Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from blogger Natty P of 

nattyponline

Read about Natty's travels as she uses the world as her playground: 

Blog - www.nattyponline.com

Instagram - www.instagram.com/_nattyp
Twitter - www.twitter.com/_NattyP
Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/nataliepreddie

About Natty P...

Natalie Preddie is a freelance travel writer living in Toronto, Canada. She contributes to the Travel & Leisure, Toronto Star: Travel, Star Touch Magazine, PAX Magazine, The Baby Post, Travel & Style and her popular travel blog, The Adventures of Natty P. In 2014, Natalie won the Canadian Public Relations Society: Young PR Pro of the Year Award. This year, Natalie won Travel Writer of the Year 2015 for her series on Ontario’s Norfolk County. Follow her on Twitter @_nattyp.

Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

This past June, I beach hopped, spent time in Thomas Edison’s lab, ate homemade ice cream and was overwhelmed by the beauty, wildlife and history of Fort Myers & Sanibel. A short two-hour flight from Toronto, this destination more than triples in population throughout the winter months, mostly Canadians and Americans looking to escape the cold.

But that’s not all. Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel 

Spring break attracts crowds of University students looking to get their ‘wet n’ wild’ on and in between, the area hosts families, couples and other vacationers looking for a well deserved, relaxing and restful holiday. Located in Florida’s Lee County, the area boasts 50 miles of sparkling white sandy beach along the Gulf of Mexico. The sunsets alone are worth the trip.

I was ‘born to beach’ so for me, Fort Myers & Sanibel was the ultimate destination. For my fellow sun lovers, you know that nothing tops lying on a giant towel along a pristine beach and searching the horizon for jumping bottle nosed dolphins, riding Seadoo’s or bobbing in the salty water with friends. For shellers, Fort Myers & Sanibel is famous for their 400 species of shells collected by the county’s unique ‘scoop’ shape in a prime current location. Born To Beach: The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. 

As a pregnant traveller, this was a fantastic ‘babymoon’ destination and I was outfitted in the best summer gear from Thyme Maternity. My favourite three beaches were Fort Myers Beach North, Fort Myers Beach/Times Square and Captiva Beach. Here is why:

Fort Myers Beach North

We checked into Sandpiper Gulf Resort located directly on the white sandy beaches of Fort Myers Beach North. My room looked directly onto the Gulf of Mexico and it only took minutes to get out of my travel gear and onto the sand.

Separated from the masses and with other properties far enough away, this beach was clean and quiet while families built sandcastles, couples played in the warm water and small groups of girls flipped in their sun chairs.

Captiva Island

Captiva Island itself is the perfect beach town. Green and luscious, here wild and plant life is protected by the government and beaches are award winning. Zero fast food joints, no traffic lights and a speed limit of 35 mph, this island provides a true eco-friendly tropical getaway.

Located off of the equally as stunning Sanibel Island, Captiva has some of the areas most beautiful (and expensive) vacation homes. From Gulf view mansions to palm tree-surrounded condos, Captiva is a destination where I could definitely see myself spending winters…and summers in fact.

The main ‘street’ is Andy Rosse Lane, a quaint stretch with boutique shops, eclectic restaurants and quirky art galleries that leads directly to the beach. The water is clear and many shades of blue, a white sandy slope taking one once again into the Gulf. The lush backdrop that lines the beach makes Captiva Beach a truly serene experience.

 

Fort Myers Beach/Times Square

The sunset. While on Fort Myers main beach, I grabbed an ice cream and walked along the boardwalk to watch the sunset over Lee County.

 

I was mesmerized as the red, yellows and oranges painted the sky. The sun glowed majestically in the sky, sinking lower and lower until he took his final bow, leaving a crowd in awe of what they just saw. I think someone actually clapped. It was truly beautiful.

Visit http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/ for more information on beautiful Fort Myers & Sanibel.

Beach Hoping in Kuta Lombok

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest post from bloggers Charlotte & Josh of 

thespindrifters

Read about Charlotte & Josh's travels as they use the world as their playground: 

Blog - http://thespindrifters.com/

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thespindrifters/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/thespindrifters
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE98YwT_qj5f5E-zkbKpxnw

About Charlotte & Josh...

