Mexico Vacations

General Information about Mexico Vacations:

For anyone who enjoys vacationing in the sun, an all-inclusive Mexico vacation must be experienced at least once, if not twice to appreciate the varied geography, culture, and vibrance of Mexico. With multiple resort destinations located along both the Pacific Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico vacations have so much to offer. Whether you are looking for hip-shaking nightlife, heart-pounding adventure activities, mind-expanding cultural experiences, or soul-settling serenity, there is an all-inclusive Mexico vacation package to suit your needs. The high volume of North American tourist traffic to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, by far the most popular of the many all-inclusive Mexico package holiday destinations, reflects the investment made by the Mexican government in developing an Americanized, high-standard, safe tourist environment with solid infrastructure. In addition to Cancun and the Mayan Riviera along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, Puerto Vallarta is nearly as popular of an all-inclusive Mexico vacation destination, located along the Pacific Coast. Rounding out the offering of all-inclusive Mexico package holiday destinations, each with its own special quality, Mexico offers Manzanillo, Los Cabos, Ixtapa, Cozumel, Acapulco and Huatulco as the southernmost of these destinations along the Pacific Coast.

Mexico vacations generally offer good value, great weather, cultural experiences, and good overall availability at the most popular destinations throughout the year. All-inclusive Mexico packages to the Mayan Riviera, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta are widely available throughout the year, with some limitations to other destinations and/or departing from certain regions of Canada. Although some misconceptions regarding Mexico vacations do exist, some investigation will reveal that holiday travel to resort destinations in Mexico is safe, as long as common sense prevails. Issues surrounding drug trafficking along the U.S. border, highly visible in the media, do not impact the tourist areas. For those concerned about safety, avoid Acapulco, and stick to the comfort and security of private resort spaces rather than venturing out. For those who wish to venture out, particularly at night, stick to the busy tourist areas and use common sense – don't overdress, and remember that there is safety in numbers. For getting around off of the resort on your Mexico vacation, driving is not recommended, but taxis are readily available in tourist locations. Both the Mayan Riviera and Cancun, as Americanized tourist destinations, offer the greatest amount of safety for the most wary traveller, featuring contained spaces and private resort security forces. To address health concerns, stick with bottled water at all-inclusive Mexico vacation destinations.

Delight Your Senses with an All-Inclusive Mexico Vacation Package

Although English is generally spoken in all Mexico vacation tourist destinations, Spanish is the native language, and brushing up on a few Spanish words and phrases will go a long way to aiding in your exploration of this wonderful country. Mexico has a rich culture and history, and Mexico vacations, depending on the specific destination, present tourists with plenty of opportunity to interact with the locals in a country that may reveal its character apart from tourism. The local people are generally warm and friendly, industrious,  and educated. Those who provide the many services at resorts do so with pride, and levels of service have drastically improved over the years. Service levels provided for Mexico vacations in the more Americanized destinations, particularly the Mayan Riviera and Cancun, have evolved to American standards.

On an all-inclusive Mexico package holiday, tourists can expect to find a good variety of foods, with the option to stick with familiar North American cuisine, or seek out both local Mexican and International flavours. All-inclusive Mexico packages generally include decent food at all resorts, although quality will typically improve at the higher-end 4 and 5-star resorts. Good music tends to accompany good food and drink on a Mexico vacation, and the options are varied. On an all-inclusive Mexico package holiday, tourists may find many musical styles to please the ear and move the feet, including traditional Mexican mariachi, Modern Mexican salsa, and lively dance music. Americanized all-inclusive Mexico vacation resorts tend to cater to North American tastes, and tourists will appreciate the option of enjoying the familiar hits in addition to the Mexican music scene.

