Holidays

[seaside nipper]

We've been to the area just south of Playa del Carmen a couple of times (Playacar), but never quite pulled the trigger on a Chichen Itza, or more likely Coba, trip. Based on the research that I remember, it's very tourist-y (as you'd expect), have to set off early AM and spend most of your day on a coach (unless you go for a private driver etc), it gets very busy and hot from around midday. If you are going for it, pick an itinerary that gets you to Chichen Itza / Coba first, then onto your cenotes or whatever else is being bundled in.

Cheers, good advice.
I had heard from some folk that possibly it is silly o clock start and long coach time. Be good to pick one organised trip but don’t fancy early starts and long coach time in the heat.
Maybe stick more local and the scuba and other resort based activities.

[Zebeka]

Forget Malia and Magaluf, take a detour to Missouri I’ve been to Westgate’s Branson hotels four times, and it’s like stepping into a cozy wonderland.

[Donkey Toon]

I stayed in Playa del Carmen back in 1998. Was fantastic back then, unspoilt beaches for miles both directions along the coast. You could walk for hours without passing another hotel. I understand it is massively built up now.

Would recommend Chichen Itza and also Uxmal. And yes due to heat and humidity you need to visit early in the morning. I seem to recall staying overnight in the cities of Merida and Vallodolid in order to get to them really early. Unfortunately though I believe you are no longer allowed to climb the main pyramids at those sites. They have great views over otherwise very flat land, but due to tourists causing erosion are no longer open to visitors.

[bodacious benny]

Did Chichén Itzá yesterday- great experience and due to the time of year wasn’t particularly busy. It was hot but plenty of shady places to cool down, worth the journey from Cancun. We stopped at Valladolid on the way back too so that broke up the journey, and went swimming in a cenote afterwards too which was awesome.

[bodacious benny]

Don’t transit through the US, ever.

Had a 2 hour connection, but only thanks to my first flight being 30 mins early that I made the connection in Chicago by the skin of my teeth. Absolute brainless morons.

Even if you’re just catching a connecting flight you have to queue at Border Security as if you’re actually going into the country, and the queue is long. You’re in the same queue as people from around the world entering the states for work, education or holiday and needing visas etc checked. Makes no sense to hoy transit passengers in the same mega queue.

Second, every other country that you transit through will just put your checked baggage onto your connecting flight. Simple. Not in the land of the morons. No, you have to collect your bag after queuing at the border check for the best part of 2 hours, and then go out to check your bag back in again! f***ing pointless.

Third, because you’ve cleared security and gone out, you need to queue AGAIN to go back through security with the full hand luggage checks etc.

They really are a nation of utter morons.

Contrast it to Canada where I transited through Toronto on my way to Mexico.

My bag was automatically put on my connecting flight, and there was literally just a door where you showed your boarding pass for the next flight and walked right into departures. A system that works for every civilised country.

[Colback's Orange Tufts]

Don’t transit through the US, ever.

It's f***ing terrible. US exceptionalism that they can't trust security of any other countries. And they understaff so badly.

You can do US border "pre check" in Ireland / UAE and avoid this. No idea why just those. Quicker to fly Ryanair to Dublin and go from there than the uk

[seaside nipper]

Don’t transit through the US, ever.

Had a 2 hour connection, but only thanks to my first flight being 30 mins early that I made the connection in Chicago by the skin of my teeth. Absolute brainless morons.

Even if you’re just catching a connecting flight you have to queue at Border Security as if you’re actually going into the country, and the queue is long. You’re in the same queue as people from around the world entering the states for work, education or holiday and needing visas etc checked. Makes no sense to hoy transit passengers in the same mega queue.

Second, every other country that you transit through will just put your checked baggage onto your connecting flight. Simple. Not in the land of the morons. No, you have to collect your bag after queuing at the border check for the best part of 2 hours, and then go out to check your bag back in again! f***ing pointless.

Third, because you’ve cleared security and gone out, you need to queue AGAIN to go back through security with the full hand luggage checks etc.

They really are a nation of utter morons.

Contrast it to Canada where I transited through Toronto on my way to Mexico.

My bag was automatically put on my connecting flight, and there was literally just a door where you showed your boarding pass for the next flight and walked right into departures. A system that works for every civilised country.

Flew from Glasgow to Cancun direct, absolutely a dream flight then on to Playa del Carmen.
Experienced quite the delays at Cancun for luggage. I think there was like one guy on duty.
I’m curious, when you got to ( presumably ) Cancun airport did you get your luggage opened and searched by Security before clearing the airport and entering the country ?
This seemed really random, unclear and caused quite the delay. Allegedly the search was for cigarettes and e cigs.
No doubt the cartel already have enough devils dandruff

[bodacious benny]

Don’t transit through the US, ever.

Had a 2 hour connection, but only thanks to my first flight being 30 mins early that I made the connection in Chicago by the skin of my teeth. Absolute brainless morons.

Even if you’re just catching a connecting flight you have to queue at Border Security as if you’re actually going into the country, and the queue is long. You’re in the same queue as people from around the world entering the states for work, education or holiday and needing visas etc checked. Makes no sense to hoy transit passengers in the same mega queue.

Second, every other country that you transit through will just put your checked baggage onto your connecting flight. Simple. Not in the land of the morons. No, you have to collect your bag after queuing at the border check for the best part of 2 hours, and then go out to check your bag back in again! f***ing pointless.

Third, because you’ve cleared security and gone out, you need to queue AGAIN to go back through security with the full hand luggage checks etc.

They really are a nation of utter morons.

Contrast it to Canada where I transited through Toronto on my way to Mexico.

My bag was automatically put on my connecting flight, and there was literally just a door where you showed your boarding pass for the next flight and walked right into departures. A system that works for every civilised country.

Flew from Glasgow to Cancun direct, absolutely a dream flight then on to Playa del Carmen.
Experienced quite the delays at Cancun for luggage. I think there was like one guy on duty.
I’m curious, when you got to ( presumably ) Cancun airport did you get your luggage opened and searched by Security before clearing the airport and entering the country ?
This seemed really random, unclear and caused quite the delay. Allegedly the search was for cigarettes and e cigs.
No doubt the cartel already have enough devils dandruff

Sadly no direct flights from where I am!

They didn’t check my bag in Cancun but I’ve heard people say it’s common (for cigarettes and vapes (which I think are illegal in Mexico). Had to wait about 20 mins or so for my bag in Cancun but wasn’t too bad.

[jimileysbaldhead]

Went to Greece ( Paleros ) in May with my daughter and the grandkids. Absolutely loved it so going back in a couple of weeks with the missus. Other than a little bit of gentle paddle boarding and the odd walk to the village the plan is to do f*** all for a week.

[overseasTOON]

Went to Greece ( Paleros ) in May with my daughter and the grandkids. Absolutely loved it so going back in a couple of weeks with the missus. Other than a little bit of gentle paddle boarding and the odd walk to the village the plan is to do **** all for a week.

Looking at doing some island hopping next summer with the missus. Thinking of flying into Santorini and then using ferries to hit Naxos, Paros and then end up Athens for a few days before heading home.

I worked for an entire summer in Greece when I was 19 as a Kamaki, taking ferries everywhere and luring tourist to stay at campsites so it'll feel a tad nostalgic.