However, if you follow a few rules, Mexico remains a safe and great place to visit. It is however advised that tourists going to Mexico exercise a high degree of caution.

If you are planning to go to Mexico, here are 10 safety tips you should apply while touring the country.

1. Preferably stay in a resort or a hotel located in a touristy area. Resorts are especially safe, being so secluded and with high security. As a matter of fact, if you decide to leave the resort for a day trip, you will notice security guards checking on the in-an-outs of people at all times.

2. When visiting a city, avoid venturing out of the touristic areas. Non touristic areas can be very quiet, therefore less safe.

3. Keep your resort’s address and phone number handy at all time. If you get lost, they should be your first resource to contact. If you need directions outside the resort, preferably ask a policeman or commerce workers in a touristic area.

4. Avoid large crowds.

5. Even if you plan to go shopping, avoid carrying big amounts of money on you. Ladies, avoid purses that hand on your shoulder as they are easily snapped off

6. Monitor local news.

7. Travel outside of the resort in small groups as much as possible.

8. Preferably book tours through your hotel or resort.

9. Avoid all non-essential travel to these states and cities (mostly located near the U.S. border):
Sonora state, Chihuahua state, Coahuila state, Sinaloa state, Durango state, Michoacan Cuernavaca city, Veracruz city, Nuevo León state, Tamaulipas state, Baja California state and Guerrero state.

10. Remain vigilant.

These are a few tips that, while not hard to apply, will keep you safe and out of trouble.

Have a good a safe trip!

For more information, visit the following websites
1. Travel warning to Mexico, Bureau of Consular Affairs, USA
2. Travel report, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, Canada
3. Conseils aux voyageurs, Ministère des affaires étrangères et européennes, France
4. Advice – Traveling to Mexico, FCO, UK

So wait no more and check out this top 10 list of the best hotels in Punta Cana, and enjoy the best stay of your life in the Dominican Republic.

1. Iberostar Grand Bavaro Hotel
2. Gran Bahia Principe Esmeralda
3. Tortuga Bay
4. Zoetry Agua Punta Cana
5. Iberostar Bavaro
6. Excellence Punta Cana
7. Catalonia Royal Bavaro
8. Iberostar Punta Cana
9. NH Royal Beach
10. Majestic Elegance Punta Cana

More reading: Bluebay Grand Esmeralda Beach Resort and Spa

For more information, please visit All-inclusive Caribbean Vacations.

To help you find your way through the numerous citie, towns and attractions of Mexico, we made you a summarized guide of Mexico.

Mexico City
First, Mexico city, the capital. The capital of the country, Mexico city, is a must-do and see when traveling to Mexico. Indeed, this vibrant city has so much to offer, including such as strong cultural heritage, inherited from the Spanish influence combined with the culture of the native people hundreds of years ago. The downtown of Mexico city is home to several historical sites, an attestation of the pre-Colombian culture and civilizations. For example, what is left from the Mayor temple, near Zocalo, is still stunning and we can imagine the stupefaction of the conquistadors when they first discovered the glory of the Aztec empire.

Key stop, the Anthropology museum, where you will find the most beautiful recollection of treasures left by the ancient mesoamerican civilizations.

Zocalo
By the time consquistador Hernán Cortés reached Tenochtitlan, the civilization of the people who built Teotihucan were long gone. However, the relic of their civilization site still remains, located at about 25 miles from the capital.

Teotihuacan
The city of Puebla is reknown for its ceramics, which are often used as ornaments in colonial houses of Puebla historic site, listed as a World’s Heritage by UNESCO. Two must-see structures are the Santo Domingo church which main chapel is covered with nothing else but gold, a great example of the Baroque influence on the Mexican culture, and the famous pyramid of Cholula, located only a few miles away.

Monte-Alban
Oaxaca is full of charming surf towns, well known for their laid-back atmosphere and vibe. In Oaxaca, life doesn’t get any better. Relax with a glass of mezcal, a plate of warm tortilla, on a patio under a shadowed area and listening to merengues, cantinas and other cumbias. The pre-Colombian site of Monte Alban, was one of the first cities in mesoamerica, and the ancient capital of Zapotec.

