by Edward Bertsch
Well, here goes.
unless I say pesos, all prices here are US dollars.
Canadian exchange rates are about 1/2 of the USD exchange rates. Sorry to break the bad news to you, if you're Canadian.
only make long distance calls from public pay phones. Dial **01 to get the the AT&T operator, who has perfect english skills and no accent.
I was there from 20-27 march, this year. Stayed at the Continental Villas Plaza. Great place.
Exchange rate varried between 5.7 and 6.5 pesos to the dollar. Everything is negotiable. Dont drink the water, unless it's bottled. Don't use ice. Be very cautious about fresh (uncooked) veggies and fruits, esp. lettuce.
There's lots of buffets, but these are a good way to get sick. Order items that will be prepared for you, not that have been sitting around for some unknown amount of time in unknown conditions.
Lots of bars have 2-for-1 drinks, but many tend to mix them pretty weak.
Stay away from the tourist places, Hard Rock, Planet Hollywierd, Senor Frogs, etc..
Dont pay any more than 3 pesos for postcards, and they can be had for 2 pesos.
Just in case you get diarrea, bring some Loperamide HCl. Bring a portable water purifier, which you can buy from me. :-)
Make sure you visit Isle Mujeres (Isle of Women) which is 8 miles from Cancun. To get there, take a cab to Puerto Juarez, then take the "people's ferry" across to the island for about 10 pesos each way. When you get to the island, rent a golf cart for about $6-$7 US per hour. Golf cart is better than scooters because it has storage space, has a cover to protect you from sun, and you can talk with your companion(s). Everything is cheaper on Isle Mujeres, and supposedly they have hotels there for as little as $10 a night. Visit the topless beach while on Isle Mujeres. Last ferry leaves at 8pm, so don't be late! (There are lots of American ex-pats there, and they say you can live on Isle Mujeres for $500 a month in high style!)
Go to the nightclub "Azucar" -- it is fabulous, and they had a 13 piece Cuban band that was playing there. Cover charge was 40 pesos when I went there, but it may be more on a Fri or Sat (I went on a Thu). Excellent Salsa and other Latin Jazz at this nightclub.
If you like lobster, go to Lorenzillo's. $16 per lb, smallest are about 2 lb. They have some that are over 6 lb.
Russian vodka is $2 a bottle (12 pesos) -- buy a bottle or two and a couple of liters of tomato juice to have something to drink in your hotel room.
There's a really nice mexican champagne, but I don't recall the name.
All the beer is week, but the best one is modelo negra, if you like dark beer.
Dos Equis Dark is ok too.
Everyone wants to give you a free meal or reduced price on tour or car, and what you have to give them is 4 hours of your time for a high preasure sales pitch for timeshares or travel clubs. Don't do it. TANSTAAFL. We were warned, and fortunately didn't do it. Not everywhere that says "budget" or "Avis" or "Hertz" is really one of those places. If a price is advertised in big print, and it is way below other prices, there's a sales presentation waiting for you before you get that price on the car or the tour.
DO NOT put your hotel and room number on your travellers checks when you use them. You will receive phone calls in the morning, at night, etc... We were warned about this too, and so were spared.
Buy the brightly colored cotton blankets, and expect to settle on a price of $13-$15 US. Don't pay more than $7 for the cheaper blankets with dull colors and lots of white, unless they are wool or wool/cotton (and you can tell if they are, you may be deceived)
Don't flash your money around. Carry just a bit more than you figure you'll need, and pull out more or less exactly what you're planning on spending. Bring US $ down there, everyone takes them.
Don't exchange all your money at once. In fact, exchange almost none of your money. Pay in US $ and they'll give you pesos in return.
Always find out what the exchange rate is when you're making a purchase. Some places will advertise "we buy dollars" too.
Try to find the best english speaker on your hotel's staff; many of the employees will have very bad english.
Make sure you go to Tulum, Xcaret, or Chichen Iza. Plan on a whole day for each one. If you do Chichen Iza Mayaland tours is not a bad way to go. About $50 US per person. You will have to pay when you enter the park, if you've got a video camera with you. Still cameras are fine, though.
There's lots of little kids selling statues and other trinkets at the ruins. Don't pay any more than $2 for most of them, unless they're the finely carved, hand painted deals. Go as high as $5 for these.
When you take the bus (2.5 new pesos) keep your recipt. Inspectors frequently come aboard to check, and if you don't have it, you must pay again.
that's all I have time to write...
Don't waste a lot of time shopping. Enjoy your trip.
