Thanks to the birthday celebration of one of my dearest and oldest girlfriends (no pun intended!), I had the opportunity for a weekend getaway in beautiful Cancun, Mexico. Cancun certainly has it’s reputation of being a high volume “touristy hot spot”, which is not at all false nor a bad thing. But, can we just stop for a second and appreciate why?!?!
The beaches and turquoise water are enough to get my attention. I remember the first time I visited Cancun while expecting my daughter nearly 8 years ago. I was SO “impressed” by the color of the water that I described it to my parents as resembling Ice Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid. It looked FAKE it was so blue! Maybe it was the pregnancy cravings shining through that led me to that imagery, but I was not wrong. The water really is THAT vibrant.
The Beach Bonus? You have to embrace the whole touristy thing in this instance, as on most trips this would probably get on my nerves, but the beach vendors in this town ARE kind of fun and certainly convenient! Silver jewelry, beach blankets, hats, sunglasses, beautiful conch shells, cover ups and even Cuban cigars were negotiated down to unmatchable prices while I sipped champagne in the comforts of our own cabana. I mean… why would I ever want to leave this place with this kind of service? If only I could teleport my new personal shoppers up here to Philly as the holiday shopping gets underway?!?! Champagne please!!
The tropical climate makes it a no brainer destination for us northern snow birds. Conveniently, just as the local hurricane season comes to an end, the colder temperatures in Philadelphia blow in. Flights are relatively cheap, easy, direct and under 4 hours! The question is not why you should voyage down there, but why wouldn’t you do so?!?!
Lodging comes in all levels, shapes, sizes and budgets! However, I will say that at least along the main stretch of Boulevard Kukulkan, you really can not go wrong, at least for the most part — Use your street smarts! This visit I had the grand pleasure of residing at Le Blanc Spa Resort, selected by one of the gals on our trip. 5-stars ALL the way.
This place was an all-inclusive, which generally I steer away from… but I say perhaps this experience has shed some new light. With all-day butler service, full time beach front cabana service, luxury spa treatments (I finally braved the fish spa pedi!), bottomless cocktails and gourmet foods, … it is no wonder Le Blanc Spa Resort is ranked #1 Resort in Cancun, #2 All-inclusive worldwide (according to my travel bible, Tripadvisor.com).
We did make it off the compound for one evening, venturing off for dinner to Perico’s which in my book is a historical tourist landmark in Cancun. A tourist trap, perhaps… but saddles for bar stools, a congo line between courses, live mariachi and marimba bands, with a shot of tequila at the door kinda make it an essential stop for all travelers, wouldn’t you agree?! We made this our WIG OUT NIGHT to highlight the fun… and, as an added bonus were granted access to the costume and prop collections for a private photo shoot!
Whether it is for a long weekend or a week-long getaway, Cancun really does deliver. For those who wish to remain pampered in the confines of serenity and aromatic infused privacy, they can. For the explorers and more lively crowds, you’ve got pretty of day time or night life options!
I love hearing about other people’s travels! What are some of YOUR favorite spots in Cancun? Comment below for fellow readers to hear about your experiences!