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Stacy
Trip Date 10/14/2021 Posted On 12/30/2021 10:29:59 |
Destinations | Caribbean | Mexico | Qunitana Roo | Yucatan Peninsula | Riviera Maya | Cancun | Tulum | Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal | Resort | All Inclusive Resort | Beach Vacation | Adults Only | Family Vacation | What to Pack | Packing for All-Inclusive Vacation | My Bahia Principe Loyalty Program
The white sands and blue Caribbean waters for which the Riviera Maya is known make an ideal setting for a beach vacation. Qunitana Roo, the state in Mexico that is probably best known for tourism, is bounded by Cancun in the north and Tulum on the south.
Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal is one of four resort destinations that, together, form an amazing complex within the state. This all inclusive resort on the Yucatan Peninsula can be a relaxing adults only escape or a fun filled family vacation with the kids.
Don't forget to also check out our "A through M" list to see the first 13 reasons why we recommend Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal!
14. "N" is for "Nightly Entertainment"
From musical productions and audience participation events to guest performers, there is entertainment to look forward to each evening at 9:00 PM. (There is also a nightly 8:00 PM show geared toward the youngsters staying at the resort.). Although not a big surprise, we were a bit disappointed that the nightly entertainment would repeat each week:- Sunday: "Show Mexicanisimo"
- Monday: Silent Disco
- Tuesday: "City of Rock"
- Wednesday: Karaoke
- Thursday: "Back to the 80s"
- Friday: Magic Show
- Saturday: Circus Show
The duplicate performances actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise. After an early morning alarm and traveling for much of the day, we could skip the show on our check-in day knowing that we had another opportunity to see it. It is also fun to have a night or two "off" to just relax or do something else without feeling like you are missing out on something. Additionally, we really enjoyed one of the production shows, so we had the opportunity to watch it twice!
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For a nominal charge of $5.00 per person, resort guests have the option to see "Origen" at Grand Tulum each Wednesday evening. Using a combination of acrobatics, gymnastics and non-traditional circus acts, the hour long show tells the history of the more than 60 cultures that combined to form the customs in today's Mexico.
15. "O" is for "On-site COVID Testing"
With so many countries requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test prior to boarding an international flight, Bahia Principe makes it easy with on-site COVID testing. By reserving our stay prior to August 15, 2021, we were eligible for free antigen testing. The cost for testing is passed on to all guests whose reservations are made on or after that mid-August date.Registration is required and it is recommended that tests are scheduled upon arrival at the resort. (Those staying longer than a week may need to wait until about 7 days prior to their desired testing date for time slots to be reservable.) Both antigen ($16.00) and PCR ($120.00) testing is available, with results provided within 24-48 hours. During our stay, all testing was done at Bahia Principe Grand Coba.
- The lines tend to get long, so arrive before your scheduled testing time. Our reservation was for 8:30 AM and we arrived
just before the 8:00 AM opening time for testing.
Before 8:00 AM and Already Lined Up for COVID-19 Testing - You will be required to show your passport at the testing site. (We were told that we also needed our passport in order to schedule our testing time, but were never asked to provide it.)
- Make sure that you have completed all required online registration information. (This is probably the biggest time saver. While standing in line, it will be obvious which people have and have not completed their registration. We witnessed the check-in process taking anywhere from about 3 minutes to in excess of 15 minutes!)
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16. "P" is for "Photo Ops"
If you can't resist posting daily to your social media accounts or want to return home with lots of pictures to remember your getaway, there are plenty of photo opportunities within the resort. Whether you use your cell phone, a point and shoot camera, a DSLR or something in between, you can relive your vacation for years to come.In addition to snapping selfies around the resort with your travel group, you'll want some action shots of the gang participating in a pool game, dancing or enjoying a special occasion dinner together. If you prefer scenery, the landscaping at the resort, the creatures roaming about or a romantic sunset are all candidates.
