Cancun or Playa del Carmen?

[klfrech]

We will be venturing to Mexico this summer (myself, DH, DD16), but am not sure what area is best to stay in. Anyone have any advice? We will be renting a car also.

 

[disney junky]

Playa Del Carmen is much more beautiful and laid back. Cancun is much partier.

 

[klfrech]

Since we will be there for 8 nights, is it worth splitting our stay?

 

[Wishing on a star]

I think it depends on what you are looking for during your vacation.

Personally, I have no interest in the actual 'strip' of Cancun. All the resort-bar hopping and shopping are not what we are looking for.

I have been researching our 'one of these days' trip to Mexico, as it is next on our travel list, and I have definitely decided on the Playa/Riviera Maya area. The mayan ruins and other natural attractions are all located south of Cancun as well.

For some people, the glitz and crowds and non-stop activity of the Cancun strip are just what they find exciting!!! But, for us, not so much.

I just love tripadvisor for info, traveler reviews, and even tons of traveler photos... (the button for traveler photos will show up once you click to read some full traveler reviews)

You can narrow your search from this entire area down to very specific locations, such as the Cancun strip, Playa Del Carmen, Maroma beach, Puerta Aventurous, etc...

Happy planning!

 

[JessicaR]

I have been researching our 'one of these days' trip to Mexico, as it is next on our travel list, and I have definitely decided on the Playa/Riviera Maya area.

I just love tripadvisor for info, traveler reviews, and even tons of traveler photos... (the button for traveler photos will show up once you click to read some full traveler reviews)

Happy planning!

Me too!

 

[sunlover13]

I agree with the Riviera Maya / Playa area over Cancun.

Cancun is so commercialized.

We went to Riviera Maya for our Honeymoon and went to Cancun one night to shop. I was sooo glad we were not staying there. It was almost like shopping in the city with malls, chain restaurants, etc.

Also, I second trip advisor for reviews to find where you want to stay!

I've also found a travel agent (vonwoo) who says they will beat anybody's price. I've never used them (yet), but they do get good reviews on trip advisor.

We are researching a trip right now and looking at one of the Iberostar resorts.

Good luck!

 

[klfrech]

Huge Tripadvisor fan here also! I use it for everything.

Tell me about the Playa del Carmen area. Traveling will be myself, DH and 16 year old DD. I want some nightlife (restaurants, shopping) and don't want to feel like I am in the middle of nowhere. I've done lots of research as well, and the more I look, the more confused I become! Keep those suggestions coming!

 

[terri01p]

Playa del Carmen

 

[scottybnyc]

My fiancee and I went to Cancun in June 08. We stayed in the Hotel Zone. Nothing but hotels for miles, and then the downtown area. If you decide Cancun, you need to do a lot of research about the hotel you stay at.

We booked an all-inclusive package through our travel agent for a little less than $2000, for a week. The resort we had was decent. We had a honeymoon suite, and a jacuzzi on the balcony. We also got terribly sick and the food was below average.

If Playa Del Carmen seems to be the better deal, then take it. Otherwise, if you stay in Cancun, make sure that you plan a lot of activities.

 

[LoveKermit]

Just my $.02, we loved Cozumel. Not to change your plans--but try it for a day trip. You'll have to rent a car to really see the island. But there's a great Nat'l Park there to swim with Dolphins (though not cheap).

We stayed in an apartment and did our own breakfasts and lunch (usually). Then, we did a day trip to the mainland, rented a different car in Playa Del Carmen, and drove to Coba and Tulum.

Did a one-day in Cancun on a cruise. I'd stay there too if I wanted to sit more. We were always in the water when we were in Cozumel.

Take me with?

 

[Mamiamjo]

We love Cancun. Yes there a lot of hotels, shops, restaurants and bars, but there is also miles and miles of beaches. For us it's the best of both worlds, you can hang out at the beach and / or pool during the day and have a huge number of restaurants to choose from at night (and if you want, there are also a lot of bars). You can also visit some of the malls or other entertainment options.
You can always do a number of excursions as well.

 

[klfrech]

Please tell me what areas of Cancun may be better than others.

I don't want miles and miles of hotels, but at the same time, I don't want to be in the middle of nowhere. I'd love to have a Stabucks nearby! We will have a car and love taking lots of excursions.

