Bob Walker's Official New Orleans Area Wedding Guide
HONEYMOONING IN CANCUN
By Scott Walker and Jennifer Tregre Walker
Hi, remember us? We were on the cover of the Fall 2000 issue of the Wedding Guide. We were married on Memorial Day weekend and followed a wonderful wedding day with a fabulous honeymoon. We'd like to share our experiences with you, so that it might result in your own dream honeymoon in an affordable tropical paradise!
We thought about Jamaica. We considered Barbados. We really liked the Virgin Islands. Cancun was always in the mix. When it was time to decide, Cancun emerged as the clear winner of our honeymoon sweepstakes for a number of reasons. The deciding factor, however, was affordability. Our honeymoon was built around an all-inclusive package at The Cancun Palace, a 545-room water paradise near the heart of downtown Cancun.
Heading into this adventure, our first all-inclusive experience, we really did not know what to expect...but were pleasantly surprised. Upon arrival on a Sunday we easily checked in, had a wristband slapped on us and basked in marital bliss for the next four days. With an all-inclusive package just about everything you do at the hotel for the duration of the stay is included. That means food, drinks and tipsdid I mention drinks? The wristband is also good at any other Palace Resort in Cancun, which includes The Beach Palace, Moon Palace and Sun Palace. You can eat their food too.
The food was excellent and included a wide variety of dishes each time we ventured into any of the hotel's dining areas. Everything is set up buffet style, so there is very little wait to feed your face after a long day in the water. In all approximately 53 other hotels, including the Ritz-Carlton, dot Cancun's "Tourist District" or "Hotel Zone," the area that includes most of the hotels and nightlife.
The nightlife ranges from rather tame times in downtown Cancun's flea market/bazaar area where everyone wants to make you a "deal," to a much wilder time at any one of the island's numerous nightclubs.
When shopping anywhere in Cancun, with the exception of bona fide businesses such as the downtown mall where prices are basically set and employees are well behaved, vendors will pester you like your business is their last chance for survival. The best things to do is smile and keep walking until you see a store you actually want to go in. At the downtown flea markets, once you are inside the cramped cubicles everything is negotiable. Shop around. Everyone says their deal is the best, but you can usually find a better deal two or three stores down. Have fun with the sales people and name your own price if you do not like their best offer. Usually they will make a reasonable deal with you. Beware of "Three T-shirts for ten dollars" sales. Look closely at the shirts, they are probably very thin and cheaply made. One wash back in the U.S. and you will not wear it again.
Cancun becomes more and more "Americanized" each year. As you cruise through downtown, you will notice many familiar sites. Dominos Pizza, Baskin Robbins, Burger King, McDonald's and Friday's are just some of the eateries that will make you feel close to home.
Remember to drink bottled water while dining in Cancun. The water in Mexico is contaminated and can cause illnesses. Most restaurants and all of the big hotels in Cancun use purified water, but it never hurts to double check. Being laid up in bed for a couple of days does not make for a fun honeymoon.
Assuming you will not be sick in bed once nighttime rolls around, put on those dancin' shoes. Some of the more popular dance spots include Club La Boom, Carlos and Charlie's and Tequila Boom. Some of Cancun's most popular bars are also big in the United States. Planet Hollywood, Pat O'Briens and Hard Rock Café, among others, line Blvd. Kukulkan and draw scores of tourists each night who stay well into the morning.
If you are sober enough after a day or two in Cancun, it is time to venture out and take advantage of some of the many outdoor activities that the area has to offer.
The Mayan Ruins are one of Mexico's biggest attractions. Chichen Itza is one of the largest and dates back to 600 AD and the Mayan civilization. In the center it features the pyramid of Kulkulcan and it's accompanying buildings.
Also worth seeing are the ruins of Tulum, Coba, Uxmal, Monte Alban and Mitla. Any excursion to the Mayan Ruins will take the better part of a day, so prepare to be gone for a while. The day trips are taken on fully air-conditioned buses and, on some trips, drinks and snacks will be served.
Isla Mujeres is about six miles from Cancun and features three beautiful beaches. The trip to "The Island of the Women" is complete with a "Booze Cruise" and snorkeling. Incidentally, your trip to Isla Mujeres will not include a bunch of wild women who run up to greet the boat when you arrive.
Cozumel Island is just a short ferry ride from Cancun. For avid snorkelers or divers, this is a must. Cozumel is known as one of the greatest diving destinations in the world, featuring beautiful reefs and shallow coral formations. Palancar Reef, the second largest in the world and a national park, was hailed by French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as one of the world's best diving sites. Snorkelers can also enjoy the underwater beauty of Cozumel. Both Colombia and Palancar reefs have plateaus in less than 30 feet of water. At Chankanaab Lagoon divers and snorkelers can see small coral and limestone formations at 6 to 30 feet. Most of the dive sites can only be reached by boat, except for those just off the hotel beaches and at Chankanaab Lagoon. Dive trips can easily be scheduled through your travel agency's representative in Cancun. Make sure that any tour scheduled is done through a reputable organization in Cancun or Cozumel. A lot of people there are out to make a quick buck and couldn't care less if you ever go on the tour.
Back on Cancun Island you can rent Jet-skis to pass the time or try your hand at Parasailing. Or maybe driving a speedboat is more your "speed"? The Jungle Tour is both affordable and fun. The trip includes a 45-minute boat ride through the beautiful Caribbean Sea to a reef where your group will snorkel for a while then make the trip back to Cancun. A relaxing evening can be spent on the beach watching the sun set or stars fall from the sky.
All in all, our honeymoon in Cancun was a great experience. All-inclusive is the way to go if you are watching what you spend. Trip costs vary depending on the time of year, but ours was very economical. We departed on a Sunday and returned on a Thursday. The trip's cost (airfare and hotel) was extremely affordable. We spent another $500 on souvenirs and things for us and that was it.
SOME FINAL TIPS:
Before departing the U.S. you will need a passport or a picture I.D. and a copy of your birth certificate. If you do not have those with you, you will not be leaving the county.
When arriving at the airport in Cancun, avoid salesmen there. You will get a better price for whatever you are looking for later in your trip. Also, have the customs forms you receive on the plane completely filled out. Be prepared to stand in a long customs line that moves slowly.
When traveling around Cancun, ride the city buses when possible rather than cabs. A ride from your hotel to downtown could cost upwards of five dollars in a cab. On the city bus, it will cost about one dollar (or 10 pesos) for two people to ride anywhere.
The exchange rate for American money is running about nine pesos to the dollar. Keep track of your pesos - it is very easy to start spending a lot of money and not realize it.
Explore duty-free shopping. You can bring a certain amount of merchandise back to the U.S. without paying duty on it. When entering Mexico, do not bring more than $10,000 U.S. with you or you must pay duty on it.
We still relive our honeymoon memories often through our photographs and souvenirs from our romantic honeymoon in Cancun. It's all waiting for you too. Just be sure to salute all of us back home as you sip your Hurricanes.