Tell me your tips for Mexico in mid June from humidity levels, beasties and best repellant to excursion must see places. We are Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen

[NippyNinjaCrab]

This is our first trip to Mexico and we do like relaxing at the pool and beach but we are not huge sunbathers. As long as ive got my brolly and a book i like to chill that way. We do want to see a bit of the area, safety permitting. Happy to walk places, we love any type of food and activities just not anything major like rock climbing 😂 if you can give us some places to go.

I'm a bug attracting person and do get bitten in the UK especially horse flies! What repellant is recommended that is possibly deet free?

I had read a couple of reviews that they took humidity pouches for their wardrobes, is that really necessary? Our hotel is part of a 4 complex and we are in the jungle part at bits (i know, I'm stupid!)

Anyone i know who's been, have been either on a sunbed toasting for 2 weeks or at Coco Bongos 😆 so they are no help!

I haven't been that time of year, because much as I love the heat .... ouch! 31 /32 degrees, can be hotter and with the humidity can be very uncomfortable . Very humid. If you are that attractive to things that bite DEET is a must - but you MUST use biodegradeable sunscreens. Make sure you have high factor or sunblock - you will need it. Rain ponchos - this is the start of the hurricane season, and although they seldom land in this area, expect some rain, and if you are unlucky, torrential rain albeit short lived. More often short sharp showers, usually early evening or late afternoon. But if there happens to be a storm - go out in it. They are often spectacular, fun, and you'll dry off within minutes (as much as you will ever be dry anyway) after it finishes.

I haven't ever used humidity pouches. Never had a need for them.

Check all your vaccinations are up to date. Malaria isn't common but Zika and Dengue are present and there have been cases of Chikungunya. Make sure you recognise the symptoms, just in case you are unlucky.

It's very safe in the main - make sure you have a cross body bag though, and keep valuables to a minimum. Never carry all your cards at once - make sure you have some in the hotel safe.

Most of the places are not easily walkable - it's a big area - but there are loads of tours for sale, so shop around. If you want to drive, I would personally hire a car and driver rather than self-drive. Easier all round and usually affordable if you haggle a bit.

Do go to Xcaret and stay for the day/evening show. Obviously there's archaelogy to die for BUT there are still a few sites (or there were when I was last there) where they allow tourists to climb them - do not do this! You are helping to damage ancient history to a point where it cannot be repaired or retained, and even if others do it, that doesn't excuse knowing the damage it does and doing it anyway.

Ask if there is anything I have missed off that you want to know about. Oh and before I forget - either large hand fans or rechargeable ones (usually have both on hand). A cooling breeze can be essential at times. And I'd advise, especially if going out, adopt Mexican time - start early, afternoon siesta in the shade, then party on! The heat can be draining and dangerous at times.

Some of that sounds scary, but it's not - just be sensible and you will have a great time.

watching with interest as we are going in July

it’s perfectly fine to walk about there. We stayed in Playacar. Stunning beaches there perfect for relaxing.
definitely go to Xcaret it’s incredible. Didn’t find bugs an issue at all. The rain showers are awesome if you get them. 5 minutes and it’s over. We would cover our stuff and go into the sea or duck into the beach bar.
5th Avenue is worth a few hours out. Lots of shop keepers will ask you in but a friendly no thanks dies the trick or don’t make eye contact

Just thought of an add on for Brits (and yes I am one!) - avoid cats and dogs please, they look cute but don't act like it's a petting zoo! A nation of animal lovers tends to forget rabies (common in Mexico) - any animal bites, get medical advice asap. Again, it isn't something to worry about, it doesn't happen a lot, and it never happens to sensible people!

Oh wow thank you so much for all this info @PhilippaGeorgiou @kissmyfatass I hadn't thought of a rain poncho, I will definitely have my large hand fan wafting 😂. I wish I'd thought about vaccinations I'm so silly, I'm due to go into my usual pharmacy tomorrow and they have a holiday thing that you can make an appointment with the pharmacist to ask so I'll do that tomorrow.

As much as I love animals I'm not one for touching any while on holiday, more for fleas I didn't think of rabies ffs thank god you are here and replied. I'm really excited now after reading your posts.

We are usually up early and do like a wee granny nap/siesta so that's a must. There are supposed to be monkeys and lizards frequent the paths on the resort and my DH is not looking forward to that haha, he also is scared of birds and apparently they're frequent around you too 😆

I do have all F50 because we are both fair, me especially.

