The Unofficial Guide to Mexico's Best Beach Resorts Book

List of Maps.
Acknowledgment.
About the Author.
Introduction.
Why We Love Mexico.
About This Guide.
Why Unofficial?
About Unofficial Guides.
How This Guide Was Researched and Written.
Letters, Comments, and Questions from Readers.
How Information is Organized: By Subject and by Geographic Destination.
Where Should I Go?
Cancún.
Isla Mujeres.
Cozumel.
The Caribbean Coast.
Comparison of Mexico's Beach Resort Destinations.
Mazatlán.
Puerto Vallarta.
Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Acapulco.
Puerto Escondido.
Huatulco.
Los Cabos.
A Brief History of Mexico.
Migration and Early Civilizations.
Conquest and Colonization.
Men of the Cloth.
Independence and the Porfiriato.
The Turn of the 19th Century and the Mexican Revolution.
Modern Mexico.
Part One: Planning Your Visit to Mexico.
Air Travel.
Mexico City International Airport.
Airfare Consolidators.
Things to Know before You Go.
Travel Insurance.
Luggage.
Valuables.
Medications.
Personal Electronics.
Internet and E-Mail.
Car Rental.
Money.
The Weather.
What to Bring.
Clothing.
When to Go.
Gathering Information.
Special Considerations for Traveling to Mexico.
Passports, Visas, and Customs.
What You May and May Not Bring into Mexico.
Dollars and Traveler's Checks.
Embassies and Consulates.
Traveling with Children.
Disabled Access in Mexico.
Health.
A Calendar of Festivals.
Pollution Problems.
Self Help.
National Holidays.
Part Two: Hotels and Restaurants.
Where to Sleep and Eat.
Hotels in Mexico.
What to Expect.
Getting a Good Deal on aRoom.
International and National Hotel Chains.
Independent Hotels.
All-Inclusive Properties.
Timeshares.
Beds by the Beach.
Great Places to Stay.
Mexico Hotels Rated and Ranked.
Restaurants in Mexico.
Traditional Ingredients.
Liquid Gold and Other Delightful Drinks.
Seafood Primer.
Guide to the Mexican Menu.
Great Places to Eat.
Mexico Restaurants Rated and Ranked.
Part Three: Arriving and Getting Oriented.
Arriving by Air.
Immigration.
Baggage Claim.
Customs.
Getting to Your Hotel from the Airport.
Arriving by Car.
Mexican Auto Insurance.
Required Documents.
Getting around the Mexican Coast.
Taxis.
Renting a Car.
Other Transportation Options.
Things the Locals Already Know.
Computer Connections.
Crime.
Gays and Lesbians.
Magazines and Newspapers.
Mail.
Money and Credit Cards.
The Mordida.
Public Toilets.
Radio.
Shopping.
Telephones.
Television.
Tipping.
Part Four: Cancún.
Mexico's Resort Boomtown.
Quick Facts about Cancún.
Where to Stay in Cancún.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Cancún.
Restaurant Profile.
Sight-Seeing in Cancún.
Attractions.
The Maya World.
Tours and Side Trips from Cancún.
Boat Tours.
Chichén Itzá.
Ecotourism.
Isla Mujeres and El Garrafón.
Tours.
Xcaret.
Exercise and Recreation in Cancún.
Bullfights.
Golf.
Water Sports.
Shopping in Cancún.
Nightlife in Cancún.
Part Five: Isla Mujeres.
An Island Retreat.
Quick Facts about Isla Mujeres.
Where to Stay in Isla Mujeres.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Isla Mujeres.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Isla Mujeres.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Isla Mujeres.
Boat Tours.
Isla Contoy.
Exercise and Recreation in Isla Mujeres.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.
Shopping in Isla Mujeres.
Nightlife in Isla Mujeres.
Part Six: Cozumel.
Cruising to a Quiet Island.
Quick Facts about Cozumel.
Where to Stay in Cozumel.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Cozumel.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Cozumel.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Cozumel.
Boat Tours.
Horseback Tours.
Jeep Tours.
Exercise and Recreation in Cozumel.
Golf.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.
Sportfishing.
Shopping in Cozumel.
Nightlife in Cozumel.
Part Seven: The Caribbean Coast.
The Riviera Maya and More.
The Last Resort.
Introduction to the Caribbean Coast of Mexico.
The Hotel Scene.
The Restaurant Scene.
Touring the Coast.
Quick Facts about the Caribbean Coast.
Puerto Morelos.
Where to Stay in Puerto Morelos.
Where to Eat in Puerto Morelos.
Punta Maroma.
Tres Ríos.
Rancho Loma Bonita.
Punta Bete.
