After saying goodbye to my boyfriend, I went to the meeting where I was told everything I ever needed to know about Delphinus’ dolphin programs throughout Mexico. The presentation was interesting and included information on Dreams Cancun, as well as the dolphin program.

It lasted nearly an hour but, for some reason, the only fact I recall is that the wedding gazebo at Dreams Cancun is located on the Eastern-most tip of Mexico’s mainland. Since I didn’t have any type of global positioning device handy to check that out for myself, I just took their word for it.

The wedding gazebo at Dreams Cancun

The wedding gazebo at Dreams Cancun

One thing I DO know is that the wedding gazebo is in one of the prettiest places you could ever imagine for a wedding. Yes, they told us all about dolphins, but it was way too early in the morning to remember that information. Besides, I got a booklet containing all of the information so I didn’t need to commit it to memory. Actually, I think I was too busy daydreaming about having a pet dolphin to listen closely to the presentation.

After the meeting, I had only about 15 minutes to get ready for what was sure to be the most exciting part of my day…..swimming with dolphins!!!

This photo was provided by Delphinus.

This photo was provided by Delphinus.

I ran back to my room and dropped off everything except my camera and room key and hurried to the Delphinus office.

I arrived right on time (for once in my life!!) and was sent into a small, open-air room with a television and some benches. (The 2 dark areas on the left side of the photo above.) In the little room, you sign release forms, get life jackets, and watch a video telling you about dolphins. The video showed us how to touch the dolphins without hurting them. In case we didn’t follow along with the video, our guide also demostrated the proper techniques with a stuffed dolphin. That part was rather amusing.

After the instructional video, we were told where the lockers were and that we had to wash our hands with some sort of disinfectant before we could enter the water. (They also said that you had to leave your sunglasses in a locker. I got around that rule since my sunglasses are prescription and I can’t see a thing without them.) Everyone washed their hands and then we were quickly herded into groups of 6. Each group had a Delphinus employee that held a sign with a number. That was the group number. The groups were escorted to the dolphin area by the group leader. Just a couple of feet from the water, we were shown a spot where our group could store our shoes and other belongings while we were playing with dolphins. Once everyone was settled, each group was greeted by their dolphin trainer. Like lemmings, we followed our trainer into the water. (I recommend wearing water socks to protect your feet. The metal walkway in the lagoon is fairly uncomfortable and can be slippery.)

Depending on the area your group is in, your feet may or may not be able to touch the bottom. If this is a concern for you, I suggest that you request to be in the pool rather than in the lagoon area. I am sometimes overwhelmed if I can’t see the bottom…or what is living in the water…but I eagerly went to the lagoon area. (The trainers do a great job making sure everyone feels comfortable in the water and with the dolphins!) The trainer told us what we would be doing during our hour with the dolphins, introduced us to our dolphin, Xcaret, and got right down to business.

I couldn’t believe how fast the time flew by! It was an unbelieveable, amazing, extraordinary experience! During the hour we were in the water, we got to touch our dolphin, hug and kiss her,

That’s me hugging Xcaret!

Xcaret giving me a big, wet kiss on my cheek!

and have her jump over our group.

The guy in the background is standing in front of my balcony!

They also had 2 dolphins push individuals through the water by their feet (aptly called a “foot push”).

You can see how close the dolphin area is to the pool area (in the background).

We even got to touch the dolphin’s teeth and put on goggles (provided by Delphinus) so that we could watch the the dolphins swim underwater. I hate getting splashed (it hurts my eyes to get any water in them) so I opted out of the part where the dolphin jumps over the group. So I wouldn’t feel excluded from the group, the trainer let me give Xcaret fish and showed me how to give her commands. I got the feeling that was not normally part of the program and, quite honestly, it was the highlight of my day! Actually, it was one of the coolest things I’ve ever done…EVER! After my group saw me assist the trainer, I think they all wished they had also been big babies and stayed over on the side with me.

A group touching their dolphin’s teeth.

After the dolphin hugs and kisses, our time was up. Xcaret waved goodbye with her tail fin and, sadly, the group exited the lagoon. Our group leader was waiting to direct us back to the office which was just a short walk away. We were taken inside the office to see the photos and video from our time in the water with Xcaret. The photos and video are great and I am delighted to have them but I was terribly disappointed to find that, unlike contestants on “Wheel of Fortune” or “The Price is Right”, Delphinus customers do not get “lovely parting gifts” upon their departure. As you know, I was hoping to take home a dolphin. No such luck. They did, however, have a cart filled with various dolphin-themed souvenirs. I took home one of the stuffed dolphins instead.

The stuffed dolphins are almost as cute as the REAL dolphins!

Later that night, I used my newly acquired dolphin to reenact my dolphin experience for my boyfriend. He was not amused by my antics and decided to keep the dolphin for himself. (I think he was just jealous that I am now a Master Dolphin Trainer and he isn’t.) I left my boyfriend and our dogs playing with the stuffed dolphin (and by “playing”, I mean “attempting to destroy”) while I went to update my resume to reflect my experience as a Dolphin Trainer. I am sure it’s just a matter of time before Delphinus calls to beg me to work for them.

Aside from being bitter about not getting to take home a pet dolphin, I was incredibly impressed with the efficiency and professionalism displayed by everyone I encountered with Delphinus. Actually, in the 4 years I have been living in Cancun, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a company with such an efficient operation.

I cannot say enough great things about my experience with my new friend, Xcaret. It was a wonderful day that I am not likely to forget any time soon.

———–
PHOTOS

This photo shows the balcony of a Dolphin View room in the background. It shows just how close you get to the action when you stay in a Dolphin View room!

