The Best Tips for your Cancun Vacation

Here are some tips that you’ll find useful when you travel to this paradise, Cancun:

• Don't drink the water even if the hotel has a purified water cistern, it tastes funny. Mexican bottled water is 1/3 the price.
• There are timeshare sales reps everywhere! They will tell you anything, they will offer you free tours or dinner. DO NOT STOP! ... In case you forget this tip, and you find yourself talking with timeshare people, just tell them: "Sorry, I don't have a Credit Card" ... Trust me, this is the best timeshare repellent!
• Set taxi fares before getting in. If you have a problem, take its number off the car & report it to your hotel.

• Use environmentally friendly sunscreen when in national water parks.
• Hard Rock Cafe is not downtown. Go explore. Prices are better downtown.
• DON'T let people change your mind about a restaurant. 'Oh that restaurant is closed' or 'My uncle owns a better one.' Every restaurant pays a commission to taxis, travel agents reps, bell boys, front desk clerks, maids, salesclerks, iguanas, sharks, monkeys, etc. The commission could be as high as 15% of your bill, and of course, that fee is added to the menu price. 97% of restaurants pay.
• Most people speak 'JOB English' meaning they get by when you ask them questions that they answer daily. Speak slowly & clearly. Don't use unusual words. Don't expect everyone to understand your accent.
• Ocean temperature year round is 80F so, jump in.

• Crossing the street is not a right; it's a challenge. Be on the defensive.
• Use sunscreen even on an overcast day.
• If you were 2 hours from the pyramids in Egypt would you go? If yes, go to Chichen-Itza.
• Ice is safe in the drinks. All restaurants wash the vegetables in purified water. Even the taco guy on my corner.
• Always carry change! 5, 10, 20 pesos.
• ATM machines, credit card slips are in pesos so DON'T PANIC when you see all those zeros.
• Watch out for hot salsa! It's the next day that bites. Well, bites…
• How to speak better Spanish? Drink more tequila!

• Best thing to do? Get up at 6:30 am & walk on the beach. THE BEST!
• Tip your maid daily; a buck or 2.
• Exchange your dollars in exchanges houses, maybe your hotel or banks. You will get a better rate than the stores and restaurants. The best rate in the hotel zone is the Bancrecer bank in Plaza Flamingo.
• Plan to eat out, go to clubs or do any tours.
• Phoning home: Dial 001 - area code - #. Buy Ladatel phone cards (50 cents a minute). The phones are everywhere, and the cards are sold in most stores and money exchanges. DO NOT call collect. Minimum charge is $40! You will find these phones in 50% of the hotel rooms, lobbies and on the street.

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Cancun's public bus tips

One of the most difficult things doing during vacations it's finding the best way to move around the city you are. Cancun is no exception; you must decide between a taxi or a public bus. If your call is a bus, here are some tips we hope you find helpful.

• Cancun has a public bus system just like every city in the world. Of course, many of the buses in use are not in as good shape as the ones you are used to, but it is the cheapest way to get around Cancun.

• The Cancun bus system works just like any city bus system, sorta.

• You find the main street and look for a bus stop sign. Usually a blue or black sign with a picture of a bus. Stand there and wait. If you know the bus you want and you see it coming, wave your arms. The bus will stop, you get on and pay.

• You used to have to keep your bus ticket to be collected later. It's no longer needed, but still, keep it. If anything, you'll have a weird souvenir from your trip.

• Know your destination or some of the places that are close to it. Look out the window and watch for your intended location. If you hear anybody speaking your language on the bus, ask them if they know your destination and how far, what side of the road.

• When you get to your destination, move quickly. Ring the buzzer if it works; if it doesn't work, scream ALTO! (STOP in Spanish) and walk to the door and exit.

• Do not rely on asking the driver to stop at your destination. Even if you do and the driver says okay, chances are he will forget.

• In the Cancun Hotel Zone, you can take any bus to go up and down the strip to any of the malls or beaches.

