Our Surprise Vacation to the Yucatan – Chapter One

Last week, I introduced you to Chuck and Val, a couple from our RV Park who hail from Alaska. We co-hosted the “Alask-Can Grill” on Thursday, January 21st and a few days later on Sunday the 23rd, Chuck and Val came to see if we would be able to join them in Cancun for a week. John and I looked at each other and asked, “Is this a dream?” They assured us we were not dreaming. I can tell you though that it certainly turned out to be a dream come true!

Like us, Chuck and Val are time-share condo owners and, even though their favourite place in Mexico is Mazatlan, they decided this year to try out the Yucatan peninsula and Playa del Carmen. Last fall, they booked and planned the trip with another couple but, as time got closer, the other couple had to cancel. “Would we like to go in their place?” The departure was January 29th, only four short days away. Could we pull it together?

After checking and confirming flights that coincided with those already booked by Chuck and Val, the answer was a resounding “Yes!” So we dug out our bathing suits, traded US dollars for pesos, emptied the fridge, packed two small carry-on’s and secured the coach for the week. On the Friday morning, we flew out of Brownsville @ 0800 to Houston and arrived in Cancun @ 3:00. After obtaining the approval of the Mexican Immigration 'federale', we proceeded forward to the Customs inspector who pressed the infamous electronic button and the machine gave us the ‘green’ light (vs. the ‘red’ light)!

Once out of the controlled area, there were probably 150 reps from multiple tour companies and condo realtors hounding us. We ploughed through the maze and noise of “over here Amigos” and wound our way outside till we located the van to the Mayan Palace.

And after a 30-minute drive southwest towards Playa del Carmen, we entered two fabulous condo hotel facilities: one called the Grand Mayan and the other called the Mayan Palace – and fabulous it was, believe me! The drive from the main road to the hotel lobby was past the 18-hole golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. Over-sized electric golf carts shuttled us to our condo through a jungle-like, groomed trail. Here's a pic I took from my seat:

Our two-bedroom apartment was located on the ground floor so we had easy access. It was well-appointed with the living and dining area separating the two bedroom suites. There were sliding glass doors in each bedroom as well as the living room. And the small galley gave us everything the four of us needed for the week.

The Mayan Palace also offered a number of great restaurants depending on our tastes and moods – from La Bache by the pool (where we enjoyed scrumptious salads), to Greenbreak and Tacos (at the golf course), to Tramonte for finer dining (where the Prime Rib was some of the best ever) to Havana Moon for ‘just a nice dinner’ (where the shrimp and pan-seared tuna were superb) to del Lago for the Fiesta Mexicana (where there was no end to the Mexican buffet)! There were one other high-end restaurant called Gong, Taste of Asia - but we ran out of time to try it out. Should you be interested, here’s the link to the Mayan Palace – you can see for yourself just how fabulous it is:

http://mayanresorts.com/mayan-palace/riviera-maya/photo-gallery

The beachfront was gorgeous with a small pier and gazebo:

Despite the beauty at the beach, we hung out at the pool but I should say ‘pools’. Just in from the beach and stretching across the full length of the beachfront to the lobby, was a series of pools that were linked. All had a 3’ depth except for the two kids' pools that were about 6" deep. Two pools had swim-up bars, two had volleyball nets, two were infinity pools (here’s one of them):

And three formed a narrow path down to a larger secluded area:
And how do you like this one for resting or reading?

Chaise lounges and chairs surrounded every pool. There were also palapas with queen-size lounging beds with massive pillows where you could spend the day. Trust you can understand why we spent every other day at the pool(s)!

So what did we do on Domingo (Sunday), Martes (Monday) and Miercoles (Wednesday)? More to come in the next two chapters: the Mayan Ruins and Cozumel and (my new favourite animal), the Iguanas of the Yucatan! More on what we call "Adventures with Chuck and Val".

Will be back here in a few days – hope you will be too… m.