Tulum is a very small town about an hour and a half to the south of Cancun on Mexico’s Caribbean coastline. In fact the town (pueblo) is small enough for you to walk around and take in all the amazing sights. The roads here are very flat which makes it ideal for discovery the area by bike. Taxis here are very cheap but you must always remember to agree a price with the driver before you get in the vehicle. Although Tulum has seen some development in recent years it still remains a quiet unspoilt town. Surrounded by tropical jungle the town has a luxurious beachfront Hotel Zone. Tulum has a good selection of restaurants, bars and shops.

Tulum is home to some amazing well preserved Mayan ruins which are the most popular tourist attraction in the area. Located on a hill overlooking the sea these ancient ruins were discovered in the 1800′s.

Enjoy a romantic barefoot walk along the powdery white beach and marvel at the beautiful angel fish who will swim around your feet as you paddle in the clear blue water. Although you will be walking in bright sunshine the sand here never gets hot underfoot as it is made up of hollow grains of coral which allow the air to circulate through them and not heat up. Not far from the Tulum coastline is the Great Mayan Reef which is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere. The reef was badly damaged in the 2005 hurricane season but the coral reefs are now repairing and many of the different shoals of fish are returning. Just a short distance along the coast is Akumel beach where you can swim with the turtles. Tulum is all about its natural beauty so there are not really any watersports on offer here apart from diving and snorkelling. Just half an hours drive from Tulum is the wide sandy beach at Playacar which offers a selection of watersports including jet skiing and body boarding.

A day out at one of the ecological parks in the Tulum area is a must on your cheap holidays to Mexico. There are three parks to choose from, Xel-Ha, Tres Rios and Xcaret complete with caves for snorkelling, submerged rivers, cool welcoming lagoons, swimming with dolphins, landscaped gardens, water rides for all the family and Mayan theme shows.

When it comes to souvenirs the best place to go is to Suenos Maya which is just behind the Mayan ruins. Here you will find handmade jewellery, wooden carvings and lots of other traditional items to remember your holiday by. Around the ruins there are stalls selling all kinds of Mexican handicrafts including ponchos, blankets and pottery.

There are direct flights to Dubai from most European and Asian cities, however if you are flying from North America or Canada then you will need to fly via Europe or Asia. However, looking on the bright side, this makes the flight cheaper and also gives you the opportunity to explore Europe with typical stop overs in either Paris, Amsterdam or London.

The main airlines for Dubai are Emirates airlines (www.emirates.com), Gulf Air (www.gulfair.com) and Air Arabia flies out of neighbouring Sharjah. if you are looking to keep the costs of airfare to a minimum then a good option is to fly Gulf air via via bahrain, or even Qatar airways via Doha. However bear in mind that connecting flights although usually much cheaper can be inconvenient – you may find yourself hanging around airport lounges for many hours doing that airport “game” of endless waiting followed by endless queueing, is it really woth it to save a few £’s?

it tends to be more expensive flying to Dubai in the June – August period and also over Christmas (in fact from the beginning of Dec right through to end Jan). So try and avoid flying at these times if at all possible – remember prices in the UAE are regulated, there are no bargain bucket shops nor last minute deals so book your flight as early as you possibly can to get best price.

On a side note Emirates airlines to date have a PERFECT safety record, they are not the cheapest airline but they are regarded as having superior service and that safety record is something worth taking into consideration!

Dubai international airport is the busiest airport in the Middle East, almost 25 million passengers in 2005 ( as a comparison Seattle airport handled 29 million passengers in 2005 and is listed in the top 30 busiest airports worldwide). Apparently the government are investing a further $2,5 billion in expansion of the airport due to rapid growth of tourist traffic. We should see Dubai international being listed as one of the worlds busiest airports in 2007.

getting to/from the airport is easy and inexpensive. You can choose from Municipality buses, airport buses, taxi’s or limo’s. Additionally most of the reputable hotels, particularly those on Jumeirah beach, will offer free transfers to and from the airport. Costs for are approx Dh1.50, a taxi will cost around Dh 60 to the Jumeirah beach area. ( The Emirates currecy Dh Dirham is pegged to the Dollar, so 1Dh = $1, simple!).

Other points you should note before planning a trip to Dubai – technically if you have evidence of travel to Israel in your passport you will be denied entry, also you must have at least 6 months validity from your date of arrival. Assuming you meet these requirements a 60 day visa is available on entry from the airport. There is no charge for a standard 60 day visa.