Mexico vs. Caribbean - Which should YOU choose?
(390 Reviews)
98% Recommended
Pam MacIntyre
Maple Grove, MN
Australia & New Zealand Specialist
New Zealand
In all my years as a Travel Professional, with curiosity I've asked several the question "What are your must see countries?" I was hard pressed to find one that did not list New Zealand! I mean who wouldn't wa...
New Zealand
In all my years as a Travel Professional, with curiosity I've asked several the question "What are your must see countries?" I was hard pressed to find one that did not list New Zealand! I mean who wouldn't want to experience this majestic part of the world?
Recently I was able to explore several areas of this amazing country, being fortunate in visiting both the North & South Island. What I love is New Zealand can be mellow or action-packed, yet it will still always be epic!
From the endless national parks, dynamic Maori culture, to experiencing the sounds aboard a yacht while gazing upon dolphins. And let’s not forget about laying witness to the majestic beauty of a sperm whale off the coast of Kaikoura.
Wait, did you say you enjoy wine? They have some of THE best in the world....how do I know? Because how could I go all the way to New Zealand and not visit a winery or two. New Zealand offers the deliciousness of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnays, Pinot Noir, Merlot and many more!
I really could go on and on, but no need if you're reading this you already KNOW you want to explore this part of the world. I would love to help you create the best version of New Zealand for you!
Australia
Let me start by saying, I have been wanting to go to Australia since I was a child. Why you ask? Well to pet a kangaroo of course! And I did! Not only did I pet kangaroos, but I fed 4 simultaneously! It was a childhood dream come true, and I cannot wait to go back and repeat the experience.
I was in Sydney during the spectacular International lights and music festival, Vivid Sydney. It was their 10th year, and all I've got to say is WOW! Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought Australia would be so perfect to visit during their winter season. Although being from Minnesota it was more like our fall temperatures. So again, perfect! It was extra special to experience VIVID Sydney and see the iconic Sydney Opera House light up. If you travel during this time of year, it truly is a must see.
The Blue Mountains region of Australia was truly lovely to walk amongst. Then headed to Hunter Valley (to locals known as "The Hunter") where wine in this region was flowing plentifully and was quite delicious!
After making a visit to Australia I now understand why many choose to go there for 2 - 4 weeks on a vacation. It's truly hard to grasp the sheer size of Australia until you have been there yourself. To give you an idea, think about the USA. Sydney would be in Florida; Cairns (Great Barrier Reef) would be in Maine; Uluru (Ayers Rock) would be in Kansas; Melbourne would be New Orleans; and Perth would be Los Angeles.
If you're looking to visit the world's largest Great Barrier Reef, immerse yourself in Aboriginal communities, swim with whale sharks or gaze upon the Uluru (Ayers Rock) the possibilities really are endless in Australia!
Together we'll create your dream trip to Australia that you'll remember for the rest of your days!
Can Be Reached At
1-763-231-8893
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!