For those of you only interested in learning about Cancun and the Riviera Maya, you will want to skip this post. For those of you interested in what it was like to travel back to Hawaii during the COVID pandemic, you many want to stick around and read some tidbits about the travel experience.
Here’s another all-inclusive optional resort to highlight–Grand Residences Riviera Cancun near Puerto Morelos in the Riviera Maya. This one is an all-inclusive optional surprise since it’s a member of the Leading Hotels of the World. Most highly acclaimed resorts in this area of Mexico are totally outside the all-inclusive market, were originally an all-inclusive resort, or have fully moved over to the all-inclusive market. If you want to know its specific location, it is just south of the Puerto Morelos Marina and Now Jade resort with easy access to excursions leaving from the marina.
I just read that Barcelo has decided to reopen some of their other resorts in their mega-resort complex, Barcelo Maya Grand Resort. While the adults-only Maya Riviera and the family-friendly Palace sections have been open for awhile, the resort recently reopened the Colonial section. The Tropical section is set to reopen this Friday, May 7, while the Caribe section is looking to reopen in June (no set date yet, I imagine the resort wants to see what the demand will be with the opened resorts). No word yet on when the Beach section will reopen, however. This is a great mega-resort, I have been there twice and stayed at the Caribe in a swim-up then moved over to the Palace on one vacation; the other I stayed at the new adults-only section. Don’t hesitate to book the resort, you can snorkel with sea turtles over at the Palace during the morning and snooze in a poolside or beach lounger in the afternoon.
Krystal Cancun Hotel is a family-friendly all-inclusive optional resort right in the heart of the Hotel Zone at Punta Cancun and across from Cancun’s convention center. Fortunately (or unfortunately–it depends on how you look at it), the resort is situated a stone’s throw from Cancun’s famous clubs so the sound and activity level can go up a notch or two late in the evenings. The closest club is Mandalay, so their Tuesday night beach party can go until 3:30 a.m. Guests staying in Tower B should be forewarned that you will get the brunt of Mandalay and party zone noise.
Here’s a newcomer to the Puerto Morelos hotel market–The Fives Oceanfront is an all-inclusive optional, family-friendly luxury boutique hotel located on the outskirts of Puerto Morelos in the Riviera Maya. There are several “The Fives” resorts, so be careful if you decide to book since you may wind up staying at the wrong hotel/resort. It became kind of confusing when Karisma removed their name brand from Azul Fives Resort a couple of years ago (that resort is now rebranded as a “The Fives” resort), but that’s a different blog post.
Finally got official word that Secrets Silversands will open as Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun sometime in 2021. There is no specific date set yet, however. I double checked the old SS address with the new Hyatt address and they are both the same, so there’s no doubt this is the replacement.
Vacationers used to the “best” while traveling typically consider the Viceroy brand as a potential contender in places to stay. Well, the Riviera Maya has its own Viceroy which is an adults-only all-inclusive optional resort located just north of Playa del Carmen. The Viceroy Riviera Maya offers one and two-story villas, some of which are very private, in a jungle setting. Vacationers wanting to be closer to the beach have the option of booking a villa which has an ocean view. Villas have heated plunge pools, indoor and outdoor showers, Bose radios, hammocks, and upgraded in-room amenities from Italian-made robes to handmade artisanal soaps–once you are checked-in you will be receiving a visit from the soap concierge in order to pick out your favorite bar of soap from their collection. This resort also has its own resident Shaman who performs smoke blessings for new guests.
According to a recent study, here’s where US airlines rank in most likely to lose your bags to least likely to lose your bags: Continue reading
I’ve decided to do a series on all-inclusive optional resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya–not too many people know all the options in this category and may be interested in trying out one or two to see how they compare to resorts which are totally all-inclusive.
Tomorrow, April 1, 2021, a new tourist tax will be implemented for international tourists who visit Cancun. The tax amount is $224 Mexican Pesos which is approximately $11 USD; the new tax must be paid for each foreign/international visitor over age 15 (Brazil and some other select countries will pay less). This new tax can be paid before you leave, while you are vacationing in Cancun, or paid in cash at various Cancun airport terminals before you fly home.