I have been to many beach resort towns. I have enjoyed almost all of them, particularly in Mexico. Cancun was one place I had never been, but really wanted to see it. Yes, I would spend at least a day or two on the legendary beaches there, as there’s nothing like crushed coral, white sand between your toes. I also wanted to see the city itself and learn about what it was like to live there. When I got an opportunity to travel to Cancun, I grabbed it immediately. I was thrilled to have the chance to learn about a new place in a country I love visiting. I had my plane ticket and didn’t need to worry about renting a car there, as I had been told it’s easier to move around via taxi cab. All I needed now was a hotel room in Cancun.
I wasn’t sure where to start with my search, but decided to see if there were any apps available, as it’s easier to track and manage bookings on my phone than having to open my laptop. I found something called HotelTonight and opened it. I searched for Cancun hotels and found a nice array of options. I picked one that looked like it would work for me and then began the booking process. I was used to it taking a long time, but to my amazement I had a room booked and confirmed within a handful of clicks. I was all set. All I had to do now was pack and get a list of places I’d like to explore in the area together.
Downtown Cancun is actually on the mainland of Mexico, and the hotel zone is on a nearby island. I started downtown because this is usually the best place to get a good feel for a new place. It was obvious from the beginning that this was the real Mexico as opposed to the hotel zone which was primarily tourists. There were locals milling about and doing their thing, and the area itself was welcoming as were the people. I asked around for where I should go next, and we got nothing but very polite and helpful answers from people.
I ventured outside of Cancun for our next stop, which was a little fishing village called Puerto Morelos. I was amazed that I could be such a short ride from all the bustle of Cancun yet still seem galaxies away from all of this. Puerto Morelos seems almost untouched by modernity in certain ways, and the townspeople seem to appreciate this. They were also extremely friendly and willing to help me find my way around. I was pointed towards a café where I was able to enjoy a nice cup of coffee. I quietly wanted to stay here for the day, but it was time to move on.
I had to head back into Cancun and then take a ferry over to Isla Mujeres, but as soon as I arrived I was glad we made the effort. This is a small island that’s filled with every tropical delight you could ever imagine. While this was a bit of a tourist area, there were still several different local influences that added to the atmosphere. There were also restaurants nearby, which was important because at this point in the day I was starving. I wanted authentic local food, which is exactly what I got. Seafood is big here as one could imagine, and the fish I enjoyed tasted about as fresh as any food can get.
Holbox is another island that is way off the beaten path. It requires more time on a ferry, and legend has it that it was originally discovered by pirates who settled there. This is also a fishing village, but I found myself simply enjoying the expansive beaches that looked almost like someone had dumped salt shakers out than the sand we are used to seeing. There were also some neat shops here, and I filled a few bags with gifts that I was pretty sure you wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else in the world. It had been a good excursion.
Since I had to take a ferry back to where I started, it was time to go. As I made my way back towards the city and my hotel, I sat and wondered about how it was possible to see so much in such a short time. I looked forward to having another nice dinner in town and going over the photos I had taken during my different stops. I also thought about how part of this was made possible by HotelTonight. The app not only provided great choices for Cancun hotels, but it made it possible to reserve a room in a matter of minutes. I looked forward to a nice night of sleep in my room, but I also looked forward to more exploring in the days ahead.
