These days, Mexico and the Yucatan are attractive destinations for travelers. In the last year the Mexican peso has declined against the dollar, even as the dollar has declined against most major currencies. This makes Mexico cheap for Americans, Canadians, and especially the Brits. The price difference isn't very large on the coast, where hotels and resorts peg their rates to the dollar, but, in the cities and towns of the peninsula's interior, the bargain rates are readily noticeable.
And the present political climate has changed perceptions of Mexico. Before terrorism became a major concern for travelers, many perceived Mexico as a riskier destination than Europe. Today, the reverse is the case; going to Mexico, and especially the Yucatan is seen as relatively trouble-free travel. With these advantages, Mexico has enjoyed a surge in the number of visitors.
Politically and socially, Mexico remains stable. Like the U.S., it has been experiencing economic hard times. On the national scene, the economic slowdown comes at a bad time for Mexico, which is experimenting with democratic pluralism and multiparty government for the first time in its history. There is a growing impatience with the rate of reform, and debate over the direction of President Fox's economic policies and whether they will increase employment. But this has not led to very much political and social unrest. Instead, the public took out its frustrations at the ballot box. In recent elections, the two main opposition parties won many seats in the national legislative assembly. Power is now much more evenly divided, which could lead to a government of inaction for the duration of Fox's presidency.
The Yucatan has been one of the areas least affected by the recession. Investment in tourism infrastructure seems hardly to have slowed down.
Planning Your Trip To Mexico
Frontier Airlines (www.frontierairlines.com) opened new service or expanded service to popular Mexican beach destinations in late 2003. Routes now include nonstop service from Cancún.
Web travel merchants like Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) and Expedia (www.expedia.com) have expanded their international airfare offerings to give consumers considerably more itinerary and airline choices. While these online travel services have built a solid reputation-and following-for clients looking for U.S. travel, international bookings were generally not available.
Aeromexico (www.aeromexico.com) became the first carrier to offer nonstop service between Boston and Mexico City, with continuing service to Cancún. In February 2004, Aeromexico began operating daily flights between the two cities.
Mexicana (www.mexicana.com) announced the adaptation of its executive lounges into hotspots, offering passengers wireless high-speed Internet access. Initially, Mexicana set up the new technology at its lounges in Mexico City, Los Angeles, and San Antonio, and later in Acapulco, Cancun, and Guadalajara. Access will cost users $3 for 2 hours, $11 per day, $35 per week, and $65 per month.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based Spirit Airlines (www.spiritair.com) began flying to Cancun starting December 2003, launching the airline's first international route. In answer to a growing demand for low-fare service to Cancún, the daily non-stop Cancun-Fort Lauderdale flight will connect the resort with Detroit, Chicago/O'Hare, Atlantic City, New York/LaGuardia, Washington, D.C./Reagan National, and Myrtle Beach. Fares from Fort Lauderdale to Cancun begin at $79.
Alaska Airlines (www.alaskaair.com) has added daily service to Guadalajara from Los Angeles, increasing the number of Alaska's Mexican destinations to seven. The airline serves numerous flights between the U.S. and Cancun.
United Airlines (www.united.com) announced it will launch exclusive, Saturday-only service to Cancun from its East Coast hub at Washington Dulles International Airport in February 2004; United currently offers daily flights to Mexico City from Washington Dulles.
Cancun
Cancun is stepping up its efforts to attract the growing golf-travel market, with an expansion of its golf offerings. Close to $200 million will be invested over the next several years in the development and construction of new golf courses in the state of Quintana Roo, home of Cancun. Together, Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and Cozumel currently have eight courses. The creation of eight more courses is being planned. A current promotion campaign is also in progress to host major golf events, including the 2004 Mexican Open Golf Tournament, to be held from December 11 to December 14. This event will be held at the Moon Palace Resort's golf courses in Cancun, with participation of golfers from Mexico and abroad. For more information visit www.golf.com.mx.
The Ritz-Carlton Cancun ( 800/241-3333; www.ritzcarlton.com) recently opened the Cobalt Lounge, the first Club Level lounge reserved exclusively for adult guests among the 54 Ritz-Carlton Hotels worldwide. The 2,200-square-foot lounge seats 30 and is located on the ninth floor, one floor above the existing Club Level Lounge. Open from 5:30 to 8pm, it offers a full cocktail menu, complimentary canapes, and live music. The lounge name salutes the famous Ritz-Carlton blue cobalt goblets introduced at The Ritz-Carlton Boston in 1927.
The renowned French chain Sofitel announced plans to open a new hotel, the Sofitel Resort Cancun, its first property in Mexico. Scheduled to open in the fall of 2004, the Cancún Sofitel will consist of 400 guest rooms, three restaurants, and a spa.
Garrafon Park (www.garrafon.com), in Isla Mujeres, offers a new thrill-seeker's adventure activity, called the "Zip Line," where you can sail over clear blue water harnessed to a cable, reaching speeds of up to 48kmph (30 mph). In addition, Garrafon Park also offers underwater museums, snorkeling through artificial reefs, and other activities.
Cancun's Parque de las Palapas has undergone renovations to upgrade its offerings of weekend live music and "danzones," the graceful dances of generations past. The city's Municipal Orchestra, which recently expanded its concert schedule, can also be heard there on Sunday afternoons.
With routes that travel throughout the hotel zone and into the downtown area, Cancun's 24-hour bus system is making it even easier to travel around this popular resort. The fare is only 60¢, and in an effort to further encourage the use of Cancun's public transportation system, two local companies have produced THEMAP, a pocket-sized guide that outlines the bus route and highlights points of interest and other useful information. The guide is available at the Cancun International Airport, on buses, and in most hotels.
In 2004, Avalon Resorts is slated to open The City, a high-concept nightclub, beach bar, and lounge featuring a world-famous Porterhouse Grill. Meant to evoke a "city within a city," the property, located in the Hotel Zone, will feature a three-dimensional urban skyline of skyscrapers and city towers.
Isla Mueres & Cozumel
There are now two companies ferrying passengers between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen. Unfortunately, they insist on leaving at the same time rather than staggering their trips, so the new company doesn't add more than a couple of departure times to the service than was being provided by the first company.
American Airlines is testing regular commercial service between Cozumel and Dallas.
Puerto Morelos & Environs
The car ferry to Cozumel now leaves from the Calica pier, just south of Playa. There is still one early-morning ferry, but it is mostly for commercial cargo.
Playa del Carmen
Playa keeps growing and keeps feeling the growing pains. There has been a legal struggle over the construction of a new pier at the end of Avenida Constituyentes for passenger ferries to Cozumel. Another battle is brewing over whether to make Playa a homeport for cruise ships.
Costa Maya
The widening of the highway between Limones and Bacalar has been completed. It is now a modern four-lane highway. The same is true for the road from Limones out to the Majahual coast.
Rio Bec Ruins
Parts of the ruins in Becan remain closed for restoration after they were damaged by a hurricane last year.
Merida
The city tourism office has changed its phone number. The new number is 999/942-0000, ext. 133. The location remains the same. Also, the Web page is much improved; see www.merida.gob.mx.
Construction has begun on the new city market, designed to include green space and better parking. But until it's completed, expect an increase in traffic tie-ups in that part of the city, just southeast of the main square.