The following photos were taken from the balcony of my Dolphin View room on the 1st floor of the Pyramid Tower.

I took the elevator up to the Presidential Suite, located on the 17th floor of the Club Tower. The elevator doors opened and I immediately saw a very large piece of art that decorates the entrance to the suite. I walked past it and into the living room. From there, all I could notice was the view. Simply amazing!! I thought my view of dolphins was pretty darned cool, but the sight of the Caribbean Sea from 17 stories up was astounding! A few seconds seconds later, I stopped acting like a tourist that had never witnessed such beauty, and started making my rounds. There were, once again, men carrying trays of martinis! Hurray!! (Note to self: When I become wealthy, I must immediately hire a handsome man to hover nearby with a tray of martinis in hand!) I helped myself to an Apple Martini and started to mingle. Even though the party was work-related, it turned out to be fun and I ended up meeting some very nice people…most of whom are fellow writers.

After the party, I rushed back to my room to get my boyfriend so we could go to dinner. He really wanted to have shrimp for dinner so we had decided to dine at Oceana, the gourmet seafood restaurant by the beach. I walked in to find him napping. The thought of fresh seafood was enough to get his lazy bones out of bed. He got ready in record time and we were out the door.

We took the long way, choosing to walk by the dolphins, around the pool area, and then to Oceana. In the pool area, there is a fairly small pool on one side and on the other side, there is a sandy beach with sea water. (This area would be PERFECT for children that are too small to play in the rough waters of the ocean.) On the sandy beach, the hotel had set up chairs and a stage. There were two guys playing guitar and singing popular rock ‘n roll songs. The were very good too! The hotel calls this event the Stargazing Rock-n-Roll Party. People were relaxing in lounge chairs on the beach while listening to the music. It looked like a good time, but we were too hungry to hang around and partake in the fun.

Oceana is the large palapa in the center of the photo.
The musicians were set up on the left side of the beach area shown in the photo.

We continued walking past the musicians and quickly arrived at Oceana. There was a short wait for a table because they were not seating guests at the tables on the terrace. We were told that the threat of rain caused them to only seat people indoors. (Apparently, in the past they have had major seating problems when it starts to rain and the guests want to move from the terrace to a table inside.) I was disappointed about having to sit inside, but it was a pretty room and I was sure it would still be a nice experience.

Before we were taken to our table, my boyfriend took a moment to point out all the men that were breaking the dress code and showing off their toes in open-toe sandals. I assured him that I read the dress code properly and then reminded him that, thanks to our destructive puppy, he no longer had sandals anyway. He stopped pouting when the host returned to escort us to our table. We were taken to a table in the center of the restaurant and given HUGE menus. They had to be 2 feet by 3 feet. (I wish I was exaggerating!) It’s a good thing they seated us inside because I’m afraid the large menus would’ve acted as sails and swept us away before we had a chance to order.

The menu at Oceana has a very limited selection if you do not like seafood. They have MANY selections if you enjoy seafood, however. The over-sized menu was full of choices, as a matter of fact! I was excited to see Mahi-Mahi (my favorite fish!) on the menu and didn’t really look any further. I had my usual Caesar Salad and the Mahi-Mahi. My boyfriend had been craving shrimp until he started reading the menu selections. He decided to have the Grouper. Our entrees were served with rice and steamed vegetables. Everything was delicious! My fish was slightly overcooked, but not enough to send it back, by any means.

My only complaint about the restaurant was the noise level. We were in the center of the restaurant and had to talk over the noise from the kitchen and the musician. I know the noises from the kitchen are inevitable but the musician would’ve been much more enjoyable if he had lowered the volume a little. Other than that, I just have to say that the dress code was obviously not an issue on the night we visited Oceana. While we were having our dinner, a girl was seated at a table near us. She appeared to be wearing plastic flip-flops/shower shoes, boxer shorts, a tank top, and a cardigan sweater. It looked like she was wearing her pajamas. Thankfully, everyone else in the place decided to dress for dinner.

After dinner, we went over to World Cafe (the buffet restaurant) for dessert and a cocktail. Once again, we walked past the musicians playing under the stars. They were so much better than the musician in Oceana!!

When we walked into World Cafe, the hostess asked for our room number and then took us to a table. The restaurant was pretty during the day, but at night, it was beautiful! The lighting was very soft and I was surprised that the buffet restaurant was MUCH more romantic (and relaxing) than the fancy seafood restaurant we had just come from. We ordered drinks and then walked over to the buffet…only to find that they had a seafood buffet that night! There were mounds of shrimp and my boyfriend was in heaven! He was a little disappointed that he barely had room for another bite, but he persevered. He had some shrimp and dessert while I just had a sampling of desserts. Everything was fantastic! I saw some people with bowls of ice cream. I didn’t think it possible, but I had somehow managed to walk past the ice cream freezer. Unbelievable! By that time, I had no room left for anything…not even ice cream. We were so happy and relaxed…and our tummies were full of fabulous food! We thought about having another drink in the lobby bar, but decided we were too tired. When we walked out of the restaurant, the hostess called us by name and told us to have a good evening. I was impressed that she remembered who we were. (I love when hotel employees make a point of remembering the names of guests.)

World Cafe (buffet restaurant)

On the way back to our room, we looked for dolphins, but they were nowhere to be found. Maybe they were already tucked into bed…or out at a disco. This IS Cancun and I’m sure even our dolphins like to live it up from time to time. Since the dolphins weren’t interested in coming over to greet us, we continued on to our room. I went out onto the terrace and sat in the hammock for a short time. The soothing sounds of the water lapping against the side of the building and the sound of the ocean were lulling me to sleep. I didn’t want to sleep on the terrace (there’s no air-conditioning out there!!) so I went inside and got ready for bed.

