The New and Better Cancun

10/5/20099:38:43 AM Link |  | Add comment

I just returned from a resort inspection to Cancun and the Riviera Maya. I hadn’t been to Cancun since Hurricane Wilma three years ago. Cancun looked like a war zone at the time, hotel windows broken, trees uprooted, sand everywhere. What a difference today.There are new and better resorts with beautiful grounds. Palm trees planted everywhere and the beaches have been restored. Several properties stand out for me. One is a family oriented resort that has everything to offer: Large family suites that sleep 5 people (not the usual 4), a food court that has every type of food including vegetarian. A wonderful spa for Mom, a sports bar for Dad and a water park for the kids. This is an all-inclusive resort meaning that the meals and beverages are included. It’s a good value for a family vacation.The other is not an all-inclusive resort but has a meal plan if you desire. The rooms are beautiful; the infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean Sea is something to experience. We had the luncheon buffet and it received rave reviews from our group of well-traveled travel consultants. The spa was the most unusual I have seen. It was indoors but you felt as if you were in an over the water bungalow in Tahiti.Cancun offers so much these days, from shops offering the best designer clothing to the local flea markets where you can bargain to your hearts content! There is world class dining and night life to rival Las Vegas. You are only 10 to 15 minutes from the airport so just a short trip to your resort. After Cancun, we traveled to the Riviera Maya which seems to be very popular with our clients. There are many new resorts in the area from just south of Cancun down the coast to Tulum. This area is also popular for many of our destination wedding clients. The resorts have programs that offer weddings on the spectacular beaches or in the beautiful gardens. The wedding coordinators located at the resorts make it all so easy. You just need to get to the resort. You can have a small wedding for just a few of your family and friends to very large weddings that would fill a reception hall. Some offer free weddings when you reserve a particular room category.Family reunions are another popular event taking place at the all-inclusive resorts. There are activities for all ages and many of the resorts have handicap facilities with wheelchair ramps and elevators. The resorts are becoming very luxurious with wonderful spas, rooms with private pools and terrific areas for kids. Even though the news about the airlines has not been very positive, my flight was full and the resorts we visited and stayed at were full. Prices may be a little higher than last year, but there are still good bargains out there. Just contact your favorite travel consultant for their advice and help.

Judy Bakanec, ACC is owner of Going Places Travel in Frederick. She can be reached at 303-833-3105 or judy@goingplaces-travel.com