San Cristóbal de las Casas
Stroll around San Cristóbal de las Casas, located in the central highlands of Chiapas. This pretty colonical town with narrow cobblestone streets and red-tiles roof houses is home to different native groups. Don’t miss San Juan Chamula, a Mayan village, one of the most traditional town in the country. There is one rule in San Juan Chamula, be discreet when taking pictures, cameras are not welcomed!

Palenque
Palenque itself has no real attraction, but nearby you will find one Mexico’s most impressive archaeological park. Some of its site is still roped off to tourists and covers treasures of hundreds of year old. Surrounding the site is a lush forest home to wildlife such as colorful toucans or howling monkeys.

Uxmal
Located as less than two hours road from Mérida, one of the biggest historic sites in America, Uxmal is the most known Mayan site in all of Mexico. The scenic site of Chichèn Itzà is not quite as impressive but its Puuc architecture offer some of the most colorful and graphic views of all pre-Columbian sites. Chichèn Itzà is such a big site that you need to plan at least a good three hours to finish the entire site.

Izamal
This peninsula is also home to colonical municipalities, such as Valladolid or Campeche. Of course, Mérida is a must see in the area.

Tulum
Located only an hour away from Playa del Carmen, Tulum is well known for its scenic temple built by the beach. This is simply a breathtaking site, and you will truly understand there the expression : an image is worth 1000 words.

Playa del Carmen
Last but not least is old fishing town of Playa del Carmen, now a popular touristic spot. Lots of shops, boutiques, posadas (small hotels) and restaurants runs along the amazing beach of Quita Avenida.

At night, hundreds of tourists flocks the patios of the multiple restaurants and bars, enjoying the festive atmosphere while musicians entertain the streets with joyful songs.

For more information about Mexico, please visit All Inclusive Caribbean Vacations now.

Suggested reading: Visit the Mayan Ruins

picture credit : joiseyshowaa

Casa Herradura is one of the oldest distillery in Mexico. This historical site has recently opened an exhibition on the national liqueur, in the middle of the most popular hotels.

On the agenda: blue agave degustation (plant use to produce tequila), a presentation of how tequila is made, from agave to your bottle, and of course, tequila tasting. The exhibition site looks like the hacienda San José del Refugio, a UNESCO world heritage.

Among the demystified myths: tequila is not supposed to be consummed with salt and lime. A sacrilege according to the tequila aficionados. As a matter of fact, people from Mexico drink tequila with a slice of orange and some cinnamon. Another myths that is proved wrong: tequila is not always the cheap alcohol we think of. Some bottles can actually sell for up to $500!

The museum charges a nominal fee to offset the cost. Between $5 to $12, depending on the type of tasting you opt for.

For more information, check out Cheap Caribbean Vacations now.

Overall : 4.5/5
Value : 4/5
Cleanliness : 5/5
Rooms : 4.5/5
Beaches : 2/5
Pool: 4/5
Staff: 4/5

While it may not be the 5 stars hotel Bluebay Grand Esmeralda claims to be, it is certainly very close. This great resort is located in Mayan Riviera, near the fabulous town of Playa del Carmen. Opened in early 2008, it offers a fairly luxurious stay at an affordable cost.

Value. If you are looking for a 5 stars experience, but want to stay within a reasonable budget, the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda gives you the opportunity to treat yourself without breaking the bank. The shuttle to the hotel and back is included in the overall cost of the trip.

Cleanliness. The rooms are extremely clean, and if you ask for maid service, you will be happy to return to a clean room with a new towel sculpture every day (with no doubt the elephants were the cutest of them all!). Some reviewers have complained about some smell due the resort reusing their water for watering their plants. Although we did not notice any smell, we do think it is an intelligent way to reduce waste and would like to encourage more places to do the same.

towel sculpture

Rooms. The rooms are spacious. The beds are big and very comfortable. They come with very soft bed sheets and comforter. The bathrooms are clean and recently updated.

