
#5
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I have stayed at both the Fiesta Americana Cancun and at F.A. Coral Beach. Coral Beach is absolutely beautiful, though I agree, a little stuffy. While I love them both, my personal preference is the F.A. Cancun...it's a little less expensive, very very nice, and in about the best location in Cancun. Most everything is within walking distance. Right across the street are some excellent places for breakfast, one of which is Splash!, they have everything from shrimp omelettes to fresh fruit plates, and only a few dollars. The food quality all over Cancun is excellent. Taxis are reasonable and plentiful, and the bus service is very dependable and cheap. Pat O'Briens does have very good food and cheap too, as does Senor Frogs. There are loads and loads of very good places to eat, none are terribly expensive, most are inexpensive. You have chosen a great place to stay, the Fiesta Americana is on a great beach, a very nice hotel, and in an excellent location. I have been to Cancun 6 times, 4 of them we stayed at F.A. Cancun, the other 2 at Coral Beach. We love it! Enjoy your trip!
May 28th, 1997, 07:55 PM
#6
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What tour company did you use, if you used a tour company? My husband and I are planning a trip to cancun and we have been looking at a couple of tour companies. Our best rate is through GoGo Tours -- we have never heard of them. What was your rate, if you don't mind me asking? We are looking at about $1450-1550. What type of room did you stay in. We have a choice of a Run-of-House or Deluxe room. I appreciate all your input. Thanks T Bradford
Jun 3rd, 1997, 06:30 PM
#7
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Attention T. Bradford...I am an employee if a major airline and GOGO Tours is a very extensive and reliable company...GO with it!! You will not have a problem with them, they are the biggest tour wholesalers in the Caribbean and Mexico...Also, with regard to a Run of the House room vs Deluxe...if you are adamant about ocean view rooms, then pay for Deluxe..Run of the House simply means you will get the best room available upon arrival at the hotel.
It's a great deal, unless you are travelling during a holiday week when everything will be packed like sardines. If it's an off season, non holiday week, save yourself money and book run of the house, chances are you wil wind up with oceanview anyways, just ask for it when you check in, they will accomodate if possible....Have fun!
It's a great deal, unless you are travelling during a holiday week when everything will be packed like sardines. If it's an off season, non holiday week, save yourself money and book run of the house, chances are you wil wind up with oceanview anyways, just ask for it when you check in, they will accomodate if possible....Have fun!
