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Guys Week: Troubles Brewing in Cancun, Mexico

9/29/2014

By John Roberts

The mere mention of what I thought was a simple fun idea has drawn unsolicited input from all over the places. Friends and family warning that it's a scary idea.

"It's not a good combination . . . from past experiences," Mom says.

"It's not easy to get out of Mexican jail," the wife says.

Facebook comments roll in:

"This just looks like trouble," my sister Kelly says.

I've extended my stay in Cancun to a second week. I'm here with my friend Matt, and my brother Bart is joining soon.

I think it was the addition of Bart to the mix that gets everyone extra concerned.

"No way, don't tell me Bart is going? For real? If that is the case, just set aside bail money now!!!," our sister adds.

"Oh, it's trouble for sure," Bart's wife, Nat, chimes in.

Jeez. Thanks a lot, everyone.

Sure we had a lot of wild times back in the day, but we're very mature adults now!

"I know you're all older, but does that make you any wiser?," Mom says, giving one last jab.

All these comments came flying at me at the mere mention of our little Three Amigos getaway.

All in good fun (and a little bit of genuine concern, I'm sure). We just realized it's been four years since Bart and Matt have gotten together. So, it's great to have this reunion -- despite everybody else's trepidation. Ha!

Matt and I have been getting acclimated and enjoying the sun, pools and watching football. Next, we'll head out for snorkeling and exploring.

But no visits from the police, I promise.

JR

A SAMPLING OF THE WEEK SO FAR.

Aaaannnnnd look who just arrived! Now, the mischief gets real.

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9 Tips, Tricks and Warnings to Keep You Smiling in Cancun

9/25/2014

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By John Roberts

During our vacations in Cancun, we have discovered tips, tricks and warnings to be aware of so that you can save a few pesos and thoroughly enjoy your stay.

9. Math, anyone? Pesos are the cash in Cancun. Convert some dollars before you head to Mexico or be prepared to get cash out of an ATM or exchange money at your resort. The conversion rate is about pesos per U.S. dollar (as of 2020). So, you are going to need to get your mind ready to do the math for how much that meal or sun dress or sombrero costs in greenbacks, and it helps to be able to figure the proper amount to tip your servers, as well.

8. Bring sunscreen. You'll burn in Cancun if you don't apply sunscreen early and often. You can get sun block in Cancun, too, but it is verrrrrrry expensive. Plan ahead, so you won't have to cancel your Friday massage appointment because your crimson-colored skin rejects any human contact (Oh yeah. Bring aloe vera, too.)

7. Time flies. Expect that you'll spend about twice as long to do something -- anything. If you are told your outing will be about 90 minutes, it very well could be three hours. A five-minute wait in line, will inevitably be 10 minutes or longer. It's called Mexican time or Caribbean time. Try not to get too frustrated.

6. Hawks circling. Hawkers are everywhere in the main tourist areas in Cancun. They approach with a friendly demeanor and are very persistent. Pitching deals for excursions to adventure parks such as Xcaret or time share presentations. Steel yourself to repeat "No gracias" over and over throughout the day if you are out and about. This isn't to say you shouldn't engage with someone if you are interested in an offer. They do often have good deals, but it will take a time commitment (for a time share presentation, for example). You'll have to factor whether it's worth it. We got two ferry tickets, a breakfast and a golf cart for a day on Isla Mujeres for $20 total for agreeing to hear a presentation. We were told it would take about 90 minutes of day and ended up being three hours (see tip No. 7, above). A great price for a package that would have costs us more than $100, but we began to question whether it was worth it when we went over by 90 minutes the time allowance we had expected.

5. Speak like a local. Did you know that most of us Americans are fluent in Spanish. You consider "Dos cervesas, por favor" as fluent, right? OK, you might want to learn a few other conversational phrases to help build a rapport with those who you will meet during your adventures in Cancun. We have been working on this during the past year since our last trip here, and while we are still raw, we have had fun chatting in Spanish. Our servers have been gracious and helped us learn new words and pronunciations. This also has led to us getting great service and being offered some free appetizers and drinks as we have built a bit of a relationship with some of our favorite staffers at the nearby eateries.

Buses in Cancun's hotel zone will display Walmart.