Photo: @thespindrifters

We’re Charlotte & Josh, a 26 & 27 year old couple from London with an insatiable passion for travel. We met 3 years ago bonding over a mutual love of travel having both travelled the world before. It took 2 years to decide we would set off together on an adventure of a new kind. We wanted to travel spontaneously; Drifting from place to place depending on where our mood, people or work took us, so we saved like crazy for 10 months and now here we are living the dream...

Photo: @thespindrifters 

Our passports were being escorted somewhere for a single stamp which was seemingly a harder process than it should be but this allowed us to scoot off away from the misery of soulless Mataram and head to the 'better' Kuta Lombok.

Whenever you talk to someone about Lombok the first thing most people utter is 'Kuta' and 'amazing beaches' so we needed to check it out! Accompanied by our German friends we all jumped in a car and headed South in search of the white sands and amazing surf we had heard so much about.

If Senggigi was a disappointment then Kuta was on the complete other end of the spectrum. Unbroken white and golden sand beaches with incredible surf and turquoise water! Where to begin?

Here's our guide to two days of beach hopping!

Day 1 West of Kuta 

Mawan Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

Park up your bike and walk over the small ridge and be greeted with a half moon stretch of white sand, amazing crashing beach break waves and deep blue sea! The pictures can do the talking but it was basically deserted when we arrived apart from the small kids asking you if you need a coconut, pineapple or Bintang...dreamy! The waves were incredibly powerful when we arrived and we all spent a good 2 hours playing around being swept off our feet and dragged out to sea, which was awesome, just tie up your shorts....!

Mawi Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

Ooohh Mawi, beautiful Mawi. If this wasn't the most difficult 'road' to get to a beach we have ever encountered we may have been able to spend more time admiring the majesty of Mawi's surf and cliff back drop. Its a stunning little beach and once you get over the 'shakes' from bouncing up and down on your bike for 30 minutes its a great place to laze away the day and watch the insane left hand break waves and the amazing surfers trying to conquer them! Please don't be put off by the road, just be ready for it, embrace it and remember that what you find at the other end if most definitely worth it!

Selong Belenak Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

The longest beach of all that we visited to the West of Kuta and definitely the busiest as well! This is the beginner surfers paradise with small waves and many surf shops/warungs offering lessons and board hire. The beach itself is a long stretch of white sand with insane views of the Lombok coastline and little Islands in the middle of the sea. Park your bike, pay the man, get to the beach, turn right and walk into secluded beach heaven! Everybody as usual congregates by the warungs and surf shops but the best part of the beach is further to the North so wander through the breaking waves and find a little spot in the distance to see out the day!

Kuta Beach

Unfortunately, you will get hassled by little kids on this beach but only to buy bracelets and more often than not they just want to take a break and have a chat! They speak surprisingly good English and will leave you too it after a couple of minutes, unless you make them laugh then they could stay for hours! A huge beach with golden (slightly stony) sand stretches off into the distance and has quite a lot of seaweed on it. Maybe not the beach to spend the whole day on but walk away from the main car park and it can seem surprisingly quiet!

East of Kuta

Seger Beach

Photo:  @thespindrifters

Another crescent moon shaped beach with unfortunate amounts of rubbish and seaweed on the beach. Still boasting great views out to sea and the hills that separate it from Tanjung Aan. More of a quick stop off this one, or a destination to park up relax until the sunset starts and race up the hill to the viewpoint to watch the sun setting over Kuta...

Tanjung Aan

Photo:  @thespindrifters

A tourist destination. Lots of buses and tours were stopped here when we arrived and the beach was overrun with people taking selfies and generally disturbing the peace we had come to expect throughout the day. This makes us sound like boring old farts but when the previous beaches set such a serene precedent this was a bit of a surprise...Anyway, who are we to judge, each to their own. The beach is still great and you have to go and see it for the sunset or just to walk up and down to take in the coastal views.

The second day scootering around was revisiting our favourite beaches to spend more time playing in the sea and generally relaxing on the sand but not before we looked round a 'traditional' Sasak village. We aren't sure how traditional this was unfortunately as it seemed very commercial and too many people spoke English while walking around for us to believe it wasn't just a tourist trap. However, we had a good guide and you can choose how much you pay them once you have finished depending on how informative they are. (we were recommended to pay no more than 5k each but pay what you want!)

