The Spring Breaker’s Guide to Cancun

Every year it happens ... Spring Breaker’s pack up for some much needed R&R, yeah right! Everyone is looking for the hottest; the ultimate party spot on the planet and Cancun is that and so much more. If you want to relax on white sand beaches, party in word class clubs or see history as it stands in lush jungles ... Cancun is the place to be.

Unlike some of the historic spring break destinations of the past Cancun is probably the most diverse in terms of variety and availability.

Anyone can go to Cancun and everyone loves Cancun ... why? You’re about to find out!

Tips on Planning your Trip!

Before you spend the money to travel to Cancun, consider what you want to do in Cancun first. How many people will be traveling with you and what types of accommodations will you or you and your group need?

One of most important factors when traveling is where to stay and Cancun has plenty of rooms, hotels, villas, condos and private homes for everyone. Deciding on where to stay will be the biggest obstacle because of the many choices.

Also think of transportation to and from the airport, does your hotel offer transportation or will you be using a taxi upon arrival?

Budget ahead of time and contact financial institutions to let them know that you will be out of the country because ... you can use debit cards in Cancun! ATM machines are available all over Cancun and the big difference is instead of drawing out dollars ... you get pesos. If you’ll be using any type of payment methods connected to your bank account while in Mexico, let the institution you do business with know ... even your credit card company.

Sometimes purchases abroad like a purchase in Mexico will alert a credit card company or financial institution to fraudulent activity and they could freeze all of your accounts with them, so do let important businesses know of your plans.

It’s a good idea to understand the use of Mexico’s currency, usually your bank can provide you with exchange rates to let you know how much a peso in worth compared to dollars to help understand your spending.

Mexican currency is somewhat like American currency, tips are expected in Cancun and understand that unless you’ve rented a car ... you’ll probably take a bus or use the services of a taxi. Carry small bills because not everyone has change! Carrying 20’s, 50’s and 100’s will eliminate the chances of running into this problem. Also carry coins (centavos) because some places in Cancun do require payments like a few bathrooms and buses.

Pack appropriately, always check with the airlines for baggage rules, baggage weight limits and restrictions to what you can or can’t take. If you forget to pack a few items, don’t worry because Cancun is full of great places to shop and you’ll probably need to pack a little light considering the souvenirs you’ll bring home.

Most importantly ... pack enough clothes because unless you’re staying at a truly regal hotel in Cancun, chances are you will not have a way to do laundry! I didn’t see a laundry facility in Cancun but I was able to sneak my laundry in with a friend of mine’s at a neighboring hotel for a small fee because we didn’t want customs looking through our dirty clothes.

If you plan on staying in Cancun a week or longer, pack more than one bathing suit because everyone frequents the beach during the day ... and the clubs at night, so pack up some cool party clothes too.

Booking Accommodations

Don’t necessarily assume that every hotel in Cancun will be all that you’ve dreamed of because even though so many have breath taking pools and top notch beach access ... all of them don’t!

When in doubt, ask.

Another big misconception is booking online. Online is still probably the best bet on getting some great travel deals but not all websites are up to date, don’t forget that Cancun has also been hit by hurricane Wilma. It’s a great idea to get the contact information of a hotel that you’re considering in advance to actually booking a travel deal for a room. Call the hotel to confirm what’s available, ask all of your questions and then book your accommodations once you know that everything is up to par.

Can’t get the room that you want?

Don’t sweat it! In Mexico, money talks and you’d be shocked to know just how many cancellations there are ... chances are for $20 extra you can have the room you want. Suites are actually the way to live it up in utmost style in Cancun and parties are usually permitted.

We’ve gathered some of the best hotels in Cancun for your convenience!

All-Inclusive Cancun Deals

All-inclusive has become the way to go! Imagine your airfare, hotel and food all wrapped into one. Now it’s possible. I actually went to Cancun three times on an all-inclusive ticket and I saved so much money on my trip.

Everything was included!

The first two times I took a trip to Cancun I just booked everything separately and of course I paid more. On both trips I paid almost $250 more on my airfare and my hotel reservations ... that was before I discovered booking travel arrangements online.

The least expensive trip I took to Cancun cost me less than $600 ... all-inclusive! The best thing about that was I booked that trip less than 3 months before I wanted to go and my rate beat the rates my friends paid 6 months earlier! Purchasing in advance is another way to get good rates and it’s a good idea to check with the travel agent too because sometimes they know about specials that no one else knows about.

