Booking a vacation in Cancun with a several of my buddies and we're not traveling with wives/girlfriends (half of us are single). Anyone been there recently that can suggest good 4-5 star hotels that are: lively but not trashy with teenagers all over the place, yet not boring?

FYI, Cancun resorts are anywhere from 1/3 to 1/2 the prices they would normally be because people are worried about H1N1 and drug gangs.

^ .. you are correct on the prices ... now is a great time to travel and buy things ... lot's more bang for the buck nowadays ...

Yeah, I am really going to take advantage of the prices by going for more than a week and getting a good hotel and w/ocean view.

Actually might do some hotel hopping since we're going to be there a while. So far, I have the "Omni" on the radar and the "Mariott Casa Magna".

A lot of the reviews on sites like tripadvisor.com are greatly different because some are left by actually past visitors and some are phony-great reviews by hotel managment (you can tell b/c the write up is a direct translation in words from Span. to Eng.).

^ ... just try and avoid the travel agencies ... there's a reason they are in business ... and if you think they can/will get you a better deal, well, then you need to reconsider ... they make $$ by making your reservations ... and from my experience, I've always been able to show up somewhere for vacation and been able to get a better deal in person ...

... it does suck to know that you're going to a place where you don't know anyone and you can get ripped off if you're not careful - but for the most part, if they know you will walk out of their hotel and go to another one (don't look desperate), then they will give you a huge discount ... especially for cash transactions ...most will also give you great deals on lodging/meal packages ...

... unfortunately, I haven't been to Cancun for over 10yrs ... but I/we just showed up and found a place the day we arrived ... 4 of us ... got 2 adjoining rooms for around $125/ea per night and it included breakfast and dinner ... meals were buffet style ...

... gave a CC for a security deposit ... paid 1/2 upfront and then paid for the remainder of the stay 3-4 days later ... was there for 6 or 7 days/nights ...

... parasailing and diving were the most reasonable fun things to do ... just make a cash offer and don't budge ... then the next day ... offer a little lower and tell them that (if they agree to that price) that you'll be back the next day for more ... they love repeat customers ... and you may have to wait in line for the tourists paying top dollar for the same thing ... but 30 minutes later - you're in for less than half of what the other guy just paid...

^ if you DO opt to use a travel agent, just write your maximum offer on a card, give it to them, then go home.

They'll call when/if they feel they can meet your demands.

Screw the haggling man.......

I'm Neckked

A friend of mone stayed at Moon Palace in Cancun for his honeymoon. He mentioned that there were a decent # of groups there that did bot include honeymooners.

I think there is a golf course attached and a casino maybe? Most of the all-inclusives don't cater to groups of 18 year olds so you generally don't have too much to worry about from that aspect.

My wife and I went to Secrets but it was about 95% honeymooners. If you don't mind that then I would recommend that resort. Although, I think they are now just known as Excellence in Riviera Maya. Its about 25 minutes from Cancun and 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen.

The J.W. Marriott is right next store to the Casa Magna and is much nicer and newer. The rooms are beautiful, as is the pool and view.

AVD,,,

try looking here

www.cheapcarribean.com

wheel,

JW Marriott is good. Cancun Hilton is better.

Doesn't making a cash offer, paying half the freight up front, imply that you are carrying a large amount of cash, and therefore might make a tempting target for a Mexican mugging?

Use the safe in the room.

Carry a knife.

^ ... carry only like $2k in cash for when you get there and then cash in a traveler's check or use your ATM card - most ATM's allow for $600/day withdrawal ...

... as for cash/safe - we have a small metal locking "safe" that has a steel cable that allows you to secure it in the room - I generally put the cable around the piping in the a/c unit and tuck it away ... so, if the maid sees it, she'll think than any/all valuables are in there - and then you just hide any cash you have on hand inside a fake shaving cream can and leave it out in the open on the bathroom sink beside your razor ... never had a problem ...

^You won't have those issues if you stay at the Hilton!

Get scuba cert if you are not already, head down the coast near Playa del Carmen and dive in the cenotes. Unlike any ocean dive you will do. Very memorable.

Or take the ferry to Cozumel and dive Palancar.

I ain't diving in no sinkholes.

Afraid of ghosts, I guess.

Scuba in Cancun is not recommended by most dive magazines and books. They are very shoddy there and the reefs are not very good. Cozumel, which is only 30 miles away, is one of the best dive spots in the world. Nevertheless, it is drift diving, which I personally would not recommend for a new diver for safety and equipment reasons...

Oh, I like that idea with the fake shaving cream can, as I hear horror stories of staff stealing left n right, having master keys/cards to safes.

All great help guys.

Jeebus, you're there to have a what?...yes, a VACATION.

Relax, don't bring more than a few hundred bux cash.

Put everything, EVERYTHING, on the CC.

Yes, the number will be stolen, but so what.

Stop trying to save a few measley centavos.

Went to the Moon Palace about 8 years ago. Everything was top notch except the beach. The pool and restaurants more than made up for it and back then by staying there you had full access to their other resorts in Cancun with a complimentary shuttle to take you to them and bring you back.

Wherever you choose, take a stuck of $1s with you for the staff and you're set! Well, with our dollar now you may need $5s.