Exchange money

Best place to exchange money at Cancun Airport or PDC

Aug 25, 2011, 1:47 AM

I would do it at the airport. Be wary of ATM's as I've heard of some charging outrageous rates. I did use the one at Walmart; however, and only paid a $2.50 fee.


Sorry, I would not take this advice



Exchange money at airports anywhere in the world give lousy rates as do ATMs that give US$.

I know there is a Santander (Bank of America afilliated) in Terminal 3


I'd rather pay the 3% fee at the ATM.



The bank affiliated ATM at the airport or in town will always be best. And, as said above, get pesos, never dollars.

 if you bank with Bank of America, you can make withdrawls from Banco Santander Serafin in pesos without a service charge.

It has often been said that Cancun airport, surprisingly, offers a good rate. The problem here is that until you've had chance to check out the alternatives you have nothing to compare against. I'd tend to steer clear of changing money at the airport unless you are well aware of the rates in Cancun.

The best place to change travelers checks is at a money exchange place or 'Cambio' in downtown Cancun. The Cambio's in the hotel zone normally offer an inferior rate but may be more convenient, there are many of these in the main shopping areas. Your hotel probably offers the worst rate going, however, they are convenient and you may not feel it worth the effort of a bus ride in to town to make a few extra dollars as you may have better things to do! 

Royal Islander

Location.
On the beach in Cancun (Cancun Hotel Zone), The Royal Islander is close to Playa Delfines, El Rey Ruins, and Aquaworld. Additional attractions near this condominium resort include La Isla Shopping Mall and Luxury Avenue.

Property Features.
The Royal Islander has a marina, an outdoor pool, and a children's pool. Wireless and wired high-speed Internet access is complimentary in public areas.

Complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access is provided.

Standard Room

Spacious and tastefully decorated, the rooms at The Royal Islander have two beds, ample closets, an en suite bathroom with shower and tub, centrally controlled air-conditioning and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Room amenities include a TV, telephone, coffee maker, microwave oven, mini fridge and an in-room safe. The balcony offers panoramic views of the Caribbean, the pool area and gardens or the Nichupte Lagoon.

Spend the morning on the beach or by the pool, play tennis or join in the daily activities lined up for you. Sign up for an hour's sail boating on the lagoon or try your hand at pottery painting, and of course you can also enjoy the facilities at the neighboring Royal Caribbean and Royal Mayan.

There are lighted tennis courts at the resort and tennis gear can be signed out at the Sports Desk.

• Aerobics on site
• Bicycle rentals on site
• Bird watching nearby
• Boating nearby
• Boat launch nearby
• Dock on site
• Ecotours nearby
• Fishing nearby
• Golfing nearby
• Golf lessons on site
• Helicopter/airplane tours nearby
• Kayaking nearby
• Motor boating nearby
• Parasailing nearby
• Personal motorized watercraft on site
• Pilates classes on site
• Playground on site
• Running track/path nearby
• Sailing on site
• Scooter/moped rentals nearby
• Scuba diving nearby
• Snorkeling nearby
• Surfing/boogie boarding nearby
• Swimming on site
• Table tennis on site
• Tennis lessons on site
• Tennis on site
• Volleyball on site
• Water skiing nearby
• Whale-watching nearby
• Windsurfing nearby
• Yoga classes/instruction on site

Wi-Fi access is available in the villas and throughout the resort. Water sports can be arranged at the lagoonside Royal Marina next to Captain’s Cove restaurant. Guests can also use the facilities at sister clubs The Royal Caribbean and The Royal Mayan and a shuttle bus service links all five Royal Resorts.

We tried all the Royal Resorts restaurants in Cancún and we can safely recommend the following. If you are going for the buffet breakfast, stay away from the restaurant at the Royal Islander. Oddly it is not as good as the Palapa restaurant in the Royal Mayan (stroll from the Royal Islander through the Royal Caribbean on to the Royal Mayan). If it is a Sunday, go to Captain's Cove breakfast. In fact, the only restaurant of the Royal Resorts in Cancún that we can recommend is Captain's Cove, both for breakfast and for dinner. Food is good and the price is justified. 

We played tennis on the courts one day, and they were very nice and kept up nice with lights so you could play at night too. The raquets and balls were complimentary.   But on the bright side, the wifi was very good throughout the hotel.

Oh, we ate breakfast in our room almost everyday with the purchases we made in the Royal market

Free wifi (but pretty bad connection in the room),
no toiletries provided (shampoo, conditioner, body wash)

market place to get drink mixers, water, milk, eggs, bacon, toast, pico de gallo and ice for our 8 day stay. The priced were reasonable, not as cheap as WalMart but very reasonable. We planned on having breakfast 4-6 days in the suite and eating lunch and dinner out. We ate at Pacos Tacos several times, the fish tacos are the best I have ever had, ever.

the bus only costs 8.5 peso per person irrespective of distance

If you need internet, make other arrangements. The resort provided internet on a complimentary basis and we received very limited service. Enough to check email, but not much more. If you are bringing children and plan on streaming netflix movies. Not going to happen.

enjoying complimentary chips & salsa around the pool during happy hours

Go to the welcome party, free drinks! We met our concierge Shari who was such a delight. She gave us some advice on the best places to shop, snorkel, and eat.

