This blog's topic is the preview trip that Cassi and I took to Cancun, Mexico. I encourage every Civitan to book your vacation for Labor Day Weekend, 2010 for the Civitan International Convention in Cancun! Cancun Rocks!
On October 30th, Cassi and I were thrilled to be able to travel to Cancun to preview and begin planning for the Civitan International Convention at the Cancun Hilton Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort.
Our church (Central Christian Church, www.centralchristian.com) had some Peso coins that had been found in the offering so I bought them, about $3 worth or 40 Pesos. I did some research and Pesos use the same $ symbol as US uses. We had found a good fare on Continental Airlines going through Houston. We used our new passports at the Las Vegas Continental Airlines counter to receive our boarding passes and check our baggage. I was pleased that Continental did not charge for the first bag and provided a small breakfast without charge. On the plane from Houston to Cancun, we were given a form to fill out for the family that asked what we were bringing into the country.
We landed in Cancun and went through an easy passport check process where they checked our passports and asked why we were in Cancun. We just commented “vacation” and he passed us on through. Then we picked up our bags and got in a fast moving line that checked our baggage and turned in our form.
I saw an ATM in the Cancun airport and decided to get some more Pesos. This is one of the least expensive ways to convert money. I knew that there were approximately 13 Pesos to a dollar, but when the screen asked me how many pesos and showed denominations like 100, 200, 500, 1,000; I got confused, I pressed 500 and got one 500 Peso bill, I calculated it later and it was only $47 US, I probably should have gotten more.
We had a van pre-arranged to pick us up at the airport, so we were able to pass the timeshare salespeople and others that asked us if we needed a ride. We went out of the airport and our van driver met us and we left in his van for a scenic trip toward the Hil
ton. There was a Wet-N-Wild water park and many hotels along the road, all of them facing the beaches of the Caribbean Sea.Soon we arrived at the unique shaped Cancun Hilton Hotel, (http://www.hiltonworldresorts.com/Resorts/Cancun/index.html#Cancun+index+++) with flags of many countries displayed including the U.S. and Canada. We were dropped off at the front door and a bellman took our bags. The lobby was beautiful, with floor to ceiling glass windows that overlooked the swimming pools and gardens. The atrium was circular and opened to the ceiling 10 stories above us. It reminded me of a cruise ship.
We checked in and went to the 8th floor to our Junior Suite. There was nothing Junior about it. It had a full tiled living room with a couch that makes out to a bed, a flat panel TV and a dining table. Through double doors, a king size bed in a large bedroom with a flat panel TV, a desk, a coffee maker, a safe in the closet and a bathroom with two sinks, a tub and a separate shower. There were two sliding glass doors that opened to an expansive balcony that overlooked the beach and the sea. The sound of the waves were very relaxing. As we went out on the balcony, there was a table with chairs, two chaise lounge chairs and a whirlpool tub on the b
alcony!The beach sand was white and the water was an incredible green blue. I had never seen the sea with these unique colors.
On the bed was roses petals and a hand folded towel turkey, just like they leave on your bed on a cruise. We were also treated to a fruit plate and bottled water.
We settled in, unpacked our bags and relaxed on the balcony. We decided to have dinner in a Hilton restaurant called Milato. This restaurant was literally on the beach. Waves splashing only 50 feet away, it was an incredible way to dine. I had tilapia, Cassi had a steak. We shared for a little surf and turf.
We then relaxed in our room, read and went to sleep early with anticipation for the next day as we explore Cancun.
On Saturday, we woke up to a beautiful morning, had breakfast in the Hilton lobby restaurant. They had a very large buffet, but we chose the “American” breakfast off the menu. Yes, I know, we are not very adventurous! We then met the Event Manager, Manual Gomez for a tour of the property and the convention space. We went to the convention area which is very close to the atrium, we entered the convention space grand entrance and there again was an incredible view. The wall to ceiling windows overlooked the beach and the sea. There we toured the small and large rooms and the ballrooms. Two of the large rooms had full length windows so you could still see the sea. We noted the beautiful mural made of rocks, an ATM, a business center and a large built in check-
in booths.We then went out to the swimming pool area, where Manuel showed us the 7 connecting pools and waterfalls, the swim up bar, the café lounge near the pools, and the free grass umbrellas along with beach beds that you have to reserve for a fee. They also had a kiosk where you could get tubes, towels, ping pong paddles and more! There were two tennis courts, and the villas next door and the pathway to the Cancun Hilton Golf Course. Then we returned to the hotel and saw the incredible spa, the gift shops, the kids day camp, the workout facility (again I am reminded of the cruise ship amenities) and some small meeting rooms that we will probably use for the board meeting prior to the convention opening. Again a huge balcony overlooked the beach and the sea.
