First things first, let’s talk about location as there are many Westin hotels in Cancun, Mexico and this one is tucked away on its own slice of heaven. The Westin Hotels & Resorts in Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico is where I escaped on an I-forced-myself-to-take vacation which internally I was kicking and screaming not to go as there was so much work to be done. Once you become a lifestyle and travel blogger, it is hard to turn if off when not traveling for work but I am happy to say I did create and take content but only because I wanted to not because I had an itinerary to follow. I also posted long after I got home, when I felt like it and on my terms. That said, if you travel with a full schedule and expect me to get up at 6 a.m., I’m not the gal for you!
What did I have planned? Absolutely fucking nothing and it was glorious. I used to ask why do people just lounge around the resort all day and don’t explore. Well, now I know… I’ve been working since I was 16 and haven’t stopped since. People are exhausted living this faux “American dream” and running this rat race where prices are raising, everyone is nickel and diming you, taxes for everything including the land your own house is on and still no Universal Health Care. ‘Merica is not it, ya’ll and I think that as citizens we are finally realizing we ARE the third world country run by billionaires and their buddies. Now back to Cancun, Mexico which gets such a bad rap… when our own country is 10 times worse. Yes, they have militia with larger, more visible guns. Yes, they have shootings in broad daylight but so does America and it’s not getting any better. However, this section of Cancun is like its own universe on the tip of Dolphin Beach Point next to all-inclusive Club Med and not in the center of the crazy party Hotel Zone area. With a price point and glowing online ratings, this 4-star resort is in fact the definition of a hidden gem – like for real.
I had already traveled to the nearby boho chic Tulum area of Mexico, staying in the smaller town of Akumal. Full of cenotes (turquoise water filled caves), the monkey conservatory and more amazing places, I did all the things when I was there on a 10 day trip. Literally it was day of rest, day of adventure then rinse and repeat. I also loved the sweat meditation lodge at the end to clear my sinuses and soul! So I didn’t feel the need to go exploring all over the place and packed a book to read – something that has become a luxury for me lately finding time to sit down and read a damn book. So I took it one day at a time deciding what I wanted to do – if anything after sleeping in – while enjoying the views above each day at a different lounge chair. This one inside a hut was fabulous but burned me to a crispy critter as you’ll see. I would like more melanin in the next life!
Because I’m a Marriott Bonvoy International Affiliate, I get invites in the mail sometimes to places that I can’t resist. Logically I couldn’t talk myself out of this stay as I was getting cash credit at the resort, a steal per night, it was my birthday and I had enough Southwest credit card points to pay for the roundtrip flight. I call this the good fuck around and find out experience because I left a stress ball and came home clear headed and relaxed. Read on to learn more about this rad vacation spot!
Flying out of Phoenix with some of my last Southwest points to Cancun, Mexico. I was doing this long camera photo thing at the time which now I’m not a fan of but I always experiment!After a shuttle ride from the airport (always pre-schedule one) my eyes couldn’t believe the color in Cancun, Mexico.I immediately ran over to the palm trees as it was a sight for sore Arizona desert eyes in Cancun, Mexico.I took about 10 pics of this same angle in Cancun, Mexico. Up to the left is the party area so you can see we’re on the very end.I mentioned to them it was my birthday so they gave me an upgraded top floor room and this sweet sash in Cancun, Mexico. It’s the little things that mean so much!My room at Westin hotels in Cancun, Mexico.The balcony views which I grew to love watching the sunset each night in Cancun, Mexico. The colors were so vivid!I was pretty happy to be here at this point and glad I forced myself to relax in Cancun, Mexico. I’ve also realized comfy, stretchy travel dresses with sneakers are the way to go!At this point I literally was running around the building like a kid in a candy store in Cancun, Mexico.I immediately ran to where these views were in Cancun, Mexico.The infinity pool in Cancun, Mexico.A restaurant which had live music each night in Cancun, Mexico.Take me back to Cancun, Mexico! All beach chairs are included in your stay, no nickel and diming here.More amazing beauty in Cancun, Mexico at the beach bar. Most liquors anywhere in Mexico are watered down because people can’t handle themselves on vacation!The best part about this spot in Cancun, Mexico was this beach area. It was sheltered enough that the waves were not bad at all and you can spend hours just floating around. I immediately got in there! You can see Club Med in the distance at the tip.To the left of the steps down, more great lounging areas in Cancun, Mexico.The lifeguard hut at Westin Cancun, Mexico.I don’t think there’s anything better than a massage by the beach in Cancun, Mexico.I was buzzing around so thought I would simmer down with a six pack of Barrilito you can get at the airport in Cancun, Mexico. It cost about $5 or $6 USD. Of course the resort had everything you want, however marked up and if you walked down to the OXXO convenience store that reminds me of Circle K, you can get anything you need for a steal. Just check your receipts carefully kids!Then immediately back to the beach and into that water in Cancun, Mexico.I was giddy and happy I found such a great space in Cancun, Mexico.For dinner, I was obsessed with these surf and turf fajitas that could feed two in Cancun, Mexico. I switched it up with another Mexican favorite, Bohemia beer for dinner.Once stuffed, it was time to float around in the