Mexico this Fall : Specifics

Will be updating this often over the next few months ... feel free to check back as needed:

I'm traveling later this year with some of my peers to a Secrets Resort.  This post is directed at those folks (though applicable to most traveling to the Rivera Maya at some level).  Many of you have never been here, so I'll see if I can make it easier with this document, specific to our trip.  

We're all rolling in the same day, but not the same flights so some of us may be on a shuttle without the others.  Minor stuff....  The Cancun / Rivera Maya area/region is extremely safe.   If you see Police or Military dressed up Commando style with Automatic weapons, they are there to ensure we are all safe.  They are not our problem. They are there for 'you.'  I find this area safer than many US cities.   No worries....

Most of us have traveled overseas so I won't wear you out with specifics, but... once you land you'll immediately go through Customs.   Zero worries...  the agents don't always smile, but they are good guys.  I've personally never had an issue.  Usually in that line or on the way to get your bags a drug dog will be walked by for the sniff test your luggage. After they are done, head on to your luggage or exit point.   You'll be funneled out to an area where they have x-ray machines for all your luggage that we must go through.  On the other end is someone whom rarely speaks English but next to a conveyor area with a button one of you have to push for a Random Result.  Usually lights up GREEN; for the rare REDs, they'll do a quick inspection of your luggage and off we go. Don't bring any food with you and no issues. Now the fun part.  You'll go through the doors and take a right.  There are dozens of smiling younger Mexican Nationals offering to help with your transportation... your luggage .. you name it.  They want to make eye contact.  They want to have a conversation.  Just smile and walk to the exit point about 75' away.   I call this the gauntlet. They want to sell you Timeshares.  Rent you a high dollar vehicle.  Sell you excursions... just simile, nod and press on.  Once you are 'outside', there is another crowd of Mexican Nationals all wearing colorful shirts, etc. that tie them to the company they work for.   These are your 'friends'. The one(s) you want will be tied to "AMR".  Our company AMR is affiliated with Apple Vacations, Cheap Caribbean vacations, etc.  They usually have a sign there with all those names on it.. but ... AMR specifically is what  you searching for.  Tell them you are booked with AMR/Secrets  and they will pull up a sheet with your name(s) on it and walk you to the area where your shuttle is awaiting you.  We have a semi-private shuttle provided by SECRETS Maroma Beach.  It's is a non-stop shuttle for ONLY their customers.  You might be in with up to six other people... but.. all headed to the same place.  If we're on the same flight, should be on the same shuttle.  Upon Arrival Gate Guards will sign you in .. again... this area is really safe.

35 min shuttle ride

We are all preferred Club this trip.  You tell your name to the Bell men that meet you, they will take your luggage and move it to a holding area and bring it to your room after you are checked in.  But, they will walk you (or in a golf cart) to the Preferred Lounge where you will check in and the fun begins.    Again, don't worry about your luggage.  I personally ensure any significant cash I have is with me, but never had an issue with leaving my laptop, etc.  Just bring your cash and PASSPORTS! They need the passports to check you in.  Okay.. here's another area to be careful!   They have a club there called UVC CLUB.  One of those reps may ask you to set up an presentation. An appointment, whatever. They are basically trying to sell you a TIMESHARE.  I highly recommend you simply say NO.. .. No thank you to the Free Massages.  The Free Presentation.  The Free Excursion.  Nothing is Free. Nothing.   I even did a Blog post about it HERE.  

Soon, you'll be escorted and/or shown the way to your Preferred Level Swim Up Rooms.  I'm going to try and get us all in the same building but that rarely works out.. but.. I'll be trying!   These are all ground level Suites with a nice swim out pool that adjoins about 4-8 rooms.   Each room will have a safe for your passports and cash.  They'll have Wi-Fi for those godforsaken days we have to do email.  But you can also do Facetime with your iPhone and Skype with your Samsung with family back home. 

Once there we'll connect up.  I'm with AT&T and have International Calling no issues.  You may want to verify with your carrier.  If not sure, make sure you turn off your data roaming, international calling whatever and set your phone up for Wi-Fi Calls.   You don't want to get blindsided by a crazy phone bill?  Still, I'd check before you head down.. just so you know.

Dress Code.  This is a NICE place.  Recommend guys bring a pair or two of slacks/khakis (no jeans). Bring 3-6 Collared shirts.  Comfy shoes (boat shoes, loafers, etc).  Ladies.. nice dresses, outfits.   This is for the restaurants.  Lunch, no biggee.  If  you choose to do a buffet for dinner, no biggee. But you go to say Italian, Oriental, etc. for dinner...   just step up the dress for the evening.  No Sport Coats, etc...   just dress comfortable.  Shorts are not allowed at nice dinners for us men.