Photo:  @thespindrifters

We spent a total of 3 days in Kuta and loved it. Its chilled, relaxed surfer vibe is still ever present and the locals are incredibly helpful and friendly. Just be careful about transport back to Mataram. Its expensive in high season, we paid 250k for 4 people which we thought was steep but after negotiating with what seemed like every tour shop its the best we could find! Enjoy!

C & J

Interview With Arianne

Today we are fortunate enough to have a guest interview from blogger & model Arianne. 

Follow Arianne's travels as she uses the world as her playground: 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ariannestraveljournal
For collaborations email: ariannestraveljournal@gmail.com

About Arianne...

A global citizen! Born in Newport Beach CA and lived in over 8 countries and visited 52 and counting. I have a passion for researching the best possible options a place has to offer. I am sharing my adventures along side with tips and ideas for unparalleled experiences. Focus on delightful food & incomparable stays.

What has been your favourite hotel?

Answer: This is a hard question. Overall, I would have to say my favourite hotel has to be Six Senses Resort Zighy Bay in Oman. If a hotel was to represent me as a person this could be it. It has an ecological mindset of recycling and really low carbon footprint, while at the same time providing luxury and comfort. The sounds of waves crashing when you wake up is amazing. You are truly 4 steps from your room to the water. It's magical!

Six Senses Resort Zighy Bay
Photo: @ ariannestraveljournal

What is your most memorable meal?

Answer: Maybe in St. Petersburg at the Grand Hotel Europe. I was eating incredible food while watching ballet and opera in a stunning ballroom from the Tsars Era. 

What 3 items MUST you travel with?

Answer; 3 items, hmm. My iPhone for quick photos on the go and perhaps a charger. That's it. Most is replaceable in life!

What is next on your bucket list? 

I really want to visit the Maldives and Bora Bora. I feel like I need some island relaxation. However, Madagascar and Japan are simply calling my name. I want to see a spring under the cherry blossoms.  

Overnight on Maya Bay

     Maya Bay is a beautiful secluded island off of Phi Phi Island, Thailand. Some call it Maya Beach and others Maya Bay. Richard and I spent 3 weeks visiting Indonesia and Thailand a few summers ago. We saw several areas of Thailand and made sure to plan a trip to Phi Phi island. The island is small and many people go there to dive. There are few restaurants and hotels to choose from, but we stayed at Phi Phi The Beach Resort and it had great little villas with beautiful views.

Phi Phi Island, The Beach Resort
Photo: @conciergecouple

     To get to Phi Phi island, we took a mini bus and then a ferry from Phuket. Once we arrived we found the offices of Maya Bay Tours, the only company that does overnight trips to Maya Bay. They store your luggage for you, which is amazing. Because of this, we did not have to pay for our hotel for the first night or a locker for our things. We transferred a small number of clothing items and toiletries into a duffle bag and wandered the island for a while until it was time to depart for our excursion. The island has no roads and therefore no cars. It has a true tropical island feel.


     At about 2:30 p.m. we took our duffle to the pier to board the boat that would be taking us to the island. We were a little nervous about who we would be spending the night with and the boat ride over (we heard it was a little rough). I ran to the closest restaurant for 2 double rum and diets to ease my nerves. We sipped them as we met our crew and some of the other adventurous people who would be coming along too. The passengers were from all over the world: father and daughter from the Netherlands, a mom and son from London, friends from Spain, and couples from many other locations.

    The ride over gave us a chance to talk to one another and share travelling stories (my favourite part about meeting other travellers). The boat ride over was extremely rough. The boat literally jumped up and down the whole way over. The waves were large and the ocean a deep, and dark blue. I had to sit in one spot and stare out into the horizon or I was going to get very sick. If you get sick on boats at all, this is not the trip for you.

    We stopped on our way to Maya Bay to snorkel and kayak. Beautiful scenery, but even there in the cove the waves moved up and down making me feel very sick again. We got back on the boat and headed for the island. As we were pulling in, other day trippers were on their way out. The island looked beautiful, but we came in a back way, so we would just have to wait for that breathtaking view a little longer. Our boat could not pull all the way in due to low tide so we had to climb and tackle a very rocky journey with our bags. Again, also not for those who have a hard time walking.