The Mexican landscape itself, with its great diversity, offers more than can be experienced on any single all-inclusive Mexico vacation. Ranging from desert to jungle to mountains, Mexico has something to delight everyone. With some exploration, the land will reveal great histories – everything from Mayan and Aztec culture and ancient ruins, to Spanish colonial influences – all enhancing Mexico vacations for those who wish to see beyond the resort. All-inclusive Mexico package holiday resorts themselves vary widely, reflecting the diverse geography of the land. Even the beaches, from the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico to the golden sands of the Pacific Coast, attest to the incredible variety that all-inclusive Mexico vacations have to offer. Mexico is not just a place worth seeing…it's a place worth seeing again, and again.

Sun and Sand on Your Mexico Vacation

In general, the beaches in Mexico are good, although some are certainly better quality and more swimmable than others. The most obvious difference between Mexico vacation beaches is the divide between those located on the Gulf of Mexico coast vs. this on the Pacific Coast, with the Gulf of Mexico beaches featuring white sand and general calmer, clearer waters, and the Pacific coast featuring golden sand and rougher waters. Travellers with small children may wish to consider the Mayan Riviera as the best option for Mexico vacations, as these beaches are generally considered to be the best that Mexico has to offer, and are typically the safest for swimming.

All-inclusive Mexico vacations generally feature good weather all year round, with the coolest temperatures in January, and warmer temperatures found the further south that a particular destination is located. Los Cabos and Cancun may be cooler in January, although daytime highs are typically in the high 70s, making for comfortable Mexico vacation activity in the sun. Also, during the cooler month of January in northern Mexico vacation destinations, nighttime temperatures can drop to the 60s, and it is important to be prepared with a light sweater or jacket for cooler evenings. On the opposite end of the Mexico vacation destination spectrum, southern destinations such as Ixtapa and Huatulco offer great weather throughout the high travel season, from December through March, with average daytime temperatures typically in the low 80s. Review individual destination pages on our tripcentral web site for specific weather information, and speak with one of our agents to ensure that you select a Mexico vacation destination that is right for you.

Hurricane season, with its unpredictability of storm events, typically lasts from July through November, peaking from mid-August to mid-November. Although Mexico vacations are rarely impacted by hurricanes, the possibility remains. However, when booking Mexico vacation packages, you can rest assured that tour operators will not fly you into a hurricane, and will act fast to get you out in the event of any development. You can find great Mexico vacation package deals during hurricane season, and the economic advantage is well worth considering. We recommend that you speak with one of our tripcentral.ca agents to fully understand the great value benefit vs. limited risk associated with travel to this region during hurricane season.

Mexico Vacation Highlights: Finding the Destination that Best Suits Your Needs

In general, all-inclusive Mexico vacations offer great overall value. But to maximize value, it is important to choose a particular destination that offers the best balance of options to suit your particular needs. Those in search of a premium beach, for instance, may not be concerned with the quality of the local golf courses on their Mexico package holiday, for instance. Speaking with one of our tripcentral agents is the best way of ensuring that your travel needs are met, as they can greatly assist you in filtering through each of the various destinations' strongest qualities. The information on this page provides a good starting point for measuring up each of the Mexico vacation destinations. Reading the individual Mexico vacation destination pages, available on our tripcentral web site, will help to expand on the various qualities of each destination. However, due to the large volume of information to filter through in coming to a decision, it is recommended that you speak with one of our "agents who've been there."

In general, the Cultural experience of Mexico vacations can be split between the Americanized destinations along the Gulf of Mexico, Cancun and the Mayan Riviera, and the more authentic Mexican environments that can be found at one of the many Pacific Coast destinations, such as Manzanillo. Even when vacationing in an urban setting such as Cancun, day trips to cultural and historical sites, such as Tulum or Coba, can greatly enhance the cultural experience of Mexico. When considering other day trips to enhance a Mexico package holiday, all Mexico vacation destinations have something unique to offer, although the Mayan Riviera offers the greatest overall variety for those who wish to try a bit of everything. For eco adventure, consider a Mexico vacation to Huatulco, or explore the depths of aquatic life in Cozumel. For snorkelling and scuba diving, Cozumel can't be beat, although the Mayan Riviera and Cancun have good access to this area. For the avid golfer, Puerto Vallarta offers plenty of options for golfing on a Mexico vacation, featuring good quality, reasonably priced courses. If world-class golf is what you are looking for, look no further than Manzanillo, featuring three world-class, higher-caliber golf courses that, although somewhat expensive, are North American style and top notch.

