Cancun in January?

[Doctordestiny]

I'm looking at going in mid January to the Cancun area, actually a town near Cancun (Barcelo). Anyone been? Any advice? It's close to Cancun and I figure an excursion or two to Cancun would be in order. Edit: Playa del Carmen is actually closer to where we'd be; Cancun is an hour away. Advice on both is appreciated.

[chalms04]

I know the perfect place if you're a gun aficionado...

[normtwofinger]

save your time and go to cuba

[bluejays]

Hey, I spent this past Christmas and New Years very very close to Barcelo (it's actually in Mayan Riviera). I'll actually be there again this Christmas and New Years again. We stayed at Grand Palladium and it was a super super nice hotel. Staff were absolutely great and accomodating, the resorts are literally about 20 times larger than the ones in Cuba (where I'll be this upcoming week ), the food was amazing as literally about 15-20 large restaurants were on the resort. The daytimes were a little dull as entertainment isn't really a forte of Mayan (mostly for families and older people to relax and be pampered...but that depends on who you go with). You can visit a number of daytime excursions (fishing, Mayan ruins, tree zip lining etc), and at night you gotta go to Playa Del Carmen's Coco Bongo nightclub. I went there with my parents. lol. It was a crazy show (not so much a club where you go to dance), but just one nutty show that you'll remember for the rest of your life (and it's an open bar). Don't take drinks from anyone there aside from your bartender (my sister and a friend got drugged). But it was a hell of a good time. I've only heard good things about Barcelo though, and I'd highly recommend going.

[normtwofinger]

Grand Palladium is where its at. But if you want the typical tropical beach go to cuba

[Slava]

I was down the road from there a month and a half ago. I did a lot o excursions which was awesome. I found the nighttime the most boring actually...nothing to do but watch shows and have some drinks. I had a fair amount planned and didn't want to tie one on and screw those things up, so I ended up going to bed early and getting up early.

You won't be disappointed though. It's beautiful, the beach is fantastic and the people are really nice. I didn't stay at the Barcelo, but it seems like the resorts in that area are all very similar. I have no idea and haven't really been anywhere to compare, but they all looked pretty awesome to me.

[Cactus Jack]

I was at the Barcelo Maya Palace in the Mayan Riveira in January. The hotel is great, the food is excellent, the reefs are close and beautiful and the beach is nice albeit a little small. Very clear, relatively warm water. If you want lots of young people and crazy parties, you have to go into town but if you want gorge yourself, drink up and enjoy the beach, it's a good place. The staff is friendly, too.

As suggested, you to the cenotes, scuba diving, snorkeling, Playa del Carmen and things like that.

[Ozy_Flame]

Definitely hit up Juarez, Mexico. One of the safest places on the planet.

[gargamel]

I was down there in January and had a great time, but I wouldn't book anything near the Gulf until the oil spill gets sorted out. Cancun shouldn't be affected, but that isn't a chance that I'd be willing to take with my vacation.

[kermitology]

Xel-ha or Tulum ruins.

I stayed at the Bahia Principe Coba in January of this year. FANTABULOUS PLACE!

[Coach]

I was in cancun in early january this year. It rained a lot of the time that we were there. Not sure if it was the time of year or just a crappy coincidence but yeah thats my two cents. still had fun!

Originally Posted by kermitology

Xel-ha or Tulum ruins.

and +1 for Tulum. So awesome. Not as huge as the main one that everyone goes too, but less busy and cooler history IMO

[SeeBass]

If you are going to spend the money on the Barcelo in Cancun you might as well just stay at the Sandals in Varadero.

The Barcelo is good but very big and busy. The Sandals is smaller and the beach is waaaay better and you have alacarte dining plus no kids.

PS: no Americans either compared to the East coast yanks you will see at the Barcelo. Book a trip to Havana for the day, quite a trip in a time machine it is.

I have stayed at both