From the time we decided to come to the Yucatan Peninsula, visiting the ruins at Tulum was near the top of our to-do list. The Mayans definitely had the right idea to set up civilization here! I mean why would you not want to live on a gorgeous beach with palm trees and crystal blue water all around!? It was true paradise. I have to say of all the beaches and places we've been thus far, this was the most like something you would see in a movie. There were iguanas roaming around, snakes crawling up trees, tropical birds flying over, and huge blue waves crashing into the shores. Best of all though, were the ancient ruins all across the amazing backdrop. It's a cool feeling being somewhere that a civilization was built 1000s of years ago, and their work still stands. When you visit Tulum, the ruins you will see were what once made the main center of the city. Many of these buildings were the ceremonial and political centers for the Mayans of Tulum. Besides just looking awesome, the beach at Tulum was very important. It made Tulum a major trade center, and also provided them with lots of fresh food. Tulum was one of the last inhabited cities of the Mayans, and diseases brought from the Spaniards of the Old World, was it's ultimate demise. Now people come from all over world to witness what an amazing place it was. Contrary to popular belief, there IS an entrance fee to get to the ruins...unless you are Mexican, OR us and have a little sense of adventure as you'll see in the video haha! Either way Tulum is a must-see! You can check all our photos from the day here.

When most people think of traveling one of the first things that comes to their mind is where they are going to stay.  Some may hire a travel agent to do the booking for them while others may get online and do the research themselves.  Either way, 99% of the time their research will lead them to 5 star resorts offering all-inclusive packages.  I'm sure like me, everyone wishes they could stay at these places.  The problem is, for the budget traveler, these resorts are super expensive!  Of course you didn't need me to tell you that! haha Some people may let these steep prices scare them away from their vacation of a lifetime.  The good news is, there is a much much cheaper option called Hostels!!  Until I started traveling I had never even heard of hostels.  The more I researched hostels the more I realized how affordable a vacation, pretty much anywhere in the world, could be.  When I say affordable I'm talking like $10-$20 per night!! Yea you read that right.  Now there are drawbacks such as sharing a room with 3-10 other people (male & female), but thats all part of the experience.  Most hostels have shared bathrooms, internet, and a shared kitchen for all the guests (which could be up to 30-50 people depending on the hostal and the season).  Don't get me wrong, hostels aren't for everyone, but if $ is the only thing keeping you from seeing the world hostels are perfect for you!

Here are our Top 5 Reasons to Stay in Hostels:

1.  Number one has to be the people you will meet.  When staying in hostels you will meet people from all over the world doing the same thing you are!  It's a great way to practice speaking other languages while learning more about the world than you ever did in school.  You will quickly realize the similarities and differences between your culture and others.  If you are outgoing and open minded, you will end up with plenty of lifelong Facebook friends from all over the world.

2.  Chances are if you stay in a hostel you will eat much healthier (and cheaper!).  As I mentioned before, most hostels have shared kitchens where you can store groceries and cook your meals.  Duringpopular meal times the kitchen can become very busy and congested, but it's fun to watch people from different countries making their favorite foods while you make yours!  Again if your friendly and outgoing you can usually trade dishes with your new friends and try some new authentic foods!

3.  When staying in hostels you will learn about the more "non-touristy" things to do in the area.  Most of the people staying in hostels are well traveled individuals that can give you great inside information on things to do in the area you are at, or even their homeland (if you ever make it there to visit).  Don't get me wrong, guided tours are great, but with the help of other people at the hostel you can usually find much better, cheaper options to do with your day.  I believe hostels almost force you to get to know the area better because they aren't "all-inclusive".

4.  Because of the price, hostels can possibly extend your vacation from one week to two or even three weeks.  To some people this might not matter because they only have that 1 week of vacation time.  But for those who would like to spend more extended periods of time in an area, hostels are definately the best option.  In most countries hostels are pretty common, so you can stay your whole trip in the same hostel or try a few different ones along your trip.  Sometimes it's hard for me to change hostels because I do not want to leave all the new friends I make! hahahaha

5.  I tried not putting this one on here but lets face it, It's all about the $$$$$$$.  Hostels will save you the most money while giving you the most authentic experience you could possibly ask for.  Like I said earlier, depending on the season, hostels can cost anywhere from $10-$20 per night.  Heck I've stayed in some hostels for as little as $5 a night!  I don't care if I'm sleeping in a hammock, you can't beat that! Five dollars to stay two blocks from the beach??? I'll take it!! lol 

I'm sure there are plenty of other reasons why hostels could be the best option for you, but thats just it.... It's all about you!! Hostels leave your entire trip up to you, not the tour guides that are just trying to get your $$.  Everyone will have their reasons why they love or hate hostels, because like I said earlier they are not for everyone.  So if your looking to book your next vacation, make sure to do some research on hostels and give yourself some more money to explore the area you are visiting!  

Happy Travels Yal!!

The first thing people think about when it comes to traveling is money. Most people would love to travel, but they claim they don't have enough money. Now of course some money is necessary, but probably not as much as you think. Here are some ways around spending your life savings on the vacation of a lifetime!

First and foremost plan ahead and try and find the cheapest flight possible. It's likely this could be the most expensive part of the trip just depending on how far in advance you book the flights, what deals you find, etc.  Bus rides are always an option too, but obviously much more inconvenient.

Do your research ahead of time! The Yucatan Peninsula from Cancun down to the boarder of Belize is filled with amazing sights and activities. The Yucatan has some of the nicest areas and sceneries in the world, and just being here and taking it in is more than most vacations can offer. There are beautiful beaches, cenotes, Mayan ruins, snorkeling areas, diving spots, jungle excursions, and anything else you can possibly think of. Whatever it is you want to do, know ahead of time so you can leave behind the expensive tour guides. Snorkeling with turtles in Akumal is a great example. People come to Akumal beach and pay good money for a guide to take them out to see the turtles, when in reality you can bring your own goggles and simply go out into the water and have the same experience. Just swim to where the crowd is because that's probably where the turtles are! That's just one example and there are many, many more. The point is, just have a plan ahead of time of activities you want to do and the cheapest way to do them. The locals love charging money for things that anybody could do own their own if they just knew more about it ahead of time.

Know where to stay! This region is a huge tourist area, so hotels and resorts are abundant. It's knowing which one fits you to really make your vacation. Now if you want the 5 star resort by all means do so, these places are incredible! We can personally recommend Mahekal Beach Resort  and The Royal. Both are located in Playa del Carmen. However we really recommend finding good HOSTELS. Hostels are very popular in this region and are very cheap! You can stay at many of them for as little as $5 USD per night!! There are more upscale and expensive ones as well, either way you can't beat hostels. You will meet so many people and learn the area and culture so much more than at any hotel, and this is what often leads to finding more awesome activities for cheap that "regular tourist" don't know about.

How to get from point A to B! Okay now you've got your plane tickets booked, hotel or hostel reserved, and an agenda of sights to see, so what else is there? Transportation can really give you a headache and throw a wrench in your plans if you don't prepare. Buses are best for very long distances, but for most of the little day trips and just getting around in general COLLECTIVOS are the best bet. They are basically vans that you can find anywhere and transport people in groups of 10 or so. They are very, very cheap and will drop you off at the entrance of any place you want to go in the area you are in. Try to avoid taxis as much as possible because they will overcharge you and the ride is a pure nightmare.

This is simple and basic, yet it can be very helpful, and ensure you have the vacation of a lifetime without draining your bank account!