First Timers, Start here>>>>>>>>>

[NormsKid]

First off WELCOME TO CANCUNCARE!!!!

We are glad that you finally found us and we all hope that you will bookmark this site and make us your Cancun home while not in Cancun. You will find more USEFUL and ACCURATE Cancun information here at CancunCare than you will find in any tourbook, guidebook or other online community.

Your site host, Steve, lives in Cancun with his lovely wife Jannet and we have lots of other Cancun locals who post here regularly. Don't miss Ana's daily weather reports, live from Cancun. (See the Weather Sticky at the top of the board & click on the last page of the thread) They are much more accurate than the weatherman.....so be sure to monitor that thread as your trip nears to get a better idea of what to pack.

So....sit back, relax and enjoy CancunCare!

1) First have a good look around Cancun Care, lots of advice on all things Cancun related

2)Then, find out about the Cancun 2 for 1 discount card:

Cancun 2 for 1 discount card

This is Brant Boston'swebsite, he sells the 2x1 card you have probably read about. If you haven't heard of it yet, it's a discount card. There are over 30 restaurants in Cancun that accept the card and will give you 2 entree's for the price of one. (so, one entree is free when you buy one)

ALSO, Brant gives you discounts on the major tours that you read about in peoples trip reports. The card is only $15.00 and you order it online and Brant will have it waiting for you when you check into your hotel. Or if time permits, he'll mail it to you. One card is good for 2 people.

ALSO, the card gets you discounts at the major clubs that are in the hotel
zone.

ALSO, if you would like to arrainge private airport transportation, Brant offers that service as well. I have used him numerous times myself and have NEVER, EVER had any problems or hassles.

His driver has ALWAYS been waiting for me at the airport, just outside the doors with a sign with my name on it. (even when my plane was late and my bags were the last one off the conveyer belt!) The vans are spotless! The most direct route to your hotel is taken, unless you request an alternative route. I highly recommend his service.

NOTE: You do NOT have to purchase the 2x1 card in order to use the transportation service. You only need the 2x1 card if you intend to get the discount on tours, restaurant purchases, club discounts, etc.

4) Then, go to:

http://www.cancunmap.com

This is Laura & Perry McFarlin's website. They produce an awsome mapguide of Cancun, The Riviera Maya, Cozumel & Playa del Carmen, and Isla Mujeres that you WILL want to have. It's not an ordinary map, it's a virtual tour guide in itself and they have just been updated. The map shows where all the buildings & hotels are, hotel web addresses, it explains the bus system, it explains the water taxi system, it explains how the taxi fares are structured, it shows you where various tours leave from and how much they cost, it has restaurant recommendations, has recommendations on where to get medical assistance, it discusses the various markets downtown, it has tips on how to call home without spending an arm and a leg, and just tons of stuff that will help you out.

They sell the map on the honor system. You order the map online, they ship it usually within 24 hours, you look it over when you get it, if you like it, then you send them a check for $7.95, if you decide that you don't want it, you send it back and owe nothing.

5)Go to:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/mexico.html

This is the Mexican Consulate Information Sheet. You will want to read this in it's entirety. It has general information on travel to Mexico, including what documentation is necessary to get into Cancun, as well as Cancun specific information including a section on crime & saftey, things to beware of when selecting tours, things to beware of at clubs,etc.

6) Once you have actually booked your trip, go here to register your trip with the US Government. It is totally free, it only takes a few moments, and in the event of a natural disaster, act of war, terrorist attack, etc. they will know exactly where you are an make provisions for getting you back home safely. Or....if you are a victim, they will be able to notify your next of kin expeditiously.

US Citizens..go here:

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Canadian Citizens...go here:

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/main/sos/rocapage-en.asp

Australian Citizens...go here:

https://www.orao.dfat.gov.au/orao/we...epage?Openpage

UK Citizens....go here:

https://www.fco.gov.uk/servlet/Front...=1078995027067

7 ) Laura McFarlin has another site that contains a ton of useful information on things like

a. Navigating the airport
b. Going through Immigration
c. Filling out the tourist card
d. Filling out the declaratio form
e. Getting to your hotel
f. Tips on catching cabs
g. Critical information needed for renting a car in Mexico
h. Information on how to ride the bus

Go here to read that information: http://www.mapchick.com

It is usually a good idea to insure your trip for unforseen emergencies, like a parent passing away 2 days prior to the time you were suppose to be leaving for Cancun, a minor child getting really sick at the last minute, you stepping on some broken glass at the pool at your hotel, a hurricane that is headed for Cancun, an act of terrorism, getting laid off at work 30 days prior to your trip, etc.....what would you do in each of those situations? Would you rather be insured so that these issues become non-issues? If so, here are some links to companies that allow you to comparison shop for the policy that best fits your needs:

http://www.insuremytrip.com

http://www.squaremouth.com

http://www.totaltravelinsurance.com

8 ) If you were thinking about getting a temporary tatto while in Cancun, PLEASE review the link below in it's entirety so that you know what you are risking healthwise.

http://www.hennapage.com/henna/ppd/

Once you have checked out all the above sites, you will understand all the posts and what all the whoopla is about.

If you still have questions after having read through these websites you can do one of two things. 1] Post the questions here on the board; 2] Do a search here on the board just as you would on a regular search engine

Where can I find a computer in Cancun to check my email and log onto the internet?

Finding a computer with internet access in Cancun is as easy as finding an ATM in the US. They are all over the place! Just look for the signs...you'll find them in the malls, in Wal-Mart, ice cream shops....all sorts of places. Most hotels have access as well, however, the prices tend to be a tad higher than other locations as some of them require you to buy 30 minute minimum increments. But the rates are still dirt cheap compared to US prices.

Keep in mind that you are in Mexico, so many of the keyboards will be the spanish version, not the same as the ones we have in the USA. The letters are the same, however, the symbols are different. Most importantly, there is no @ symbol on the keyboard.

To type an @ symbol, hit the ALT key, then 64

Are you interested in attending a Religious Service while in Cancun?

If so, here's your list of offerings:

ROMAN CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS SERVICES:

Camino Real (English/Spanish) Sunday 11am Tel.848-7000

Fiesta Americana Gran Coral Beach (English/Spanish) Sunday Noon Tel.881-3200

Presidente Intercontinental (English/Spanish) Saturday 6:30pm Tel. 848-8700

Resurrection of the Lord (spanish only) Sunday 10am,Noon,,6:30pm,8pm & Monday-Saturday @7pm. Located next door to Plaza Nautilus km. 3, across the street from AquaMarina hotel. Open air facility.

Sheraton (English/Spanish) Sunday 10:30am Tel.883-1988

Cristo Rey Church (Spanish only)Sunday 8am,10:30am,5pm,6pm,8pm & Daily @7am,7pm. Located at Parque las Palapas. Take the bus downtown, get off at Tulum and the Park is behind the buildings on the left hand side of the street, between Tulum & Yaxchilan Streets.

