Independent travel to Cancun and Mexico possible?

Question

I'm a seasoned independent traveller and I am interested in going to Mexico via Cancun. I would get a cheap charter flight from Europe - but then? I'm not interested in the typical holiday resorts. How difficult would it be to get away from the airport and travel around Mexico on my own on public transport? How much money would I need per day in Mexico? Is budget accomodation available or would I need to stay at camping sites? Are there camping sites in the area? Aybody done this before?

Answer 1

The answer to your question is, it is not difficult to leave the area once you arrive there and to travel independently in Mexico.The public transportation system in Mexico is very efficient and  you can go directly from the airport to the bus terminal upon arrival and then, from the bus station, you can go directly or with connections to almost anywhere in the country.If you are woman travelling alone you will have some additional challenges that men travelling alone don't. You should first read and then bring a current copy of a Lonely Planet,Footprint or Let's Go guide book with you and I would advise learning as much "travel specific"Spanish as possible 'before" going.

I believe the guidebooks I mentioned all contain some survival Spanish. Once you leave the tourist areas it may be difficult to find anyone who speaks English. Budget accomodations are available everywhere in Mexico except in the heavily touristed areas and there are campng places but I would advise you to stay some where where you can lock your door at night.I have no trouble travelling comfortaby for $25-$30 a day (lodging,food and and all my transportation) I speak decent,but not fluent Spanish and I have been travelling in Mexico for a long time. You may find that you can do it for less,but I would plan on having more than that available on your first trip...Car rental and auto insurance is prohibitively expensive for a budget traveller.Hope this helps you and have a wonderful trip...the gypsy

Mike is an old friend of mine and his website is certainly worth a look before you travel to Mexico.

http://www.mexicomike.com/stories/women-...

http://www.safetravel.co.uk/TravellingTo...

Answer 2

Hello you may find some information here :

http://claquin.com/cheap_flights_europe

good search

Answer 3

Not hard at all. I've done it. Speaking some Spanish helps, of course. The public transportation from the beach resorts to el centro (the real city) is very easy. If you live on the economy you can eat and travel cheaply but finding a place to stay that is safe and clean and cheap can be a challenge. There are camping sites near Cancun, but not at the beach or in the main city. They are out a bit. There are lots of eco-friendly places and smaller bed and breakfast type places scattered around too. I found the people exceptionally friendly and helpful and felt very comfortable there.

Answer 4

Going to Mexico on you own and travelling away from the main resort areas may be dangerous.

With the above in mind your Euro will go very far in Mexico. Numerous modes of cheap transportation is available.  Considering that most lodging business is from tourists and lodging away from resorts will be pretty bad.

You have to be careful.  People are always trying to persuade you to go with them...some are just trying to make money and others want you to go with them, never to be seen again.

Answer 5

I have been to Mexico several times almost every year

josix00 is correct ...many people think they are travel savy comparing another country they have been to to another ....Europe ...and the middle east I would not compare it to Mexico.

Best bet is to stay in a tourist area...people try to take advanatge of you their if they no your no from their ..

my sister goes to Mexico alone but she stays in cozumel at her resort and goes out to areas that are highly tourist ...hmm well the fact that they all think she is Mexican I get helps her as she never gets annoyed with those people trying to sell things to toursist s and she also goes out with some riends she has now made from going every year ,that live in Mexico and work at the resort .

A few years ago some Americans were killed in their motor home in Mexico ( a family ) so it shows you really have to have your guards up ...

Answer 6

I wouldn't suggest going to a Country like Mexico alone esp if you have never gone before. Try renting a car if possible before taking public transportation. Since you dont want to stay near tourist locations then I hope your Spanish is at least decent. Good luck.

Answer 7

All right, first:

When you get to cancun at the airport, ask for the "ADO" (its a bus that takes you to Cancun downtown.... and its cheaper than the vans, about 5 usd dollars.... thats the best and cheaper way to get away from the airport

The ADO takes you to the bus station at cancun, from there you can get to any city of the south of Mexico,

I have a lot of recomendations for you if you want...

About acoomodation available in Cancun when you get to downtown there are some hostels near from the bus station...

.. from about 25 to 35usd per day....  

and about the food lets see.. taking the McDonals classical hamburger costs about 4.5 usd....

you know im from mexico, on my last vacations i only spend about 300 usd. on a week, i went to merida, campeche, palenque, villahermosa, and mexico city... i only stay 3 nights in a hotel room. i prefered to sleep on a bus.... to earn money

but what you must visit if you decide to come to mexico its valladolid, and their cenotes like the "samula" or xkeken, and also visit palenque in chiapas, laguna azul in chiapas, etc...

Answer 8

Hola amiga! je je ok so Mexico it might not look as tough as other countries in the middle east but still is a way different culture, however u wouldn't be the first person who do that, I've heard of other travellers like you doing the same thing, now the only problem I see in you is the lack of spanish knowledge, take at least with you a Spanish basic book for travellers; Enlish speaking habitans are located just in the main major cities like: Cancun, Playa del carme, merida, mexico city, puebla, guadalajara etc etc. Rural areas uuh dangerous!!! take in consideration that different from other countries Mexico is the via of thousand of illegal inmigrants who come from central and south america on their way to the United States everyday of the week, so u might run into sum soldiers arresting people on the buses or any other kind of public transportation, this has inscreased alot theses past years! other than that I don't think u see any other thing out of the ordinary at least nothing that yu haven't seen before as u have mentioned, my only recomendation make sure to get food at healthy places, improve at least sum basic spanish a must!!!! and oh yeah most things are really cheap in Mexico, do not trust people je this might sound contradictory but believe it or not I'm Mexican( not in MEX. for the moment) and even me am afraid of my own fellow mexican ja ja!!!! keep that in mind!!! Buena suerte chica!