My boyfriend had big plans to wake at 6am and go to the gym before breakfast. I didn’t really see that happening, but he set the alarm anyway. He was asleep instantly. Even though I was very tired, I stayed awake to watch the last bit of The Late Show with David Letterman (a genuine treat for me!!!). After Dave said “good night”, I fell into a deep, peaceful sleep. When the alarm went off at 6am, my boyfriend decided to skip the gym in favor of more sleep…just as I had suspected. We planned to get up in an hour to have breakfast together before he left for work.

At 7am, we woke to a beautiful, sunny day! We got ready and went to World Cafe for breakfast. As you have probably guessed by now, the food was very good and the service was impecable. I was very pleased with the quality of the buffets. Everything I had was good. I have found that many all-inclusive hotels have rather bland, boring food on the buffets, but that was hardly the case here.

The view from our room!

A small beach near the pool and dolphin aquarium

The area where the dolphin encounter takes place!!

We were sad that we had to leave the hotel. We thought that, since you don’t usually pay until you check out of a hotel, we would just stay forever. That way, we’d never have to pay! We decided our plan probably wouldn’t work so we pouted a little more about having to check out.

While enjoying our breakfast, we watched the dolphin trainers arrive and get right to work. They seemed to greet the dolphins and then did what appeared to be various medical checks. It was interesting to watch, even though we weren’t sure what the trainers were actually doing. I was excited about getting to swim with the dolphins a little later in the morning and still hoped I would get a dolphin as a lovely parting gift.

After our lovely breakfast, we walked down to the beach and took some pictures. It was such a pretty day!!

The Pyramid Tower on the left and Club Tower on the right.

Beach on the bay side (facing Isla Mujeres)

Sadly, it was time for my boyfriend to go to work. I also had to work, but my day was guaranteed to be more fun than a usual workday. I had to go learn all about Delphinus’ dolphin program and swim with dolphins!!! We said our goodbyes and vowed to see each other at home…in the real world…even though the real world doesn’t have a fully-stocked buffet, a concierge, and dolphins playing right outside.

To be continued…

As I boarded the shuttle that would take me from Secrets Capri to Dreams Cancun, I wondered if Dreams would come close to matching the level of service that guests receive at Secrets. I also wondered if there would be bathrobes and slippers waiting for me in the room, or if the nice folks at Delphinus would let me take a dolphin home with me. I was pretty sure I would get excellent service, bathrobes, and slippers, but didn’t get my hopes up about the possibility of having a pet dolphin. The ride from Secrets to Dreams took about an hour so I had plenty of time to think up names for my dolphin…just in case.

It was a very cloudy and dreary day. I’m sure everyone else in the van was sad because there was no sun on one day of their vacation, but I was thrilled that I would have a valid reason for spending the rest of the afternoon in my room. I planned to ask for a Dolphin-view room (a new room category that has been added since the opening of the dolphinarium) at Dreams so I could take some pictures of the dolphins and of the hotel’s pool area. That way, the day would not be a total waste.

After a pretty uneventful ride, we arrived in Cancun’s hotel zone. It’s always a treat for me to make the trip from one end of the hotel zone to the other. As a Cancun resident, I rarely have the need (or desire) to pass through the entire hotel zone, but I always enjoy seeing the hotels and the all of the new construction that is going on. My favorite part of the drive is, of course, the breathtakingly beautiful ocean view that greets tourists as they pass by Playa Delfines on the way to their hotels. In May 2001, that view won me over when I visited Cancun for the first time. I am sure millions of other people have fallen in love with my city after witnessing the beauty of the Caribbean Sea from that very same spot. I was disappointed that it was so cloudy. The water is so much more spectacular when the sun is shining on it. I wanted everyone in the van to ‘ooooh’ and ‘aaaaah’ and think they had wasted their time staying anywhere other than Cancun. Sadly, that didn’t happen, but I knew the sun would come out sooner or later and then they would all see why Cancun is my favorite place in the world.

A few minutes later, we pulled up to the entrance of Dreams Cancun. It is located at the end of a cul de sac and, undoubtedly, has the best location in Cancun’s hotel zone. You see, Cancun’s hotel zone is shaped like the number 7. Dreams is located right where the two sides of the 7 join together. That makes Dreams the only hotel in Cancun with a beach on the bay facing Isla Mujeres (calm water) AND a beach on the Caribbean Sea (this side can have rougher water).

A bellman met us at the van and took our bags. I went inside to check-in and was greeted by smiling Guest Services employees, champagne, and cool washcloths. Since Dreams Cancun has a typical front desk area, the champagne and cool washcloths were on trays on the desk, rather than having staff members deliver them to newly arriving guests. I was informed that I had a Dolphin-view room on the first floor. I’d prefer something a bit higher because it makes for better photos, but I was sure being at “dolphin level” would have it’s advantages. I wanted to make my way-too-short vacation last as long as possible, so I asked for a late check out. The man checking me in looked around to see if any other guests had heard my request and were planning to ask for the same courtesy. (I suppose he didn’t want all 25 of us staying late and throwing off the schedule for the arrivals the next day.) He quietly asked if a 3pm check-out would be ok (as opposed to the normal check-out time at noon). When I said that time would be fine, he noted the late check-out time on my registration card and sent me on my way. Even though about 25 people arrived at the same time, the check-in process was remarkably fast and efficient. Within 10 minutes, I was off to my room with a glass of champagne in my hand! Aaaaahh….the good life!

