I’m trying to plan a long-weekend-getaway this Spring for my bf and me and I’ve heard Mexico can be an inexpensive, fun option. I’ve never been, though, and have no idea where to go or what have you.

Any suggestions?

My main concerns are value - keeping the price down (we’re saving for a longer South American trip later in the year) while still being a clean and decent place to stay, on a beach, having access to vegetarian food, and having a bit more to do than hang out on the beach (hiking, sight-seeing, etc.).

Tell me where to go and what to do!

Mexico is great, but some things to consider

There's lots of poverty, so you will constantly have people trying to sell you stuff--from bracelets to timeshares. I get why it happens, and sympathize, but it gets old after a while when you just want to hang out.

The cities themselves can be a little dirty, polluted, hot. Not to criticize it, but it can be shocking in contrast to the resort.

On the other hand, if you just want a spoiled American tourist tropical vacation, and want to hang by the pool at you resort, my GF and I got an all inclusive (including alcohol) trip including airfair for 10 days at about $1500!! The food was actually really great, too. Best trip ever.

NDRU said:

Mexico is great, but some things to consider

There's lots of poverty, so you will constantly have people trying to sell you stuff--from bracelets to timeshares. I get why it happens, and sympathize, but it gets old after a while when you just want to hang out.

The cities themselves can be a little dirty, polluted, hot. Not to criticize it, but it can be shocking in contrast to the resort.

On the other hand, if you just want a spoiled American tourist tropical vacation, and want to hang by the pool at you resort, my GF and I got an all inclusive (including alcohol) trip including airfair for 10 days at about $1500!! The food was actually really great, too. Best trip ever.

been there a few times. love it! check out the mayan an d aztec ruins. they're all over the place and make just about any destination worthwhile.

be careful of drinking the water, make sure your insurance and shots are up to date. don't travel alone after dark...

Which part of Mexico are you going to? Cause Ive to Tijuana once and it was quite an interesting experiance. But, all I have to say is watch out for the Drug Wars. Their beheading tourists and kidnapping alot of people down there.

Yeah, I’m aware of the poverty. And I’m aware of the drinking water and all of the good travel common sense.

I guess I’m looking for where specifically did you go? What part, what beach, what resort? What did you do that you’d LOVE to do again or are SO happy you got a chance to do/see? What didn’t you like? Etc.

Mayan and Aztec ruins sound like fun.

Shots?

I have been to Puerta Vallerta & San Jose Del Cabo (about 15 miles from Cabo San Lucas)

I much preferred San Jose, as it was slightly less crowded with obnoxious tourists.

I'd really like to try the other coast, though, Cancun or something

Well idk about Mexico but I heard that if you are going outside the country, then you are required to get certain shots so you wont contract certain foreign diseases and you wont bring them home.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

Which part of Mexico are you going to? Cause Ive to Tijuana once and it was quite an interesting experiance. But, all I have to say is watch out for the Drug Wars. Their beheading tourists and kidnapping alot of people down there.

Not Tijuana.

I'm thinking one of the resort places. Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, etc. And that's exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for - where is the best place to go?

XxAxX said:

NDRU said:

Mexico is great, but some things to consider

There's lots of poverty, so you will constantly have people trying to sell you stuff--from bracelets to timeshares. I get why it happens, and sympathize, but it gets old after a while when you just want to hang out.

The cities themselves can be a little dirty, polluted, hot. Not to criticize it, but it can be shocking in contrast to the resort.

On the other hand, if you just want a spoiled American tourist tropical vacation, and want to hang by the pool at you resort, my GF and I got an all inclusive (including alcohol) trip including airfair for 10 days at about $1500!! The food was actually really great, too. Best trip ever.

been there a few times. love it! check out the mayan an d aztec ruins. they're all over the place and make just about any destination worthwhile.

be careful of drinking the water, make sure your insurance and shots are up to date. don't travel alone after dark...

the resorts have purified water, and bottles are available everywhere, but yes I was slightly concernd at times about safety & Montezuma (eating in restaurants, wondering how they washed the lettuce)

that is the difference between Mexico & Hawaii

CarrieMpls said:

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

Which part of Mexico are you going to? Cause Ive to Tijuana once and it was quite an interesting experiance. But, all I have to say is watch out for the Drug Wars. Their beheading tourists and kidnapping alot of people down there.

Not Tijuana.

I'm thinking one of the resort places. Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, etc. And that's exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for - where is the best place to go?

puerto vallarta. safe as houses and lots to see

I heard that the more Southern parts of Mexico is really nice. Never been though and I dont know any places down there. And its mostly the Northern part of Mexico which has the Drug problem so I wouldnt advise you go there.

CarrieMpls said:

Yeah, I’m aware of the poverty. And I’m aware of the drinking water and all of the good travel common sense.

I guess I’m looking for where specifically did you go? What part, what beach, what resort? What did you do that you’d LOVE to do again or are SO happy you got a chance to do/see? What didn’t you like? Etc.

