Hiatus again... Been busy with work. Can finally post pictures after installing Chrome.
So we went to Cancun for our long delayed honeymoon recently. Reason for the delayed honeymoon is just that I got a new job when we got married and I don't have any personal days at all as a rookie... sad.
Anyway, we went to Cancun a week before the Christmas and came back on Christmas day last year. To be honest, I was skeptical about going to a tropical area because I was from a tropical country and the heat usually does two things to me: break me out and give me a tan. Thank goodness we went during the winter so the temperature is just perfect, although I do get break outs and tan... err...
We booked our trip through Expedia since it just comes in one package. We booked our flight, transportation to and fro the airport, hotel, and any other activities all at one time. This is actually our first time booking through online travel agency and surprisingly it went smoothly. haha.
I am going to finish this post like a documentary because it is easier.
December 20th, 2014, Saturday:
We reached Cancun around 11am and got to our pick up location to the hotel. We stayed at Riu Palace Las Americas and it is all inclusive. The check in time is actually 3pm but they let us check in earlier since the room is available.
Airport view
Full of people
Welcome drinks
View of our room. They combined two queen size beds together because they are running out of rooms with single bed.
After we have checked in and dropped our luggage at the room, we went down to check out the amenities included in our package.
View behind the entrance. It's stunning. I miss this view...
This is the other side of the hotel, with a swim up pool bar under the canopy like tent. They have in pool day bed as well. They have activities every day in the afternoon.
Outside of the hotel.
After exploring, we went for lunch. They have all inclusive meals and drinks. We just pick one of the restaurants. Below is the Los Arcos restaurant's.
Starter. They all taste pretty good.
Grilled mussels~
Main course. Don't remember the name. So I am just going to post the pictures up without captions.
They have wide selections of desserts to choose from. We just picked a few.
After lunch, we explore more places in the hotel and waited Expedia personnel to meet with us and provide the tickets to the activities we purchased.
Of course, since they have all you can drink alcohols, we absolutely have to take full advantage of it. I think I drink the most on this trip, haha.
We walked around some more, rested a bit, and then went for our dinner. Dinner is at El Romero.
Starter.
Appetizers.
Salmon entree.
lobster entree.
Steak entree.
Dessert.
We were not satisfied with the dessert provided at that restaurant, so we went next door just for the dessert, which happens to be a buffet restaurant. Dessert at Don Roberto.
December 21st, 2014, Sunday:
We take it pretty easy on the second day, relax and eat a ton pretty much sums up our day.
Breakfast at Don Roberto - eggs, smoked salmon, ham, and sausage.
More ham and sausage, and french toast = more eggs.
Taken outside of the buffet restaurant.
View from the other side.
View of our hotel from the back.
Some random pic - I don't know what this is.
In the meantime, we get down the water for a bit then lay at the beach just doing nothing, my kind of day.
Lunch time is the barbeque they set up by the pool.
Ribs, barbeque chicken, fries...
Then we went to the main pool for a dip. These sea gulls have no fear. I tried to shoo them away and they just inches away from me...
We got bored after a while, so we went out to look around. This is the front view of our hotel.
Quite happy that we picked Riu Palace because it is so close to the markets and they are all within walking distance.
One thing about these markets is that you have to bargain with them on the price, not unless you are rich and just don't care, haha, and they are quite persistent to have you buy their products once they get a hold of you.
This is the night view. I didn't take picture of our dinner because it is a Mexican theme restaurant. I live in Texas so there is nothing special about that restaurant to me. The food is good though, especially the dessert. Dinner at Tio Pepe.
December 22nd, 2014, Monday:
We went for our tour and water park on this day. They wanted to meet up at the lobby around 8:00 - 8:30, so we didn't have proper breakfast that day. Couldn't wake up early enough for breakfast. My husband went to get me the sandwich from the buffet restaurant, but I didn't want to eat on the bus, so I gulp down the sandwich like I have never eaten before next to the bus, only came to find out that the bus is full of people, probably looking at me in disgust while I eat my breakfast... Orz...
Tulum is not the biggest here attraction here. Chichen Itza is a few times bigger and that tour usually last for a day. We were there at Tulum for 1.5 hour max, but the drive is long from the hotel to Tulum,
The Caribbean Sea is so blue.
Tiny guardians greeting us there.
Next stop: Xel Ha, the water park.
Lunch in the water park. It's a Caribbean theme buffet.
Then we went snorkeling. I don't know how to swim, so it was quite an experience to me. I think I am the only adult that screams in the water... *weak smile...* I have fun though, with the help of floating jacket and floating ring, haha. We have to leave around 6pm for 1.5 hour ride back to the hotel. The park is so big we didn't actually get to explore it all.
At around 5:30, Xel Ha park will start passing out candle lantern to put onto the water. It was quite a pretty site but we didn't get to do it. Everyone is trying to get one so is pretty crowded as you can see in the picture.
We got back to the hotel around 7:30 and we have to shower and get ready for dinner we reserved. We went to Krystal for dinner that night.
Not sure what the two things are at the side, but the salmon in the center is so~ good.
Shrimp salad.
Lobster risotto as entree. The rice is kinda hard, but the lobster itself is good.
Steak my husband ordered. The steak is good, but the banana... is hard and dry and not sweet. Not sure if that's normal.
Mango dessert.
December 23rd, 2014, Tuesday:
Another lazy day...
Lunch at El Romero.
Dinner. We didn't reserve any place that night because we forgot to... But it turned out great. Dinner at Los Arcos.
Mango pudding is so good~
We then went to the mall nearby for a walk, and to get some souvenirs. Just realized this is the first time I have ever showed myself from behind the camera. *shy twists*
Lots of liquors and international food in the market. It actually sells chocolates at a cheaper price compared to those in the souvenir stores.
Hotel's night entertainment.
December 24th, 2014, Wednesday:
Our last day... must absorb in all the sun and the beautiful views.
Walked around the beach.
Lunch at Los Arcos again, for lamb chops. *wipe drool*
Out of boredom we built this castle. We went back to look for it the next day but it was gone.
Wedding ceremony at the hotel.
They have a grand Christmas Eve dinner and thank goodness we did reserve it this time.
Saw the staffs setting these up around noon.
Decorations they set up outside of the restaurant we dined at. Dinner at Don Roberto.
shrimps, crab, clams, and lobster.
shrimps, squids, lobster, lamb chop, oyster mushrooms.
Dessert. All tasted good.
So glad we decided to come back on Christmas day instead of Christmas Eve.
December 25th, 2014, Thursday:
Our last day here, came back in the late afternoon. So depressed...
I didn't eat much that morning, probably still full from the night before or simply too depressed to come back. Breakfast at Don Roberto.
Our identities for the last five days.
They gave us a voucher for lunch after we have checked out at 12. Lunch at Don Roberto.
Last time to reminiscence this beautiful view before we head back to reality.
Here are a few things to be aware of when staying at this hotel:
- There is a moldy smell to the room due to the moisture. To us it was fine since everything else is great.
- Make the restaurant reservations the day you reach the hotel. You most likely won't be able to make the reservation for that very day, but you can reserve for up to two days in advance. If I remember correctly the reservation desk opens at 9am and closes at 4pm.
- Bring as many $1 with you as possible to tip the servers at the restaurants and when you order drinks at the beach (This generally applies to all the hotels in Cancun).
Phew~ this is a long blog, which I have not done one in a long time. Time to sleep. Ciao~
