Tips for Travel to Cancun On A Budget

by cancuncosmeticdentistry

How to travel & Save Money!

Cancun is a premier tourist destination with fine dining and four-star, all inclusive resorts to cater to you every desire. Some of us cannot afford that kind of vacation, and others are searching for an experience that will acquaint them with real like in the Mayan Riviera. A recent article in The Yucatan Times details a few tips to make your next trip to Cancun safe, cheap and an authentic experience of Mexico’s Caribbean coast.

Transport from the Airport

Travelers staying at a resort will likely be picked up from the airport and taken to your hotel in Cancun. For everyone else, the cheapest way to get to downtown Cancun is the ADO bus. The bus leaves every half hour until 11:30pm at costs $5 (62 pesos). There are also direct buses to Playa del Carmen that leave the airport every half hour and cost $12 (140 pesos).

Hotel Accommodations

Budget hotels can be found in downtown Cancun or a few blocks from the beach in Playa del Carmen. Staying in downtown Cancun means better prices on everything including prices per night and restaurants. Many places only have rates posted behind the desk and not everyone speaks English. Take the time to shop around for the best prices and to take a look at the rooms to make sure everything is in order. If you are staying beyond five nights, you may be able to negotiate a discount. During the down season, you should be able to book a room for between $20 and $40 per night.

Find Authentic Mexican Food

Cancun is an international tourist hub and tries to appeal to foreign tastes in the more touristy areas. To find real Mexican food, look for restaurants in the downtown area that cater to locals or Mexican tourists. You can usually identify these places by the chalkboard menus out in front of the place. If it is crowded, it is probably worth your time.

Travel to Cultural and Archeological Attractions By Yourself

If you stay at a resort, a pricey tour package will be assembled for you. But you can plan your own tour with only a bus schedule. ADO buses leaving from downtown Cancun move all over Mexico including Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Merida, Chetumal, and Palenque. Write down the destination and time you wish to depart just in case the bus attendant does not speak English and you should have no problem getting around.

For more tips, check out The Yucatan Times

Tip 4: Communicating with the locals

Many people speak English in this part of Mexico, especially those who work in tourism. But once you get off the beaten path, you’ll need a little Spanish.

Whether the person speaks English or not, it’s polite to start the conversation in Spanish. Start with one of these at the right time of day:

Buenos días (good morning)

Buenas tardes (good afternoon; used until after sundown)

Buenas noches (good night; a greeting, not a goodbye)

Then say ¿Habla usted inglés? (Do you speak English?) and No hablo español (I don’t speak Spanish).

That’s easy enough, right? Just 5 phrases.

After than, learn more Spanish. Mexicans are friendly and patient, which is good for the foreigner struggling with Spanish.

Tip 5: Visit archeological zones on your own

The two most common forms of public transportation in the Mayan Riviera are buses and colectivos, big white passenger vans.

From the ADO bus station downtown, buses go all over Mexico, including Valladolid, Chichen Itza, Merida, Chetumal, Palenque, and beyond.

Valladolid, Yucatán Market

Use the website (www.ado.com.mx) to get an idea of prices and routes, and then buy your tickets at the bus station. Most workers at bus stations speak English, but just in case, write down the destination and the time you want.

For example, here is the schedule from the airport to downtown Cancun:

ADO Cancún Airport

If you are on a budget (and speak Spanish or have a helper), ask at the station for a second-class bus. They can be much cheaper than ADO and go to the same destinations. Be sure to ask how long the trip will take, and compare it to ADO, because the second-class bus could take much longer.

For points south, like Playa del Carmen and Tulum, take a colectivo. The ones for Playa del Carmen leave from just outside the ADO station. They are cheaper and faster and leave more frequently than the bus.

You can take a guided tour to Tulum and Chichen Itza, and though they will explain everything in English, they may rush you through it. If you go on your own, you can get there early and have lots of time to explore.

For example, inside the archeological zone at Tulum is one of the most beautiful and iconic beaches in Mexico. If you go on your own, you can stay and swim as long as you want.

Tulum

If you have the time, I recommend staying in Valladolid before going to Chichen Itza. Valladolid is a beautiful colonial town full of local culture. By staying in Valladolid, you can have several hours at Chichen Itza in the morning before all the tour groups from Cancun arrive.

Colectivos go to Chichen Itza from several parking lots a block or two from the ADO station near the central park in Valladolid.

Chichen Itza Ball Court

Tip 6: Safety concerns

The good news is that the Mayan Riviera is one of the safest regions in Mexico. However, it’s a good idea to ask at your hotel what the neighborhood is like, especially if it’s safe to walk at night, and if there are any places to avoid.

Besides that, regular common sense for travel applies: Don’t wear expensive jewelry, don’t pull out large wads of cash in public, keep your wallet in your front pocket, don’t let your purse or camera bag out of your sight, and don’t look at a map in public – take it indoors.