BAPTIST RELIGIOUS SERVICES:

Hyatt Regency (English only) Sunday 10am Tel. 843-0561

EPISCOPAL RELIGIOUS SERVICES:

Marriott Casa Magna (English only) Sunday 10am Tel. 881-2000

JEWISH RELIGIOUS SERVICES:

Cancun Jewish Community Services Center (Spanish/Hebrew) Friday 8pm, Tel. 892-0674 Located at #8 Calle Liebre (behind old Cine Royal) Call for directions.

PRESBYTERIAN RELIGIOUS SERVICES:

Puerta Del Cielo (spanish only) Sunday 9:15am,10:45am,6:30pm. Tel. 884-2362 Located at #18 Calle Crisantemos. Call for directions.


Yours in Christ,
NormsKid


What time zone is Cancun on?

Cancun is central standard time. Or if your across the pond, Cancun is GMT -6 hours.

Will I need an adaptor for my hair dryer & other electrical appliances?


Cancun is 110 volts/60 cycles....same as the USA. But..at some hotels the outlets are in bizzare locations and you might need an extension cord. Also, some of the outlets don't have one prong slot larger than the other. So if you have anything with one prong on the plug larger than the other, post a message letting us know which hotel your staying at and perhaps a prior visitor to that hotel can tell you if you will need an adaptor. Also, if you have something that has 3 prongs, follow the same posting directions to see if you'll need an adaptor for that item as well.

What do I need to know about timeshare sharks in Mexico?

Go here and read EVERYTHING: http://timesharebeat.com/mex-fraud.htm

If you are actually interested in purchasing at a particular property, go here, register for a nominal fee and post your questions about the property on the message board. http://www.tug2.net

This is hands down the most informative place to get accurate timeshare information.


When is hurricane season?

June 1 until the end of November, with it's peak in September.


Will it rain and for how long?

Maybe, maybe not. Possibly for a couple minutes to an hour.
Click Here to see what the weather is doing now.

Weather

Please do yourself a favor and do not embarass yourself by posting a question like "is it going to rain when I'm in Cancun. That's sorta like asking your next door neighbor if you'll have to pee at 12 noon, 3 days from now.

The following was amended by NormsKid:

Which clubs are the best?

The following nightclubs are popular with tourists:

Daddy O/Daddy Rock
Coco Bongo
Bull Dog Cafe
The City

The following restaurants turn into clubs at night and are popular as well:

Sr. Frogs
Carlos & Charlies
Pat O'Brians


List of Dr.'s & Clinics recommended by the US Consular Agency in Cancun:

Ameri-Med Hospital
Located at the back of Plaza Las Americas
Hospiten
Bonapmak Av.
(998)9373076


Total Assist Hospital
Claveles #5 SM 22
(998)884-8082
(998)884-8116

American Hospital
Retorno Viento #15
SM 4, M.22
(998)884-6133
(998)884-6068

Clinica Quirurgica Del Sur
Av. Lopez Portillo M. 37 Lot2 y 3
SM. 59 Unidad Morelos
(998)886-6357
(998)886-4631

Clinica Sobrino
Mzana. Q Lote. 13
S.M. 63
(998)884-2516

Dentist
Dr. Luis Armando Camacho Jimenez
Av. Yachilan s/n
Interior Gimnasio Kuchil Baxal.
(998)883-9052

The consular agengy recommends that you ask the clinic or doctor for the price of services BEFORE signing any papers.

For those who would like to donate to charity while in Cancun, you can take Good used clothing & toys to the US Consular Agency and they will distribute it to orphanages or a Church that helps out poor families. The Agency is located in Plaza Coracol, hotel zone, on the 3rd floor.

Are you taking school age children with you to Cancun? If so, you may want to check out this site: http://www.elbalero.gob.mx/index_kids.html

It has lots of good, educational information for kids of all ages. Also games, recipies and fun activites to make their Cancun experiance not only fun, but a learning/cultural experiance as well. Check it out!!!

If you are too much of a tight wad to invest in a "proper" map from http://www.cancunmap.com

You should at least print out this one and take it with ya. It has nothing on it but the official bus stops in the hotel zone, but it's better than nothing.


http://www.cancun.bz/Maps/mapa_bus_stop.HTM

The green line represents all the stops going from downtown Cancun, all the way down the zone to Wet & Wild.

The Blue line represents all the stops going from Wet & Wild up an around to downtown Cancun.

Stop number 62 is where you get off to go to all of the nightclubs, if coming from the southern end of the hotel. As you can see, it's the stop in front of the Forum by the Sea mall.

Stop number 61 is where you get off to go to all of the nightclubs, if you are staying at a hotel on the bay side/top side of the 7. As you can see, it's the stop in front of TGIFridays.


if you have never been to Cancun before.....then you can at least see where most things are located & which direction you need to travel to get where you wanna go.

The following was amended by NormsKid

Last & MOST IMPORTANT >>>> Make sure that you have all the proper documentation that you need for entry into Cancun and re-entry back into your home country. Go find your documents NOW, do NOT wait until the last minute to check. Once you have obtained your documents, make sure everybody else in your travel party has theirs.

If you want to know anything about passports and/or would like to get one, go here:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/index.html

NormsKid

[Sparkey]

Posted: Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:51 am Post subject: Bus schedules for the Yucatan (link) Authored by: Rhondo

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Some of you adventurous travelers may find this useful,you just plug in your origin and destination,it gives all the info you need to get around.

http://www.ticketbus.com.mx/

[Sparkey]

Authored by Vic from CancunValet

... idea of the prices mainly at the HZone. For a quick reference in prices since all of them are in Pesos, from the list take the last digit and that will give you the price in USD (more give or take a buck).

www.cancunmenus.com

In regards to the ones downtown I can't give you any websites with menus nor prices but to say that the prices will drop about 40% is a good guesstimate. Also keep in mind that there are quite a few high quality/prices downtown Cancun.

I'd suggest "Faros" for Sea Food, "Palm or Cambalache" for steak at the HZone. "Mandingas or El Timon" for Sea Food and "Labna, La Habichuela or La Parrilla" for steak Downtown Cancun.

Cheers.,

Vic
_________________
Cancun Valet
** Started with Grocery Delivery **
** Then Private Van Transfers **
** Now Equipment Rental including Cell Phones**

[Sparkey]

Authored by Rhondo
Subject: Kyo-Dophilus
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I've mentioned using this supplement previously for combating pathogenic bacteria(tourista/montezuma's revenge/Hershey squirts ect.).
Keep in mind not all of the acidophilus supplements are created equal,Kyo-Dophilus contains three "active bacteria" lactobacilus,bifidum,longum,known as the friendly trio.They are lyophilized(freezedried) so they can travel without refrigeration,most supplements will start to decompose when they are removed from the frig. I've had many questions regarding this,here's also a short article regarding probiotic bacteria. Acidophilus is a natural antibiotic, produces B vitamins, improves digestion, and reduces risk of colon cancer. Antibiotic therapy will destroy it. That's why you need a probiotic supplement. Billions of bacteria live in your intestines. Some of them build your health while others tear it down. One of the most important bacteria in the beneficial category is Lactobacillus acidophilus.