It is actually easier to use pesos than the american dollar, but you have to continually remind yourself of what the exchange rate is or again you will pay more for things than they are worth. The best shopping we found was at market 28 in Cancun.

Always a great stay but the internet service is terrible. I have stayed here before and never had problems, but this time was the worst

Many activities that were included in your rental fee - sail boats, snorkel equipment, games, classes.

Upon arriving in Cancun, we caught the shuttle for our pre-booked airport transfer with Thomas More excursions. It was a nice ride and the driver and porters were very nice. The upon booking, you can enter your room number (if known) or the hotel confirmation number and the fee is charged to your room. Pretty convenient.

limited amenities (no shampoo, conditioner, lotion which seem to be standard in all the hotels and timeshare resorts we stay in these days). We were in a small studio which appears to be a lock off from a larger unit and included a small microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker and a drawer with plates and silverware but I would definitely not call it a kitchenette--more like a hotel room with these minor additions.

We were very appreciative to find out there was free WiFi but subsequently disappointed when we discovered how sporadic the service was. We kept getting and loosing signal even though the signal always indicated it was very strong

According to one taxi driver The Royal Islander has the best beach of all Cancun. I liked the beach very much.

Gotta love happy hour!!! Free chips and salsa and half price on drinks.
We used Cancun Shuttle for transporation and they were cheaper than Thomas Moore and were friendly and prompt!

the drinks were usually fairly strong. I especially liked the “vacation” sized margaritas in the Paco Taco restaurant. There were happy hours each day with half-priced drinks

NS: The location is probably the biggest con since you are pretty far from most Cancun restaurants and shopping. The resort had a shuttle bus but it was very small and only ran a couple times a day so it was not very convenient and filled quite quickly. So we ended-up taking taxis (easy to get) or used the city bus (very cheap). Again related to location, the Islander isn't on the main street where the bus ran so you had to walk all the way to the Mayan and then a couple blocks to the main street to catch it. The Royal Sands is in a much better location and about the same price (and newer). The internet was very spotty at best and very slow when we could connect. I can only imagine how bad it would be in the winter when they have a lot more guests

only a towel for each person in the room and they charge for extra towels. So this can be a problem but you can work around it by checking out a pool/beach towel and exchanging it several times a day if you want to. Finally, while it is true you have a personal “concierge” assigned to you, I found that his primary job was to try and get you to take a tour of their latest property and try and sell you on a membership. I ended-up unplugging the phone so he couldn't bother us. You can book tours through the tour desk anyway (and they can answer any of your questions) so I didn't see much value in having a salesman assigned to me.

 For us the downside of that is that when you are signing in, you are assigned a "personal concierge" that you are supposed to have access to all week and that will give you recommendations and make reservations for you, etc. Actually their main job is to make sure you hear a timeshare presentation. We have always made it very clear that we are there on an exchange and are not going to buy a timeshare there right up front, so as not to waste their time or ours

The different restaurants have various theme nights throughout the week. Our favorite, and the one my husband has always called "the deal of the week", is the Mexican Buffet with live show at La Palapa at the Royal Mayan on Monday night. The buffet is quite good, and margaritas are included with the meal. The waiters continue to walk by during the show, long after you've finished your meal, making sure you are not thirsty. We have not found these to be all that watered down either, in fact, quite the opposite, and it always surprises us just how free flowing the margaritas are.

hear the bell ring at 3pm from the pool bar signifying that Happy Hour has begun. Prices are half off
And we love Pacos Tacos there at the Islander also. They have a great combo plate that I recommend trying. It's alot of food


I was looking forward to sailing the small and free sail boats again, but that didn't go well. They were unable to provide me with a reasonable wind :)

Other reviewers stated that the rooms needed updating. We did not find that at all. They were exactly as shown in the photos on their website - very nice.

The welcome party on Sunday afternoon was fun. Free beer and rum/coke for drinks. You could purchase food. Great way to meet other guests. They also have "Happy Hour" from 3-6 each day. Drinks are 1/2 off. Drinks and food kept me from rating this a 5 star. The drinks were watered down. You couldn't get a buzz on if you tried.

We used Cancun Transfers in lieu of Thomas Moore.. cheaper..
We particularly love the fish tacos at Pancho Willys

We also borrowed golf equipment from the sports desk (towel hut outside) and played golf at a Par 3 Course, the Grand Oasis which is a short walk away. It was a nice course and we had it all to ourselves. It was $20 to play if you don't need to rent clubs or buy golf balls.