The rain sounds absolutely fantastic and I will definitely embrace that!
Please, if you can think of anything else however small post it all xx

@Flumpaphone you've not long to go until your holiday, we are 50 days. We so need this break, cannot wait! I'll be tap dancing up the stairs to the plane haha. I will report back to you our experience xx

I’ve never had jabs for Mexico and I’ve been 3 times. The Iguanas are massive and there are capybaras and Agoutis around the resorts which are adorable. The birds don’t get close at all.

The hotel next to us had a monkey bridge but we looked for ages and didn’t see any.

I’d go back in a heartbeat but cancun airport was a bloody nightmare last time so it’s off limits until I get over that. (TUIs fault really)

I went to Tulum a few years ago in June. I didn’t mean to go then (long story!)
Sunbathing was fine, as the breeze from the sea was cooling. The sargassum was really bad so we couldn’t actually go in the sea though. However, when we crossed the tiny road to the jungle side the humidity was baaad (and the bloody insects).
Also it was 50+ degrees with v limited shade (obviously) when we went to Chichen Itza, so if you do do tours defo take a hand-held fan. It was a godsend! But we had a great time. Lovely place with some really interesting sights.

@kissmyfatass we are Tui flips sake, I'm not a huge fan of them with various things when I've been away before. Is the airport a melee?

Oh I was going to ask about the Mexico tax, says 3 taxes, one is paid and one has to be paid online and the other at the hotel. Is this right? X

@SilvieBear aw we are the jungle part, it's really putting me off tbh, i hate flying beasties if they are round about you.

If anyone knows anything about the hotel Bahia Principe Sian Kh'an I'd appreciate any reviews and tips.

@NippyNinjaCrab we did a boat trip excursion to Si’an Ka’an. It was excellent. Super interesting, saw some amazing wildlife, beautiful beaches with no-one in them etc… and stopped at cenote too for swimming, really enjoyed it.

I don’t recall flying insects, just biting buggers! So defo get DEET

I used incognito insect repellent in riviera maya and found it really good. I've never had a problem with cancun airport.

We paid a resort tax at the hotel and then a tourism tax online before we left. A lot of people say it's unnecessary to pay that one as no one checks it's been paid. I don't know if that has changed as we were there just after it was introduced.

Xcaret is great, xel ha is similar and also good. Our favourite day out was getting the ferry from cancun across to isla mujeres and zipping round the island on a golf buggy. If sargassum is an issue at your hotel the beaches on isla have very little sargassum so is also good for a beach day. We didn't do an organised tour, just took a taxi to the port and took the drivers number to arrange for him to pick us up. Booked the ferry online.

We always booked our taxis through the hotel rather than picking one up in the street.

As PP said biodegradable sunscreen is a must at xcaret and xel ha. It's fresh water which feeds into their tap water system so they insist on this and no bug spray there.

Enjoy, I love it there!

I am a bug magnet too. We stayed in Costa Mujeres in August and there were no bugs, a light breeze and not too humid and limited sargassum but there is nothing walkable to visit. We did day trips and it was an hour extra onto trips so a bit of a pain but beautiful.

Tulum was way more humid and there were bugs but my jungle formula kids repellent (was the only one I could find in the Uk which seemed to meet their strict requirements about what you can wear when snorkeling and in cenotes. Also took ultrasun) worked in the day and I wasn't there in the evening when I imagine it would be feasting time.

We did Xenses Park which was very entertaining but I would've like to do Xcaret too.

@SilvieBear biting buggers haha, with big gnashers! X

@WhyDoesItAlways I've looked at incognito thank you, i better check my sunscreen just now. It's all sounding amazing 👏

@WonderingWanda I've had horseflies chase me about haha, one year i was covered with bites at home and midge bites too i refused to go out the house at tea time, I was an all inclusive buffet that year! I have used xpel wipes here and had no bites, I'd prefer wipes, roll on or cream rather than spray because it stinks especially the jungle formula yuck.

I've noted all the places you have said thank you, 😊

@kissmyfatass I’ve never had jabs for Mexico

That's what everyone says, which is why some end up with interesting conditions! Hep A, tetanus and typhoid are recommended - Hep A and tetanus are actually recommended for the UK!

Re: sunscreen - the chemicals don't just get into tap water - also sea, river and other water, and affect wildlife.

