Mexico's Beach Resorts for Dummies

For Lynne Bairstow, Mexico has become more her home than her native United States. After living in Puerto Vallarta and exploring Mexico for most of the past 14 years, she's developed not only an appreciation but also a true love for the country and its complex, colorful culture. Her travel articles on Mexico have been published in The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Luxury Living, Frommer's Budget Travel magazine, and Alaska Airlines Magazine. In 2000, the Mexican government awarded Lynne the Pluma de Plata, a top honor granted to foreign writers, for her work in the Frommer's guidebooks to Mexico. David Baird is a writer, editor, and translator who feels uncomfortable writing about himself in the third person (too much like writing your own obituary). Now based in Austin, Texas, he has spent years living in various parts of Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Puerto Rico. But whenever possible, he manages to get back to the Yucatan's turquoise-blue waters because he thinks he looks good in that color and because he's excessively fond of the local cooking.

Introduction. Part I: Getting Started. Chapter 1: Discovering Mexico's Beach Resorts. Chapter 2: Deciding When to Go. Chapter 3: Planning Your Budget. Chapter 4: Tips for Travelers with Special Interests. Part II: Ironing Out the Details. Chapter 5: Making Your Travel Arrangements. Chapter 6: Money Matters. Chapter 7: Tying Up the Loose Ends. Part III: Cancun. Chapter 8: The Lowdown on Cancun's Hotel Scene. Chapter 9: Settling into Cancun. Chapter 10: Dining in Cancun. Chapter 11: Having Fun on and off the Beach in Cancun. Part IV: Cozumel and the Riviera Maya. Chapter 12: Cozumel. Chapter 13: Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya. Part V: Puerto Vallarta and the Central Pacific Coast. Chapter 14: The Lowdown on Puerto Vallarta's Hotel Scene. Chapter 15: Settling into Puerto Vallarta. Chapter 16: Dining in Puerto Vallarta. Chapter 17: Having Fun on and off the Beach in Puerto Vallarta. Part VI: Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. Chapter 18: The Lowdown on the Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo Hotel Scenes. Chapter 19: Settling into Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. Chapter 20: Dining in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. Chapter 21: Having Fun on and off the Beach in Ixtapa and Zihuatanejo. Part VII: Acapulco. Chapter 22: The Lowdown on Acapulco's Hotel Scene. Chapter 23: Settling into Acapulco. Chapter 24: Dining in Acapulco. Chapter 25: Having Fun on and off the Beach in Acapulco. Part VIII: Huatulco and the Southern Pacific Coast. Chapter 26: Bahias de Huatulco. Chapter 27: Puerto Escondido. Part IX: Los Cabos and Southern Baja. Chapter 28: The Lowdown on the Hotel Scene in Los Cabos. Chapter 29: Settling into Los Cabos. Chapter 30: Dining in Los Cabos. Chapter 31: Having Fun on and off the Beach in Los Cabos. Part X: The Part of Tens. Chapter 32: Ten Top Mexican Moments. Chapter 33: Ten (Or So) Myths and Misconceptions about Mexico. Chapter 34: Ten Most Deliciously Mexican Dishes. Part XI: Appendixes. Appendix A: Quick Concierge. Appendix B: Glossary of Spanish Words and Phrases. Appendix C: Authentic Mexican Cuisine. Worksheets. Index.