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At the beginning of October we took a chance and ventured out to Northern Cancun to enjoy a break before the winter months. I say “chance” because of concerns about traveling overseas in a pandemic. Even though we were primed with masks and sanitizer, getting onto a crowded plane was still daunting. Reading that hotels were only at 30 percent occupancy and knowing we would be outside most of the time instilled confidence that we could avoid people! The unbeatable price with BookVip was the final push. so we got on the plane and this is what we found.
Our Airport Experience
Surprisingly, there were a lot more passengers than I had anticipated in the airport and on the planes! America is traveling again, which is great for the airlines and tourist industry. Our flights were stuffed full of business and leisure travelers. American Airlines fills the middle seat; I am not sure if this is currently typical of all airlines, but it certainly didn’t surprise me. Zero spacing between people is a bit alarming after months of social distancing enforcement, but it’s the price people are paying to travel again.
The check-in process was smooth with nothing out of the ordinary other than mandatory masking. We checked in at a kiosk, printed off boarding passes, paid for our luggage, and sent it on its way. Security checks were staffed by masked, gloved personnel but a very typical protocol. So far, so good.
Upon entering the aircraft we were given a sealed bag containing a snack and bottled water, staff explaining that it reduced contact and the risk of transferring the virus. Masking continued mandatory, with reminders by flight staff to various passengers to wear masks properly over the nose, not just mouth. Upon arrival in Chicago, we noticed that services were extremely limited, even though the airport was busy. We climbed aboard a packed flight to Cancun with another snack bag and more mask-violating passengers who were not wearing masks properly, or even at all until instructed to do so. My fellow passenger insisted on wearing her mask mouth only, moving it onto her nose after instructions from the flight attendant and glares from me. This was my only frustration with the entire process. The planes were clean, and upon landing in Mexico there was a large cleaning crew waiting to spring into action. One of our pilots mentioned that the installed HEPA ventilation process constantly cleans the air, which was somewhat reassuring.
Upon arrival at Cancun, all airport personnel wore masks and our luggage was sanitized before being placed into our transport to the hotel. Our driver was masked as were all the hotel staff. Cancun airport has an overwhelming choice of transport options; everyone wants your business. My advice is to research your transport options carefully to select a good price. Tripadvisor is always a good resource for this. Our transport to the hotel was arranged for us and it was excellent, so I can recommend Aventour for its service but since it was complimentary, cannot comment on the price. On the way back, the hotel called a taxi for us with whom they had a contract and set rate which was very reasonable at 27$. Renting a car is something I would never do from a safety point of view but there are options if you choose to.
The Mexican Caribbean Experience
This was actually my first time in Mexico. Late to the party, I know. I chose Cancun as it was the most reliable destination at the time of booking. Cancun has done a fantastic job of being tourist ready in a pandemic and saving the tourist industry there. I did not want to stay in the hotel Zone; I’m too old for nightclubs and wanted to stay away from crowds. I saw an ad from BookVIP for cut-price, all-inclusive rates, and checked all of their options. I had used BookVIP before and have friends who have traveled to Mexico several times with them, so I wasn’t leary about their low prices. When you are presented with a limited choice of hotels, do your homework and research thoroughly using all the sources you can find as you would with any selection. I used Tripadvisor, Booking.com and Expedia to read recent reviews. After reading dozens of reviews, I was pretty confident that we were going to a good quality resort, and I was not disappointed.
The hotel and Covid precautions
We stayed at Villa Del Palmar, Cancun. The hotel is located in Northern Cancun in the Isla Mujeres area, about a 20-minute taxi ride from central Cancun and the Hotel Zone, and thirty minutes from Cancun airport. One of my main concerns about Mexico has always been safety. This resort was gated and everyone had to check in before driving onto the property. There was an abundance of staff in the lobby and around the property. Everyone was service-oriented. The entire staff was incredibly polite, helpful, and determined to make our stay a good one. I felt completely safe, even walking around the resort at night.
The hotel complex is modern and sparkling clean. The grounds are immaculate and the pool areas are well maintained. It houses five restaurants and several casual eating/drinking areas. The resort is located directly on the beach, next to the ferry that shuttles cars and passengers to Isla Mujeres. There are loungers and drink service on the beach and all around the pools.
Since we were on an all-inclusive package, we took advantage of the restaurants available to us. Due to Covid and the low season, not all of the restaurants were open every night, but overall we had a good choice of Italian, Japanese, Mexican, and a Steak house, with a great breakfast menu in the morning and several lunch/snack areas. There is also a Starbucks and gift shop available. The restaurants were excellent and the standard of food was very high. The portions were not huge but it was enough. If you are very hungry, all-inclusive means you can order as much as you want!!! It’s hard not to be greedy! Due to the remote location, I would recommend all-inclusive where everything is packaged in and you don’t need to worry about the cost of every meal or pay for a taxi to get to nearby restaurants. Masking and hand sanitizing upon entry to each restaurant were mandatory.
