May 20: We flew to Cancun via Logan in Boston. We almost didn’t make it through with our carry=ons because the pre-check TSA Agent insisted our bags were too big. The same bags we’ve used as carry-on for years and never had any issues with anywhere else. When we walked over to the other line to go through priority boarding she followed us over and told the gate agent to not let us into the line. Lou was steamed. We had to go to the American Airlines desk and get a manger to escort us back to pre-check and tell the TSA Agent to let us through.
Our first impression of the resort was “WOW!” As soon as we arrived someone came to take our bags, give us a refreshing scented cloth, and led us to a private bar for refreshments and snacks. We were checked in after only 10 minutes, then were given a tutorial on the points and how to spend them. We then went to the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet and toured the pools in our section of the resort. That’s when we discovered that we didn’t bring enough sunscreen and Lou forgot a ball cap. The gift shop is very expensive and to be avoided if at all possible. Once freshly sun-screened we went back to the “adult” pool, set up our chairs, said hello to one of the many stray cats to be found at the resort, and jumped in to make our way to the swim up bar. It was there that we made our first friend of the trip, who was a young lady from the U.K. and introduced us to the word “drunkish”, which is what she most definitely was. We never strayed far from that pool the rest of the night.
May 21: We slept gloriously late after spending a late night pool-side. After breakfast we started our day with a stretching session on the beach followed by a long workout session in the gym. We spent the rest of the day poolside until dinner at Los Caporales, which had all male waiters.
May 22: We awoke bright and early to meet the tour van to Chichen Itza in the lobby at 5:10am. I had booked the private early morning tour with an architect. When the van arrived there was only one other couple on it. We expected to stop at other hotels for additional pickups, but we didn’t. We were giddy at the prospect that it would be yet another small group for our tour. It wasn’t. We stopped at a GoMart, which was the meet-up point to join other small vans to consolidate into a large tour bus. The driver did save us the front seats as we did call ahead to warn them about Lou’s car sickness. A few helpful tips about the tour:
- The box lunch they served was really a very small paper bag they hand you as you enter the bus. Bring snacks and drinks if you need more than a small sandwich to get you through the seven hour day (which you can buy at the GoMart for much cheaper than at a resort).
- Wear sensible walking shoes and not flipflops unless you plan to do minimal walking.
- Also … SUNSCREEN and WATER.
- Bring hand sanitizer or wipes. It was unfortunate that our tour van guide was sick. I made a mental note to wash my hands the second we entered into the visitor’s center.
- Its a two hour drive from Cancun. I recommend you sleep the first hour because they show the pre-tour video the second hour.
- The tour is three hours. After the architect shows you his part you’ll have plenty of time to explore more on your own or head back to the visitor’s center for shade and something cool to eat/drink.
May 23: Lou had to attend meetings today so I was on my own. We at least got to enjoy a workout together before he left. After breakfast I took a paddle board stretching class. I learned its a great core workout to try to keep them from spilling you into the water. I should have applied more sunscreen after that because I got a bad burn when I went back out for water aerobics. I didn’t want to have to go through the pain of a regular bra so I donned a sports bra and skorts for dinner when Lou got back. We tried the Brazilian place this time. The meat was nice and tender but a little too salty for us.
May 24: Again, Lou had to work. I hopped on the treadmill for my two hour run and one hour bike because it was much too hot to do it outside for that length of time. Thanks to the burn I got yesterday I stayed in the shade once I made it poolside. Lou joined me around mid-afternoon and we stayed put until hunger drove us to eat at one of the many palapas. A short tropical storm came through which we thought we could ride out under the palapa. Right as we were about to be seated a strong wind came up and blew an oven top over the counter and onto our table. We decided room service would be more appropriate. It was fun to watch the storm play out from our patio. When it was over and just lightly raining we went back to the palapa and got something else to eat because the room service portions were small and we were both still hungry.