Beach. If you are planning to spend hours playing in the ocean, BlueBay Grand Esmeralda is NOT the place to go. The beach is definitely not the highlight of the resort. Although it is a very clean beach, the natural sediments coming from the mangroves which lead to a profusion of seaweed growth can make the water murky at times. It is important to remember that the water is still clean, and the beach properly maintained, but, in this case, mother nature wins!

Pools. Although shallow, the pools are very big, and you will definitely find enough room for everyone. While lounging on your chair, you will definitely appreciate the waitress come up to you and ask you if you need a drink from the bar.

Food. One of the best part of BlueBay Grand Esmeralda definitely have to go to the food. They have two outstanding buffets serving American, Mexican, international food and had a great selection of fresh cut exotic fruits. Look for seafood night where they serve lobsters! A-la-carte restaurants (French, Italian, Mexican, Oriental, Seafood, Steakhouse) are decent. While we did not care for the French restaurant, we sure enjoyed the show at the Oriental restaurant and the quality of the meals at the Seafood restaurant. Because a-la-carte restaurants are popular, make sure to book early during your stay to ensure dinner at the restaurant of your choice. The drinks were also simply excellent (great mojitos!)

Staff. We found the staff to be extremely pleasant and helpful. We thought our air conditioned wasn’t working properly, and within 5 minutes of us calling the concierge, a technician was already there, helping us. The staff was always smiling, pleasant and very polite.

Spa. Treat yourself with a day at the modern spa of BlueBay, you will not regret it. It is relax and gorgeous. A great way to revitalize yourself after too many hours of prolonged sun exposure!

Overall, we had an excellent time at the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda in Mayan Riviera. Although it is not quite the full 5 stars quality some people may be looking for, for its price (we paid 1200), it provides a fairly luxurious stay. It definitely has way more good than bad, and if you are able to overlook the lesser quality of the beach water due to Mother Nature and seaweeds, this is a cheap all-inclusive Caribbean resort I highly recommend.

For more information about Mayan Riviera, Mexico and the Caribbean, please visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation now.

One of the most ideal vacation spot in Mexico is with no doubt Cancun. Cancun has many world-class resorts and for this reason, thousands of tourists come to this corner of paradise every year. This great Mexican region will provide you a mind-free vacation where you can only do what you enjoy, whether it is to lay down by the beach, by the pool, enjoy a cool drink, enjoy the nightlife or simply take some time off for yourself, you will certainly find in Cancun something that will make your vacation a perfect holiday.

The top 10 Cancun all inclusive resorts for an outstanding stay in Mexico

Tired of old resorts or bad service? Why worry about carrying money or anything when you have all-inclusive resorts! We present here the top 10 Cancun all inclusive resorts.

1. Le Blanc Spa Resort
#1 on our top 10 Cancun all inclusive resorts list: Le Blanc Spa Resort. Simply beautiful. Located along the white sands of Cancun, the adult-only resort Le Blanc Spa has some of the finest amenities. Reviewers from everywhere agree : this 4.5 stars resort is what you’ve always dream for. Not surprisingly, two major review websites give it a 4.9/5 and a 92%. However, perfection sometimes comes at a price, so does Le Blanc Spa Resort.

2. Sun Palace in Cancun
Sun Palace knows something about pleasing honeymooners and couples. As a matter of fact, it is the first couples’ only resort of Cancun. Their knowledge about what couples want make it the perfect retreat from the every day stress. Sun Palace is the perfect oasis, set on the Caribbean coast of Mexico. Like a reviewer says it so perfectly, “nothing perfect of paradise!”.

3. The Royal Cancun
The perfect romantic getaway for couples. Live the holidays of your lifetime with your significant other. This luxurious adults only resort is a commitment to luxury. The Royal Cancun provides an intimate atmosphere. With its combination of luxurious amenities, superb service and traditional Mexican warmth, this resorts brings “Exceeding Your Expectations” to a level you have never seen before.

4. Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort
Imagine those pristine beaches combined with the greatest design and architecture. The Beach Palace Wyndham Grand Resort has all of this, and even better, this resort will simply exceed your expectations. A hotel that will blow you away for the outstanding service quality, the beautiful ocean views, the beautiful turquoise waters and pristine white beaches.

