Mexico Recommendation?

Question

Which place in Mexico would you recommend for a first trip? We are a mid-20s couple and are not into the party non-stop thing. We enjoy vacations that give us a chance to experience the local culture, great food, some nightlife, outdoor adventure, shopping, and of course a beautiful place for relaxation. We are looking to go next summer, so a place that isn't drenched in rain during June would be great. I know there are many spots that offer all of this, but what is your pick? Thanks!

Answer 1

Cancun is rainy during the winter (many parts of Mexico are just the opposite).  It is the nightlife capitol of mexico, but around the hotels it is fairly quiet (depending on where you are staying).  If you are looking for quiet relaxation I would recommend the Gran Melia.  It is a beautiful property.  You wont believe your eyes - http://www.granmeliacancun.com/  BUT WAIT: Cancun has suffered from beach erosion lately.  But dont believe all the endless party stuff you see about Cancun on T.V.  If I told you how many times I have been there, you wouldn't believe me.

Answer 2

Mexico is a great place to travel.

If you stay at the ElCid you have free dinners and a nice hotel to stay in! I love it there! You also get a free show everynight. Hang out at some islands and do alittle shopping there too. Great idea and you get a wonderful taste of  Mexico. By the way ElCid is in Mazatlan, A great Place.

Answer 3

Playa del Carmen will be good then for you, or Puerto Vallarta, but do not stay at downtown hotel since the beaches there have a lot of stones, rather stay at Marina Vallarta zone where the beach is pretty good.

June is the start of the rain season but still not too bad at that month.

Answer 4

I agree with playa del carmen,but not puerta vallarta. we just got back from there and hated it. The ocean and beach were so nasty we didn't go in the water. The age group in puerta vallarta is also a little bit on the older side. I know you said mexico ,but I would recommend going to punta cana. we go every 2 years and love it.

Answer 5

Since you mentioned "local culture" first, and not beaches... then I would you suggest you stay in Mexico's interior, and not on the coast.

My first choice for you would be Oaxaca City. This is a charming, colonial-style city that is rich, rich, rich in local culture. I've been all over Mexico, and this city is one of the best for its charm, food, culture and shopping. The best coffee I've ever had was had in Oaxaca. The food here is famous around the world - you can enroll in a Oaxacan cooking course while you're there. Look for an English-language newspaper, the Oaxaca Times, for details on what to do (link below).

The city is up in the mountains, so the climate is relatively fresh and you shouldn't be drenched (which is likely to happen along the coast during June).

You could spend a day visiting the Monte Alban ruins, very interesting.

The shopping for local crafts is great. Unlike a lot of other places, the crafts here are genuine and of high quality. Go to the central market for the best prices.

If you'd still like to see the beaches, then take a bus (or a private van service) west to either Huatulco or Puerto Escondido. Huatulco is a high-end resort; Puerto Escondido is a famed surf spot that attracts a lot of young foreigners from all over the world. It's a great place for chilling out in natural beauty.

OK. My second choice for you would be Guadalajara. It's much bigger and you'll have a different experience. Head out to Tlaquepaque for shopping for crafts and find a nice restaurant where you'll be serenaded by mariachis. You could spend another day traveling up to the town of Tequila, where the liquor is from, and tour a distillery where you'll be amazed by the variety of flavors available. If you want to see the beach, then you could take a bus out to Puerto Vallarta.

Both Guadalajara and Oaxaca offer nightlife. I think you have more options for outdoor adventure in Oaxaca.

And, lastly, my third choice would be Playa del Carmen. It's on the beach, but it's not a bad choice because of its proximity to several Mayan ruins (Tulum, Chichen Itza and others). I don't rate this as highly as the others, because it's mostly a tourist resort, so you're not getting as much exposure to true local culture, and you'll be spending more on your shopping excursions. You stand a greater risk of rain, and it'll be quite hot. But it is beautiful.

Answer 6

Jalisco, Guadalajara....There is so much to see there and it is very modern at this point and there is so much to see!! ALso the food is great and climate is usually great except when it rains which is usually around this time during july-august or september.  Good Luck =)