Making Memories in Mexico

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 There is nothing better than getting a note from a client telling me what an amazing time they had on their vacation, and thanking me for helping them make such a great choice of destination and resort 🙂  This is why I do what I do, and this is why everyone should work with a trusted travel professional.

 Hi Ann,

We had a wonderful time. Everything worked out great. The resort property was very clean and the staff really could not have been better. We had the feeling that they really cared about us and cared that we were enjoying ourselves. We felt safe and welcome. The food was excellent. A vast assortment, very good quality and no long waits. We all ate well and tried some new things also.

There was a good mix of age ranges at the property.  I was so glad I picked this one. It fit us perfectly. One afternoon my older daughter and I took the bus down to the Hard Rock Cafe in search of a hurricane glass that she collects. The location was way down in the heart of the Cancun hotel district. As much as I like cities, and I know once you get into your resort you don’t think much about what is outside, I was really happy to get out of there and back to our place. As it happens, that Hard Rock location doesn’t serve those drinks. We wasted no time getting back on the bus. The modest size of the Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun is definitely more appealing. My younger girls felt comfortable and safe. If they forgot something in their room, it was very easy for them to just run up and get it. 

The entertainment staff offered that if we wanted to check out some of the night clubs, they run a bus for those who want to venture out. My older daughter said if we were there longer she would have looked into that.

The day trip to Tulum and Xel Ha worked out well. I didn’t realize the bus ride was as long as it was. It was nice to have a swimming option after touring the ruins. That day the weather could have been a little warmer. We did not swim as long as I thought we would. Also I did not realize you can pretty much walk around the whole lagoon. After looking at the map on the way home I realized a good approach is to start at the far end with a tube and work your way over. The bus ride over advertises all the extra things you can do there, it would have been good if they gave a briefing of a good way to approach the snorkeling. We’ll know better next time. I would definitely go there again.

I would say our timing was pretty good. The area was definitely getting busy with the spring break kids. The property next door was  a mad house. Ann, I was so glad I worked with you! Who knows if I would have picked that place because of some good deal they were offering. Our vacation would have been very different if we were in the middle of that.   The only confusion I had was I thought our rooms came with a $300 spa discount. I remembered seeing it on the advertisement when I was choosing between properties. When we checked in I didn’t think to ask about it right away and they did not mention it. After a couple days they of sorting things out they did offer some credits and we did take advantage of some spa services.

Also we ended up upgrading our rooms to ocean view from garden view. They offered to upgrade one room for free and the other for $40/night. There was no pressure. We arrived around 2:00pm they said our rooms would not be ready until at least three. They were not quite sure which rooms we would have, so I went for the upgrade. I thought I would spoil myself a little since I hadn’t been on vacation in a while. I had a nice walk around the property so next time I go I’ll know what rooms to ask for.

The transportation people from Lomas were very nice and helpful as well.

So, Ann, thanks to you we had a great time!  It was alot of pressure on me to have this turn out well, because we haven’t been anywhere in so long. It was great, we all enjoyed ourselves, and I am  happy to say we can be travelers again!

Thanks again,

Janet  

The Truth About Travel to Mexico

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The US media has done a great job scaring people about Mexico, and I get asked at least once a week whether it is “safe” to travel there. I always explain the facts behind the misleading headlines, and reassure clients that the unfortunate drug violence is taking place thousands of miles away from the tourist areas of Cancun and the Riviera Maya, and that as long as they don’t plan to seek out local sources for drugs or prostitution while on vacation, they should really be okay! It’s kind of like worrying about traveling to San Diego because you heard there were drug-related killings in New Orleans.

But they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, so today I’m sharing a first hand report (and photos) from some clients who had an amazing vacation in Cancun last week. They stayed at the Gran Caribe Real, which is right in the middle of the hotel zone, but they also got out and explored the area a little bit, and loved what they saw. I should add that I was also in the Riviera Maya the same week, at the NOW Jade Riviera Cancun with my 17-year-old daughter, and we had a blast. If you’re crossing Mexico off your travel list, you’re missing out on a real gem!

