Although it has suffered a bad wrap over the past few decades and is renowned for its garish brothels and drug scene, there are plenty of good things to do in Tijuana as well.

It is essentially a cocktail of different cultures; a melting pot of vibrant colour that always has something interesting going on.

La Revo (Av Revolucion) is the main ‘it’ place in Tijuana, and a stroll down there will take you past nightclubs, loud hawkers, dodgy souvenir shops, restaurants and more than a few discount liquor stores.

You can get a more mellow side to Tijuana by visiting the more standard shopping strip of Av Constitucion, which runs parallel to La Revo and has a real local flare to it.

For a touch of class and culture check out the Casa de la Cultura de Tijuana. Residing in a neoclassical brick building constructed in 1929, this ‘house of culture’ presents lectures and art exhibitions, concerts and film festivals. It is easy to find and is only about one mile west of La Revo.

Cap off your trip to Tijuana with a visit to Cerveceria Tijuana, a microbrewery that has operated for almost a decade. A great full-bodied beer is produced here and the nearby pub is very friendly.

Regardless of the amount of money you have available to spend on your Mexican vacation, you are sure to have a great time in Cabo because its people pride themselves on fantastic hospitality.

There are plenty of accommodation options, from the cheaper small hotels right up to the expansive all-inclusive resorts such as Villa La Estancia and Riu Palace.

Because of the inherently romantic nature of Cabo, many couples choose to spend their honeymoon here. You might choose to book your own honeymoon at Cabo San Lucas, or else just enjoy the romantic atmosphere and see where it takes you!

The long list of fun activities in Cabo is headed by golf, because there are several top quality golf courses in the area. World famous golf course designers have left their mark in Cabo and now you can enjoy the stunning views and crisp greens on a round or two.

Fishing is probably the second biggest activity in Cabo San Lucas, and you can charter a private boat to take your party out for some serious sport fishing if you like. Some boats take to the seas for days at a time, while for more casual trips you can just go out for a few hours.

A hustle-and-bustle beach town with a main strip that runs parallel to the main beach, Playa (as the locals call it) swells with visitors every Tuesday and Thursday when cruise ships dock at the local port.

The main area to hang out is called Quinta Avenida, and it is absolutely bursting at the seams with shops trying to sell pretty much anything you can think of. In the same area you can find restaurants and resort accommodation, and if you are keen on nightclubs you will find several here too.

A real international feel is present in Playa, largely thanks to the growing number of foreigners who have fallen in love with the place and have decided to setup their own businesses here. Americans, Italians and Swiss people are the main expats to work and live here at the moment.

Take a ferry from Playa to nearby Cozumel, which has outstanding options when it comes to snorkelling and diving. Just a short drive from Playa is the wonderful Xcaret Mayan ruins, which is a homage to the original inhabitants of the area and an absolute must-see on your visit.

Transport options in the area are abundant, and you can use a taxi, bus or rent a car to get around in Playa.

The population of Puerto Vallarta is less than 200,000, so while it is big enough to ensure you have access to comfortable amenities you won’t be swamped in busy streets.

The history of the area is rich and still influences the town to the modern day. The Huichol Indians have a strong connection to the region and their fantastic beadwork and traditional dress is very much a feature of contemporary Puerto Vallarta.

One of the most enjoyable and relaxing things to do in Puerto Vallarta is just to take a casual walk through the cobblestone streets and take in the sunny, peaceful mood of the town.

When it comes to beaches, there is no shortage of options available to you. The biggest public beach is called Playa Los Muertos, or ‘Beach of the Dead’. This sombre name supposedly originated from a battle between local miners and pirates. However, it is unlikely that this story is true because there have never been miners in Puerto Vallarta!

You will not regret including Puerto Vallarta in your Mexico travel plans, because the friendly people and sunny atmosphere make it a great place to visit.

You will be glad to learn that there is never a shortage of fun things to do in Mexico City, because the place is alive with great people, terrific food and excellent activities.

You could start your visit by checking out the Xochimilco floating gardens in the southern area, which have been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Not far from here you can look on the Plaza de la Constitucion, one of the largest squares in the world and a location that has historically been used to hold protests, express ideas and have important meetings.

After this make sure you head to the most recognisable landmark in the whole city, the Angel of Independence. Sitting on the wide Paseo de la Reforma avenue, this golden icon was built to commemorate the centennial of the start of the Mexican War of Independence.