May 25: Another work day for Lou while I rode the stationary bike for two hours and ran for 30 minutes. As I anticipated, loads of people arrived in time for the weekend, so I wasn’t sitting in my usual primo spot when Lou joined me later than he had anticipated.
May 26: While Lou was at work I spent … yes … more time at the gym. Two hours, to be exact. One hour on the bike and one on the treadmill. Then I went back to our room for another cold shower (see my extensive review at the link below for details). We met a couple the evening before who said they’d save me a lounger by our favorite pool while we waited for Lou to arrive. I got stood up. I looked everywhere. I prefer to think they decided to try another pool rather than that they were avoiding me. Lou finished his meetings at 2:00 so we had a late lunch under a palapa. While we were eating one of those freak “maybe” storms came through scaring everyone away. We scored big time while waiting it out and got our primo seats back. For dinner tonight we were supposed to have a private and romantic “on the beach” experience. It was neither. See my lengthy hotel review below for the details. After that unfortunate experience we went dancing to Hip Hop music and to The Pub for a hookah. The latter experience is also included in my resort review.
May 27: Major chow down at breakfast after the dining fiasco of last night. We spent our last full day taking a leisurely two hour bicycle tour of the entire resort before plopping down poolside for the rest of the day.
May 28: We had arranged for a private car to take us to the airport so we wouldn’t have to leave the resort at an ungodly hour to accommodate 30 other tourists. Some time in the wee hours of the morning my stomach started churning in the way only a food poisoned stomach can churn. And then I emptied the contents of my stomach again and again and again. Lou gave me some OTC meds, but they weren’t helping. We had to make it home, but before we could go home we had to make it to the airport. I didn’t think I could make it, but I took it one step at a time. Step one: Throw up. Step Two: Shower. Step three: Throw up. Step Four: Dress the top half. Step Five: Throw up. Etc., etc., etc. until we made it to the lobby, stopping at every bathroom along the way. The car showed up. I went to the bathroom one last (I hoped) time. I packed extra tissue paper. I scouted for bathrooms out the front window the whole way. The second we arrived I rushed to the bathroom. We took the elevator to the security line. I took it back down to use the bathroom again. I took it back up. I took it back down. I told Lou I wasn’t going to make it through that line without pooping myself. He arranged for a later flight. The airline desk suggested I seek medical attention at the airport “ER,” which was a one room closet. I got a shot. I got meds. I made it through the security line without incident. I made it onto the plane without incident. I slept the entire trip home. I was pooped.
A NOTE ABOUT THE TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS AT THIS RESORT: This is the first time we noticed the phenomenon of tens of thousands of reviews for a single location, and the vast majority of them by people who had only one review to their name. That’s when I did my research and discovered that some companies hire bots to create fake accounts and write fake reviews. Its so blatantly obvious if you take the time to glance at more than just the rankings. In this case, for instance, the Moon Palace was ranked #21 of 178 hotels in Cancun with a 4.5 rating out of over 24,000 reviews. The vast majority of the 5-star ratings are coming from accounts with fewer than five reviews. The 20 hotels that ranked higher all have a 4.5 rating out of fewer than half that of Moon Palace, and the vast majority of the 5-star ratings are coming from accounts with greater than five reviews. There’s a connection, and I’m not the only one who’s noticed this disturbing trend. They say they have zero tolerance for fake accounts, but there are so many of them that they can’t keep up. Until they figure out how to reduce the number of fake accounts, do your homework before relying on reviews that seem too good to be true.
Where we stayed:
Moon Palace Resort: This link takes you to my lengthy review on my own blog. I had also originally posted it on TripAdvisor but it has since disappeared. I re-posted it on 3/19/18 when I noticed it was missing.
Where we ate and drank:
Los Caporales: The portions are tiny, so order an appetizer, soup and/or salad if you’re especially hungry.
MoMo
Arrecifes
El Manglar
What we did:
Chichen Itza via Viator