Shopping

When shopping in Cancun, you can either go into downtown or the hotel zone. Downtown is much cheaper.

• Market 28. This is the local market in downtown Cancun. Great shopping for souvenirs. It also has some great Mexican outdoor restaurants. Very cheap and good shopping. Don't forget to bargain. edit

• Market 23. This is more of a 'locals' market. Doesn't have the same range as Market 28, but is worth a visit. edit

• La Isla Mall, KM 12.5 hotel zone, ☎ 998 8835025, [27]. Beautiful mall in the hotel zone. Offers many boutiques and designer stores plus a wide range of restaurants and bars. Nicest mall in town! mid to high.

• La Isla, [20] La Isla is a huge outside shopping mall in Cancun right near many of the local hotels. It features hundreds of stores ranging from American brands like Polo to Mexican brands like Senor Frogs. There are numerous restaurants including Chili's and McDonald's along with more local Mexican foods.

Chichen Itza

Step 4

Visit the Pyramid of Kukulcan, also known as El Castillo. This is the most famous of the Mayan Pyramid, and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Check to see if climbing the pyramid is permitted before doing so, as climbing is periodically banned.

Step 5

See the Cenote of Sacrifice, one of the famous flooded sinkholes of the Yucatan. This is also where the Mayans sacrificed human victims to their rain god.

Step 6

Visit the other ancient sites of the lost city of Chichen Itza, such as the seven ball courts. One of those is the largest of its kind in Mesoamerica. There are also many other temples, palaces, and zumbul, or sweat lodges.




If you can't make it during the equinox don't worry as this is recreated nightly in the awesome sound and light show after dusk.
Chichen Itza was built around 600AD which is almost 1,500 years ago! The main pyramid El Castillo has 91 steps on each of it's four side leading to the throne room at the top making a total of 365. The pyramid was actually built on top of a smaller pyramid and this was only discovered as recently as the 1930's and contained a Chac Mool statue and a temple in the shape of a Jaguar.

At the present time you are no longer allowed to climb El Castillo, often this is attributed to structural damage from Hurricane Wilma in 2005, but of course Chichen Itza survived Wilma just as it has survived other hurricanes for thousands of years. Sadly, the true reasons are erosion from thousands of feet on the steps, graffiti carved into the temple at the summit and accidents where people have either accidentally fallen or deliberately jumped from the top.
El Castillo isn't the only interesting feature to be found at Chichen Itza. The Mayan Ballpark, the Temple of the Warriors, the Cenote of Sacrifice and the Observatory provide other spectacular scenes from a world long forgotten

Tour Attractions

The ancient Mayan civilization of Chichen Itza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (unesco.org), located on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. It features several ancient monuments, buildings, and artistic works of art. Popular sights to see include El Castillo's stepped pyramid, the warrior's temple and El Caracol's circular observatory. Other sights to consider exploring are the underwater "Cenote" grotto, the Skull Wall, Temple of the Jaguar, House of the Eagles and many more tombs and temples.

Valladolid

THE COLONIAL CITIES

A trip to one of the nearby colonial cities is an adventure into the past. Many of the cities in this area are an exotic blend of the Spanish and Maya cultures giving them an distinct character and charm.

Valladolid

Valladolid is a city founded in 1543 by the Spanish Conqueror Francisco de Montejo. It is a picturesque village with many 19th century buildings and churches. Its main sights are the large cathedral found off the main square and the marvelous ex-Franciscan convent and church of Saint Bernardino of Siena (founded in 1552). Both were ransacked during the War of the Castes when the Maya, tired of abuse and discrimination, rose up against the Spanish residents, killing most of them and reclaiming the city. A history of this uprising is displayed in a series of paintings in the town hall. In the middle of town is the ancient cenote Zaci where the original Maya city of Sisal was first built. Other architectural highlights include a variety of majestic mansions, the cathedral of Saint Servacio, and the museum of Saint Roque. Outside of town is the famous Dzitnup cenote, an underground water hole feature in National Geographic. Valladolid is famous for its delicious sausages and its local liqueur, Xtabentún, flavored with honey and anise. There are also excellent markets where you can buy sandals, baskets, handmade textiles and leather goods. Located on Highway 180, two hours west of Cancun.

http://www.visitcancun.com/activitiessubpage.htm

Museums

Mexico's multi-million dollar Mayan museum in Cancun

Museo del National Institute of Anthropology and History (Museo del INAH / INAH Museum)

Address: Retorno del Rey, Cancun, 77500, Mexico, MX
Tel: +52 998 883 0305
Cancun's National Institute of Anthropology and History Museum, often abbreviated simply to the INAH Museum, is an impressive archaeological museum and located on the southerly side of the Centro de Convenciones, within the Zona Hotelera. The majority of the exhibits date back to the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries and include jewellery, masks and even some skulls, being displayed in a series of individual rooms. Various art works and visiting exhibitions complete the main attractions.
Open hours: Tuesday to Friday - 09:00 to 20:00, Saturday and Sunday - 10:00 to 19:00
Admission: free

