I have vacationed in Mexico many times, myself. The first time when I was only 17 - in Acapulco. What an absolute blast my friend and I had. We worked all summer after HS Graduation, then treated ourselves to two weeks there. The last time I went was when I was in my 40’s.
And I can attest that Cancun absolutely sucks. Dirty, dangerous. And you can’t DO anything unless you get away from there! The beach isn’t even safe to use (as you said).
I, too, will never be going back.
You could fly out of Chicago at 6am and arrive in Aculpulco by Noon. I went there around the late 1990s. Very nice. They loved Americans.
NOW? Hell no.
I visited my friend in MAzatlan this year nice, the people are friendly, but even there they have the cartels.
In short, Mexico is pure sh*t hole.