Nightlife varies from one Mexico vacation destination to the next. For the most lively experience, consider one of the resorts in Cancun or Acapulco and enjoy an Americanized party scene that is second to none. For a party with a more Mexican flair, but not far behind in excitement and variety, a Mexico vacation in Puerto Vallarta is the way to go. You may also consider Los Cabos, where Cabo San Lucas offers plenty of nightlife to keep your heart pumping on your all-inclusive Mexico package holiday. In contrast, those in search of a serene Mexico vacation experience might want to take a look at Ixtapa, the perfect destination to just relax and escape all the hustle and bustle of urban life. Similarly, the Mayan Riviera, Cozumel, Huatulco, and Manzanillo are all relatively quiet destinations worth considering for a more serene Mexico vacation.

For the greatest variety of dining options, consider such Mexico vacation destinations as the Mayan Riviera and Cancun on the east coast, or Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco and Los Cabos on the Pacific. Each offers a unique, diverse selection of restaurants to please just about any palate, including local Mexican, International, and chain restaurants. For those with a focus on shopping, take a look at the Mayan Riviera or Cancun for the malls and big brand stores, or Puerto Vallarta to escape the malls and enjoy a wide variety of shopping, from higher-end shops to local markets.

All-Inclusive Mexico Packages: What to Know Before You Go

Before you go on your all-inclusive Mexico vacation, it's good to know some basic information to ensure that your time away is hassle-free. Before you can enter Mexico for your all-inclusive Mexico vacation, you will need to ensure that you have a valid passport. A tourist card is also required, and may be obtained free of charge. If you are unsure about these or any other details relating to Mexico vacations, simply contact one of our tripcentral agents for all of the details, and we will help to ensure that your all-inclusive Mexico package holiday is uncomplicated. Also, there are no medical shots required prior to a Mexico vacation. It is best to stick with bottled water to avoid any health-related issues. In general, use common sense in avoiding any questionable food or drink. For those with sensitive stomachs, it is best to limit food consumption to American and European chain restaurants, or stick with good quality resort food that comes with an all-inclusive Mexico vacation package.

Banking is widely available in all major tourist areas in Mexico, with the U.S. dollar being the most frequently used currency, and change provided in either U.S. dollars or Mexican pesos. For Canadian tourists on Mexico vacations, it is best to use local ATM machines or take U.S. dollars along. As an alternative to cash on a Mexico vacation, major credit cards are widely accepted, except for local markets and taxis. On a Mexico vacation, tipping is expected at restaurants, when taking taxis, and for resort staff, and 15% is typically considered to be the standard amount. If you are taking any electronics along on your all-inclusive Mexico vacation, you'll be glad to know that Mexico shares the 110 volt North American standard, and no special adapters will be required to power your devices.

For those planning an all-inclusive Mexico vacation wedding, there are a few details to be attended to in making arrangements. A certified copy of the intended's Canadian birth certificates, authenticated by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and legalized by the Mexican consulate in Toronto (for Ontario and Manitoba), will be required. A completed application must be obtained at the registry office in Mexico, along with results of clinical analysis (blood test), also to be done in Mexico. If either party has been previously married, proof of termination of marriage, in the form of a divorce or death certificate (original or certified copy), authenticated by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and legalized by a Mexican consulate with appropriate jurisdiction, must be provided. Divorce must be finalized for a period of one year before any person may be married in Mexico. For more detailed information regarding these and other requirements, speak with a tripcentral agent and ensure that your all-inclusive Mexico vacation wedding goes ahead without complication. All-inclusive Mexico packages, particularly at some of the more intimate Mexico destinations, are the perfect solution for those planning a wedding in the sun, but good planning and attention to detail is required, and we are here to help.