For us winter-weary travelers, it was a golden moment of color, culture, and the sensual feel of warm air on bare skin. Almost as pleasing was the knowledge that we had accomplished what we had thought was impossible: We had financed a stress-free, sunny winter vacation for five of us (including two grown sons and a family friend) on a relatively low budget.
We spent one glorious week in this town on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, in an exquisite house staffed with a housekeeper-cook. The total cost of five plane tickets, the house rental, and food for most of our meals (with a delicious choice of Mexican and American menus) was less than $3,200.
For the budget-conscious traveler, Mexico is ideal. Unlike the Caribbean, where the euro is trouncing the dollar, the exchange rate is favorable in our neighboring nation. (Late last week, the exchange rate was about 11 pesos to $1.) Even without that, Mexico is traditionally a bargain, with reasonably priced hotels and food. The Yucatan Peninsula, bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, is blessed with sun, surf, and daytime winter temperatures around 80 degrees. It is close, friendly, and economical. Choosing the area was a no-brainer.
Planning the details for our group -- two generations of travelers, including three twentysomething adults, each of whom had specific ideas about how to spend a vacation -- took more work. We targeted Playa del Carmen, about an hour's drive south of Cancun. It's a charming town with a bustling center and lovely, quiet residential neighborhoods. Though its population has boomed in recent years to about 30,000, it retains much of the ambience of the fishing village it once was.
We began planning last September with firm requirements: We wanted a vacation that was low cost; sunny and warm, with options for older and younger adults; and stress free, meaning no cooking or cleaning.
