Book, Cancel, Repeat – A Summary of 2020
By mid-March last year and pre-pandemic, we had planned and booked vacations that would run through most of 2020, including a week in Tulum for the upcoming spring break in April. It was not long before the writing was on the wall and we accepted that spring break would be spent at home. So I canceled our trip to Tulum but did not lose faith. I was certain that our mega vacation to Spain that was scheduled for the last two weeks of August was a sure thing but that too was canceled.
In both cases, we either received airline credit or a complete refund from Delta, our airline of choice, as well as complete refunds for all pre-paid hotels, resorts and other ground transportation services. The travel industry quickly adapted to travel restrictions and altered their policies to accommodate and retain customers. Thus, all penalties were removed, credit and reward expiration dates were extended to allow for travel well into 2021. There was an unprecedented level of flexibility amid uncertain and constantly changing circumstances that is expected to continue through most of 2021.
As the months rolled by, I got caught up in a process of planning, canceling and re-scheduling with the hope that my optimism would overcome the travel restrictions of this never-ending pandemic. With this frame of mind, I decided to apply our airline credit towards flights to Cancun for our annual vacation during the Christmas break.
During our Christmas/New Year’s vacation spent in Cancun at the close of 2019, we were inspired to return to Mexico the following year with ambitious plans. Given that our children are older and travel savvy, my husband and I planned to fly into Mexico City where we would spend five nights and then fly over to Cancun to spend another five nights on an inclusive resort in Tulum. As the months rolled by, restrictions in Mexico City were still in place and by early December, it became evident that it was not the right time to visit Mexico City, so once again, I got on the phone and changed our airline tickets and resort reservations, while incurring no change or penalty fees.
A week in Tulum was still a possibility and we felt optimistic.
It was all a Dream…
It was not until we actually stepped onto the plane and made our way through customs at Cancun International Airport on Christmas Day 2020, that this vacation became a reality. With masks on, an abundance of hand sanitizer and numerous other safety protocols that did not hinder, we embarked on a much-needed break.
The experience of going through the airports and checking into our resort, Dreams Tulum Resort and Spa, was smooth and the sense of relief to find ourselves in this beautiful oasis was unbelievable. The resort was at a reduced capacity so there were far fewer guests than usual. It was easy to social distance and to follow the mask and hand sanitizer guidelines. We were instructed to wear masks whenever interacting with staff members but for the majority of days spent lounging by the pool or on the beach, we had plenty of space to ourselves to remain more than socially distanced from other guests and relax without masks. The reduced capacity also meant less competition for prime spots around the pool or on the beach, no lines for food during the day and a very attentive staff.
We felt safe, pampered and relieved that we went forth with this vacation.
Restaurant access was altered and although there were some limitations, there were plenty of indoor/outdoor options to accommodate three meals a day. I welcomed the changes made to serving food at the buffet, which was only open for breakfast. Rather than guests serving themselves, the staff members standing behind plexiglass served the guests who were required to wear masks until seated at their table.
I would not be opposed to this method remaining in place long after the pandemic has passed due to the overall sanitary improvement in a space where guests possibly had too much freedom in the past. It just felt cleaner and less wasteful because the portions were controlled by the staff who did not pile on the food as some guests are tempted to do in an all-you-can-eat situation.
The Mayan Ruins – Tulum, Mexico
Dreams Tulum is a five minute drive from the Archaeological Site of Tulum and prior to our vacation I had made arrangements through Amstar for a half-day excursion. We were shuttled to and from the site via a van that we shared with a family of six and a very friendly tour guide. The usual requirements of masks and hand sanitizer were maintained while inside the vehicle and walking around the grounds.
Our friendly and knowledgable guide gave us a brief and informative introduction to the site. She then left us to explore on our own for just over an hour and that was more than enough time to see all of these beautiful Mayan ruins breathtakingly located along the coast. Admittedly there were more crowds than I had expected but luckily we arrived early when it was less crowded and we were on our way out as the number of people entering the site started to swell. It was so exhilarating to be back out and about, walking through history on what could not have been a more glorious day.
It was the perfect amount of time to see everything and we were back at the resort by 1:00 pm with the rest of the day to swim and lounge about.
Xel-Ha, Tulum, Mexico
The comfort and ease experienced upon our arrival in Tulum led us to schedule a second full-day excursion to the adventure/amusement park Xel-Ha, also a five minute drive from our resort. Our kids are older, fearless and actively looking for thrills. Xel-Ha is an all-inclusive experience that was very organized and accommodating. The amount paid, $372, covered admission for four, transportation both ways, access to the majority of the attractions and all food and drinks, including alcoholic beverages.
We were advised to arrive in bathing suits and water shoes and/or flip flips. When we arrived, we found our way to a conveniently located locker room where we put our bags, valuables and clothing so we had complete freedom to get in and out of the water. We left our phones in the locker which meant no pictures during the day but it did not seem worth the gamble of potentially losing or damaging my phone just to get cool shots. It was actually liberating to be completely immersed in the experience and not worrying about valuable belongings. We walked around wearing bathing suits, flips flops/water shoes, masks, life vests (provided by the park) and I wore the key to our locker around my neck.
This park is arranged around a massive cenote is that opens to the ocean on one side but is also surrounded by a jungle of mangrove. The placement of this park in such a lush and magnificent natural environment makes for an authentic experience. A range of extreme to moderate adventure activities take full advantage of this natural wonder. A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater. There are tens of thousands cenotes in this region of Mexico. I could not believe how warm, clean and welcoming it felt to immerse oneself in this water, believed by some to have healing powers.
The main attraction for our kids was the massive slide that winds around a lighthouse. From the top, we took in breathtaking views of the cenote and the ocean. We arrived shortly after the park had opened and made a beeline to the slides where we waited less that twenty minutes before I had to muster up the courage to take the plunge. One time was enough for the adults but the kids were able to go down a second time due to a very short wait time.
The rest of the day unfolded with zip-lining, obstacle courses, floating down a lazy river, swimming and snorkeling and frolicking on a playground that could easily rival any of the best in New York City. It even had a water slide that went right into the cenote.
We had lunch at one of the buffets that was conducted just like the buffet at the resort. The staff served the guests to avoid cross-contamination and the tables were spaced in an open and airy space. We were satisfied with the quality of the food and drinks but the only disappointment was that bottled water was not available for free. It was only for sale in one of the stores near the entrance. I regret not bringing a couple of bottles from the resort to carry around but we made due without.
The park became more crowded as the day went on but we managed to stay in our little unit and at no time did we feel like compromised. Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the organization and cleanliness of this amusement park located in the most beautiful of settings. The artifice that I associate with the Disney Worlds and Six Flags of the U.S. was not present in this place which was carefully adapted to the natural and unique surrounds of this specific location in the world.
Mexico has so much to offer and this week in Tulum only deepened my respect and admiration for such a beautiful and culturally rich country. From the airport to the resorts, transportation and attractions, the travel industry in Mexico has gone above and beyond to ensure a safe vacation for those willing to venture out. This was a much needed vacation that allowed us to hit the reset button. We went into 2021 tanned, rejuvenated, relaxed and with renewed faith in travel. No regrets!
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