Cancun or Cuba?

Amie_007

Hi there,

I am looking to book a holiday in September/October this year for me and my partner.

We are thinking of going to either Cancun or Cuba, but cannot make our minds up. We would like to go All Inclusive, so that we can eat and drink to our hearts content and not have to think of money whilst we are away.
We want a 2 week holiday of just sun, sand and .... sangria!, and to basically rest and recharge our batteries.

I am a bit put off by Cancun as it seems as if it is full of really loud and over the top Americans looking to "party hard" and would prefer somewhere a bit quieter, but still with a bit of night life.

Has anyone been to either of these places, where did you stay and what do you think - Cancun or Cuba?

Juicy_Tube

Amie_007 wrote:

Hi there,

I am looking to book a holiday in September/October this year for me and my partner.

We are thinking of going to either Cancun or Cuba, but cannot make our minds up. We would like to go All Inclusive, so that we can eat and drink to our hearts content and not have to think of money whilst we are away.
We want a 2 week holiday of just sun, sand and .... sangria!, and to basically rest and recharge our batteries.

I am a bit put off by Cancun as it seems as if it is full of really loud and over the top Americans looking to "party hard" and would prefer somewhere a bit quieter, but still with a bit of night life.

Has anyone been to either of these places, where did you stay and what do you think - Cancun or Cuba?

Hi there,

Stayed in Varedero Cuba 3 years ago, had a great time, hotel fab etc.etc. Mainly Germans , French..

Cancun, always been a bit put off about it's reputation myself. We went to Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, on the Western side, absolutlely fab. American influence so good service quarenteed, but without too many staying there. Someone did recommend a place further South than Cancun however, Puerto ***(cannot remember off hand?), but apparently very nice and much quieter, with the night life at hand if you need it..

HTH,

Can't remember off hand the hotel we stayed at in Varadero unfortunately.

If I had to choose would go for Mexico, had a wicked time, but would avoid Cancun and go to smaller resorts. Puerto Vallerta recommended from us!

Good luck,

JT x;)

Tom_Jones

And there's NO americans in Cuba

Stayed in the Bella Costa hotel in Varedero 3 years ago, it was wonderful.

jh2004

cancun definately

I went last nov, great place to get to chill out or do as much as you like.
Bus`s are great and will take you along the strip for a few pence.

however, its full of Americans, and the Airport had no scanners / werent working when we were there - so we queued for a total of 2 1/2 hours just to get through check in!!

If you go, dont stay at the Royal solaris, there are far better hotels along the strip,
I would recommend Cancun and do a stopover in New york if you can,.
we found the cheapest price with expedia, flying with continental. (£750 - 1 week)

Hope this helps

JH

Murphy_The_Cat

stayed in Playa Del Carmen for one week and toured the Yucatan peninsula for one week and loved evrey minute of it (stayed one night in Cancun which seemed a MUCH busier and built up experience).

stayed at Brises Del Caribe in Varedero and enjoyed every minute of it.

i think whichever destination you choose you are going to have a whale of a time.

MTC

p.s. you seem to get more for your all inclusive in Cuba. when we went it included free scuba diving, free sailing, free power boat trips and free champagne with meals !

researcher

We've stayed in Cancun once but due to weird circumstances stayed in three hotels. They were all 4*/5* and although very different each had something to offer. The best was a small adult only with only 200+ guests, The Golden Crown Paradise Spa with fabulous food, service etc and the option of using their sister hotel (free transfer) I think that it was called The Crown Paradise, this is a huge family hotel, which had another 7 restaurants, hectic nightlife - but still part of your all-inclusive deal. The advantage of this was that you could chill out around the pool in the day- (and go topless if you fancied without offending anyone with children). And then go somethere really busy at night. Of course you could go there in the day too if you wished. In fact we originally went there but they transfered us free of charge to the GCPA when we saw how lovely is was. (and quiet).
The other hotel we stayed in Cancun was the Royal Solaris Caribe - this was much busier, more americans, but really fun and happy. We had a good time there (until the airconditioning broke down - hence the move). Food was pretty good - but nowhere near the standard of the GCPA. Excellent entertainment though.
Last year we went south of Cancun to the Riviera Maya. Hotels here tend to be on a bigger scale - huge grounds surrounded by rainforest. We though we'd like it more, but in reality although there were less americans it was a bit dull. There was no-where else to go in the evenings and the entertainment was absolute c**p! Food was ok, but no-where near the quality of Cancun. Our hotel Bahia Principe Akumal (5*) was away from others apart from it's sister hotel and I think if we'd have been closer to the small towns (check the brouchures) we'd have been much happier. Remember one thing, where the americans go, the service, food and quality will be better.
Oh - avoid the Blue Bay Getaway - this is an ADULT ONLY with capitals, I nearly died with laughter when my hairdesser told me he arrived there to find old couples doing it over the fridge around the pool!! (And it was sold as a last minute cheapee with Airtours with no advice given).
When you see a hotel that appeals - check it out on https://www.tripadvisor.com you'll definately get accurate information. It might be worth looking there to help decide between the two destinations.
One point I'd make - where-ever you go, try and upgrade your flight to the chartered equivelent of 1st class - it's worth every penny.

MissG_2

I would strongly recommend Cancun, We went to Cuba in September Three years ago and stayed on island just off it called Cayo Coco. It was a total washout, we was there for two weeks and it rained most of the holiday (rainy season April to November).

If you dont fancy Cancun, i would consider Barbados!! It can be expensive but we went two years ago and stayed in St Lawrence Gap (the heart of Barbados). We went in September and the weather was fantastic. It was the type of heat that you could relax on the beach and let the day pass you by.

I stayed at a hotel called "escape at the gap" and flew with www.virginholidays.co.uk, the only problem we had was we had to fly to Gatwick but i am sure they are now doing direct flights from Manchester.

We was all inclusive and did get great value for money, i think it cost about £1200 each which is probably about the same price as Cancun or Cuba.

Just had a quick look at the prices and 1-30 september = £1269 for 14 nights and 1-12 October = £1149.

The locals are great, there is plenty to do and the food is great. The rest is really up to you.

We are definatley going back either next year or the year after.

Tip for you too, if you decide to book get a price of virgin direct and then call your local travel agent and ask them to beat it.

--Tony--

Everyone to their own but I did not like Puerto Vallarta, its fine if you just want a beach holiday but its miles from anything of any interest so If like me you like to see some of the place you are staying in then its not much good, if however you just want to relax and have a great beach holiday then its excellent. but there are a lot of much cheaper beach holidays a lot closer if thats all you want.

Party_Animal

I love Puerto Vallarta. The diving, manta rays, deep sea fishing, Sierra Madre mountains. sunsets, the town itself. Fabulous place, long flight but worth it.
Like you say, each to his own.

Robert5988

Well I don't like Cancun!! 'Wall To Wall' hotels on a crowded beach and that's it.

I can see the attraction of going in Jan/Feb to get some winter sun; but in Sep/Oct Cyprus/Turkey and a host of other places in Europe have warm weather.

I've not been to Cuba but Barbados is good, as is Florida at that time of year.

As for Americans 'partying hard and being loud' they cannot hold a candle to the drunken British yobs who have justifiably earned their reputation.

Party_Animal

You get a lot of Canadians in PV , flying down from Vancouver and they sure like to party. They've gone from a cold place where they can only buy liquor wrapped in a brown paper bag to a hot all inclusive resort where they can sit outside and drink all day. The ones I met got their money's worth