10 Days In Cancun - A Travel Guide
Cancun has the most beautiful beaches, crystal clear water and is one of the worlds favorite travel destinations for good reason!
J and I stayed at the Hideaway at Royalton Riviera Cancun, an adults only all inclusive resort and it did not disappoint! In fact, it was so nice and luxurious that we’ve thought about booking it again soon. Our room was perfect, ground level with a pool!
The resort is split into 3 sections. One that allows kids, one that is for adults only but is called The Diamond Club (I’m not sure what this entails because we had access to all of the same things minus one restaurant) and the Hideaway at Royalton which is where we stayed. It is secluded at the very end of the resort. If you choose the Hideaway you will have private pools and access to certain things others don’t.
The spa at The Royalton is amazing. Staff was extremely nice and accommodating . We got an hour long couples massage for $99 each. It included a hydro therapy session at the end which was so nice. We actually ended up being the only ones in the spa which was extra cozy!
The weather called for rain every day but it never rained until our second to last day & there was a tropical storm moving through. What are the odds, right?
Do NOT Miss:
Catamaran Tour to Isla Mujeres -
GET OUT ON THE WATER! You will regret it if you don’t. This was by far J and I’s favorite excursion we did. Upon booking, the hotel will set up your shuttle transfer to the marina. You will be directed to registration and then led towards your boat. Each ticket includes all you can eat and drink. First stop was snorkeling! Bring a go - pro or some type of waterproof camera because you won’t want to miss all the photo ops! They will take you over an underwater museum which is INCREDIBLE. There were tons of fish and stingrays, don’t worry, they’re harmless! *If you go snorkeling, you cannot drink until you are done! After snorkeling we hopped back on the boat, enjoyed some cocktails and headed to eat at the included all you can eat buffet! Pro Tip: Tequila shots are included as well! After lunch we headed off to Isla Mujeres for shopping and some relaxing time on the beach! The trip was in total around 8 hours, so you’re gone the whole day! Don’t forget sunscreen and your sun glasses!
Visiting the Mayan ruins in Tulum -
This one is obvious! Go see the ruins, now included in the Wonder of the World! You will regret not seeing it and Tulum is absolutely breathtaking!
A day trip to Xel - Ha or Xcaret -
Before I dive into this one, make sure that you get plenty of rest the night before this trip because you will be gone ALL DAY, I mean a full 11 hours! One more important thing to note, we did not realize how busy and packed this park would be so be aware of that before booking! Xcaret is a water park on the ocean. It is located near the Mayan jungle which has underground rivers, cenotes and faces the Caribbean Sea. Here you can enjoy a nice beach area, a lagoon where you can float on single or couples tubes and snorkel out to multiple islands with different water features. Additionally, in different sections of the park you will see jaguars, manatees, flamingos, dolphins, spider monkeys and bats. Tickets come with unlimited drinks and food! The park also has so many rest areas where you can catch some sun in hammocks or just chill out near the ocean.
A night out at Coco Bongo -
I’m adding this because my mom has been here a trillion times and just raves about it, however, J and I did not make it. There was so much to do at the resort and we already booked 3 excursions so we passed on this but is on our list for next time! The Royalton does have a nightclub on resort that is pretty fun but nothing compared to what I have heard Coco Bongo’s is all about!
*We booked all excursions the first day that we got there so that they were planned out in advance. You will get a better deal if you do it this way rather than booking ahead of time!
Remember to Bring:
Pack as many bikinis as days you’re staying or more. There were some days that I actually wore two different suits because we had something going on in the middle of the day and I didn’t want to put a cold suit on.
Pack a waterproof phone case! This is a must, especially for excursions that you take! *If you have a go - pro I highly suggest taking that as well!
Bring comfy shoes but also nice shoes for dinner. The Royalton is MASSIVE so bring comfy sandals / heels. If you stay at the Hideaway you will have a bit of a walk to get to dinner!
If there is one thing you absolutely don’t forget, BRING BUG SPRAY! I got bit one night, no joke, 36 times! I counted! I couldn’t sleep because of it and have scars now from where I was bit. Funny thing, we actually brought a ton of bug spray and bug repellent wrist bands for our ankles and wrists but I forgot and got attacked!