Why Acidophilus Is Essential to Your Health
Lactobacillus acidophilus is a vital key to your good health for several reasons: Acts like a natural antibiotic to inhibit the reproduction of pathogenic "bad" bacteria in your GI tract that contribute to bowel, vaginal, respiratory, and urinary tract infections. It also inhibits parasitic infections. Produces a broad spectrum of B vitamins (folic acid, B5, niacin, biotin, B12 and B6). Aids in cholesterol normalization. Improves food digestion and absorption. Dairy products are better tolerated by those who have lactose intolerance, because acidophilus helps to break down lactose (milk sugar).. Reduces risk of colon cancer.
Antibiotics and Acidophilus. Nearly all of us have taken antibiotics at one time or another. But we almost never think about what those antibiotics do to our intestines. If you have an ear infection (for example), your MD might prescribe an antibiotic. Before the antibiotic gets to the infected ear, it is swallowed and has to pass through the GI tract before absorption into the bloodstream. In a healthy GI tract, there is a dynamic balance between all of the resident organisms, which include bacteria and yeasts. Many of these organisms cling to the walls of your gut, where they compete for "real estate". As the antibiotic passes through, it kills all bacteria, both the bad and the good. However, antibiotics do not kill yeasts, including the Candida yeast. A lot of gut wall "real estate" is freed up, because all of the bacteria are dead and gone. All that remains are the yeasts, which then wildly proliferate to occupy the free space. This is why so many people get yeast infections when they take antibiotics. Therefore, it is imperative that you take extra acidophilus while on antibiotic therapy, and for two weeks afterwards. When you take acidophilus during antibiotic therapy, take it as far away from the antibiotic as possible.

Vaginal Yeast Infection. Acidophilus is antagonistic to Candida and other yeasts. Acidophilus is also toxic to Gardenerella, a common cause of vaginal bacterial infection. A vaginal douche twice a day with a solution containing acidophilus is indicated if you have any kind of vaginal infection, especially a yeast infection. Even if you do not douche, just consuming acidophilus will help to some extent. Your physician will provide you with the specific protocol you need for a vaginal infection.

Urinary Tract Infections. A problem with antibiotic therapy for urinary tract infections is that protective bacteria are destroyed, leading to recurrent infections. Vaginal suppositories of acidophilus help to prevent recurring urinary tract infections.

Diarrhea. Acidophilus is important for preventing or treating antibiotic-induced diarrhea. Acidophilus also helps to prevent diarrhea resulting from radiation therapy to the GI tract. Travel to foreign countries is often accompanied by diarrhea when you're exposed to different foods or an environment that contains pathogenic organisms. Acidophilus has been shown to reduce traveler's diarrhea.

Cancer. Acidophilus inhibits bacterial enzymes associated with the formation of cancer-causing compounds in the GI tract, thus reducing the risk of colon cancer. It also appears to reduce the recurrence of bladder cancer.

Infant Thrush. Thrush is a yeast infection in the mouth. It can be effectively treated with acidophilus. If your baby is infected and you are breast feeding, you can "paint" your nipples with a acidophilus. If your baby is feeding from a bottle or eating food, consult with your physician for instructions.

Any Intestinal Disorder. Acidophilus is helpful for virtually any intestinal problem, including microbial overgrowth, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, Crohn's disease, or diarrhea.

Dosage
The dosage of an acidophilus supplement is based on the number of live organisms. Consumption of one to ten billion organisms is thought to be an effective daily dosage. Acidophilus is quite safe to take in larger doses, although some may experience mild GI disturbances. A lower dose may not be enough to colonize the GI tract. Acidophilus is safe to take at any dose. Consult with your physician for the appropriate dosage for your specific condition.

What's the Difference Between an Acidophilus Supplement and Yogurt?
There may be some acidophilus in fermented milk products such as yogurt and kefir. However, most commercial yogurts are made with Lactobacillus bulgaricus or Streptococcus thermophilus. Although these two organisms possess some health benefits, they will not colonize in your intestines. On the other hand, the highest quality supplements are made with "super strains" of Lactobacillus acidophilus. These strains are designed for maximum clinical effectiveness. They also do not die as easily and are more likely to survive the digestive process in your stomach. So if you are looking for positive results, an acidophilus supplement is a better choice than yogurt. Yogurt is still mildly beneficial, but make sure that it is unsweetened, because sweetening agents may destroy beneficial bacteria.

Acidophilus Product Quality:
Product quality is a crucial consideration when choosing an acidophilus
What strain of Lactobacillus acidophilus is in the product?
What other organisms are present?
What is the number of organisms in the product?
Are the organisms still alive? (If the organisms are dead, the product is worthless).
Are there any contaminants in the product?
Product labeling can be misleading, and you have no direct way of knowing whether the product will be effective. Therefore, please follow the product recommendations given to you by your physician.

After purchasing your acidophilus product, it's prudent to keep it in your refrigerator in order to ensure the organisms stay alive as long as possible.

Other Beneficial Organisms
There are other beneficial bacteria that are sold as dietary supplements. These "good" bacteria are called probiotics. The most important probiotic in this group is Bifidobacterium bifidum. Bifidus colonizes in a baby's intestines as a result of breastfeeding. It should be present in any healthy intestine. However, antibiotic therapy kills bifidus. Bifidus has health-giving properties that are very similar to acidophilus. It has a pronounced inhibitory effect on pathogenic bacteria and yeasts. Therefore, your physician may recommend that you take both acidophilus and bifidus.

[Sparkey]

Authored by Luv Cereza, Mar 2004

Calling Home

So you bought yourself a calling card got to Mexico and it didn’t work and now your cussing and kicking. Yes, I have done it too and that is why I am writing this so others don’t have to go through what most of us have already done at least once before.
Okay, you can buy a pre paid calling card from www.TelmexUSA.com over the Internet or you can buy one when you get to Mexico. I have a nice pre paid one from Chamba net and it always worked for me. www.chambanet.gob.mx (this is in Spanish)
First, to dial any number INSIDE Mexico from the United States, just dial 011-52 plus the ten digit number.

Second, the country code for Mexico is 52. To call home from Mexico, dial 00 plus the country code you’re calling and then the area code and phone number. To call the United States and Canada, you need to dial 001 plus the area code and the number eg..for me to call home to the United States, Missouri I would dial 001-636-555-5555

The country code for the United Kingdom is 44; the country code for New Zealand is 64, and the country code for Australia is 61. You can reach the AT&T operator at 01-800-288-2872, MCI at 1-800-021-800, SPRINT at 001-800-877-8000, and BRITISH TELECOM (BT) at 01-800-123-0244.
Mexican pay phones may sometimes require a coin deposit, so have some pesos on you.

To call operator assistance for calls inside Mexico, dial 020; for operator assistance for international calls, dial 090. Both numbers provide assistance for person-to-person and collect calls.

And what ever you do try not to use your phone in your room to call home or you can expect a 35-50 dollar charge on your credit card when you get home for 5 minutes. Use the phones in the lobby or out side. There are tons of Telmex phones around and plenty at the airport also.

