Great video. I love Cancun, Isla Mujures and Playa Del Carman.

We just got back from our annual trip to Live Aqua Cancun. I find the airport a breeze especially if you just do a carry on. We were at the resort within 45 minutes. Cancun is one of our favorite vacation spots

Spot on! Love the end with your truthful review - it does really depend on what's most important to you. We've been to the Riviera Maya area the past 8 years and we're returning this year and have always felt safe at the resorts we've chosen and use caution accordingly. May be doing carry on only this year for the first time to avoid the baggage claim waits that seem to be happening.

I’ve been to Cancun before as a stop on a cruise ,but have been a little worried about safety recently. So many of the resorts look amazing though! I did enjoy your “Take Precautions” section. Well stated! Fabulous video as always!

Love your videos 😊. I always find out a new piece of information from you and thr other posters. 🎉

I'm confused, we went last year to Majestic Elegance in Costa Mujeres and with the electronic entry system all the way to the left of the entry portal, it took us all of 5 min to go through immigration with no hassle and very helpful welcome guides . It took longer to get our bags (20 min), we had a van already lined up with the company having a presence outside the terminal guiding us to our waiting van, took around 10 min total to worm our way around the mass of people outside the terminal. The resort was nothing short of amazing with very good food, entertainment, great staff and Costa Mujeres beaches are really nice with clean water calm due to Isle Mujeres a few miles off shore blocking a lot of the seagrass, rough currents and NO beach sales people as the Police and Military have the Costa Mujeres peninsula on lockdown with one road in and one road out with a checkpoint at the start of the peninsula. A major negative is if you do not book an individual tour, going on tours is a nightmare as you are first to be picked up (very early AM) and the very last to be dropped off which leads to a very very loooong day. If it were not for Costa Mujeres I would take a pass on staying in Cancun proper (Been there and done that too many times) unless you want the night life or in your 20's and 30's who likes to club, venture down to Playa or Tulum for a better more relaxing experience.

Hi Vanessa, thanks for doing this video. I heard a lot of people are cruising these days instead of staying a resorts. I am hoping to stay at a resort in the Riviera area later this year. Keep u the good work - love your radio voice. take care.

Seaweed is a huge turnoff. The Caribbean islands give options. If one beach is full of seaweed there are generally always other options without it . Also, unfortunately, Mexico customer service has gone down hill. I am married to a Latina and I get treated bad just because of that by the men. It’s a weird dynamic.

Thanks Vanessa, as always, this is good info. I've been on the fence for awhile for Cancun. If I had to decide today, I'd liley take a pass on Cancun.

Love Cancun! We go there multiple times a year using our travel points. Never had a problem at the airport in fact, compared to a lot of airports in the US they seem much better staffed and much more friendly. Multiple lounges to choose from is also a bonus. Such a short nonstop flight from Charlotte, and usually for very few points!

Being a foodie, Cancun isn't ideal, but I like to be spoiled, and I feel the resorts fit that perfectly. Living in Florida, Cancun just feels like Florida to me, yet Cancun is cheaper. Despite the crowds, it is still less crowded than Florida's most popular beaches. I live 30 minutes from Siesta Key and haven't been there for 6 years, but I've been to Cancun 4 times in that time period.

Thank you again Vanessa! I LOVE Cancun and I will be back there later this fall! Your insights are ALWAYS appreciated and respected, keep up the great work! 🙂

Thanks!

Excellent review vanessa❤

Hi Vanessa, I love your honest opinion videos. More please. Although I want to visit other countries, its the high level of service and quality of the resorts that keep us coming back. The service leaves you feeling like royalty. This year, we are headed to Unico. I hope this will be our last visit to Mexico for the near future. However, if they wow us at Unico, there is a strong possibility we will be back.

I loved cancun I went out there by myself I had a good time as long as u have all your documents no problem definitely going back

Can you do a Jamaica video again please, I booked to go secrets but reviews are saying it’s gone downhill

Just returned from EPM. Weather and water was great!

Hi Vanessa...we got back from Excellence El Carmen in May...fantastic holiday and post forthcoming for the group...funny that you had a couple videos about Cancun lately...we looked a few weeks ago for a quick trip over Thanksgiving and the prices were shocking compared to previous trips. We looked today and noticed the hotel rates have fallen 20%+ through Chase Travel, flights to Cancun decreased moderately, and coming home Sunday is still high but what do you expect for a holiday weekend. We booked the trip and will have a beach Thanksgiving...a first for us. Cheers!

