With its pristine white sand beaches and amzing turquoise blue waters, the Mexican paradise of Cancun balances the peace of the beach with a fun and fabulous nightlife.

When you're not sunning or dancing, you can swim with dolphins, scuba dive, snorkel, golf, shop, ride horses, or visit an ancient Mayan archeological site.

Best Travel Times

The hurricane season begins in September, so opt for cancellation insurance when booking flights during this time.

You might also want to consider planning your vacation during the Northern Hemisphere’s off peak winter months, because airfares and hotel rates tend to be less inflated. Look for mid-week bargains, which are generally most significant from Tuesday through Thursday. You can save a lot by shopping around for travel packages and discount air travel. Keep your eyes and ears open for deals on the following popular hotels, in particular:

- Temptations Spa & Resort
- Royal Sands
- JW Marriot Cancun Resort & Spa
- Ritz-Carlton Cancun
- Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort
- Marriot CasaMagna Cancun Resort
- Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun
- Riu Palace Las Americas
- Royal Islander
- Riu Cancun

Surrounding Attractions

There are so many things to do in the Cancun area, you can afford to be selective. Plan ahead for day trips and go early, before the sun gets too hot and the crowds come out en masse.

Here are some popular attractions in the area you'll want to consider:

- Chichen Itza – Ancient Mayan archeological structures
- Cenotes – Deep, water-filled sinkholes in limestone
- Isla Mujeres – A small and charming island 8 miles across the baby from Cancun
- Playa del Carmen – Small resort town about 40 minutes south of Cancun by car
- Xcaret EcoPark and Sian Ka'an biosphere along the Riviera Maya
- Xel-Ha – Archeological site and ecopark, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.
- Tulum – Best known for its Mayan ruins that overlook the water.

Other Cancun Travel Considerations

If your primary goal is to visit Cancun on a budget, the best advice is to find accommodations out of the “hotel zone”. There are plenty of things to do there and lots of great places to visit but the hotel and restaurant prices can get pretty steep in the hotel zone. There are many beautiful hotels and accomodations in Cancun city, outside of the hotel zone.

Here is a checklist of items you'll want to pack for your Cancun vacation:

- Clothing: Several pairs of comfortable shorts, tee-shirts, dress slacks, a sundress, sweater or light jacket, socks, undergarments, sandals, tennis shoes, plastic bag for dirty clothes
- First Aid: Pain relievers, eye-drops, necessary medications and prescriptions, band-aids, neck pillow
- Protection: Sunglasses, eye-glasses and/or contact lens, sun-visor or baseball cap, umbrella or rain poncho
- Snacks: Peanuts, crackers and/or potato chips, gum, candy and bottle of water
- Equipment: Camera, extra film, batteries, portable compact disc player with headphones, favorite book
- Documentation: Valid passport, driver’s license and/or birth certificate, emergency contact information, money and/or traveler’s checks, computer printout of airline ticket confirmation. (Make sure to write the name of your destination hotel inside and outside of luggage and be sure to have an adequate lock on each piece of baggage.)

Vacationing in Cancun doesn't need to be expensive because it doesn't cost much to lounge on the beach, swim, backpack, picnic, take photos, walk along the beaches and the streets, and to simply sit still and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city and surf.