I got this information from a book called, “Cancun & the Yucatan for Dummies” it’s a great book for newbies in Cancun, Mexico area. You can get it here in the store section of Cancun Care web site. This is a good book to take with you when you go to Mexico the first time until you get use to how things run down there.
And the time zone for the Mexican Yucatan peninsula falls within Central Standard Time. Most of Mexico observes Daylight Savings Time.

[NormsKid]

If you are traveling to Mexico with a minor, under 18, who is not your biological child, you will need NOTORIZED authorization from both of the childs parents and/or legal guardians in order to bring that child with you to Mexico. (for example, your taking the grandkids, neices & nephews, your kids best friend,etc.)

See the Mexican Consular Info sheet, linked above if you missed this bit of info. As the sheet will tell you, this is needed to protect children from international child abduction.

Here is a sample document that you can use as a guide to draft your own authorization form.

AFFIDAVIT GRANTING PERMISSION TO TRAVEL

State of Illinois )
County of Cook)ss:

We, Mr. John Doe and Mrs. John Doe swear that the

following statements are true and correct:

1. We are residents of Chicago, Illinois.

2. We are the parents of John Doe,Jr., born Dec. 24, 1998.

3. We hereby grant permission to our child, John Doe, Jr. to accompany Mr. And Mrs. Ronald Blow to Cancun, Mexico for a vacation during
the week of February 24, 2004 and we grant Mr. And Mrs. Ronald Blow permission to bring John Doe, Jr. with them on vacation to Cancun.

Specifically, we grant John Doe, Jr. permission to travel with Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Blow on the following dates to the following locations:

4. We grant permission to John Doe, Jr. to accompany Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Blow to Toronto on February 24, 2004.

5. We further grant permission to John Doe, Jr. to accompany Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Blow to Cancun on a flight leaving the Toronto airport on February 24, 2004 or at any later time or date that week caused by any flight delays.

6. We grant permission to John Doe, Jr. to stay with Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Blow in a hotel in Cancun from February 24, 2004 to March 1, 2004.

7. We grant permission to John Doe, Jr. to accompany Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Blow back from Cancun to Toronto, Canada on March 1, 2004 or at any later time or date that week caused by any flight delays, and to then accompany Mr. & Mrs. Ronald Blow back to Chicago, Illinois on March 1, 2004.
___________________________________
Mr. Ronald Blow
___________________________________
Mrs. Ronald Blow


Sworn to before me this
_______ day of February, 2004

____________________
Notary Pubic
My commission expires

[NormsKid]

In addition......If you are traveling to Mexico with a minor child, under 18, who is not your biological child, you should also have a authorization for medical treatment from the parents as well. This would give you the authorization to consent to medical treatment while the child is in your care. This should elminate the need for the authorites to go hunting down the parents should an emergency arise and the child needs medical attention.

Here is a sample document that you can use as a guide to draft your own document.

MEDICAL RELEASE FORM

State of New York)
County of Monroe) ss:

We, (child’s parents’ names), hereby swear that the following statements are true and correct:

1. We are the parents of (child’s name), date of birth (list date).

2. We are residents of (your city and state).

3. We have given permission for our son/daughter (child’s name) to
accompany (your name and spouse’s name) on a vacation to Cancun, Mexico.

4. While s/he is traveling from (city and state) to (airport where departing from) from where s/he is departing to Cancun and returning from Cancun, and while s/he is in Cancun, Mexico we are authorizing (your name) and (your partner’s name), together or separately, to make decisions concerning any and all medical care required by (child’s name).

5. We further authorize (your name) and (partner’s name), together or separately to obtain any diagnosis and treatment they deem appropriate, including but not limited to diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, operative procedures and x-rays. We also assume responsibility for the payment of any such treatment.

6. This release is effective from (first date child is with you) until (name of child)’s return from (airport where returning) to (your city) following his/her trip to Cancun, such return to occur on (date of return) or any later date required by flight delays.

______________________________
(Your name)

______________________________
(Partner’s name)

Sworn to before me this
day of (month), 2004

__________________
Notary Public
My commission expires



NOTE: If you have specific questions regarding these legal documents, please PM me (if your question is personal) or post a new thread on the main page, rather than posting them in this thread so that we can keep the first-timers thread as "clean" as possible.

[Klaw]

Here's some great information that was posted by Rondo. I figured it was best added to the First Timer's Thread as I am sure many have questions about this topic.



Joined: 07 Sep 2003
Posts: 143

Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2004 9:56 pm Post subject: Cancun Intestinal Health

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I like to travel,and have found myself in some not so nice places.

Cancun in general is very hygenic, the water in the hotel zone is fine, I drink it a lot, but it starts to taste tannic after awhile, kind of like old watered down tea, bottled water just tastes a lot better. I always drink bottled water downtown. The ice everywhere is fine.

Apart from the water, food is obviously our next biggest exposure to foreign bacteria. Eating only cooked food is maybe a good idea, but not practical, what about those salsas, salads, and fresh fruit ,and juices everywhere?

Another less thought about exposure is your hands. They grab the bus rails, brush the sand off your feet, and touch lots of public stuff, including the chips entering your mouth.

The next item completely out of our contol is the hygene of the establishment, have the eating utensils and dishes been washed in steaming water? Or by hand in a cold sink. What about the grill surface, how's their refrigeration ect.

The bottom line is you will get lots of exposure, and probably some ingestion of a foreign bacteria, It's a foreign country. All of the above applies to flying on planes, eating out at your local Dennys, or in your own home. It's a fact of nature, don't blame Mexico.

There are hundreds of different bacteria you can ingest in Mexico or at home, some benificial, some a pain in the butt , others downright nasty. All we can do is be prepared and proactive.

Have you ever returned from two weeks in Mexico without problems, just to feel lousy for weeks when you get back? Did you ever stop and think that maybe your intestines had adjusted to the mexican bugs, and now your hometown bacteria are the foreign invaders? Something to ponder.

I personally eat everywhere around Cancun,including taco stands, and places in Palapa park. I'm not concerned, food is the window to a culture and it's my vacation, and I also pack a good first aid kit just in case.(something more than a bottle of Herradura, some duct tape, and a cell phone set on 911 )

Here's my recommendations:
1) I now always take a friendly bacteria supplement everyday while traveling, there is no room for uninvited guests, if they crash the party which is inevitable,these bouncers will kick the #$%@ out of them. Robbing them of nutrients, crowding them, and not allowing them to grow or get a foothold to the point of producing toxins to my system. These ultimate armed guards also help transition back to my hometown biome. I take them for a week before, and a week after travel. Your local crunchy-granola food store will have a whole refrigerator section stocked with about forty different brands of these.The best I've found to date are called KYO-DOPHILLUS the friendly trio L.acidophillus (yogurt bacteria), B bifidium and B longum (they like to set up camp in the upper and lower parts of the intestine). Some people use these daily, and they are even great for infants.
This particular brand is one of the few that don't require refrigeration, they are perfect for travel. 90 capsules ~$10

2) I always carry some of those individually packaged wet wipes,and use them on my hands before dinning.

