Mexico vs. Caribbean - Which should YOU choose?
(410 Reviews)
99% Recommended
Pam MacIntyre
Maple Grove, MN
Australia & New Zealand Specialist
New Zealand
In all my years as a Travel Professional, I’ve asked countless people, “What’s on your must-see list?” And without fail, New Zealand is always at the top! Honestly, who wouldn’t want to experience this majestic ...
New Zealand
In all my years as a Travel Professional, I’ve asked countless people, “What’s on your must-see list?” And without fail, New Zealand is always at the top! Honestly, who wouldn’t want to experience this majestic part of the world?
I was fortunate enough to visit both the North and South Islands, and what I love about New Zealand is that it offers the perfect blend of laid-back charm and action-packed adventure, all while being nothing short of epic.
The country is home to endless national parks, a rich Maori culture, and unforgettable experiences like sailing through the sounds while dolphins playfully follow your yacht. And let’s not forget the awe-inspiring moment of witnessing a sperm whale off the coast of Kaikoura—talk about jaw-dropping beauty!
Oh, and did I mention wine? If you’re a fan of great wine (and who isn’t?), New Zealand is a must-visit for its world-class Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, and more. How do I know? Because I couldn’t resist visiting a winery or two during my travels!
Honestly, I could go on and on about the magic of New Zealand, but if you’re reading this, you already know you want to explore this incredible part of the world. Let’s work together to create your perfect New Zealand adventure!
Australia
Let me start by saying, I’ve wanted to visit Australia since I was a child. Why, you ask? Well, to pet a kangaroo, of course! And yes, I did! Not only did I pet a kangaroo, but I actually fed FOUR at the same time. Childhood dream come true, right? And I can’t wait to go back for round two.
While I was in Sydney, I had the chance to experience the spectacular Vivid Sydney Festival, celebrating its 10th year. It was honestly WOW! Never in my wildest dreams did I think Australia would be so perfect to visit during their winter season. But coming from Minnesota, their “winter” felt more like our fall—absolutely ideal! Seeing the Sydney Opera House light up during the festival was something I’ll never forget.
And then there’s the Blue Mountains region—so lovely to explore on foot. From there, we ventured to Hunter Valley (known to the locals as "The Hunter"), where wine flowed freely, and every glass was more delicious than the last.
Australia’s size is truly hard to grasp until you’ve experienced it firsthand. To put it in perspective: Sydney would be in Florida, Cairns (home of the Great Barrier Reef) would be in Maine, Uluru (Ayers Rock) would be in Kansas, Melbourne would be in New Orleans, and Perth would be in Los Angeles.
Whether you're dreaming of visiting the world’s largest Great Barrier Reef, immersing yourself in Aboriginal culture, swimming with whale sharks, or gazing upon the majestic Uluru, Australia has endless possibilities waiting for you.
Let’s make your dream trip to Australia a reality—one that you’ll remember for the rest of your life!
Comparing the Caribbean and Mexico is difficult, but I'll touch on a few points that may help you decide which area to focus on for your next getaway.
Resorts:
Throughout the Caribbean & Mexico, you'll find a wide variety of resorts ranging from lavish & modern to intimate & low-key. I personally enjoy both types of accommodations, we usually base our choices on where we're traveling.
In the Caribbean while some islands offer modern resorts you'll also find the charming more boutique style properties that definitely give you a Caribbean feel. Those properties are what I like to call "Caribbean Rustic." When we look at options if this intrigues you I can always send you a comparison to see the differences between styles. It’s all about what catches your eye.
Mexico offers intimate accommodation choices, they tend to have a wider variety of various levels of modern & larger resorts. This largely depends on which area of Mexico we are focusing on.
Food:
This is an important topic for travelers … "How is the food there?" In Mexico the food tends to be more Americanized at the All-Inclusive resorts. If you're looking at your first All-Inclusive experience this might be where you want to start out. Then when you compare it to the Dominican Republic, while you'll have Americanized choices you'll also run across some more ethnic options. The Dominican cuisine choices derive from their European and African roots.
For a true foodie though, some of the main islands for top-notch cuisine would be Nevis, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands, Barbados, Turks & Caicos & St. Barts. In reality though, so many of the islands have fantastic & wide variety of choices.
Beaches:
From white, pink, beige, dark grey to black sand beaches. You have shell adorned and unusually soft sand. There are narrow coves to long sweeping wide beaches. If you're looking to dip your toes into powdery soft sands or searching for seashell treasures between Mexico & the Caribbean there are a wide variety of beach types. Together we can figure out the location best for you based on your preference.
Pricing:
Mexico, Dominican Republic and Jamaica tend to be the most cost-friendly choices. Certain areas of Mexico will price more than others such as the Caribbean side of Mexico or Los Cabos. Looking at the rest of the Caribbean Islands, depending on which is chosen the cost goes up from there with some islands being a substantial amount more. Together we can work to find the best fit within a budget you’re comfortable with.
Tours:
No matter what part of Mexico or the Caribbean you'll generally find a plethora of tour options to consider. If you have particular interests such as whale watching, Mayan Ruins, swimming with pigs, dolphins, sharks or stingrays, luminous lagoon (1 of 3 in the world, located in Jamaica), flyboarding, underground caves, mud bath, river tubing, etc. Then we can be sure to focus on which destination is best to give you the experiences that are important to you during your vacation.
Culture & Tradition:Experiencing the local foods, checking out historic sites, shopping local crafts & artwork taking in some of the music scenes and drinking amongst the locals can help you capture some of that local culture. In Mexico you'll have the Hacienda feel with the Aztec & Mayan backgrounds. The Caribbean Islands will have various historic backgrounds that make up their culture. From Dutch, Spanish, French, British Colonial & English.
Some of the more popular traditions you may want to check out:
Mexico:
- Day of the Dead - Oct. 31st - Nov. 2nd
- Cinco De Mayo - May 5th
- Bull Fighting - Mexico City
The Caribbean:
- Pirates Week Festival in Cayman Islands
- Carnival in the Dominican Republic
- Junkanoo Festival - Bahamas Dec. 26th & New Year's Day
- The December Festivals - St. Lucia
During the holidays throughout the Caribbean & Mexico, you'll find various celebrations giving you lots of options to experience their local culture.
If music feeds your soul, here are some top Caribbean Music Festivals:
- Reggae SumFest - Montego Bay, Jamaica in July
- St. Kitts Music Festival - St. Kitts in June
- St Lucia Jazz And Art Festival - Saint Lucia in May
- Vujaday Music Festival - Barbados - TBD in 2021
- SXM Festival - St. Martin in March
- Soul Music Beach Festival - Aruba in May
- Love Festival Aruba - Eagle Beach, Aruba in November
- Dominican Holidaze - Dominican Republic in December
**All Festival Months Subject to Change**
There are many aspects that create a memorable vacation. Together we'll design the ideal vacation for you!