5. Cancun Palace All-Inclusive
Pristine beaches with beautiful grounds. The Cancun Palace is is the all-inclusive at its best. Choose the Cancun Palace for a relaxing, worry free rest.

6. Club Med Cancun Yucatan
If you are looking for a superior family vacation, travel to Club Med Cancun Yucatan and enjoy a care free all-inclusive vacation with the most sumptuous amenities and natural beauty of Cancun. Sport activities for kids, music everywhere to put you into a great holidays spirit.

7. Riu Palace Las Americas
The Riu Palace Las Americas in offers the luxury of all-inclusive resorts Tropical beaches, perfect location, spotless hotel, friendly staff and tasty mango margaritas puts this resort in our top 10

8. Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort
The CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa located on the beachfront has a wealth of amenities and activities. This hotel has all-inclusive options, to make your trip totally worry free.

9. Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort
The Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort is an all inclusive beachfront resort in Cancun. This huge hotel (2457 rooms and suites) is an amazing resort, whether it is for weddings. You will be primed for a luxury stay the minute you step foot in this hotel.

10. Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa
Last but not least of the top 10 Cancun all inclusive resorts readers’ picks, the Gran Caribe Real Resort and Spa. Celebrate your holidays in fashion with the Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa. This hotel is well-known for its entertainment staff, which makes the stay simply perfect and are part of the reason tourists comes back year after year.

Have other resorts in mind? Email us your top 1, top 3, top 5, top 10 Cancun all inclusive resorts now!

Visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation now for more information about the top 10 Cancun all inclusive resorts and other Caribbean destination resorts.

We love Mayan ruins. They are beautiful and interesting to look at… well as long as you know what you are looking at! Otherwise, you will simply be looking at a bunch of old rocks and monuments. Whether you go to Coba, Chichen Itza or Tulum, each ruin have a unique story, and only a tour guide will be able to explain to you exactly what their stories are, what they were built for and for what purpose. Also, guides can often bring you to other interesting parts of the area. Unless you know what you are doing, you probably won’t get to meet with the descendants of the Mayans, eat local food or swim in an underground cave like you would by booking a tour.

If you are interesting in a Mayan tour, all you need to do is to ask you hotel tours information office and book one of their proposed tour.

For more information, visit All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation.

Coba, Chichen Itza and Tulum is a famous ruins site in Mexico. The best way to visit those ruins is to book a group tour. Here’s an idea of what your day could look like.

If you are staying in Playa Del Carmen, take a tour to Coba, you'll love it!

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7:00-8:00 A shuttle will come to pick you up from your hotel. Make sure to wake up early and have a good breakfast in prevision to the long and fun day ahead of you!

8:00-9:30 This is the beginning of the ride to the ruins. The guide will introduce himself and give you a brief history of the region.

9:00-9:30 Snack time! You will stop for a short break at a convenience store for snacks and

9:30-11:00 Another short ride until lunch.

11:00-12:00 Lunch! Your guide will bring you to a small town where you will get to eat and taste the local food. You can go to the stores and buy some souvenirs, or just go for a short walk.

12:00-12:30 Last 30 minutes of ride to the ruins.

12:00-14:30 Time to visit the ruins. Your guide will walk you through the old Maya city, and will explain you their history, what were their specific functions, ruin by ruin. Your guide can also give you further information about the vegetation and the flora surrounding the ruins.

14:30-14:45 Hop back in the shuttle.

15:00-15:30 Your next destination is an underground cave. Swim in the breathtaking crystal clear waters of the underground cave. This will be a good refreshment from the hot and long walk through the ruins.

15:30-15:45 Ride to the next stop.

15:45-16:30 Your next stop is the visit of a local village. There, you will meet some descendants of the Mayans who still live in villages, following old traditions and way of living. Observe where they live, their closeness to the wild life, how they cook and make their own bread.

16:30pm- End of the journey. Your driver will bring your back to your hotel. Enjoy a nice an relax night at the hotel.

For more information, visit Cheap All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation.