Tips:  EVERYTHING is paid for.  This is an All Inclusive.  Yes, massages .. or choice wines at the restaurant are additional but all the food and drinks 24/7 are covered, to include room service.  Tips are not required.... but.. most people tip.  Me personally ... I tip approximately $20 a day total.  I tip about $5-$10 during the day at the pool to the servers and bartenders, as I go.  I tip $1 or $2 at breakfast. .. .. ... same at lunch.  Dinner, normally a lil more.  To most of these folks working here, I've heard that $20 a day is what they are paid by the resort.  So, these tips are 'huge' to them.  Historically, we bring a stack of $2 bills and a stack of $5 bills.    Covers all my tips.  Well... more than that.  Minor stuff in the big picture.  I've tipped early in the process to make sure I got good service by the pool or bar.. then notice my server has been assigned to a diff' pool or beach area.  Soooooo.. normally tip as I go now.  Lesson Learned

Downtown:   Once in a while we venture off to downtown: Playa Del Carmen.   This is a Tourist Mecca area.  They call it '5th avenue.'  Literally miles of shops, restaurants, bars, you name it.  Just about every shop has a 'barker' outside trying to get you to come in for their goods.  It becomes mind numbing after awhile with all the shops begging for your attention.. As with the airport, the trick is not to make eye contact.  They might even make up a nick name to get your attention ... Hey Texas!  Hey Whiskers!  Hey Pretty Lady!  You name it.... they want you to make eye contact and then it's game on. If you decide to play the game, most everything is negotiable.  Everything .. well.. not the restaurants.. they all have menus/prices.  It's all fun in the big picture... but realize .. it's a 'game' at some level.  I used to play it... not so much anymore.  

UPDATE 30 NOV: TIPS ($$)

This is not authored by me.. I agree with most, if not all,  of it.  Great guideline/tips (pun intended)

"Tips that can hopefully help someone based on our trip last week.  

 ~Transfer from Cancun Airport to Secrets:  We used AmStar https://www.amstardmc.com/airport-transfers/cancun/...

When you get to the airport until you get through the double glass doors to go outside.  DO NOT talk to anyone inside about transportation as they’re just trying to sell you timeshare info.

Proceed out the glass doors and go to the far right to line 25 where AmStar is

~ Towels:  Do not bulk up your luggage and pack towels.  Secrets has PLENTY of beach towels available throughout the property

 ~Check your luggage.  I normally NEVER check and always carryon except to tropical resorts….Why you ask?  So I can pack my multiple bottles of sunscreen vs. buying at Secrets.  It’s about $25 for a bottle of sunscreen and so I feel like I’d rather just pay to check my bag with my various SPF’s vs. buying at the resort

Pack your medications in your carryon or purse

~Cabanas.  Highly recommend trying this at least 1x.  It’s $50 each day.  If you plan on doing this, the moment you meet your building concierge have him book your cabanas for you. With a cabana you get waited on hand and foot. You can get drinks & food brought to you.  They'll bring you snacks of fresh fruit, bucket of ice with bottled water constantly refilled, cool scented wash cloths. You will LOVE it.

~Restaurants.  The only restaurant you need reservations for is Himitsu (Japanese Hibachi Grill).  If you know you want to eat there, when you meet your building concierge, have them make your reservation

~Room Service.  It’s available 24/7.  Takes about 40 minutes to arrive.  Order thru your in-room iPad.  Once done use your iPad again to click the “tray pickup” and place in your secrets box

 ~Swimout.  If you have a swimout before getting in, go grab 2-3 beach towels from the pool area first so you don’t use up your bath towels.  Before you get in place a large brown beach towel down inside the room at the foot of your sliding glass door because the floor is VERY slick if you’re wet still.

 ~Turn down service.  Housekeeping comes into your room around 8:30 - 9:30PM to turn down your bed, add chocolates on your pillow, place a secrets towel/mat next to your bed and refresh towels and do a light clean.  If you don’t want this just turn your room “do not disturb light” on.  Don’t be like us and forget to do this one night & get freaked out someone is in your room while you’re in the swimout OR forget to put things in your luggage you’d rather not have them see.  Yeah I’ll just leave it at that.

~ In-Room Toiletries:

Sink:  2 round soaps, bug spray, lotion, shoe polish, shower cap

In Shower:  4oz shampoo.  4oz body wash……..I had to leave a note for housekeeping to leave a hair conditioner which they did

They do have a hair dryer so no need to pack

~TIPS:  YES YOU SHOULD TIP.  Honestly if you can afford a luxury vacation you can tip.  We were there for 5 nights and tipped nearly $300.  Some examples of tip amounts we did are:

Transportation guy to the hotel:  $10

Bell Hop that brought bags to our room:  $5-$10 (I can’t remember what we did here)

Beach:  $1 per drink, $5 when they ran to grab our lunch, $3 to clean sunglasses

Dinner:  $10

Housekeeping:  $5/night

Spa:  We tipped heavy here because the service was so expensive $30/pp

~Spa:  It doesn’t matter if you’re preferred club or not.  Go to the spa an hour or an hour and a half before your appointment and you can go into their hydrotherapy pools or steam room, sit in the relaxation room.  It’s worth the pampering before your service.  If you choose to come early come wearing your bathing suits and a cover up or light clothes to easily change out of."