Trip Review

Soooo...we're back from Mexico and very relaxed. We had a great time at the Excellence Playa Mujeres Resort.

We got there late Friday night, after an easy time at the Cancun Airport. Driving to the resort was a little sketchy. It was dark, we were alone in a van with our driver who spoke NO English. The roads were curvy and dark and there were random people all along the sides of the road (at 10 o'clock at night). We had to go through three security gates. The resort is protected like a fortress. Seems that Mexico has serious security issues but they are really trying to protect the resort areas to avoid losing that important revenue. Apparently, Mexicans spent 14 BILLION dollars last year on private security. Yikes!

We got to our room and it was decorated for Dr. Daddy's birthday. Very cute. They also had a bottle of champagne waiting for us. The first thing we noticed about this first floor walk out room was that there was NO privacy. The back patio was totally visible from all sides. Not good. Also, the room was extremely loud. We heard the room service carts going up and down the hall all night long. Luckily we were able to switch the next day to a third floor room. Unfortunately, the resort was unwilling to refund us the difference in cost of the room (approx. $80/day) because we had booked through Expedia. Seems that even though Expedia had charged me for the vacation, the resort had not yet received funds from Expedia. Whatever. That's a phone call I still need to make! We were just so glad to have more privacy. Our third floor room was totally quiet.

We pretty much spent our days at the pool, eating, drinking, working out, etc. It was so relaxing. The resort is super isolated, so nobody on the beach trying to sell you anything. The beach itself was a little pathetic and there was lots of seaweed but that was fine because we're definitely more pool people anyway. The restaurants were all delicious. We especially liked the Mediterranean and Italian Restaurants. Didn't so much love the French. How do you mess up escargot and a steak?!

The drinks were definitely NOT watered down, as is the case with many all inclusives. I thought the shows were really good...Dr. Daddy was not impressed. They even did a Cirque du Soleil type show one night. It was very cool!

We ended up not doing any excursions...just didn't want to go to the trouble.

The Spa was fabulous. I couldn't talk Dr. Daddy into a massage, but I did get a pedicure and he had a much needed haircut. The prices were very reasonable and the employees seemed very capable. They gym was really nice, although the tv's were situtated such that it was difficult to see them from the treadmills.

There was bottled water whenever we needed it. I think I must have had 100 bottles of water that week! The bars were all nice. The main martini bar in the center of the main building was always busy. I was impressed that people really dressed up and looked nice in the evening. A lot of all inclusives in the Carribean don't really enforce a dress code, but Excellence does and it showed. We got a kick out of all the honeymooners there. TONS of young, adorable newlyweds. All the new hubbies had that deer in the headlights look. So funny. There was such a fun feel to the place all week. Lots of laughing, playing water vollyball, etc. We met some really great people. I swear, that Dr. Daddy never met a stranger...

The AMAZING brick arch in the main building.



The front lobby steps.




SPICE, the oriental restaurant. Very CHIC and super yummy.




Evening shots...




The pool and our building...





Cool fountains...there were fountains everywhere. They're totally onto the fact that running water is relaxing...



Palapas and beds...they were everywhere.



What am I going to do with this man?!



One of the outdoor bars...



Our decorated room (for Dr. Daddy's birthday) and our first meal...Ceasar's Salad and cheesecake...








We got back to the states the following Friday and immediately headed to Williamsburg for a medical conference. That was fun as well...I always love getting to see Dr. Daddy all done up in black tie. The event was held at the Williamsburg Lodge, which was really lovely. The gala itself had a salsa theme. They had maracas as favors and each time an award was given everyone shook the maracas. Very festive. The food was AMAZING. A perfectly cooked filet mignon with a delicious ancho chile sauce. I'm dying for the recipe!







Finally, we headed home on Sunday to see the kids. We missed them so much! They definitely had no problem functioning just fine without us. All the grandparents seemed to survive as well. Not bad!