Travel with Covid Restrictions

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Cancun Trip July 2020

     For the past six months or so, we had to either cancel or postpone our travel plans due to travel restrictions or cancellations by the vendor.  We were fortunate to be able to book a week long trip to Cancun and still be able to fly out in the middle of July.  Mexico did have some conditions for travel, but maintained the lowest entry requirements of any of the Caribbean area islands and resort areas.  We made our flight arrangements through Southwest Airlines, catching a direct three hour flight from Baltimore to Cancun.  The travel to the airport was quick due to light traffic, and we made our way through the TSA pre-check line in a matter of minutes.  Masks are required in the terminal and on-board the plane.  Southwest was boarding only 10 people at a time, but went very quickly as planes are only operating at 70% capacity with the middle seating being blocked off unless you are family. You can remove your mask on the plane if eating or drinking, so....

     Arriving in Cancun, we proceeded to the customs immigration desk.  The airport was empty and we handled the lady our pre-printed immigration form and we were on our way!  You can download the form in advance and save you a lot of time, and skip filling out the form the airline gives you in the plane.  Just remember to store your half of the form in your passport for when you leave.  The airlines need to see this form or you will need to pay $35 for a new form.  When you leave, you need to scan a QR code or fill out a form with a series of questions about your travel and your health.  Then you can pass through security to leave Mexico.  

    We booked our transportation to the resort and back in advance with USA Transfers.  They sent us information on how to exit the airport, passing the maze of tour guides and taxi companies, until we saw the uniformed greeters working for USA Transfers.  They immediately knew our names and escorted us to a sanitized van.  While we sat in the van, they sanitized our luggage and then we were on the way.  The whole process from plane to van was under 20 minutes!    

 

     We booked at week at the TRS Coral Hotel in Playa Mujeres.  This is north of the Cancun airport, about a 40 minute drive.  The area up north is less crowded than the Riviera Maya and Yucatan areas south of Cancun, and the beaches tend to have less of a seaweed issue.  As with all resorts, the government of Mexico has imposed a strict 30% total capacity max for any resort.  We happened to arrive the week they just reopened and the resort was under 20% capacity for much of our stay.  There is a procedure to enter most resorts; temperature is taken, sanitizer is offered for the hands, and you are required to step on two mats to sanitize your shoes.  This is also the same procedure for entering each restaurant and coffee shop at the resort.  You must also now wear a mask when you enter and exit a restaurant, but once seated, you can remove your mask.  

     The service staff worked tirelessly to keep up with operating a large resort, wearing full face shields, masks, and gloves.  This was the beginning of the hot season, and we hit temps that were in the upper 90's all week.  A lot of the staff was just called back to work the week before we arrived and had to set up the rooms, open the restaurants, and prepare the common areas and grounds.  We felt very sorry for them, and thanked them as often as we could. (Tips were flowing)  Our room was sanitized and a sticker was placed on the door letting us know the room was fumigated with a disinfectant.  Our butler met us at the front of the hotel after our check was completed and she showed us around the resort, took our phone number and provided hers, actually setting up all communication through What's App for us.  Ginebra, our butler, was phenomenal!  We asked for some extra ice and waters to be available, and every morning, she was there to greet us with a large bucket of ice and four extra waters.  She made our restaurant reservations, spa reservations, booked a taxi for us, and followed up each evening with our schedule for the next day.  These are all included in your stay with a TRS hotel.  We even had the best view of the resort at dinner, overlooking the canal as boats whisked guests to different parts of the resort.  They also offered shuttle services with the frequent golf carts circling the resort. 

     As travel agents, we tend to want to do and see more, so we booked site visits for the Dreams and Secrets Resort located just next door to us, and the Catalonia resort to the north.  We managed to also tour the Grand Palladium resort even though the guests were being rooms in the TRS side until resorts can open more space.  More to follow on those site visits in a later Blog.  We were amazed to find a special guest at the Dreams resort in Playa Mujeres.  We thought he might still be floating out in some ocean, but Wilson was right there!  You never know who might show up on a site visit!   

     The night life at the TRS was interesting.  I think it is safe to say that much of the talent is still rehearsing their acts.  Several of the singers had tremendous voices and I felt sorry they were only performing to maybe a handful of people typically at a time.   The hotel was beautifully lit up at night, and was so peaceful in the evenings.  We did manage to fit in an excursion with Island Adventures Mexico to swim with the whale sharks.  We were picked up at the ferry dock about ten minutes away from our resort and then spent the next five hours swimming with the whale sharks, manta rays, and then soaking in the clear waters of Isla Mujeres before heading back.

    The resort, the staff, and beach were all great.  the food left something to be desired.  Sometimes you got what you ordered, other times, you wondered what was served.  Dining in the restaurants took way too much time, as food often took over an hour to be served.  Many times we were told dishes were not available.  The few restaurants that were open served rotating menus.  One day it might be French, the next Italian, or Japanese.  Just have your butler check for you upon your arrival and make all of your reservations.  We enjoyed meeting so many nice folks from all over the US.  They, like us, are just ready for some normalcy to come back to travel.  I hope we can help find that perfect resort for you and your friends for your next vacation.

Pat Schoelen, Agency Owner and Travel Advisor

Cruise Planners - Two by Two Travel