If you’ve read my previous travel post (HERE), you know I swore our next family trip would be an all-inclusive resort. But since it was Mexico travel, we figured, “What the heck? How bad could it be on our wallets?” Boy, was I wrong! Everything in Cancun travel and Playa del Carmen is priced in U.S. dollars in Mexico, and let me tell you, they will take every cent you have if you let them. If you’re wondering “How expensive is Cancun?” or “Is Playa del Carmen worth it?”, let me break it down—because Mexico vacation costs can surprise you if you’re not prepared.
Our Stay in Playa del Carmen
We booked an Airbnb in Playa del Carmen for five days, followed by a three-day all-inclusive stay in Cancun. Playa del Carmen was absolutely beautiful. We found a gorgeous, calm beach called Playa Punta Esmeralda—free shade, crystal-clear water, and fully accessible for wheelchairs and other needs. If you’re looking for hidden gems in Playa del Carmen, this is it!
The Airbnb itself was amazing. Huge shoutout to our host, Jireh, who was super responsive and helpful throughout our stay. The apartment was beautiful, and if you’re searching for the best Airbnb in Playa del Carmen, check out his listing HERE.
Is Playa del Carmen safe for tourists? Walking around felt relatively safe, but be prepared for non-stop harassment from street vendors trying to sell you anything and everything. We quickly realized that eating out wasn’t practical. First, our toddler was constantly hot and tired, making restaurant visits difficult. Second, meals for the five of us were $100+ per meal—yes, U.S. dollars, not Canadian! So, we stocked up on groceries and kept dining out to a minimum.
While walking the streets, we discovered an amazing local snack called Marquesitas. These are crispy rolled crepes filled with Nutella, cheese, cajeta (Mexican caramel), or other delicious fillings. They are sold by street vendors, and if you ever visit Mexico, you have to try Marquesitas! They are the perfect combination of crunchy and sweet, and we found ourselves going back for more.
The Cancun & Isla Mujeres Experience
After Playa del Carmen, we headed to Cancun but made a stop at Isla Mujeres first. Oh, and yes, we rented a car again—despite my past experiences (insert link here). Spoiler alert: Mexico police corruption is real.
We had an Airbnb booked in Playa Mujeres for one night, so we took an early ferry to the island. Are Isla Mujeres beaches worth visiting? Absolutely! Tickets for our family were about $100 round trip, and we took the Ultramar Ferry from Puerto Juarez, where we left our rental car in their parkade for another $100. There was a cheaper parking option, but it was valet-only, meaning they would take our vehicle a few blocks away. Since we had luggage and valuables in the rented car, we said no way, José and paid for the safer option.
One of the best beaches on the island is North Beach (Playa Norte), a public and very popular beach known for its soft white sand and shallow, clear waters. The water is stunning and perfect for relaxing. The water here is also perfect for snorkeling, though unfortunately, we didn’t see many fish.
The beach was packed, but we expected that. The sun there is intense, exactly how I love it.
The Airbnb hosts were amazing—so much so that when we accidentally left my son’s iPad behind, they reached out to let me know they had it safe and sound. Check the listing out HERE.
I even returned solo a few days later to pick it up and enjoyed things to do in Isla Mujeres alone for a few hours. (ZERO mom guilt).
Food-wise, the best tacos in Mexico weren’t from a fancy restaurant but from a tiny street food taco stand down a side street. If you visit, don’t settle for touristy spots—explore local street food in Isla Mujeres, and you’ll find the real gems.
Be prepared to spend a bit for comfort at the beach, though. How much does it cost to rent a beach chair in Isla Mujeres? We paid $50 for an umbrella and chairs, which was necessary with three kids. The beach itself is small, but the island vibe makes up for it. If we ever return to Cancun, we’re staying on Isla Mujeres, no question.
Our All-Inclusive Cancun Stay
Next, we checked into Grand Oasis Palm. Honestly, meh.
It’s a budget-friendly all-inclusive, but for $1,000 for three days, I expected more. Are Cancun all-inclusive resorts worth it? Not always! The rooms were tiny and smelled weird, beds were uncomfortable, and the amenities were lackluster.
One major downside: You had to reserve meals at Cancun resorts at the sit-down restaurants at 7:30 AM daily, or you’d be stuck at the buffet. As you might guess, none of us woke up early enough, so buffet meals it was. Pro tip: Go the moment the buffet opens to get fresh food and avoid long lines.
The Police Incident & Airport Nightmare
One night, we took our rental car to Parque Las Palapas, a lively area with food vendors, handmade goods, and a playground. The kids had fun, but on our way back to the hotel zone, the police stopped us—just us. Everyone else drove through just fine.
The officer asked for our driver’s license and then claimed he stopped us because our kids weren’t wearing seatbelts. Lies. I spoke up in Spanish, and he immediately silenced me with a finger to his lips. Then, he gave us two options:
- Pay $1,000 at a Mexican police station the next day.
- Pay him $500 cash now and drive away.
We told him we didn’t have that much money, so he let us go get it from the hotel and return. Yeah…we just never went back and said goodbye to our driver’s license.
Departure Day: Another Expensive Lesson
On day seven, we were ready to leave. But heads up—book your Cancun airport shuttle at least 24 hours in advance. No one told us this, so we had to return the rental car early and ended up stuck at Cancun Airport for 12 hours. Getting a taxi back to the hotel and then back to the airport would have been another $200+ and a whole scam-filled ordeal, so we just stayed put.
Is Cancun Airport expensive? YES. Expect to pay $200+ for a simple meal. We thought a few burgers and fries would be reasonable—nope, $180 for airport food in Cancun. We were shocked.
Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend Cancun?
Would I recommend Cancun with kids? Maybe not. Walking the streets as a mom without my boyfriend didn’t feel safe. If I go back, it will either be:
- Without kids, staying in an Airbnb and exploring freely.
- At a high-end all-inclusive, where everything is included, and I don’t have to deal with meal reservations or police scams.
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