I just read from a Memories and Mojitos post that Secrets Maroma will be experiencing several renovation projects during 2026. These updates include the following:
Convention Center renovation, May 9-Aug. 22. Resort impact is supposed to be minimal since the Center is located away from guest areas.
Restaurant refreshes, Aug. 22-Nov. 30. Bordeaux and Portofino restaurants are targeted with getting new kitchens and a wine cellar. Dining is still supposed to be available, but I guess the cooking will be done in another restaurant kitchen?? Not sure how that’s going to work out for guests.
El Patio, the Mexican restaurant, is supposed to be removed entirely.
New Jungle Pool and Sugar Reef Bar, July 18-Nov. 30. Looks like the Jungle Pool is going to be relocated, so maybe some guests will be elated that this pool and the main pool won’t be so close together any more.
Updates aren’t supposed to greatly interfere with guest services.
How do you feel or what do you think about these changes? Let me know in the comments section below.
The last blog post I made covered Paradisus La Perla, the adults-only section of this Paradisus resort complex located in the Riviera Maya. The video posted below by LeadByLivingTravel primarily covers the family-friendly side, Paradisus Playa del Carmen, including the upgraded Family Concierge section and amenities offered at this property. This side of the resort used to be referred to as La Esmeralda but was changed to Paradisus Playa del Carmen during 2020–the entire complex is now referred to as Paradisus Playa del Carmen.
There are a few video sections showing La Perla, but most of the video is about what families can experience at this resort location. Let me know in the comments section below if you have stayed here and what you thought or if you would consider staying here for a future stay.
I’ve had my eye on this adults-only resort for quite some time but there’s always been factors in place which have made me postpone a stay here (re. new resort openings, beach quality, etc.). Some of my blog readers have emailed me about whether or not upgrading to The Reserve at Paradisus La Perla is worth it and unfortunately I could not speak from firsthand experience since I’ve never stayed here.
I’ve posted a video below done by Memories and Mojitos Travel (travel agents if you need to contact one) which highlights this resort and what it has to offer overall as well as what the perks of staying in The Reserve are like. I appreciated the suggestion of bringing cat treats to feed the resort cats, I tend to feel sorry for them when I encounter them while on vacation since they often look fairly thin (well, with the exception of the black cat at Platinum Yucatan Princess, that one was obviously well fed), and now I know what to do just in case I encounter one.
I was also reminded of the fact that the swim-up suite pools off the terrace by the main pool actually connect to the swim-up bar…if you read my blog posts with any regularity you already know that swim-up suites are my favorite room category at a resort, and the connection factor here is just another reason why I need to stay here pronto.
What do you think? Would you stay at La Perla or have you already stayed at this resort? Let me know in the comments section below.
If you’ve seen my post from yesterday highlighting Aqua Nick (the water park on the grounds of Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya), perhaps your curiosity about the resort itself has been piqued. If you have children who like certain Nickelodeon characters or, if like me, your adult children used to watch Nickelodeon characters during their allotted TV time, the video below may bring up certain memories or help your children more fully engage in having fun while on a family vacation. I know I would dread the infamous statement “I’m bored” while on a family vacation, and here’s a setting which would hopefully provide assurance this phrase would never enter a conversation.
In watching the video, note the smallness of the rooms and the bathroom but on the other hand the ability to close off areas of the room from other areas–some degree of privacy can be reached at this location and this may be important to some families. Also note the balcony security gates in the swim-up rooms, to some degree there is an assurance of safety with younger children to help prevent drownings. Note the beach is not the best due to the rocky ocean entry as well as the concrete blocks in the water; those concrete blocks were carefully planned and placed to resemble a snake and reduce beach erosion as well as increase the presence of various marine life (like making an artificial reef)–if you want to look up the project it’s called Kan-Kanán and you can learn more about it here.
Check out the video below and see if this resort would meet your family vacation needs and wants…Leave a comment below and let me know if this property would appeal to your family.
Since Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts Riviera Maya opened in 2021, I haven’t heard or read much about its adjoining water park, Aqua Nick. Aqua Nick is a Nickelodeon-themed water park for both children and adults and it’s located right on the resort’s property (actually you can see the back end of the park when driving by from the main highway). Many tourists think that you can only access the park if you are a guest staying at the resort, but that is not true. Even if you are staying at another resort destination you can always purchase a Day Pass to the water park and have a marvelous time! Of course, if you are staying at the resort you have free unlimited access to the water park, plus if you are staying at the adjacent property of Generations Riviera Maya you also get free access.
If you are interested in purchasing a Day Pass you can get it here from Lomas Travel. You can also purchase Day Pass tickets from ResortPass.com.
Below is a video done by OPENMEXICO which highlights the areas of the park and what’s available in each area. Have you been to this park? Are you thinking of having some fun with your family at this water park? Let me know in the comments section below.
If you haven’t watched Unlimited Vacation Club videos about Hyatt resorts then perhaps you aren’t into extended videos with an emphasis on the benefits of being a member of this particular chain of properties. If you have watched any of them you know they do a mixture of Spanish and English, it can be a great way to test your Spanish skills because the English portions basically repeat what they’ve just said in Spanish or add additional information about the same subject which they have been describing.
I’ve been waiting for an extended video about all the renovations Secrets Playa Mujeres underwent–the resort was closed from April 15, 2025 and reopened Jan. 2, 2026. That’s a very long time for a resort to be without a continual stream of guest income, so you know there have been a lot of significant changes made.