pool in Cancun, Mexico.Looking for solitude, I went toward the big hut restaurant in Cancun, Mexico.Tucked in a corner, I found the spiciest hot tub in Cancun, Mexico. That’s something I love about this country and ‘Merica can’t match, yes please boil my skin off.Views peeking out to the left of the spicy hot tub in Cancun, Mexico. I tried to make this a nightly routine minus the New Yorker on his phone working at 8 p.m. the first night, it was pretty chill.Back up to my balcony to enjoy the last of the sunset in Cancun, Mexico. You can’t swim in the bay as you might get eaten by alligators!Since I was still on Arizona time, I was up and at ’em ready to grab the best hut in the house in Back up to my balcony to enjoy the last of the sunset in Cancun, Mexico.I parked it in this lounge chair for most of the day in Cancun, Mexico, watching the water, reading and swimming. Rinse and repeat. I did bring my snorkel and there wasn’t much to be seen here.So I did a little selfie photoshoot in Cancun, Mexico. Get those pics sis, you’re only older each passing day! See the full video on YouTube shorts.If you would return to your vacay spot is the sign of a great time and yes indeed, I would in Cancun, Mexico.I had a friend gift this book to me however I thought it was a feminist read not smut in Cancun, Mexico which made for an awkward conversation with the activity staff.So back to beaching it was as I was not feeling like reading smut in Cancun, Mexico.I meandered over to the infinity pool in Cancun, Mexico.Whenever I travel, I make fast friends and a nice fella took this pic for me in Cancun, Mexico. His wife had trained him well! Watch the full video on YouTube.The activity staff wrangled me into a cocktail class in Cancun, Mexico and I’m pretty sure it was a steal like $5.We learned how to make Jarrito with the staff joking about pouring too heavy in Cancun, Mexico.It was a fun filled class and everyone was celebrating a birthday in Cancun, Mexico. The cup means to say recycle me and I’m here for green resorts.It was lupper time and I was hungry so a big ol’ Hawaiian pizza it was in Cancun, Mexico back at my beach hut. When on vacation, I tend to eat a small breakfast, large lunch/dinner and then snack at night.Soon it was sunset time in Cancun, Mexico.I always like these little rocks with sayings in Cancun, Mexico.I ran into a couple trying to take selfies so we took pics for each other in Cancun, Mexico. My skin was red and angry here thus the men’s polo shirt!A baby sea turtle sanctuary much like the one I worked with in Puerto Vallarta Mexico.My curiosity led me down to the tip of the beach toward Club Med.A moment in time captured forever in Cancun, Mexico.I poked around inside one of the bar restaurants at Club Med in Cancun, Mexico.This space was it for sunsets too in Cancun, Mexico. The Westin has the blue panel.A nature preserve was right at the tip of the beach and made for much better snorkeling in Cancun, Mexico.I climbed around in flip flops the rocky terrain to get a better view in Cancun, Mexico.Finding these little ecosystems of life in the rock ponds in Cancun, Mexico.I’m a sucker for a great sunset spot in Cancun, Mexico!So dreamy and serene in Cancun, Mexico!The next morning I walked my sweaty ass to OXXO before it got too hot and humid to do so. This small bottle of delicious 400 Conejos Mezcal was only $10 and beer was even less. I even got some tacos and the lady laughed at me with all my onions, what can I say I like ’em stinky? Also make sure to take a Tums or Rolaids each morning to coat your stomach and don’t drink the tap water!This day I shuffled my chair back under an umbrella as my skin was not happy with me and I was lobster gal in Cancun, Mexico. I was previously in the lone hut to the right.I was wearing my nerdy SPF 50 rash guard but took it off for these pics in Cancun, Mexico. You can see the red burn spots! Watch the terrible getup I had to wear to protect my skin on YouTube.And just enjoyed my Pacifico beer, snorkeling and playing around in paradise in Cancun, Mexico.Swim until breathless, rinse and repeat. I was a happy, more skin protected fish this time in Cancun, Mexico. I wish I was like this gal!A little break from the sun and some AC action brought me back to my room in Cancun, Mexico.And now that the mezcal was chilled, time for some sips in Cancun, Mexico. I love mezcal, tequila not so much.I was feeling pretty good right here in Cancun, Mexico. Now to fix the sun damage this winter!That night I went back to the Club Med side of things, snorkeled, met some cool new French friends and went to bed pretty early for me in Cancun, Mexico. They were ready to party and I was ready to sleepy!The next morning I went on a tour near the lobby in Cancun, Mexico and loved these chairs.Westin in Cancun, Mexico has the options of timeshares if that’s your bag in Cancun, Mexico.Afterwards, I made sure to get a real Coca-Cola with cane sugar at OXXO, this is my version of crack in Cancun, Mexico.And back for more fajitas in Cancun, Mexico! I was indeed obsessed.Honestly have no clue what I was doing this day in Cancun, Mexico but as lobster gal, sunset was my prime time. It was this evening that tiny fish swirled around me in the water, playing with me. I was giddy with Little Mermaid delight!As a woman who travels solo often, asking a stranger for pics can go either way in Cancun, Mexico. This is one of the better ones! Watch the hot tub full video on YouTube.Rocking my newly aquired red skin patches in Cancun, Mexico.I then played Bingo at the pool where you had to win more than once which made no sense to me in Cancun, Mexico. Does this mean I’m old now?Every night was a stunning sky above in Cancun, Mexico.A pop of pink sunset in Cancun, Mexico.It was as if the sky knew I was leaving soon in Cancun, Mexico and put on a show.Hues of every color as I said goodbye to this magical place in Cancun, Mexico. Put if on your forced relaxation bucket list! I felt completely safe here, the staff kept tabs on me and my belongings as well as the beach. Women who travel, this is your sanctuary!
