<p>I’d recommend driving to Chichen Itza and spending a couple of days in Valladolid on either the way out or back. Valladolid is an old colonial city similar to Merida but smaller and much more convenient to Cancun. We stayed at this place and loved it, and it was cheap:
<a href=“http://www.differentworld.com/mexico-hotels/meson-del-marques/index.htm[/url]”>http://www.differentworld.com/mexico-hotels/meson-del-marques/index.htm</a></p>
<p>We did the Merida, Chichen, Akumal (south of Cancun) thing a couple years ago and it was fun. Then, this past year we flew into Guadalajara, drove to the Indian highland town of Patzcuaro (4 hours trip w/ outstanding scenery on a perfect highway), then went down to Manzanillo (admittedly a long day’s drive, but again nice scenery) for a few days of beach, then flew back from Guad. It was an excellent 8 days and I highly recommend this trip (PM me if you are interested and I can provide details). We plan to go to Oaxaca sometime, then visit the Spanish colonial cities, then maybe the Copper Canyon someday. Mexico is great.</p>
<p>BTW, we lived in Costa Rica for two and a half years and it is a lovely, scenic country (with drinkable water!) but really has very little of the “culture” (meaning indigenous arts and crafts, interesting old customs, etc.) that Mexico has.</p>
<p>Alternate place with a non touristy feel: San Miguel D’Allende. Very very pretty colonial city. No ocean, so not that kind of vibe. There are tourists, but more the “second home” types and less the “ugly americans.” lots of art and culture in the city. San Miguel has a vibrant feel; does not seem to be totally tourism-based.</p>
<p>How about a B&B?</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.haciendachalante.com/[/url]”>http://www.haciendachalante.com/</a></p>
<p>More photos:
<a href=“http://www.haciendachalante.com/Album.htm[/url]”>http://www.haciendachalante.com/Album.htm</a></p>
<p>Centrally located in the Yucatan and may provide a more ‘authentic’ experience than some of the more touristy hotels. The proprietor is American so there wouldn’t be any language barriers</p>
<p>We stayed in the Tulum area at the Bahia Principe. It is maybe 1-2 hour drive south from Cancun. We really enjoyed the area and went to the eco-parks like xel-ha and xcaret and the Tulum ruins. It was a lot of fun…great snorkeling and other things to do. It’s a good combo with Cancun.</p>
<p>I also advised bethievt based on the obligatory Cancun stop. You just have to be a little adventurous - we ate in little restaurants, drove to local cenotes (natural pools), and had no problems. (I did get busted for not wearing a seat belt in Costa Rica.) There is lots of info in guidebooks - I also like the Fodor’s travel forums, and there is a good website for the area around Tulum: locogringo (great name- run by some texan expats). We did not go to any resorty places (just not our style). </p>
<p>as Curm says, you could also just hang in Cozumel and snorkel,dive, and drink tequila. The trip I recommended falls more into the category I call “the relentless pursuit of fun”.</p>
<p>Never been to other places in Mexico - (but would love to get to Copper canyon, Zihua, Oaxaca, etc.etc. ) I suspect Yucuatan is a bit different - its relatively less populated and ,except for the few cities, one does not get immersed in local culture.</p>
<p>Also loved Costa Rica (NOT boring - more natural drama, less cultural stuff) and Belize.</p>
<p>I love, love, love the old colonial cities. The state of Michoacan is paradise on earth–Morelia, Patzcuaro, lots of little towns whose names I don’t remember (maybe Santa Clara de Cobre? I think it’s in that area). Someone else mentioned San Miguel de Allende, and I would add Taxco and Guanajuato relatively nearby. Guadalajara–fabulous Tapatio food and mariachi at its source–would be a good base to be in striking distance to some of the others. My family is from Zacatecas, a different kind of beautiful, but a bit far from some of the other places. In all of the interior there should be reliably warm-to-hot sunny days and cooler nights in January.</p>
<p>Anyone have any experience with Vera Cruz City?</p>