Below is the most recent video done by Unlimited Vacation Club and it thoroughly covers Secrets Playa Mujeres. Let me know in the comments section below what you think about this renovation–would you stay here again or for the first time?
While doing some reading for my last post about 2026 TSA Requirements for carry-ons, I ran across a spreadsheet which was done by a travel info vlogger, Aly Smalls. While there are a growing number of videos out about a supposed new size requirement for carry-ons across the board regardless of airline (22x14x9), please review size requirements for the specific airline with which you will be flying before you get rid of your old carry-on or purchase additional carry-ons. Aly made a spreadsheet of specific carry-on sizes currently on the books for multiple airlines–click HEREto see the list. The numbers are in cm but you can easily bring up multiple conversion tables when using your favorite search engine.
Remember when measuring your bag to see if it fits the size requirements listed by the airlines to do the following: In regards to 22x14x9, 22 measurement means top of the handle to bottom of the wheels, 14 means widest point across which could involve a handle on the side of your luggage so you would be measuring to the top of that handle, and 9 means front to back at the deepest point and that means if you’ve overstuffed your suitcase the measurement would be to the point where it sticks out the most.
I’ve used Travelpro for the last 15 yrs. or so as my go-to carry-on brand and haven’t been disappointed in any aspect of the quality of the product. I’m sure you have your own favorites.
See you in Cancun (with your carry-on of course), and for me that would be the end of this month! Already have the bag out of storage just waiting for attention…
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel quite a bit over the course of my adult life and have arrived at a point where I feel very comfortable traveling with only a carry-on, even for trips as long as 10 days. This not only frees up airline baggage fees, it frees up time spent at baggage carousels waiting for a bag that sometimes does not arrive which can be incredibly frustrating at the very least. On one occasion quite a few years ago someone had taken my checked bag off the carousel (must have thought it was their bag) but did not return it to the carousel once they realized their error which caused quite a bit of anxiety and frustration for me since I thought the airline had lost my luggage. I was the last one from my flight wandering around the carousel areas and decided at that time it was the last time I was going to expend my energy this way.
I’ve been noticing some recent information which seems to suggest there are now additional TSA restrictions in 2026 for carry-ons when going through security. Batteries, liquids, food, and medications/pills are common sticking points for travelers who get pulled aside with their bag for additional security checks and questioning. Looks like there are additional rules and restrictions for the same old items.
Below are a couple of videos which highlight what these restrictions are–I hope this helps those of you who primarily use your carry-on when you travel. Let me know in the comments section below what your experience has been with carry-ons…
After being closed since June 1, 2025, Paradisus Cancun reopened their doors to guests April 1, 2026.
If you want to know the changes this resort has made as a result of their renovation process, here is a link you can go to in order to find out exactly what was done to the property.
I must say, however, that if you are going to be doing extensive renovations I don’t see why the half-walls on their balcony rooms were left intact–must be budget-related. That leaves shorter vacationers like me struggling to see over the top when seated on balcony chairs. I can’t really enjoy my ocean views unless I stand and what’s super relaxing about that? At least they put in a new water park area, it’s not much but at least it keeps the little ones busy during a vacation.
So, who’s planning on staying at this newly refurbished resort? Let me know in the comments section below.
If worrying about the sargassum situation in Cancun this summer is getting in the way of vacation planning, here’s an idea which may appeal.
Why not try staying at an all-inclusive on Isla Mujeres? All the resorts and action on this island are on the west side which thankfully avoids the sargassum floating in on ocean currents coming in from the east. Given that piece of info, you know that beach areas here will still have normal amounts of sea grass but not the terrible influx of concentrated amounts of sargassum which can be so bad that they prevent vacationers from entering the sea.
Since not everyone can afford the absolutely beautiful Impressions Isla Mujeres by Secrets, there is another adults-only alternative called Almare Isla Mujeres which is a Luxury Collection resort by Marriott. It’s situated approximately 3.5 miles south of Playa Norte (don’t miss visiting this beach, it has an easy ocean entry and turquoise waters) and has its own dock area to receive and send off those who have booked this resort. Vacationers arrive at the Cancun airport then take a taxi or shuttle to Renaissance Resort and Marina, another Marriott property, where they catch the ferry over to Almare’s dock. Renaissance Resort and Marina is actually located off the Hotel Zone strip north of the top of the “7” on the west end (Cancun’s Hotel Zone is shaped like the number 7) giving the ferry ride easy access into and out of waterways.
Almare has about 109 guest rooms and suites so it’s a smaller property. Given that fact, there are only two a la carte restaurants (no buffets), a food truck, and a poolside grill area along with three bars and a coffee shop. Surprisingly, this resort also has a rooftop infinity pool with amazing ocean views so be sure to take advantage of that amenity.
The beach area is small and has a few beach clubs surrounding the resort’s beach area so don’t expect total quiet during the afternoons (there is also a beach massage area just south of the resort but that is not affiliated with Marriott in any way). Ocean entry can be a bit rocky so bring your water shoes in case you need them.
Below is a video walkthrough of the property done by Wanderlust Gene Travel–what do you think? Is it worth taking a ferry over to Isla Mujeres to avoid having to worry about sargassum ruining your summer vacation? Let me know in the comments section below.
