I thought that between all the family here on GUG, we have enough travel, tips, and advice to ensure everyone a good & safe journey where ever it may lead. So I will start with one of my favorite and closest destinations that I highly recommend. Let's limit this this particular thread to Mexico, Yucatan Peninsula & Riviera Maya only. Should you have a favorite vacation destination to share, please start a new thread, same beginning, Travel: <insert destination here>.

Grand Bahia Principe:  Akumal

 

Located 60 miles south of Cancun. Passport is required. This is a travel hot spot for my family. No matter where ever else we go each year, we always incorporate a trip to the Bahia. There are 3 adjoining resorts: Grand Bahia Prinicipe Akuma, Tulum, and Coba. These resorts are "all inclusive" which is our preferred method of vacationing. Akumal focuses more on adult guests (clothing optional pool and beach area), where as the adjacent Tulum is geared towards family. Coba is a nice blend of both. Each resort is equipped with 4-6 restaurants, of which most are rated 5 star. One of our favorite things to do is take bananas from the swing bar on the beach out to the water about knee deep and feed all of the incredibly beautiful fish. Hundreds will swim around you wanting some banana. It is simply amazing. Great for underwater photography enthusiasts.

Trip Advice:

I recommend paying for travel from the airport to the hotel when you book your trip. Or, arrange your travel directly with the Bahia and they will have a driver awaiting your arrival at the airport for a cool comfortable ride back to paradise in the hotel van, complete with an ice chest full of cervesa! Upon your arrival at the Bahia resorts, you will be met at the grandest entry with a mimosa (as many as you want)! Check in is very quick and streamlined. The food there is always above and beyond our expectations of any all-inclusive our family has ever been to. If you are a coffee/alcohol enthusiast, then you absolutely must experience one of their "Fire Coffee" concoctions. Swim up bar in the main pool/lagoon is always a good time. 24-hour snack bar that can make anything you crave! And there is a bar on the beach next to the water that has swings instead of barstools. So cool...except when you are so toasted!

While tips are included, we found we got better service if we left small tips for the housekeeper. She would fold our towels in a different animal shape each day. Our daughter loved it. She would always fully restock our mini-fridge and bar daily, as well as our fresh fruit basket on our table, and new pool towels several times a day, and a bottle of the local tequila, daily! Champagne in our room with chilled glasses in an ice bucket the evening of day one and the last day. Love it! Rooms are clean and spacious. Service, staff, amenities...all of a five star quality.

Local attractions close to Bahia Resorts:

Tulum is 20 minutes south. We have taken the guided tour of the Tulum Mayan Ruins, as well as Chichen Itza which is a bit further and a longer tour but much worth it! There are a few outdoor markets to shop at in Tulum, and gift shops tourist items as well in theh Chichen Itza area. The beach at the Tulum ruins is breathtaking because the ruins sit on a bluff overlooking the caribbean, and the water is so white and soft is it like talc. Also a huge hit with us is Xel-Ha. If you have seen the 80's movie The Blue Lagoon then you have a good idea on what Xel-Ha looks like as it was filmed there. Snorkeling, diving, food, drinks, hikes, tube down the lazy river, you name it...all there. Plan on an entire day at Xel-Ha....and then another. And make sure you have "eco friendly" sunscreen. Every place there is eco friendly and it helps maintain the beauty of the resorts as well as the health and longevity of the animals. Cancun is 60 minutes away for those needing the year around spring break type of night life party atmosphere. Not for us or children, but I hear it is just like Vegas only beachy! You can pick from a variety of local attractions and arrange for tours with any of the guides waiting to serve you in the main lobby: beach horseback riding, speedboat tours, hiking in the forest, eco tours, snorkeling, diving, diving tours in the cenotes (underground water caves and caverns, and get a complimentary 60-minute snorkel and dive lesson by their certified PADI instructor in the grand pool/lagoon. There are also nightly shows and entertainment at all three of the adjoining resorts.

 

indeed. thanks for asking. click on the resort name.

Tuna...the other white meat!