Solo Trip 2019: Cancún, México
This year’s solo trip was one for the books. On past trips, I’ve done all that I can do, filled in all of my hours with something, had lists of places to hit. Full on adventures and they were amazing. This year though…this year I just wanted to rest. Coming off of another tumultuous semester of grad school at the beginning of the year (and forced to take the year off), along with work and life being just generally…a lot, I wanted some rest.
The decided upon theme was “spoil me”. Seriously, that’s what I decided it would officially be. I used points to upgrade my flights to first class because #skymileslife and I booked a room at Nizuc, a luxury resort in Cancún. I arranged for a car from the hotel to pick me up at the airport and from the moment I made contact with my driver, I was treated like a queen. Cool towels and bottles of Fiji were waiting for me in the back seat and I was escorted to the SUV with an umbrella because it was raining. Everything about the experience was branded from the beginning.
The driver doesn’t hold your name up on a sign so that your privacy is respected- instead you’re advised to look for the driver in all black with a sign that holds the resort’s Mayan symbol (their uniforms have the symbol on them as well, of course…and so do their umbrellas). When you arrive at the gates to the resort, which are nestled in a lush and perfectly private setting, you’re checked in (actually checked in, not just waved in) and the gates open for the car. The gatekeeper places his hand over his heart and nods at the backseat, making you feel seen even as you sit behind tinted windows. Upon front desk check-in, you’re offered another cool towel and a welcome beverage. Mine was fresh cucumber juice with a few other goodies in it. Next, you’re taken on a brief tour of the immediate grounds and then guided to a golf cart just outside of the lobby. As you ride through a literal oasis to your building, everyone you pass nods and places their hand over their heart to greet you.
Once you arrive at your building, the driver unloads your luggage and hands you off to your concierge. The concierge welcomes you and as you head up to your room asks how your trip was, where you’re visiting from, if you’ve made any dinner reservations or need him to make any for you and then gives you a tour of your room. The room. Wow. Just wow. A full view of the ocean, a private terrace, all of the amenities, everything you could want and more. And THEN, turndown service at the end of the night and turn-up (?) service midday. When I came back to the room after going out before noon, the opening between the bathroom and the bedroom was open, giving you a clear view of the ocean from the tub, the bed was made-up with decorative pillows, my slippers were placed on a towel, the curtains were open letting amazing natural light in (or full view of a relaxing storm). When I came back to the room at the end of the night, the opening was closed, my robe was hung next to the tub, decorative pillows tucked away revealing a neat row of fluffy white ones, the curtains were drawn and the case of Nespresso pods was open with a fresh bottle of Fiji next to the machine, prepping me for a restful night and energizing start to the next day.
Each morning, I had my coffee on the terrace- except one, because it was storming out. I ate at all of the resort’s restaurants, all quite literally amazing (seriously, still thinking about most of the dishes I had a month later), and went to a tequila tasting at Havana Lounge. For the record, we’re doing it all wrong in the states when it comes to tequila. There’s no respect for it here and I’m so glad I got to experience how it is supposed to be consumed. Not to mention I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve now for dinner parties.
The spa. Let’s talk about that for a moment. On the day it stormed on and off all day, I figured it would be a good day to get a massage in. The day before (it’s like they knew), I received a note saying I’d receive 20% off of certain services, so I made the reservation for a Mayan Cacao massage. The spa asks you to arrive a whole hour and a half for their thermal experience prior to your massage, which is a circuit of hydrotherapy that is absolutely revitalizing. And the massage itself? Let’s just say I’m certain I looked a complete wreck when I left. It was amazing. Like nothing you will ever experience again unless you’re there. You can quote me on that. I don’t want to share too much because the experience is something you just have to have for yourself, but here’s a peek.
Overall, Nizuc was perfection. The food, the tub, the shower, the bed, the terrace, the room service, the Nespresso machine, the little details, the thoughtfulness. I was reading a book and left it on my nightstand…when the room was cleaned, they left a Nizuc bookmark in it for me. DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS.
The people at this resort are spectacular. Their genuine kindness and passion for what they do is mesmerizing and makes all the difference in the world. They made me feel like I was a guest in their home; like an important family member that they truly wanted to have a wonderful time. That, my friends, is the mark of an incredible team. Chefs explained meals to me with enthusiasm and clear pride in what they’d created- they are given the freedom to create their menus. One server told me “the chef is crazy! No one can believe he put those two things together, but it’s really, really good!”
Everyone’s excited about each other and in turn excited about you as a guest and well…Nizuc Resort and Spa is my new favorite place. I cannot wait to go back.
