Staying in Cancun

[Melecio]

I am going to be in Cancun from June 23-28. On June 29, I will be departing from cancun at 7 am. If i stay in Tulum I will have to leave Tulum at 4 AM, Really early. I am considering to stay one night in Cancun so I do not have to get up at 4AM and drive for 1 1/2 hours. Any sugestions about a hotel in cancun?

I want to thank all of you who answer my Car Rental Concerns. I feel that I will be using Easy Way Car rental. They seem to have better cars.

Thanks

[Gale in KY]

Rather than an overnight in Cancun, I would suggest Puerto Morelos, which is actually closer to the airport than Cancun Centro is. Puerto Morelos has a beautiful stretch of beach, great restuarants, reasonably priced accomodations and something you can't get in Cancun...a quaint, village atmosphere. Although it's only 20 minutes south of the airport, it has been "overlooked" for the most part by big development and has retained it's small town feel.

I found it to be reminiicent of Daytona Beach or Myrtle Beach from days gone by..back when the beaches there were lined with little mom/pop hotels..quite enjoyable and a bit of back to my childhood, remembering the fun trips I made as a child to the sea.

Ojo De Agua has rooms around $60 (or less) a night, a great little beachfront restaurant. Hacienda Morelos looks lovely and is less than $100 a night. If you don't mind staying a block off the beach, there are any number of little hacienda type hotels for less than the cost of a good meal.

Staying in PM would mean with a 7am flight, you could wait until 5am to leave for the airport. You really should get to the airport a minimum of 1 1/2 hrs before a charter flight, 2 hrs for a commercial flight. I had a 7am flight home in 2006, got the airport at 5:30 and it was fine, but there were alot more people departing than I expected at that hour of the morning. We stayed in Xpuha, about 45 minutes from the airport, but got a late start that morning. Remember, for interntional flights, if you do not check in 60 minutes minimum before your flight departure time, they can deny boarding.

If you remain in Tulum that last night, allow 2 hrs to get to the airport. Make arrangements with Jesus at Easyway to meet you at the airport to pick up the car rather than go to the office and then be shuttled...it will save time, and their office is not even open at the time of the am anyway. I don't think you can go wrong with Easyway, they have always treated me more than right. If you get the car we had in May, just be sure not to touch it until the driver starts the car...the alarm is fully functioning and malfunctioning at the same time...lol!

[minniemex]

I would choose to stay in PM also. This is a great finish to any trip!!

[Lynnette]

Make that three votes for PM. We did the same thing last year and it was an easy way to return our car and make a 10 AM flight. We arrived at Hacienda Morales early afternoon and enjoyed the pool, beach and cute little beach bars. There are many fun restaurants, shops and a lovely town square which is perfect for relaxing and people watching.

[minniemex]

Say Lynnette~ how was the shopping there?? Would it be a good place to save to do all your shopping there??

[AmoTulum]

We just returned from Tulum last week, we had a similar issue. Our flight left at 7am. We left our hotel in Cancun (Ambiance Villas) at 415 am and made it to easy way at 5. It took us almost 45 minutes, it was dark and then we missed the exit and had to drive down 307, and look for the next retorno- blah! Someone had been waiting for us at easy way at 4:30. He then drove us to the airport, which took like 5 mins.Ok, having said all this.

1. Yes, stay in PM. After being in Tulum for 9 days, no a/c, no tv, radio, etc. We were very overwhelmed with Cancun. I had sensory overload. Too many teens, loud music, people selling you tours etc.
2. I do recommend Villas, if you must stay in Cancun. I got the room on points, so not sure of the price. It was very family oriented. Small, nice beach. Very calm water, nice pool, clean rooms. It was fine. I would stay there again.
3. It took us about 45 minutes to check in. There was a long line, etc. If you aren't checking luggage, you'll be good, otherwise, I wouldn't recommend leaving at 5 from you're destination. 4:30 is good. We barely made it.
4. Yes, easy way is open early.However, windycity's suggestion to have someone meet you at the airport is a great idea! Why I didn't think of that is beyond me ;)

[Lynnette]

Say Lynnette~ how was the shopping there?? Would it be a good place to save to do all your shopping there??


Besides the shops around the square, there is also an artisans outdoor market down one of the side roads. I didn't think that prices were any better than I found other places and the selection wasn't as good. However, it's always fun to shop, and I did get a wonderful silver turtle pendant for a very good price at a very nice jewelry store on the square. I wouldn't save shopping for PM...just add to what you already have. ;):)

[james]

I would recommend the 4am ride to the airport. No traffic. Smooth sailing.

That way you can avoide the hassle of another move... checkout/checkin cycle.

You're still going to have to get up early for a 7am flight, no matter where your departure point, and the early hour minimizes the transit time from Tulum. Sleep on the plane :)

[Lynnette]

Gale - didn't you make a very early trip to the airport from Xpu-ha? How did that go?

If you decide to depart from Tulum, be sure to leave yourself lots of time, even at four am. You never know if you will encounter an accident or construction blocks. We did (and it was very early morning) and it took us over two hours from Akumal to Cancun. I was so nervous that we would miss our flight, and that's when we decided that we wouldn't risk that long of a drive on departure day again.

[james]

It's going to be pretty rare that somebody would have that sort of bad luck! (hopefully!). Typically 4am=smooth sailing. For example, my Playa-Cancun 2:30am trip last time was smooth sailing... with my wife having contractions in the back seat. :)

[lynnwatx]

A couple of years ago we got in late and stayed in Cancun before driving to Chichen Itza the next day- we stayed at a little hotel called Casa Margareta in town- not the beach loop. Cheap and easy!

[twirls]

Done both. Stayed in 05 in old downtown Cancun at Hotel Kin-Mayab. Its the old Novotel. It was 70.00. Nice older hotel with lots of shopping and restaurants nearby. Also on site parking. This year we stayed the last night Puerto Morelos and I prefer that. At least you are on the beach for coffee when you wake up the last morning! Stayed at Ojo de Agua and it was decent & clean for 60.00. Great breakfast! Shopping was cheap in PM compared to Tulum and PDC. Not as many places to shop or as good a selection, but definately cheaper! Stay away from Pelicanos. Breakfast was terrible! Service was lacking twice.