Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.

Budget Travel: Mexico

by Brenda Yun (RSS feed) on Feb 23rd 2009 at 11:30AM

Spring Break is upon us, and for most college kids, March means two things: basketball and getting your color back on some tropical beach. When I think Mexico, I think drugs and girls gone wild, but there's something about Mexico that really draws a crowd in March and continues through the summer until late October. As Mexico continues to rank among the top spring break hot spots (this year being no different), what is a Gadling guide to budget travel without a little love the country across our southern border?

According to an MSNBC Travel article published earlier this month, Cancun is the most popular party place, followed closely by . Cancun, oft coined as the "Party Capital of the World," has long had a reputation of being a hot party-all-night atmosphere, so it's natural that this year the city is seeing no change in the flock of tourists to its beaches.

The same goes for Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Los Cabos. In fact, according to L.A. Times travel blogger, Jen Leo, roundtrip flights between Los Angeles and Cabo San Lucas are a mere $220 each.

A typically fun Mazatlán is now drawing a record number of spring breakers because it's now the final destination of the "Maz Party Bus" that leaves from various college campuses in California, New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. For just $299, StudentCity.com is providing an unbeatable package that includes roundtrip transportation to Mazatlán on a luxury motor coach complete with bathrooms, reclining seats, TV's and DVD players (two nights are spent on the bus), a five-night stay at a resort in Mazatlán, and two free meals per day at participating restaurants. The price is pretty tough to beat.

But Mexico is not just fun and games, you know. Budget Travel and the L.A. Times both love Mexico's cultural cities like Oaxaca, which rarely see the likes of Cancun partiers, and traveling to this shopping and chocolate haven can be just as cheap as getting to the Mexico's beaches. Even the neighboring towns of Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta see low numbers of tourists and have some pretty awesome, high-quality silver jewelry for pennies. If you want to escape the rowdy ruckus of Mexican parties and tequila shots, just hop on a local bus, travel along the coast, and you'll find an untouched beach that you could very well experience all for yourself.

Let's face it though: Mexico is the type of travel destination best experienced with others. It's not for the solo traveler, nor for the early to bed, early to rise types. Traveling with friends is both the key to happiness in Mexico as well as the key to saving money, too -- lots of it.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Festivals and Events, North America, Mexico, Budget Travel, News, Travel Deals

Search Travel Deals

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tina Marshall Feb 24th 2009 1:30PM

Greetings! Peterman's Eye Travel is hosting a photo contest and J. Peterman will be judging the entries! Thought I'd share...and you can enter as many as you'd like.

http://www.petermanseye.com/contest

Cheers!

shubh Feb 25th 2009 10:16AM

I suggest to do some volunteer work also during the forthcoming holiday season. Apart from this, decide for a group tour because group tours are always less expensive than individual tours.
Adviser travel.justluxe

thiefhunter Feb 24th 2009 1:00AM

I really wouldn't recommend Mexico as a travel destination right now, especially for clueless kids with nothing but fun on their minds. Violence is escalating all across Mexico at a frightening pace, and spilling into tourist areas. I wrote about this just three weeks ago, when a visitor was followed out of the airport, his car ambushed, and he was killed in a robbery. http://bobarno.com/thiefhunters/2009/01/mexico-violence/

But don't take my word for it. Google "violence in mexico" and you'll see a slew of recent articles, including one published today in The New York Times.

I travel the world regularly, 200+ days per year, and I mix with criminals in my study of street crime. Even I would avoid Mexico right now. And I certainly wouldn't support a student going their on spring break. Too dangerous!

cheyanne Feb 28th 2009 11:26PM

http://www.petermanseye.com
I would read the fine print here because you are basically giving away ALL yours rights to everything you post here.

Chelsea Mar 2nd 2009 7:25PM

I had never heard of the Maz Party Bus before this. Nice! Mexico is definitely the tried and true hot spot for spring break!

Chelsea
http://www.pueblobonito.com