You may even want to bring along a water camera to catch some shots while out on or under the water!
17. "Q" is for "Que pasa"
If you are not sure how to say something in Spanish, we found staff members to be very helpful with translating. During our 11 day stay, we were frequently greeted with "Que pasa?" ("What's up?" or "What's happening?"). On the first morning of our stay, I learned that the translation of "butler" was "mayordomo" from Cynthia, a member of our butler team.
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With nearly all announcements being made in both English and Spanish, you'll have somewhat of an opportunity to brush up on your Spanish while at Luxury Akumal. One of the afternoon games, Mexican Loteria, is an excellent opportunity to learn the translation of an assortment of nouns.
18. "R" is for "Riviera Maya"
The Bahia Principe family of resorts in Mexico is located in the Riviera Maya. This region in the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula is often recognized for its Mayan ruins and is very popular with lovers of all-inclusive resorts. Known for white-sand beaches leading to the blue waters of the Caribbean, the Riviera Maya is located in the country's popular tourist state of Quintana Roo. Traveling south from Cancun (the nearest international airport), most resorts are found on the stretch of shoreline between Playa del Carmen in the north and Tulum in the south. (A drive from the airport to the Bahia Principe complex near Tulum takes about 1 1/2 hours.)
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19. "S" is for "Shuttle"
Even though the resort is so spread out, shuttle service makes it easy to get from place to place. At the beginning and end of your stay, shuttles make getting you and your luggage to and from your room pain free.Shuttles connect the lobby of Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal with both Bahia Principe Grand Coba and Bahia Principe Grand Tulum. Within each resort, shuttles are available to take guests to and from beaches, pools, restaurants, shopping, theaters, villas and more.
20. "T" is for "Tropical"
If you are dreaming of spending your vacation time in a tropical climate, Luxury Akumal will fulfill your wish. Located south of the Tropic of Cancer, temperatures at the resort are consistently warm to hot and moist year round. (Temperatures in northern Mexico. north of the Tropic of Cancer, are cooler during winter months.)
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21. "U" is for "Undersea Life"
It's not just the resort employees who call the area home - there's a variety of fish who live in the resort waters. To spy on the undersea life, bring along your snorkel, mask and fins or water shoes. Choose from one of the three protected areas and open your eyes to find your favorite species.- If you didn't bring snorkeling gear, you can borrow a mask and snorkel from the Scubaquatic team for up to one hour per day;
- Rocks of all shapes and sizes are found in the sand below the Caribbean waters. If you don't have fins, it is highly
recommended that you wear some sort of water shoes;
Be Prepared for Snorkeling over Rocks! - We found the largest concentration of fish in the north edge of the protected area (near a reef) by Bar El Mar making it our favorite snorkeling spot!
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22. "V" is for "Variety"
With access to all open resorts in the Bahia Principe complex, guests at Luxury Akumal enjoy plenty of variety. In addition to Luxury Akumal, during our October visit, all vacationers had access to Grand Coba and Grand Tulum. Beginning November 1, 2021, adult guests have also been welcomed to Luxury Sian Ka'an.Having access to multiple resorts means access to a bigger variety of facilities, amenities, activities, entertainment, food, pools - everything except for the buffets.
A word of caution: Be prepared for potentially different entrance requirements (masks, etc.) at different resorts. During our stay, we never had our temperature taken at Luxury Akumal restaurants, however temperature checks were required at some restaurants and lobbies within the neighboring resorts.
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23. "W" is for "Water"
It stands to reason that if you are considering vacationing at a seaside resort, you probably enjoy the water. There are three protected swimming areas complete with white sand, saltwater, lounge chairs, bars and even lifeguards.But, maybe you don't want to spend all of your time in the saltwater with sand beneath your toes. The good news is that you have more than one choice at Luxury Akumal. In addition to the three swimming areas in the bay, there are also three swimming pools at Luxury Akumal - and even a heated whirlpool. (Prior to our stay in Riviera Maya, we had stayed at three other all-inclusive resorts. While they all had fabulous ocean water, pools and whirpool tubs, none of the three had a heated whirlpool like the one that we found at Luxury Akumal.). Those who have an interest in learning to scuba dive can even take a dive lesson in one of the swimming pools.
