What Happens in Cancun Stays in Cancun

Cancun is one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world. Each year, over 4 million tourists visit Cancun hotels, beaches, and tourist destinations. It's important to remember these three things to help maximize the fun of your Cancun vacation:

1. Most natives in Cancun, outside of your hotel, do not speak English well, but can still help you out if you speak slowly and clearly using basic words.

2. Under NO circumstances should you drink the water. You are taking a serious health risk if you drink anything but bottled water. Even if your Cancun resort has a purified water system, stick with the bottled variety.

3. If you are traveling by cab, as you probably will, be sure to negotiate the fare in advance. Otherwise, a quick trip into Downtown will end up costing you 2-3 times the normal rate.

Shop Till You Drop in Grand Cayman

On your Cayman Island vacation, you may find that your wallet doesn't shrink as quickly as it does when you shop in the states. Thanks to duty-free shopping, visitors can take advantage of great prices and save even more by not having to pay any customs fees when they come back into the US.

The Cayman Islands offer duty-free shopping on everything from jewelry to perfumes to china and crystal—and tourists can expect to save up to 30% on most expensive luxury items. This is the perfect place to buy that engagement ring you've been thinking of for that someone special and, with surroundings as beautiful as these, it's also the best place to pop the question once you've purchased it.

Beachin', Dude…Cayman's Best Beach Hotels

Seven Miles Beach, located on Grand Cayman, offers some of the best Cayman Island hotels available. If you are looking for names you recognize, check out the Wyndham or Marriott beach hotels (these hotels will range from $200 per night up, but offer the quality accommodations that most visitors expect from their US venue counterparts).

Just because you have not heard of the name, however, doesn't mean that you won't have the time of your life at the Cayman Islands. Since tourism is the major economic income of the islands, each beach hotel prides itself on its quality and service. Even staying at the Comfort Inn Suites on Seven Miles Beach for $160 per night, you can guarantee access to the beaches and diving that make the Cayman Islands famous.

Whether on a budget or living large, your Cayman Islands vacation will be one that you'll tell your grandkids about someday...just take enough pictures to show you're not embellishing the island's beauty.

Snorkeling in Cat Island

Cat Island, one of the smaller Bahamian Islands is known for its beautiful beaches and snorkeling opportunities.

If you're interested in snorkeling, consider bringing your own gear. Everything on the islands will be at a premium price. The initial investment in getting your own snorkel, mask, and fins will really pay off later.

*Snorkeling can be a great activity for older kids. Encourage them to wear a white T shirt or tank top while they are in the water. This will give them a little extra protection against that hot Caribbean sun.

Visiting Aruba on a Budget

Aruba is one place where you can visit cheaply, even with an Aruba all inclusive vacation. Commercials in 2004 advertised how a package deal to Aruba could be as cheap as $370 per person with airfare and hotel included.

*During low season, you can find deals even cheaper. If you travel during the high season you will be competing with crowds and therefore subjecting yourself to high rates. If possible, plan your trip during a low season and get great deals!

What to See in Mexico

Mexico is a beautiful country filled with a full gamut of things to do. When planning Mexico vacations, it is important to remember that this is no tiny Caribbean island you can see in a day or two- Mexico is HUGE.

First, decide on what kinds of things you are looking to do. If you are an archaeology buff, chances are you'll spend your time in a totally different spot than a scuba fan. Here are a few options:

• Some popular Mexico beach destinations include Acapulco, Playa del Carmen, or Isla Mujeres
• If you're into the city, Mexico City is the number one destination and offers ample shopping
• Architecture and history buffs love visiting the ruins at Cozumel or the beauty of Guadalajara and Hermosillo

It all comes down to your pre-planning and desires, so make sure to map out exactly what your interests are and THEN pick your destination.

Discount and Cut-Rate are Two Different Things

When you save money on a new car, you don't think that you are getting a cut-rate car, right? The same idea applies to discount travel. Discounts can be achieved by a variety of methods.

By bundling airfare, hotel, and bus transfers, travel agents are usually able to secure a lower rate for those packages. In a similar fashion, most online booking agencies will purchase the right to a number of rooms to sell out. If you pre-book, the companies are willing to take less of a profit for the security of knowing the room is sold-out in advance and provide you a cheap hotel.

*There are some cases where deals are too good to be true, but those should be easy to spot (such as rooms for $25 per night, etc). Avoid those deals at all costs.

Going South of the Border for Cheap

Just because you are looking to save a few bucks doesn't mean you can't enjoy Mexico vacations. In fact, students can often visit Mexico and stay in Hostels for cheaper than American or European youth hostels and still have a banner time.

When you travel Mexico, you'll find prices are relatively cheap compared to most of the other top tourist destinations around the world due to the high exchange rate of the US Dollar to the Mexican Peso. By picking a three star hotel instead of a four star, you can often save 20-30% of your costs.

*One thing you should not cut from your budget, however, is bottled water costs. If you do, the price you pay in Mexico physically will be much greater than you can possibly imagine.

Golfing on the Virgin Islands

If you want to golf on your Caribbean vacation, you'll probably want to head to St. Thomas, home of Mahogany Run, an incredible Atlantic facing golf course designed by Tom Fazio.

If you want to travel with your golf clubs, make sure you have a solid travel bag that is both secure and protective. Additionally, make sure you bring all of your favorite golf accessories ( like your electronic golf scorecard and your favorite tees).

*Don't bring any heavy clothing and make sure you bring a hat!! That Caribbean sun is not messing around.

Big Names, Little Worry

Whether you are traveling to an Aruba resort or anywhere in the Caribbean, you can always count on certain brand name resorts. Aruba hotels and resorts boast names such as Wyndham, Hyatt, Radisson and Marriott (all big names in the service industry).

When you book with a big-name hotel chain, you can be assured the service quality will be similar to (if not better) than those names in the US. While you may find that these names may push the price of your Aruba vacation slightly higher, the extra offerings from each (such as beachfront access and stellar concierge service) will make the extra cost well worth it.