I am a student, who thought he had enough money to travel to india this summer, but with my meager work study earnings it is not looking possible, I would still like to leave the country on a trip though. The only places with airfare cheap enough from where I live are mexico, and the carribean. I was thinking about jamaica, but thought no, because I hated touristy expensive stuff. I then thought about kingston to see the real jamaica, then I came here and saw the kingston thread. it was like an omen, that is out of my mind for sure. so my question is where in the carribean can I go for a couple of months to get a feel for the real islands, live cheaply, and out of tourist areas without getting mugged, stabbed, beaten, or otherwise?
Posts: 25 | Location: U.S. | Registered: 14 October 2005
Although they are not cheap by backpacker standards, I would really suggest the Bahamas. If you get away from Nassau and that shlock, you can find homestays, cheap motel or even hostels on some of the other islands: Andros, Eleuthera, Long, to name a few.
Avoid Jamaica-period. The Saint somewheres are very expensive and overdone. I think if you could find your way to Tobago you would love it-and it is not terribly expensive. People will suggest Mexico, but it is no longer for me-too much US influence.
Posts: 1112 | Location: Hailey, ID. USA | Registered: 18 February 2002
thank's for the information. I would agree with mexico having too much u.s. influence. The last thing I want is some touristy "spring break" kind of place. so I guess mexico and jamaica are out. You say "if you could find your way to tabago" what do you mean by that? is it difficult to get to or was it just the way you worded it?
Posts: 25 | Location: U.S. | Registered: 14 October 2005
Scrapping all of Mexico's a bit harsh. Guadalajara may be your best bet for what you're looking. You can fly to GDL directly or if that's too expensive/you wish to enjoy the scenic ride, then fly to MEX and take the bus from there. It's a 7 hour ride. You could even fly into Puerto Vallarta, see the surf and take the bus from there. It's about 5 hours.
Or you can fly into Cancun and work your way down south to Belize. The bus from Cancun straight to Belize is 7 hours...it's actually 2 buses, 1 to Chetumal and 1 from Chetumal to and through Belize. But given your 'couple of months' time frame, I'd work my way down slowly. And it's definitely cheap to do so. Just know that the 2nd class buses stop frequently to let people on and off. The 1st class buses are the same buses, but don't stop until they get to the destination.
(Incidentally, I was the only gringa (no gringos either) on my bus, but I went 2nd class, just bc I was in no hurry.)
If not Mexico, then you may want to consider the Dominican Republic. I don't know which airport you use. But you can get cheap flights through some of the discount airlines...Jet Blue and Spirit that I know about for sure. In fact, if you sign up with Spirit, you might be able to find a $9 flight every now and then. The sale which ends tonight is only for March flights, though.
Posts: 422 | Location: Charleston, South Carolina | Registered: 08 November 2004
Yes it is. There are lots of great places left in Mexico that haven't even begun to suck from "U.S. influence". Don't know why it's so hard for Salmo to find them. Look at a map, look at the size of the country. Just as Salmo recommends flying into Nassau and leaving, you simply need to take the same approach to Mexico if you fly into a touristy armpit. Bus service in Mexico is excellent.
But this is the carib forum....and yeah....I don't see myself returning to that side of Mexico ever again.
Posts: 4928 | Location: Michoacán | Registered: 27 May 2004
Guys: My read on Mexico is my opinion only, and certainly the country varies greatly from region to region. It remains very genuine in Chiapas and even Oaxaca, to name but two. Nevertheless, US influence there is greater than other places I travel and has accelerated greatly in the past couple of decades. American retirees have taken their toll.
The fact is that MOST Americans--including a stunning number on these boards--go to Cancun, the Yucatan, Tulum and the Cabo are is what makes me say what I do. And for record, I spent lots of time and loved ALL of those places-about 25 years ago.
Signed- The ancient one
Posts: 1112 | Location: Hailey, ID. USA | Registered: 18 February 2002
There are still many un-touched places in Mexico. True, teh beaches have become American and European beach havens, but thats true all over the world. Wherever there is a beach and warm water, the money will follow until every shore is covered by people richer than the average, no matter how remote.
The Bahamas are doubtless headed for this fate, though I'm sure there are less touched places.
The center of mexico is not so inhabited by beach lovers, and some cities are simply wonderful despite not being entirely Mexican.
Mexico city is one of them, Oaxaca another, and there is Guanajuato. They're still plenty Mexican.
I myself like Creel, mexico, on top of the world near a canyon as grand as the Grand Canyon, but that's just me.
Morelia is a city still untouched by many retirees, and I like that city a lot as well.
Posts: 2321 | Location: spain | Registered: 19 November 2004
the DR is a good choice if you wanna just live in the islands cheaply...u could go to cabarete, which is actually one of the funnest places to be in the DR right now, if what ur looking for is fun, sand, beach and music. if u wanna see museums and monuments, come to the capital, santo domingo, and explore, althought it might be a bit more expensive, but still, cheap enough...
Look at a map, look at the size of the country. Just as Salmo recommends flying into Nassau and leaving, you simply need to take the same approach to Mexico if you fly into a touristy armpit. Bus service in Mexico is excellent.
