1. Walk across the street to the jungle tours- the price is amazing, you get to drive your own personal boat through the mangrove forests, then go snorkeling along the reef. Buy the water camera in the shop their, it is a disposable camera with a plastic case around it, it is reuseable. Put on plenty of sun screen, wear sunglasses.

2. Catch a bus into the market- bus rides are cheap, cheap, cheap. Haggle with the marketiers there, you can find items reasonably priced. Visit a grocery store nearby for some local foods.

3. Go with the all inclusive package, head down to the pool bar and grab a drink, I always tipped the bar tenders a few pesos, they will fill your drinks endlessly to the max with liquor for just a couple of dollars.

4. Don’t sleep in- the best time for food is in the morning- at the buffets they will make you your own omelet right in front of you.

5. Catch a bus and go bar hopping all night, you can’t drink bottom shelf liquor all week, so plan on spending one or two nights drinking the good stuff and paying for it and the atmosphere.

6. The sushi bar is great, but takes FOREVER- couldn’t be slower. The burger joint down by the beach is great for quick pick me up.

7. Bring your own sunscreen, toothpaste, shampoo, etc. I thought I would save space in my bag and not pack these items, a small bottle of sunscreen at the hotel costs $24.00, and you don’t feel like traveling into the city after a long plane ride, you have to go out of the hotel district to find reasonable prices.

8. The hotel will change your money for Mexican money, but there is not much use for this, because shop owners prefer US currency, and you get a better deal. Only change in money at the hotel as you need it, they don’t trade back into US. You only need it for the bus rides, and cab rides.

9. Don’t order the pumpkin soup- it’s nasty, I guess the name should give that away…