Our First Trip to Mexico – Casa Maya – Cancun

Years ago my dad told us he bought a timeshare in Cancun. To be honest, I thought he was a little bit crazy! I had heard so many bad things about timeshares but it really was a great decision for him and us. All his children and grandchildren have spent time with him at Casa Maya over the years. Plus all the lasting friendships he has made with the “Cancun Crew”. When he told us about the timeshare and that we couldn’t all go at the same time, he made it fun by having us draw out of a hat what year each family would be able to go. I have a sister and brother and it wasn’t big enough for all of us to go together with our families. My family of 5 drew a year that wasn’t going to work for us. We wanted to go in 2013, the last year all of our children would be home since our oldest son was graduating from High School than off to college. I was able to negotiate with my siblings and we went that year.

The resort, Casa Maya was beautiful! It has one of the nicest beaches in Cancun. There are two sections, a hotel, and the Elite building (timeshare). The Elite side has a private pool and a private section of the beach. It is also included a Continental Breakfast with fresh local fruit, danishes, coffee and a variety of fruit drinks. The Green Juice was my favorite! They also had a happy hour for free each day with finger foods, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. You could pay extra for beer, wine or alcohol beverages as well.

Our suite included a small kitchen with a refrigerator so we were able to go to the local store or even Walmart and shop. We took the local bus but if you prefer, you can take a taxi. We planned meals in the suite for lunch, snacks, and drinks to save time and money. Most nights we went out to eat in Cancun.

There was a great Italian Restuarant right next to the resort. The food and atmosphere were tops with a fantastic view of the ocean. Unfortunately, when I went back years later it had closed. One night the kids stayed in for room service and the adults had a night out. I’m a Jimmy Buffet fan so we went to Margaritaville in Cancun. I loved how they made homemade guacamole at the table. Oh, and the margaritas were pretty good too! My youngest son was excited when we brought back a hat for him!

My dad’s friends, Stan and Peggy who have been going to Cancun for years recommended a couple of authentic Mexican Resturants for us to try. The food was always good and we never had any stomach issues despite what some people claim happens when eating in another country! The resort has a restaurant so we ate there too. In fact, one night they had dinner on the beach. My youngest son really enjoyed dancing to the music! His dance moves were a real hit with the other guests! Everyone had a wonderful time!

Since we didn’t have to pay to stay there we had extra money to go on excursions. One day we took a ride over to the market. The driver dropped us off at a huge store which was not what we were looking for. Be aware that this is NOT the local market but instead a tourist trap where you are bombarded by salespeople with high priced items! We quickly got out of there and walked down the street to the “real” market.

We found the flea market with local vendors selling their handmade goods. We got some great deals on homemade bracelets and belts for the girls and Baja Hoodies for the boys. I enjoy purchasing items from locals just trying to make some extra money to support themselves or their families. One thing to note, most vendors accept American dollars so you don’t necessarily need to bring or purchase a lot of pesos. Keep in mind, they usually won’t give change in American dollars but instead will give your change in Pesos, even if you pay with dollars.

You will need pesos if you plan on using public transportation like the bus system. The consigners are very helpful in getting your transportation if you want to leave the resort. We usually take a lot of $1 bills to use for tipping. This is a tourist and services industry in Mexico so a large portion of their income is based on tips. You should always be prepared to tip anyone that assists you such as the waiters, drivers, maids, bellman, bartenders, etc.

We took a bus trip to Chichen Itza and even though it took all day, it was incredible! It was a long bus ride to get there but we stopped along the way. We went to a beautiful cenote and even had time to swim in it before getting back on the bus. Lunch was included so we stopped and ate at a resturant. There was so much to see when we arrived at Chichen Itza. My daughter said it was her favorite part of the trip.

Overall we had a wonderful family vacation at Casa Maya. There were so many things to do for all ages. My dad, Pop Pop enjoyed hanging out at the beach with his friends when we were running around. We always made sure to have dinner together each night. My youngest son loved playing in the main pool with the other kids. My oldest son was excited to be able to drive his own wave runner. My husband just loves taking time out of our busy lives to be together as a family. I am pretty content with sitting on the beach with my feet in the sand and a book in my hand but I have to admit, I really enjoyed the wave runner!

This was my first visit to Mexico but it wasn’t my last. I have come back many times since. If you’re interested in hearing about our upcoming trips to the Caribbean please follow me on social media or click below to subscribe. Remember, we are all traveling through life together.