Series | Reiko's Room ♥︎ Vol. 13: All-Inclusive Without a Care in Cancun!

Series | Reiko's Room ❤️

Vol. 13: All-Inclusive Without a Care in Cancun!

Hello, it's Reiko. June has arrived in the blink of an eye! It feels like just yesterday I was saying I wanted to escape the cold of New York, and now summer is right around the corner. There's no time to be zoning out! Recently, on a whim to escape reality, I visited Cancun and Tulum in Mexico. It's a 3.5-hour direct flight from New York. While the culture is different, Cancun, where you can relax at a resort, is a paradise in the Caribbean and I highly recommend it. This time, I stayed at an "all-inclusive" where meals and drinks are all included. It was incredibly comfortable and luxurious ♡ I'll tell you about the charms of all-inclusive that I'd recommend especially for adults.

Photographs & Text by Reico

First, to Tulum, a favorite among seasoned travelers!

When you think of Cancun, you think of Mexico, or rather, it's a famous resort representing the Caribbean, but it's also a destination that New Yorkers can easily visit. This time, I first went to Tulum, recommended by a friend who is a seasoned New York traveler. Tulum might not be a familiar name. It's a small resort about 2.5 hours further down the coast by bus from Cancun.

Tulum feels more rural than Cancun, which has become a tourist destination with many Western-owned hotels. It's recommended for those who are well-traveled and prefer a relaxed pace. For me, the essential point of any trip is the food. If the local cuisine isn't delicious, I personally lose enthusiasm... As expected from a country that gave birth to Mexican cuisine, which is also a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the food was indeed delicious!

There were delicious Mexican restaurants even in Tulum's small town center. It felt like a simply run diner, which was calming, and the taste was superb! I ate "ceviche," a dish overflowing with seafood, many times during my trip. Also, I enjoyed mezcal margaritas, made with "mezcal," a Mexican liqueur, even during the day. The blue sky, the blue sea, and the cheerful Latin country feel so good!

We visited a "cenote," a natural well scattered throughout the Yucatan Peninsula (where Tulum and Cancun are located). They are like caves, but the water is crystal clear and mystical.

Although challenging, it's possible to dive in these caves. The essence of travel is to coexist with the nature of the land. I was eager to go, but the water was so cold I got a little scared. Choosing a smaller, less famous cenote means fewer tourists and clearer water. I definitely recommend it. A guide will lead you into the cave, and you'll snorkel for about an hour.

Feeling like a princess at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun ♡

After stretching our legs in Tulum, we headed straight for Cancun. As a traveler, I wanted to stay at a sophisticated hotel in Cancun too... so I chose "Haven Riviera Cancun," a member of the LVX (Luxury) collection by Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world's largest independent hotel brand.

This hotel isn't in the main tourist area of Cancun, but rather closer to Riviera Maya, a bit further from the center. As you can see, it's a resort surrounded by vast green grounds like a jungle, and it's all-inclusive for adult guests only, with no children allowed.

The sophisticated way to spend your time is to relax within the hotel without venturing into the city. Are you familiar with "all-inclusive," which isn't very common in Japan? It's a system where meals and drinks during your stay are free, a system that makes me chuckle with delight, being a lover of alcohol. Starting the day with a mezcal margarita at the pool bar... it's irresistible!

The hotel has two large pools, and the Caribbean Sea is right in front, but it's also wonderful to just relax by the pool.

Overseas guests enjoyed reading while sunbathing (so picturesque!).

Of course, drinks by the pool are also free, so I spent my days ordering various Mexican cocktails. The first-floor rooms even have private pools with direct access!

The guest rooms feature modern and calming interiors, inspired by white sandy beaches.

What I personally found excellent was the special window for receiving room service and other amenities without directly seeing the service staff.

It's a thoughtful design where items are placed in a dedicated box, perfect for discreet moments or when you're not quite ready to be seen! Such attention to detail is truly appreciated.

Enjoy a variety of dishes to your heart's content ♡

While I'm not a big eater, the charm of all-inclusive is also the "whatever you like, as much as you like" aspect.

"Haven Riviera Cancun" also has many restaurants, offering everything from Mexican to Japanese and Mediterranean cuisine, as well as a pool bar, so I could easily spend a week here. Since I live in New York, I opted for Japanese food from the first day.

I ordered sushi and yakitori. I used to associate all-inclusive with buffets, but the Mediterranean restaurant offered a luxurious course menu!

Of course, I also had plenty of mezcal margaritas. It might sound like I'm just a glutton, but with the pool and restaurants, you don't need to carry your wallet around, which is stress-free and means you don't have to hold back on a date!

Some spa treatments are also included, and you can receive a full treatment for an extra charge. Since I wasn't spending much money during my stay, I thought, "What a sophisticated man would say, 'This spa treatment is a gift for my girlfriend!'" – are there any such gentlemen out there?

Haven Riviera Cancun
https://preferredhotels.com/property/haven-riviera-cancun-11081
Preferred Hotels & Resorts: 0120-984-450

Reiko
An editor, writer, and coordinator based in New York (also planning new ventures). While deeply loving champagne and travel, I dream of the ideal man, and before I knew it, I was approaching forty. What I seek in a man is chivalry ♥︎