I knew it was a long walk from the lobby to the guest rooms because I had stayed at the hotel before it was a Dreams property and had been there several times since it became Dreams. Part of the walkway is not covered so I was happy it was not raining. My room (number 1107) was located in the Pyramid Tower, a low-rise building shaped like a Mayan pyramid. I easily found my room and went inside to continue my relaxing holiday.

The gardens inside the Pyramid Tower

The plants come right up to your door!

I was pleased to discover the air-conditioner worked great! (You can set the temperature instead of the hit or miss system of ‘high’, ‘medium’, or ‘low’.) My room was on the first floor, facing the area where the dolphin shows are held every day. The room was spacious, but a little smaller than my room at Secrets Capri….but my view was MUCH better than at Secrets! It had a large closet that contained a hair dryer, several wooden hangers, an iron, a full-size ironing board, extra pillows, and an extra blanket. The room only had 3 drawers for clothes, but there was ample space in the closet and on the area near the entertainment center for storing luggage and clothing.

My room had a 4-poster, king-size bed with white linens and beautiful teal green throw pillows. I love the colors of the pillows because it’s very close to the color of the Caribbean Sea.

There was also a dinette table and 2 chairs by the window. I thought the chairs looked like they belonged in a nursery and that they didn’t match the decor at all. Everything else was very nice though so I overlooked their poor choice of chairs.

See what I mean??

The bathroom was nice and there was plenty of counter space, but the color of the marble was a bit too drab for my liking.

There was no tub in my unit…only a shower. I believe the rooms in the Club Tower have tubs and a shower, however.

The shower has only a glass wall that keeps water from splashing all over the floor.

Just like at Secrets Capri, the bathroom was stocked with toiletries. There was conditioning shampoo, soap, shower gel, body lotion, sunscreen, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shaving creme, a shower cap, a shoe polisher, and a mending kit. All of the body products have very nice scents. I am allergic to most everything on the planet and strong smells usually cause me to have very bad headaches. I was surprised that the scents from the hotel toiletries did not bother me in the least! In fact, the shampoo was minty and seemed to help my allergy-related, respiratory issues.

I saw slippers by the bed, but didn’t see any robes. I checked the bathroom and they weren’t there either. I asked the concierge for robes and they were delivered to my room in less than 15 minutes. Hurray!

Once the robe crisis was over, I ordered room service. I hadn’t eaten since breakfast at Secrets and I was hungry! The room service operator already had my name and room number and confirmed that information. I placed my order and was shocked and amazed when she read the order back to me to be sure it was correct! Most times, I’ve found people in Mexico would rather bring you what they THOUGHT you asked for than to be embarrassed (or feel like they are annoying you) by asking you to repeat yourself. I love when servers take the time to make sure they got your order right and wish every restaurant would insist their employees do this! I wanted soup and a salad and then something small, but substantial. I selected Chicken soup, Caesar salad, and Macaroni & Cheese from the children’s menu…thinking it would be small. I also ordered dessert!! I got cheesecake for me and, since my boyfriend would be arriving shortly, I decided to order Tres Leches Cake (3 Milks Cake) for him. I was told it would take approximately 40 minutes.

While waiting for lunch to arrive, I went out onto the terrace to check out the view. The terrace had a hammock (I only saw hammocks on the terraces of the rooms on the first floor), 2 chairs, and a small table…..and, of course, a great view of the dolphins!! The water came right up to the building so dolphins were only about 10 feet away at times. From the balcony, I had an ocean view (even though I was only on the ground floor), and I could see the entire pool area, as well.

The view from my balcony…

A floating trampoline in the ocean!

Club Tower is tall building to the left and the water is where the dolphins are kept!

While I was watching dolphins jump and play, my boyfriend called to say he was near the hotel. I met him in front of the hotel and we went to the front desk to add his name to the registration card. We were informed of the extra charges we would incur, since there were now 2 guests in the room, and were told we could just pay at check-out. I love that there was never any pressure to pre-pay. I mean, who wants to think about money and bills when you are relaxing at a luxury resort?!

On the way to our room, we stopped to look for dolphins. (You pass by the dolphins when walking between the guest rooms and the pool area/main building!!) After seeing a couple of them swimming around, we continued on to our room to wait for my room service order to arrive. It arrived right on time! The room service waiter brought the food inside and set it all up on the table. He placed the empty tray out of sight (behind the open door of the entertainment center) so we could use it to put our dirty dishes outside the room. My simple meal of soup, salad, and a child’s portion of Mac & Cheese took up the whole table! The pasta was most definitely enough to fill the stomach of a linebacker and was hardly the small portion I expected! Everything was delicious….but it was too much food for me to even come close to finishing! I ended up giving my cheesecake to my boyfriend because I was too full to attempt eating it. He gave both of the desserts rave reviews!

After my meal, I changed into my robe so I could fully enjoy my lounging/relaxing experience. My boyfriend decided to put on his robe too. How decadent! Once we were comfy and cozy in our robes, I forced my boyfriend to watch American television shows. He was not the least bit excited about Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy!, and didn’t understand why I was so concerned about what time “Oprah” came on. (I wasn’t really thrilled to see Wheel of Fortune either, but I couldn’t give up control of the TV!) Unfortunately, I had to attend a cocktail party at 8pm…the time “Oprah” airs here. There was no way I could skip the cocktail party by using “Oprah” as an excuse, so I forced my incredibly relaxed body out of bed and changed clothes. I finished the beautification process, said goodbye to my sweetheart (he was still relaxing in his robe and I was SOOOO jealous!) and headed over to the Presidential Suite in the Club Tower to toss back a few martinis. Could my life get any better?!

