Hotel Zone, Cancún

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Favorite thing: The lower part of the 7 has many, many great beaches. I love the white, powdery sand, and the clear, turquoise, blue warm water! I haven't really seen any bad beaches there! The norther and southern hotel zone beaches are both great. You can have a great time snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, parasailing, snorkeling and dinner cruises, or taking trips to Isla Mujeres and Cozumel. The shopping is great, I think Isla Mujeres has the best prices, away from the hotel zone. Chitzenitza can't be beat- the history is fascinating. And, the night clubs are fun, to take a break, and enjoy a drink after a long day at the beach!The Cancun beaches in Cancun at Girasol, and Villas Marlin are great - white sand and lovely blue water. We have more snorkeling areas to suggest at www.beachcondocancun.dom/thingstodo.asp

Fondest memory: I love boogie boarding, or snorkeling in the warm, clear water. Snorkeling is great in Cozumel or Isla Mujeres, and I hear there are places in Cancun that are good as well. There is something very relaxing being underwater, seeing the beautiful fish, and it being so quiet and peaceful. The feeling of just floating, and being weightless is a really neat feeling, also.

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Favorite thing: The Zona Hotelera is where the resorts and most hotels are located. It is an island, with the open sea on one side an inlet on the other. Although very thin (there is one road down the Zona Hotelera, and almost no side roads!), it stretches over 15kms.

The Zona Hotelera is as touristy as a place can get. It makes very few concessions to the mexican way of life. Huge hotels, expensive designer shops, souvenirs and nightclubs are its reason d'étre.

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Favorite thing: The hotel zone is where the beaches are. And they are indeed beautiful. The sand is very white and never gets hot--even in the heat of the day. Choose your hotel by deciding what you want to do. For example, if you want to swim in the ocean, make sure your hotel has a nice beach where the water is not too rough. Those closer to the point have rougher water. The point is where the action is as far as restaurants and shopping. So if you're more interested in those things, choose one on the point. The buses cover the entire length. Soem hotels are all inclusive, but we chose not to do this because we wanted to be out and about a lot. We were told not to drink the water and we didn't. We all still had a mild stomach discomfort for about three weeks after returning from the first trip. After the second trip, the discomfort was milder and did not last as long.

Fondest memory: My fondest memory of Cancun is the sheer beauty of the place. There were always blue skies and sunshine, beautiful clear blue water and beautiful hotels. I also remember the day trips, Chichen Itza and Isla Mujeres, which were new experiences and great fun. The tour guides were wonderful. They were very friendly and witty. If you are a drinker, the cat to Isla Mujeres supplied all you wanted. The people in Cancun know you are a tourist spending your money there and they will try very hard to please you.

Favorite thing: This is, according to me, a building that houses a few shops and a restaurant that will open till 2005 (called "ty-coz" or something like that)... I really liked it because it has a touch of typically Mexican colonial architecture, which isn't very common in Cancun!! I know it sounds ridiculous but the big and magnificent hotels you can find here usually have every kind of style except for Mexican. So I was glad to find a building that does look like Mexican, and which reminds you that you're in MEXICO!!!!

Favorite thing: A word on Cancun... The trend over the last 10 years at this destination has been an overwhelming number of all inclusive packages being offered by Hotels in the Hotel Zone.
While these offers are very attractive, I would recommend two things:
First
...understand that the resorts in the Hotel Zone are NOT located in a dangerous area. Many people are quick to categorize Cancun as a place located in a culturally rich and economically poor area of Mexico. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Indeed the vast majority of development along the Hotel Zone has been completed since 1990. Having said that, there are many who buy into an all inclusive and remain couped up in their hotel/resort for the duration of their stay, when the majority of the exicitement, nightlife, restaurants and other attractions are just minutes down the boulevard by bus or cab.
Don't be afraid to take a bus. They are cheap, safe and plentiful. I prefer a cab, but if this is your first trip, be sure to check with your concierge regarding reasonable cab fare rates to your destination.
Restaurants are much cheaper in town (Cancun Centro) and a bit more "authentic".
But then again, if you're looking for authentic Mexican culture, odds are you're not going to find it in this area of Mexico.
Secondly
...if you do insist on going AI, do some research. There are many hotels that have attractive deals, but many still that don't deliver on their promises.

Fondest memory: uhhh...huh huh. huh.

Favorite thing: Stay on the beach. When you stay in a hotel on the lagoon you may have access to the beach but you will have to rent chairs. Other hotels will not let you use their chairs especially if crowded. Some hotels like RIU will not even let you walk on the sand where the hotel is.
Stay in the hotel zone so that you have a nice view. Downtown is not dangerous just not pretty.
It is best to stay near the Plaza Forum of the Sea / Plaza Caracol and El Embarcadero areas. Here shopping and nightlife is within walking distance. El Embarcadero is closer to downtown. In both you will still need a bus or taxi to take you to the locations

Fondest memory: http://www.internetcancun.net/cancunmap.htm

Favorite thing: This is the beach and the marina outside of the resort we stayed at. Very beautiful water and excellant snorkeling.

Almost every one wore a bathing suit, however, several women were observed sun tanning topless. I don't know what the rules are here, but you might want to find out if you are taking your children with you.

Favorite thing: If you need help in selecting a hotel, this is a great map of the hotel zone

http://www.cancun-map.com/map_cancunzh_ing.asp

The Cancun hotel zone is shaped like a 7, hotels with addresses on Kukulcan from km 0 to km 8 are at the top of the 7 closer to downtown Cancun and the ferries to Isla Mujeres, hotels from km 8 to km 20 are on the bottom part of the 7 are closer to the airport and the Riveria Maya activities.

Hotels from km 8 to km 10 are on the bend of the 7, this is where many of the tourist oriented shops and restaurants are.