National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH)

Cancun’s museum is located on the ground floor of the city's convention center. It traces the Maya culture with an impressive collection of 1,000 to 1,500-year-old artifacts. There are a number of impressive carvings and frescoes, along with ancient artifacts that have been unearthed at nearby sites throughout Quintana Roo. A visit to the National Institute of Anthropology and History can add another dimension to your exploration of the Maya ruins and is a fascinating introduction to the ancient culture. It’s also a great way to pass a rainy day in Cancun. Guided tours in English, French, German, and Spanish are available. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 AM – 7 PM. Admission: $3, children under 11 free. Sundays free. Located at the Cancun Convention Center, Blvd Kukulcán Km 9. Tel: (998) 883-0305. 

Zona Arqueológica El Rey

Address: Boulevard Kukulcán, Retorno del Rey, Cancun, 77500, Mexico, MX
Located within the Archeological Zone of Cancun, this cultural attraction is regularly visited by tourists and offers an insight into the region's ancient and quite fascinating Maya civilisation. The Zona Arqueológica El Rey is an impressive archaeological site and was once a city, with remains dating back to 13th century. Guided tours are one of the best ways to make sense of these remains and are available in different languages, including English.
Open hours: daily - 08:00 to 17:00
Admission: charge

According to the director of the INAH, Alfonso de Maria y Campos, the more than 12 million annual foreign and local visitors that come to Cancun for its sun and beaches will be pleasantly surprised to discover this unique museum in the area’s famous hotel zone. The museum expects about a million annual guests.

Five buildings are open to the public: The Great Pyramid, a 26 foot structure where the main building is located; The South, comprising of residential units, palace-style building and small altars; Dragons - named in the 1970’s after an area where snake heads were found and mistaken for dragon heads - in this area stands a temple adorned with fragments of ancient mural paintings of animals and marine elements.

Next to the Maya Museum, the San Miguelito archeological site recently opened as well. This location was inhabited over 800 years ago until the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors.
Cancun’s Maya Museum and the archeological site of San Miguelito are located on Km 16 on Kukulkan Boulevard in Cancun’s Hotel Zone.

The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Thursday (7 a.m. – 10 p.m.) Tickets cost around $5 for access to both the museum and San Miguelito site.

Children under 13 and adults over 60 years old receive free admission. On Sunday, admission is free to local residents with official identification.
http://cancun.travel/en/2012/11/16/cancun-welcomes-its-very-own-maya-museum-2/

1. located at km 16 of the Cancun hotel zone, within the 20-acre premises of the Archaeological Site of San Miguelito.
   
   
   
   Three exhibit halls, elevated more than 3,000 feet above sea level to prevent flood damage during storms, focus on the Mayan people, architecture, art and artifacts, including tools and fragmented sculptures.

Cancun bus stop map

CANCUN BUS ROUTES

The two major routes in Cancun proper are R1 and R2. Both will take you where you want to go. R1 is the route to go downtown or to the bus station. The only real thing here to make sure of is that you grab the bus on the right side of the street to take you where you want to go. The buses on the ocean side of the street will go toward downtown, and the lagoon side buses will go toward the airport.

Major Routes

R1 - Take this route to go downtown, or to Puerto Juarez, Wal-Mart, Plaza 2000, Mercado 23 and the Cancun bus station.

R2 - Goes to Wal-Mart & Mercado 28.

Minor Routes

R15 - Goes to Wal-Mart & Mercado 28.

R27 - Goes along Tulum Ave to Plaza Las Americas where you catch the collectivo to Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

http://www.coolestspringbreak.com/cancun-insider-tips.html

Addresses on Cancun Island (in the Hotel Zone) are given by the kilometer markers- the larger the number, the more south on the island you go, and the farther away you are from the action. For reference, Km 20 is the southernmost point of the island.
-Buses only take pesos, no American coins!

Xcaret: dont bother

I am so sorry. I don't like giving negative reviews but I feel an obligation to my fellow tourists to be honest about this park. Please don't get me wrong- it is a beautifully landscaped park, but definitely not worth the $60 or $70 per person entrance fee. We specifically wanted to snorkel in the underground rivers there, and due to the fact that there were hundreds of people there, the water was very dirty and murky. We brought our own snorkel sets, but were unable to see under the water with them anyway. We felt like we had paid hundreds of dollars to roll around the rivers in our life vests with a million other people. It was like being in one long, sometimes dark , community bathtub. We were surprised that guests were not obligated to take a shower before submersing themselves in the water. Cancun is surrounded by beautiful nature, beaches, fauna, and flora everywhere. Why pay such a hefty fee to see a man made theme park ? The highlight of our day there was having lunch at La Roca, a beautiful corner spot by the ocean. It was not too expensive a meal, especially with a pretty view. It was definitely a better choice than paying $29 USD per person for the Buffet lunch options. We explored a beautiful crystalline natural cenote( underground pool) near Coba which was a dream to swim in, clean, relaxing, and cost only 35 pesos per person entry fee. It was called Tam-cach-ha. So much more worth it, though a further drive from Cancun. Please fellow tourists, we already have theme parks in the USA, no need to spend hard-earned money on Xcaret park.