Mayan and Aztec ruins sound like fun.

Shots?

you don't need shots

I wanted to see the ruins, but you might need more than a weekend to do that. I don't think they are right next to the places you might stay. But I could be wrong about that.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

I heard that the more Southern parts of Mexico is really nice. Never been though and I dont know any places down there. And its mostly the Northern part of Mexico which has the Drug problem so I wouldnt advise you go there.

yeah TJ is nasty, but all the other really touristy places are pretty safe--Acapulco, Cancun, Puerto Vallerta, Cabo

This was where I stayed in Cabo

http://www.ichotelsgroup...._-ic_sjdha

There are certainly better hotels in the world, but we got a huge bang for the buck there.

Good stuff, guys.

Thanks!!

Will look into Puerto Vallarta and San Jose del Cabo.

NDRU said:

This was where I stayed in Cabo

http://www.ichotelsgroup...._-ic_sjdha

There are certainly better hotels in the world, but we got a huge bang for the buck there.

ooh!

that's one view of/from the ritz carlton cancun. a good travel agent can get you an amazing package. there are buses that run to the clubs and shopping, and it's only something like 25 cents.

you can also book excursions to (i'll spell it phonetically) shell-ha, and chitzanitza, and also tulum which are mayan ruins (pronounced roo in ala stewie).

the hotel has great food, but they can recommend good local restaurants, and there are great shopping bazaars where you can bargain, as well as local artisans.

Puerto Vallerta struck me as a little more tropical, and Cabo was a little cooler when I went in November (80's as opposed to 90's in P.V. in October)

NDRU said:

Puerto Vallerta struck me as a little more tropical, and Cabo was a little cooler when I went in November (80's as opposed to 90's in P.V. in October) in fact, here's a picture of me in Cabo geting ready to go out to a club bailando (that's spanish for dancing)!

BlackAdder7 said:

NDRU said:

Puerto Vallerta struck me as a little more tropical, and Cabo was a little cooler when I went in November (80's as opposed to 90's in P.V. in October) in fact, here's a picture of me in Cabo geting ready to go out to a club bailando (that's spanish for dancing)!

stupid! my shirt was unbuttoned all the way!

BlackAdder7 said:

that's one view of/from the ritz carlton cancun. a good travel agent can get you an amazing package. there are buses that run to the clubs and shopping, and it's only something like 25 cents.

you can also book excursions to (i'll spell it phonetically) shell-ha, and chitzanitza, and also tulum which are mayan ruins (pronounced roo in ala stewie).

the hotel has great food, but they can recommend good local restaurants, and there are great shopping bazaars where you can bargain, as well as local artisans.

i've been to the ruins around cancun. chichenitza is rocking

NDRU said:

BlackAdder7 said:

stupid! my shirt was unbuttoned all the way! and, I wore red!

did anyone tell you....that you look like..nah!...is that...a cell phone in your pocket?

Don't Go. Mexico is too unstable. I've never been and won't go until those cartels are checked.

I've been.

Like Supa, Stern is also worried about going there (and he enjoyed it in the past). Been talking about it on the show, lately.

Ace said:

I've been.

Like Supa, Stern is also worried about going there (and he enjoyed it in the past). Been talking about it on the show, lately.

oh, no! Stern is concerned about it?! Are you concerned about it?

Sorry I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but part of why I said that was that I feel you have to dismiss much of what Howard says. He's a lot like Woody Allen (ironically, since he makes fun of him constantly) and I would not want to live based on their paranoia & insecurities

i would not go to ANY border areas. I grew up in El Paso and we went to Juarez all the time. But I would not go today.

If you go fly in to one of the many large resort areas. But NOT the border areas.

it is not just the water... it is the ICE and the things made with water. I would not drink anything out of a glass, get everything in bottles. or cans. We used to get the sodas. they are fun and come in all colors but IIRC the color was not always indicative of the flavor. I swear I got a purple banana once! AND yes I made a Prince joke!

The Cartels are inland. The resorts and their immediate surrounding communities (on the coast) are safe as travelling to many other places around the world as an American. Just don't go taking any random drives to the interior. Also, you can always visit Baja California, which (for good or bad) is being developed very nicely.

CarrieMpls said:

I’m trying to plan a long-weekend-getaway this Spring for my bf and me and I’ve heard Mexico can be an inexpensive, fun option. I’ve never been, though, and have no idea where to go or what have you.

Any suggestions?

My main concerns are value - keeping the price down (we’re saving for a longer South American trip later in the year) while still being a clean and decent place to stay, on a beach, having access to vegetarian food, and having a bit more to do than hang out on the beach (hiking, sight-seeing, etc.).

Tell me where to go and what to do!

I've been to the Mayan Riviera several times and love it. Yes, you have to be careful, but you have to be careful anywhere you go. Don't buy silver, it's all junk no matter how shiny and new it looks when you buy it. The Playa Del Carmen or Tulum areas are gorgeous with many beautiful resorts. The Mexican people are awesome too.