COST: Buses at the Hotel Zone are $12.00 pesos per ride. Peso coins only. American dollar bills are okay but expect not to get any change back, unless you ask for it (and even then you may not get it).

CANCUN BUS ROUTES

There are 4 bus routes that go into the Hotel Zone: R-1, R-2, R-15 & R-27.

• R-2 & R-15 go to Wal-Mart & Mercado 28.
• R-1 goes to Puerto Juarez, Wal-Mart, Mercado 23 and the Cancun bus station.
• R-27 travels on Tulum Ave and stops at Plaza Las Americas where you catch the "colectivo" to go south up Hwy 307 to Playa del Carmen - Tulum and all points in-between.

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Top Things to Do in Cancun to Welcome the New Year

This year is coming to an end, and everybody is getting ready to say goodbye to it. However the end of a cycle is the beginning of a new one, and for most people, this is the perfect opportunity to start fresh and do things different than before.

Cancun and the Riviera Maya are a fantastic destination to say goodbye to the year, either with a big party at one of the nightclubs or with a more private dinner in its excellent restaurants. But if you want to try something a little different this time, here are a few things you can try to welcome the New Year.

Fireworks show at the beach.

Dinner party at your hotel.
Some hotels throw wonderful New Year dinner parties with delicious food, great music, a fabulous ambiance, and even a fireworks show. (Check with the staff of your hotel for the events calendar as sometimes a reservation is needed)

Experience the sunrise at a beautiful Cancun beach.

See the dawn at the beach.

Get a beautiful tan and see the first light of the New Year at one of the gorgeous Cancun beaches. There’s no better place to admire the birth of a new day than the white sands and crystal blue waters of Cancun and the Riviera Maya.

Captain Hook pirate ships light up at midnight.

Go on a pirate adventure.
Enjoy a different experience with the fabulous pirate show of Captain Hook. Sail into an adventure and taste a delicious dinner with lobster tail and filet Mignon while music plays and the party goes on. You will also enjoy a beautiful firework show and a bottle of sparkling wine to sip on while the countdown begins.

Kukulkan pyramid in the Chichen Itza archaeological site.

Visit an archaeological site.

One of the most popular experiences is to visit one of the archaeological sites of Cancun and the Riviera Maya. With the believe that the strategic location of the ruins changes the way the Sun waves affect our bodies, many people gather at these places to feel their energies recharging and get through the next year with fewer troubles.

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The best places in Cancun for your New Year's Eve party

Some people during New Year's Eve prefer being with their families enjoying a relaxing and delightful dinner, but some people are the exceptions and prefer to hang out during this evening and party hard. If you're a party animal hungry for a blasting night, these are the best choices for a great night celebrating New Year's Eve in Cancún.

Coco Bongo

This nightclub is worldwide famous and is one of the best in Cancún. Here you can enjoy a great party but also the best night shows in town, with great music, dancers, trapeze artists and more.

Mandala Cancun

Have the night of your life in the Champagne Shower New Year's Eve party in Mandala. Great music and an excellent ambiance where you can party hard till morning.

Dady’O

One of the most iconic nightclubs in Cancun is Dady'O, and this New Year's Eve they'll throw an incredible party, including a Midnight Toast, buffet dinner, and music that will keep you dancing all night long.

La Vaquita

Last but not least, La Vaquita is a great option for your New Year's Eve party, with the perfect ambiance, great music and drinks of 1 lt (33oz), that will make your night unforgettable.

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The best restaurants in Cancun for your New Year's Eve dinner

New Year’s Eve is a moment to be thankful and start fresh a brand-new year surrounded by all your family and friends. Most of the people during this day share a delicious dinner with their families, but what if you're on vacations here in Cancún? If that is your case, don't worry, we have the best options for your New Year's Eve dinner in Cancún.

Rolandi’s Cancún

Located in Cancun’s Downtown, near from Tulum Avenue, it's one of the favorite restaurants in the city. Here you can enjoy a delicious Italian dinner.

