Quick, Affordable, Weekend Getaway - Mexico

Cancun, Mexico


A lot of people look at traveling as a big deal. I've heard it all; I don't have time to plan a vacation right now, I can't take time off work right now, I don't have enough money for a vacation right now. The excuses go on and on. The reality is that life will get in the way no matter what. It's important to take the time to take a vacation from it all, and it's actually not as difficult as it seems. I spoke to a lady recently who mentioned she hadn't been on vacation since her child was born. I asked her how old her child was and she replied 14. I was speechless. I couldn't imagine not taking a vacation in 14 years. 

Weekend getaways are the best way to get a vacation in from time to time. You don't need to take a week off from work for a memorable vacation. Cancun, Mexico is one of my favorite affordable weekend destinations. Most people think of Cancun as a spring breaker's party central. Whereas it still is a popular destination for spring breakers, it has evolved over the years into so much more.



Cancun is referred to as the Las Vegas of beach resorts. Located on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, what has been labeled as "The Hotel Zone", are hundreds of beach resorts lined with white powdery sand and facing the aqua turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea . Similar to Vegas, with so many hotel rooms to fill, deals are endless. Most resorts are all inclusive (all food and drinks - even alcohol - included) which makes planning on a budget so much easier. Flights are also plentiful and reasonable with short, non stop flights from many major US cities.  Here's an example for the weekend of October 21st. Refer to my blog on How to Find the Best Flight to see how I came up with the results below.





A site I use a lot to get the best deal on vacation packages is Expedia. You'll save by booking the air and hotel together. 


Example:


With prices under $600 per person, sometimes even under $500 per person, including flight, hotel, all you can eat and drink, Cancun is a perfect affordable weekend destination. Look out for a later blog on how to earn credit card points to pay for vacations. 



A favorite of mine is Secrets The Vine. This wine-inspired, adult only, luxury inclusive resort is nothing short of amazing. I remember walking into the women's lobby bathroom upon arrival and immediately came to a halt in awe. I felt as if I walked into a spa. Then I thought to myself, well if this is the lobby bathroom then I can't wait to see my room! The grounds are pristine, the food is awesome, the rooms are beyond comfortable, the view from the balcony is picture perfect. Check out some pictures from my visit below:


Taken with my phone, so you can imagine what it's like in person. 






So now you've got your airfare and all inclusive hotel. Only thing left is airport transfers. The Hotel Zone is within a half an hour from the airport. There are countless companies to choose from for transportation. I used USA Transfers and found them to be professional, on time, and good value for money. They also had very good reviews on TripAdvisor. They offer private transportation from $55 round-trip for up to 3 people. That's a really good deal to not have to wait for others to fill up the van and to not have to stop at other resorts along the way. 


You're ready for your weekend getaway. Stop making excuses! Just go. You'll be glad you did.

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