Beach and white sands are most likely the pictures that will come in mind when talking about Mayan Riviera, one of the most popular destination in Mexico. You will find numerous choices of beaches resorts Mayan Riviera all inclusive. Although you will probably enjoy the first few days by the pool or by the beach sipping on a cerveza and getting a tan, some of you may also be tempted to take a tour out of the resort to discover the nature or the history. Here is what your schedule might look like at your Mayan Riviera all inclusive vacation.

First day
Nice weather and a smooth warm wind, this is what will be waiting for you at your arrival in Cancun. Nothing to do with your cold winter or the sad rain of your hometown. At the airport, included in your cheap all inclusive Caribbean vacation, the shuttle is waiting to bring you to your resort. After setting in your room, start with the start, a short walk to the beach via the pool, then head to the main attraction of your first night in your Mayan Riviera all inclusive vacation evening, the buffet. Most resorts will have a theme night, what will it be tonight? French cuisine, Chinese cuisine, Mexican fiesta? Is tonight theme not of interest for you, don’t worry there is also the usual at the buffet: hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries and a salad bar. For the last few hours in the evening, relax and go dance some salsa at the club, or watch today’s show at the theatre.

Second day
Most of you probably slept in. For those who are still unable (getting in the vacation spirit can take a day or two), hit the gym, or put on your swimming suite and head to the pool. There, you will find morning aerobic pool activities.  Jump in, they are lots of fun! How are you gonna spend the rest of the day at the Mayan Riviera all inclusive will depend of you : at the beach or at the pool. And remember the tip of the day: relax and enjoy.

Third day
You probably need to work some more on that tan… Head back the beach or to the pool and enjoy your second day of your Mayan Riviera all inclusive vacation!

Fourth day
For many of you, a cheap all inclusive Caribbean vacation consists of a week of total laziness and relaxation. This is exactly what you needed after that crunch time period at work, those late hours or early morning at the office… Therefore don’t waste your time, apply some more sun lotion and head back to doing what you’ve been doing for those few first days at the Mayan Riviera all inclusive: enjoying the pool, the beach, the sun and the drinks.

However, some of you may find it difficult though to enjoy a whole week of laziness. For those who need to add some spice and excitement, why not take a tour outside the resort to Xel-Hà? Remember, because your tour guide will need to reserve you a spot on a bus, make sure you book your trip at least one day prior.

Xel-Hà: a protected ecological park
Early in the morning, a shuttle will come and pick you up from your Mayan Riviera all inclusive. Xel-Hà is located about 75 minutes south of Cancun. The beauty of this tropical park will amaze you. Xel-Hà is a nature lover’s paradise. Xel-Hà is a real aquatic adventure. You will be able to explore creeks, lagoons, natural wells and ancient caves fed by subterranean rivers flowing to Mexico’s beautiful Caribbean Sea. 70 fish species live in the water of Xel-Hà, over 700 birds species live in the area and the forests are the house to 350 types of plants.

In Xel-Hà, you will be able to experience swimming with the dolphins, scuba-diving, biking along the beautiful roads and swim in an underground cave. A day in Xel-Hà will cost you about 75$ for one adult, and about 35$ for one child. The price includes all you can eat food, drinks and many of the popular activities.

Fifth day
Xel-Hà being a big trip, I suggest you enjoy activities at your Mayan Riviera all inclusive resort for the day. You may want to find out if snorkeling is included in your cheap all inclusive Caribbean vacation package, if there is any rock climbing wall within the resort, or any other amenities and activities you can take advantage of. Make sure you also check out the spa. Depending the package you purchased, a complimentary spa session may come with the package. However, extra usually needs to be paid for massages. This fifth day is the perfect day to try something fun in your Mayan Riviera all inclusive, but nothing overwhelming.

Sixth day
This day is, with no doubts, another beach or pool day! Sadly, tomorrow is your departure back home, so make sure you get plenty of rest and enjoy every single bits of sun and daiquiri!

Seventh day
The big day. Sigh… Packing and checking out… But hey, you can still leave your luggages in the secured room at the lobby and enjoy a last walk. Make sure you stay near the lobby though, as you might miss your shuttle.

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by Henly Ng for cheap all inclusive Caribbean vacation