On the subject of prices in Cancun and the Riviera
I want to disagree with the opinion of some about the resort - gamno, Mexicans - scoundrels and scammers, prices are going through the roof, fear and horror will not come back! Considering that we went to Cancun itself, we lived in a not very beautiful hotel, but we were not upset, took a car and drove around almost the entire coast from Cancun and Isla Mujeres, to Akumal and a little further.
For clothes and shopping: go to Trade malls, no markets and roadside traders, everything in the shopping center is cheap (we are used to the fact that everything is the other way around), high quality, good duty free (approx. prices for perfumes - n. rodriges - $ 100 against our 4500ru) swimwear (Brazil, USA, super quality from $ 30 to $ 200) shoes (Brazil via uno for example the most expensive $ 50), clothes from Italian boutiques to American brands - at least twice cheaper than Russia, souvenirs (tequila, mezcal from $ 5, all sorts of not very small Mexican things: maracas, Christmas balls, dolls, ashtrays, frames, magnets - from $ 0.5 and more than $ 13 I have not seen, hats - $ 9-15), branded glasses - you can take two pairs gucci, tom ford for $240 for a promotion, souvenir clothes (t-shirts, shorts, T-shirts, clothes for animal children, slippers) - $6-12, we actually found three T-shirts of EXCELLENT quality, not with a sticker, but with a good pattern such as cancun and so on for $ 9))), all souvenirs are sold by specialized chain stores, walk and find! ! We bought wonderful oils and dry sprays for and against sunburn, super quality, it is better to take them in markets like OXXO - $ 3-10. The best in my opinion and very cute open-air shopping center with cafes and shops on the bay where you can sit and enjoy the sunset is La Isla Mall, you don’t run around shopping, but like walking in the park and enjoying))))
In general, I recommend the Mayan Riviera, Playa del Carmen, the prices are even lower, the real colorful Mexico, the town is amazing, green, the beaches are in palm trees and the sand is not as dirty as in Cancun, there are many young people, mostly Europe, Americans were not met at all. Eat in a good Mexican restaurant with an awesome ensemble and delicious seafood for two in a play - within $ 20-30 for two, this is our standard lunch with drinks, freshly caught seafood dinner - $ 30-40 (salad with a kg of shrimp / fish steaks /lobsters). You could say we didn't use our all inc at all. , next time, no inclusive, much cheaper, and even that’s not the point, much DELICIOUS, go to the BB hotel and eat in a cafe by the sea or on beautiful streets)).
In stores like market prices: shampoos and etc - $ 2-5, chocolate $ 0.2-0.5, cola (by the way, they have a completely different cola, very tasty, low-carbonated and light), beer, water - 0.5- 2$ from the number of liters. Cigarettes are expensive - almost $4.
We didn’t take excursions, we went ourselves and saved well, given that the excursion is 70 km from Cancun - $ 140 per person, we paid about 30-40 pesos for admission (on Sunday, almost everywhere for free) it’s about $ 3.5. Somewhere, for example, parks shkaret and explorer entrance $ 70 and all inclusive (lunches, drinks, etc. ) for the whole day, when guides drove them to our hotel for $ 250 per person, well, plus gasoline - less than 20 ru per liter. So consider)
And by the way, an economy class car, clean, with air conditioning and MP3, such as Renault Logan (we had some kind of Chevrolet Chevy, we don’t have any))) cost us $ 600 for 14 days with full insurance and coverage, we took it in Hertz in Cancun at the american fiesta, although they are everywhere, ask anyone - they will help, or look on the Internet for the nearest rent e car, but this company is reputable and turned out to be not as expensive as they read in the reviews before the trip, everything is without problems)))
The beach, for example, in Playa del Carmen, everything is free, full of cafes and waiters who, for $ 5, will bring 0.5 l fresh melon or mango undiluted or cook a delicious margarita or pina colada, coconut ice cream or other fruits - $ 2, you need a sunbed and an umbrella with a towel? - $8 for two for the whole day)
We sooo regretted that we bought clothes from us, if we knew, we arrived with empty suitcases and would have bought everything here, from swimsuits and tunics with shorts, ending with shoes and dresses with jeans, we regretted just as much money they had spent on our boring hotel with everything incl. - in Playa there are a lot of edge and nice hotels right near the coast under palm trees, in the city they are small - 2-4 floors, clean and nice. You can take a double room in a boutique hotel for $50, they came in, were interested, they showed us with pleasure both hotels and rooms and the territory, they gave booklets and promised discounts, and by the way, in a cafe where people pass by, a “greeting” employee can just give a business card with a 10-20% discount on the entire menu, and right there it will "work", although without it these huge delicious portions of Mexican exotics cost a penny, plus free nachos - a huge plate of cornmeal chips with different sauces, that's all quickly, although I read that the Mexicans are slow and slow, hot and cooked before our eyes))))
As for the Mexicans, I do not agree with anyone who writes that they are some kind of vile scammers, cat. They want to get on us. Everyone we came across (from service at the hotel, restaurants, on the beaches, to sellers, parking attendants, and just locals) is kind, smiling, despite the fact that poverty is erratic. Always ready to help, to please, to show the way, to bargain for a penny, if only you would be pleased to rest with them, all with a smile, not even a hint of how it usually is - you are a tourist here, all of you are money for the wind, and I have to feed my family nothing, and everything through the teeth. No. They are all so positive, not in the resort areas, we managed to understand each other without even knowing a drop of the language, they will explain in our hands! It seems that, unlike other countries and resorts, they are ready to do everything to leave the best impression about their country and your vacation! And they were constantly surprised and expressed respect, they say, it’s a lot to fly for the sake of our country, respect amigo! )))))
About nightclubs. Well, of course, this is Coco-bongo, it is available both in Cancun and Playa, the price is $70 all-inclusive for the bar, $110 Vip plus a table and snacks. Other clubs - ok. $40 is the same) In Cancun they are all side by side on the same spot in the hotel zone, in Playa there are more club open festivals like Ibiza and Mallorca, European DJs and the same audience, but there are also clubs and karaoke)
Conclusion: if you want to see a real, green, inexpensive Mexico with beautiful beaches, without getting fat from fast food and everything incl. At the pool at the hotel, Americans are completely drunk and closer to sightseeing places - go to Playa del Carmen, from it to the Beaches of Puerto Aventuras and Maroma, and to Tulum, Akumal, Conzumel are within easy reach, and Merida with Chichen Itza is closer))
Cancun is a very American resort, somehow boring and artificial, a "hotel-pool-beach-bar" is suitable for relaxation, there is nowhere to walk, a strip of hotels with occasional "oases" of clubs-bars-shops. But we are not Americans, who are within easy reach of Cancun and lie belly up, we would like to see Mexico, so we won’t go to Cancun to live anymore)
We are very satisfied, two weeks flew by unnoticed, we will return again and again, Mexico is an amazing and magical country, very colorful and beautiful, with an amazing sea and kind people! For the first time we really rested both soul and body! Go, you won't regret it!!! !
