Where we have been staying is in the city of Cancun, not the hotel zone. So we're actually about 4 kms (2.4 miles) walking distance just to get to the beach.
And then, the beach continues for about 20 kms (12.4 miles) where all of the hotels and resorts are. Appropriately called "The Hotel Zone" Here, I'll show you. A map is always good for perspective...
(A) Where we have been staying
(B) The far end of the hotel zone, about 24 kms (14.9 miles) away.
So we set off towards the beach for a walk, having no particular destination in mind.
The main drag towards the hotel zone.
The main drag has nice sidewalks and even a cycling path on one side. Good things because it's a really busy road with lots of buses, cars, and motorcycles ferrying customers and employees to all of the hotels.
And lots of these fellows too. This one looks like it lost it's tail at some point.
Made it to the beach.
This end of the beach is pretty quiet. Some private houses and condos and a few small boutique hotels. So we took off towards the hotel zone and walked for over an hour on the beach. The sand in Cancun is like fine white powder. It's sure easy to see why this became the popular area that it is.
There's a bridge that you have to cross to get to the busier part of the hotel zone. This is where some of the mega resorts start, and where all the spring break kids are having fun.
Ruth, and the hotel zone in the background.
Two big mega resorts.
You have to cross the bridge (in the background of the pic above) to get further along the beach. This is where the fun begins!
Yikes.
Just a little busy at this resort!
So while we cringed as we walked by all of these people packed together on the beach, we also realize that we might have thought this would be great fun if we were 30 years younger! Also, we realize that staying at a cheapo beach resort like this one would be far better than remaining in Canada! We used to do a few of these cheap all inclusive vacations because you can get great deals from Canada, especially from Toronto. Including airfare, you can pay as little as $500 for a week at an all inclusive. Probably not during March, but if your only option is one of these crowded places, then it's better than not going at all.
We ended up walking a total of 9 kms. 4 kms to get to the beach, and then 5 kms along the beach. We took the local bus back to town for 9.5 pesos (80 cents) each. Still, it didn't drop us that close to home and we had to walk another km to get there.
So, speaking of beach resorts...
That's where we're headed this morning! We are booked for three days at a luxury all inclusive. While this is a little out of our normal realm of travel experiences, sometimes you have to mix it up a little bit. We're going to be staying at the fantastic Beach Palace resort, and we're looking forward to telling you all about it!
Cancun's Beach Palace resort.
The Beach Palace is ranked on tripadvisor as the #8 hotel out of 173 hotels listed in Cancun.
This is a little treat to ourselves as our 30th wedding anniversary is approaching. We'll actually be working the day of the anniversary so won't be able to properly celebrate then. Now is as good a time as any while the opportunity presents itself!
Took one look at the crowded beach scene above and before even seeing the title or reading today's post, said, "Kevin and Ruth won't like that!" Your title, of Spring Break? No Thanks! just made me LOL. As for splurging at a luxury all-inclusive to celebrate your anniversary, congratulations, and cyber champagne. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteSpring break is a nightmare here in AZ also. Jim doesn't go anywhere near the lake to go fishing during that week. Sounds like a marvelous way to celebrate your anniversary.
ReplyDeleteUm ya. I like those ones that are somewhere up there in the top ten. Unless the price is just crazy of course. Depends.
ReplyDeleteI'm not much of a one for the beach, and sure as heck not one that's that crowded. But like you say, 30 years ago? Maybe. Of course, the concept of a "vacation" of any kind 30 years ago was not something that was remotely within our reach.
We stayed at the Beach Palace about 4 years ago and had a great time.
ReplyDeleteFood was great!
Congratulations! Happy 30th Anniversary! Blessings, Lynn
ReplyDeleteWe spent last week in the panhandle of Florida in a quiet community called Mexico Beach. However, Panama City Beach was only 30 miles away and the news was full of stories about the spring breakers including one drunk driving death. So sad. We were glad not to be there. Enjoy your anniversary treat!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to celebrate your upcoming anniversary! Kick back and enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWe not much for the beach and all inclusive and certainly not one packed for spring break. Nice thing about most or our parks they are not destinations and a lot ar 55 plus, so very relatively quiet.
ReplyDeleteHave too much fun.
Happy 30th Anniversary to you two!!!
ReplyDeleteThose people on the beach are packed in so close they can't even get a sunburn. Not for me, either.
ReplyDelete