I'm planning a trip to Cancun, Mexico. I'm wondering are locals friendly, does it help to know some spanish?

Question

I know its a common tourist destination, but is it easier to get around if you know some spanish, or do the people speak some english?

Answer 1

Yes, locals are very friendly the whole town is very tourist oriented, and while most people speak or at least understand english knowing some spanish helps, specially on taxis and buses.

Cheers!

Answer 2

Company is in Cancun call 1-888-862-3806 for help booking rooms and all.

They will give you ideas for fun too like:

Definately the Swim with Dolphins, this is fantastic especially if you go to Dolphin Discovery on Isla Mujeres, as you have a 40 minute boat ride there and back with open bar and entertainment.

The Captain Hook Pirate ships are another fun thing to try.

A Jungle tour through the mangroves, with snorkelling over the Coral reefs.

If you´re into diving, then Call Ben Mooney at http://www.mayanaquadive.com as he knows some great dive sites.

Xcaret is a wonderful day out, as you get to enjoy an ecopark, with dolphins, turtles ect and then get to watch probably the best show in the whole of Mexico at night.

A catamaran trip with http://www.cancuncatamarans.com is a must, a day sailing and snorkeling, with buffet lunch on Isla Mujeres, open bar, a shopping trip and the chance to have your picture taken holding a live shark.

At night, try the Cancun Party Hopper, there are now 2 different versions going to different bars, and they are great fun.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

yes and yes a lot of Americana's there and yes you can use your Spanish there with ease

Answer 4

You don't need to know spanish, but it's the easiest language in the world to learn.  If you're going soon I recomend getting "Rosetta Stone" language tutorial and/or just watching spanish t.v. and listening to spanish radio.  I think it makes getting around a lot easier.

Answer 5

It's pretty easy to get by without knowing Spanish. All the usual tourists spots, you don't need to know Spanish, but of course the locals do like it if you know a few words. Remember when shopping or even getting a taxi, bargin with them. Never pay for a item with the first price they say. It is very common to dicker with them over the price. They expect it.

Answer 6

While you do not need to know any español, it amuses, if not impresses many of the locals when you at least try. I know quite a bit of Spanish and yet, each time I try to use it in Cancun, it looks like a scene right out of Star Wars (remember the cantina scene where Han Solo is speaking English and Greedo is answering in, well, whatever language he spoke, then Han Solo shot him), but I digress, LOL!

I recommend you pick up a Cancun travel guide and perhaps do a little searching around the web for some Spanish phrases for tourists. Here area few you might want to memorize, I'll make them simple for memory's sake:

Baño - pronounced bahn-yo, means bathroom. If you don't remember the entire phrase, Donde esta el baño (where is the bathroom), if you just ask baño, most people will know what you want.

Agua-water

Cerveza-beer

tequila-tequila

Bien Cocido-pronounced byen-coseed-oh, means well done, good to ask for when ordering meat dishes

Cuanto es?-pronounced Kwahn-toe-ess, means how much is it?

Muchas Gracias-thank you very much

Adios-goodbye

Hola-hello

Buenos dias-good morning

Buenas noches-good night

Seriously, if you just use a few words here and there, it will go a long way with many of the local folks. By the way, I have met really great people and sucky people in Cancun. People seem to be the same wherever you are, there are good and bad, just try to avoid the bad whatever you do.

I hope this answered your questions,

212eric

P.S. You may want to visit this site for others with more info:

http://www.cancuntop100.com/cgi-bin/in.c...

Answer 7

they r friendly and everyone there speaks english :P