Photo: @conciergecouple

    We walked a sand path, through palm trees, and the sounds of birds. What a unique feeling. We put our things down in the open air hut we would be staying in. There are no walls....just wooden "bunks" with cushions. We are given time to walk to the opening of the bay to take pictures as the sun goes down. The tide is low, you can walk on rocks and make your way out further into the bay. We asked the people we met to take photos of us and we did the same for them. As the sun sets, the crew brought us Thailand's token cocktail, rum and coke with red bull.

Maya Bay Beach
Photo: @conciergecouple

As the night started to fall and we were enjoying the magical beauty of the place, the crew called us for dinner. A sweet little Thai lady had made us chicken curry on rice with spicy mixed vegetable. There was plenty to go around and plenty more drinks to wash it down. The crew got us all sitting on blankets and we played some drinking games. As a late night snack, they made chicken wings. If you are willing, this is the time when you can try chicken feet if you wish to try them.

Photo: @conciergecouple

When its completely dark, the tide comes in and the crew takes us to swim. At this time of night you can see the glowing plankton. This is unique and exciting in itself, but when you are out in the water of the bay and you look up with limestone rocks reaching towards the sky and stars twinkling above you it is very cool.

      Soon, its time to go to sleep. We brush our teeth with bottled water, and we must warn you that there is no washroom on the island. We were forced to get creative when nature hit. There is the option to sleep on the beach. Richard and I were the only ones to take up this offer. Normally I would be afraid of bugs, snakes, spiders, etc. but truly the hut was not any safer. We figured we should embrace the experience. We were given a small blanket and tiny pillows. With the tide in, the waves were crashing. Really crashing. I love the sound of water and waves, to be honest we sometimes fall asleep to a waves nature soundtrack back at home. But these waves were not calming, they sounded like they were going to roll all the way up the beach and take us into the deep blue. We managed to sleep a few hours, but what can you expect on an island when you are used to world class hotels.

Photo: @conciergecouple

     In the morning we hiked back to the boat. The crew cooked breakfast (eggs, toast, etc.) on the boat and some of us went for a last dip. The sun was shining on the now turquoise water and the neon fish were zipping back and forth. We headed back to Phi Phi island a little tired, yet amazed at how lucky we were to have that experience. How many people in the world will get to say they slept over on Maya Bay?

     We highly recommend this excursion. It is one of the most unique experiences we have had during out travels. It is the perfect combination of relaxation, discovery, and adventure.

What to pack for the overnight trip:

- 2 swimsuits (wear one and bring another)
- toothpaste and toothbrush
-pyjamas
-sunscreen
-camera

Travel FAQ

Last night Amrita and I hosted a dinner party for a few friends. The usual question, "Where are you two going next?" came up over dinner. We posted on our Instagram earlier this week that Hawaii will be our next major trip in August.

The more you travel the more friends, family, and co-workers will ask for traveling advice. Amrita and I love helping others plan weekend get aways or exotic vacations. It is part of the reason we started this blog and intentionally called it Concierge Couple.

As we ate Amrita's amazing Thai dishes, a few common travel questions came up that we seem to get from many people. We decided to share with you a few of the most popular questions we get asked:

Do you book things before you arrive?

The simple answer to this question is yes. We are not full time travel bloggers and have jobs so time is not on our side.We do have high standards and the truth is many of the great places get booked up quickly because their loyal customers are either returning or the hype of a place has made it in demand. We also do like to have a rough outline of what we want to do and when so we can purchase tickets for events, again aiming for the best seats or for hot ticket events. When we have a good picture of what we are doing and where we are going it also helps us to identify the cost of the trip and we budget for food, drinks, and shopping accordingly.

What "sites" do you use when booking?

We started off loving Travelzoo. It is still great, but we find it most useful for great hotel deals in big American cities. We often book our annual Christmas time in Chicago using Travelzoo. We booked a lot of  Southeast Asia using Expedia. Mostly because we decided not to go with rentals, because we were not sure of the standards of the accomodations. So Expedia made it easy to get a great price, especially when we booked out hotel and flight as a package. When we are looking for stand alone hotels Richard has grown to like Booking.com. If you book with them ferquently, you do get a small discount for your loyal use. During our travels to Europe, we used VRBO a decent amount when booking apartments.