Hi Ann,

The trip was just what we needed – sunshine, tropical breeze, the ocean, food and drink!  Certainly couldn’t have picked a better week to go.  It rained a little bit, but almost not worth mentioning.  The hotel was wonderful, clean, the suite was big and we had a great view over the lagoon.  We did have a little problem when we arrived (not anything of your planning).  They gave us a room – jr. suite – but it had bunk beds in it instead of a couch/sitting area and it was in the middle of the “family friendly” zone on the first floor.  Paul went to the desk and told them we needed to change rooms and they told us they couldn’t until the next day.  Paul was very nice about it but was firm and by 5:30 that night they had the third floor jr suite overlooking the lagoon.  We both understand that you can reserve a type of room but they aren’t guaranteed – but in the end we got the room we wanted.  That was the only hiccup.  Once we were settled in the new room, we enjoyed the beach and dinner.

We decided to stay at the resort on Friday because we were both beat from the travel day on Thursday.  Early on Friday, I went to speak with the representative from Lomas Travel who was in the hotel – Jose “Tito” Cicea – and he helped us choose an excursion to Chichen Itza which was a trip we definitely wanted to do.  We booked the excursion for Saturday and it was awesome.  We swam in a Cenote and drank tequila in the museum and then moved on to visit the temple.  The tour guide was fantastic – he is a professor of anthropology and 1/2 Mayan – and you could tell this was a passion of his.  It was a long day – but well worth it and we would highly recommend it. 

Tito from Lomas Travel was at the hotel every day that we were and he was a great source of information for us.  I will be emailing Lomas directly to let them know how happy we were with Tito’s help and guidance!

 We went out and did a little shopping but not in downtown Cancun – the experience at the flea market was enough for both of us.  Shopping isn’t our thing anyway.  The “hard sell” as other people were calling it was not as relaxing as the beach!  🙂  We took a bike tour from the hotel one day and basically relaxed on the beach Sunday and Monday.  I used the gym facilities to run on the treadmill, but in hindsight I’d probably run on the beach next time – just because I love running outside – but the gym worked out great for me. 

 The food, the restaurants, the beverages and the staff were fantastic.  Paul and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip or the Gran Caribe Real to anyone.  Also, I’ve been telling everyone about you and the trip you put together for us – so anyone who asks I will provide your name and number or email.  We can’t thank you enough.  I’ll just put this out there – we want to travel to Europe at some point and when that time comes I’ll call to get your help again!! 

One other thing, the transportation you set up was wonderful – the flights were great and the transfers to shuttle to the hotel and back to the airport were seamless – and now that I have a feel for what to expect it will be less daunting the next time.  Your excellent instructions and planning helped reduce my stress level!  🙂

Yes – now it’s time to slowly get back into reality, but just this morning Paul asked “so when’s the next trip?”  Thank you, thank you, thank you again! 

 Kim

The perfect adult getaway

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Le Blanc Spa Resort  in Cancun is one of those properties that I never — and I mean NEVER — hear a bad word about! Any client I have sent there has absolutely loved it, and today’s rave review from honeymooners Megan and Miles is very typical.  Romantic, adults-only, beautiful beach, great service. What’s not to love?!

Hi Ann,

We had an AMAZING time on our honeymoon!!  We can’t really speak much on Cancun itself because we didn’t leave the resort, but Le Blanc was wonderful.  We never once felt unsafe, so you were definitely right in that aspect.  We also did not do any tours or excursions, we basically just went to either the beach or the pool everyday, which is really all we wanted to do. 

We would highly recommend the resort to couples.  It was very relaxing and most of the time we felt like we were the only people there.  There was not much to do at night, and it seemed like even when they had shows or events not many people participated.  It was fine by us though, we went to bed early and got up early to get out in the sun.  We liked that there weren’t really any “chair hogs” at the resort.  Even when we didn’t get outside until after 10, we were still able to find a good place to sit near the pool.  We also loved the cabanas out on the beach, we used our resort credits on those 3 days out of our trip.  They’re a little expensive if you’re not using the credits.  The spa was also a nice addition, we were able to get two massages each with the resort credits.  Luckily we booked before they changed how the credits work, now you have to pay cash on the tax. 