Claw clips or barrettes for your hair, it’s EXTREMELY humid in Cancun especially when it rains, if it does so forget about doing your hair! I wore my hair up most days or just let it be natural!
Bring more cash than you think you need for tipping and emergencies!
A few evening dresses that you can dance in! Every night everyone was pretty dressed up! If you’re going to be there on a Friday, bring an all white dressy outfit because you won’t want to miss the white party!
Some sort of backpack or belt bag for excursions! You’ll want a change of clothes for some and maybe different types of shoes if you’re walking a bunch but then headed to the beach! I suggest packing light! I was able to fit everything we needed into a medium sized belt bag with no trouble.
*Pro Tip - Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs and things you want to bring back like some fancy tequila!
Dining at the Resort -
Not all of the restaurants are open right now due to COVID but there are still a bunch that are!
Gourmet Marche International Buffett - This is the only place open for breakfast but not to worry, THEY HAVE EVERYTHING! J and I got an omelet and a hash brown almost every morning because they were so good! They also have fresh pressed juice, waffles, bfast tacos and so much more!
Dorado - which serves salad, fish and chicken sandwiches, mixed veggies and more! This was our favorite spot for lunch by far!
Zen (Hibachi) - this was our absolute favorite place to eat dinner. J and I both agreed that it was the best sushi either of us had ever had along with their miso soup. We ate here 5 of the 9 nights we stayed! Enough said!
Caribbean Grill - We only got to eat here once! I had salmon over pasta with olive oil and veggies and J had the surf and turf! Both were incredible and it was here that we learned to not skip the dessert! We had cheesecake and creme brûlée… both of us were in a food coma afterwards! So good!
Hunter Steak House - J and I both had caesar salads, I had the mahi mahi over veggies with a side of mixed veggies. J had the filet! We also both had dessert... cheesecake and creme brûlée… again.
Score Sports Bar - J and I didn’t realize that the sports bar served food until our last day which is so sad because we probably would have ate their more. They had typical bar food... cheeseburgers, poutine, wings, grilled cheese and soup, mac and cheese, onion rings and fries. We LOVED the poutine and the mac & cheese!
You can also order food at the pool, from your walk out pool and the beach and let me tell you… it is just as good as eating at the restaurants. I always opted for the quesadilla. I suggest ordering it with a side of nachos and dip it in the guac... delicious.
*Make sure that you make reservations for the steak house and hibachi. Everything else they will try to squeeze you in if you don’t get to reservations. J and I were horrible about making them but we still got in almost every time. They do encourage you to make reservations so if you’re a rule follower make them on your first night!
Traveling During Covid -
Wasn’t bad at all! Just make sure you have a mask, wash your hands often and just keep to yourself! The airlines can deny you entry and flying privileges going forward if you don’t wear a mask so just wear the mask. We saw this happen to someone!
Worth Mentioning -
If you get a walk out pool keep in mind that little creatures can get in them too since they’re ground level. We had a couple crabs hop in our pool. Make sure to call the front desk to have someone come fish them out so you don’t step on them or get your toes pinched!
Don’t be afraid to make friends... we made some amazing ones that we intend on seeing again and even traveling to! Shoutout to Ashleigh, Javie, Arielle, & Angelo! If you’re reading this, we’re so glad we met ya’ll!
Try to get a private airport transfer if you can. It made it so much nicer to be alone and the service is all around better.
BOOK THROUGH A TRAVEL AGENT. Do not book on your own, whatever you do. If you need one, we have the best one! Her name is Sherry Holiday at Caldwell Travel! Tell her I sent you! It makes the entire process nearly flawless! She will take care of everything for you and in some cases she is able to work her magic and get you some really nice deals and/ or some extras you might have not known about! We would never book a trip without her help!
All in all, 10/10 trip! No complaints at all, even with a tropical storm moving through (We kinda needed a break anyways! lol) ! Cancun has so many things to offer and is just incredibly gorgeous! The Royalton is luxurious yet fairly priced! Can’t go wrong with booking this as your next vacation! Cheers!
xoxo, Kay!
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