Cancun Clipper Club Reviews

Having spent a week at the Cancun Clipper over the Easter period, I found that we had not missed the Spring Break as thought. Thinking that the spring break was in March we found that it was still running. This made the place overun with American teenagers. The disco at night played until 7 am in the morning. After waking the first night around 4 am with the music still playing till 7 am we asked to be moved. The rep said that this was the first time she had received any complaints of the noise, which I can't believe. After moving rooms to the farthest block from the disco, we found that we could not hear the music unless you visited the bathroom in the night.

The hotel which we knew when booking was basic. We booked this hotel as we do not like the all inclusive facility and thought it would be a good base to explore the area. Even though the party zone is not designed for my age group, I thought the whole area needed knocking down and revamping. It looks very seedy and run down, with unattractive alleyway and fast food outlets.

However the buses arrive every 40 seconds and the fare is 30p, so it was easy to travel away from this area. We visited a few restaurants in the hotel zone where we found both the food and drink to be quite expensive. However if you caught the bus in the other direction you ended up in downtown Cancun where the restaurants were much cheaper and nicer. There were lots of pavement restaurants all offering good value food and drink. The wine and beer was also much cheaper and it was very safe to walk around at night.

After reading this site I also found the Philledelphia Cheese Steak bar where the beer is still $1 or 10 pesos for a bottle of beer. The same proprietor still runs the bar and we found her to be very friendly and returned several times during our weeks stay. She served a very nice bagette at lunch time, which I would advise you not to miss.

On our last day we went for a walk in the Plaza Caricol, where we stumbled on a restaurant named La Fisheria. Even though it was in the shopping centre, it had a nice view of the lagoon. It looked quite fancy, but the prices were no more expensive than any of the chains or restaurants in the party zone. The food was excellent and freshly cooked. It was only £20 for a two course lunch with a bottle of beer. If I had found this restaurant sooner I would have definately visited during the evening.

I have to agree with most of the other reviewers about the Clipper Club - it was a wonderful place to stay, much better than the very large hotels offering only all-inclusive deals. Set in a fairly quiet area on the lagoon, it offered a complete contrast to the otherwise busy surrounding area.

The accommodation, although 'tired' looking in some areas, was extremely spacious - kitchenette (with toaster, coffee maker, blender and microwave), dining area and large bedroom with queen-sized bed (and spare single, doubling as a sofa), Satellite TV, air-conditioning, ceiling fan and alcove area looking out over the lagoon (and yes, we did see a very large crocodile whilst there - at least 10ft long!!!). You also got all your shampoo, conditioner, etc., plus 2 bottles of water and a packet of coffee free each day. Linen and towels changed every day, unless you tell them not to (they operate a 'green' policy). Also on site is a laundry room (you just provide soap powder)and an internet room (where you get 20 minutes a day FREE per person, and also the option of using a laptop in your apartment - brilliant!). Make sure you take the right adaptor with you for using your hairdryer, charging your mobile, etc., as they are not easy to come by (we were told Wall-Mart sold them, but they didn't have any when we went) - luckily, Stephen (our Rep) lent us one for the duration of our holiday, so we were OK. If you don't have an adaptor and need your mobile charged, the reception staff will do it for you.

Not many people from the UK stay at this hotel (only 8 of us during our stay) as it's mostly occupied by Americans who have their own apartments and stay for months on end; however, they were all nice people and most of them stopped to pass the time of day with you - they do get up early though and we saw them out 'power walking' around the resort from around 7.00 a.m. each morning!!

I can honestly say that the staff in the hotel were some of the friendliest we have ever had on a holiday, especially those at reception, who couldn't do enough to help you. They even recommended we use the City Beach Club (which our rep hadn't mentioned) where we got a 50% discount on the entrance fee and 15% discount on all food and drink purchased. It was well worth using their facilities and, for a club of this sort, the prices were reasonable and the food excellent, as were the staff (if you go, see if you can get Marianna to look after you - she's was great).

Also agree with other reviews about the food in Cancun, it's not really that brilliant and very American. Not really into fast food, so didn't try the KFC, Pizzahut, McDonalds, etc. The Argentian Steakhouse - next to the Hard Rock Cafe (which was highly recommended to us) we found to be very overpriced for not so good food! Try the Argentian steakhouse on the corner next to the Cancun Centre for a better and cheaper meal. The Italian restaurant (sorry, can't remember the name) at the end of the shopping centre (near Starbucks) was very good, as was Come and Eat at the Isla shopping mall further along the hotel zone (where the wine was very reasonably priced too). Another good restaurant was the Thai (also in Isla shopping mall) - food very good and setting absolutely brilliant (wine expensive). Another good place to try (again, can't remember the name) is the yellow-painted restaurant on the main road opposite TGI Friday (which we wouldn't recommend by the way) - the staff were lovely and the food very good.

Getting around on the buses was superb - they start at 6.00 a.m. and finish at midnight and cost only 6 pesos each per journey. Unlike in London, you don't have to rush to get one as you never have long to wait - there's one along every 40 seconds (Kevin Livingstone take note)!

We were told to go to Isla Mujeres for a visit and took the ferry over (US$15 - as opposed to the organised trip at US$55). Didn't think that much of it and, frankly, wouldn't recommend it, although for a day out it was quite good.

Beware of everyone trying to get you to go and try out various hotels - offering you free breakfast, free gifts, etc. if you go - as this is a ruse for timeshare!

Only one terminal open still (since the hurricane last year) and it all looks very chaotic, but it's an organised disorganised place and we were checked in and through to departures (where there are plenty of shops and restaurants to kill the time)in around 20 minutes, so pretty good!

All in all, we had a good time (albeit that they were having the worse February weather for 17 years - so we were told by Americans staying at the hotel who go every year), but unless you like staying in very commercialised places (which we don't), enjoy non-stop partying (which we don't), don't mind having loud techno music playing from 2.00 a.m. until 6.30 a.m. every morning (which we don't) - then don't go to Cancun!

Cancun is a spanish version of benidorm, the beach front is full of massive hotels which you cannot see the beach from the road side. The beach is not what it looks like in the brochure, clean though.

When eating out they want big tips and will not settle for anything less than 10%, Please check your bill when you receive it as they try to add in a tip without your consent. Be extra careful in Tequillas!! they might act friendly but they just want your money. The portions in the restaurant are very filling, I have yet to try a pudding, as to full!

The Isla shopping centre is well worth a vist, clothes are cheaper than back home, Nike trainers for example.

They have a Wallmart which is good value for money, the only place where you can buy a bread roll, which is located in downtown, 20 minutes on the bus.

Ignore the comment as the best time to come to Mexico is December unless you enjoy the cloud and rain.

Accomodation basic, but good. Linen and towels changed regularly. Food in restaurant good. Friendly people and always plenty of room around the pool. No rushing for sunbeds. We loved it here. We didn't want to be restricted by an all-inclusive package, we wanted to get out and about and try the local bars and restaurants. This place was ideally situated for that and we found some great places at reasonable prices. We also loved how the hotel was next to the lagoon, which was an amazing contrast from the beaches and was lovely to return to at the end of each day for some peace and quiet and wildlife watching.

Star attraction was a small bar called Philledelphia Cheese Steak bar, run by a wonderful couple, Carol and Ralph from Philly. They serve, excellent food, very cheap and beer at $1 a bottle, all day. They also helped us out with lots of ideas where to go and what to do. (including other bars) It's a must to visit, a great little bar. You'll find it round the back of Plaza Caracol, in the middle of a square but it's only a small place.

Mexico ia a magical place with plenty to do for people of any age.