Special travel discounts are common in the Cancun area, they are advertised every year and why not save money!

5 Star Rated Accommodations


*All of these five star rated hotels and resorts are located on the beach with the exception of the Radisson Hacienda, which is located within the city of Cancun.

4 Star Rated:


*All of these four star rated hotels and resorts are located directly on the beach with the exception of Best Western Plaza Caribe, Howard Johnson and Oasis Americana Cancun, which are located within the city of Cancun.

There are a few lower rated motels on the beach too but these are the most recommended.

Arrival

Before you land the flight attendant should give you two forms to fill out, one for your arrival and one for your departure. Fill out the forms on the plane if possible because the airport is rather small and lots of people will be crowded entering customs.

Fill out the papers accordingly. The information is usually general such as name, address and where are you going in Mexico ... do you have anything to declare and what’s the nature of your trip type of questions. Make sure you place the form you need to exit the country in a safe place and hold on to it.

When you land, go straight to baggage claim because it’s a small airport your bags will be easy to find. After you get your bags, head straight to customs. Usually all the agent asks for is your form and then you’re baggage may or may not be searched. I flew into Cancun five times and my bags were only searched upon arrival two times.

If you haven’t planned for transportation to your hotel, it’s okay because there are lots of taxis for hire at the airport. Prices do vary and usually run between $10-$20, the taxis are rather small though!

Airport transfers are available too and may be better especially if you’re traveling with a group of people. An airport transfer is easy because you’ll see a guy standing in front of the van with your name on a piece of cardboard just like a scene from a movie ... the cost is about the same as a taxi ride and you can also use the airport transfer to take you back to the airport on the day of your departure for a discounted rate if you ask.

Activities in Cancun

Fun, fun and more fun is what’s waiting in Cancun! Cancun is full of a host of options to put a smile on anyone’s face but one of the most popular past times in Cancun for spring breakers is partying ... usually that involves drinking too. The best part about thousands of co-eds getting drunk in Cancun is that most don’t have a car but the best thing about drinking in Cancun is the beer truck ... it delivers!

Buy a case of Corona, the next day return the bottles to the beer truck to get more for an even cheaper price ... most spring breakers have found a new appreciation for recycling with the concept of the Cancun beer trucks.

If you’re not a drinker ... go to the mall, go shopping at all the tiny shops, lounge all day at the beach, get a facial in a world class spa or a bikini wax, snorkel, scuba dive or get certified (you can), go jet skiing or take one of a hundred tours, compete in the many competitions on the beach for spring breakers or go shake your booty on the beach to the rad tunes of MTV!

Every year MTV hits Cancun recording days of footage, giving away prizes and most of all providing fun activities and entertainment in true MTV style ... just beware of the Girls Gone Wild crew!

The nightlife in Cancun is even hotter than the beaches!

Cancun boasts dozens of clubs, most of which are extremely unique to only Cancun and the fun inside can’t be compared to any other place on earth. Below we’ve included some tours you may be interested in as well as listed some of the hot clubs in Cancun with descriptions.

Warning: The clubs are usually packed full of spring breakers and safety should be taken into account when partying! If becoming intoxicated is a possibility it’s very important to have a sober person to help you in case you need help because there are lots of people in any club, anywhere lurking and looking for an intoxicated person to take advantage of ... just use caution and play it safe.

Hot Night Spots in Cancun

The City

The city has attracted big recording artists such as Eminem and 50 Cent, making this one of Cancun’s premiere nightspots! The City has 3 floors of fun and can hold more than 4000 people, this club features advanced technology too. The third floor is actually for MVP’s, a more private place to party in style featuring sofas and great service from atop, it’s a superb place to have fun.

Dady O

Dady O is a favorite for both tourists and locals sporting techy laser and light shows, five bars, a snack bar and a stadium quality atmosphere ... Dady O’s is even open until 6 a.m.! Dady O’s also has ‘Dady Rock’ which is adjoining but separate, just ask for a transfer ticket to gain entrance next door. Dady Rock does close at 1 a.m. but it’s a good place to enjoy some real rock music as well as have fun with some contests too.

Coco Bongo

The name says it all! Coco Bongo is salsa, techno, high class and crazy fused together under one roof. Balloons, streamers drop from the ceiling, don’t be surprised when a guy wearing a mask comes around pouring shots of tequila down everyone’s throats either! There’s a lot of action at Coco Bongo.