Our room was a luxurious suite, with a hammock on the balcony, two bathrooms, a full kitchen, and a washer and drier. In stark contrast with American hotels, it was cleaned every day and the fridge was restocked. It was a poolside, ocean view room.
This particular hotel is more remote than the hotel zone, and walking anywhere was out of the question. Since we were there for just a few days, we were quite happy with relaxing on the beach and utilizing all of the facilities at the hotel, including three meals a day, entertainment in the lobby, and a Spa. There are plenty of opportunities to get out and explore if you decide to. For a small fee, the ferry next to the hotel can get you to Isla Mujeres which offers beautiful beaches and a bright blue sea. Once there, you can rent golf carts and explore, or take a taxi to areas of the island. If the time of year is right, go to the turtle farm! http://www.isla-mujeres.net/tourism/home.htm
The hotel had a small office which sold tours to local areas. These included options to travel to the Mayan ruins. Isla Mujeres and ocean sports options.
The Weather Experience
The view is always amazing, but October is the end of the rainy season and part of hurricane season in Mexico and we were affected by both! Our weather was hot, humid, and overcast. Out of nowhere, Tropical Storm Gamma popped up, which knocked out a day and a half that we needed to visit Isla Mujeres. Restaurants were still open in spite of the lashing rain and wind and the hotel staff was amazing in keeping the lobby areas dry. Several days after we left, a full blow hurricane hit Cancun and 40,000 tourists had to be protected. Since then, another has hit its shores. Cancun has had a bad few weeks. My advice is to avoid the Caribbean area in October!
BookVIP experience.
BookVIP offers unbeatable value in all inclusive vacations to Mexico and other countries. The catch is the mandatory sales presentation for timeshares. This is scheduled for the morning after you arrive and it starts with breakfast with your salesperson, then a tour of suites that would be available to you if you purchased a timeshare, then the sales pitch. The hotel is very strict about your attendance and makes it very clear that skipping the meeting will result in your paying full price for your vacation. I actually had a good time at our presentation as our person was the funniest person I have met in a long time, so we got very lucky! So if a couple of hours of timeshare presentation doesn’t bother you, BookVIP is great value. When booking your resort, the name of the resort is not revealed until you have booked. I’m very particular about where I stay, and researched hotels in the specified area to match it up with the description and photo they presented. Then I compared it with the other options they offered in the same way and made my decision, then booked the vacation. The actual booking process is very thorough and there is a short criteria list, so don’t be surprised by the questions. BookVip currently offers two years to travel and a penalty-free rescheduling policy.
Currency
Finding Pesos in the US is a challenge. If your bank doesn’t sell them, you might have to wait until you get to the airport. Of course, you don’t have to buy them as you can always use a credit card, but having cash is very handy for tips and small purchases. We tipped well and it was very much appreciated. It’a nice to reward housekeeping and your loyal bar staff in their own currency, not to mention waiters, cab drivers, the luggage handlers. Covid has hit everyone, especially those in the hospitality industy.
Travel Insurance
You need it! Look for an insurance company that offers Covid coverage. We used Seven Corners and fortunately didn’t need it. The reviews are mixed although everything looked great on paper. If you book your flight with an airline credit card, they may offer insurance as part of their perks. Either way, do not leave without it!
The Return Experience
Leaving paradise always gives me a bad attitude about the return journey. Checking in at Cancun included mandatory downloading of departure documents onto cell phones. It was extremely crowded and social distancing was challenging in some areas. We did enjoy our duty-free shopping experience, especially the Tequileria offering great bargains. After my last genuine burrito for lunch, it was time to board yet another crowded flight with sunburnt tourists. Upon arrival in Chicago, the vacation was definitely over. Our tequila was a huge source of interest even though it was in sealed duty-free bags, which were ripped open by security personnel. The bottles were “tested” in a machine and declared safe. If they had “failed” the test we would have lost them. How they could find anything dubious in a sealed bottle of tequila is a mystery and took up a ridiculous amount of time in which we could have missed our flight. The same thing had happened to me at the beginning of the year and I am beyond irritated with the policy towards sealed duty-free goods, but I put it down to job security for someone. Trying to find something warm to eat was almost impossible! We lined up for the only open restaurant we could find and then had to use their App to order a beer.
I truly cannot wait to go back to Mexico. The food, scenery and people made it a great experience. Next time I would like to return to the same area and explore the Mayan ruins and Isla Mujeres.
We came home Covid free. I have no qualms about getting on a plane again, but as always, use your judgment about traveling and your exposure to people in confined spaces. If in doubt, check with your physician!
