Cancun
The Magic of Xcaret and Lagunamar
By Ann Parenti
When my husband, Curtis and I recently arrived at the airport in Cancun, we were advised by the concierge at both properties we planned to visit to avoid any proposals from transportation services that would attempt to confront us at the pickup zone and to only look for the service that we had contracted.
Keeping that in mind was a very helpful tip when we got there and saw the chaotic situation they had described. After securing the appropriate driver, we embarked upon a scenic drive to the Xcaret Resort, where we were to attend a wedding for our friends Blanca and Caleb. The resort was breathtakingly beautiful and far exceeded our expectations. We had a beautifully appointed suite with two butlers—yes, I said TWO butlers! The all-inclusive resort offered five amusement/water parks, unbelievable restaurant choices, beverages of your choice, and transportation to all the parks at the property. Service was beyond reproach. The staff greeted us like we were family and could not have been more helpful if they had tried. The wedding was just fabulous, and we were delighted to celebrate with the 50 other guests who flew in from all over the country to rejoice in their union.
After staying for four days at Xcaret, we returned to the airport and picked up a private car to take us to the Lagunamar Resort in Cancun for another seven days of fun in the sun. We teased them at the reception desk that they had big boots to fill after staying at Xcaret. They surprised us with one of the best-appointed rooms on the property. We had a one-bedroom suite corner unit on one of the top floors. The view was spectacular day and night, and the ocean was emerald green to deep blue, depending on what time of day you looked out. Coming from the desert, I cannot tell you how much I enjoy the sound of the ocean since that is not a common thing for a desert soul like me.
Now, let’s talk about the food and the shopping in Cancun! We did not visit one restaurant that was not over the top regarding service, food quality, and price point. Similar to our two-butler experience at Xcaret, the theme continued in all the restaurants we dined at. Two and sometimes three servers assisted in the service during our dining experiences. There was a lovely shopping mall within walking distance of our resort, and several restaurants we dined at were less than 3 miles away.
Some of our favorite restaurants were The Club Grille and Fantino – Cancun, located in the Kempinski Hotel. This property was once the Four Seasons and changed to the new name not long ago. Each night they had talented jazz musicians performing in their dining room at Club Grille and an excellent pianist performing in Fantino. The bar in the lounge offered entertainment nightly, so we were entertained well during our visits. We also enjoyed dining at Cambalache, Fred’s, Porfirio’s, Ristorante Limoncello, and Sonora Grill. Let’s just say we ate our way through Cancun every evening.
I can’t believe it took us so many years to visit Cancun finally, but I am glad we did! A lot of cities these days seem to have some drama going on, and Cancun gets its fair share of press regarding this situation. Fortunately, we had nothing but excellent service, caring staff, friendly local encounters, and a fabulous time! It was all so magical and romantic. Thank you, Blanca and Caleb, for introducing us to Cancun and Xcaret! May you have a long and happy marriage!