Do you ever feel scared or unsafe?

We have been very fortunate and we have almost entirely felt safe throughout all of our travels. We consider ourselves fairly "travel savvy" and "street smart". Most of the people we have met all over the world have been welcoming and friendly. We likely wouldn't travel as much if they weren't. Sure there have been a few taxi drivers here and there trying to overcharge us, but not much out of the ordinary. One place we visited that made us feel unsafe and uneasy is Morrocco. For the few days we were there we did not feel like it was a relaxing vacation. We were constantly on edge and felt like we had to be alert and cautious. Without getting into too much detail, we have decided we will never personally return. There are so many other options out there.

Where is the best beach?

Is there just one best beach in the world? Doubt it. There are many. Each person has their own opinion of the best beach. We personally like white sand beaches with calmer waters. We like beaches where you can get a drink while you look out far out into the turquoise depths. Beaches that are not incredibly crowded also win in our books. We personally loved Puka beach in Boracay, Philippines.

Puka Beach, Boracay, Philippines
Photo: @conciergecouple

Where should we go?

There are so many choices! As much as we would love others to see all that we have, there is a lot to consider when choosing a destination. Cost? Season? Distance? Number of days? Romantic? Adventure filled? Whenever we talk about somewhere we have been, someone always says "I have always wanted to go there". Well there it is. That is how you pick. If you have wanted to go somewhere for a while, what are you waiting for? "Life is short", "you only live once", there are so many seize the day quotes I could go on with. If there is somewhere you want to go, you can almost always make it happen. Whether it means staying in budget hotels only, splitting accommodations with another couple, going for a shorter stay than you imagined, etc. The only excuse standing in your way is the ones you are making up. Take the kids, get an extra part time job, skip Christmas gifts, ask for that time off. I don't care. If you don't end up going in the next 2 years, than you never wanted to go that badly after all.

*Sorry for the harsh words in the above paragraph, but sometimes people need to stop finding excuses and live.

Email us conciergecouple@gmail.com if you have travel questions. Your question may even be featured in the next FAQ post.

Favourite Beaches in the World

This is a topic we are not experts on. Why? Because crowning the best beach is very subjective. Everyone has their favourite beach that they have visited and they range everywhere from clear, blue calm waters to rolling waves in the deep, blue Mediterranean. Your favourite beach may be in your home town, only a short flight away, or half way across the world. Regardless, the sound and magic of the beach has made a mark on us all. So where in the world is your favourite beach?

Richards favourite beach is in Tulum, Mexico which we visited during a trip in University. We initially went to the ruins in Tulum to embrace a little history and we were pleasantly surprised to find an attraction that grabbed our attention even more. We were so hot from touring the ruins in the direct sunlight, that when we saw people climbing a staircase in wet swimsuits and towels in hand we were thrilled. When we walked towards the edge of the cliff, looking down on the wooden staircase leading down the the beach, we saw one of the most beautiful beaches. Not only was the water robins egg blue, with waves rolling in, but the overall surroundings were breathtaking. The green palm trees against the cliff contrasting with the water made for a gorgeous afternoon. We wandered down the stairs and a took a dip...and boy was it refreshing.


My favourite beach is Puka Beach in Boracay, Philippines. We chose one day to tour different the beaches on the island of Boracay during our summer vacation. First let me tell you they are all gorgeous and worth seeing. There was one beach that stole my heart. We pulled up and parked our scooter, walked past many huts selling various handmade crafts/jewellery, and saw the entrance for the beach. The entryway is a small man-made arch decorated with natural items and shells with the words "Puka Beach" at the top. We got the tourist photo there, and all you can see in the background is a blanket of turquoise. The sand is white and powdery soft and a smattering of rocks make for quite the photo op. But that is not all. It's the vibe. There is one stand set up on the beach that sells drinks. The couple that owns it blends fresh fruit smoothies or cocktails. They also have beer too. They play great music, provide picnic tables, and the man even plays the ukulele here and there. After our swim in the warm, clear waters we sat down at the picnic table for a rum and coke. For some reason that rum and coke may have just been the best drink I have ever had, simply due to the surroundings I was enjoying it in. I will never forget the song that was playing, the breeze from the beach, and the condensation on that Coca Cola bottle.

