MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Mexico? Are all the places in Iraq booked or something?

Have lots of sex. So find a place with a decent room. This is one time where the room really matters. MY wife and I went on the cheaper side and took a long weekend to Niagara Falls and out view from out room was Awesome and the had fireworks every night.

Anywhere you go you will have fun because it is your honeymoon. The point is to get drunk and have a lot of sex. If you go to Mexico just don't leave the resort. And most of them are big enough where you really don't have too.

Summer and fall is also the rainy and huricane season on the Pacific coast. 5-6 years ago, huricane Kenna took out much of the beach and several of the hotels including the Sheridan (which is a nice place too).

It is also very hot in PV in the summer.

You have to fly into Zihuantaneo and cab to Ixtapa. I was there 10 years ago and we took some remote tours (we hired the cab driver $20 for the day) I'd say the outlying villages reminded me of some scenes in Romancing the Stone. It was really cool in all, but I definitely would not do it in todays environment. Stick w Cabo or Playa.

The answer to this really depends what you are looking for. Are you looking for a self contained resort where you stay 24x7? If that is the case, then you should probably be less concerned with "where" you go, but rather look at some of the other variables. If you plan to stay on property, then look for the best combo of the below. It won't matter whether you are in Mexico, Dominican, etc.

1) Flight costs and timing. Can you get there early? Can you get a flight out later in the day? One of the advantages of the Pacific side is that you typically can get to the resort by noon. This adds an extra day to your trip.

2) How far is the resort from the airport. We just got back from Tulum and had a great time, but Dreams resort there was almost two hours from the airport.

3) Weather.

4) Resort. Probably the most important. I like to start on Applevacations.com for research and then flip over to tripadvisor.com. Not suggesting you book through Apple, but I have found it a good research site. I would suggest looking for a place that has at least 4+ restaurants that not buffets. Check into evening entertainment, etc. Make sure you look through the trip advisor pictures to see the real deal. The resort photos will be photo shopped.

If you are looking to get off the resort and expore the areas, then that changes everything. Places like Aruba or maybe Cabo might be the best fit.

If you are looking for a "combo" style place where you stay at the resort most of the time, but still hit the town for shopping or drinks a few nights, then I would suggest the following.....

Puerta Vallarta: Very nice downtown stretch on the water. Make sure you know how far your resort is from downtown though. You could end up 30 minutes away at least.

Cancun: Very "americanized". You are going to find the Starbucks, Rainforest Cafe's, etc. There is allot to do and the place can get a little crazy, but you should be off season. Any of the hotels on the Cancun strip have easy access to the Cancun attractions.

Playa de Carmen: We have not been to this area is about seven years, so I am not sure if it has changed. This is about 45 minutes south of Cancun. They have one street that is built up with shopping and restaurants.

Dreams resort in Puerto Vallarta - all inclusive.

All rooms have ocean views and the resort has secluded beach front. About a 10 minute taxi ride from downtown.

Cabo is not a bad (dangerous) area, it's too far out of the way for the gangs, you have a couple choices though, Cabo San Lucas is the crazy resort town with lots of bars and tourists, San Jose del Cabo is about 20 miles north, closer to the airport and is a more low key. Then there are resorts on the beach between them, might be your best choice.

This is my favorite hotel in the world (Gran Melia Cancun)... absolutely impressive.

This +1000 for the win.

Chiming in with my support for this recommendation, if you're interested in Puerto Vallarta.
My wedding was at the church in downtown PV, the reception was at Villa Premiere, and about half of our guests stayed at Villa Premiere and half at the hotel next door. The suites there are incredible (and if you can get the corner suite on the top floor, I can't recommend it enough...it's worth the money). An easy walk to downtown, which was important to us. It's very quiet and relaxing, which was also important.
The hotel next door (the Buenaventura) is owned by the same folks, and is a bit more of a party atmosphere and a bigger pool area, etc. You have priveleges to go over there, but they don't have priveleges to come to Villa Premiere.
We have since returned once, and will definitely stay there again for our next trip. Loved the staff, loved the hotel.
I love PV...a nice mix of resort stuff and being able to walk around a nice town. We haven't run into any scary situations there, and we've gotten around the area quite a bit, but I know things can change (our last trip was the winter before last).

Don't confuse people here with facts who've never been to Mexico to actually experience it for themselves. As I told my buddy, you have a better chance getting shot by driving thru Old Town Saginaw on a Saturday night blarring Hank Jr. than you do walking the streets of major tourists districts in Mexico. Bottom line when traveling abroad or even in a major US city is to be smart and just use common sense and you'll be fine. If you're out walking a deserted alley (anywhere) at night chances are you'll find trouble. Hell, being killed in a taxi ride is expoenentially higher than being shot by a gang member.

If nothing else, the lack of tourism has made it a tourists' market. I've been to Mexico for the last 8 spring breaks and recently booked a 4* Westin between the water and Marina District in Puerto Vallarta during Easter week for $80/night and never felt safer.

I was just in Mexico for 8 days in February. Absolutely lovely country, and perfectly safe, from our experience. We were in Puerto Escondio for half the time (the resort we were at was perfectly nice, but I wouldn't really recommend it for a honeymoon) and were in Mexico City the rest of the time.

Avoid the border states, don't try to move weight, and you'll be fine. Of course, there are some risks -- there are risks anywhere you go, including most places in the US. Also, there are two other sets of risk factors: (1) anywhere where there are large concentrations of tourists, there will be criminals who prey on those tourists, either through scams or with pick-pocketing/muggings/etc.; and (2) any time you travel to a less wealthy country, you are going to sometimes be a target because you likely have high-value things to steal, particularly if you're flashing around jewelry, iPads, expensive cameras, or whatever. But these are not risk factors that are specific to Mexico. They're general "don't be a stupid tourist" risk factors.

While we were in Mexico, we met many seasoned travelers who have spent weeks or months in Mexico, and they all have a chuckle about people being afraid to travel there. It's a beautiful country and the people there are really lovely. If you're held back by your irrational fears, then it's only your loss.