You reading my mind again lol... Heading to the new Secrets Playa Blanca next week lol

Good video, not sure why it didn't come up in my feed 😮 ❤❤❤❤went to the page to see if there were any new videos saw that l missed another one.ty!❤

Great video. Cancun Zona Hoteleira is my favorite beach. I can see the downsides, though.

Your assessment is spot on Vanessa ! Cancun has the largest selection of resorts and so many different areas to stay in. While there are many I places that i desire to go to that i have never been to, Cancun is always an easy trip to plan & book, especially flying in from NCAL. I have been many times. Question- What is the resort you feature at 3:30 and 11:10 mark? It is huge!

Last week I was looking for a hotel for a solo trip in September. The Mexico hotels were $$ . I have enough points for Delta to get a free flight. I went with Punta Cana . Trying the Paradisus chain this time.

I think it really comes down to people’s personal experiences. I was one that was afraid and always said I would never go to Mexico for years. As a a Canadian we always hear of all the bad things that happen to Canadians there etc over the years. My friend and I decided to venture out into Mexico in 2022 first time travel after pandemic. We stayed at Barcelo in Riviera Maya. We loved it and we returned last summer in 2023 and stayed at Bahia. I personally felt safer in Playa Del Carmen than I did within Punta Cana when I first went in 2018. Yes the airport part I agree we experienced the shark tank hall on our first visit and even after all the videos I watched on the airport to prep we still got pressured and tried get us sucked into the time share thing. As well as last year with a worker at the Bahia premiere trying to sell us using a free breakfast to sit on a 3 hour demo we got out of it after. But those few negative experiences wont deter us from going back they just experiences we know for future and not like we were not prepared we all know that stuff is big in Mexico. As Canadians we are known to frequent Cuba which I been 4 times but unfortunately now its a hit and miss there and they are having huge issues trying to come back from pandemic and country is in shambles sadly. So hence why more Canadians flocking to Mexico in the last few years but the price point is a miss as its getting so expensive there even since 2022 its gone up like crazy. Unfortunately besides Cuba which remains dirt cheap compared to every other Caribbean destination there is not much choice anymore for alternative.

Vanessa, first I want to say that I love your videos. I look forward to them every month. I haven't been to Mexico since 2010 when I went to Playa Del Carmen. At that time we felt perfectly safe walking around town at 2AM. I never found the beaches to be very good in Mexico then or in the 5 times I was in Cancun. Weather was Shakey most of the time. What makes it a big NO for me most of all is the safety factor. There are way too many corrupt police. I'd sooner go to the Dominican Republic over Mexico or Jamaica. I would go to Jamaica over Mexico and I'm not super comfortable with any of them. Plus I haven't noticed any price drops for Mexico resorts given the drop off in tourism. Many people would take the chance if the prices were better.

In 20+ trips to Mexico I have yet to stay in Cancun. A tall sky rise hotel with 1 small pool and 1 small section of beach doesn't interest me and just the people associated in a smaller foot print. I prefer the large hotels to the south with a huge tree lined beach and multiple pools and lots of lush grounds to walk around. I have had pools to myself and sat on the beach with 20 unoccupied chairs around me. service means nothing to us we can get our own drinks view means nothing to us why sit in a hotel room and look at the view when I can be out and part of the view.

I've chosen Mexico many times for my vacations in the past and raved about it to many friends: wonderful resorts, beaches, history, waterparks, there is a bit of everything for everyone. However, I found that the prices of the luxury resorts have skyrocketed. Cancun / Riviera Maya used to be one of the best bang for your buck. Now, it seems like many Caribbean islands offer great options at comparable or lower prices (ex: Jamaica, Curaçao, DR, etc.). The sargassum is a big factor as well. I will most likely come back in the future, but I am now more interested by exploring the many islands the Caribbean has to offer.

I prefer Cabo. The only problem in Cabo is the water being so cold there, in the very few swimmable beaches. I highly recommend Palmillas beach. You have to go through a country club to get there, but the view is gorgeous. There's only a few palapas, so, if you're not going to arrive early, you might want to take your beach umbrella with you. There's clean toilets and showers there, too.

