Resort wear and handicrafts are the most popular purchases in Cancún, but prices are high and the selection conventional. If you're traveling elsewhere in Mexico, postpone your shopping spree until you get to another town. Bargaining is expected in the markets; stores usually have fixed prices. Fully air-conditioned malls -- centros comerciales -- are as streamlined and well kept as any in the United States or Canada. If you can do without plastic, you may get the 12% sales tax lopped off at shops that don't want to pay high commissions to credit-card companies.

In Cancún, shopping hours are generally weekdays 10-1 and 4-7, although more and more stores are staying open throughout the day rather than closing for siesta from 1-4. Many shops keep Saturday morning hours, and some are now open Sunday until 1. Shops in the malls tend to be open weekdays from 9 AM or 10 AM to 8 PM or 10 PM.