momopi_IHB
New member
http://www.laparrilla.com.mx/
<img src="http://www.blogdecancun.com/files/blogger/_xtB7GOw7PP4/R0AxNTlf6PI/AAAAAAAABXc/GIHfjU3SWVw/s400/La_parrilla_Cancun.jpg" alt="" />
Due to swine flu concerns, the tourist business in Cancun has gotten hit pretty hard. I was told that up to 20,000 people in Cancun area lost their jobs from the cutbacks.
Most of the restaurants in the hotel zone is over priced. But if you're willing to drive to old town area, I can recommend La Parrilla. Go there between 12:30p-5pm for the $10 USD buffet, or after 5pm, order the pork tacos or burrito! Their pork is good! Valet parking is free (tips only) and the restaurant is pretty clean. There are also about 8 or 9 other restaurants along the same street within short walking distance from there, so you could try them as well.
I'd suggest not staying in the old town area after dark. By late afternoon/early evening the Mexican army is out patrolling the streets there, and I mean army trucks with guys holding machineguns on top. It's a short drive from Hotel Zone but a world of difference.
Some tips:
Check those special fare sites for deals, I've seen round trip to Cancun for under $300 USD deals recently.
If you get pulled over by a Mexican cop, ask them to give you the ticket and just go pay it at the police station in the hotel zone. The cop will tell you the 100 peso ticket is "$100 dollars" and they'd do you a favor if you slip him a $50 USD under your driver's license. Screw them, just take the ticket.
Do your research first on prices, so you don't get dinged $15 USD for a 21 peso wrist band to snorkel in the national park areas. i.e. a local water park charges $70 USD for admissions, and every other agent in the hotel zone is telling me that it's $100 USD. Gee.
If you rent a car here, be prepared to get hit up for "mandatory insurance fees". Call ahead to confirm prices and fees first.
Due to recent hurricane, the only swim-able sandy beach in hotel zone area that I've found is at the Royal Sands. The rest got washed out and they have to refill the beach by bucket (!). Yup, saw teams of guys with sand buckets. You don't have to stay at a resort to use the beach. You can walk right into Royal Sands and use their pool and beach facilities.
If you want to save $$, you can attend various timeshare presentations in exchange for freebies. That is, if you can resist buying their "good deals" hahahaha. I get invited to Cancun because my friends couldn't resist and bought time shares here.
The exchange rate at your hotel/resort is actually better than the money changers on the street (13 vs 12.80). There are many HSBC banks here, so if you open an account with HSBC in Irvine and bring the ATM card here, you might get a good rate, or at least on ATM fees if you use HSBC ATM's down here.
Drive to old town and buy your groceries, snacks, water, etc. at the Mexican supermarkets. They actually give you 13.4x exchange rate on the dollar for buying stuffs there. Much better than OXXO (Mexican 7-11).
Rules are pretty relaxed here and they let anyone who looks old enough to drive a speed boat on full throttle. Keep your distance and bring sun glasses. Very hard to drive speed boat on full throttle with water splashing from the front, and tropical showers raining down hard into your eyes.
For those who likes fishing, bring your own equipment. You could even get away with just a spool of line and some hooks and sinkers. Just stand on a bridge and lower your line. Fishing equipment here is EXPENSIVE and fishing trips are also EXPENSIVE. Just drive around and see where the other Mexicans are fishing and join them.
<img src="http://www.blogdecancun.com/files/blogger/_xtB7GOw7PP4/R0AxNTlf6PI/AAAAAAAABXc/GIHfjU3SWVw/s400/La_parrilla_Cancun.jpg" alt="" />
Due to swine flu concerns, the tourist business in Cancun has gotten hit pretty hard. I was told that up to 20,000 people in Cancun area lost their jobs from the cutbacks.
Most of the restaurants in the hotel zone is over priced. But if you're willing to drive to old town area, I can recommend La Parrilla. Go there between 12:30p-5pm for the $10 USD buffet, or after 5pm, order the pork tacos or burrito! Their pork is good! Valet parking is free (tips only) and the restaurant is pretty clean. There are also about 8 or 9 other restaurants along the same street within short walking distance from there, so you could try them as well.
I'd suggest not staying in the old town area after dark. By late afternoon/early evening the Mexican army is out patrolling the streets there, and I mean army trucks with guys holding machineguns on top. It's a short drive from Hotel Zone but a world of difference.
Some tips:
Check those special fare sites for deals, I've seen round trip to Cancun for under $300 USD deals recently.
If you get pulled over by a Mexican cop, ask them to give you the ticket and just go pay it at the police station in the hotel zone. The cop will tell you the 100 peso ticket is "$100 dollars" and they'd do you a favor if you slip him a $50 USD under your driver's license. Screw them, just take the ticket.
Do your research first on prices, so you don't get dinged $15 USD for a 21 peso wrist band to snorkel in the national park areas. i.e. a local water park charges $70 USD for admissions, and every other agent in the hotel zone is telling me that it's $100 USD. Gee.
If you rent a car here, be prepared to get hit up for "mandatory insurance fees". Call ahead to confirm prices and fees first.
Due to recent hurricane, the only swim-able sandy beach in hotel zone area that I've found is at the Royal Sands. The rest got washed out and they have to refill the beach by bucket (!). Yup, saw teams of guys with sand buckets. You don't have to stay at a resort to use the beach. You can walk right into Royal Sands and use their pool and beach facilities.
If you want to save $$, you can attend various timeshare presentations in exchange for freebies. That is, if you can resist buying their "good deals" hahahaha. I get invited to Cancun because my friends couldn't resist and bought time shares here.
The exchange rate at your hotel/resort is actually better than the money changers on the street (13 vs 12.80). There are many HSBC banks here, so if you open an account with HSBC in Irvine and bring the ATM card here, you might get a good rate, or at least on ATM fees if you use HSBC ATM's down here.
Drive to old town and buy your groceries, snacks, water, etc. at the Mexican supermarkets. They actually give you 13.4x exchange rate on the dollar for buying stuffs there. Much better than OXXO (Mexican 7-11).
Rules are pretty relaxed here and they let anyone who looks old enough to drive a speed boat on full throttle. Keep your distance and bring sun glasses. Very hard to drive speed boat on full throttle with water splashing from the front, and tropical showers raining down hard into your eyes.
For those who likes fishing, bring your own equipment. You could even get away with just a spool of line and some hooks and sinkers. Just stand on a bridge and lower your line. Fishing equipment here is EXPENSIVE and fishing trips are also EXPENSIVE. Just drive around and see where the other Mexicans are fishing and join them.