I love Cancun…living in South Texas it’s so easy to get to. 2 hour flight from Austin and we’re there. We go 2-3 times a year. We only take carry on’s so we have not had any issues at the airport at all. We also use the transportation that the hotel provides (which as been great). Our favorite is hotel is Beloved in Playa Mujeres. It’s small and quiet. We’ve been to several all-inclusives all over but we never get the service that we receive in Mexico. For the money it’s our top choice currently. Great video, thanks!

I know it sounds crazy. But the smoking law changes have had a huge impact. I am a non-smoker. But 6 times per year in Mexico, we talk to a lot to businesses and visitors,

the costs have gone up, sharply this year and eveyone on Facebook groups are talking about it. It's easy to book and avoid the sargasso.

My favorite Caribbean spot I’ve been almost every island in the Caribbean and it’s still my favorite and the one thing that most people dislike is my favorite part. It’s because it’s built up i love having so many hotel choices and that there really is 3 different areas to give you a different vacation

Hi Vanessa! For the past 4 years I am using your videos for all inclusive. You are the best❤🎉 First time going to travel by myself. Looking for great beech, spa and not too far from the airport. Mexico or Dominican Republic. Do you have any videos for this kind of customer?

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE CANCUN, WONT EVER STOP GOING BACK.

I agree with your assessments - we travel during Nov -Dec - last two trips were underwhelming - Costs $6k to $7K (flights eating up alot of that) and cant get a hot meal or a decent drink - but properties and staff are fantastic- For us the misses have been Secrets Akumal and Iberostar Grand Pariso - all these hotels bring in these big groups for one night events nearly daily and they take over the entire property - The Cancun airport has probably the worst restroom facilities ever - considering how much money has been spent renovating it - its still 3rd world facilities- even the self serve immigration kiosks were slower than just waiting in line for an officer. Guy Fieri charges $80 for two hamburgers/fries and two pepsi's there :)

I was scared about that airport arriving and departing on a Saturday. Quick through customs and not many hassles in the tour cattleshoot. Easy on the way out through security. I may have gotten lucky though.

Watching this on the beach at secrets Maroma, I completely agree Cancun is overrated. We did the new automated customs and were plane to outside transportation in 15-20 mins I was pumped! I just put my head down and walk fast through the “shark tank”. But I’ll skip the main Cancun drag

Me and my wife have been goin to Cancun for the last 7 years,yearly..The resort price's have increased dramatically, the harassment at the airport getting searched 2 sometimes 3 times on the way in and out... And especially the new tabbacco law not allowing you to bring in your own products..Mexico is My favorite place to vacation but there making it to much of a pain in the ass...Safety has never been an issue..

We keep going back to Cancun because the level of service is unlike anywhere else we've been in the world. It's just Top Tier and we haven't even been to resorts on the level of Le Blanc.

I love cancun❤ went in the 90s . Went recently. Same lovely place. .i cannot go again.....

Hi Vanessa can you post for handicap friendly resort

I totally agree it's crowded starting to get expensive.

Can you do a review Iberostar Cancun

Hi Vanessa,I recently read an article that the "Sargassum" this year (2024), is going to be the very WORST hitting all the beaches in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico! QUESTION: What areas of the Caribbean would you recommend where the sea weed will be less or not an issue??

Yes I’ve been saying this for 2 years and I’m on a carribean tour and have found island much better then Cancun but great info as usual Vanessa

Enjoyed Cancun on many visits however haven't been back since '05 - main reason ALLLLLLLL the timeshare people...

Never going back to Mexico.

Yes, it’s overrated! I just came back in May and I’m from the Caribbean, but the amount of people trying to up-sale you is insane. Even at the “5 star” hotels. They kept trying to sell their freaking vacation club to us. Their generic “hand-made” crafts are also wayyyy overpriced. I’d say go to Belize or maybe Costa Rica instead.

its crime and the army doing security

I don't like Cancun at all. I used to request on my college years, but now, in my mid 40's, I'll pass. Haven't been to Mexico in over 10+ years. I'm very concerned about safety.

How's safety not a main factor?

I have ALWAYS thought Cancun was overrated.

first

Cancun has always been a budget destination for a lot of people & with the cost of flights alone being up over 35% there's no doubt a lot of people just cant afford to go any more. Trump 2024