Ever since I got back from Mexico, and started answering questions about where I went on holiday, it is clear that the words Mexico and Cancun mean the same thing to most of the UK population. It is like the rest of the world judging Great Britain by David Beckham - good at one thing only. The scope of Mexico is huge - much bigger than one country is expected to have. There are a huge number of integral cultures, all fiercely expressed by their owners. Each town is different and you do not see the sort of global leveling that seems to happen in European cities. Mexico city is humungous - 20 000 000 people. Most of them trying to drive on the roads simutaneously ...  Read the complete review

Anyone going on holiday to the Mayan peninsula, whether it be the bright lights of Cancun, the smaller, but burgeoning resort of Playa del Carmen, or the small resorts, such as Tulum, dotted along the coast, have one venue that they must attend. It is simple as that - without it, you are really missing out. Xel-Ha is an all-inclusive water resort - totally natural - and is described as the "world's most beautiful natural aquarium." Getting there is easy. Just drive down the coastal road from Cancun or Playa - suggest you hire a car, they are pretty good value, and the road is safe. Alternatively, most hotels will organise tour groups with ...  Read the complete review

Rosarito has a nice beach, a string of nice bars/clubs and some nice restaurants. It feels nice walking along the streets a lon safer than Tijuana, and is only about 40 minutes on the bus from the Mexico/US border. We were staying in a hotel in San Diego and decided on the first night that we didn’t like Tijuana it felt too rough and sleazy. So the very nice receptionist at the hotel told us how to get to Rosarito. For 5 teenagers with no knowledge of Spanish it is very easy, get on the next bus in bay C and get off on the next stop. We spent the day on the beach, I’ve seen some cleaner, but it’s nicer than another couple I could name. ...  Read the complete review

Mexico has a lot to offer. It does have sun and beach resorts but it would be a pity just to go there and stay in one resort – many of them, especially along the Caribbean coast are purpose built and do not reflect all things Mexican. There are two misconceptions about Mexico that need to be corrected. First the food. It is not just Chili con Carne. Yes you can get hot dishes there, including the aforementioned chili. In fact one of my favourite snacks is made from tortillas (cornflour pancakes) in a sauce of cheese and green chilies. However there is a whole lot more. Particularly in the Yucatan the food is far more delicately flavoured with herbs and spices. ...  Read the complete review

The guide book said that Merida is a good place to buy genuine Panama hats and hammocks. It is impossible to avoid the hammocks - all you have to do is sit outside one of the many cafes and in a few minutes you will be approached by a man carrying bundles of them over his arm. As soon as a hammock salesman has left he will be replaced by a small boy selling packets of chewing gum or individual cigarettes from an open packet. It is slightly more difficult to but a Panama hat - you must enter one of the many shops. We had selected suitable hats and were waiting for our credit card to be authorised when we noticed a glass tank on the counter. This contained several ...  Read the complete review