Visited December 2012

Chichen and Ek Balam

PLAY VIDEO FULL WINDOW

1. Mayan Majesty: Ek Balam
   
   Chichen Itza is truly wonderful, but the Mayas had many more amazing sites for you to discover. Meet Ek Balam, an ancient Mayan citadel 20 minutes to the north of Valladolid. During several ongoing excavation projec...ts, archaeologists have been able to ascertain that the city flourished between A.D. 250-1200 and decipher its name from hieroglyphic inscriptions: 'black or star jaguar' in Maya. They have also detected a blend of artistic and architectural styles present at the site, a reflection of cultural and political ties to other cities in the area.
   
   Explore Ek Balam with Thomas More Travel:
   
   http://www.thomasmoretravel.com/app/TourDetail.aspx?4=1144

   

   
   

   
   

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Ek Balam (black jaguar) is a little visited ruin north of Valladolid. It’s a beautiful site with rare carvings of full figures and well-preserved wall paintings. Construction at Ek Balam began during the late Pre-Classic Period (100 BC – AD 300) and continued well into the Late Classic period (AD 700 – 900).

   There are a number of splendid complexes here; its central plaza has three massive ceremonial structures with small temples, altars and living quarters while the chief pyramid, El Torre (the tower), is 100 feet high and 527 feet long making it one of the largest found in the northeastern Yucatán. Inside the main temple are wall paintings of Maya rulers performing rituals. The original paint remains, as does the painted hieroglyphics. As recently as 1987, a network of sacbé (white limestone roads) have been uncovered suggesting the site was an agricultural center -- the area still produces corn, vegetables, honey and cotton. Its setting deep in the forest only adds to the general mystique of this delightful site.

   Open daily 8 AM – 5 PM. Admission: $2, free on Sundays and holidays. Located 3 hours from Cancun, (2 hours west on Highway 180, one hour north on Highway 295.)

   
   

   
   

   
   
   

   1. Discover Chichen Itza, the ancient capital of the Itzae Maya, declared a World Heritage Site in 1988 and voted one of the Seven New Wonders of the World in a 2007 global poll. At the height of its glory, A.D. 80...0 to 1150 (it was abandoned in 1250), Chichen Itza was a mighty city, dominating the Yucatan politically, commercially and militarily. It was also a sacred center where rulers and astronomers once watched the heavens for portents and priests made sacrifices to appease the gods.
      
      Explore Chichen Itza with the comfort provided by Thomas More Travel:
      
      http://www.thomasmoretravel.com/app/TourDetail.aspx?4=1105

      

      
      

      1. Photo: Chichen Itzá at dusk. Explore Chichen Itzá through Thomas More Travel:
         
         http://www.thomasmoretravel.com/app/TourDetail.aspx?4=1105

         

         
         

         
         

         1. 
            http://www.royalresortsnews.com/news/mayan-magic-fall-equinox-at-chichen-itza/

            
            

            

            
            

            
            

            http://www.royalresortsnews.com/news/a-new-beginning-in-the-maya-world-december-21-2012/

            
            

Airport transportation

After customs a porter will grab your luggage or you can take it out of the airport to where all the taxis and vans are. Look for a Thomas Moore sign or whatever sign it would be for pre-arranged transport. Last I heard cabs were around $ 40-45 (agree on fee before you get in). Van transport is usually $ 8-10 per person.

: cancun airport transfers

Feb 16, 2008, 4:08 PM

Rec Best Day tours. It is a shared van, but they had us from airport to resort in less than 1/2 hour.

Very professional,clean vans.They arrange a time for your return pickup as they drop you off. Makes it worry free.

Make sure to find any ground transportation you do choose OUTSIDE the airport doors. The vacation club sharks are inside and will pretend to be your transportation.

Feb 17, 2008, 9:02 AM

It really depends on where you are staying in the hotel zone. We used the shared transfer a couple of times (just pick a van OUTSIDE of the airport) but the length of time it takes to get to your destination depends on where everyone else is going in the van. If you haven't booked a ride, the van drivers wait until the van is full and then drop passengers off according to destinations. This can delay your arrival at your resort/hotel. It also depends on the number of people in your party. Cancun Valet (access on line) has proven to be fabulous...always there...monitor your flight changes...you can book months in advance & your credit card is never charged until 24 hours before they pick you up. The cost is $35 for one way, which actually saves you money if you have a party of 4 or more. Two of us go every year & we consider it worth every penny! Enjoy your trip.