To be continued…

When I walked out of the hotel, into the pool area, I could see the area that had been set up for the dinner. It was lit with Tiki torches and some soft lights inside the buffet and bar areas. There were other lights on the beach, but not so harsh that they took away from the warm glow produced by the Tiki torches.

Buffet area for dinner party on the beach

I was greeted by a smiling waiter that was holding a tray filled with martinis! I thought the whirlpool tub and the massage were heavenly, but a handsome man holding a tray of martinis (or just a tray of martinis…minus the man) was like a dream come true. He told me the flavor of each martini and I selected a delicious Apple Martini. The did not skimp on the liquor, that’s for sure. Since I was scheduled to wake early and tour the hotel after breakfast, a meal I am rarely awake for, I decided to stop after only one martini. I switched to Diet Coke after I polished off my cocktail.

The dinner had a Caribbean theme and there was a buffet that consisted primarily of seafood. I had pork medallions and tried Grouper. I only like some fish so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about the Grouper, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was served in a creamy sauce and was actually quite tasty. The pork was yummy, as well. I also had some steamed vegetables and mashed potatoes that had portabello mushrooms mixed in, making the potatoes black. Delicious!!

After the entrees, I made my way over to the dessert table. There was an assortment of desserts that included cheesecake, fried bananas (in tempura batter) with chocolate sauce for dipping, and flan. I had cheesecake and the bananas with chocolate. The chocolate sauce was too bitter for my liking, but the bananas were fabulous! The cheesecake was pretty good, but nothing spectacular. I should say that I often find desserts in Mexico to LOOK wonderful, but am disappointed that they are never as good as they look. I have run into this problem everywhere I’ve been in Mexico and have come to accept “pretty good” as being pretty much the best there is in Mexico….outside of my kitchen, that is.

After dinner, I sat and talked with the other ladies at my table. One of the ladies was a manager at the hotel and she told me that the area we were in was usually used for weddings. I thought about how incredibly beautiful and romantic it would be to attend a wedding (or photograph it!) in that spot.

Staff setting up for the dinner party on the beach.
This area is also used for weddings!

Many of the women at the table asked me about hurricane Wilma and if I was in Cancun during the storm and what my opinion was about the “new” Cancun. I told them that, in many ways, hurricane Wilma seemed to actually HELP Cancun, but that many businesses and lives were, indeed, deeply affected by it. They were also very interested to know how life in Cancun is compared to Mexico City, where they reside. Having never been to Mexico City, I could not compare the two, but explained that living in Cancun is the same as living anywhere else in the world, just with a better view. After about an hour of chatting, the party started to wind down and everyone headed off to their rooms. There was entertainment in the evening, but I just wanted to unwind in my room and didn’t go see the show or go to the disco. The resort was pretty quiet when I returned to my room around 11pm. I really don’t think people looking for a non-stop party would enjoy this hotel. It is definitely the place for people that want to get away from it all and have an incredibly peaceful, relaxing vacation.

Seaside Grill (downstairs)
& Oceana Seafood Restaurant (upstairs)

Once I got back to my room, I had to clean up the mess I made before dinner. I turned on the television to enjoy some American shows that were not several months (or years!) old. I got everything packed and set the alarm for way too early the next morning. I noticed that I could only faintly hear the disco that was directly below my room. I only heard the sound of a couple of guests’ shoes clicking on the tile floors in the hallway. At one point, I was sure my upstairs neighbors had dropped a bowling ball, but I didn’t hear another sound from them after that. After packing, I climbed into my big comfy bed and called to say goodnight to my boyfriend and all of our 4 dogs…..and to tell him about all the fun he missed by not coming with me! I wasn’t sure I’d ever manage to fall asleep without my 8 1/2-pound Miniature Pinscher by my side but, after an hour or so of mindless television, I drifted off.

I woke to thunder and lightning some time during the night and was afraid I would be touring the hotel in pouring rain. Luckily, the clouds started to clear and the sun was making an appearance when I walked to breakfast.

I am not fond of breakfast because it is served too early in the day for me and because eggs are usually the star of the meal. (I despise eggs. Ick!) The breakfast buffet was as delicious as any meal could be before mid-day. I had fresh fruit, sweet bread, bacon, Chilaquiles (Mexican dish with meat and tortilla chips in a red sauce), and hash browns. As usual, the service was top-notch. One server served juice, one served sweet bread, one served butter, another cleared plates, and one refolded your napkin and placed it on the table when you left your seat.

After breakfast, I took a tour of the hotel and saw a sample of one of the rooms of Secrets Maroma Beach, a new Secrets property that is being built near Secrets Capri. I was totally impressed with everything about Secrets Capri, but I was completely blown away when I saw what Secrets Maroma Beach will be like! I cannot wait to stay there once it opens next Summer!!! (The decor was a totally different style and the colors were so rich and vibrant!) When the tour was over, I only had about 90 minutes to shower, pack, and check-out before my transportation to Dreams Cancun arrived. There was no time to have a nice lunch at Secrets so I took my time getting ready and just enjoyed being in my room. It was very hard to leave the whirlpool tub, but I bid it a fond farewell and promised to visit it again soon.

I think these are the Junior Suites

The grounds are immaculate!

The staircase leading up to the lobby from the pool

I took the elevator down to the lobby to check-out. I was greeted with a smile and and the check-out process was carried out with courtesy, professionalism, and efficiency. It took only a couple of minutes. I was asked to fill out a comment card and, after I finished, I realized I had given very high marks in every category.

