So you might be thinking how is it possible to have an adults only vacation with your kids? Simple answer...your kids are adults! Last summer I traveled with my adult children and shared highlights of our trip to Asia in a previous blog post. It was an amazing adventure. However this summer we did something completely different, and our vacation was actually at an all inclusive adults only resort in Mexico. It was an amazing place which I would highly recommend, The Excellence Playa Mujeres, Cancun.🏝
When we are trying to plan a trip all together now, we are at the mercy of two work schedules, one college schedule and the fact that we live in three different states. Gone are the days when I could just take off the week of their spring break or in the summer and plan whatever we wanted to do fairly easily all leaving from and returning to the same location. Now we had to plan well in advance so both my older daughter and I could take time off from work, and we would not be interfering with the start of my younger daughter's senior year of college and the end of her summer job on campus. We were able to pick the dates and coordinate flights to arrive and depart within a half an hour of each other which was nice and helpful for transfers to and from the resort. We only had four days there, but it was wonderful quality time.
We arrived on a Friday evening and encountered some rain on the way to the resort which was about 35 minutes from the airport. We tried to refrain from constantly checking the weather forecast for the next few days because sadly it was not good at all. Full days of rain and clouds were expected without even a glimpse of the sun😳. We were determined not to let that bother us, but truth be told, the hope was this would be a restful few days at the beach and pool enjoying plenty of sunshine. The first day was not the best, but rain was intermittent and we did spend time at the beach with three good books!
The following day we had a spa morning which was so nice. I have no photos because it was one of several times during this trip that our phones were stored away, and we just enjoyed what we were doing. Once we left the spa, the weather began to cooperate more, and we had time at both the pool and beach. Not full on sun, but better than the day before, so we were happy!
We enjoyed several different restaurants for lunch and dinner. We went to the same place for breakfast most days which had an expansive buffet and the nicest staff. Lunch and dinner options included, Mexican, Italian, French, Seafood and a Steakhouse. There were ample options for cocktails throughout the day including service at the beach and a swim up bar at the main pool.🍹
On our third day we did a planned tour to Chichén Itza. This is one of the most visited archeological sites in Mexico, and one of the seven wonders of the world. Here you see the ruins of one of the largest Mayan cities. The most famous building is the Temple of Kukulacán (El Castillo) which is the pyramid like structure pictured below. It was definitely something to see! The tour included a couple of other stops and was a full day excursion as this area is nearly three hours from the resort in Cancun. Well worth the trip!
(p.s. weather continued to improve!)
Our final day was extra special because it was my older daughter's 23rd birthday! 🎂 Not a cloud in the sky!!☀️ The resort had some nice options to help us celebrate with flowers and champagne, and we also came with gifts from home. We had a lovely room service breakfast on the balcony of our room complete with mimosas! Moved on from there to a beautiful beach and pool day. They offered a "sip and paint" activity on the beach that afternoon which was so much fun. Artists we are not, but I will say the girls' paintings outshined mom's for sure. That evening was dinner with a birthday celebration in the restaurant thanks to the amazing staff. The grand finale was a silent dance party. I had never seen this before, but the kids had, and it was a blast. We are sitting in the photo below, but once we tuned into the music in the headphones, it was on to the dance floor!
Please enjoy some more photos of this beautiful resort, and if you are considering a trip to Mexico, I would highly recommend it. As mentioned, the Excellence is adults only, so if you are looking for a little getaway with your spouse, partner or friends without the kids, it could be a good option. It is perfectly okay to do this once in a while. Some rest, relaxation and the ability to "recharge your battery" can be very helpful for a working mom. However, I must admit that a trip like this with your adult kids is truly amazing. You can rest assured you did something right if they are happy to vacation with you once they have moved away and have their own busy lives. I am very fortunate, and look forward to the next one. My advice...take the trips for as long as you can, explore the world and enjoy the quality time!✈️💗💗