Lorenzillos

Lorenzillo's is one of the most beautiful and romantic restaurants in Cancún. Located in the Hotel Zone, here you can enjoy a unique dinner, with a perfect view of Nichupte Lagoon.

Cenacolo

Located in the Hotel Zone, Cenacolo is one of the few restaurants in the city certified by the Italian Government as ambassadors of the authentic Italian food and traditions in México.

Marakame

If you want a relaxing and delightful New Year's Eve, Marakame is a perfect choice. Here you can enjoy a delicious gourmet dinner while you listen to live music, surrounded by plants and trees in a rustic and natural ambiance in Cancun's Downtown.

Crab House

Established in 1999, Crab House Restaurant & Marina provides the perfect setting to enjoy a lovely New Year's Eve dinner overlooking the Nichupte Lagoon.

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Top 4 nightclubs in Playa del Carmen

There are a lot of things to do in Playa del Carmen during the day: shopping, going to the beach, eat at some restaurant... but during the night, the best thing you can do in this young city is going out to a nightclub. These are the best options for your party in Playa del Carmen:

La Santanera

Located on 10th street, La Santanera is awesome. It has three different levels, each one with a different kind of music and a different kind of party. On the first level of Santa (how locals call it), you can enjoy a drink and have dinner while you watch a football match or maybe listen to a live reggae/ska band; on the second level you can dance till the sun comes out; the third level is an open air space where you can also dance but in a more chillax way.

Dolores

This tiny nightclub located on 12th Street will give you a good party-starter. At Dolores, you can start your night in Playa del Carmen with 1-liter drinks, good music, and great ambiance, right before you go the next nightclub.

La Mezcalinna

Another place where you can start your party in Playa del Carmen is La Mezcalinna. Here you can try all the varieties of mezcal and taste different flavor shots while you dance to the rhythm of the best live DJ's.

S.O.S. Lounge

This isn’t a nightclub like the others, but the party here on Sundays is lit. S.O.S. Lounge is a terrace-bar within Hostel 3B, located on Playa del Carmen’s 1st street, and to close the weekend with a flourish, they throw a party called Usual Sundays. It all begins at noon with some drinks by the pool and great live music. The best part? It last all day long till midnight.

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The legend of Xtabay

México has a lot of myths and stories that are passed down from generation to generation, and the Riviera Maya is not the exception. Thanks to the diversity of ancient pre hispanic civilizations during Mesoamerican times, there are many myths and legends in the region, but one of the most famous is that of Xtabay.

The legend tells the story of two women, Xtabay and Utz-Colel. Xtabay was very beautiful and good in her actions toward others, but she was a prostitute and for that she was criticized and cursed. On the other hand, Utz-Colel was pure and demure, but she was despicable and mean toward others.

One day, the villagers noticed that the Xtabay was missing, but nobody cared about her, until they started to smell a sweet aroma that came from her house. When they arrived they found the corpse of the Xtabay.

Utz-Colel couldn’t believed that the perfume came from the corpse of Xtabay, and she said that if that perfume came from a cursed and impure woman like Xtabay, her dead body would have a greater sweet aroma. Eventually, Utz-Colel died and her body emitted a terrible aroma, that reflected her true mean essence.

From the grave of Xtabay grew a delicate and humble flower named Xtabentun, and from the grave of Utz-Colel grew the flower of Tzacam, a cactus with a blooming flower, beautiful but with no perfume.

With the help of evil spirits, Utz-Colel came back to the living world using the identity of the beautiful Xtabay, to seduce men and take them to a fatal destination.

So gentlemen, watch out when you are walking under the moonlight and the stars. You´ll see her dressed in white, standing and shining on the ground. You´ll see her long black hair, and her hands brushing it softly. You´ll see her feet, like two small birds flying just above the ground. Then you´ll feel her eyes like two arrows stabbing you, and you can´t do anything.

Oh poor man, if you ever find her at night following your steps!