We then were shown each of the different rooms starting at only $99 plus only 2% tax (no resort fee). Each room has a view of the sea and the beach, many overlook the swimming pools. Then we saw the superior rooms that have a small balcony, then the junior suites with the large balcony and the whirlpool tub, then the master suite with a kitchen and a larger balcony with a whirlpool tub. Finally we were able to preview the Presidential Suite. I takes up a whole wing of the top floor with two bedrooms, a large living room, a kitchen and dining room and a huge balcony overlooking the 9 swimming pools and the sea. The balcony was a huge “L” shaped with a larger whirlpool tub. The Hilton is going to provide the Presidential suite complimentary for our convention. Cassi commented that this was one of the most beautiful resorts she had ever seen. With the sea on one side and the lagoon on the other!
That afternoon, we decided to see the sites of Cancun. We boarded a bus near the entrance to the Hilton and paid our 7 Pesos each (about 50 cents US) and traveled along the main street to downtown Cancun. We noticed the familiar restaurants like Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, Bubba Gumps Shrimp Company, Outback Steakhouse, Starbucks, Chili’s, Hooters, TGIFridays, Hard Rock Café, Rainforest Café. And unique restaurants with Mexican food, Argentinean Steakhouses, Italian food, seafood and Cuban. The shopping ranged from flea markets to shopping centers, shopping malls with movie theatres and popular retail stores and a luxury mall with Gucci and Rolex and more. We even found a Walmart to pick up some toiletries! There was also a Sam’s Club, Office Depot, bike rentals, boat rentals and car rentals.
Of course I had to stop at the Hard Rock Café for photos, bought a cool t-shirt, a drinking glass and a shot glass, they gave me a free plastic shot glass as well. We returned to the Hilton on the buses going the opposite direction by paying another 7 Pesos each and it dropped us at the entrance of the hotel. We had some fun taking pictures of me posing with the flags of the different countries.
That night, we were guest of La Bodeguita Del Medio, a famous restaurant founded in Cuba in 1942, now with a replica location in Cancun. The manager Ricardo Portilla treat
ed us to a multiple course meal tasting appetizers, entrees and accompaniments to entice us to have a special event at their restaurant. This unique place provides a ladder and a marker and encourages diners to write on the walls and ceilings! Please note I wrote CIVITAN ROCKS! In two places. Maybe we will have a contest to see who can find the festive words!The next day, we went to see the Tulum Ruins. http://cancun.travel/en/things-to-do/mayan-culture/tulum/ These ruins are south of Cancun in the Riviera Maya. We passed many resorts and themed parks like Xplor where they have zip lines, kayaks and four wheel ATVs. Xcaret, http://www.xcaret.com/ an ecological park with many family orientated exhibits and a great dinner show about the history of Mexico.
We arrived at the Tulum Ruins and walked around the gift shops. Cassi loved the iguanas and had her picture taken with one on her shoulder and one in her arms. We then boarded a train to the ruins entrance, paid the entrance fee and began to explore these unique Mayan Ruins. The many partial buildings and walls were marked with placards to understand the culture, the history and the architecture. The famous Tulum beach was a spectacular view of green and blue sea and many families played on the beach and in the water.
We drove back to the hotel, took a refreshing nap, and then had a quiet dinner in the Pizza & Pasta Factory at the Hilton. We wanted to try all of the restaurants at the Hilton and found them all to be very good. We also went to the gift shop to see the different items and toiletries that were available, along with souvenirs, towels, shirts and other beach attire.
Cassi and I awoke to our last full day in Cancun, what a fast few days. We decid
ed to take some pictures on the beach and out by the pool to memorialize our work vacation and try to share the incredible sights at this beautiful Hilton resort. We scheduled a couples massage (a first for both of us!) and felt very relaxed! When we returned to our room, there were two kissing swans (towel creations) and more flowers on our bed.Then that night, we were escorted back south to Xcleret for the dinner show depicting the Mayans, then the Spanish Conquistadors, the settling of Mexico, the sports and the cultures. It was an incredible history with replica costumes, music, incredible balladeers and actors of all ages.
We then returned to the Hilton for our final night. We packed our bags then slept. In the morning we were again picked up by a van and headed back to the airport. Some simple forms to be fill out, but once we checked the bags, we were free to shop at the duty free store and last minute souvenir shops. Our trip was ontime and uneventful. We landed in Houston and went through the passport check and customs very smoothly. We had a long layover so we had lunch at Pappadeux’s, a great Cajun restaurant! Then we headed on to Las Vegas, back home, safe and sound. A rockin’ vacation in beautiful Cancun!
Can’t wait to return Labor Day, 2010 for the Civitan International Convention with hu
ndreds of Civitan friends taking over most of the Cancun Hilton Hotel! Cancun Rocks!
