With its whitewashed beaches and azure waters, the Mexican paradise of Cancun balances the peace of the beach with a fun and fabulous nightlife, including clubs such as Coco Bongo and My Place.

When you're not lazing or dancing, you can swim with dolphins, deep sea dive, and snorkel - or golf, shop, ride horses, and drink in the ancient Mayan archeological sites.

In October of 2006, Hurricane Wilma devastated many areas of the Peninsula. But help has since rolled in from all over the world, and many areas of the city have been rebuilt. In some cases, they have been upgraded to higher quality hotels and wider beaches.

Best Travel Times

The hurricane season begins in September, so opt for cancellation insurance when booking flights during this time.

You might also want to consider planning your vacation during the Northern Hemisphere's off peak winter months, because airfares and hotel rates tend to be less inflated. Look for mid-week bargains, which are generally most significant from Tuesday through Thursday. You can save a lot by shopping around for travel packages and discount air travel. Make sure you tell your travel agent about your budget and what kinds of attractions and experiences are most important to you. If you don't work with a travel agent, keep your eye on the major online travel sites to snag the best deals. Here is a web page that compiles and posts updated coupon codes from Travelocity, Expedia, Site59.com and CheapCarribean.com: http://www.momscape.com/discounts/mexico-travel-deals.htm

Keep your eyes and ears open for deals on the following popular hotels, in particular:

- Le Blanc Spa & Resort

- Royal Sands

- JW Marriot Cancun Resort & Spa

- Ritz-Carlton Cancun

- Hilton Cancun Golf & Spa Resort

- Marriot CasaMagna Cancun Resort

- Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun

- Riu Palace Las Americas

- Royal Islander

- Riu Cancun

Surrounding Attractions

There are so many things to do in the Cancun area, you can afford to be selective. Plan ahead for day trips and go early, before the sun gets too hot and the crowds come out en masse.

Here are some popular attractions in the area you'll want to consider:

- Chichen Itza - Ancient Mayan archeological structures

- MayaVenture - A labyrinth with treasure hunts

- Plaza de Toros - A bullring that has bullfights every Wednesday afternoon

- Cenotes - Deep, water-filled sinkholes in limestone

- Isla Mujeres - A small and charming island 8 miles across the baby from Cancun

- Playa del Carmen - Small resort town about 40 minutes south of Cancun by car

- Xcaret EcoPark and Sian Ka'an biosphere along the Riviera Maya

- Xel-Ha - Archeological site and ecopark, located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum.

- Tulum - Best known for its Mayan ruins. Tulum is also the starting place for much ecotourism and adventure travel.

Other Cancun Travel Considerations

If your primary goal is to visit Cancun on the cheap, the best advice is to find accommodations out of the "hotel zone" which is located smack-dab in the middle of the city. There are plenty of things to do there and lots of great places to visit but the hotel and restaurant prices can get pretty steep downtown.

Here is a checklist of items you'll want to pack for your Cancun vacation:

- Clothing: Several pairs of comfortable shorts, tee-shirts, dress slacks, a sundress, sweater or light jacket, socks, undergarments, sandals, tennis shoes, plastic bag for dirty clothes

- First Aid: Pain relievers, eye-drops, necessary medications and prescriptions, band-aids, neck pillow

- Protection: Sunglasses, eye-glasses and/or contact lens, sun-visor or baseball cap, umbrella or rain poncho

- Snacks: Peanuts, crackers and/or potato chips, gum, candy and bottle of water

- Equipment: Camera, extra film, batteries, portable compact disc player with headphones, favorite book

- Documentation: Valid passport, driver's license and/or birth certificate, emergency contact information, money and/or traveler's checks, computer printout of airline ticket confirmation. (Make sure to write the name of your destination hotel inside and outside of luggage and be sure to have an adequate lock on each piece of baggage.)

Here's a helpful webpage with more checklists of things to do before, during, and after your departure: http://www.cancun.bz/vacation_check_list.htm

Vacationing in Cancun need not be expensive because it doesn't cost much at all to lounge on the beach, swim, backpack, picnic, take photos, walk along the beaches and the streets, and to simply sit still and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city and surf.

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