If you are traveling with youngsters in tow, two of the three swimming pools within Luxury Akumal are open to people of all ages. If your kids become bored and want more activity, don't forget about your options at the neighboring resorts - head over to the children's water park at Grand Coba. (Don't worry, there's a bar not too far away!)
If you are planning a parents' escape, you'll love the adults only infinity pool where we spent much of our time. When staying in the adults only villa, it's hard to walk past the clear blue water of the infinity pool without taking a dip. Enjoy a drink or two from the bar and form friendships with guests from around the world for a incredible day. (This was one of the most relaxing areas within the resort during all but the Saturday afternoon Champagne Party. If louder music and poolside drinking sounds fun, you'll love that too!)
No matter if it is poolside or beachside where you choose to lounge when you are not actually in the water, there are plenty of options for sun or shade. You'll find chaise loungers with umbrellas that can be raised or lowered and tent cabanas for those who know that they want to stay in the shade.
24. "X" is for "Xylophone"
Yes, there was music played on a xylophone plus so many more musical options. There's background pool music and sometimes even poolside music served up by a disc jockey. In addition to the silent disco and karaoke (not always the best music!) on two weekday evenings plus the production shows City of Rock and Back to the 80s on two other nights, there was a Latin band, a duetto, an acoustic band and even an Abba tribute group to name just a few.
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25. "Y" is for Yummy Desserts"
If you are a lover of sweets, the dessert opportunities are sure to increase your happiness quotient during your stay. The Riviera Restaurant (buffet) has the largest selection of sweet treats including pies, cakes and other pastries plus several flavors of scoop-your-own ice cream.Each of the a la carte restaurants that we dined at had a minimum of three dessert menu choices. And we can't forget about all of the blended adult beverages - they may not be on the dessert menu but they are sure sweet and I'm sure have plenty of calories, too!
The sole dining venue where sweets were less plentiful was at Acuario. Other than the dessert-type drinks crafted by the bartender, the only option at the snack bar was soft-serve ice cream. Sadly, the machine broke down during the final days of our stay - hopefully it wasn't our group's daily use that wore it out!
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26. "Z" is for "ZERO need to spend more money!"
Other than paying the required Municipality of Tulum environmental tax of $1.50 per room per night, there is really ZERO need to spend more money! Everything that you need for an incredible vacation is included in the price that you pay when you make your reservation. Upon check-in, guests are issued a wrist band that allows them access to all activities, bars, dining, entertainment - every place and everything you need for the vacation of a lifetime.Although not required, tipping for excellent service by any resort employee will certainly be appreciated.
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If you are hoping for an over the top vacation experience (or want to leave the resort to see more of the surrounding area), here's some of the optional add-ons that you may feel will enhance your vacation experience:
- Excursions to nearby attractions;
- Premium liquors or drinks served in pineapple or coconut cups;
Specialty Drink in a Pineapple Cup - Purchases in any of the lobby shops or the markets;
Shopping at Hacienda Dona Isabel Market - Select seafood dishes in a la carte restaurants (lobster, king crab, tiger shrimp, oysters, turbot, etc.);
- Spa services;
- Swimming with the dolphins; and
- the Wednesday evening performance "Origen" at Grand Tulum.
