I think about how amazing this resort is and how it can work for so many types of travelers.

I went with three other couples this time:

Couple #1: Loves to spend a full week, and they spend virtually all of their time together. They love to find their spot for the week and stay there. They rarely go to the meals or the events. They stay at their swim up and mostly order room service or maybe go to the buffet. Mostly, they socialize with other couples who are also around their spot.

Couple #2: Very laid back, enjoy the dinners, but also greatly enjoy their strolls on the beach and time alone with their view and their rooftop… a few cocktails and mostly just down time.

Couple #3: (these are my parents). She wants to do EVERYTHING. She will take all the bike rides, go to all the meals, do all the painting, attend every class, go to every show, miss nothing. He will wander for hours and explore. He will take afternoon naps and enjoy excellent meals. They meet up after she is done doing EVERYTHING with everyone.

Couple #4: (this is us). I could spend all day every day on the beach, not even getting in the water, just enjoying reading and watching. I could probably stay for a week and be happy with just doing that and going to dinner. He loves a good massage, some good dinner, and some down time but never more than four or five days. We like to do things both apart and together.

So… since this is my blog, it is mostly couple 4… but really, just me. So the next morning starts on the beach. Manuel is there almost as soon as I am. (I was a little late. I didn’t get there until 7:10). He told me he had seen my posts on Facebook the day before. I do post a lot, for sure, but I also think it’s important that these people be recognized for all the hard work they do. I blog when I get home for my memories, but I also do reviews on TripAdvisor and Google for them. They are amazing, and they deserve all the recognition they can get.

I read for a few hours, and eventually texted my husband to see if he wanted to meet for breakfast at the Lobster House. It was our last day there, and I wanted that view for breakfast. All of our days had been lovely, but this was the most beautiful day, yet. It was just a breeze and only a few clouds. I started in with the drinks a little too early… which would catch up with me later. (I should know better, I have more than 30 years experience…) But it was the last day…

I ordered the chilaquiles for breakfast. Forgetting that they come with an egg, I ordered two. The two eggs were lost in translation, so they came with three. Ooops! Well, I was on my third cranberry and sparkling wine, and it was barely 10 o’clock, so I should probably put a base down anyway. I also had yogurt, and my husband and I shared the peanut butter pancakes.

After that, we went back to the beach for several hours. The sun was blazing! This was the first day that the wind died down enough to bring back the curtains for the beds. Then, despite my trying to hide from it, he came to find me… the dreaded monkey.

This is my 4th trip to Excellence, but my first monkey… I love the resort and the little extras, but I never expect to get them. He was tasty, sweet, and filled with some kind of mango concoction. I realized that I had been there for long enough that I was getting hot and buzzy and should make my way to some cool water.

Building 8 pool was PERFECT. The water was just the right kind of cold, refreshing when you get in, but easy to get used to in just moments. We watched the iguanas fighting for territory…. and then came the SECOND monkey! This time, from Marlon. This one was filled with pina colada. Getting rid of my buzz by being in the pool was being offset by the drinks that kept on coming!

We had our complimentary hydrotherapy scheduled for that afternoon, so I was hoping that would put a little pep back in my step. We bid a fond farewell to the pool and went to do the circuit.

I LOVE the hydrotherapy. It’s slightly different every time. This time, I started with a sugar scrub in the tropical shower with different temperatures and pressures. Then, we went to the sauna. After the sauna, was the warm and cold plunge pool, followed by the steam room; then, the Mexican shower (which is just dumping a bucket of cold water over your head.) After, we went through all the different jets before the head massage.

In the past, this had included a shoulder massage. I’m not sure if it’s because of COVID, but now, the therapist just held a towel and used it to manipulate my head an neck in a pulling and turning way. It felt so good!

Still, after drinking all day, I felt “off” after the hydrotherapy. Too many toxins released? I’m not sure.

Oh, and coming back from the spa, I stopped to take pictures of that lovely little area of cabanas. If you’re looking for a truly quiet place, they’re open to anyone. I’m sure if people know you’re back there, the service would be quite good.

Then, it was time to prepare for the last big dinner: Magna.

My parents had planned an anniversary dinner and asked for us to join them.

I was nearly chilly coming back from the spa! I managed to put on makeup and curl my hair without becoming a complete sweaty mess! (Pro tip: Turn the shower head on to cold and the rainshower on to warm in the shower. I love the different temperatures and washing my hair in the cold water!)

Magna dinner is truly spectacular, but OH MY is that food ever rich. We ordered another nice bottle of Mexican wine (Ricardo), and I had the foie gras, cauliflower soup, and surf and turf. It was just butter, butter and more butter.

As a whole, I had felt better on this trip than I had on any of the others. I didn’t get my usual travel tummy… until the last night. My body finally said, “ARE YOU CRAZY! What are you DOING to me?” and called it quits. I wanted to make the acrobat show, but that just wasn’t happening.

So, at 830 on the last night, I crawled into bed. During the night I drank more than 6 bottles of water. I was dehydrated, full of booze, and more butter than a person should eat in a week. I grand finaled WAY too hard.

I knew the bellhop was coming at noon, so we had a very SLOW last morning. Just a little yogurt for breakfast before the walk of shame to the sad couches. Still, Kalido wasn’t coming until 1:30. I knew we wouldn’t get home until after 10 PM, so decided to brave Toscana, figuring I could have a light lunch. On Monday, Toscana was only doing table service a la carte. I ordered a Caprese salad and a prosciutto pizza, expecting it to be the size of the pool pizzas. It was not… but it may have been the best pizza I’ve had there! Definitely could only do a few bites, but it was a few WONDERFUL bites.

I need to email Kalido to find out who our driver was because he was the best we ever had. He took us on a slightly different route to the airport, we drove along the ocean side, and he showed us landmarks along the way.

I always use a porter at the airport. It’s just so much quicker and easier for them as they scan passports, and put on luggage tags. I’m always fumbling for things. He made it so simple and made sure I had everything I needed to go through security. He checked to make sure I had filled out the correct health form, and took us to the quickest row. It is always worth a few dollars to me.

Speaking of worth a few dollars, I have a Chase Sapphire credit card. It has one of the higher annual fees, but it also comes with more benefits than most other cards. One of those benefits is access to several international lounges, including the one in Cancun. It’s a nice haven when you’re at the airport so very early. Since both my husband and I are cardholders, we were able to get both of my parents into the lounge.

Again, nothing worth mentioning about the flights home. (Those are the best kind), and my slow return to reality.

This has been a HELLACIOUS year for everyone. I have been a high school teacher for 27 years, and this year has left me broken on several occasions. I needed this break more than I can even express.

My friends, parents, husband, and I did not enter into this decision lightly, but we were all so glad for our few days of “normal” in the middle of dystopia. I regret none of it. Even today, as I reflect on the last four days. I’m still bone tired. My body is still yelling at me and saying “What did you DO to me?” And I’m so glad I did.

Today started with me looking at that black Friday code again, and thinking… Hmmm… maybe FIVE times is the right number. After all, I STILL haven’t made it to the acrobats show…