Traveling to Mexico – Share Your Thoughts

Mexico has long-been one of the top destinations for U.S. tourists due to its warm weather and beautiful beaches. If you have been to Mexico in the last two years, we would love to hear from you! Share your tips on the best places to go, travel woes to avoid, and how to have a safe trip.

We travel to Mazatlan every year. It is a wonderful cities full of amazing music cultural events, and delicious food. The city is quite safe. As in any large city you must do your due diligence and don't go where you don't belong. We will find endless fun in Mazatlan. We also found a new location in Mexico last year which was wonderful. San Carlos. San Carlos is on the Sea of Cortez just outside of Guaymas. It is a sleepy little town with a very relaxing nature. Wonderful hiking, biking, swimming, and of course fishing. There is wonderful music being played at most hours of the in many different locations. So if your looking for laid back San Carlos is a wonderful spot. My last recommendation from our last year of travel would be San Jose del Cabo. We stayed at the Cabo Azul resort. It is beautiful and the people are wonderful. San Jose also has much to offer in the way entertainment and dining. As you can see we enjoy Mexico and what it has to offer. Thank You for allowing me to share my love of this country with others. Irene Wallin Gilbert Carrillo Anchorage, AK

Back in the late 80's early 90's, I lived in Cancun and fell in love with it. I have gone back many times since with family and friends . This past June I had rented a 2 bedroom suite (Ocean Front) at the Royal Sands through Redweek and went with 4 friends. The resort was fantastic and we had an incredible time! I am going back to Cancun for Christmas week and bringing my Granddaughter this time. This time of year is very popular so I booked it back in March again through Redweek. I couldn't find anything available at the Royal Sands for Christmas but was able to get us a 1 bedroom villa at the Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort which is close to the Royal Sands and just as nice of a resort. I am looking forward to my granddaughter seeing Cancun for the first time and experiencing all it's beauty, culture, history and adventures that I fell in love with so many years ago.

Deborah Geissinger Toms River, NJ

We've grown to love the Tafer Group of Resorts: Garza Blanca, Hotel Mousai, and Villa Del Palmar. They have locations in Cabo, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta. Each of the resorts is top-notch with 5-star service and amenities...way better than practically any place in the US at an equivalent price. There are lots of listings on Red Week, too, which saves a ton of money over the resort's website prices.

Just returned from a week at the Residences at Montecristo, Cabo San Lucas. The villas are kept clean as a whistle. Infiniti pool at each villa. Villas are 3bd 4 1/2ba with some 4bd. Incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. Great restaurants at the two resorts below. Best golf course in Cabo, Quivira Golf Club. Gated resort as well is extremely safe for the entire family. Can’t wait to go back in Feb. Paul Ross Scottsdale Az

We enjoy Mexico but have difficulty finding resorts that don't require fees of "all inclusive" meal plans. Those daily rates are steep and preclude us from visiting local restaurants

We love the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun…perfect location with many top restaurants nearby, between the two best markets for food/liquor supplies, across the street is the main outdoor shopping mall (La Isla) full of great high-end shops and many restaurants and a casino. But especially we love the white white sand on pale aqua water with a staff that is so thoughtful and helpful. The layout of the resort means everyone gets an ocean view. Luv luv luv the relaxation!

Vidanta Group of resorts,( Mayan Palace, Grand Mayan etc., ) have luxurious resorts at a number of places around Mexico and do not charge “all inclusive” rates. We were there last year and loved it!

We have been going to Puerto Vallarta since the mid 80s. Many years for one week of vacation while we were still working. We enjoyed staying at our timeshare Villa del Palmar. It is a smaller resort and in a good location. More recently we have been staying longer (3 months) and renting condos which has become increasingly expensive due to the popularity of Puerto Vallarta. We have always felt safe whether at the timeshare or in a private condo. Puerto Vallarta has much to offer as far as restaurants and entertainment. We have seen many changes and growth in Puerto Vallarta over the years, some good, some bad but overall it is our favorite home away from home. The weather is the best to escape the cold winters.

What is a good hotel/resort to stay at in Mazatlan? We have a large group going in 2024. I would like everyone to book their own rooms.

