Marvellous Mexico
We stayed at two hotels. For the first part of our trip we were based at Dreams Riviera Cancun and we stayed in a deluxe room with plunge pool, the room was a big hit with the kids, and they were in the plunge pool morning, noon and night. It was handy for us adults too as the kids could carry on playing whilst we were getting ready for the evening. Speaking of pools there were three others at the hotel including a huge infinity pool overlooking the beach.
The atmosphere round the hotel was great both day and night, during the day there was music and activities round by the pool area. In the evening there were fire shows, cabaret and interactive entertainment.
One of the best things at the hotel was the dining. As well as the buffet restaurant there were also six a la carte, a grill and a café. All the restaurants were modern and unique with plenty of choice on the menus. Our personal favourite was Himitsu which served pan-Asian cuisine where you can sit with the chef who cooks for you on the teppanyaki table.
The second hotel was Dream Playa Mujeres which is the flagship Dreams hotel in Mexico. As soon as I walked in, I was wowed by the impressive lobby and the welcoming staff. The rooms here were clean, spacious and fresh and we had a lovely view of the ocean. There was a selection of pools, water slides and a lazy river (for preferred club guests). The beach was so clean and well-kept with gorgeous clear water and fine white sand. There was entertainment including live singers and bands throughout the day. The kids club was excellent with so much for the kids to do and so much variety for every age range. Again, being part of the dreams collection there are plenty of dining options including fine dining at the a la carte restaurants as well as a café, grill and ice cream parlour. There is also a choice of 13 bars and lounges.
During our stay we had lots of day trips and excursions. First was a family fun day out to Xplor. Here we drove amphibious buggies through the Mayan jungles, flew through the sky on a zip line, walked through caves and swam through underground rivers.
We then went on to Xcaret which celebrates all things Mexican. There are is live music, Mexican shows and hundreds of activities going on throughout the day. We did some underground swimming, visited the Mayan village and archaeological sites, went through a paradise river on a raft and saw plenty of animals and creatures on our way round. Both parks included a lunch and drinks and had changing rooms and lockers so you could get changed, leave your belongings in a safe place and enjoy your day.
Another trip that we enjoyed and would highly recommend was a catamaran trip over to Isla Mujeres. There was a fantastic atmosphere with an open bar at sea serving rum, vodka, beer and soft drinks. Once we arrived, we hired a buggy to explore the island and had lots of photo opportunities with great views at every turn. After this we stopped at a beach club for a local BBQ lunch. There was then the option for free time to shop, explore and relax on the beach. On the way back there was the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear waters…a perfect way to end a perfect day.
The last of our trips was one of our favourites, a trip to the Yucatan Peninsula to visit the famous Chichen-Itza. This was a fascinating day and we had a fantastic tour guide who educated us on the Mayan history and culture. Considering it is one of Mexico’s most visited sites it didn’t feel crowded at all and there were plenty of opportunities to get up close and take photos. Unfortunately, you can no longer climb to the top, but we still thoroughly enjoyed the trip. As part of our excursion we had traditional lunch and Mayan entertainment in one of the local hotels. This was followed by a trip to cenotes, a natural swimming hole that has fresh water so clear that you can see straight through to the small fish below, this was just what we needed after a hot day of walking around the sites. I would highly recommend taking this trip.
Although we squeezed a lot into our trip, there is still so much that we didn’t see. You can make a trip to Mexico as relaxed or as action packed as you like, there really is something for everyone. I would recommend for families, couples and groups.