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Festival of Life and Death Traditions

The Day of the Dead is a very special Mexican holiday in which, every November 1st and 2nd, Mexican people celebrate the life of their relatives that have passed away. Something peculiar about Mexican people is how they embrace the death in a funny and colorful way, and the Day of the Dead is the perfect example of this particular characteristic.

This holiday comes from the prehispanic Mexican ancestors, and it’s celebrated differently across regions of Mexico. In the Yucatan Peninsula, the celebration is called Hanal Pixan ("food for the souls" in the Mayan language), and during these days people make altars with the food and things that their dead relatives used to like when they were alive.

Nowadays, every year this celebration is honored at Xcaret with the Festival of Life and Death Traditions, an extraordinary event that takes place from October 30th through November 2nd. During this festivity, you will be able to experience the Hanal Pixan, taste the great regional gastronomy, assist to workshops, art exhibitions, theater, dance and concerts. Also, you can enjoy the paradisiac Xcaret park and live a unique experience where you can learn about the ancient traditions of the Mayan culture and the beauty of the Riviera Maya’s nature. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this event.

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Top 5 beach clubs in Riviera Maya

Riviera Maya has beautiful beaches to relax and also great nightclubs where you can party all night long. But what happens when we combine those two things? We create the perfect day at the beach. The Riviera Maya has a lot of beach clubs that will offer you the opportunity to party during the day but also relax in front of the beach.These are the best beach clubs in the Riviera Maya, so check them out!

Mandala Beach

Located in the Party Center at the Hotel Zone, Mandala Beach is the best beach club in Cancun. Here you can relax on the beach or you can party at the pool listening to the best local and international dj’s.

Mamita’s Beach Club

Located on 28th street in Playa del Carmen, Mamita’s Beach Club is one of the best beach clubs in the Riviera Maya, with the best music and the best events, like BPM Festival, Riviera Maya Jazz Festival, DJ Fest, Winterbeach and Corona Sunset Music Festival.

Kool Beach Club

Just across Mamita’s Beach Club, still in the 28th street, you’ll find Kool Beach Club. With more accessible prices than its neighbour, Kool Beach Club offers you a nice place to relax and enjoy the beach.

Unico Beach

Located in the fisher village of Puerto Morelos, this place is perfect for relaxing with a good dinner and drink at the beach. Also it has very accessible prices, so don’t miss the opportunity of visiting this place.

Coralina Daylight Club

Located on 26th street in Playa del Carmen, Coralina Daylight Club is one of the most exclusive and glamorous beach clubs in the Riviera Maya. With parties every day, this place will provide you one of the best daylight experiences in Playa del Carmen.

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Top 5 nightclubs in Cancun

One of the best things to do in Cancun is going to any of the nightclubs located in the Party Center in the Hotel Zone. But if you don’t know where to go, do not worry, these are the best nightclubs in Cancun where you can party like an animal:

Dady’O

Founded in 1989, Dady’O is one of the most famous nightclubs in Cancun with excellent dj’s. The design of the entrance will make you feel like you’re entering a cave where you’ll have the time of your life.

Palazzo

One of the most glamorous nightclubs in Cancun is definitely Palazzo. With giants chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, great local and international dj’s and the best ambience, this place is a must when you come to Cancun.

Mandala

This nightclub is synonymous of party. With an eastern atmosphere, Mandala is an obligated visit during your vacations in Cancun. The open spaces and majestic decoration of this nightclub makes it one of the best in the city.

Coco Bongo

In Coco Bongo you’ll have the party of your life with great shows of flying acrobats, artists and dancers doing wonderful musical and movie tributes including Batman, Tron, Michael Jackson, Madonna and more.

The City

And last but not least, the most emblematic nightclub in Cancun. Founded in 2004, The City is the biggest nightclub in Latin America, with a capacity of 6000 people, and house the best dj shows, presenting artists like Steve Aoki, NERVO, Paul Van Dyk, Tiesto and many more. This nightclub only opens on fridays, but totally worth it.

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