Winter 2014/15

[thrill]

Chicago is a phenomenal city and the weather serves only to keep out the weak and petulant.

[Hoot45]

Chicago is a phenomenal city and the weather serves only to keep out the weak and petulant.

Or to keep in the stubborn and dumb.

[jim]

Planning the winter trip to Mexico. Quite frankly, I've already had enough. Spring can't get here soon enough.

[Hoot45]

Planning the winter trip to Mexico. Quite frankly, I've already had enough. Spring can't get here soon enough.

Nice. Where to? I did Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving last year and it was excellent. Really thinking about making it an annual trip.

[Dillagii]

Jim, they have new word for this now. Last year it was polar vortex and this year it's Artic Blast )

[jim]

Planning the winter trip to Mexico. Quite frankly, I've already had enough. Spring can't get here soon enough.

Nice. Where to? I did Puerto Rico over Thanksgiving last year and it was excellent. Really thinking about making it an annual trip.

Cancun. My wife and I went for the first time last January, and we decided before we left we would be back the next year and probably the year after that and the year after that. I can't think of a single person that I know that has only been once. The cost/convenience of getting there just can't be beat - it's cheap, it's beautiful, it's safe (it's safer than Orlando), and it's a 3.5 hour direct flight. It's cheaper and warmer and you have more cultural options going to Cancun than you do south Florida.

I loved Puerto Rico, although I was there on New Years Eve one year and feared for my life. They just shoot weapons off in the air.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

The pluses of going to Cancun are pretty tangible. It is cheaper than a lot of other Caribbean options with more or just as many amenities, and it is pretty easy to get to. The beach is absolutely amazing. Playa del Carmen is just a cab ride away. The weather is primo. Public transit is cheap and available. I always felt like it was a very safe place, and I don't just mean in a not getting stabbed type of way. But, the roads, boats, security, etc were all very top notch.

But, the minuses are also there. It's super touristy and busy and not very intimate. And, when I went, it seemed the place was wired to take advantage of tourists. Having to keep track of the little ticket they give you on the way in that has to be returned on the way out is a nightmare and meant just to extort people leaving. The staff everywhere is constantly digging for tips. The slightest mess up on your part, like losing a key or something seems to be a big deal (and by that I mean it costs a lot of $$$). And, I'm sure this might just be a personal nitpick, but I got the feeling that people were nice but their end goal was to get a tip. In other places, people seem to be nicer and do so for the reason of promoting their country/island/way of life. Like...look at how awesome we are vs look how nice I can be....you should tip me....a lot.

In short, I like Cancun a lot despite a few drawbacks.

[jim]

That is a completely fair criticism. It is a hard sales pitch everywhere for everything. And you practically get attacked when you leave the resort. The only things we did were to go to Xcaret (didn't buy any of the extras they were trying to sell us on the bus, and I'm glad I didn't buy them) and the Coco Bongo. Next year I think we will do the Mayan ruins one day, and then that will be it. Just drink and eat and hangout on the beach.

[AWvsCBsteeeerike3]

That is a completely fair criticism. It is a hard sales pitch everywhere for everything. And you practically get attacked when you leave the resort. The only things we did were to go to Xcaret (didn't buy any of the extras they were trying to sell us on the bus, and I'm glad I didn't buy them) and the Coco Bongo. Next year I think we will do the Mayan ruins one day, and then that will be it. Just drink and eat and hangout on the beach.

Yeah, that's certainly true. But I think it's the same most places like Cancun that you're going to visit. And, I don't much mind that. Hey, they're just trying to sell you something which is better than a taxi driver sitting there after getting a bag out of a trunk and expecting $5 instead of $1, but I digress. Anyway, those guys are just selling something, and if you just say no, they'll leave you alone. They've got other people to sell to; you're obviously not the only person there. And, talk about fun. I love negotiating with them. I had a negotiation go on with a guy for 3 days. Three days! In America you don't get that chance very often. I love those sales people, really. Talkative mofos!

[jim]

I didn't mind either, I generally had fun with them. We went into the actual town of Cancun and really enjoyed that, and man did I find some great buys. I bought a guayabera shirt hand made in Mexico that was just primo quality - easily a $100 shirt in the U.S. and I got it for $35. I only bought one which I'm kicking myself for, I'm praying I can find that store again next year and I'm going to buy a [expletive] load of those shirts if I do.