Cancun = Fun and Adventure OR...Beautiful Relaxation

Ah Cancun! Sarah here and I'm here to talk about traveling to beautiful Cancun, Mexico. Cancun is located in southeast Mexico on the northeast coast of the Yucatan Peninsula.

I've been lucky enough to travel to Cancun several times and each time was different. Eleven years ago my husband (though then my fiance) and I were deciding on honeymoon destinations and we finally settled on Cancun, Mexico and I'm so glad we did! We stayed at an all-inclusive resort and enjoyed adventures like snorkeling, visiting cenotes, Chichen Itza, and all the usual touristy things one usually associates with Cancun. The next trip was similar with catamaran rides, visiting nearby islands, eating fresh lobster...ahh just thinking about it puts me in a better mood LOL!

However, this last trip was by far my favorite! Though Cancun has a lot of fun activities and adventures to offer...this time we decided to just focus on relaxing...and can I just tell you, it was AMAZING! Sometimes when planning vacations we over-plan, we over-book and we find ourselves rushing from one activity to another as fast as we can. Now, I've been guilty of this very thing, especially when going somewhere new. You want to fit in as much as possible and see everything there is to see in the limited time you have there. As wonderful as all those sights and adventures can be, they don't necessarily promote relaxation. So if you're feeling burdened by life and just weary of the world, I highly suggest a relaxation-focused trip. I've gotta tell you, I've never come back from a trip feeling so calm, rested, happy, and just satisfied with life. Though I admit I'm sure part of this was because we didn't have our children with us...which I also highly recommend you read my post Why You Need to Take a Couple Trip...Like Now! which is ALL about taking trips with just you and your spouse!

Cancun was the perfect choice for us! We've been there a few times, seen and done all the fun exciting things to do and so we felt ZERO need to even leave the resort! We spent four days, lying on the beach (in the shade because you know...red heads and sun don't go well together...also cancer, which we won't get into today) listening to the waves, reading SO many books, and drinking all the virgin strawberry daiquiris we could want! Now a lot of people like to hate on all-inclusive experiences saying that you don't really get to experience the culture and people. While there is some truth to that, there's also nothing wrong with a trip specifically designed to letting you relax and not worry about ANYTHING. All-inclusive resorts are perfect for that! You don't need to carry money with you, you don't need to worry about being somewhere at a specific time, you don't have to worry about where to eat and how much it will cost because well...it's all included! Now if you are staying in the hotel zone in Cancun and really feel the need to leave the resort, I highly recommend El Rey. This is a little settlement of Mayan ruins that is a little hidden gem right in the center of the hotel zone! Kyle and I decided to make the 10 minute walk to see it and it was pretty great! It will only set you back about 55 pesos (or $3.50 per person).

Some will say that all-inclusive resorts are too expensive. Yes, they do cost more than a night at another basic hotel. However you need to remember that everything is included! ALL you food, tips, drinks, everything. In Cancun you can find all-inclusives ranging from $100-$2,000 per night! There are so many options to choose from! We stayed at The Royal Solaris and paid a little over $200 a night. We paid a premium for an ocean view room with a Jacuzzi tub on the balcony (worth every penny). You can find an all-inclusive for any budget...though if you're paying $2,000 a night...that better be some resort!

Some are worried that Mexico isn't safe...well I'm sure that is true in some places but you have to remember that Cancun's entire economy is based on tourism. They really can't afford to have many problems and so they are pretty great at making it safe. While on the beach we saw police patrolling on 4-wheeler several times and we never felt unsafe! Also the people in Cancun are SUPER nice! Of course the resort employees are really nice but so are the drivers and other people you meet...it also helps when you have a husband who speaks Spanish!

So if you've never taken a relaxation-focused vacation, I highly recommend it! Remember, it's okay for you to relax! Relax the diet and enjoy the food! Relax on the beach and just read! Relax and enjoy not working! Just relax from everyday life! YOU DESERVE IT!