6 Things All Travelers Need To Know As Cancun High Season Kicks Off This Month

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Thanksgiving marks the unofficial end to the sleepy low season in Cancun. By the last week of November, it feels like a massive light switch flips across the entire Mexican Caribbean as Thanksgiving kicks into high gear. While you might catch a very slight breather during the first two weeks of December, the truly massive peak season kicks off by mid December and runs all the way through the end of Spring Break.

The good news is that this is absolutely a magical time to visit Cancun. The pesky sargassum seaweed completely fades away from the beaches, the heavy summer rain finally stops, and the oppressive humidity drops to a perfectly comfortable level. The sun is shining, and the fun is just beginning. However, traveling during high season requires a totally different strategy than visiting in September. To make sure you have the perfect vacation, here are the six most important things you need to know as Cancun high season officially kicks off.

1. Pre Booking Transfers And Excursions Is Mandatory

This is the absolute biggest mistake travelers make during the winter rush. During the low season, you can easily walk down to the hotel lobby and book a catamaran tour or a trip to Chichen Itza for the very next day. By late December, those popular tours are completely sold out weeks in advance. If you wait until you arrive to plan your off property adventures, you are going to be stuck on the resort.

The exact same rule applies to the airport. The Cancun International Airport taxi lines become incredibly chaotic during high season. You absolutely must pre book a private airport transfer before you leave home. Having a driver waiting for you with a sign completely eliminates the stress of navigating the massive crowds and gets you to the pool hours faster.

2. The Overall Resort Vibe Becomes Absolutely Electric

During the low season, massive resorts can sometimes feel a little bit like a ghost town. In high season, the entire energy of Cancun completely changes. The overall vibe at your all inclusive resort becomes incredibly upbeat, highly social, and packed with fun.

The daily activities, beach games, and wild pool parties kick into high gear. Socializing is completely effortless because the properties are full of travelers looking to have a great time and make new friends. The evening entertainment shows get bigger, the massive outdoor meal events become true spectacles, and everything is just a little more exciting. With maximum guest capacity, the resorts absolutely love to put on a show and deliver a premium entertainment experience.

3. The Early Morning Pool Chair Hustle

You might have to officially nominate the “Dad” of your travel group to handle the morning pool chair reservations. Whether it is a natural early bird or just the highly organized trip planner who loves to be on top of things, someone needs to wake up and claim your spot.

During high season, those highly coveted, prime location pool chairs under the umbrellas will be reserved incredibly fast. If you stroll down to the main pool deck at ten in the morning expecting to grab four chairs right next to the swim up bar, you are going to be severely disappointed. Get down there early, drop your towels and books, and secure your premium real estate for the afternoon.

4. The Dinner Reservation Scramble

Most premium all inclusive resorts feature incredible specialty dining or a la carte restaurants. During high season, every single one of them will require strict reservations. Sometimes the resort uses a highly convenient smartphone app, and sometimes it involves literally standing in a physical line at the concierge desk at nine in the morning to book your coveted dinner reservation.

You need to ask the front desk exactly how the reservation system works the absolute second you check in. Do not leave this task until the next morning, or you will find yourself eating at the standard buffet every single night of your expensive vacation.

5. The Mid Morning Breakfast Buffet Rush

This is not the business traveler Holiday Inn Express back home where the breakfast buffet is completely packed at seven in the morning. You are on a tropical vacation, and the sleep in culture is incredibly real.

We are talking about that highly coveted 8:30 to 9:30 time slot. During high season, you can completely expect long lines at the omelet station and the absolute largest amount of people crowding the dining room during this specific hour. If you want a quiet, highly relaxed breakfast with zero lines, you need to set your alarm and get to the buffet before eight, or wait until the massive morning rush clears out closer to ten.

6. Real Time Staff Adjustments Take Patience

The major hospitality brands in Cancun are absolute experts at adjusting their staff levels for rapidly rising hotel occupancy rates. However, as the peak season ramps up and brand new employees hit the floor, you need to have just a little bit of patience.

A few extra minutes waiting for your poolside drink or a slightly slower check in process can definitely be annoying. The staff is doing their absolute best to keep up with the massive influx of tourists, and they usually get these operational kinks ironed out incredibly quickly. Just take a deep breath, relax, remember you are on a beautiful tropical vacation, and make the absolute best of it.