We fly to Cancun and are members at the Royal Haciendas on Playa Del Carmen each summer. We love the resort, the beaches, the food & drink and especially all our friends from all over the US we meet up with each year.

We own a timeshare in Mexico but have not felt comfortable going there for years.

Over the course of 20 year our family has travelled extensively to many areas of Mexico. There is currently a turf war between two Cartels. This is occurring mostly in the Playa Del Carmen and Cancun areas. We are avoiding that area. Check travel advisories. We used to rent a vehicle and do not anymore. We get ground transportation and mostly stay within the vicinity of the resort. I feel safest in Puerta Vallarta and Nuevo Vallarta. We have stayed at a few Villa Groups. Our favorites are Villa del Palmar in San Jose Del Cabo and the Villa Del Flamingo in Puerta Vallarta. Have been to Rancho Banderas and Marisol and that’s also a favorite in Nuevo Vallarta. We love Punta Mita and Villa Group is adding a new resort there soon. We were so impressed with The Embarc in Zihuatanejo but the stairs omg. The pool and swim up bar are important to us and we had so much fun at theirs. Spa experiences are also important to us amd Yhe Villa Group has some amazing ones. We stayed at Vidanta and did not like it at all. The property is vast and complicated to navigate without having a cart driver that you wait for at different spots. The restaurants were always a challenge to get to and the “wait”. The beach is in the distance and I prefer beachfront. That area of Puerta Vallarta makes it expensive to get off property and out of that entire vicinity. Love the Paradise Village spa but again do not like that area of PV. I love all of the Royal properties in Cancun. Our family rarely purchases all inclusive because we do enjoy taking a cab or walking to nearby restaurants before dark. Sometimes we will purchase it just for the first few days but they discontinued that and only do the last few days of your stay. There are still some resorts that offer optional all inclusive. I have realized with much travel that if the name of the resort has the word Grand or Palace in it it’s not for us. We like a smaller property where most or all of the rooms face the ocean is steps away. Happy and Safe Travels.

We own multiple weeks at Westin Lagunamar in Cancun so we can accommodate our three grown daughters and their families on big vacations. It's absolutely perfect. Cancun is a short plane-ride from the US, and Cancun is so much like Maui where we also own multiple Westin units - but less expensive and with unique culture. Lagunamar's location with huge sand beach, amazing pools, and right by some of the very best food and shopping within walking distance - it's the best of all worlds.

You can avoid the "all-inclusive" meal component at Royal Resorts by going on Red Week and renting directly from owners. In doing so, you have the option of whether or not to take the the meal plan. We enjoy the flexibility of dine in/ dine out that owner rentals provide.

cherylw231 wrote:

We enjoy Mexico but have difficulty finding resorts that don't require fees of "all inclusive" meal plans. Those daily rates are steep and preclude us from visiting local restaurants

Last May 2022, we stayed Nuevo Vallarta area Vidanta Grand Bliss for a week and found it to be the most pressured sales effort at any location ever. However, we loved the property although felt claustrophobic and stuck with limited variety in meal options due to their hours of operation. Having said that, all were quite good regardless. But the pressure for purchase and 2 days wasted time were the highlighted things that we recall.

I LOVE Mexico! End of January until first week in March will be my 36th visit to Puerto Vallarta where I am welcomed back like family! The weather is typically perfect, people are lovely, restaurants are numerous & fabulous, great entertainment, & rather walkable if inclined to do so all while feeling very safe! I have a wonderful Dentist as well as Dermatologist I visit yearly and have recommended both to many friends and all come away extremely pleased! Before my 2023 visit I will be visiting Mazatlan for the first time (December 10th-17th) and would love any and all suggestions as far as restaurants in the area of El Cid El Moro Beach Resort! I hope to enjoy Mazatlan as much as I do Puerto Vallarta! I thank you in advance for any suggestions!

Pueblo Bonito Mazatlan or Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay

Do you ‘trade in’ to Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay?

Deborah I'm an owner at Westin Lagunamar and I'm excited fie you and toye granddaughter to experience the resort. The staff is wonderful the rooms are newly remodeled, the infinite pool is amazing and the service is outstanding. Enjoy your holiday travels, I travel to Cancun and Lagunamar 8 to 9 weeks out of every yr!