Krista - Holiday in Mexico

Looks like an ad right? But I took that one myself!

Best Vacation Ever. It all started when my best friend called to tell me about an amazing 14 hour long first date she had with this guy she had just met. Not too much longer after that, she called with the news that she was engaged and planning on having a destination wedding in Mexico. She picked the Aventura Spa Palace Resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It's an all-inclusive, adults only resort. And, also, heaven.

September, 2007 I hop on a plane to Cancun, Mexico with the overwhelming majority of my best friend's family and a group of her friends from up north. The resort is actually 45 minutes away, so we all hopped in a van and drove away from the crowded and not so pretty airport. I was so excited but exhausted once we got there because we had been traveling all day long. I ended up staying awake for just about 24 hours because another friend of ours from high school had flown in a little later and she was ready to go out and have some fun! We danced every night at one or more of the clubs on site. We flirted with the bartenders and managed to stumle our way back to our rooms only to gt up the next morning and do it all again the following night.

This place was gorgeous. It was so big, it had a bus to take you from one end of the resort to the other. Now recently, they have split the resort into two separate resorts on one property, but at the time I was there, it was all an adults only retreat. I adore my son, but a few days of rest and relaxation in a tropical paradise never hurt anyone. The resort has clubs and 6 different restaurants ranging in cuisine so whatever you felt like eating, they pretty much had an option for it. The rooms had liquor dispensers in them, and mini refrigerators filled with sodas and beer. Also, every room had a jaccuzzi tub inside separate from a huge bathroom and shower that you could have fit four people in. There was a huge pool, and a swim up bar. Tiki huts and a private beach right against the pool area. Guided tours, just hop on the transportation bus - and these were all included in the price of the room. And hammocks on every balcony. I spent hours lying in a hammock one day, reading a book and just enjoying the scenery. Granted, probably the most expensive vacation I've ever taken, but well worth it. I've never been spoiled like that, and never enjoyed just laying under an umbrella and taking a dip into the pool as much as I enjoyed that place.

I should also mention, the wedding was gorgeous. She got married in a covered gazebo right next to the beach and pulled up in a horse drawn carriage. I was her maid of honor, so I rode in a golf cart instead of having to walk across the resort to get to the gazebo.

The resort staff knew service - something which is severly lacking in most places now. The food was excellent, the drinks were strong, the entertainment was amazing. I could have spent weeks there, but sadly only spent 5 days. I told my best friend over and over thank you a million times for getting married in such an amazing spot. I would love to go back to the resort and spend more time there. Everything was gorgeous - especially the sunrises!

(I realize this probably sounds like I was drunk the entire time, but I wasn't - I promise! It was just nice knowing I had the option to enjoy a margarita at any given time.)