We attached a few pictures, one of the sunrise from our room on the last day, the next of just a view from our room and lastly a view of the resort from our lounge chairs on the beach.

Thank you so much for suggesting Le Blanc, we loved it and it was the perfect spot for our honeymoon!

Resort-hopping in the Riviera Maya

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I just got back from a quick trip to Mexico, and wanted to share my impressions of the resorts that I visited, but let me first say that Mexico is – without a doubt – open for business! The resorts were busy, the weather was beautiful, and I saw LOTS of people enjoying themselves. I did notice a lot of Europeans on this trip, and I’m not sure if that’s normal for this time of year, or whether they were there in greater numbers to take advantage of all the promotions and deals that the resorts are offering right now. Regardless, it was absolutely lovely!

If you’re impatient, and want to skip to the photos, you can find them on the Annie’s Escapes Facebook page. In the meantime, here are my impressions:

Dreams Tulum

Dreams Tulum, which was my home base for this trip, is at the far southern end of the Mayan Riviera, well south of Playa del Carmen, and about a 1 ½ – 2 hour drive from the Cancun airport. It is  ideally situated for those who want to spend time exploring Tulum, Xcaret and Xel Ha, but might be a little remote if you’re taking a short vacation (too much time spent in transit).  Dreams is a family-friendly all-inclusive chain with locations in Mexico and Punta Cana, and they really do a great job of pleasing all types of travelers, including multi-generational families, couples, singles, and more. We saw more than one destination wedding while we were there, but we also saw moms and dads with babies/toddlers in tow.

The property sits perpendicular to the beach, so there aren’t many true oceanview or oceanfront rooms, but the grounds are absolutely beautiful, and I loved that my balcony looked out onto a quiet courtyard. The low-rise (three story) buildings are Mexican hacienda in style, and the rooms are spacious and comfortable. We were in a basic gardenview room, but we had a large bathroom with whirlpool tub, furnished balcony, and a stepped-down living area with a large daybed.

There are multiple a la carte restaurants, and no reservations are required, so we tried the Italian, French and Steakhouse restaurants while we were there. Everything I ordered was delicious, and the portions were on the small side so that you did not feel stuffed. The omelet station at the breakfast buffet was standout!

The larger, more active pool has a swim-up bar and a children’s area, but there’s also a quieter pool for adults only. The beach was nice, although the surf was fairly rough for the duration of our stay (red flags were up on two out of the three days), and if you like to walk the beach you’re in luck – there are no other resorts to either side, so it feels like a long private stretch of sand.

I can’t really speak about the kids’ club, but it looked like the children were enjoying themselves. And there was a daily schedule of activities and entertainment for all ages…including nightly movies on the beach.

The thing that impressed me the most about this resort, though, was the service. No matter what we asked for, the response was always “It’s a pleasure”.

 

El Dorado Maroma

I had really been looking forward to touring this intimate, boutique, adults-only all-inclusive, and I was not disappointed! If I were planning my honeymoon right now, El Dorado Maroma would definitely be among my top selections.

Set  on one of the world’s top beaches (as ranked by the Travel Channel), with its own adjacent marina for water sports enthusiasts, the property includes just 74 romantic suites. The various room categories offer things like private Jacuzzis, swim-out terraces with direct access into the lazy river pool, romantic outdoor daybeds, private outdoor “love showers”, infinity plunge pools, and more.

The overall atmosphere is luxurious and serene, with plenty of space for couples to spread out and find their own quiet corner. They do offer low-key evening entertainment three times per week, and some daily activities like volleyball and morning yoga classes, but this resort is definitely aimed at couples who want to relax and unwind. That being said, those who want a little more excitement can book daytrips and excursions, or take the shuttle into town.

There are multiple gourmet restaurants, with more than enough seats for everyone, so there’s no need for reservations or waits. The staff is very friendly and accommodating, and I got the sense that no reasonable request would be denied!

The onsite chapel is a definite plus for couples trying to plan a Catholic destination wedding.

 

El Dorado Royale

Ten minutes away from the El Dorado Maroma, its sister resort —  the El Dorado Royale – is also an upscale adults-only all-inclusive with fantastic gourmet food. But the similarities stop there. The El Dorado Royale is a large, sprawling property that provides golf carts and shuttles to whisk people around the resort. It is spread along a lengthy (and somewhat rocky) beachfront, but has so many lovely pools that it’s easy to overlook the less-than-perfect beach.

