Vacation Rentals

Vacation Rentals are an accommodation modality that has become very popular in Cancun and the Riviera Maya in recent years The economic development in Cancun and the Riviera Maya has allowed the proliferation of new condos and houses along with the hotel and commercial growth of the region. Thus, the owners of real estate (houses and apartments) in this popular tourist location have seen a business opportunity in promoting their properties as accommodation of national and international tourists. Likewise, tourists have also benefited from having this option, as it has some advantages over the conventional accommodation modality in hotels. We will talk about these benefits later. The vacation rentals, both apartments and houses, in Cancun have increased considerably in the last years. The creation of internet platforms focused on this activity has played a big role on this surge. So, as a customer it is very important to take a look to each of these platforms to make sure that you are getting the best deal and the best place according to what you like the most.

What are the main factors you have to consider to find a vacation rental that meets your expectations in Cancun and Riviera Maya?

Location

The most relevant factor in the process of selecting a vacation rental in Cancun and Riviera Maya is location. This is crucial when you want to find the perfect balance between a peaceful and relaxing place, but also close to the main touristic areas. In Cancun, the areas where you can find vacation rentals, whether they are apartments or houses, are very diverse. In the hotel zone, you will find a large number of residential properties, all through its 15 miles (24 kilometers). You can also find vacation rentals in different areas within the city. If you have decided to look for a vacation rental in Cancun’s hotel zone, one of the main advantages is that you will be in the center of all the tourist activity. Going to the beaches will be easy and fast. It is important to consider that there are some areas within the hotel zone that are located closer to Nichupté Lagoon rather than to the sea. The access to these areas is a bit more complicated since they could be further from the main avenue, Kukulkan boulevard. One area that is becoming popular for its excellent location, just between the hotel zone and the city, and because of the development of luxury real estate is Puerto Cancún. The apartments and houses located in this neighborhood are new and quite attractive.

In Riviera Maya (Puerto Morelos, Playa del Carmen, Tulum), vacation rentals are also popular and there is a wide diversity of areas when you can find houses and apartments. It is very important to remember that unlike Cancun, the other places resemble towns more than cities. So, the tourist attractions are widely dispersed. You could be as isolated as you want. In the case of Playa del Carmen, you will find many options for vacation rentals on 5th Avenue. Most of them will be apartments, lofts or studios. This location is perfect for those who want to enjoy the local atmosphere and all the tourist fuzz.

Transportation

This factor is strongly linked to the location of the vacation rental. Depending on the location, it will be easier or more difficult to get on a bus or a taxi. For Cancun, if the vacation rental is located in the hotel zone, public transportation is always available (24/7). For those apartments, condos or houses that are right on Kukulkán Boulevard, it’s just a matter of walking to the closest bus stop to be able to go to another place in the hotel zone or in the city (it’s also quite cheap). In case the access to the property is located deep in any of the streets that connect to the boulevard, it will be more difficult to find transportation available and, most likely, the better option will be to consider the use of a taxi or renting a car. If the selected vacation rental is in the city, just keep in mind that public transportation (bus) usually works from 5:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Unlike the hotel zone, this is not 24 hours. In all cases, if you are considering renting a car, it is important to make sure that the apartment or house where you’ll be staying has a proper place to park the car.

Food supply

Vacation rentals will hardly have any on demand meal service available as in other types of accommodation. So, when you choose to rent an apartment or rent a house in Cancun and Riviera Maya there are two options to fulfill this need:

• Buying groceries to cook meals at the vacation rental. If this option is chosen, it is important to make sure that the house or apartment to rent has a fully equipped kitchen.
  It will also be important to check the vacation rental proximity to stores in order to buy food. Inside the City of Cancun there are several stores in different areas, so at least one should be close. In the rest of Riviera Maya, grocery and retailer stores are usually smaller, but most of them have enough supplies to cook any dish.
  
• Restaurants and bars. It is important to make sure that the area in which you are renting an apartment or a house is close to restaurants and bars. This will help avoiding spending in taxi or other types of transportation, as well as wasting time moving from your vacation rental to restaurants.