Mexico is a fantastic country with delicious cuisine, friendly people and some of the world's most amazing historical sites. People love going on vacation to Mexico, and why wouldn't they? A resort allows you to enjoy a beautiful beach, have waiters refill your margarita before you even notice it's empty, and enjoy a selection of 10 different international restaurants all without even leaving the resort!
But what if we were to tell you that your vacation could be even better? Try venturing outside of the all-inclusives and experience the real Mexico!
Here are five reasons why Mexico can be even better outside of the resort:
1. The Cost
With prices like $1500 / week for a five-star, all-inclusive holiday, you may think that you could never enjoy Mexico for less if you did it independently. But believe us, you can. Mexico is a country of incredible value and you could easily spend three weeks here, staying in an apartment, eating local food and drinking at local bars, and you wouldn't spend more than $1,500 in three weeks!
But, you don't have to stay in an apartment or a hotel, you can still stay in your resort and experience Mexico. Just hop on a local bus or taxi and take a day-trip to a nearby town. You'll love the vibe of the local life in this incredible country.
2. Meeting Local People
One of the most fascinating aspects of travel is having the opportunity to meet and mingle with the local people in whatever countries you visit. It's amazing when you get the opportunity to learn about the culture, day-to-day life, and beliefs first hand, from a new local friend.
Of course, the employees at your resort will be Mexican, and it's great to be able to sit and chat with them for a while, but they're busy and you don't often get into deep conversations with them. 
If you have the opportunity to meet Mexicans at a bar, at a restaurant or on the streets, outside of a work environment, it will be easier to forge lasting friendships and really get to know them. Who knows, you may even get invited into their homes... a prospect that is less likely if you're staying at a resort.
3. Tasting Real Mexican Food
Of course your resort will have amazing Mexican restaurants on-site, but let's be honest. How many meals do you actually end up eating there? With so many amazing international restaurants around, you may just end up eating every type of food except Mexican!
If you stay in a small local town like Valladolid in the Yucatan, you'll have more options for Mexican food than you could dream of. You'll learn about local specialties, ingredients and preparation methods. Best of all, you'll probably be sharing the restaurant with mostly locals, which is a great way to mingle and make new Mexican friends.
4. Learning Some Spanish
This may not be a top priority for you when you're planning your vacation to Mexico, but it can be a lot of fun to learn Spanish while you're there! If you take a tip from No. 1 in this post, you may be hanging around for three weeks or more. That means you'll have plenty of time to learn and practice some of the local language. Mexicans are always friendly to tourists, but they love it whengringos take the time to learn a bit of their native tongue. Not only will you enjoy the new skill, but your Mexican friends will appreciate it.
5. Being IN Mexico:
Of course if you go to Mexico and stay in a resort, you'll have been to Mexico... but venture away from your gated all-inclusive community and head into the cities to get a real feel for this amazing nation, its unique culture and its welcoming people. There's nothing like walking down a back road in quiet village, or strolling through the city centro in the late afternoon. Mexico is a great place to be, so get out there and see it!
Photo: Beautiful Valladolid town in the Yucatan State
While staying in a resort is a fun experience and the ultimate way to relax on your holiday, you may want to consider this alternative way of travelling in Mexico. Even if you still stay in a resort, you can enhance your trip by leaving the grounds once in a while and taking a local bus into town.
Mexico is out there, waiting to be explored, and despite what the news says, it's safe. You won't be venturing into dangerous border towns, or walking down dark alleys at night, so you can be sure that in major tourist towns like Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen, you'll have no issues. So why not head out into the real Mexico? Give it a try to see what it's like.
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