Orbitz: Cancun heats up this summer

Orbitz says Cancun is hot in more ways than its 92 degree high today: the travel website recently released its take on Americans' top 10 summer travel destinations, and uncrowded Cancun took third behind usual summer spots Rome and London, pulling ahead of packed Paris in fourth. Also leading the soon to be beaten paths are San Jose Cabo, where the surf's probably up, and cool Dublin (65 and drizzling today) followed by Vancouver (BC), Athens, Frankfurt and pretty Puerto Vallarta.

Summer's a fine season to see boatloads o' backpackers in the traditional big three of student travel fave cities abroad (London, Paris and Rome); European hostels are at their most crowded and crazy. And there's no lack of lively party life in Europe now -- in currently quiet Cancun, though, cozy margarita consumption and lazy beach daze with a few pals are pretty much the hot time in town. Hey, that sounds okay...

• Beginner's Student Travel Guide to Mexico
• Before you got to Mexico: Mexico Travel FAQ
• Top 5 Cancun Hostels

Related: London Student Travel Guide | Do I need a passport to travel to Mexico? | Top Free Things to do in Paris | Top Dublin Hostels | Top Rome Hostels | Backpacking Europe 101 | Orbitz data source: Courier-Journal Travel Briefs

Photo: Kathleen Crislip