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U-Co - Is Cancun worth the visit?
Marco Barrio
April 19, 2024
by Marco Barrio
A digital nomad community exploring the world. The place where we feel at home no matter where our journey takes us.
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This month, we’re doing something a bit different. Let’s take a deep dive into my recent family trip to Cancun—a city I last visited as a much younger person, well before my days in the hospitality industry.
Getting to Cancun: Flights and Transportation Insights
Booking Flights: We booked a month ahead knowing prices would spike due to 'Semana Santa'. Our outbound flight was with Aeromexico, chosen for its affordability and convenient late afternoon times. Coming back, we chose Viva Aerobus, navigating the rush of sold-out flights.
Airport Experience: Aeromexico flies out of the less crowded Terminal 2 at Benito Juarez Airport, a plus during busy travel periods. Returning was tougher, flying into Santa Lucia, a newer airport with limited transport options. We ended up waiting for a shuttle since Ubers weren't available. In Cancun, try to arrive on an earlier flight as late at night you won’t have many taxi options.
Accommodation: Where We Stayed
Booking Choices: I used Booking.com for flexibility, though direct booking is often cheaper. We stayed at the BSEA Cancun Plaza Hotel in the Zona Hotelera, positioned perfectly next to the beach without the all-inclusive, luxury hotel price tag.
Hotel Insights: The hotel was decent, though it showed signs of needing maintenance. However, the location, view, and pool made up for it, proving a great base for our family to explore Cancun.
BSEA Cancun Plaza Hotel
Experiences: What We Did
Isla Mujeres: We took the Xcaret ferry to Isla Mujeres, enjoying a day lounging at Playa Norte—highly recommend paying for a chair and umbrella for full relaxation.
Local Eats: We discovered Taquería Los Chachalacos for tacos and had a fantastic seafood lunch at El Galeon del Caribe, right off the main road in Zona Hotelera.
Shopping and More: An afternoon stroll through La Isla Shopping Mall was a perfect blend of sightseeing and looking for bites to eat.
Pricing Insights
I’ll break down the costs per person, showing you what we spent and helping you gauge whether Cancun fits your budget.
Description | Price per person (MXN) | Recommended |
One Way Flight - Aeromexico | $2,510.00 | Yes |
Uber to the Benito Juarez Airport | $146.00 | Neutral |
Shuttle to Zona Hotelera | $425.00 | No |
BSEA Cancun Plaza Hotel | $1,700.00 | Yes |
Plaza Hotel breakfast | $250.00 | Neutral |
Public Transportation | $12.00 | Neutral |
El Galeon del Caribe | $500.00 | Yes |
Tacos Chachalacos | $300.00 | Neutral |
Isla Mujeres - Ferry | $500.00 | Yes |
Isla Mujeres - Luxury Beach Club | $450.00 | Yes |
Isla Mujeres - Beds/Umbrella | $600.00 | Yes |
Xcaret - Park Entrance | $2,096.00 | Yes |
ADO Bus to Playa del Carmen | $250.00 | Neutral |
One Way Flight - Viva Aerobus | $2,410.50 | Neutral |
Shuttle from Santa Lucia to Roma Norte | $150.00 | Neutral |
Approximate Total for a 3 day / 2 night | $12,299.50 | MXN |
Overall Impression
Our trip was fantastic—my wife and in-laws loved Cancun’s beaches and the overall vibe. While it was a more laid-back family trip, Cancun’s potential for both relaxation and partying is undeniable. It ranks just behind Tulum in my list of favorite beach destinations for its stunning turquoise waters.
I’m curious—where do you think would be an ideal spot for a U-Co location in beach towns across Mexico?
Community News
Mexico City is HOT! We are melting out here. If you’re thinking of heading to CDMX anytime soon, make sure you bring some sunblock.
The female capsules are completed. Make sure you book yours soon if you’re planning to visit Mexico City at booking.u-co.co.
Carlos, Marie and Lauritz plugged in
Current Monthly Guests
Carlos (Mexico)
Vishnu (India)
Daiana (Argentina)
Rachel (UK)
Mairi (UK)
Gabriel (Canada)
Julieta (Argentina)
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We are working on getting new community events later this month for you. If you have any you’d like to host, by all means, help us lead the way.
 April 19-20 |  April 11 - May 5 |
Accommodations
This week’s top places in Mexico are:
Experiences
Try grabbing some drinks and eating at this awesome spot:
Once you’re done brunching go to:
Tips, Tricks, & Trends
In this week's edition of the digital nomad newsletter, we delve into the latest tips, tricks, and trends shaping the nomadic lifestyle.
Happy to share the playlist I use to GSD!
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