My wife and I are going to Cancun Mid December. I was wondering if i should just get a bus from the hotel in Cancun and do the tour by myself for Chichen and Xcaret? We are to explore by our self and save some $$
We went to Tulum (2 hrs south of Cancun) a year ago. I am guessing that the only buses from your hotel to those destinations would be tour buses. (but I really do not know). In that case, you would be renting a car to go on your own. Which is safe in the daytime and on the main roads, but of course, it costs.
My wife booked her tour to Chitzen Itza on line, and was quite satisfied, and loved the tour. One just needs to be careful to use a reputable site. On the other hand, my quick review seemed to indicate that online prices and hotel tour prices were about the same; so if you are unsure as to which day you want to do a major tour, what until you get there. I say pay for the tour bus and save your energy for the site. On a good tour you get food and drink, too; plus maybe stop at a restaurant for a real meal that you (being a visitor) would not know was a good place to stop.
On the flip side, if the attraction is along the main N/S highway, it would be quite feasible to use the local bus line to get to those sites (or close, and take a taxi) - but the local bus I rode on was a 16 person mini-van, not a Greyhound type or size.