When someone says Cancun, and images of drunken tourists and wild college kids on spring break come to mind…so I was pleasantly surprised at how mellow it was. Granted, we were there during slow season and we didn’t stay out late seeking the party crowd; still, our first evening as we were strolling barefoot in the powdery white sand at sunset, I found myself wondering where everyone was. Since we only had two full days there, we spent most of our time taking the bus around the hotel zone and playing in the beautiful surf. We also visited a ruins near our condo, where we shared an enjoyable afternoon with tons of iguanas. If and when we go back, I would love to spend at least a week and explore the many ruins and beaches around the area. For anyone out there interested in Cancun, here’s a few things we learned while we were there:

1. Go during the low season of you don’t like crowds. Cancun is packed between December and April, but when we were there in October the beaches were nearly empty.
2. Pay for things in pesos. Even though most places will take dollars, they will also charge about 30% more.
3. Rent a condo. For about $60 a night for we enjoyed a fully furnished two bedroom condo about 100 meters from beach. Surrounded by hotels for $200+ a night and half the size, we felt like we scored.
4. Take the bus. Cancun has one of the best bus systems I’ve seen. It only costs about 50 cents each time you get on (if you pay in pesos) and the longest we had to wait for a bus was about 45 seconds. Bring exact change as they don’t usually give any.
5. Get out of the hotel zone for a cheaper meal. Most of the restaurants are either in large hotels or right next to them, and lean towards fine dining. Of course, the fine dining is only about $15 a plate, so still won’t break the bank.

So if you have the chance to visit Cancun, go for it! Just decide beforehand the kind of experience you want to have. If you’re there for the party scene, go during spring break. If you want an affordable and relaxing stay in a gorgeous place with friendly people and a rich history, consider the off season.