Over the years, I have had the good fortune to stay in many nice hotels and even had the priviledge of taking a 2-week, luxury cruise to Alaska. The level of service I received aboard the 6-star, luxury cruise ship was only slightly better than the service I received at Secrets Capri. The normal price of the cruise was around $13,000usd per person (roughly $1,000usd per night). Secrets Capri costs substantially less per night, but you get almost the same quality of food, level of service, and degree of elegance. I am a very picky person when inspecting hotels and restaurants, but I found Secrets Capri to be one of the best properties I have ever visited, with regard to the cleanliness of the property, attitude of staff, and level of service. I only had 3 meals at the property so don’t feel I can adequately judge the quality of food, but know that I was pleased with most everything I tried. I was sad to leave the tranquility of the “adults-only” paradise, but was anxious to get to Dreams Cancun!

Stay tuned for my review of Dreams Cancun!!!

As I walked down the hall towards the elevator (yes, I still opted for the elevator over the 1 flight of stairs!), I fought the urge to run back to my room and soak in the tub. My only motivation was food. Even though 24-hour room service is available (and included in the all-inclusive package!), I decided to try the Seaside Grill. It is an a la carte restaurant located, as the name implies, by the beach. I took my time walking to the restaurant. I stopped along the way to photograph La Riviera, the incredibly elegant buffet restaurant located in the main building,

La Riviera Restaurant
Very elegant! The Buffet

as well as the lobby,

and the pool area.

When I entered the restaurant, they simply asked for my room number and I was shown to a table on the terrace overlooking the beautiful Caribbean Sea. (I forgot to mention that guests do not have to wear wristbands at this all-inclusive property, or at Dreams or Sunscape, either….and no reservations are required for any restaurant!)

Even though Seaside Grill is an open-air restaurant serving lunch by the beach, they use cloth placemats, cloth napkins, and fresh flowers on the tables. Those extra touches really make guests feel like pampered!

Seaside Grill

The waiter came over with a menu and took my drink order. He brought chips and salsa when he delivered my soft drink and bottled water. The menu seemed a bit limited, but certainly had something for everyone. They had salads, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, pizzas, and desserts, but I guess I just needed more choices that day. Sure, I could’ve easily walked back to the main building to eat at the buffet restaurant, but I wanted the ambiance of Seaside Grill. Considering how beautiful the view was and how relaxing it was to sit and gaze at the sea, I quickly realized I had picked the perfect place to have lunch. I ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad and a Hamburger with French Fries.

The view from my table at Seaside Grill

While I waited for the food to arrive, I relaxed and allowed myself to completely enjoy my surroundings. The Seaside Grill is located in the center of the pool area (facing the beach), and is next to the Sugar Reef Bar, but it was surprisingly quiet and peaceful.

Sugar Reef Bar

There was a waterfall in the pool just below where I was seated. The sound of the waterfall and the nearby ocean were enough to lull me to sleep, but I managed to stay awake to enjoy my meal.

Seaside Grill

My salad arrived and it was fantastic! Caesar salads are one of my favorite foods and I try them everywhere. I was very pleased with this one! The chicken was so tender, juicy, and flavorful, and the dressing, which can make or break the salad, was delicious. It was so tasty that I practically licked the plate! My burger and fries arrived shortly after I finished the salad. The fries were great and the burger was large and looked yummy, but I am not overly fond of beef in Mexico. I rarely find good hamburgers here, yet I continue to order them. The burger wasn’t bad, by any means, but after the delectable chicken from my salad, it was a bit of a let-down. Make no mistake, I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch and was stuffed to the gills when I walked out of the restaurant. The waiter offered dessert, but I didn’t have any room left…..plus, I knew I’d never be able to decide between the Cheesecake and Apple Strudel! Guests do not have to sign anything after meals at Secrets, Dreams, or Sunscape, so you don’t have to wait for a waiter to bring anything. Once the waiter was sure he couldn’t bring me anything more, he thanked me for having lunch there and was off to give other guests the same great service I had received.

I walked around the pool area and took more photos before settling into a lounge chair by the quiet pool. Since towel cards are not required, guests just walk over to the towel booth and ask for towels. No towel card needed, no promise to give up your first-born if you don’t return the towel before 6pm…they don’t even ask for your room number. It’s MUCH nicer than having to keep up with a towel card or, for that matter, being expected to recall your room number after several tequila shots. It’s a vacation, after all, and it is quite obvious that the people at AMResorts (owner of Secrets, Dreams, and Sunscape resorts) did their research and chose to do away with all of the small annoyances that guests have at other all-inclusive resorts. By the time I got to my lounge chair by the pool, I had been at the resort for about 3 hours. In that short time, I was fully aware of why their brochures say they provide “Unlimited-Luxury”.

The pool area is quite large for such a small hotel, in my opinion…and very pretty! There is a pool for activities and a quiet pool.

Activities pool

Quiet pool

Both are located in the same area and are separated only by a bridge. There is no barrier to prevent the guests at the quiet pool from hearing music or any noise from the activities pool but, thankfully, it is not so loud that it is disruptive. The pools have “chairs” built into one very shallow section of the pool. In several places, there were railings to hold when entering the pool. Instead of diving in, you walk in. The water gets deeper as you walk down the incline. (They have mats for you to walk on. It can be VERY slippery if you try to walk on the areas without them.)