There are 600 rooms/suites which are divided among the regular El Dorado Royale and its smaller, more exclusive section, the El Dorado Casitas Royale. The main resort is more lively and active, with multiple restaurants and bars, tennis courts, bikes, a disco, and more. The smaller Casitas section has a very large and luxurious spa, and each oceanfront casita features a Jacuzzi tub and romantic “Aquas del Amor” roofless shower. Some have swim-up terraces, private infinity pools, or both!

On the day that I toured the resort, there was a large incentive group checking in (200 rooms), and this is a property that can definitely handle large volume like this, but without feeling in any way “mass market.”

 

Azul Sensatori

North of the two El Dorado resorts, and closer to the Cancun airport (in the town of Puerto Morelos) is another sister property — the family-friendly, all-inclusive, Azul Sensatori. This modern and beautiful resort is divided into three buildings – one for families (with guaranteed connecting rooms for those who need it), one for adults only, and one with premium-level rooms for adults only.

The facilities for adults are absolutely fantastic (including adults-only pools, restaurants, and more) but what really struck me about this property were the amenities for families. The rooms feature separate living areas curtained off from the main bedroom, with their own TV for the kids. The resort provides changing tables, cribs, baby monitors, strollers, baby food, diapers, and just about anything else you might need (and not want to carry with you from home). Through a partnership with Fisher Price, they also provide all sorts of great toys (available in the room, the restaurants, etc.) There’s a playground on the beach; a fantastic Kids Club facility with a rock climbing wall, a theater, age-appropriate video games, and a separate nap room; and a large and well-equipped Teen Club with large-screen TVs, pool tables, video games, and more.  The restaurants feature kids menus, and the check in desk even has a special area dedicated to the little ones.

The resort is popular for destination weddings, since guests of all ages can stay right on the property, and they offer traditional ceremonies on the beach or under a gazebo, as well as a unique “Sky Wedding” on a private rooftop terrace with views of the ocean and the jungle.

 

If you have questions about these or other resorts in the Mayan Riviera, give me a call. There are some tremendous deals to be found, and there are resorts to please just about anyone!

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

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IN THEIR OWN WORDS
"It was truly magical, and the logistics were seamless. We cannot thank you enough for setting it all up in such a way that we really did not have to worry about transportation whatsoever. It gave us all the more time to enjoy the sun, ocean and culture. All the honeymoon amenities were such a great surprise too – and made us feel so special."
French PolynesiaNathan & Jackie
"The vacation was all we could have ever asked for or imagined. We even got engaged!!Thank you for all your help, we had an amazing time and will be contacting you again for our next trip and our honeymoon! We couldn’t be more satisfied with all of your suggestions and assistance"
Punta CanaKyle & Keith
"We had a great time on the adventure as always. Thank you once again for your help. Our trips wouldn’t be half as good and planning would be more than twice as stressful without your wisdom!"
Alaska Lydia & Tim
"Thank you for doing such a great job for us! It really was flawless. You will hear from us again. I am hoping to plan another European vacation next year -- I’m not getting any younger! LOL Recommending you to everyone I know!"
ItalyCynthia
"Hope you had a great weekend. Just wanting to get back to you with feedback from our Hawaiian honeymoon!! We truly couldn’t have had a better time & are so appreciative of all you did in putting together such a wonderful trip we’ll remember forever!"
HawaiiJoanna & Joe
"Thank you for everything :) :) we absolutely LOVED our trip!! Moorea is the definition of Paradise! The lush vegetation and the crystal clear lagoon had me staring at the views in awe every single day. I must have said a million times that the views just do not get old!"
MooreaMeagan & Cameron
"it was AMAZING! Kudos to Thad for picking Rovos and Sindabezi Island and then you helped the two seamlessly come together with transfers and your Private Safari Connections. We will definitely chat! I also have about a thousand pictures to share! THIS was truly a once in a lifetime trip!!!"
South AfricaRosemarie
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You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

– Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

– Carli (Italy and Spain)