Johan Moller and I are thinking to go to Mexico in Jan/Feb/Mar but not to a resort. Any recommendations on good places to fly into and stay for a week? Ideally we'd like a mixture of beach, city and adventure activities.

Manzanillo

We spent 5 days in Mexico City and loved it - so much to do and it’s so green and gorgeous architecture. My son spent the week before in Oaxaca and he loved that also. He said a lot less touristy than the bigger resorts and great food.

If you want beach + city, check out Merida.
If you just want city, check out Mexico City.
If you want beach and city you could do Oaxaca + puerto Escondido but the drive in between is brutal.

Marie do you know what the is drive from Huatulco to Puerto Escondido is like? Taxis are quite expensive but not sure I would drive ourselves. Thank you

Cindy definitely check out buses I personally wouldn’t drive as a foreigner in Oaxaca

Cindy I would take the bus. It´s like $10-$15 CDN per person and really safe (I take ADO buses everywhere, all the time, as a single woman, into sketchy areas etc)

Marie this is great. Thank you so much

Cindy I’ve been in Huatulco tons. Very safe but care are hugely expensive. Bus to Escondido is commonly done by expats and cheap. Zillions of Canadians in HUX. Excellent people there. I personally didn’t care for Escondido but I LOVED riding our rented motorcycle everywhere in the area from there to high up La Bocana and up into tge Sierra Madres.

Nan thank you so much. Appreciate your info

Cindy ya, I love Oaxaca. But it’s not resortie like lots of places. Take pesos, credit cards in resorts pesos most places. Not as much English spoken, so be prepared for more of an adventure. Tours usually kinda do credit cards. If you go into La Crucitas (and you should) take pesos. Quite safe

Cindy and the drive from Hux to Escondido is flat and easy past nice fields of crops for about 1.5 hrs???

Cindy lastly, my friend and I also loved Merida, but in the Cancun Playa area watch crime more. We also LOVED Isla Mijares. Rented a car and then drove all over the Nerida area. A Mexican car company. If you decide to be in that area pm me and I’ll get you better info. Much different than hux but lovely too.

Nan what is HUX?

Nan thank you, we were thinking of staying in la Crucitas and puerto Escondido but just trying to find a way to get from Huatulco airport to each place. Thanks

Cindy oh. A taxi. Right at airport to La Crucita. About $350 pesos. Around town most taxis will get you someplace for $100 pesos or less. The rates are posted. And HUX is the airport code for Hualtulco

Cindy I would stay in La Crucita first. Take taxi from airport. Then a few days later take the bus to Escondita.

Would you happen to know what a taxi would cost? Just so I know in in advance, I don’t always trust taxis. Thank you

Cindy taxi rides are easy to find and cheap. Our westjet guide in hautulco last January said do not tip cab drivers. Pay what they ask. Prices are posted. They are trying to keep taxis reasonable so avoid tipping and it will not become the scam that is in cancun. I don’t think we paid more than 60 pesos to get anywhere. We just checked out local things and tours.

Marie I was coming on here to say Merida! Beach, old city, cenotes and Mayan ruins. You can't go wrong! If you want to stay on the beach check Progreso, Chelem or Chicxulub

Kayla I agree! All my Mexican friends are obsessed with Merida right now, the beach is close by so you get the best of both worlds

Marie ya if you mean Oaxaca City- REALLY brutal!! Don’t do it, fly. But the lower parts are ok after you get out of the Sierra Madres. I’d suggest Haultulco in Oaxaca province. From there to Puerto Escondito it’s easy

Huatulco is THE BEST

Cher are there good rentals down there ? Would you need a car ?
We have stayed at Secrets and loved it but a condo or apartment sounds so nice ! Agreed it’s the bestest little town

Annette Accommodation rentals?
We stay at Dreams.....beautiful!
Friends stay in rental
All good there

Annette Marina park. See if anyone has a rental. Mostly Canadians from AB and SASK.

Nan Marina Park is in Huatulco?

Annette from what I hear, many people who rave about Huatulco are actually raving about the particular resort where they stayed. It seems that few people leave their resort. “Huatulco is a resort region in the Mexican state of Oaxaca with white Pacific coast beaches. The region is made up of 9 bays, including the popular cruise-ship port of call Santa Cruz Bay” ( googled) and the town of La Crucecita. There are small hotels and restaurants in town.

Cher is this on the pacific side or Carribean?

Puerto Aventuras was great for us. Basically a gated town, so super safe, fun restaurants and night life, easy to rent a condo there - there are some basic produce/grocery shops but stock up on major groceries for your stay in playa del Carmen (and stuff to make blender drinks) Enjoy the area, lots of places include bikes to ride around and it’s super easy to leave for fun excursions nearby! Hope you have a blast

Ixtapa

Huatulco!

Thank you so much!
Will look into all these cities!

My favourite place is Zihuatanejo. It’s a wonderful REAL Mexican city, on the beach, full of small hotels, rentals etc, local restaurants, markets, full of life, local families out strolling on the small streets and squares, music. No rows of all inclusive high rises.

Cathy I know this is an older post but, where do you like to stay in Zihuatanejo? We would like to try it but not sure where to stay. Looking for a nonAI. Preferably on or close to the beach for a few weeks. And suggestions or advice?

Karen is it ok to message you? It might be a longer conversation than a quick reply.

Cathy you bet thanks

Cathy Hi I noticed in a post awhile ago you were going to PM someone about where to stay in Zihautenejo. If willing, can you share info you may have with me?
Thanks in advance!
Sandy

Sandy yikes. I wrote an entire novel. Let me see if I can find it.

Cathy thanks Cathy. Please don’t go to any trouble. I just thought you might be someone in the know. I’ve been to Zihua a few times and stay at Pacifica Grand for a week and then have tried a couple other places because I usually go for more than a week. Just wondering what gem I might be missing

Sandy I did message you but no real gems included

Cathy where did you message? I can’t find it on messenger

Sandy I just clicked on your name right here and then hit message .

Following

I’d recommend playa del Carmen and Isla Holbox or Isla Mujeres