3)Pepto -bismol tablets are fine if I eat too much, as a preventative they can help, but at what cost? The constipation associated can cause more problems by stoppering up the system.

4) Immodium(2mg Loperamide), what I lovingly call Everlasting Gob Stoppers are effective if you've been purging for awhile and are in danger of dehydration. But if used too early on they will shut the back door on the bad guys only exit, giving them the perfect environment for growth and expansion. You can get really sick if you use this stuff unwisely. If you are purging a lot go to a local farmacia and get a couple of bottles of Mexican Pedialyte solution~$2.50 and drink them down to restore your salts, and ofcourse pound the bottled water.

5)Antibiotics:Those of you that use Cipro as a prophylactic are #1 killing off the good guys as well #2 contributing to worldwide health crisis. Cipro is our last defense against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (anthrax,ect). If we show them our weapons too often they'll figure them out too. Also it is highly likely when you stop using it you will get sick from all the new bugs trying to set up camp. I know antibiotics are OTC in Mexco including Cipro. please don't use any antibiotic unless you are really sick and if you're that sick you should spend the $25 and see a Mexican physician. He may have a rifle type antibiotic, rather than using the Cipro shotgun.

6) Eat Lots and have fun
The rarely discussed or mentioned "travelers constipation", is probably a much more common issue for travelers to Cancun. An incorrectly functioning waste disposal system can also cause bacterial/toxin backup "including bad ones". The clearing or flushing of the system is important to good traveling health.

When I'm in Cancun I eat lots of lobster, shrimp, tortillas, cheese, flan and assorted other intestinal blocking items. Rarely do I get many vegetables or fiber intake in my diet, it's just difficult. To add to the difficulty most people are walking around half dehydrated from mucho cervezas and margaritas, and very little water consumption.

1) Try to drink lots of water,I always consume massive amounts of juice at those great breakfast buffets. My favorite Cancun drink is fresh limonada.

2) Fresh green coconut water is a great, mild laxative if used in small amounts, I can usually find vendors at the mercados downtown. I aquired a taste for it in Asia and really like it.

3) I believe that what some people think is Montezumas revenge, is actually their system finally purging a few days into the trip. I also think that post trip blahs can be connected to constipation during the trip.

4) I always pack laxatives in my first aid kit.

I know, it's more than we needed to hear,but somebody needed to say it.

Travel safe and healthy.

[Sparkey]

Authored by: Luv Cereza

Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2004 5:29 pm Post subject: Checklist for clean room

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If you’re a clean freak here’s your check list for your room.

Bed: Pull off comforter and throw to side, do not use or ask them to clean it or get a new one from the laundry room, this also goes for the top blanket.
Check sheets to see if they have fresh creases in them along with the pillow case. If you have even slept in your bed for 3 hours it will lose the crease, so you’ll know.
Check for hairs even at the bottom of the bed and stains. I have seen some maids just sweep the bed with their hands and wipe off the sheets and fluff the pillows instead of changing them.
Check the headboard to see if there are greasy spots where your head goes.
Check under your bed for trash and clothes. If you find anything under there leave it and contact the manager immediately. Get compensated for it. That’s gross and unacceptable! Your not going to get your money back for the whole trip but you may get something knocked off your price or champaign and flowers or some free passes.

Some rooms have a small rug by the bed I wouldn’t step on that with your bare feet, kick it under the bed or use house slippers/sandals to walk around in the room. There are a lot of things that go on by the bedside people spit, vomit, drop food, do drugs, drop needles with blood on them and other discretions. Very gross but it is the facts!

Check your phone and make sure it isn’t greasy, some maids forget the phone and side table. Lift up the reciever and look at it.

Bathroom: Check for hairs on the floor, shower and toilet seat, both sides. Make sure the porcelain god (toilet) is clean, no pee pee streaks running down on it. For the real clean freaks check behind the toilet for things. Shower and tub. I would say your crazy for putting your privates in contact with the tub or Jacuzzi (just my opinion) if your want to sit down and take a bath put a towel down under you. Some provide a shower mat, however, some maids don’t clean these either, they will instead just wipe them off dry or hang them outside to dry off while they are cleaning and re-use them again. Check again for hairs in both. I use shower sandals when I take a shower in them to be on the safe side. People do crazy things in those showers/tubs and I don’t want to come in contact with it. Even with my feet. I have also seen maids clean the stand up showers with the same mop that they cleaned the floor with in the rooms! Most use a spray bottle but you have to be careful.
* Also for the tubs/jucuzzi, to check and see if it is clean rub your hand inside and if you feel roughness it hasn't been cleaned properly, it should be slick and smooth, if not this could be soap scum or they just didn't rinse the cleaner good enough. Tile showers, check for the same feel and if there is mold, it hasn't been cleaned in a LONG time. I know in Cancun the humidity gets high and things can get moldy quick but that is no excuss for showers not being cleaned right.

Check your towels and make sure they don‘t have no stains on them.

Still feel like your on vacation after all of that? This is the important stuff to look for in your room. I don’t say this to discourage anyone but you should know this. Also most resorts are very clean and the maids work hard. It’s hard work to clean 15+ rooms a day and change all those beds. It makes it very difficult to clean the rooms with peoples things strung up all over the place. Please leave your wet towels in the tub or shower and just because your on vacation doesn’t mean you have to be a pig. They will talk about you to other maids and when they see you they will laugh behind your back. It may not bother some but it would bother me.

*TIP* If you put your used towels in the tub, keep your room clean and throw away your trash and leave a tip (if they deserve it) and your not a jerk tourist, you probably won’t have to worry about your stuff missing. Also, if you are leaving a tip make sure it is in dollars or pesos because they can't spend the American change like quarters, nickles, dimes and pennies it's a real hassle to get it changed over and it will cost them money to do it.

Use your safe if you have one and it is a good idea to bring wipes like someone mentioned. I hope this helps some. Sorry if I missed anything.

[Sparkey]

Authored By: Luv Cereza

Posted: Mon Mar 22, 2004 5:16 pm Post subject: Choosing the hotel/room that's Right for You

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CHOOSING THE ROOM/HOTEL THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU


This is very important to consider when picking what kind of accommodations you are looking for in a room or hotel. I have put together a breakdown of what each means and what type of star each resort/hotel means and meal plans. I have learned from my experiences with travel that I have paid for amenities that I didn’t even use. I could have saved myself some money if I would have sat down and figured out what my hotel can do for me. No sense in paying for a fitness room if I don’t exercise, or paying for 3 pools when I want to lay out on the beach the whole time. Some people chose European over AI to save money because they will not be spending that much time in their hotel/resort because they will be eating out, whereas others who spend a lot of time at their hotel/resort prefer AI and will be using all the amenities there. To each their own, but it’s your money.

