Mother Daughter Cancun Trip

In November 2018, my mom’s birthday present was a passport. This November, her present was a continuation of last year’s. It was a 7 nights all inclusive trip to Cancun, Mexico. My mom has sacrificed a lot over the years and one of those sacrifices was travel. Just a quick backstory… she met my Dad while stationed in Italy (her U.S. Navy, him U.S. Army). They traveled all over Europe back in their day before having me and my sister. So after more than 30 years of getting a passport stamp, I took my Mom to Mexico for her birthday. It wasn’t the most authentic/cultural experience. We were just looking for relaxation, fun in the sun and all inclusive resort bliss. Well, mission accomplished with this mother daughter Cancun trip.

Day 1

Lunch

After a quick layover in Charlotte, we arrived to Cancun around noon. Took our shuttle (Happy Shuttle Cancun) and were on our way to the resort. We stayed at the all inclusive Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun. On Day 1, we decided to try out the lunch buffet ‘Kalmia,’ sampling their different assortments of meats, seafood, breads, side dishes, desserts and fresh squeezed juices. Such a large array of different international cuisines. It was my mom’s first time at an all inclusive resort so it was fun watching her experience it. The staff ended up singing happy birthday to her as they presented her with a cake. A great start to the trip!

Beach

After a great lunch, it was time to check out the property and see what they had to offer. I know there has been a lot of client complaints with the sargassum/seaweed issue in Mexican beaches. I’m proud to report that during my stay the beaches were sargassum-free. Of course this could change anytime. Generally speaking, the properties in Mexico that tend to be cleaner are on the Hotel Zone, where Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun is located. The properties that tend to be most affected by the sargassum tend to be in the outskirts Riviera Maya area. After some checking out the property and people watching on the beach, it was time for dinner! We opted for the beachfront seafood restaurant, Kambu. The shrimp soup and fish tacos were heavenly. After dinner, we relaxed the rest of the night.

Day 2

November 2nd was our Day 2 of our mother daughter Cancun trip. It just so happened to be Dia de Los Muertos in Mexico. So we decided to leave the resort and some the day in Isla Mujeres. It was very easy… we simply took the local red bus (R2?) for 12 pesos a person. We took that bus to Playa Tortugas where we got off and took the ferry to Isla Mujeres.

Note: There is only ONE legitimate ferry that will take you to Isla Mujeres. It’s called UltraMar (here is a link). So don’t be fooled by people coming up to you offering to take you there. They may very well have a boat but I wouldn’t trust it. Stick with the big ferry where you’ll be safe with others. The ferry departs from this pier where there’s one last ditch effort to collect more money from. Cervezas! Hats! T-Shirts! Pretty much all of your usual souvenir suspects are at this pier. It worked in my mom’s favor though since she badly needed a hat.

Isla Mujeres

We stepped off the ferry with the other hourdes of tourists, and started to make our way to the shopping! Isla Mujeres (The Island of Women) is a fun place to go for the day. It’s very crowded but you can easily maneuver. One of the more popular ways to get around is by golf cart rental. But we decided we wanted to just walk around instead. We grabbed some gelato, and popped into little stores. She was on the hunt for a small nativitiy scene.

While the stores do give you an authentic and local feel, the items in each one seemed to have the same items. So it felt a little redundant after an hour or two of shopping. The sales people are a little pushy but very sweet. We found this little gelato stand and saw they had fruit sorbets. So banana flavor for mom, and raspberry for me. Very good! I also wanted a fresh coconut on the beach there. Safety tip: Always make sure you see the coconut being opened in front of you before deciding to drink out of it. Maybe it’s just me being paranoid, but always take precaution. Especially solo travelers!

After getting to sit by the beach for a few, we decided it was time to return to the resort. Overall, Isla Mujeres makes for a great day trip if you’re in Cancun and just need a little mini escape. Later that night, we had dinner at the a la carte Italian restaurant and watched a magic show.

Day 3

My mom’s biggest request for this mother daughter Cancun trip was to see marine life. So we went on a snorkeling excursion! The company we decided on was Total Snorkel Cancun. Pick up was early in the morning around 10:00 AM so all we had time for in the morning was watching the sunrise and grabbing breakfast. I’m not usually one to wake up early before the sunrise but it was another request from my mom so I figured why not.

Then we were off to go snorkeling around the Puerto Morelos area. That area is known for being a little fisherman area. There’s a little pier around there, some local shopping markets and of course. Upon arrival we were given a quick inroduction, safety tips and a key for our locker. Then we were off for some fun! The snorkeling trip was only 3.5 hours total from beginning to end. We stopped at 3 or 4 different stops. One of the stops was an underwater museum with statues. Very cool experience! Photographer Alex was included on the trip (CD album was $50 USD). Check out the video of the fish swimming with us! So cool to enjoy wildlife in their natural habitat, completely unbothered.

Dinner & Show

After a fulfilling half-day snorkeling tour, we went back to the resort. The night before we set up reservations at the Argentinian Steakhouse, San Telmo. This was the only restaurant where reservations were required (not suggested). We pigged out on empanadas, salads, and steak. There was an upcharge for certain cuts of meat (Cowboy steak, etc.) but I just had the standard flank steak with chimichurri sauce. And it was at THAT moment I realized I needed to book a trip to Argentina one day soon! After dinner, we got to see the Fire Show on property. Very talented crew and I’m happy to report there were no casualties.