Where to Stay in Punta Bete.
Playa Xcalacoco.
Playa del Carmen.
Where to Stay in Playa del Carmen.
Where to Eat in Playa del Carmen.
Sight-Seeing in Playa del Carmen.
Tours and Side Trips from Playa del Carmen.
Exercise and Recreation in Playa del Carmen.
Shopping in Playa del Carmen.
Xcaret.
Paamul.
Puerto Aventuras.
Akumal.
Where to Stay in Akumal.
Sight-Seeing in Akumal.
Xel-Há.
Xel-Há to Tulum.
Hidden Worlds Cenotes.
Punta Soliman.
Tankah.
Tulum.
Where to Stay in Tulum.
Where to Eat in Tulum.
Sight-Seeing in Tulum.
Escape to the South.
Tours and Side Trips from Tulum.
Nightlife in the Caribbean Coast.
Part Eight: Mazatlán.
Pacific Playas.
Quick Facts about Mazatlán.
Where to Stay in Mazatlán.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Mazatlán.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Mazatlán.
Attractions.
Mazatlán's Carnaval.
Tours and Side Trips from Mazatlán.
Coastal Sinaloa.
Concordia and Copala.
Estuaries and Rosario.
El Quelite.
Exercise and Recreation in Mazatlán.
Golf.
Sportfishing.
Surfing.
Tennis.
Water Sports.
Shopping in Mazatlán.
Nightlife in Mazatlán.
Part Nine: Puerto Vallarta.
Wide Beaches and High Culture.
Quick Facts about Puerto Vallarta.
Where to Stay in Puerto Vallarta.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Puerto Vallarta.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Puerto Vallarta.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Puerto Vallarta.
San Sebastián del Oeste.
Exercise and Recreation in Puerto Vallarta.
Biking.
Golf.
Horseback Riding.
Parasailing.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.
Sportfishing.
Shopping in Puerto Vallarta.
Nightlife in Puerto Vallarta.
Part Ten:Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
The Twin Paradises.
Quick Facts about Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Where to Stay in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Exercise and Recreation in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Biking.
Golf.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.
Sportfishing.
Surfing.
Tennis.
Ultralight Flights.
Shopping in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Nightlife in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo.
Part Eleven: Acapulco.
Pacific Playground.
Quick Facts about Acapulco.
Where to Stay in Acapulco.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Acapulco.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Acapulco.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Acapulco.
Boat Tours.
Tours.
Exercise and Recreation in Acapulco.
Golf.
Shotover Jet.
Sportfishing.
Shopping in Acapulco.
Nightlife in Acapulco.
Part Twelve: Puerto Escondido.
A Beachin' Hideaway.
Quick Facts about Puerto Escondido.
Where to Stay in Puerto Escondido.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Puerto Escondido.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Puerto Escondido.
Tours and Side Trips from Puerto Escondido.
Bahías de Huatulco Tour.
Birding and Boat Tours.
Cultural Walking Tours.
Exercise and Recreation in Puerto Escondido.
Boogie Boarding.
Horseback Riding.
Kayaking and Rafting.
Scuba Diving.
Sportfishing.
Shopping in Puerto Escondido.
Nightlife in Puerto Escondido.
Part Thirteen: Huatulco.
The Bays of Oaxaca.
Quick Facts about Huatulco.
Where to Stay in Huatulco.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Huatulco.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Huatulco.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Huatulco.
ATV Tours.
Boat Tours.
Coffee Plantation Tours.
Tours outside Huatulco.
Exercise and Recreation in Huatulco.
Golf.
Horseback Riding.
Kayaking and Rafting.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.
Sportfishing.
Shopping in Huatulco.
Nightlife in Huatulco.
Part Fourteen: Los Cabos.
From Serene Retreats to Party Central.
Quick Facts about Los Cabos.
Where to Stay in Los Cabos.
Hotel Profiles.
Where to Eat in Los Cabos.
Restaurant Profiles.
Sight-Seeing in Los Cabos.
Attractions.
Tours and Side Trips from Los Cabos.
ATV Tours.
Boat Tours.
Cultural Tours.
East Cape.
La Paz.
Rock Climbing and Hiking.
Todos Santos.
Exercise and Recreation in Los Cabos.
Golf.
Gyms.
Horseback Riding.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling.
Sportfishing.
Surfing.
Water Sports.
Shopping in Los Cabos.
Nightlife in Los Cabos.
Appendix: Elementary Spanish.
General Conversation.
Numbers.
Food and Dining.
Beach and Outdoors.
Shopping.
Place Names.
Other Common Words.
Hotel Index.
Restaurant Index.
Attraction Index.
Nightclub Index.
Subject Index.
Reader Survey.