Do I need to speak Spanish?
Absolutely not. Most people in Cancun and Cozumel speak English, and many speak several languages. Most of the taxi drivers understand some English.
Is food expensive?
Cancun has more restaurants than you can possibly sample in a full month of going out for breakfast, lunch and dinner - at last count there were over 200. Good meals can be purchased from very reasonable to expensive, it all depends on the type of restaurant. Breakfast, for example, runs from $4.95 in restaurants downtown to elaborate, all you can eat buffets in the hotels for approximately $13.50. Prices will be very similar to your own hometown - it all depends on where you choose to eat.
What beers do they have in Mexico?
Mexico produces some of the finest beers in the world ranging from light to dark - Corona, Superior, Carta Blanca, Modelo, Dos XX, Bohemia, Tecate, Victoria, and many more.
What about wine?
Mexican wines are from vineyards located in the Baja California area of Mexico, near Southern California and offer a good variety that are very similar to U.S. California wines. Try Calafia, both red and white and Los Reyes white. Both are from the vineyards of Pedro Domeq. Imported U.S. and European wine is very expensive.
Distilled spirits?
Mexican gin, vodka, tequila, etc. are world class.You might want to bring your favorite bottle of Scotch, Bourbon, or Brandy as these are imported and expensive.
Is the water safe to drink?
All hotels in Cancun have purified water. Cancun is home to the largest water purification system in all of Mexico. The restaurants use purified water for all cooking and ice making. Too much sun and not enough liquid are the chief cause of what gets blamed on bad water. Many stores in the hotels and in the Hotel Zone sell bottled water both domestic and imported for those of you who prefer it.
What clothes should I bring?
A bathing suit, and your basic summer clothes. If you plan on going to the better clubs, you should bring some nicer clothes. The finer restaurants also would prefer that you do not wear t-shirts and shorts. Don't forget sunblock!
What is the average temperature?
The average is 87 degrees F with lots of sun.
How far from the beach are the hotels?
Beach front is beach front - walk out of your room, past the pool with the swim up bar (most hotels have them) and you are on miles of pure white sand. Most of the hotels in the Hotel Zone are beach front. The downtown hotels are only a short ten minute taxi ride from the beach.
What about tennis?
Most hotels have tennis courts right on the property for the exclusive use of the hotel guests. It is recommended that you take racquets and tennis balls with you. Tennis balls are expensive in Mexico.
Are the hotels air conditioned?
All hotels in the Hotel Zone are air conditioned.
Are car rentals available?
Yes, and so are mopeds. You really don't need to rent a car - taxis are available 24 hours a day and they can take you anywhere you want for only a few dollars.
A word of caution - we do not recommend that travelers rent cars in Mexico for travel into the countryside. The roads are very narrow and do not have street lights. They can be extremely dangerous after dark. You may encounter cows and burros, and many of the cars don't have tail lights. It is easy to have an accident on the roads outside town, even in broad daylight.
Many a vacation has been ruined by a moped accident. The same dangers mentioned above await the moped driver too. Enjoy your vacation - sit back, relax and let a professional handle the traffic - take in the sights on a professionally guided tour.
The best way to get around Cancun Island and downtown Cancun city is on the air-conditioned tourist shuttle bus. Scheduled all day and a good part of the night, the buses will take you anywhere for only $1.00U.S. Cozumel is very well served by taxis and their rates are very economical.
Do I need to convert my dollars to Mexican pesos to buy things?
Only if you want to- dollars and credit cards are accepted nearly everywhere in Cancun and Mexico. Remember that once your dollars are changed to pesos, they can not be changed back to dollars. It is best to exchange only what you plan to spend.
What about credit cards?
All major credit cards are accepted in Mexico -Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted, and American Express is accepted in some stores. Discover Card is not yet accepted.
I want to see the Mayan ruins, you know, the pyramids, how do I do it?
The best way is by going on a guided tour. Usually, all tours available in Cancun and surrounding areas can be reserved through your representative at your hotel.