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What to Pack
Here's a few packing tips that will make a stay at Luxury Akumal (or any other all-inclusive resort) even more enjoyable. These "beyond essential" items come from our stays at several all-inclusive resorts plus tips from friends who have even more experience with all-inclusive vacations. We've also been envious of a few items that other resort guests have brought along, so we've included those on our list as well:- Sandals and/or shoes that will be comfortable for walking on sand;
- Sunglasses and hat (I rarely wear a hat, but was glad to have one along to shade my face when out in
the hot sun for extended periods of time);
Aboard Hobie Cat with Hat, Sunglasses & Waterproof Case for Cell Phone - Swim shirts (also called a UV shirt or rash guard - good for preventing too much sun exposure);
- Insect repellent (depending on your destination);
- Lip balm with sunscreen (trust us on this one - we had to pay over $5.00 at the resort to purchase a single tube of ChapStick);
- Extra sunscreen (bring more than you think you will need);
- Towel clips (great for making sure your beach towel is ready for your return to your lounger);
- Insulated cup (a bigger drink means less time spent waiting for refills, plus your drink will stay cold longer ... and better for the environment, too!);
- Reusable straw (some resorts are doing away with plastic straws);
Insulated Cup with Reusable Straw - Inflatable or collapsible water chair (nice for floating in a swimming pool);
- Snorkel gear, if you plan to snorkel (although many resorts have them to borrow for 1 hour per day, you may want to bring along your own snorkel, mask and fins);
- USB charging station (a must if bringing more than one device along);
- Waterproof camera;
- Waterproof case for cell phone (the new cell phone that we bought after our return home is proof of the importance of this one!);
- Beach bag (a must for keeping your belongings hidden while you are in the water);
- Plastic bag for packing wet swimwear for your return trip home; and
- Smaller bills for tipping (to avoid having to make a trip to guest services to break a larger bill during your resort stay).
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My Bahia Principe Loyalty Program
My Bahia Principe is the loyalty program designed to reward repeat visitors for staying within the chain of resorts. The program has four membership levels - blue, silver, gold and black. There is no downside to earning points - even if you never use them, you won't lose anything other than a few minutes of your time for registering. And, who knows, you may benefit with discounts, free airport transfers and more like we have!Members earn points for each night of a resort stay (group rates and other free or highly discounted stays excluded), with bonus points rewarded based on current loyalty program level. Additional points are earned for booking directly through the website (www.bahia-principe.com) or the Bahia Principe Call Center.
Loyalty benefits for each membership level include the following:
- 5% (blue or silver) or 10% (gold or black) discount on stays booked directly with the resort;
- Online check-in (available 1 to 5 days prior to arrival date; room selection is an added benefit at most resorts, however has not worked during check-in as advertised for our two most recent stays);
- Restaurant reservations (1 to 5 days prior to arrival date);
- 5% - 20% discount (depending on loyalty level) on (1) Bahia Principe tours, (2) wine, premium drinks and special dinners in most resort restaurants and (3) most items purchased at most Bahia Principe Shops;
- Free shared transfer (silver and gold) or private transfer (black) from select airports to resorts on reservations booked directly through Bahia Principe;
- Free premium wi-fi (upper 3 loyalty levels);
- 15% (silver) or 20% (gold and black) discount on regularly priced spa services at most resorts plus free hydrotherapy circuit (gold and black) where available;
- Check-in as early as 8:00 AM and check-out as late as 6:00 PM (for gold and black level members, subject to availability);
- Extra a la carte dinners (gold and black); and
- 1 night free on stays of 7 nights (black level members).
The more you stay, the more benefits you will receive, but don't forget that loyalty accounts with no activity for a 36 month period may be cancelled.
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Caribbean All-Inclusive Resorts
Interested in an all-inclusive resort, but not sure if Mexico is your dream destination? Make sure to check out "Caribbean Paradise in the Midst of a Pandemic" for an overview of our spring stay at Bahia Principe Luxury Ambar. The resort is a part of the same resort chain, but located in the Dominican Republic.Favorite Reasons for Choosing an All-Inclusive Destination
What is your rationale for traveling to an all-inclusive resort rather than choosing a cruise vacation, a guided tour or any other type of vacation?
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