4. Get on the bus. Bus trips up and down the hotel zone in Cancun cost about $0.75, or about 10 pesos, per trip. Buses are easy to use and way cheaper than a taxi ride. A bus ride costs 9.50 pesos. If there are two of you, just hand the driver 20 pesos and make sure to ask for "el cambio" if you want your change back (a peso). Tourists often just let the driver keep the change. If you don't ask, they won't just give it back to you automatically. Of course, they'd rather keep it. The bus drivers also are well aware when they have a tourist on the bus and are receptive to questions. Feel free to ask if you feel unsure whether the bus can drop you off at your desired stop. If you want to ride in a little more comfort and on your own schedule, you could also consider a good private shuttle service in Cancun.

3. Stop and shop. Staying at a resort with a full or partial kitchen? You can take the bus to the Walmart or other grocery stores in the area. Certain buses clearly indicate they are headed down to Walmart -- because this is a high-demand run for many vacationers who like to stock up. You can also take the bus down to the store and choose to take a cab back if you are all loaded up with groceries and beers. At the Walmart stop, you will be dropped off right at the kiosks of a batch of hawkers who know all the tourists are piling off the buses. We stick out with our sunburns, swim trunks and goofy T-shirts, ya know. If you don't want to hear any pitches, just head across the street immediately, down the alley that leads straight to the Walmart parking lot. Another batch of excursion and time-share pitch people await at the entrance of Walmart, too. Just be ready with your polite "No gracias."

2. Ask, ask, ask. In the tourist areas, staffers actively implore you to check out the menus at their restaurants and seek to guide you to a table. If you are in search of a meal and a few drinks, go ahead and check out their menu and ask for a special. They almost always will be willing to give you a free drink or at least a 2-for-1 special or appetizer.

1. Smile, relax and have fun! It's your vacation, and your attitude can go a long way toward how you feel on your trip.

Have you traveled in Cancun? Any tips or advice to add? Let us know in the comments.

Thanks for reading, and always travel happy!

JR

Returning to Westin Lagunamar in Cancun, Mexico

9/22/2014

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In The Loop Travel in Cancun at Taco Grill at La Isla Village.

By John Roberts

We're back in Cancun.

A year ago, we enjoyed our first visit here so much we decided to return to stay at the Westin Lagunamar again. The Starwood Hotels and Resorts property is in a great location across from a mall in the hotel zone. The resort features two great pools, several hot tubs and all sorts of amenities that allow us to relax.

We decided to treat this vacation as a wellness retreat. We aim to get plenty of rest (naps), etc., mixed in with some tasty (as healthy as possible) Mexican cuisine and a daily workout at the on-site gym.

So far, so good.

Check-in day at the resort was a bit rough, however. The second year in a row, we had to wait well past the 4 p.m. check-in time before our room was ready. We found this a very frustrating way to get our vacation started. You can bet that we will not be allowed to linger in our room two hours past when we are due to leave on check-out day, so it's not acceptable that guests are forced to wander the property with their luggage (tempted by the glorious beach and infinity pool tantalizingly within sight) while waiting to start their vacations.

This is something that we'll follow up on with Starwood when we get back home. We are not chronic complainers, but we know how Starwood aims at great service, and we become squeaky wheels only when it serves to help improve everyone's experience. At least that is the goal.

Otherwise, everything is as we expect and remember. We really love this property and the people in the area. Having worked hard to learn a bit of Spanish since our last visit, we are conversing with residents a smidge. The people here always have a ready smile and are so friendly.

We've enjoyed some tasty meals (nine salsas and counting), cold beers and a couple margaritas.

Later this week, we plan to head over to Isla Mujeres for a day, and we're still considering another excursion. Meanwhile, we will be sampling all the hot tubs, pools and waterslides. There also is a ruins site right next to the resort to check out. And the beach and Caribbean Sea, of course. A hurricane on the West Coast has been sending a few winds and rains across to the East, making the waves here very strong. We'll see if they calm down enough to safely get into the waters later this week.

In a future post, I'll have more pictures of this vacation, plus a few insider tips (money-savers, etc.) to help you navigate your trip to Cancun.

Interested in a Cancun getaway? With the food, sunshine, friendly people and loads of fun activities, of course you are. Check out this Hotels.com search tool for Cancun specials. If you book here, we get a small commission, which helps out the blog, but you pay no extra. (See, it's win-win.)

As always, thanks for reading.

JR