Puka Beach, Philippines
Photo: @conciergecouple

Grand Fiesta Americana, Puerto Vallarta: Resort Review

We did it again. We took our chances on a new hotel for our Spring break vacation. Did it pay off? You bet! There were four of us who travelled together and we all deemed this hotel one of our favourite all-inclusive hotels. It was a legitimate luxury hotel that truly catered to an “adults only” crowd.

We arrived and were taken to our room on the 8^th floor. The ocean views are incredible from each room, and streaming music through the Wi-Fi allowed us to watch the sunset with music and drinks on our balcony. You were asked to make dinner reservations, but there was never a problem getting the time and restaurant we wanted. There are 3 a la carte restaurants and a buffet to choose from for dinner. Which may not seem like many, but the menus are extensive and you could eat there several times without repeating entrees.

The Mexican restaurant was delicious and offered Mexican dishes that are not “typical” Mexican foods for North Americans. It was great to try flank steak with chimichurri, Mexican fondue, and seafood stuffed poblano peppers.

The Italian restaurant was our least favourite, but a wonderful space and some choices that will please you. I would recommend not going for the traditional pastas and pizzas and aim for what they do well: seafood.

The Asian restaurant was hands down the best restaurant I have ever eaten at of any hotel. It is called Yuu, and we were not sure what to expect. We were thinking dinner would be served teppanyaki style- like so many other resorts do. We were pleasantly surprised. There was an extensive sushi menu, and the sushi was wonderful and made fresh to order as you should expect.  The Jalapeno sushi was a favourite. Rich and I have travelled through Southeast Asia so we were so excited to see that they had a page on the menu catered to some of the major cities in Asia. Under each city they had a traditional dish from that area. I have never seen anything like it. We sampled the chicken satay dish from Kuala Lumpur twice! The men in our group fell in love with the Pad Thai as well.

For lunch be sure to skip the buffet, room service, and pool service and eat at the ceveceria. Their grilled fish sandwich with fried and jalapeno aioli is fresh and delicious.

The views and pools are beautiful. We took so many pictures of the ocean with the mountains in the background. The inflatable loungers available in the pool are a nice touch. We had no problem getting loungers in the morning. There is an option to lounge on the dock beside the pool, facing the ocean which is neat.

We like to have quite a few drinks when we are away, and this hotel did not disappoint. All ingredients were fresh, no syrups slush or purees. They had any drink you can imagine and they make it with top of the line alcohol. We were introduced to the raspberry mojitos at the beach bar. The bartender there even taught me how to make a pineapple margarita using fresh pineapple chunks.

They have a martini lounge, tequila lounge, sky lounge, lobby bar, and a mojito lounge. All spaces are great to sit with friends or significant other before or after dinner. They are themed lounges and the drinks are incredible. They have a variety of tequilas infused with different fruits and flavours you can try, or you can stick to the standards. I sampled the jalapeno tequila with a splash of pineapple and it was great!

The sky lounge on the rooftop is a large bar and there are places to sit and relax. There are 2 large hot tubs on the rooftop which are open late, allowing you to enjoy the stars. There is music being played and special performers are also scheduled throughout the week.

We also like to work out in the mornings on vacation (I know... it’s not for everyone), and the gym is awesome. Not too big, not too small. It has almost everything you can need. A variety of weights, cardio machines, etc. The hotel even runs various classes in the morning!

We were lucky to get upgraded to the Governor suite. If you can splurge on it, even just for a couple of nights it is worth it. The rooms are on the top floor and I am sure you can imagine the views. The room has 2 bathrooms, dining area, living area, wet bar area, 2 balconies, and a patio with a hot tub outdoor dining table and loungers. We had our breakfast brought up to us and ate breakfast on the deck while sipping mimosas. What a wonderful way to start the day!

We had a wonderful time and although will not return again, as it is our rule to never visit the same place twice, we hope you experience the same memorable time as we did. 

