Hi guys, I'm scheduled to go to Cancun on Dec 1.......still about 1 month away. The agent is asking if I want to cancel and get a credit for another time.......What do you think? Has anyone witnessed the damage? I'm wondering if the hotels will even be open by dec 1. If I don't cancel within the next week, then I lose everything............thoughts?
Cancun sucked before Wilma...if you want a Caribbean holiday, try the BVIs, Belize, St. Barths, Young Island, Saba, ect... Cancun is too touristy with glass highrises and fast food joints on every corner. If you want that you might as well just go to south Florida! If you MUST go to Mexico, at least try Isla Mujeres, Tulum or Playa de Carmen...but, they also got hit by Wilma so I wouldn't even go there in December. A Windjammer cruise is a nice alternative too.
I've been to most of those. I still enjoy Cancun once in awhile. I like the crowds and "americanism" for a little bit. My question is, do you think by Dec 1 most of Can. will be back up and running. I'm scouring the internet looking for the most up to date reports, but can't find much.
Cancun got hit pretty hard by Emily back in July also. I have a buddy who lives down there and a few weeks ago he said everything was pretty much back to normal. However, Wilma was a catagory 3 hurricane when it hit the Yucatan. I think even if things do get somewhat back to normal by the beginning of December, I think it is still too close to the aftermath of a major hurricane to make for and enjoyable and relaxing holiday. I'd postpone it.
My brother was stranded down there and just returned home. I didn't really ask him alot about the damage, but it sounded fairly severe. The wind damage is one thing, but Wilma sat on top of the Yucatan for a couple days, so you have storm surge and incredible rainfall. The water damage will take alot longer to clean up, dry out and repair.
On the TV news they seem to be saying electricity and running water are only available to 30% of Cancun. I would pass on Dec 1st, maybe you can convert it to another location, Los Cabos is fun if you've never been.
I am in the same boat.... My wife and I were going to an "all inclusive" down there (Dreams Resort) on November 14th. We had been wondering the same thing. I guess she talked to the resort last night and the place is pretty trashed. They are offering full refunds on hotel and air. In fact, the runway for the airport is not fully functional and will not be until November 12th!!! I guess right now, some of the navigational stuff is wrecked and the pilots cannot land there at night or in bad weather now until that stuff is fixed. I'll pass. So, instead we are using the refund to go to Tucson in December. And the rest of the reimbursed money will be going towards a trip we are planning to Italy, where the wife wants to see the Ferrari factory!! And I happen to want to do that too!! ;-)
Reschedule. They will not have it all cleaned up and great in that short a time frame. My wife and I spent 6 days at the Riu Palace Las Americas in Cancun 6 weeks ago. It was INCREDIBLE. One of the nicest hotels I have ever enjoyed, and great food + entertainment. I would highly recommend it! Terry
Isla Mujeres is a nice alternative, but as was stated, don't know the extent of damage. I have been tempted to try Majuhual (sp?) Another alternative might be Mexico's Weat coast. Puerto Vallarta was great for me and my wife.
Agree w/ Terry on the all the Riu resorts in Cancun. The Riu Palace L.A is nicest of them all and one of the newest. I'd suggest you contact your travel agent to get their input on your timing.
Being very familiar with the area my advice is cancel your trip, no question. My family owns a house on the beach and also have relatives down there. According to the people I've talked to damage to hotels is extensive. Judging from the damage sustained at my parents home it will take well over a month for infrastructure to be rebuilt. The worst part is that most of the beach is gone in Cancun's hotel area. While they are starting to work on it, all the sand in the main hotel strip was washed by the huricane and only stones remain. Ironically we have about 10 inches of sand in the ground floor. Playa del Carmen and Cozumel seem to be suffering just as bad.
THANKS for all the advice, the trip is postponed so now I have a CREDIT with the agent. No REFUND.........are the Bahamas nice also, there is a good trip to the Grand Bahama island that I could go on the same dates.......what do you think?
Well if you can Reschedule, do it, I have been watching this, and they will start running again for that dates. Maybe you can go and still have a good time, but not as it if was at it's full potential. The people in the Zone, is doing a Excellent And Incredible effort to get everything running back again as normal for December, the Goverment has also make a great job, Today Watching the news, the city is a lot clean now, Id' say at a 80%. But the Damages still there, But they are already working on that too. You have to Go to Can Cun it is AMAZING. I love it, I have also been in the caribeean, and it's nice and so, but Can Cun is much better for me.
The g/f's parents had reservations and flight setup for Thanksgiving weekend but they've decided to go somewhere else.