RESORTS: These accommodations tend to be what more people lean towards, especially with tours included because they offer the most modern amenities including cable TV, hairdryers, in-room safes, and generally, a selection of places to dine or have a drink. Many include sporting facilities, spa services, shopping, babysitting, Kids Club and tour companies. These tend to be the most expensive but you can get some good discounts if your timing is right. I find that the best time is from Sept-mid Dec and about the middle of January for spring break discounts.
*Keeping in mind that hurricane season runs June through October and September being the most likely time for them. Always purchase the insurance during this time, just incase

HOTELS: These rooms tend to be somewhat smaller than the resorts, with fewer facilities. The looks are the hacienda type villas with decked out rooms and structures. Most have a small swimming pool and if their not located on the beach some provide shuttle service. It will vary on different hotels if they do this or not, you can ask once you check in.

ALL-INCLUSIVES: These types of all-inclusive are gaining popularity and they seem to be getting larger and more to choose from and you can visit their “sister hotels.” All inclusive tie everything together in one price- your room, meals, tips, entertainment, sports activities and some tours. This type of all-inclusive help the budget minded people who don’t have a lot to spend but want creature comforts. They usually have grand buffets and all the alcohol you can consume. Be careful when they say AI, not all mean it. You may only get to eat at certain restaurants and drink certain types of alcohol. If you want a better quality of liquor then you may have to pay extra. You can check with your travel agent on what kind of AI it is.

CONDOS, APARTMENTS AND VILLAS: Going this route can be a great option to those who are staying longer than a week. Many come with maid service and breakfast in the mornings, some even do your laundry so check into what each provides before you book take a look at what the Internet offers or by word of mouth. Maybe when your there staying in a resort you can go downtown and check some of these places out for next time if you want to stay longer and not pay as much. Some people don’t mind cooking their meals and doing their own laundry in exchange for a cheaper rate. There are plenty of supermarkets to purchase your goods from if your staying a while.

ADULT ONLY: These hotels/resorts are ADULTS ONLY meaning either 18+ or 21+ (some nudity). Offering the same great quailty and accommedations as the other resorts. They have adult entertainment and it is geared to the more "mature" crowd.

ELITE HOTEL: For hotels/resorts whose upscale amenities are superb in service and have the finest vacation experience available. Such as Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa and the Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun and the Paraiso De La Bonita Resort an Thalasso on the Riviera Maya.


STAR RATINGS

6****** A luxurious resort offering the highest standards and widest variety of dining and amenities.
5***** An excellent resort with superior first-class accommodations and guest services.
4**** A first class resort hotel or condo with a good selection of guest services.
3*** A comfortable hotel or condo with simple accommodations and public areas.
2** A modest hotels or condo with a limited choice of amenities.
1* A basic budget hotel or condo with few public area or amenities.


HOTEL INCLUSIONS - MEAL/ACTIVITY PLANS AND FEATURES

ALL-INCLUSIVE HOTELS/RESORTS (AI)-Includes all meals, drinks and a variety of water sports.
* This should mean what it says ALL MEALS and ALL DRINKS.

INCLUSIVE HOTELS/RESORTS (I)- Includes a variety of meals, and either drinks or water sports.
* These are the hotels where you think it is AI and it isn’t, you may have to pay for certain types of alcohol or to dine in a certain restaurant.

FULL AMERICAN PLAN (FAP)- Includes all meals daily.
*This may be a buffet style and you may get your beverages free but not your alcohol.

MODIFIED AMERICAN PLAN (MAP)- Includes breakfast and dinner daily.
*A smaller breakfast or dinner and you may or may not have to pay for beverages and alcohol.

FULL BREAKFAST (FB)- Includes full breakfast daily.
*This may include cereal, eggs, toast, bacon, baggle, pancakes, and donuts. May or may not include your beverages.

CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (CB)- Includes continental breakfast daily.
*This is like a quickie breakfast; cereal, donuts, coffee, milk or juice.

EUROPEAN PLAN (EP)- No meals or drinks included.
*Self explanatory

Watch for special discounts that include Single Parent Prices/Discounts, Special Group Discounts and Military Discounts again check with a travel agent or even better see if you can get a good price here through Cancun Care.

For water sports and spa treatments you may be required to pay a fee. Different resorts/hotels have their own rules for these amenities and the fee's they charge. Some even offer babysitting, usually around $2.50- $5.00 dollars per hour.

[Sparkey]

I created a new online Calendar for this forum.

Give it a try!

Select Add Events: Duration to enter your dates and select your background colours.

Don't forget to name the resort your staying at.

Have Fun!

[Sparkey]

Authored by: ANA

Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2004 10:28 pm Post subject: Tips for parents with kids visting Cancun

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Water:

It is very important to keep children hydrated during all day; use bottled water for baby formula or just for drinking. Use water hotel for washing the teethes, hands, etc. Feel safe using the ice cubes from the hotels, they have their own purifying treatments and have never heard of someone getting sick from ice cubes. If kids do not want water you can use 1 or 2 lemons and mix them with water or use natural bottled juices, you can find many of the USA brands at Cancun supermarkets.

Strollers:

If you think in bringing yours, try to bring an umbrella stroller so it will fold and unfold easily and wont be to big for the plane, taxi, bus, etc.

Cribs:

All the chain hotels buy cribs that meet all the safety USA measures. However I always travel with my own baby sheets and pillow cover as well as laundry detergent and fabric softener to assure that baby will not be allergic to new products and will sleep well (Resting is a must in a vacation for everyone in a family)

Medicines:

Even if you can find most of the pediatricians recommended medicines here, you will feel more safety and comfortably bringing them with you, the most important ones are: Fever, stomach, diarrhea and any other prescript drug needed.

Car Seats:

It is not necessary to bring yours unless renting a car, most buses and taxis will not have the belts to put them in place.

Sun:

Never underestimate the power of sun, even in a cloudy day apply a lot of sunscreen and re apply after a long swimming, sweating or every three hours, cover the face of kids with a baseball cap, a hat or anything that he or she will accept. Double check that the sunscreen is hypoallergenic, protect against UVA and UVB and is paba free, water resistant and 30 or more SPF.

Food:

All the hotels cooked food is safe to eat (try it first to be sure it is not hot, specially meat and poultry) as well as fruits, if you want to take an extra precaution take the fresh frit to your room and wash it with water and whatever product you use to disinfect or just peel it.
If your kids are under 6 and not use to tropical fruits as mango, melon, guayaba, papaya, pineapple, etc. Then try one at a time until you know baby will tolerate it well.

Kids Activities:

Some HZ have special things for kids, the ones that I most recommend are: Come and Eat or the Aquarium at La Isla Shopping Center, Sr. Frogs kids event every Wednesday, Wet and Wild for kids 8 and up, Rain Forest specially the Sunday breakfasts. VIP movie theaters for a rainy day or Recorcholis inside playground and arcade games at Plaza Las Americas. Woll Ha inside playground if front of Plaza Las Americas.

