Airline ticket? CHECK 'Airline Safety: A View from the Cockpit' (You’ve still got six months to live!)

Luggage packed and secured? CHECK 'Cable Lock, "TSA Approved"' (it’s not for the baggage handlers, it’s for your peace of mind)

Car rental from Cancun Intl. Airport?: CHECK 'Workplace Spanish for Customer Service' (Use your Jedi Mind tricks in Spanish for that free car rental upgrade.)

Road map of the Yucatan & Q. Roo?: No?

Whoa. Stop the car. If you plan on driving into the interior of the horn of Mexico and getting off the Cuota toll-highway for tourists, or venturing south or west beyond Highway 307 along the Maya Riviera, you need a map. Aside from the legends of banditos (roadblock robberies) at night and rumors of mordidas (extortion) from La Policia, knowing where the next Pemex gas station is peace of mind you can not afford to skimp on. Road signs are not obvious, and the government monopoly of the petroleum industry in Mexico can leave the availability of gas stations few and far between remote areas.

La Carta:
'The Rough Guide to The Yucatan Map (Rough Guide Country/Region Map)'
Rough Guide's waterproof map of this region of Mexico spans West from Campeche and the Gulf Of Mexico, North to the tip of Quintana Roo and Cancun, South to the state's edge and that of the central state of Yucatan along Mexico's border with Belize. And yes, it lists every Pemex gas station throughout these parts of Mexico.

Where to start?
'Cancun & The Yucatan (Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guides)'
If you are new to these regions, you need a quick look at what's accessible and recommended. An Eyewitness Top 10 Guide hits the spot on the mark and narrows the field down, allowing you to pick a general route to follow and the few must-sees you should be aiming for.

So now you have a map (Rough Guide) and a general idea of where you want to go plus a few choice picks of sites, restaurants, and hotels (Eyewitness Top 10). You need some more selections, more detailed research on where to eat and stay so you're not locked in to a micro-managed road trip.

The gold standard for travel research:
'Fodor's Cancun, Cozumel, Yucatan Peninsula 2006 (Fodor's Gold Guides)'
For hotel, restaurant, and site seeing research, nothing quite compares to Fodor's Gold Guides. Consistent and easy to read, Fodor's will offer you a thorough list of every safe bet when it comes to picking your domicile or eatery along the Maya Riviera or in the cities of Merida, Playa Del Carmen, or Cancun.

The Path Less Taken
'Adventure Guide to the Yucatan, Cancun & Cozumel'
This is your guide to finding the diamond in the rough, those out of the way haciendas or small artisan markets guides Frommer's 'Frommer's Cancun, Cozumel & the Yucatan 2006 (Frommer's Complete)' or even Fodor's might fail to mention. Need a wider selection of restaurants or recreational adventures to choose from? The Conord' Adventure Series Guide is the perfect accompaniment guide to pair with a more narrow but precise guide like Fodor's & Frommer's. The Adventure Series Guide is over 400 pages of recommendations and tips that come from the perspective of an insider to the region.

“Where to end.”
'Adapter Kit: Mexico: A Traveler's Tools for Living Like a Local'
Time to quit the day job, cancel your lease, sell your stuff, and make a new start South Of The Border.
'Midlife Mavericks: Women reinventing their lives in Mexico' There’s a place for everyone, and a time for everything 'Live Better South Of The Border In Mexico: Practical Advice For Living And Working (Live Better South of the Border in Mexico)'

“Just in case:”
For the lingo:
'Easy Spanish Phrase Book: Over 770 Basic Phrases for Everyday Use'
For “mas” lingo:
'1001 Most Useful Spanish Words (Beginners' Guides)'
For the night
'Dynamo LED Crank Flashlight'
For the jungle
'Repel 1 oz. 100% DEET Insect Repellent (Pump)'
For the beach
'Neutrogena Healthy Defense Oil-Free Sunblock Spray, SPF 30 - 4 fl oz'
For Montezuma’s revenge (last but not least)
'Imodium Advanced Advanced Anti-Diarrheal/Anti-Gas, Mint, Chewable Tablets , 18 chewable tablets'