“I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand.
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand.
Life is good today.”
- Zac Brown Band, Toes
Well said, Zac Brown Band!
As Ed stated in a previous post: sometimes you just need to party and relax. For my wife and I, a pair of new parents, working professionals and active
volunteers, the statement couldn't
have been more true. That's why we picked up a few weeks ago and flew to the Riviera Maya in Mexico to
do, well, nothing at all but relax and enjoy.
While we don’t do the all inclusive thing for every
vacation, we do tend to go every couple of years to enjoy a period of
relaxation and indulgence. We've come to know what we like in a resort and
what we don’t; and yes, we’re a tad on the snobbish side when it comes to this
stuff!
Naturally you look for good food, nice surroundings, a well-kept
beach and facilities, comfortable rooms, fun activities, name-brand drinks, good
entertainment, quality service etc., but the list below features a few special
preferences we have that take a resort from great to exceptional, in our eyes. We experienced all these during our most
recent stay at the Valentin Imperial Maya, a highly recommended hotel which
exemplifies what we look for in an ideal sun holiday.
No reservation à la
carte
Dining at diverse restaurants is part of the allure of all
inclusive resorts. That said, most resorts require you to make reservations in
advance. We've been to resorts that allowed you to reserve three days in
advance, and those that require daily reservations. We thoroughly dislike
having to take time every day to make our way to the front lobby, stand in line
and reserve. At resorts offering no reservation à la
carte, such as the Valentin, you
just head straight to restaurant. If it’s full, you usually get a beeper to
notify you of when there is an open table. This allows you to take a walk, grab
a drink or do whatever you like while you wait.
Adequate pool services – chairs and towels
Oh the dreaded towel card. Some resorts require a card to take out a towel which you get back when you return it. Lose
your card or towel, and you have to pay for a new one. At one resort we checked
out I had a towel taken from a chair while in the pool. Several other guests
reported having the same thing happen. I’d rather not stress having this happen
and instead search out resorts that offer restriction-free towel exchange.
Similarly, finding resorts that have adequate chairs at both the pool and beach
is key.
No wrist bands
Resort wrist bands are basically the nicer version of a caste system. “Oh you have a blue wrist band, yeah, sorry you only
have access to bottom shelf liquor, certain restaurants and bars, certain areas
of the pool/beach...” I don’t mind having certain extravagances available to those who
are willing to pay more, but some resorts have restricted so much that it no
longer feels truly all inclusive.
Minimal up selling/timeshare pitching
I don’t mind being asked if I’m interested in upgrades or timeshares,
but some resorts have come to rely so heavily on the income from these offerings
that they inundate guests with pitches. You should, in general, beware of any “30
minute presentations,” “free upgrades” and “free excursions” you are offered,
but it’s best to avoid them all together by choosing a resort that keeps them
to an absolute minimum.
No cost perks/extras/bonuses
It’s great to be surprised by something extra. At the
Valentin we were continually surprised by little perks. We loved the live
music, both daily in the piano bar and the addition of a live cellist one
evening. We enjoyed high tea each afternoon complete with quality espresso
drinks. Outdoor themed nights which incorporated food and entertainment were a
hit with guests. Turn down service with small gifts like gourmet chocolates. Great!
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| The Mayan-themed night at the Valentin Imperial Maya |
What YOU want
Take some time to think about what you would put on a list
similar to the one above and search out resorts that meet your needs. Even
little things like having canned beer available, drinks served in only non-disposable
cups, lots of available of shade, close proximity to the airport (all true of the Valentin, by the way - have we mentioned we love this resort). This is your
vacation, so try to mitigate anything that may cause you stress. Take a second to let us know what's on your list in the comments box below.
Many of the items above aren't
listed on resort websites.
Read reviews on Trip Advisor and use their Question and Answer feature to ask
very specific questions and have them answered by the resort and other guests.
Safe travels!