Feb 18, 2008, 12:42 AM

Yeah, bestdaydotcom and we paid $17.00 one way for 2 people from the airport to the Puerto Juarez ferry (to Isla Mujeres), however I think that is the same price to anywhere around Cancun. All the prices are listed on the website. This is for a shared van (although we had it all to ourselves on our way down)! You can pay more and have it to yourselves/VIP.

You have several choices of how to get to and from the Cancun airport. The first option is to take the collectivo or the bus. Collectivos run between the airport and the Cancun Hotel Zone regularly. The bus to Playa Del Carmen runs about every 1-2 hours. While the bus is an inexpensive option for 1 or 2 passengers, most people prefer to take a Cancun airport shuttle. A typical bus ride would consist of you waiting at the curb for your bus to arrive in the tropical heat. Once it gets there, you pack onto it with as many people as can cram in. The bus doesn't usually leave until it is full. Then, on the way to the hotel, the bus will usually make dozens of stops, and it can take a very long time to get to your destination compared with a private taxi or airport transfer service. In addition, walking to and from the bus stop dragging your luggage around isn't most people's idea of a great vacation.

PRICES ARE PER PERSON - ONE WAY / ROUND TRIPAll Prices are in U.S. Dollars and Include All Taxes.
CANCUN - $9.00 / $17.00Includes: All Major resorts in Cancun, including the Cancun Hotel Zone and Downtown Cancun, Moon Palace. http://www.cancun-discounts.com/cancun-airport-shuttle.htminfo@cancun-discounts.com CALL US TOLL-FREE CALL TOLL-FREE FROM THE U.S. OR CANADA1-877-446-8971(Don't worry, we answer the phones in English!) http://www.cancun-discounts.com/cancun-discount-card.htm Ave. Tulum No. 200, Local No. 101 Sm. 4, Suite 131 77500 Cancún, Quintana Roo Mexico‎ MXQuintana RooCancún77500 Edit details +52 800 681 9227cancun-discounts.com

ROI

http://www.mexicondo.com/RI.html

 complimentary use of the complex's sailboats, bicycles, snorkeling gear, tennis equipment, and golf clubs.

 
The Royal Islander is located along a stretch of the most spectacular white sand beach in all of Mexico. The resort is situated among a trio of luxury resorts, all operated by the premier timeshare company in Cancun, the Royal Resorts. Next door sits the Royal Caribbean and next to that, the Royal Mayan. Each of these resorts is connected by walkways, and transportation is provided by free shuttle buses. The effect is like you are staying at one mega resort with access to the features and amenities of any while you are staying at one. 

Maps

II certificate

UNIT 4363R

Hong Kong Restaurant in Cancun

Walmart-Cancun

A=  Mercado 28
B= Walmart

El Rey Ruins

Cancún archaeological sites

El Meco
5 Km. from Cancun, has a pyramid, El Castillo (The Castle), with fans encrusted in its facades ? a symbol of commerce- since the city was a strategic commercial enclave until the arrival of the Spaniards.
El Rey
In the hotel zone, between the ocean and the lagoon, the monuments of El Rey (The King) were erected, apparently, upon an only paved roadway. The facades still retain vestiges of bright coloured mural painting. The zone today is home to a multitude of placid iguanas.
Yamil Lu’um
In the gardens of the Sheraton Hotel a rebuilt structure of great elegance was erected: Yamil Lu?um (Wavy or rolling ground in Maya).    this small temple is located on the beach and free of charge located next to Westin Regina Hotel.
Pok ta Pok
On the playing course of Golf Cancun, also known as Pok ta Pok, golfers have the good fortune of finding a temple isolated in the rolling lawns.

Ruinas Del Rey

Within the southern Hotel Zone off of Cancún’s main drag, Kukulkan Boulevard, you’ll find Ruinas del Rey (Ruins of the King), an ancient astronomy lookout and burial ground for Mayan royals. Ruinas del Rey, also called El Rey, was built around 200 B.C. What makes this site stand out from other Mayan ruins in the area is that it has two plazas and two main roads instead of one. The indoor fresco paintings are also in good condition. Tourists flock to El Ray for two reasons: it's proximity to the Hotel Zone, and the resident iguanas. Hundreds of the native lizards bask in the sun here, and are encouraged by the park attendants who feed them tortillas. Ruinas Del Rey is open daily. There's a small admission fee on most days, and Sundays are free. Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 17 Zona Hotelera Cancún, Quintana Roo 77500 998-849-2880

