Cancun Resorts

Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel, Secrets Moxché, Palmaïa , The House of AïA

Mexico FAMtrips accepted my application to spend three nights at Blue Diamond Luxury Resort in order to explore three different luxury resorts in the area. FAM trips are familiarization trips for travel advisors. One of my goals for this year was to invest and do more FAM trips. I visited other properties while in the Dominican on Spring Break, and I have something special coming up soon! But this trip was my first acceptance into a FAM, and I was so excited to head back to Mexico!

It was an absolute delight to meet Lori and Daniel who operate Mexico FAMtrips. After 10 years away, this trip to Mexico only reignited my desire to vacation in the Yucatán Peninsula again and again.

Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel

Night 1 at Blue Diamond was getting acquainted with everyone on the FAM, while also learning about the resort. You all know how much I love a good bike ride, so the fact that each "square" of rooms had bikes was so much fun. The resort is long, and to move from the lobby to the beach is about a half mile. But don't worry! If biking and walking aren't your things, there was always a driver and golf cart stopping to see if you needed a ride or a quick call to the lobby would have one at your door in five minutes. Super easy!

Our dinner on night one was traditional Mexican with an Aztec show during dinner. Dining is somewhat limited at the resort with only three restaurants. During the off-season, only one of the two main restaurants are open at night. The third restaurant is a quick-service lunch and late night spot.

The property would be perfect for folks who want a complete disconnect and escape. They have a wonderful spa facility. Many of the advisors I was with purchased massage treatments and said it was the best one they had ever had. There is also a real cenote on property. A cenote is a deep sinkhole formed by the collapse of the surface limestone that exposes groundwater underneath. Unlike other resorts, this one is natural.

I am generally not a big fan of swimming in water that looks like this or that I can't see through, but cenotes are supposed to have healing powers. They are also known as nature's spa, filled with minerals that should detoxify the body and make you look younger! Now, I don't know that I came out looking younger, but I did really enjoy the swim.

But maybe my enjoyment was so strong because I had just spent 90 minutes in a hot box, or what the Mayans call a Temazcal. This is a sweat lodge that is supposed to have curative, healing properties that purify the soul and restore balance. Again, this was on property! This is really what makes the resort so unique.

As we walked to the Temezcal, we paid homage to the elfan spirits that the Mayan culture believes inhabits their land. The elves are small spirits or creatures who are guardians of the natural world. So for us to enter the forest, we ask for permission and show respect at their "house" that was created so the elves would have some place to escape to when we enter their realm.

Only three of us lasted the entire 90 minutes. I am not going to sugar coat it. It was tough. But it was so amazing to have experienced the event with strangers. It served as a bonding experience that I was honored to have. I will also say that every time the shovel of hot volcanic rocks was shoved through the door, I really had to control the urge to bolt! After the ceremony, we enjoyed some refreshments on mats under the trees. How cool is that?

The resort is home to multiple alligators and other wildlife, like monkeys. As we walked barefoot through the woods, we could see the monkeys following us through the treetops.

Pros for Blue Diamond:

• the authentic experiences offered

• food was all ala carte, making each dish fresh

• food rating would be 7.5/10 (Really good, but few restaurant options)

• so many room categories, from beach front to cenote view

• excellent spa and yoga options

• bikes!

Cons for Blue Diamond

• beach does not look like the website; a hurricane wiped it out a few years ago

• pool is small, but there is another pool at the spa (no chair service however)

• really no chair service at the pool; I had a few hours over the course of a few days to enjoy the pool and only once was I offered a drink while at my chair

• maintenance issues; property is a former Manderin property (super luxurious) but some updating is needed

Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen

Our second site inspection was at Secrets Moxché. It was pretty fabulous. If pool is your thing, then this property has it all for you! I personally loved the zero-entry sand pool. But if that's not your thing, you can enjoy 6 other pool options!

This was the Preferred Club pool. If you choose to stay at a Secrets, staying in Preferred Club gives you so many amenities and perks, like your own pool area.

And then there is the rooftop pool. Um, yes, please. I would probably stay here the whole time.

Pros for Secrets Moxché:

• Pools for every taste

• Food was excellent, and we only had the buffet. But if the buffet is good (extraordinary), I expect the ala carte menus will be as well.)

• Massive resort with many options, but it did not feel crowded at 84% capacity!

• Lovely beach

• Offers a lively scene at one pool, while the rest are quieter.

• Decor was not hotel-esque. It is a Hyatt property, but felt very luxurious

Cons for Secrets Moxché:

• Massive resort, so could be a lot of walking
  

Another rooftop view.

Here is what you see as you enter the lobby. Love.

Palmaïa, House of AïA

Our final property was here. Just look.

Who is this resort perfect for? The travelers who want a beach! Also the travelers who want a lot of zen and healthy living vibes.

On the website, this resort is described as a "natural, forward thinking beach enclave." Let me tell you this was my favorite spot. It would not be Robert's favorite spot, however. I think going with a bunch of girlfriends would be perfect for my tastes. It has only ala carte food options that range from vegetarian to free-range chicken. No mater your food tastes, this resort caters to them. Their mocktail was impressive. I actually thought it had wine in it.

Look at one of their spa rooms!

Each treatment happens in these stand alone, air-conditioned mini spas. So complete escape and relaxation is offered.

Their greenhouse was a lovely spot along the walkway behind the rooms.

This is the view from the swim-out rooms. Notice you can go straight to the beach from here.

Pros of Palmaia:

• Wellness options are unparalleled (gong baths, energetic cleansing, therapeutic yoga, gratitude rituals, and so many more)

• Located in Playacar, which is a gated community

• Beach is GORGEOUS

• Kids are welcome. There is even a small water park, but I would only bring kids who are fairly content and not technology focused. (READ NOTE BELOW)

• Kids club looked fabulous (think creative and explorative)

• Food is known to be incredible, focused on plant based, but do offer meat.

Cons of Palmaia:

• It's a 5-star property for the holistic-minded. So it's not a throw-down party.

• It's quiet.

NOTE:

Palmaïa is a neighbor property to Sandos Playacar. We did not tour Sandos, but it is a much more active family friendly resort. Think big waterpark and buffet food and lots of kids. Guest of Palmaïa can use the waterpart at Sandos.

As with each of these resorts, it's not that they have real cons. It's more about finding the right fit for clients. Which is why you should always use a trusted travel advisor to help find your perfect spot. Let me help you. Though I haven't been everywhere, I have access to tons of first-hand knowledge from advisor colleagues and in-country partners.

So until your next travels!