Grand Fiesta Americana, Puerto Vallarta
Photo: @conciergecouple

Choosing a Mexico Destination

As March Break (aka Spring Break) is now behind us. It got me thinking about how we have spent many of our breaks in Mexico. We have travelled to Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, and Puerto Vallarta. Truth is they are all great, but below we have outlined some highlights of each destination. Hopefully these tips will help guide you when trying to decide which place in Mexico suits you best.

Playa Del Carmen (Gulf of Mexico):

•  Playa Del Carmen is a coastal resort town within the Riviera Maya
• Its population is about 150,000
• There are many great restaurants and opportunities for nightlife that are not as intense as in Cancun
• If you are celebrating a special occasion there is a very unique cave restaurant called Alux Restaurant
• A balance between the rush of Cancun and the quiet of Tulum

Cancun (Gulf of Mexico):

• Many resorts close together, which means there are often some amazing deals and choices due to competition amongst them
•  Lots to do in the evenings away from your resort: shopping, dining, concerts, beach parties, and great nightlife
• Beautiful waters, but swim with caution as the waves can be quite rough

Tulum (Gulf of Mexico):

• Also many resorts to choose from, and some competition. These resorts are often larger and expansive      
• Plenty of excursions to choose from, as you are closer to many natural and beautiful attractions
• The ruins of Tulum are cool to see. No need to book a tour, we did self-guided. Bring water, as it is very hot with no areas of shade. The view and swim in the Ocean below is magnificent
• Perfect for a romantic or quiet vacation

 Los Cabos (Pacific Ocean):

•  Depending on where you live; getting here for a good deal often means connecting flights
•  Many direct flights from Canada run $1200
•  Beautiful picturesque “lovers beach” is in the background of many pictures. If you are going to visit “lover’s beach” take a boat out early in the morning to avoid groups of tourists in your photos. Boats can be grabbed from the harbour or even off the beach of your hotel/resort
• Great nightlife, but more understated than Cancun
• Great local places to eat…try Los Tres Gallos
• Many Californians and wealthy people visit Los Cabos, so fewer bargains and shopping and dining can be pricey if you stay on the main strip

Puerto Vallarta (Pacific Ocean):

• Water is not turquoise blue, but is beautiful and clear if in a shallow inlet
• Great little downtown with restaurants and nightlife…but it feels more authentic than many of the other locations I have mentioned. Maybe less “Americanized” you could say
• Often great deals on hotels
•  If you are seeking a party…there are super clubs just as crazy as Cancun
•  Rhythms of the Night is a popular dinner cruise, you can read up on it on TripAdvisor
•  Fave hotel: Grand Fiesta Americana

Cozumel (Gulf of Mexico):         

• You can take a ferry there from Playa Del Carmen
• Popular cruise port
• Quieter, with the least options for entertainment and dining
• Lots of little shops and markets to visit that are aimed for cruise passengers
• Great for diving

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Photo: @conciergecouple

Would You Rather Wednesdays!

Would you rather spend your time sipping cocktails and relaxing by a pool or at the beach?

The beach is a beautiful place. White sand, turquoise water, and the sound of the waves makes it a unique experience. If you are like us and live in the city, you often don’t get the chance to spend your days at the beach. Or if you live somewhere with four distinct seasons, you may not have more than a month or two to enjoy any local beach. The downfall here is:

•          You are often far from the bathrooms
•          There is no music pumping (a pro for some and a con for others)
•          You can’t just jump into the water to cool off
•          You get sand everywhere
•          Local entrepreneurs will ask you to buy just about anything

The pool on the other hand is less picturesque, but it has its benefits as well:

•                     Close to restaurants, hotel room, and bathrooms
•                     Swim up bar…need I say more?
•                   Music and activities (again, a pro for some and a con for others)
•                    When you are roasting hot, you can just jump in for a cool down.
•        No hot sand tip toeing slow beach entry 

Our choice: Richard and I are pool lovers. Maybe it’s because we have great memories of travelling with our friends in University: dancing poolside to music, participating in the silly games at resorts, and loitering at the swim up bar. Also, if you can find a resort with loungers built into the pool….you are set!

Riu Santa Fe, Cabo San Lucas
Photo: @conciergecouple

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