RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO TRAVEL DIARY

      

Years ago, we took a family vacation to Mexico and fell in love with the ultimate relaxation destination. Since this was now our sixth vacation to Mexico, we knew a what to expect which made it easier for us to plan our vacation. Since we have been to Mexico quite a few times now, we know what to look for in a good resort. This year, we stayed at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort in Riviera Maya, which was slightly smaller than past resorts we've stayed at but there was still plenty to do there. The resort had a stunning beach area although unfortunately there was quite a bit of seaweed in the water. But regardless of the seaweed, the beach was still one of our favorite parts. Everything from the food and drinks, to the amazing service and tropical scenery was nothing short of amazing at this resort.

Barcelo Maya ↝ Upon our arrival in Cancun, we took a shuttle to our resort and settled in for some drinks. You could find us on any given day sipping on mojitos, strawberry daiquiri's, or pina colada's while enjoying the pool or the beach. Our days were filled with tanning by the pool, relaxing by the beach, and lots of sun. Admittedly, we probably spent a little too much time in the sun because we both burned pretty badly which is pretty rare for us (just keeping it real 😂). Thankfully we didn't let that distract us too much and we continued to enjoy our vacation.

You can't go to Mexico without indulging in chips and guac and Mexican rice and beans. The food at these resorts is not all the highest quality but there are plenty of food options to accommodate all different tastes so you're sure to find something you enjoy. Our family personally likes to eat seafood at the buffet areas since they offer so many different types and it is always fresh. We also got to pick a few nights to eat at sit-down restaurants within the resort and we chose the Japanese, seafood, and Mexican restaurants. The Japanese hibachi was our favorite because who doesn't love a show while eating? Plus we got sushi as an appetizer!

One of our favorite things about staying in resorts is that the fun doesn't end when the sun goes down.  We had a good amount of options for nighttime activities including shows (which are always themed and usually highly entertaining), clubs, or even just grabbing a drink and walking around by the beach. You would think laying out in the sun all day would tire us out but come 10pm, we were always ready to hit the night scene.

NEXT STOP ↝ Playa Del Carmen. Our family decided to take a trip to Playa to explore the town. Before wandering around Playa, we stopped at a Tequila factory where we tasted several different types of aged tequila (who knew there were so many different kinds?). We aren't the hugest tequila fans but it was still fun to taste test different exotic flavors like guava and caramel. After we finished exploring the tequila factory, we shuttled over to Playa. The town itself is charming and vibrant with tons of colorful buildings. It also has some great beach areas if you are looking to take a dip in the water. We opted to skip the beach in Playa and walked around Fifth Avenue instead, which is lined with the cutest little shops. It's a great place to find souvenirs as well and usually cheaper than buying them at resorts! We highly recommend a day trip to Playa if you are staying in the Riviera Maya area.

After visiting Playa, we had a few more days of relaxation ahead of us. We spent our last few days soaking up the sun before we headed home. As the sun set set on our last day, we were sad to leave but Mexico has not seen the last of us. We can't wait to come back but for now adios from us!

XOXO