Are you one of the many individuals who have become a pickleball enthusiast? I have several friends who are so into it they take lessons and play in tournaments… Unfortunately I haven’t yet joined the pickleball craze, but I realize that many who have are wanting to continue playing while on vacation, just as many vacationers enjoy working out in a gym while away from home.
My Instagram friend, Gaspar Michel (known as cancunvacationsecrets on Instagram) kindly wrote me a blog post about what to do when travelers are staying at an all-inclusive resort but want to do something fun and/or adventurous in the Cancun or Riviera Maya areas of Mexico. Since he currently resides in Tulum and has been posting for some time about what to do and how to save money while on vacation in this part of Mexico, I thought a local would be the best source of info about how to have even more fun while vacationing at an all-inclusive property. So, please read on and find out what he thought would be helpful…
Everyone has their opinion on the “best of” within any category up for discussion, and that includes all-inclusive resorts. Within Mexico’s Cancun and the Riviera Maya areas, there is a plethora of such all-inclusive resorts, and since I’ve never bothered to count them I can’t give you a specific number. Even if I did, every year there is a minimum of 2-3 new adults-only resorts so the number would soon be inaccurate anyway.
Looking for a good video review of the brand new Secrets Tulum Resort and Beach Club? Check out this video by Tesla Hippies…
I’ve stayed at or visited most of the Riu resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. In my opinion, it’s one of the best budget-friendly resort chains out there where you get the most bang for your buck…and when you spend your hard earned money on a vacation, that can turn out to be a very relevant consideration when choosing a property.
Secrets Playa Blanca now has a firm opening date–Feb. 1, 2024 and is offering some pretty good opening rates. Entry level rooms will start at $245 p/person p/night (that is darn good considering Hyatt’s high pricing since taking over the AMR Collection). The only restriction is that you have to book by Nov. 30, 2023, and take your trip by Dec. 30, 2024.
I’ve never run across this before–a well-known and respected resort brand sells a property to another chain brand and then buys it back several years later…This appears to be what happened with Grand Oasis Tulum Riviera, an all-inclusive resort located between Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort and the Bahia Principe mega-resort just north of Tulum. This resort used to be known as Grand Oasis Tulum (owned by Oasis Hotels and Resorts), then became an AMR Collection resort called Sunscape Akumal (AMR resorts include Secrets, Dreams, etc., Sunscape is a cheaper family-friendly option in comparison to Dreams resorts). Apparently Hyatt has sold it back to Oasis. Hmmm…if anyone knows the inner workings of this transaction please let us all know.
Bad news for those wanting to stay at Armar House Cancun…For those who don’t know, this used to be ME Cancun, then Melody Maker.
Even if you’ve never been to Cancun before, hopefully you are aware that Cancun has been a mecca for spring breakers for quite some time. Beautiful azure ocean vistas, soft white sand beaches, warm and sunny days perfect for tanning, and nearby bars and clubs for nighttime fun attract many vacationers during spring months, not just college students. If you are not into wild and crazy partying and still want to vacation in Cancun during the spring, it’s important to know where college spring breakers tend to stay so you can avoid experiencing a potentially disastrous vacation experience. If you like this kind of party ambiance, more power to you; read on and find out where to stay instead!