Viva la Mexico!
Sandos Cancun
We stayed at the Sandos Cancun All Inclusive Resort. This resort was located in the hotel zone of Cancun. We took a taxi from the Cancun airport that was $58 and it took 20 minutes to get to the resort. Once at the resort we were treated with kindness and great hospitality. We checked into the resort and they gave us wristbands that was our key to the room and access to all the amenities, food, and beverages. We then went to a place and scheduled our COVID test to return back to the USA. This was included and they did not charge us. We then went and made dinner reservations for each night at the resort. We did all of this at check in and our stay was so smooth and organized. Our rooms were very clean and spacious. We had a window that opened and had a side view of the ocean. We chose a superior room when we booked the resort. They had a bottle of wine waiting in our room when we arrived. Everything you needed was all included at the hotel.
The water in Cancun was an aqua blue, but the waves were rough and choppy and there was a lot of seaweed. The flag was red the whole trip. We didn’t really get in the water, but we laid out on the beach in the cabanas included with the resort. They come around while you’re on the beach and take your drink orders too. You can see the drone pictures below.
Restaurants at Sandos Cancun
Zango:
This restaurant was where they had a breakfast buffet each morning. It had a plethora of foods, pastries, yogurts, fruits, meats, and mimosas you can make. You have to wear a mask only to get your food from the buffet area.
St. Trop:
This restaurant was on the beach and looked out over the ocean. There was outside seating and then there was covered seating. This is where you can order lunch. Each day they had a cart outside that had some sort of lunch that you can pick up if you don’t want to go inside and sit. There was a pizza station beside it too where you can order a pizza. This restaurant has a bar where you can walk up and get drinks while you’re on the beach or by the pool. They have such a variety of tropical drinks to choose from on the menu. I went down the list and tried as many as I could. My top favorites were the Blue Hawaii, Mudslide, and Strawberry Love. You can also order shots, beer, and beverages too.
Frattini’s:
This is the Italian restaurant where you eat dinner. You have to make reservations to eat here. They had an Italian desert called Tiramisu and it was scrumptious.
Seasons:
This restaurant was a steak house that you eat dinner at and reservations are required. It is an elegant atmosphere with a variety of foods from steak to grilled chicken.
Gaijin Teppanyaki:
This is a Japanese hibachi dinner restaurant that requires reservations. This was one of my favorite restaurants on the resort because of the atmosphere. You have a hibachi grill and the chef cooks in front of you. He puts on a show and does talented tricks with the food. The chef is interactive with the guests and keeps the dining experience fun and relaxed.
-Remember this resort is all inclusive, so eat as much as your heart desires.
-You can venture out into Cancun for food, but we chose to stay and enjoy our all inclusive resort and the delicious meals and drinks it had to offer its guests.
Covid Regulations
Mexico does not require any COVID 19 testing to enter the country. You only need an antigen test to return back to the United States. (Our resort provided return antigen Covid tests for free and it was hassle free and we booked it at check in).
Mercado 28
This is a market that has a surfeit of souvenirs, tequila, t-shirts, jewelry, and handmade items from Mexico. When the taxi drops you off at the Market 28 this area was more touristy with higher prices for the items. You have to walk 3-4 blocks down and that begins the real Mercado Market that has authentic goods and restaurants. The people are so friendly and want you to browse and purchase their goods. I purchased a Zultanite ring in this market. It is a rare gem. This ring is unique because depending on its light source, zultanite’s color varies between a yellowish green, light gold, and purplish pink. The color changes immediately when exposed to natural light. We took a taxi from our hotel to this Mercado 28 Market.
Massage
There was a message place called Bamboo Hair and Spa. This was right beside our resort and we walked to it each day. They have massages, hair styling, manicures, and pedicures. They are very reasonably priced and provide elite service.
Jungle Tour Adventure: Speed Boat and Snorkeling in Cancun
This is an adrenaline rush experience. You get a two seater speed boat to drive yourself. You have a small group and you follow a tour guide through the water. They are very informative and keep an eye on you during the whole trip to make sure everyone keeps up. You drive through the water, ocean, and jungle area on this tour. They take you to a snorkeling spot where you get 45 minutes to snorkel and enjoy the coral reef. They provide goggles, the snorkel, life vest, and a water on the trip. This is one way to see Cancun by water. We booked this excursion for $118 on Viator and that includes 2 people. Be sure to tip your guide after the adventure. They also take pictures and drone videos of you throughout the trip and you can purchase them at the end and they will air drop them to your phone. It was .4 miles from our resort and we walked there and back.
Transportation
We got a taxi to our resort at the airport. Any other transportation you need the resort can get it for you. To get back from the Mercado 28 Market we used the R2 bus that picks up at Walmart near the Mercado 28 Market downtown Cancun. It was $1 a person and takes you to the hotel zone in Cancun. You can then walk to your hotel when you get close enough for the bus to stop near your hotel. We informed the driver of our resort and he told us where to get off.