There are lots of floats in the pool for the guests to use throughout the day. The lounge chairs are nice wooden chairs with thick cushions. (I am SO glad that many resorts have gotten rid of the cheap, ugly, uncomfortable, plastic lounge chairs!) There seemed to be plenty to of chairs to accommodate the guests. I noticed that the chairs even had small “tables” that slid in and out….the perfect size for holding a cold beverage! The pool area also has lots of palm trees and umbrellas to provide some shade for fair-skinned people like me.

Wedding Gazebo

Oceana–Gourmet Seafood Restaurant

The view from the entrance of Oceana

Pool Area

After a few minutes of attempting to relax and get some sun, I decided to get in the pool. I was too busy thinking about the whirlpool tub in my room to really enjoy the pool though. I toughed it out for about 10 minutes longer and then packed my beach bag, tossed my beach towel in a nearby basket for dirty towels, and practically ran to my room. Well, along the way, I did stop at Rendezvous, the lobby bar, to get a Diet Coke and some sweet treats that I just HAD to try. I don’t really like chocolate, but they looked so amazing that I couldn’t resist! The chocolates were fantastic and the macaroons (one of my favorites!) were a little slice of heaven. I grabbed a few of each for the long hike to my room (only one floor above where I was standing), and began the journey back to my Utopia…Room 434.

Rendezvous is on the right (where the waitress is standing)

The room was nearly as cold as a meat locker…just like I like it! (Living in Cancun has caused me to become addicted to air conditioning, you see.) I put my scrumptious sweets on the table and went to the bathroom to fill the tub. As the tub filled, I savored every morsel of the macaroons and chocolates. I had also picked up a couple of cookies. Compared to the chocolates and macaroons, the cookies tasted like they were from a box. They were good, but paled in comparison to my other mini-desserts. My sweet tooth was sufficiently satisfied so I went to enjoy a soak in the tub. Once my fingers looked like prunes and the water had cooled off substantially, I got out of the tub and relaxed in one of the thick bathrobes that had been laying on the bed when I arrived. I had about 20 minutes to enjoy some ‘alone time’ in my room before my massage appointment. Ahhh…..this is the life!

I thought better of strolling down to the spa in my bathrobe and slippers and put on something more socially acceptable. I entered the spa and was surprised. It was very pretty, which I had expected, but it was much larger than I had imagined. I checked in with the receptionist and she asked if I wanted a male or female massage therapist to give me my massage. Since I had pulled a muscle in my back just a couple of days earlier and needed something a bit stronger than a simple “relaxation massage”, I chose the male massage therapist. I hoped he would have an easier time of working out the knots in my neck and back than a woman would. While I waited to be taken to the changing room, I noticed a small room with lots of spa products that guests could purchase. Beside the little spa boutique, there were doors leading to the fitness center. I took a peek quick peek and saw that the gym was quite large compared to other hotel gyms I have seen. They had free weights, weight machines, and some cardio equipment. It was air-conditioned and had televisions around the room. It seemed to be a very nice, well-equipped fitness center, but you’ll never catch me working out on vacation! After a couple of minutes, the receptionist came over and escorted me to the women’s changing room. There, she pointed out the steam room, jacuzzi, and sauna and then took me over to the lockers. Inside the locker was a thin robe and a pair of hideously ugly plastic sandals to wear around the spa. I had about 10 minutes before my massage and used that time to sit in the steam room. The jacuzzi was outside and it looked incredibly refreshing. If I had more time, I would’ve taken a dip in the jacuzzi too!

After my steam, I went to sit in the waiting area near the rooms where massages and other spa treatments are performed. The waiting area had newpapers, magazines, and beverages (water and tea) for me to enjoy until it was my turn to be pampered. I had waited 10 minutes or less when Carlos the massage therapist came to fetch me. I am sure he had to speak English for his job (everyone else I encountered at the hotel spoke English very well), but I only spoke to him in Spanish. (VERY unlike me! I generally prefer to speak in my native tongue.) I explained the problem I was having with my back and asked that Carlos concentrate on that area and use a bit more pressure than he normally would. I don’t know if he altered his normal massage routine, but I know he DID use enough pressure to relieve my back pain for a while. There were a couple of times I found his method a bit unorthodox (like when he was lightly slapping my neck and chin after massaging my face and head…it made me want to burst into laughter rather than relax) but, overall, I have to say it was the best massage I have ever had! I was VERY impressed…..and relaxed!!

Following my massage, I had to rush back to my room to change for a dinner party I was to attend. It was being held on the beach and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to dine in such a perfect setting. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to wash the massage oil out of my hair and I had to go to dinner looking as though I hadn’t bathed in days. There are worse things in the world than having massage oil in your hair when rushing from a massage appointment to an elegant dinner on the beach, I suppose. I quickly changed, touched up my makeup, and attempted to make my oily hair look stylish. I failed miserably and ended up with a look that said “frumpy and dirty” more than “stylish”, but I hoped the dim light on the beach would work in my favor. I left my room looking as if a tornado had just swept through it and I ran to the dinner party….fashionably late, as usual.

To be continued…

Since my grueling job requires me to review hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in Cancun and Riviera Maya, I decided to take a mini-vacation to check out 2 resorts. The first night, I visited Secrets Capri. It is a beautiful, adults-only resort located about 10-15 minutes north of Playa del Carmen (about 30 minutes from Cancun airport). Some friends were driving to Playa del Carmen to enjoy their day off on the beach. Since the resort was right on their way, I asked them to give me a ride. When we arrived at the front gate, I gave the security guard my name and told him I had a reservation. He quickly informed me that my friends could enter to drop me off, but their 13 year old brother could not. They mean business when they say “adults only”, I guess. We waited a couple of minutes for the guard to get permission to allow all of us to enter the grounds. Once permission had been granted, we thanked him kindly and assured him that the youngster wouldn’t even THINK about stepping out of the car.