Oh and add visiting/ swimming in a cenote to your list of things to do. Which reminds me - micro towels, those ones that scrunch into a handbag and open up to bath towel size!

Ah good shout for the micro towels I'll put them on the list. It's a long list now with its own sections haha. I'd rather be covered with jabs tbh just in case.

Ps i will need to get reef friendly sun cream too then, any recommendations? Sun Bum looks okay and not too thick and greasy.

@NippyNinjaCrab the kids jungle formula is a lotion and deet free so doesn't smell horrendous like the rest of them. It worked better than sprays I've used in the past.

We did Mexico in sept

humidity was ridiculous, the rain storms were lovely!

chichen itza was a fab day out and very interestsing

xel ha waterpark. Also a fab day out but £££

we did also do cocobongos and really enjoyed it, even if mostly for the air con

I probably wouldn’t go back as I ended up with food poisoning from the hotel bar

Ah fab i will stock up on the kids stuff, I hate the sprays.

@burntoutnurse ffs at the food poisoning! I will look up that recommendation for a visit. I said the same about Egypt re food poisoning. We went over Christmas and it was fab, i did have a slight dodgy belly and the food wasn't great so we went to a supposedly fabulous hotel and I was ill for 10 days and we were there 2 weeks.

I have an Italian great grandmother I take after - I am blessed with a zero requirement for sunscreen, just common sense does the job. But I am with you on the jabs. I have travelled the world for decades, and I have just taken the view that I'd rather be safe than sorry. It wouldn't have helped her at all, but my best friend and I were in Nepal and India, and she is also a bug magnet so lathers herself in jungle strength DEET. Felt a bit ill on the plane back, landed, got home, went straight to hospital and was there for two weeks while they tested her for everything on earth. Chikungunya! It took her months to recover, and it was just bad luck.

But on the food poisoning, although it does happen, there are far fewer cases than people think. It's often just the fact that our stomachs are not used to the same water borne things that locals are. Again, I am blessed with an iron stomach, but avoid ANY ice cubes no matter how tempting, and watch out for salads which are often washed in local water - they are the two biggest causes of stomach upsets. If in doubt, refresh your salad with bottled or hotel drinking water (the type for the table) because that water is filtered. Ice cubes in the hotel ought to be filtered or bottled water, but often isn't. Eating in local places, try to stick to anything that has been boiled/cooked to a high temperature if you are prone to upsets.

Volumous lightweight scarf / shawl - up does any outfit and good manners in church if you fancy going in one.

I assume a small first aid kit is on your list, but make sure you include immodium.

Thank you, I've got the list of meds to get and the immodium is on it definitely. I will pack a lightweight broad scarf too. I'm always wary of certain foods when I'm away anyway, I want to have the best holiday without any illness for a change. The last holiday we got covid, yuck

Take vitamin b12 for at least a couple of weeks before going as it works as a good mosquito repellent

The Mayan temples are amazing. Well worth the day's outing. They take you for lunch too.

Chichen Itza, Tulum - the only Maya temple on the coast and there's steps down to the beach - and

Chichen Itza. Has only been excavated 5% and you can climb the pyramid. Sent teenage son up with camera and the photos were phenomenal - jungle all around with another pyramid sticking up out above the canopy.
They have rickshaws that you can hop on to take you around.

I love Mexico. Fascinating culture, lovely people and food and drinks are fab.

Oh! And they have a Walmart's in Playa del Carmen that sells souvenirs too. Well, I only bought the notebooks with the photos of Mexican life.
Any other ones I would buy from the women on the market of course.

And you can get the ferry to Cozumel - short hop - where my son went scuba diving (he has his PADI) and I hung out in a beach club with a small open-air museum and for lunch.

Chichen Itza. Has only been excavated 5% and you can climb the pyramid.

You must have been before 2006. It has been banned for climbing since then, and quite rightly. Thosands of people were climbing it per day, and the damage was horrendous. It's also very disrespectful - there are still many Mayan people who regard it as a holy place. You will be arrested now if you climb it - if you are lucky....

That does remind me though - a few of the Mayan villages do tours too, demonstrating ways of life and crafts that are thousands of years old. If you get a chance to visit one, do - they are fascinating, and the money helps to support their way of life.

Ah sorry - the video doesn't load - have a google for the tourist who climbed the pyramid and got whacked repeatedly with a stick. Locals don't like rudeness.