Just back from a wonderful holiday in Mexico, staying at the Sandos Playacar in Playa Del Carmen. I've put a review of that in the hotels section so won't repeat here - suffice to say its an amazing place.

long ten hour flight out with First Choice (and my seat back entertainment system didnt work, nor did the rude flight attendant believe we'd booked a vegetarian meal - until we showed him our confirmation). Cancun airport is ok though quite a lot of bureaucracy to get though before you get into the country. Starting with the tourist entry form you have to fill in on the plane, then when you're off the plane you have to meet a guy to get a form to fill in, to say if you're suffering from any illnesses because of swine flu, then downstairs to have your passport checked (and meet a guy who checks your tourist form), then collect luggage and then go though a security check where your bags and xrayed again, and you have to be spoken to by another official who asks if you have anything you shouldnt have. You then have to press a button which lights up a green sign - assuming you've agreed to the entry conditions. One more chap to get back who might search your bag then you're in the country!

lots of unofficial porters wanting to help you with your bags, who will expect tips - so avoid if you can. Then out to meet the rep. mini bus transfer to resort - though a 45 minute wait for the last couple to make it through the rigmarole of entering the country.

It took about 50 minutes to get down to Playacar once we had dropped pepole at the various hotels en route.

Playa Del Carmen is a really nice resort - lots of bars, restaurants and shops on the famous 5th Avenue. We ate at the hotel every night bar one when we ate in Playa - Carboncitos on 4th street which was lovely and came to about £7.50 per person for three courses with a drink. Great shopping there too - got some great gifts for home.

the weather for low season was on the whole great too. It being low season meant that wall to wall sunshine was not guaranteed and indeed we did have some very sharp showers. But no prolonged periods of rain so couldnt grumble.

did a couple of trips. Swimming with dolpins was great. $159 but $30 cash back which you could use towards another trip, which we did to go to the ruins of the Mayan city of Coba. Great day out, also included a traditional lunch - a visit to Coba town itself to show how Mayans live in the present day. Some would think this voyeuristic which it is a little. After that it was a trip to one of the may cenotes in the area. These are open sink holes with fresh water that you can bathe in. some of them involve cave systems though the one we went to was just in the jungle. It is truly amazing. You walk through the jungle and then fine this pool. along with a stand for life jackets (obligatory to wear one) and then you go into the the water. They are cooler than the pool / sea so its very refreshing. There was also a small area selling local obsidian products which again makes great gift. I bought an obsidian bracelet for 150 pesos (about £7.50)

it was a bit far to go to Chicen Itza from Playacar but that is somewhere I would like to visit as it is probably the best preserved Mayan areas.

Many eco and wildlife parks in the area too - Xcaret, Xel-Ha - plenty of opportunities for trips if the weather isnt great.

much better to spend pesos locally. The dollar is accepted most everywhere apart from the smallest of our of town shops though you'll be paying more for your purchases.

All in all a fantastic holiday and one I would recommend to everyone. We got an absolute deal through the firstchoice website for a weeks AI for less than £600 - which was about £40 more expensive than a reasonable AI in Lanzarote would have been. Yes its a long way to go for a week - but so worth it. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!