Tours:

If kids are under 8 I will not think on doing any sight seen. For “love the water” kids Xel Ha and Xcaret are both great experiences.
Xcaret is bigger and includes the night show but it has difficult paths and long distances for kids and older people; it is almost impossible to get all trough the park in a stroller but the good point is that they offer two leaving times and departure times.
Xel Ha is smaller and without the night show but it is the best place to snorkel and see a lot of fishes so if your kid is excited about sea-life this is the place an add plus is that they do have all inclusive tickets so you wont bother if kids want to drink a lot of soft drinks, ice cream or French fires while you take a beer instead of adding dollars to your bill.
Chichen Itza; this tour is very exciting for kids between 9 and 14 because all the Mayan histories, climbing, structures, etc but it is a long trip, take with you the Game Boy, Coloring books and whatever will keep your kids quiet on the bus; do not worry about the coming back because after such a long day and experience they will felt asleep.

Jungle Tour; this is a very good trip for kids, they must share the ride with an adult but love the feeling of velocity plus snorkeling and explore the under sea.

Isla Mujeres: It will keep awake almost any kid 8 and up because they first get into a boat or ferry, then snorkel and do some shopping.

Comfort:

Bring any baby toy or plush toy that will make him comfortable at night
( I always carry his colorful pillow cover)
If baby use pacifier give it while airplane take off or landing so you will avoid ear and noise pain.
Diapers (same brands as USA) can be bought at any supermarket in Cancun as well as baby food and juices.
Never leave children unattended near water, in a pool, Jacuzzi, bath tub or at sea.

Sea:

The friendly sea for children is from Km 1 to 9 of Hotel Zone. Why? Because we have Isla Mujeres in front so it is not open water and there are no waves. Remember that there is no safe sea and kids shol never be unattended.

Beach:

Try to find shade (palapa) or umbrella for kids while laying in the sand, have a handy bottle of clear water to use in case sand or water get into the eyes. Try to keep children with water socks while walking in the sand or pool paths to avoid a feet burn or a scratch for something through a night before. If there is no wind, use a sun screen with repellent even more if you stay at the lagoon side.

Pediatrician:

The most well known is Cancun is Dr. Jose Ramon Campos, he attend at Hospital Americano and is the boss of the Pediatric Unit.

Mexican Toys:

If you have a baby do not bought him snakes, maracas, panderetas and all that stuff sold on street or at downtown markets (28, etc) because they are not under government laws and inspections making sure that the paint is free of lead, children safe, etc. You can buy a lot of Mexican toys in supermarkets that are tested to be children safe.

[Sparkey]

Authored by: STEVE

There are often lots of questions about whether a certain game will be shown in Cancun and where to go to watch it. I recently received an email from the webmaster of the Dady O group chain of establishments and he told me about their Sports bar called Winners.

I checked out their webpage and they have an itinerary for each day which shows what is going to be shown and at what time. This is updated every few days, the link is:
http://www.winnerssportsbar.com/en/index.php

[Klaw]

Thanks to Ana we can now find out what is playing at the Plaza Las AMericas Movie Theatres:
Here is a link to see what they are showing.

http://www.cinepolis.com.mx/Asp/Cart...ancún&horario=

I know description and names come in spanish but if you click the movie name it will appear in its riginal english title.

The first section is for VIP thaters where they serve you food and bevrages in your seat (beer, suchi, etc) and the second one is for regular theaters, both in Plaza Las Americas

[Klaw]

I meant to post this as soon as I came home but didn't remember it until I read another post that mentioned ATM's.

As of sometime in mid July or early August all ATM's are now charging a surcharge to dispense cash. Gone are the days of no fee ATM's.

The surcharge isn't much...something like 7.50 pesos but still it is a surcharge and those planning on using the machines should know about the cost before hand.

And don't forget you need to check with your bank to see if they have any fees form getting cash on an ATM which is not your banks.

Just thought I'd let you all know....

Karan
_________________
Heading back to BBG soon...but never soon enough!!!

[Sparkey]

Authored by: Normskid

Getting to Cozumel

From the hotel zone you need to catch a bus going downtown. Some of the buses that go downtown say "Bus station" right on the window & some don't. So before you get on any bus that says downtown, ask the bus driver if he goes to the bus station.

The bus will leave the hotel zone and turn right onto Tulum Ave. When the bus turns right....which is the first turn it will make once it leaves the hotel zone, then your stop is a couple down...so be watching.

You will be dropped off right in front of Commercial Mexicana, a grocery store. Wait for the bus to take off and the traffic to clear because you are going to have to cross traffic and cross the street. You won't see anything that looks like a bus station as you are standing there, due to the angle that the station sits.....trust me, it's there though.

So cross the street and when you get to the other side of the road, turn right and walk down a bit...then you will see the buses in the back and just walk around to the front of the bus station.

When you get inside, there is a line for Playa del Carmen an the bus leaves about every 10-15 minutes. Pay for your ticket $3.20us and go ahead and get on the bus. No assigned seating...just sit wherever you like. The bus is air conditioned & might get a tad nippy. There is storage room over the seats as well as in the bowel of the bus if you are taking gear with you.

The ride will take about 45 minutes. The bus will stop at various spots an pick up & drop off folks. Yes...it will literally pull over to the side of the road to pick folks up & drop them off.

Now...the bus station in Playa del Carmen sits on the corner of Juarez Ave & 5th Ave. When you walk out of the bus station, you will see a McDonalds, Dominos Pizza and a Bank ATM machine directly in front of you. As you are standing one 5th Ave., facing McDonalds/Dominos etc...turn to your right and walk to the corner. The corner is Juarez Ave. You can look down Juarez Ave. and see the ocean......Walk down Juarez Ave., towards the water to the end of the road, turn right & walk towards Sr. Frogs....which is the only way that you can turn at that point an remain on the road. Walk 2 blocks down to Calle 1 South & turn left at Calle 1 South an you will walk right into the ferry dock.

Now....WARNING: The ticket booth closest to the ferry dock is a timeshare booth. They will offer you a free ferry ticket in exchange for you listening to a timeshare pitch. Avoid that booth unless you want to waste 3-4 hours of your day listening to a salespitch. Go to any other ticket booth to buy your ticket...the cost is the same at all of them so it doesn't matter which one you pick. The cost is 80 pesos one way & 146 pesos round trip. There are 2 different companies offering ferry service "Mexico Waterjects" & "Ultramar" .....ultramar is the newest, both cost the same, get a ticket for whichever one leaves next.

Now....WARNING #2: Do not accept any free maps or other "stuff" from anyone who approaches you. They are all timeshare hawks....ignore them all!! Be leary of ANYONE who just walks up to you an starts talking to you....they are all selling timeshare.

The ferry ride will take 30-45 minutes depending. When you get to Cozumel, there will be a taxi line to your left. If you need a taxi to get to a particular place, catch one. If you are just gonna hang out in town...everything is walking distance.


Might wanna print this out now & take it with ya!!!

BTW....5th Ave. is the "main drag" in Playa, so when you get back from Cozumel...it's worth strolling down 5th Ave. to find a nice restaruant or do a bit of shopping or people watching.