It was so cool watching my mom pull out her iphone and take slo-mo videos of the fire show. Was proud of her for being that tech savvy!

Day 4

We spent our last day at this resort wisely. Getting some pool time in, checking out the entertainment available. Then being lazy bums on the beach reading and people watching. In my hotel review, I did note that the entertainment was a bit lacking at this resort. But there was still quite a few different things going on for all ages. We just hung out at the pool (I introduced her to life at the swim up bar).

It was a great time just soaking up the sun and getting to relax together. My mom works TOO hard every week. She needed this vacay more than anyone I know.

Day 5

This morning, we left the Hotel Zone for Riviera Cancun. More specifically, for Azul Beach Riviera Cancun, a Karisma Resort. This property is an all inclusive family friendly resort. It’s a larger complex than Fiesta Americana Condesa Cancun resort with a few more eateries. We came here for the 3 Nights Karisma FAM (Familiarization) Trip. So this first day was really just getting to know the resort together. Getting a feel for the grounds. Trying out the restaurants of course! For those who may not know, the Karisma Resorts are known for their Gourmet Inclusive meal plan. That is one of their biggest selling features for a travel agent. I was happy to do some “research” for my clients and try the food out myself!

Below are a few photos from the first day checking in. One thing I have to be super transparent on is the beach. As you can see in the photos, the water color is more brown-ish than what you’d find on the Hotel Zone (as mentioned and shown above). For my clients who prioritize a beach over a pool, this is not for you. My mom and I had lunch down by the water and tried out the casual grill. Later in the evening, I met up with fellow travel agents for a nice dinner at TAPAZ, the a la carta tapas restaurant.

Day 6

This day was the first day of our mother daughter Cancun trip where were were apart for most of the day. While my mom got to relax poolside with a book, I went to WORK! Alongside other agents, we got to tour the El Dorado Seaside Suites property. This property is an adults only property that I sell quite a bit. One of the main selling features is their incredible infinity swim out pool suites. We were greeted with welcome drinks and cool towels for our faces. Then we got to take a sneak peek at the different areas of the resort.

The beach quality is still the same as Azul Beach (not the clearest water I’ve seen) but again… this property is for those desiring a pool over a beach. After a few hours of a marketing and educational class, and touring this property it was time for lunch! They gave us a spread of fresh ceviche, homemade meats and seafood, pizza and desserts. Yum! I always love getting to see the inside look that my clients will experience during their travels. One of my add-on sales is a private beachfront dinner for couples. As you can see in the picture below, I was able to take a look at the set up. For those looking for the ultimate romantic night, I highly recommend a private dinner on the beach! Perhaps an engagement? An anniversary celebration?

Day 7

This was the second day of hard work! This lovely bunch of travel agents headed to SEVERAL properties this day to tour. First, we visited one of their non-all inclusive properties, Xolumado Inspiration Villages. I’d encourage you to click on the link and see what this property is all about. It’s definitely a good fit for the backpacker community. It’s great for anyone looking for a relaxing getaway with not a lot of bells and whistles and without wanting to be on the busy hotel zone strip. There’s one pool onsite and lots of greenery around. I could totally picture a yoga retreat here (yogis, let’s get in touch!). Very calming and relaxing. If you did want a taste of the all inclusive life, you could easily go next door to family friendly Generations Riviera Maya where the day pass will run you about $70 USD.

After touring Xolumado and Generations Riviera Maya, we were then able to tour the three adults only properties: El Dorado Royale, El Dorado Royale Casitas, and El Dorado Maroma. One of the highlights of my trip was getting to take a sneak peek at the Palafitos Overwater Bungalows! It’s on my travel agent bucket list to sell this property to someone. Beautifully designed, close proximity to the U.S. east coast and it’s a true all inclusive resort. Butler service included. While we were touring these adults only properties, we were continuously fed small bites and treated with our own butlers.

Naay Spa 

We were able to take a look into the Naay Spa, which is the spa for all of the adults only Karisma properties. Vassa Spa is the spa for the family friendly Karisma properties. You’ll find so many different spa treatments and salts. The perfect place for relaxation. There was even a temazcal steam house. According to Karisma “Under the guidance of a Mayan Shaman, the womb of Mother Earth opens up through chanting, sweat invocation, the steam of herbs and the power of the elements. Earth, Wind and Fire come together to purify body, mind and spirit and provide an opportunity for rebirth, in one of the world’s oldest rituals.”

After our long trip here, I joined my mom for our last dinner in Mexico!

Day 8

Our last day here, we soaked up the last bit of sun! My mom read her book and I got a last minute dip in the pool before we left for the airport. Side note and completely unrelated: I highly recommend the book “The Woman In the Window” by A.J. Finn. Especially if you love a good mystery! After I finished it, I gave it to my mom who finished it. Very good read.

Overall, this mother daughter Cancun trip was one for the books! I hope to have many more trips in the near future with her. Are you looking to take a mother daughter trip somewhere? Or any other type of trip? Shoot me an email so I can get started on your quote: cassandra@accent-on-travel.net.

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