The Best Time to Take Your Dream Mexico Vacation Is Now
Throughout the month of May, we're exploring Mexico at The Points Guy, so check back regularly for flight and hotel reviews, features and deals from our neighbor to the south.
When it comes to favorite American getaways, Mexico always ranks among the top choices. It's close, it's warm, it's affordable and it has so much to offer travelers of all stripes.
Lately, Mexico has been a bit of a hot button issue in the news, which is why it's more important now than ever to remember that Mexico is an incredible neighbor, filled with gorgeous beaches, incredible food and a culture that has withstood the test of time. If that doesn't draw you south of the border, here are a few other reasons why now is the best time to go to Mexico.
Unexpected Destinations Are Rising
One thing can't be denied: Tourism to Mexico is booming. But the travel landscape doesn't look the same as it did a decade ago. Cancún and Playa del Carmen saw a downturn in visitor arrivals in 2018, and airlift dropped as a result. But Mexico tourism overall was on the rise, and that's largely because tourists and business travelers are turning to new, lesser-known destinations such as Guanajuato, León, Querétaro and San Luis Potosi — all of which are seeing an uptick in flights as industry grows and the tourism sector develops in its wake.
San Miguel de Allende continues to garner international accolades, and was this year selected as the American Capital of Culture. For travelers looking off the beaten path, cities such as Guanajuato and Querétaro are all within a short distance from this heavily trafficked colonial city. And even villainized Acapulco may be on the upswing. The new government administration of Mexico, which took office in January, is investing $26 million in 2019 and $26 million in 2020 to help redevelop the entire city and restore it to its former glory as one of the world's top beach destinations.
There are even new airlines eyeing Mexico as they develop their route maps. Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air, for example, is actively working with the Department of Transportation (DOT) for authority to operate scheduled service to Mexico. Details have yet to be announced, but the company is preparing to announce routes and launch dates.
Los Cabos is another destination to watch this year — and in the years to come — as development is booming, transforming this already luxurious destination into one of the world’s hottest vacation destinations. On April 1, the much anticipated Nobu Hotel Los Cabos officially opened its doors under the creative mastery of Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro. This 200-room hotel has a signature Nobu Restaurant and Bar, on the beachfront of Cabo San Lucas. And Ritz-Carlton will be opening its fourth Reserve property in Los Cabos this year, too. Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve will have 115 luxury suites and villas, three golf courses and a spa. A Four Seasons is also slated for the middle of this year.
You Can Stay at New Hotels
All eyes may be on Los Cabos right now, but exciting hotel projects are coming online far beyond the southern edge of Baja California. In Mexico City's swanky Polanco neighborhood, SBE plans to open a new Mondrian hotel in 2021 with 144 guest rooms and 15 suites.
Also in 2021, Dream Hotel Group expects to open its first-ever hotel in Mexico, partnering with the Cosmopolitan Group to bring the Dream brand to Mexico's Valle de Guadalupe wine region. The 35-acre project will have 61 guest rooms and villas and three dining and nightlife venues, including a restaurant to be helmed by a celebrity chef (yet to be announced).
And a fifth Ritz-Carlton Reserve is slated to open on Mexico's Riviera Nayarit, just north of Puerto Vallarta, in 2022. The hotel will have 110 rooms and suites and will be part of the master development plan of Costa Canuva (which will also have a 250-room Fairmont hotel).
Infrastructure Is Improving
When the new president Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in January, one of his primary platforms for the tourism sector was to develop a Mayan train route that links up many of the harder-to-access destinations along the Yucatán Peninsula. The plan is still full steam ahead. Over the next few years, tourists can look forward to a railway that will connect Quintana Roo with Yucatán state, Campeche, Tabasco and Chiapas, making tourist destinations such as Palenque, Chichén Itzá, Mérida, Tulum and others even more accessible. The project is expected to get underway this year.
You Can Celebrate Pride
Mexico is known for having extremely LGBTQ-friendly destinations, with cities like Puerto Vallarta, Playa del Carmen, Mexico City and Guadalajara leading the way in terms of LGBTQ spirit. This month, Pride kicks off in Mexico — specifically in Guadalajara, which holds one of the largest LGBTQ celebrations in all of Latin America. The festival begins June 1, but Pride celebrations continue through June.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.