One of the most talked about spots these days is Mexico. Whether you have been before or have never stepped foot on the sugar sand beach of the Yucatan peninsula, I’m sure you have heard everyone’s differing opinion of our southern neighbor. I’m not here to tell you if you should or should not travel there, but having just returned from Cancun, I am happy to share my most recent personal experience so you can decide what is right for you.

Why Cancun Is the Ultimate Midwest Spring Break Escape

As a travel advisor, I have hundreds of clients who travel to Mexico each year. In fact, it’s my top selling destination overall. Being in the Midwest, we crave the midwinter spring break getaway to escape from the snow and cold to help keep us sane while we wait for the first glimpses of spring. As I write this, we have a forecasted huge winter storm on its way with a potential for a foot of snow, but we’ve just had a week with a few teaser days of 50 degrees. Some of us ditched the winter jackets for a couple days, some crazy people (usually a local mailman 😊 even wore shorts!) while we brave the outdoors acting like its spring. Minnesotans know that it is a trick, just meant to lure us in to a false hope. What do they call it….false spring? Schools and colleges are out for the week and everyone wants to get away for a bit before coming back to reality to finish off the school year and wait it out until the true spring which we hope is just around the corner.

What to Expect at the Cancun Airport During Spring Break

Early March this year I had the opportunity to take a quick break to Cancun, Mexico for a 4-night stay. March signals the beginning of spring break and the high season for Mexico. No doubt the worst possible time for anything that you’ve seen in the news lately to be plastered all over the TV, TikTok and every other social media source you can imagine. My trip took me to the hotel zone of Cancun, a location I have visited and stayed in many times before. This time at the Live Aqua Resort Cancun, an oasis of a property tucked into lush resort grounds in the heart of the Cancun hotel zone.

From the moment we landed at the Cancun airport, you could see it was business as usual. Many planes were arriving at the same time and due to our lack of an arrival gate we were remotely parked on the tarmac. You know when they don’t have enough gates for your plane and you have to take the dreaded bus into the terminal, they are busy! Once in the terminal we were funneled to customs with the choice of going to the customs agent in the booth or the e-gate. If you are not traveling with children under the age of 18 you should be able to use the e-gate for electronic processing and that will expedite you through the process so much quicker! Make sure to keep the paper with your passport that prints out at the machine, you’ll need it on the way home.

Pro Tips: Skip the Baggage Claim Wait and Always Book Your Transfer in Advance

After departing customs, we hit the baggage claim area, and luckily enough on this trip we didn’t have checked bags, no need to wait the additional time for them to arrival to the baggage carousel. Pro tip-if you can avoid checking bags to Cancun do it, and you will thank yourself later. The wait time for checked baggage is notorious for being lengthy and can be up to an hour, and who wants to wait for that when they are ready to begin their vacation!

After exiting the airport we found our transfer, again a very busy part of the airport with many guests arriving. The transfer area can be overwhelming especially for first timers to Mexico, so always make sure to prebook your transfer. This is something I always take care of for my clients to ensure they have a smooth start of the trip to get to your resort stress free.

My Experience at the Live Aqua Resort Cancun

For this quick trip we choose the Live Aqua Cancun which is a short 25 minute transfer from the airport. This makes for a very easy travel day and allows you to make the most of your time on arrival and departure days. The staff at the resort said they have been busy, and expecting the typical spring break boom. We saw two weddings during our time there and the property was almost at full occupancy. This resort knows how to provide top notch service and that’s what keeps their guests coming back year after year. This resort deserves all the praise and attention for it’s offerings and experiences, more on this in a future post!

The Bottom Line: What I Actually Found in Cancun

The hustle and bustle of Cancun was the same as what I’d seen before, they didn’t seem to be lacking tourists from what I could tell! The destination seemed to be operating business as usual. There is something that can’t be beat about the kindness, genuine care and service that you’ll receive during a trip to Mexico. The smiling and friendly faces of everyone you meet is what is encourages so many to frequent the sunny paradise. Wherever you choose to travel regardless of what’s happening in the world, I always tell my travelers they should be comfortable with their destination of choice or that’s not a relaxing vacation! For me this trip to Mexico was just that, comfortable, and familiar with a bit of R&R. Overall, this visit to Mexico was no different than any of the other times I have visited, with the exception of having the most perfect weather! Not a bad day to be had and not a drop of rain the entire time, I’d say it was a perfect trip 😊

If you are looking to plan your next trip to Mexico or need guidance on which destination is the best fit for you, I’m here to help! As your travel advisor I strive to use my personal knowledge to elevate your experience to make sure your trip is exactly what you are looking for. I’d love to get started with a consultation to discuss your desires for your next trip. Contact me to get started.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cancun Spring Break

What is Cancun like during spring break? Busy and buzzing, exactly what you’d expect for peak season. The hustle and bustle of the hotel zone was the same as every other time I’ve visited. The resorts are full, the airport is hopping, and the energy is high. If you’re a first timer, just know it’s lively and come prepared for crowds.

What should families know before going to Cancun? Prebook your airport transfer before you even land, the exit area of the Cancun airport is overwhelming, especially for first timers. I always handle this for my clients so they have a smooth, stress free start to their trip. Also, if you can avoid checking bags, do it. Baggage claim wait times are notorious for being lengthy (sometimes up to an hour) and nobody wants to start their vacation standing at a baggage carousel.

What is the Cancun airport like? It’s busy, especially during spring break season when multiple flights are arriving at the same time. If you’re traveling without kids under 18, use the e-gate at customs as it moves so much faster than the traditional booth line. And don’t lose the paper that prints out with your passport at the machine, you’ll need it on the way home!