Travel Factory Blog
Mexico's Top 3: Cancun, Riviera Maya, Cozumel
Back when I got in the travel business in the middle 70's, the hot spots to go to in Mexico were Acapulco, Puerto Vallarta, and Mazatlan.....even Mexico City received a lot of interest. I bet it's been 20 years since I sold a trip to Mexico City!! Back then, and even today, you have to be in possession of a United States passport to visit anywhere in Mexico, but that's ok...with a passport you can visit a lot of other countries too!!
The Mexican government saw a diamond in the rough in the coastal city of Cancun, and they really started building it up in the late 70's and 80's, encouraging hotel companies to come in and build there. Tour operators looking for a “hot” spot to send travelers revved up interest there and now it is one of the most popular destinations in Mexico, attracting around 4 million visitors each year. There are hundreds of hotels available in Cancun ranging from 2 star to 6 star, most of them lining the beautiful beaches in an area called the hotel zone. If you are looking for award-winning restaurants, fabulous shopping, exciting night life, then Cancun is looking for you.
Just south of the hotel zone is an area referred to as the Riviera Maya, or the Mayan Riviera. It stretches south about 90 miles all the way to the Mayan ruins of Tulum. Along the four-lane highway, through the forest and undergrowth, you come upon some beautiful hotels and resorts built right next to those famous beaches. About 40 miles south is the formerly sleepy fishing village of Playa del Carmen. There are some really nice hotels built around that town, but it is more famous for the shopping experience down Fifth Avenue. Activities at the resorts range from floating along a lazy river to imaginative water slides and wave pools. Activities off the resort range from 4-wheeling, to para-sailing, to zip lining, to swim-with-the dolphins, to exploring the Mayan Ruins at Tulum, attractive golf courses, only to name a few. Most of the resorts are all-inclusive which means that you are welcome to eat and drink all you want.....and the food is really good.
Some folks think that Cozumel is a location situated along the Mayan Riviera, but it is not. It is an island, accessible by air, boat, and ferry. It's about a 40-minute ferry ride to Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Many cruise ships doing a Western Caribbean itinerary have designated Cozumel as one of their ports. Like Cancun and the Riviera Maya, they boast of their all-inclusive resorts and beautiful beaches. It would be hard to get lost on Cozumel; the island is only 10 miles wide and 30 miles long. One of the activities that get a lot of attention on Cozumel is diving and snorkeling. There is a reef along the west side of the island and an underwater national park that beckon divers to explore the reefs and sunken treasures including ships and airplanes.
Over the years we have sold these attractive vacation options through several tour operators, but the one we sell the most is Funjet Vacations. They negotiate air fares with the airlines based on volume, and do the same with resorts and transportation companies. Then based on that economy of scale, they build a price that includes all those items. Ultimately it always is a better price than doing it on a piece-meal fashion. Because we have sold a lot of their products, Funjet has invited our agent/advisors down for visits over the years to meetings and presentations, and as a result we are familiar with those vacation locations. Let me encourage you to come on by The Travel Factory, located at 4150 Southwest Drive at the Plaza at Park Central and let us give you the benefit of our experience. You can also call for information at 698-1421 or check out our website;
www.thetravelfactoryabilene.com. Just think, this year you could be their 4 million and 1 visitor!!!!
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