[NormsKid]

If you or someone in your travel party likes to shop til they drop, here is your guide to shopping in Cancun:

http://www.cancun-condos.net/CancunShoppingEng.htm

Michelle

[NormsKid]

If you are a US Citizen, please take a few moments to register your trip with the US State Department. Please go here to see why you should register your trips abroad an then register...it's free an will only take a moment.

https://travelregistration.state.gov/ibrs/ui/

Keep in mind that acts of terrorism, natural disasters, crimes,etc...don't come with prior warnings..they just happen! Don't get caught with your pants down...go register!

Michelle

[Klaw]

This is courtesy of Michael F.
courtesy of http://www.docancun.com:/cancun-beaches.htm:

Public Beach Access
While all beaches in Cancun are technically public (owned by the government), you may not be able to access the beach by walking through a hotel, which is private property. Visitors staying in hotels that are not on the beach can access the beaches at any of the 10 public-access entries to the beach.
Playa Ballenas - Public entrance is a sidewalk along the Meridien Hotel wall fence. Incredible views, and peaceful sunbathing. Keep an eye on the warning flags, however, as the currents can be quite dangerous any time of the year. At kilometer 14 in the Hotel Zone, in between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc.

Playa Caracol/Playa Las Palmas - Entrance is hard to locate. Go through the small wood gate next to Fiesta Americana Coral Beach. Also accessible through Xcaret bus terminal. Near Punta Cancun, ideal for children or beginner swimmers. One of the nicer beaches because of its flat shallow sand bed. Located at 8.5 km in the Hotel Zone.

Playa Chac Mool - Public entrance is across the street from Señor Frog's. Public beach with changing area, handy restaurants. Be advised however that the currents are strong and it's tempting to wade too far out into the shallow water. Good water sports area - sail-boarding, water skiing and parasailing. Located kilometer 10 in the Hotel Zone, near Punta Cancun.

Playa Delfines - Peaceful sunbathing and breathtaking views. However it also offers dangerous swimming conditions in the strong surf and sometimes treacherous currents. There are some stone benches for sitting and contemplating the sea, but no other facilities. At kilometer 18 in the Hotel Zone, near Punta Nizuc.

Playa Juventud - Here is a nice place for swimming and a good place for water sports. Located off of Kukulcán Boulevard at km. 3 in the Hotel Zone.

Playa Langosta - Excellent swimming. Situated in the middle of the north end of the Hotel Zone and facing Bahia de Mujeres, you can find some of the best swimming that Cancun has to offer at Playa Langosta. Lots of beach restaurants and bars. Located at km. 5 of the Hotel Zone. A dock with shuttles to Isla Mujeres and other tours located here too

Playa Las Perlas - Another nice place for swimming and a good place for water sports. There are restaurants and bars on the beach. It is located at kilometer 2.5 in the Hotel Zone.

Playa Linda - Excellent swimming. Close to downtown and facing Bahia de Mujeres. Some of the best swimming in all of Cancun. Restaurants, changing rooms. Playa Linda’s dock is the departure point for submarine and dive tours. Located at kilometer 4 in the Hotel Zone.

Playa Marlin - Public entrance behind Kukulcán Plaza. Sunbather's delight. Well known for its incredible, expansive views and peaceful sunbathing. Keep an eye on the warning flags however, as the currents can be dangerous. Located at kilometer 13 in the Hotel Zone, in between Punta Cancun and Punta Nizuc.

Playa Tortugas - Public entrance is next to Fat Tuesday's. Good swimming here, and perfect for water sports. A number of restaurants and refreshment bars located here too. Located at kilometer 6.5 in the Hotel Zone. Dock offering shuttles to Isla Mujeres and other tours.
_________________
Michael F.

[Ericfromalaska]

My wife and I are going to honeymoon in march and for three days we are going to be in a quaint hotel in playa del carmen then we have 7 days at aventura spa. what things should we look forward to doing while in playa del carmen? Should we venture north to cancun for the "booze cruises?" ( I kinda wanted to go on one) or should we just take in the local cultures in PDC and explore cozemel before we spa it up? I haven't ever cancun'd before and we want to have a lot of fun. let me know what you think. -Eric :?:

[Sessa]

It was my first time to Cancun in November 2004!

http://www.cancuncare.com/forum/view...149&highlight=

Hopefully the information I have provided will help someone out there!

[oysterfiend]

hi just new to Cancuncare and feeling my way about

[cintiast]

Hi ...I'm new here and I'm from Brazil. I'll like to say that I love this site and thanks to Steve...you'll doing a lovely work!!!
I had a travel to Cancun in New Year, but I'd change because the Wilma... but I'll go there in february. I hope the city can be better.
Thanks again and I hope we can meet us... it'll be cool
Bye
Cíntia
PS: Sorry for my bad English
If someone wanna talk with me, you can call at msn or skype

[NormsKid]

Don't worry about your English, it's better than everyone else's portugese! Besides, we don't give extra points for good grammer around here. It's clear what your trying to say & that's good enough for CancunCare!

WELCOME ABOARD!

Michelle

[Michael F.]

You're still the reigning CancunCare Homecoming Queen, Michelle.

[FirstimerMike]

First timer. Any information other than anything posted would be great!

I'm 20 and my Girlfriend is 19 so we are a bit nervous about being taken advantage of at certain places. I travel a lot so I'm very saavy and I won't tolerate much of it, but being introduced in a new culture could allow for some unsafe dealings.

Anyone familiar with Cancun Grey Line Charters? Booked a rountrip transfer to/from airport through Orbitz.

Where exactly is the Hyatt Caribe from the hotel zone? Is the ocean swimable? Or is it always rough?

We want to swim with dolphins and snorkel. Any one snorkel or dolphin trip we just HAVE to do? We really want to interact with the dolphins. Touch them, swim with them, be pushed by them, the whole nine yards.

We think we want to Snorkel at/around Cozumel. Any tips!!?

Also, do we need to exchange our money to Pesos? What is the exchange rate - roughly?

We will be bringing travelers cheques and I'm interested to know if our hotel exchanges them at the front desk.. and what we should look for so we don't get screwed on money.

That's my biggest concern. A little nervous but very excited about visiting the Mexican Carribean!

[HitmanSham]

Would like to send a big shout out to the CancunCare massive. I've been Cancun myself 6 times and have always referenced your forum for advice and the latest news from Cancun.

Your all doing a great job!!! Keep up the good work...

Well for me its back to Cancun on the 22nd July... anyone else out there that time??

Peace Out

[roger kelley]

We are looking a foster home and/or boarding for a young boy(my son´s stepson) whom we wish to send to a school in Cancun(IAS). We prefer an english-speaking or bi-lingual family(English-Spanish). He currently lives in Belize and needs secondary education.

Can anyone point us in the right direction for this or advise us of any people or organisations/communities who may be able to help in this regard.

Many thanks for any assistance.

Roger and Elizabeth Kelley
Semi -retired consulting engineer
Wife: English teacher

[RiverGirl]

How old is this boy? Please PM me (send me a private message) with your email address and I will put you in touch with several people who may be able to help you.

[c.aunkst]

Would it be possible for me and my friends to book our hotel when we get there? Or is that not a good idea?