BEachside Eating
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Where i stayed
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what to do
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Food
Hotel
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Both times I visited Cancun besides when I was about 5, I stayed at Ocean Dream Cancun. The first time I stayed there, I booked an airbnb for an apartment which happened to be in this hotel. It is a short walk into town where you can find restaurants, clubs, bars and lots of shops. The hotel itself is great. The rooms are clean and spacious- they have a few different types of rooms to choose from. Some have kitchenettes which is nice if you would like to do some cooking for yourself. Our room on my second visit had a large jacuzzi by the balcony with an amazing ocean view. Ocean Dream has two infinity pools, an indoor restaurant, a pool bar and another bar by the pool. They have tons of loungers on the beach with umbrellas and waiter service. They do offer an all-inclusive package, however, I opted out because I wanted to enjoy some local restaurants. All of the employees here are wonderful. They go above and beyond to make sure your stay is comfortable and enjoyable.
The property is only about a 25 minute drive from the airport.
What to do in Cancun
If you are visiting Cancun, it's probably because you love the blue waters, flowing margaritas, great food and people.
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Excursions:
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Catamaran Day Trip
Who doesn't love a boozy boat tour? In Cancun, there are many options for these trips. Usually they include open bar, lunch, snorkeling and sailing around the blue waters of Mexico. I typically book through Viator and have never had an issue. When choosing which trip is right for you, make sure to read the reviews.
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Chichen Itza
One of the seven wonders of the world, Chichen Itza is definitely something to check out while in Cancun. There are many tours offered from Cancun that will take you there and most will include lunch and a guided tour. If you'd like to venture out on your own, there is a bus that goes from Cancun as well. This will be a full day trip - so make sure you plan accordingly.
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Image by Dan Schwen
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Isla Mujeres
Isla Mujeres is a small island off of the coast of Cancun. There are private tours that will take you around the island, including drinks, food and snorkeling or you can take the ferry and explore the island on your own. The ferry leaves from a few places, the cheapest being Puerto Juarez or you can leave from the hotel zone for a higher price at three locations: Playa Tortugas, EL Embarcadero and Playa Caracol. Once you get to the island, it will only be a short walk to beaches and restaurants. You can find tours to book on the island, rent a golf cart or bikes to get around .
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Xcaret & Xplor Parks
Xcaret is a one stop shop. They have everything from snorkeling, ziplining to ATV's. They are one of the most popular places to visit in the Riviera Maya. Many tour places offer tours here, but if you visit the companies websites- you'll be able to plan it out yourself directly through them. These parks are located a little bit over an hour south of Cancun.
Beaches:
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Playa Chac Mool
Playa Chac Mool is the beach where Ocean Dream is located. The water is clear blue and beautiful. There are restaurants near by and the beach is open to the public.
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Playa Delfines
One of the only beaches lower in the hotel zone that is open to the public. If you plan to make this a whole beach day, I would recommend packing food with you and plenty of water as there aren't many restaurants around that aren't inside a hotel. Some hotels will let you use the restaurant if you aren't staying there, but some will not.
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Playa Caracol
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Playa Tortugas