By Suzanne Barbezat
Mexico Travel Expert, about.com
[post_ads_2]So you're planning your trip to Mexico during the spring and you would rather not spend your vacation surrounded by hordes of drunk college students? Not to worry, there are plenty of options for a Mexican springtime holiday with lots of peace and relaxation and no tequila shots or wet t-shirt contests to speak of. Read on for my tips on how to travel to Mexico during the springtime and avoid the spring break crowds.
If you've come to the wrong page, and you DO want to be in the thick of the action, check out our Mexico spring break planning guide.
1. Avoid peak times.
If
you can at all avoid it, plan your trip so that it doesn't coincide
with the busiest spring break travel period. You should keep in mind
that besides college breaks, Easter is also a very busy time for travel
in Mexico: Mexican students get the two weeks around Easter off, and
Mexican families love to head to the beach during this time. The week
leading up to Easter tends to be a little quieter than the week
following.So if you can schedule your trip around those dates, you'll find fewer crowds. Learn more about Easter and Holy Week in Mexico. If you're unable to schedule your trip for another time, keep reading.[post_ads_2]
2. Visit one of Mexico's colonial cities.[post_ads_2]
Mexico has many lovely colonial cities, including ten that have been listed by the UNESCO as World Heritage cities.
These are destinations where you can enjoy Mexican warmth and
hospitality, as well as see fabulous architecture and
fascinating museums, indulge in some handicraft shopping, and maybe even
visit some archaeological sites. You could stroll the
picturesque cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende, enjoy the delicious foods of Oaxaca, or listen to mariachis play in Guadalajara. Mexico has a lot to offer besides its gorgeous beaches.
2. Choose an off-the-beaten-path beach destination.
You've got a hankering that only the beach will satisfy? Most of Mexico's top beach destinations are
very popular among spring breakers, but Mexico has over 5000 miles of
coastline, and there are plenty of spots for you to hang your hammock
with nary a spring breaker in sight. You could consider an option that
is just as beautiful as the top destinations but uncrowded, such as one
of these secret Mexican beaches.
Or find the areas around the tourist destinations where locals stay -
they usually prefer to avoid the spring break crowds as well.
4. Select your hotel wisely.[post_ads_2]
If,
despite my encouragement to do otherwise, you are still planning to
visit one of the more popular spring break destinations, keep in mind
that there are some hotels that are known as spring break party centers.
You can head to Cancun, Los Cabos or Acapulco
and still find some peace and quiet if you choose a hotel that eschews a
party atmosphere in favor of a more tranquil ambiance. Resorts and
hotels that are a little more upscale will probably fit the bill, and
you really can't go wrong if you choose one of the Mexico Boutique Hotels.
5. Pick activities that spring breakers avoid.
According
to the stereotype, spring breakers will spend their time between pool,
beach and bar, getting to bed late, and sleeping in. Those that don't
fit into that stereotype probably don't need to be avoided as much.
Cultural and natural attractions are less likely to be over-run with
spring breakers than the pools and beaches. For example, you can
discover the Maya world in Cancun. Also,
if you don't mind an early wake up call, try visiting attractions
earlier in the day; you'll be more likely to be able to enjoy them
without the crowds.