Yamil Lu’um

Located at Park Royal Cancún, Yamil Lu’um, which means “hilly land,” is the highest point on Cancún. The only ways to access these ruins are through the two hotels flanking the property, or by way of the beach, Playa Marlín. The site is made up of the Templo del Alacrán (Temple of the Scorpion), and the Templo de la Huella (Temple of the Handprint). Both temples were named for statues that had once stood there. The two small temples that make up this ancient Mayan site are believed to have been erected between 1200 A.D. and 1550 A.D. Because of the structures' hill-top location, archaeologists surmise that they served as a watchtower and lookout point. It’s open daily to visitors and has no entrance fee. Blvd. Kukulcán, Km 12 Zona Hotelera Cancún, Quintana Roo 77500

9:51 PM Tuesday, Dec 25
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7 day forecast

The El Rey Ruins (or Las Ruinas del Rey) are a spectacular archeological site in Cancun's Hotel Zone, with 47 structures estimated to have been inhabited by the Mayans as early as 900 AD. There are two primary platforms and temples believed to be the remains of religious ceremonial buildings and market areas.
El Rey was named for the ceremonial mask and skull found on the site to honor the Mayan Sun God and over the years further excavations have incited speculation over the ruins history. Although, the El Rey Ruins are not as large in size when compared to Chichen Itza, many visitors enjoy taking pictures of the hundreds of Iguanas that call the ruins home. The Iguanas are unafraid of humans as the park guides keep them well-fed with tortillas.

Practical Info

Unexpectedly located adjacent to the Hilton Resorts Golf Course, this group of ruins is situated in the lagoon of the Southern Hotel Zone and many of the Mayan plazas offer great views of the Nichupte Lagoon as well as the Hotel Zone. The El Rey Ruins are a great way to see Mayan ruins without the trip to Chichen Itza or Tulum.

Reviewed December 20, 2012

NEW

If you are on a tight budget, are staying in the hotel zone, and are looking for some Mayan Ruins, this is the place to go. The entry fee was 42 pesos (give or take 3.50 dollars). Depending on where you are in the hotel zone, you can either walk or take the local bus (8.5 pesos per person - $1) to get there. The park is not very big but there is plenty to see and give you a feel for Mayan ruins. Because it is in the hotel zone, you can take pictures that have "the old" in the foreground and " the new" ( hotels) in the background. If you like Iguanas, you will love this place as there are hundreds of them around. Well worth the price.

El Rey is not a heavy tourist attraction, as it is small and very informal. You can walk and take as much time climbing and having a close look at the ruins. We took our young grandkids to this and the freedom was enjoyed by them as they felt like explorers. We were the only ones in the exhibit which added to the fun.

The El Rey Ruins is a great place to stop for people who are looking to kill an hour or so while in Cancun. The price was cheap (45 Pesos) and the site was quite as they are not well known and not as impressive as the larger sites outside of the city. However they are great for those who want to take in as many ruins as possible, or are not interested in taking the excursions to those ruins further away from Cancun.


This photo of El Rey Ruins (Zona Arqueologica El Rey) is courtesy of TripAdvisor

INTERVAL EXCH REQUEST

Ken - I could be wrong, but I don't think they ever show them as deactivated. If you don't get the exchange, it's up to the member to contact II and ask for your exchange fee back.

__________________
Aloha! DeniseM
TUG Moderator

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165902

this is what it says about using an ongoing request for an instant online exchange:

If you see an instant online exchange you want you can make it with the same deposit, your prepaid exchange fee will be used, and your on-going request will be canceled - automatically.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showpost.php?p=672349&postcount=2

Within a few days your timeshare should be ready to trade. At that point you can either:

a. Put in an ongoing request - II will start looking for the exchange for you and will automatically reserve it for you. You must pay the exchange fee to put in the request. If you don't get your request and cancel, they will refund in full. You must request at least 3 different resorts or dates.

***If you need a specific check-in day, you must call II after putting in your ongoing-request online and specify the day of the week. Otherwise, your on-going request automatically defaults to Thursday no matter what day you request, so your check-in day could be Thurs., Fri., Sat., or Sun. The Rep. can change it in the system for you, but the request will not show in your online II Acct.

b. Search the online inventory and reserve anything that is available.

Savvy traders often put in an on-going request AND watch the online inventory, because ongoing requests are filled BEFORE any inventory goes online, so the prime weeks are usually snagged by ongoing requests. The online inventory is what's leftover. However, sometimes something slips through, so it's a good idea to use both search methods. If you see an instant online exchange you want you can make it with the same deposit, your prepaid exchange fee will be used, and your on-going request will be cancelled - automatically.

Tips for putting in your exchange request

The most successful strategy for a II exchange includes:

1) Put in an on-going request as early as possible (12 or more mos. out) so it's in place BEFORE the deposits are made, and ahead of other exchangers.

2) To request a 2 bdm. - you must deposit a 2 bdm.

