What to buy in Cozumel and Costa Maya???

[virginiamama]

What good stuff can I pick up on the Western Double-dip? What is the shopping like? I know I want to bring home a sombrero and some other Mexican goods (planning a fiesta for DS next birthday). Maybe this is the only time I'll ever go to Mexico and I wanted to pick up some great souvenirs. TIA!

 

[MrsJobba1]

What a good question, I hope you dont mind me tagging on to find the answers!

 

[captchris]

In Cozumel, there are all kinds of shops selling Mexican items. They are all along the main drag--Avenue Rafael Melgar, and it was in the areas surrounding the piers that were destroyed. The key is to shop around. There are rarely prices on the items, and making offers is encouraged.

There are maracas, jewelry, mexican blankets, t shirt, and various mayan crafts and gifts. I believe there were sombreros for sale.

I haven't been to Costa Maya, but I am sure it is similar, much smaller, but similar.

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Costa Maya has a few shops at the pier. They have all the traditional mexican items you spoke about. here are maybe 10 shops. It is a new area, only 4 years old now. The only other shopping area there is a fishing village called Majual or something like that. I guess it has a few more shops, lower prices than the other shops and you can barter for prices there. there are cabs and buses you can take to get there from the port area. That is it, the rest is jungle for miles and miles.

mom x4,grandma x4

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

We were in Costa Maya in March. Take the bus to the fishing village- Majahaul. Lots of shops and bartering there. We bought a beautiful carved Mayan mask for my husband's office; little (cheap) painted guitars that say Costa Maya or Mexico; sun/moon plaster decorations, etc. Just don't forget to barter! Offer way below what you want to pay and go from there. Once you get to your price, stay firm. They expect this, and it can be a lot of fun. Oh, we also bought my mom a big bottle of Kahlua in a Mayan-god shaped bottle- (for $10) from the port area not the village. She loved it. The t-shirts we bought for $4.99 shrunk a lot when we washed them. Hope this helps!

 

[MrsJobba1]

Thank you for the advice of bartering ! I didn't realise that they expected that.

I love to haggle and barter, DH is rather shy and doesn't like this. Looks like I'll be the one shopping!

Is bartering expected @ Grand Caymen?

 

[noahsmom]

Do these shops take Visa or should we have cash?

 

[Surroundedbyboys]

I don't think there's any bartering in Grand Cayman- not where we were anyway. I think that's more of a Mexico thing?
If you're going to barter you should have cash. (otherwise saying..."I only have $10 doesn't work. The shops that we bought at (in the port) of Costa Maya took Visa. We didn't barter at the port either, although you could try- only in the village.

 

[Tarabra]

Yep, we always get one of those bottles of Kahlua too! Can't beat $9.99! My husband bought a Mexican blanket that he just had to have for $3.99 or something like that. We have NEVER used it! It's too scratchy. Just don't be impulsive. They've got all kinds of sexual positioned (hmm...that's not the proper grammar I'm sure??!!) pipes and goodies in most of the shops. So keep an eye on the kiddies. It may cause some embarassing questions.

 

[captchris]

I don't think there's any bartering in Grand Cayman- not where we were anyway. I think that's more of a Mexico thing?
If you're going to barter you should have cash. (otherwise saying..."I only have $10 doesn't work. The shops that we bought at (in the port) of Costa Maya took Visa. We didn't barter at the port either, although you could try- only in the village.

This is not customary in Grand Cayman. Our RCI daily schedule included the fact that this is not custom on Grand Cayman.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Cozumel has some great sterling jewelry, but you need to really negotiate with them. They know you just got off the DCL and they do want all of your money.

We bought some sterling (but I got nicer things in Key West), a puppet and some maracas. I negotiated with them. When we went to the DCL party that night, DCL was selling the maracas and puppets for about 1/3 of what I paid for in Cozumel.

Love there blankets.

Be careful.

 

[captchris]

Cozumel has some great sterling jewelry, but you need to really negotiate with them. They know you just got off the DCL and they do want all of your money.
Be careful.

Isn't that the truth. We were looking at jewlery with our friends. We walked out of the store before they did, and the manager came out and offered us the same ring our friends were interested in, for I believe 30% cheaper. Nothing is definitive as far as price goes. Think of everything there like buying a car. Play hard to get.