Cancun, Mexico

Just three decades ago Cancun was little more than a fishing village on an island bordered by the Caribbean Sea and a beautiful lagoon. Entrepreneurs dreamed up an ambitious tourism project, filled in parts of the lagoon, built two bridges connecting the island to the mainland, and provided the necessary infrastructure.

Today Cancun has more than 27,000 hotel rooms. Many are ultra luxurious with every amenity you can imagine, but there are a host of others that meet every type and price range. Cancun is a thriving vacation destination with an average temperature of 80 degrees, relatively little rain, and pristine white sand beaches.

Cancun was initially famous for the sea and beach, but today it is equally famous for its night life. There are shows both inside and outside the hotels, dance clubs with the latest lights, sound, and special effects. Musical venues range from hip-hop to jazz and mariachi to classical. It also has many discos and traditional nightclubs that will keep you dancing into the wee hours of the morning.

Cancun is home to dozens of restaurants featuring Italian, French, German and Cajun cuisine, as well as authentic spicy pork dishes native to the area, traditional Mexican fare, and fresh seafood. There are many “name brand” restaurants, such as Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Tony Roma’s, Pizza Hut, etc.

There are large shopping malls and boutiques in the hotel district filled with famous international brand names and excellent prices. Of course you can venture into the Mexican Market for a bargain hunting adventure.

Golfers revel in the 18 hole Robert Trent Jones, Jr course which offers gently rolling fairways bordered by palms, with the Caribbean breeze keeping play comfortable throughout the day. There are many other challenging courses in the area, but there are also courses built for less demanding play. Many hotels offer golf packages, and your travel agent can book these special packages for you.

There are many excursions in the Cancun area. Chichen-Itza is one of the most important archeological sites in the area, and an all day trip there with lunch costs around $76 per person. This includes pick up at your hotel, lunch, admission, a tour guide, and a stop at a Mexican Market.

Many people enjoy the Isla Mujeres Day Cruise. Isla Mujeres is an island about 30 minutes from Cancun by boat, with a rich history dating back to the ancient Mayans, with some pirate tales thrown in to boot. The day package includes boat transfers, continental breakfast, lunch and an open domestic bar. You can snorkel, explore the downtown area, and learn about the Mayan history of the “women’s island”. Price varies per season.