4) You have priority for trades into other Starwood resorts - before non-Starwood owner.

5) Request a wide-range of weeks.

6) Request as many resorts as possible

7) Even though the online inventory is the leftovers, sometimes gems pop up, so it's worthwhile to keep checking it, even when you have an on-going request in place. If you see something you want, you can still grab it online, which will automatically cancel your on-going request.

Strategies that will decrease your chances of getting a trade:

1) Only requesting school holidays
2) Only requesting one specific week
3) Only requesting the very top resort in an area (which you may not have the trading power for)
4) Not requesting Starwood resorts

More info. about the new II trading rules- FAQ - the new II/ Starwood trading rules

Updates -

Trial and error with the new system has shown that best practice is to put in an on-going request with all deposits, even if your intention is to search online. Instant online exchanges seem to go through easier if the deposit you use has an on-going request in place already. If you ONLY want to search online, then put in a "dummy" on-going request (one that will be impossible to fill.) Suggestions for "dummy" requests would be WSJ, Harborside, and WKORV for Christmas or New Years week.

If you cancel your on-going request and plan to use or rent your week yourself, you will have to call Starwood Owner Resources and ask them to put the week back in your Starwood Acct. If you don't call Starwood - they won't know that you canceled your request with II and you won't get your deposit back. Starwood seems to be confused about this process, since it's new.

__________________
Aloha! DeniseM
TUG Moderator

INTERVAL STRATEGY

As others have posted, when you look at the online inventory, you are only seeing the LEFTOVERS. On-going requests are filled FIRST - before anything goes into the online inventory. So the prime weeks are usually picked off by on-going requests.

The most successful strategy for a II exchange includes:

1) Put in an on-going request as early as possible (12 or more mos. out) so it's in place BEFORE the deposits are made, and ahead of other exchangers.

2) Request a wide-range of weeks.

3) Request as many resorts as possible

4) Even though the online inventory is the leftovers, sometimes gems pop up, so it's worthwhile to keep checking it, even when you have an on-going request in place. If you see something you want, you can still grab it online, which will automatically cancel your on-going request.

5) If you need a specific check-in day, you must call II after putting in your request online and specify the day of the week. Otherwise, your on-going request automatically defaults to Thursday, so your check-in day could be Thurs., Fri., Sat., or Sun.

6) Request Starwood resorts - you have priority for Starwood to Starwood trades.

Strategies that will decrease your chances of getting a trade:

1) Only requesting school holidays
2) Only requesting one specific week
3) Only requesting the very top resort in an area (which you may not have the trading power for)

__________________
Aloha! DeniseM
TUG Moderator

Fodor's restaurants

Labná Review

Yucatecan cuisine reaches new and exotic heights at this Mayan-themed restaurant, with fabulous dishes prepared by chef Elviro Pol. The papadzules (tortillas stuffed with eggs and covered with pumpkin sauce) are a delicious starter; for an entrée, try the poc chuc (tender pork loin in a sour orange sauce) or longaniza de Valladolid (traditional sausage from the village of Valladolid). Finish off your meal with some maja blanco (white pudding), and Xtabentun-infused Mayan coffee. You may want to linger and enjoy the trio that performs traditional Mexican music Friday through Sunday evenings.

El Cejas The seafood is fresh at this open-air eatery, and the clientele...	$ Seafood	El Centro
El Principio Despite its rather simple decor, this small and rustic bistro...	$ Italian	El Centro
El Tacolote A great place to stop for lunch, this popular taquería...	$ Mexican	El Centro
La Pasteleteria This cheery café and bakery has comfortable equipales...	$ Cafe	El Centro
La Troje From the moment you enter the garden patio, you'll feel as if...	$ Eclectic	El Centro

Santos Mariscos A tribute to masked wrestling champion El Santo, this Mexican...	$ Mexican	Zona Hotelera
Ty-Coz Tucked behind the Comercial Mexicana grocery store and across... Labná Yucatecan cuisine reaches new and exotic heights at this Mayan-themed... $$ Mexican El Centro Mesón del Vecindario This sweet little restaurant, tucked away from the street, resembles... $$ Eclectic El Centro Rolandi's Pizzeria A Cancún landmark for more than 35 years, Rolandi's continues... $$ Pizza El Centro Roots Jazz Club Locals and tourists mingle here to enjoy contemporary jazz and... $$ Cafe El Centro Yamamoto As the oldest Japanese restaurant in Cancún, Yamamoto... $$ Japanese El Centro El Oasis This appropriately named eatery offers a welcome escape from... $$ Seafood El Centro Hanaichi It might look like a hole-in-the-wall, but this small Japanese... $$ Japanese: Sushi Zona Hotelera La Placita The menu is simple but tasty at this brightly decorated downtown... $$ Mexican El Centro	$ Cafe	El Centro

http://allaboutcancun.com/dining-nightlife/restaurants/