How expensive is Mexico?

[Feduplooking]

Slightly fed up of looking for places to go on holiday! I really wanted to go to the Caribbean, that is until I saw the price of some restaurants, which is not helped by our currency... some wanted £25 for a crappy margharita pizza

Then I saw some good flights to Cancun. Thought could go down to Tulum and stay, then fly up to Mexico City for some culture. Just saw the price of restaurants and taxis etc in Tulum. £16 for one cocktail! I would only expect to pay that much at a smart bar in Central London.

Is there anywhere near Cancun that is cheaper? We don't like big hotels or AI type places

We did an all inclusive near tulum and it was great value. It doesn’t sound like that’s what you’re looking for and we did find taxis in particular around the area super expensive. Attractions and food were less eye watering but still a bit pricier than expected. Tulum as a reputation for not being all the safe at the moment which may or may not bother you.

Try the west coast. Puerto Vallarta / Bucerias or further north have it all but are much cheaper. I was there a month ago. If you avoid the obvious tourist traps then costs can be much lower. As for culture, you could take a trip over the Sierra Madre, through the "Magic Towns" to Guadalajara, then swing back through the Tequila and the Guachimontones circular pyramids. Unfortunately you are now too late for the Banderas Bay humpbacks until the end of this year. I go to this area every year in January, and I love it. The perfect blend of tourism and local character without the endless east coast mega-tourism.

I think anywhere closely linked to the US dollar is going to be expensive.

Turkey is meant to be good value and their economy needs support after the earthquakes.