Move next to the Palace of Fine Arts, which is an awesome building and the main opera house in Mexico. Constructed of white marble, the building is well known for its opulent interior and the world class performances that are carried out here.

In order to find a Cancun package that suits your needs, you first need to identify what you want to do on your vacation.

Are you hoping to relax on the beach, or do you want to get active and involved in water sports or other vibrant activities? Are you planning to base your evenings around quiet dinners or do you want to hit the nightclub scene?

When looking for packages online, there are a couple of ways to tell good ones from bad ones.

The good tour operators and travel companies will always give a good level of detail about the Cancun travel packages they are offering. Information about the number of nights, the hotel or hotels you will stay in, the amount of food provided, and an itinerary of daily activities should be included.

If you are unsure about which package to sign up to it is a good idea to get advice from a tourism centre. Tourism centres can be great sources of support and information because they will only normally recommend top quality operators.

Here is a quick rundown of what to take with you to ensure your vacation runs as smoothly as possible.

Map

Your guide book should include a decent map of Mexico, but if it doesn’t make sure you take another one. This is really important because if you travel to some of the lesser known destinations you will need a way of organising your transport and instructing taxi drivers where to take you.

Towel

If you can fit a small towel in your travel case, definitely do so. Not only will you need it for all the time you spend on the beach, but the hotels in Mexico may not always be able to provide you with one. Take a special towel bag too, so that you can store the towel when it is wet.

Flight Itinerary

This is especially important if you are taking several flights through Mexico in order to arrive at your favourite destinations. You need to have a good knowledge of your flight plans and also make sure you have backups in case you lose the originals.

After a hard period of study at college, spring break is seen by most students as a chance to let their hair down and go wild for a few days.

There are plenty of excellent places to travel to in Mexico for your spring break, ranging from the most well known destinations to those that are just beginning to become more popular with time.

Cabo San Lucas is popular with tourists all year round, and people from all over the world make their way to this stretch of beach for snorkelling and diving opportunities. But come spring break time, Cabo San Lucas is transformed into a party haven for kids from colleges on the west coast, and it boasts some of the hottest nightlife going around.

Getting around the local bar scene in Cabo San Lucas is really easy, because the clubs are packed tightly into a strip of around four square blocks.

Acapulco is another classic option for spring break. The booming beach city has more than ten absolutely top class nightclubs, and many people think its nightlife is amongst the best in the world.

During the day you can enjoy the beach climate and relax, before getting ready to party again.

Mexico is one of the largest countries on the planet and covers an area of nearly two million square kilometres.

The nation has 32 separate states, of which the capital is the Federal District. This is where the government is located.

Almost 100 million people live in Mexico, and although the official language of the country is Spanish there are also more than 60 Indian languages spoken. The official currency is the peso but you will find many shops and businesses are happy to trade in American dollars also.

The climate is normally quite hot, with temperatures averaging out to be somewhere between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius. There is not normally too much variation in the temperature so you will be able to enjoy good weather regardless of the time of your visit.

Make sure you travel smart when you visit Mexico. The country has had plenty of issues with drug trafficking in its history and this had escalated in recent times to a particularly violent drug war. While tourists are not normally dragged into the fray, make sure you get the latest travel advice from your government before travelling through Mexico.

Sayulita

Sitting snugly on the Mexican Pacific coast, Sayulita is a surfer’s paradise. The small fishing village is home to fantastic breaks and a lively beach scene, made all the merrier by a host of fun and exciting beachside bars. You will be glad to learn that the food and accommodation options here are cheap, and everything is within walking distance.

Isla Holbox

This small Mexican island rests a little over 90 miles out of Cancun, and is a welcome break from the crowded streets of that tourist Mecca. In fact, you will hardly see any buildings or cars in Isla Holbox, but with a length of just 25 miles you can be sure your stay on the island will be an intimate affair. Watch the locals fish and stroll breezily through the main square.

Barranca del Cobre

A series of more than 20 truly amazing canyons, Barranca del Cobre occupies a unique place in northwest Mexico. In total the region is four times larger than Arizona’s Grand Canyon. The most enjoyable activity to do here is to take a train ride on the Chihuahua-Pacific Railway, which actually goes up and down some of the steepest parts!