Frommer's Portable Cancun

by Bairstow, Lynne; Baird, David

• ISBN13: 9780764564352
• ISBN10: 0764564358
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-09-01
• Publisher: Pgw

Summary

Frommer's Portable Guides offer all the detailed information and insider advice of a Frommer's Complete Guide -- but in a concise, pocket-sized format. Perfect for the short-term traveler who insists on value and doesn't want to wade through or carry a full-size guidebook, this series selects the very best choices in all price categories and takes you straight to the top sights. Get the latest on hotels, restaurants, sightseeing, sports, shopping, and nightlife in a nutshell in these lightweight, inexpensive guides. This exciting new addition to our series puts the beauty and excitement of Cancun at your fingertips. Our expert authors will guide you to the very best of Cancun -- fabulous snorkeling and scuba spots, delicious Mexican restaurants, sublimely beautiful golf courses and the hottest nightspots. Candid and evocative reviews of Cancun's accommodations, from all-inclusive luxury resorts to small European-style guesthouses, will make planning your lodgings a snap. Our authors have sought out the best day trips from Cancun including trips to Mayan ruins, nature reserves and stunning parks. With detailed maps, a helpful dictionary of Spanish terms and a glossary of traditional menu items, Frommer's puts Cancun at your fingertips!

Author Biography

About the Authors David Baird (chapters 4 and 5) is a writer, editor, and translator based in Austin, Texas. He spent part of his childhood in Morelia, Mexico, and later lived for 2 years among the Mazatec Indians in Oaxaca while he was doing graduate fieldwork. Lynne Bairstow (chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4) is a writer specializing in travel and the Internet who has lived in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, at least part time for the past 9 years. She now lives there year-round and was assisted in her research for this book by Claudia Velo. In a previous professional life, Lynne was a vice president for Merrill Lynch in Chicago and New York. They are also the authors of Frommer's Mexico and Frommer's Cancún, Cozumel & the Yucatán.

Table of Contents

List of Maps	vii
Planning Your Trip to Cancun	1	(48)
Visitor Information, Entry Requirements & Money	1	(9)
When to Go	10	(5)
Cancun Calendar of Festivals & Special Events	10	(5)
Active Vacations in & Around Cancun	15	(1)
Health, Safety & Insurance	15	(6)
What to Do if You Get Sick	16	(5)
Tips for Travelers with Special Needs	21	(3)
Getting There	24	(4)
Getting Around	28	(5)
Planning Your Trip Online	33	(5)
The Best Websites for Cancun	33	(2)
Frommers.com: The Complete Travel Resource	35	(3)
The Pros & Cons of Package Tours	38	(11)
Fast Facts: Mexico	42	(6)
Changes to Mexico's Phone Numbers Announced	48	(1)
Settling into Cancun	49	(30)
Orientation	50	(8)
Fast Facts: Cancun	55	(3)
Where to Stay	58	(12)
Where to Dine	70	(9)
What to See & Do in Cancun	79	(13)
Beaches, Watersports & Boat Tours	79	(5)
Outdoor Activities & Attractions	84	(3)
Ruinas Del Rey, Cancun's Little Piece of History	86	(1)
Shopping	87	(2)
Cancun After Dark	89	(3)
Day Trips: Island Getaways & Nature Parks	92	(27)
Isla Mujeres	92	(18)
Fast Facts: Isla Mujeres	98	(6)
If You Want to Overnight in Isla	104	(6)
Nearby Eco-theme Parks & Reserves	110	(5)
A Detour to the Punta Allen Peninsula	115	(4)
A Glimpse of the Maya: Nearby Ruins	119	(23)
What You Need to Know When Traveling in the Yucatan	120	(1)
Tulum	121	(6)
Tulum: A Friendly Difference of Opinion	124	(3)
Coba Ruins	127	(4)
The Best Websites for Chichen-Itza & the Maya Interior	130	(1)
The Ruins of Chichen-Itza	131	(11)
Appendix: Useful Terms & Phrases	142	(10)
1 Telephones & Mail	142	(1)
2 Basic Vocabulary	143	(5)
3 Menu Glossary	148	(4)
Index	152	(1)
General Index	152	(7)
Accommodations Index	159	(1)
Restaurant Index	160