 

[disney junky]

Can't speak much to Cancun. We stayed where we stayed, right next to LaBoom, one of the big night spots. It's very spring breaky. We were there for three nights. Then we stayed four nights in Playa Del Carmen. We were about three blocks off the beach in a delightful little hotel with an interior courtyard. We walked to the beach and past many lovely higher end hotels. The feel was much more upscale than Cancun. We had a really nice meal, outdoors, which is common. There is a road, Fifth Avenue, which runs parallel to the beach which is blocked off from traffic. This is where you'll find your street vendors and restaurants, many of them on the second floor looking down on the street below. I think this is about 12 blocks long and is a lot of fun. Because it's where most of the cruise passengers disembark for the day, you won't get the deals on local items that you will if you head inland. We found an underground spring where we did some swimming and the locals there were where the real bargains were. You could get a good hand made blanket there for $5 where as in the more touristy areas, you would pay twice that even after bargaining. We did visit Cozumel for the day, but I don't know about staying there. Didn't see much but Mayan ruins but that's what we were looking for. The all inclusive I think might be nice, but you won't get the local flavor.

 

[klfrech]

Anybody familiar with the Westin Laguanamar? It's a brand new timeshare property located about 12 miles from the airport. Everything I've read says that is is across the street from the Isla Mall. Anyone familiar with this area?

 

[Jennifer S]

Playa Del Carmen hands down. Stay at an Iberostar. Loved it and am dying to go back

 

[dimimi]

We will be venturing to Mexico this summer (myself, DH, DD16), but am not sure what area is best to stay in. Anyone have any advice? We will be renting a car also.

I have been to both. I've been to Cancun twice. The first time with friends and the second with my husband. Cancun is wild. When my DH and I went we were thankful we didn't have girls. Right in the center of the downtown, girls were pole dancing to men sitting at the bar. Anyone walking by could see as the bar was open. Also, right in the street outside the bar were kids getting their hair braided, etc. I would not want my kids to see that...just inappropriate.

We took our family to Playa. We stayed at an Iberostar all inclusive. It was a lot of fun and appropriate. Some resorts have pools that are bigger than anything you would see in the states. It is still a fun atmosphere, just a little calmer.

Enjoy!

 

[Mamiamjo]

Anybody familiar with the Westin Laguanamar? It's a brand new timeshare property located about 12 miles from the airport. Everything I've read says that is is across the street from the Isla Mall. Anyone familiar with this area?

Yes it is right across the street from La Isla, a very nice outdoor mall with many restaurants, shops, a movie theater and also an aquarium where you can swim with the dolphins.
I haven't stayed there (it wasn't open yet last July when we were there), but we did see it when going to the mall.

 

[ols386]

Playa del Carmen is more quiet and relaxed. Cancun is more lively and more to do there. I think both are beautiful.

 

[storzo]

I think it depends what you what. Like PPs have said Playa is much more quieter and laid back than Cancun. If you are looking for quiet, I'd say Playa. If you are looking for non-stop, I'd say Cancun.

I would look into the Palace Resorts. They are all-inclusive and have properties in Cancun, Playa and Cozumel. You can say at one and play at all which you then give you the option of going to both.

Playa Del Carmen is close to the ferry to Cozumel. There is really one major shopping area, Fifth Avenue. There are a few clubs/bars and restaurants. Much more of a local flavor and more local merchants.

Cancun is large and split into zones. There are several malls and it is very commercial with lots of chain places that you can probably find at home.

If you go the Cancun route, I would suggest staying closer to the airport or in the middle than to the shopping/club area. Most of the malls/clubs are located at the upper end and there is more "traffic/noise" in that area.

I've never felt the need to rent a car at either place as the buses are great and the taxis are cheap. Also most excursions include transportation. But you are going to rent the car then I guess you can pick whichever or split your stay since you'll be able drive to wherever you want whenever you want.

 

[fairykin]

We love the rui all inclusive.. when you stay at the top of their chain you can visit all the other hotels.

Yet the other hotels can visit each other yet not the top hotel.

We go to Cancun every may..and LoVe it!

We went once as a spur of the moment thing..then loved it so much we came home and put the several thousand dollars of spending money that we did not use because it was all inclusive..and put that in a savings account for next year. And we've been going every since.