By Joe Hu
 Cancun’s Palace Hotel Resorts feature Mexico’s famous white-sand beaches on gorgeous turquoise Caribbean waters. |
We would never have chosen an all-inclusive vacation in Cancun, Mexico, for ourselves, but when my girlfriend’s parents gave the trip to us as a gift, we couldn’t refuse.
Since my girlfriend hadn’t taken a vacation in over 12 years, her parents decided to splurge and purchased a vacation package for two at Palace Resorts. With airfare, lodging, meals, tours and drinks taken care of, we had little to worry about prior to our departure.
Cancun is a place unlike any other Mexican locations. It lies on the northeast tip of the Yucatan Peninsula, flanked by the Caribbean Sea on the east and a lagoon between it and the main peninsula on the west. While it is geographically near some of Mexico’s most important historical sites, Cancun was a barren island until only 30 years ago. It was turned into a hot spot to accommodate the influx of tourists who began flocking to the region. It’s immaculate beaches, gorgeous weather, warm Caribbean waters and proximity to Mexico’s cultural centers make it an ideal vacation destination.
Most tourists stay in the Zona Hoteles (Hotel Zone), where the majority of high-end hotels and nightclubs are located. In the Hotel Zone you find such American mainstays as Outback Steakhouse, TGI Fridays, McDonald’s, Subway sandwiches and Domino’s Pizza, as well as tourist nightclub favorites such as Señor Frog’s, Coco Bongo’s and Mango Tango.
We stayed at the Cancun Palace where we were welcomed with a cold glass of champagne upon check in. The palace is one of six ocean-side hotels that make up a chain of resorts on the island. Travelers who purchase an all-inclusive trip can decide how many nights they would like to spend at each hotel.
Along with several casual restaurants with luxury dining options, the Cancun Palace featured three pools, a swim-up bar, and spa facilities. There is really no need to leave the resorts at all because Palace Resorts offer nightly parties with themes like Latin Night and Karaoke Night.
Lounging poolside or beachfront is probably the most popular pastime for tourists in Cancun. The beaches along the Caribbean are legendary for the perfect powdery white sand that doesn’t get hot under the blazing sun. Cancun Palace boasts a private beach. With lounge chairs, grass umbrellas and waiters dropping by with a lemon daiquiri or strawberry margarita in hand, it’s easy to forget about all the activities outside the hotel at your disposal.
To fully take advantage of our all-inclusive vacation, it was necessary to partake in some of the no-extra-fee tours to such places as the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum, Chichen Itza, and Coba, as well as day trips to Isla Mujueres, Ek Balam, Valladolid and the ecological preserve Xpu Ha (also a Palace Resort location).
The Yucatan Peninsula has a rich history and a three-hour bus ride east from Cancun will take you right into the heart of it. Chichen Itza is considered the capital of ancient Mayan civilization and home to some of Mexico’s most important archeological discoveries. The Pyramid of Kukulkan, El Castillo, a step-sided stone pyramid - where ancient priests would cut the hearts from people as sacrifices to the gods - is the centerpiece. Chichen Itza officials still allow tourists to climb up its 91 steps, but according to our tour guide, this opportunity will soon end due to the impact of the thousands of tourists who visit the site. Despite the hordes who swarm to Chichen Itza, the experience of being transported into the past is well worth a day’s investment.
The nightlife of Cancun is almost as legendary as the ruins. Cancun is regarded as the Spring Break destination of choice for newly graduated, alcohol-infused young Americans and for good reason. The Hotel Zone features many hip, loud discos frequented by scantily clad young people who party until sunrise. People with earlier bedtimes should avoid the months of March and April when spring-breakers are out in full force.
During an excursion to Isla Mujueres, just north of Cancun, we were able to experience the Yucatan’s softer side at another Palace-run resort area where guests chose from a handful of activities such as scuba diving, snorkeling and swimming with dolphins. We opted for scuba diving; and after a short lesson, we were in the water. The experience was phenomenal. We swam among the reefs with schools of clown fish, barracudas, stingrays, blowfish, lobsters and even a sea turtle. After our dive, we gladly enjoyed the all-you-can-stuff-in-your-face buffet and, of course, the open-bar.
Finally, we escaped the Hotel Zone for a trip to Cancun Centro (downtown Cancun). A 65-cent bus ride takes you right the heart of downtown. Cancun Centro resembles most big cities with its outrageous traffic, bustling markets and restaurants. The shops run the gamut from tourist booths and high-end jewelry shops to OfficeMax. There were tons of restaurants with boisterous hosts urging you to have a cerveza or their trademark ceviche. Our exploration led us into a small park where we found several run-down stands advertising tacos, tortas and churros. If you find this gem in Cancun Centro, be sure to try the tacos de pastor (marinated pork tacos) and get yourself a bag of deep-fried churros.
Of course you can have all these experiences without an all-inclusive package. But if you want to be pampered and not worry about ever having to pull out your wallet, the all-inclusive experience is something you should try.