La Boom

La Boom is another great place to party because La Boom may be the trendiest nightspot in Cancun boasting a European atmosphere; there is a Red London-like bus that you can’t miss outside! La Boom is no less when it comes to a superb sound system and huge light shows ... not to mention some of the contests that take place under this roof. La Boom also has several bars, a multilevel dance floor and also has something more ... an adjoining bar called ‘Tequila Boom’ that’s a little less hype featuring chill out music with rap and hip hop roots.

Bulldog Cafe

If live music, the latest in laser and light displays and a place that was designed with the stage sight in mind sounds like a good concept ... Bulldog Cafe is the place to be. Bulldog Cafe is unlike any of the other spots in Cancun and the service is great!

Senor Frog’s

If you’ve ever spoken with anyone that’s taken a trip to Cancun ... you’ve probably heard about a famed sawdust floor and this is where you’ll find it! If karaoke sounds fun or participating in some outrageous contests, Senor Frog is the place to be. Senor Frog’s is a busy place day and night because in the daytime it’s a beloved restaurant but at night ... strange things happen.

Azucar

Formerly Camino Real Hotel, Dream Cancun Hotels has a ritzy salsa bar with a Cuban ambiance that’s anything but forgettable! Azucar sports some of the liveliest Salsa bands anywhere in Cancun, the dress code is of taste and merengue rhythms will have anyone dancing back to the airport! Azucar is also open until 4 a.m.

Carlos’n Charlie’s

All of the clubs in Cancun aren’t so techno based or as flashy as others, there’s a hang out for every type of taste and at Carlos’n Charlie’s you can find the waiters on stage performing their best with good ole rock bands for an all around good time in a good atmosphere in the company of good people and good food!

Fat Tuesday

Spring Breakers ... the ones that can’t pull themselves away from the hypnotic sounds of the ocean can be found at Fat Tuesday’s because it’s on the beach. Fat Tuesdays really comes alive during spring break, maybe because of the yummy tropical daiquiris served up beachside. Just look around Play Tortugas and follow the sounds of pop music!

G Spot

G Spot is a happening place that can be seen from quite a distance and it’s located right across from the Hyatt Cancun Hotel. The music mix at G Spot consists of tunes of R&B, Rap, Pop and Rock. G Spot really hosts some hot parties and they are open every night at 10 p.m.

Glazz Lounge

This one is relatively still a new addition to Cancun but it’s boasts some of the hottest sounds from Miami, L.A. and New York. Glazz Lounge is beautifully decorated and the crowd is a bit more sophisticated than some of the crowds in Cancun around spring break. The martinis are great too!

Jazz Club Roots

Cancun has a premiere jazz club ... Jazz Club Roots! Jazz Club Roots is a great place because they host a lot of local events, the club also has some mouth watering Caribbean food and this place spells romantic as soon as you walk in, it’s really a good place to unwind plus it’s open until 2 a.m.

One of the most unique concepts about Cancun’s nightspots ... almost every nightspot in town will offer a flat fee to drink all you can drink! Just pay at the door and the bar is yours, however usually these types of drink specials are only available during the spring break holiday. It’s obvious that a cashier couldn’t possibly take care of all of the alcohol sales single handedly, thus the tradition has been born!

If partying is not all that’s on the agenda of things to do in Cancun then you may want to take in a few tours. There are hundreds of tours in Cancun, some that require physical activities like touring the Mayan ruins about an hour away from Cancun or scuba diving around Cancun but others are really nice like the boat tours that serve dinner or the aquatic tours where you can see schools of fish swimming beneath your feet ... literally because those are given via glass bottom boats!

Transportation in Cancun

Don’t think that you’ll let your feet wander all over Cancun because the temps are hot in the summer time! Ideally, you don’t really want to walk more than a block or so and if you’re going further than that ... there’s only two options. A taxi or a bus!

Taxi drivers in Cancun are pretty knowledgeable but not many speak English so if you don’t speak Spanish than your best option may be the bus.

The bus isn’t a bad idea, the bus does run on a schedule, it’s cheap, it’s a fun way to see the sights and it beats walking or renting a car. Renting a car in Cancun is not recommended because most of the car rental places in Cancun ... have some fine writing incorporated into the agreement.

If it sounds too good to be true, then it is!

It’s true that some things in Mexico are cheap. Sure you can get a burger for less than a buck, bottled water, a bag of chips, bus fare is cheap but car rental in a prime tourist location ... in Cancun of all places is not cheap. Many people in the past have been conned into renting a car in Cancun, a car that they believed would be less than $10 a day that actually turned out to be more than $300 a day! Do beware.









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