The ride from the main entrance to the hotel is pretty far and I am SOOOO glad I didn’t voluteer to walk when the guard first told us the 13-year old could not enter. The drive only took a couple of minutes, but way too far to walk when on vacation! I noticed how well-manicured the grounds were and how lush and green the grass was along the driveway. In the distance, I saw some rooftops and assumed that to be the main building for the hotel. I was correct. When we pulled up to the main building, it felt more like I was visiting someone’s luxurious villa rather than a hotel. I think it felt that way because the entrance looks more like a very large front door to a home than an entrance to a hotel lobby. Plus, all of the buildings are 4 stories or less and it is a very small property compared to other resorts in Riviera Maya.

When I got out of the car, I was greeted by a bellman that asked if he could assist me with my bags. Since I only had a small roll-aboard suitcase and my camera bag (that never leaves my possession!), I declined his offer for help. If I had more than one day at the resort, I would have taken him up on his offer, but I didn’t want to waste time hanging out in the room waiting for the bag containing my swimsuit to arrive! That would cut into my valuable pool time!

As I walked into the expansive lobby, I was directed to the reception area. The front desk was not a normal front desk like you are probably used to seeing in a hotel lobby. Instead, they had several pretty, wooden desks with 2 very comfortable chairs for the arriving guests. If I knew anything at all about styles of furniture, I could more adequately explain this, but it was like something you’d find in someone’s study…not a hotel lobby. Once I was seated, a staff member brought me a glass of champagne. A second later, another staff member brought me a cool, wet washcloth. Both of which did a great job of cooling me off! I have noticed that more and more luxury hotels are following suit and making check-in more personalized and more comfortable. It really is a very nice way to begin a holiday.

Reception area

The gentleman checking me in (Humberto), was very professional and efficient. He checked me in in just a couple of minutes and then took out a booklet with hotel information and showed me where my room was located. Since I declined the services of the bellman, Humberto walked me through the lobby to point out the elevators and gave me directions to my room. One thing that I thought unusual was that I was never asked to give them an imprint of my charge card for any incidentals that were not included in the all-inclusive package (items in gift shop, spa treatments, etc.). It has been a couple of years since I have had the joy of staying in a hotel so I do not know if this is common practice or if they didn’t ask for a card since I was only staying one night. How much could I possibly charge in that short time anyway??

I took the elevator up one flight to my floor. I know I only had one piece of luggage, but I was on vacation, after all. No need to get the trip off to a bad start by walking up stairs when there was a perfectly good elevator right there! I got off the elevator and turned to go down the hall to my room. Along the way, I noticed some of the doors had a banner across them saying “honeymoon”, or “anniversary”. I thought that was a very simple, yet special touch for the guests celebrating either event. I also noticed that most of those rooms had their “Do Not Disturb” lights on. Hmmm?? I wonder what they were doing that they didn’t want to be bothered in the middle of the day??? And yes, I said “Do Not Disturb” lights…not signs. Just inside the rooms, there is a switch to turn on a light outside your door that, when illuminated, let’s the world know you do not wish to be bothered. That is a much better system than the signs that you hang on the doors. The signs often disappear, or blow off in open-air hotels.

Anyway, I finally made it to my room. Room 434. When I opened the door, I heard some New Age music like you’d hear in a spa. I was hoping to find a massage therapist waiting in the room for me, but it was only the radio. The rooms have clock radios that have “soothing sounds” and other relaxing music. The housekeepers apparently knew I wanted to relax and had turned on the calming sounds for me! Believe it or not, but the music really was very relaxing. My room was spacious and very elegant. (I just had a standard oceanview room) I gave the room a quick glance and loved the 4-poster king-size bed! I was delighted to find big, fluffy bathrobes and slippers waiting for me!

The thick bathrobes!

Sitting area

I knew they had bathtubs at the hotel and hurried to check out the bathroom. The bathroom was fantastic! There was a jetted whirlpool bathtub,

The tub!

two sinks, large mirror,

Shower stall is to the right of the vanity/sinks

an amenity kit with full-size shampoo, shower gel, body lotion, and sunscreen,

a shower stall, and a stall for the toilet.

There is a telephone on the wall by the toilet.

Since my home only has a shower, I was really looking forward to soaking in the jetted tub!!

After my excitement about the bathtub waned and I couldn’t think of anyone I needed to call from the toilet, I decided to to go check out the view from the balcony. I have to say I was disappointed. The balcony was fairly large and had 2 chairs and a small table, but the problem was that my view was practically non-existant. I could barely see the ocean and couldn’t see any of the pool area even though my room was facing the pool and beach. You see, my room and a few on either side of me were located directly above the disco. That meant that our balconies ended in the same place that all the rest of the balconies ended, but the disco continued on for about 10 yards. That took away almost all of the view. Since I live in Cancun and can see the ocean any time I want, I didn’t feel the need to complain about this, but want you to know that some rooms will have an obstructed view. The hotel only has 290 rooms and, thanks to the nice layout of the property, the majority of them seem to have a great view. I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel, but suggest you request an unobstructed view, if possible.

The view from my room

All I really wanted to do during my stay at Secrets Capri was order room service, soak in the jetted whirlpool tub, and then lounge around in my thick bathrobe while watching American television! (Yes, they had US channels from Atlanta and I was beside myself with excitement!) Since I only had one night to get the full Secrets experience, I put on my swimsuit and reluctantly left the room. I silently vowed to return to the fabulous whirlpool tub VERY soon!

To be continued…