Your Spring Break Questions Answered

I asked just last week ion you had any questions about our Spring Break Trip to Mexico. {If you missed my trip recap, I shared all the details in this post.}. You guys came back with some great questions so I’m posting and sharing the answers today. Many of you asked the same question so I tried to share the questions more than one person asked. Thanks again for sending over your questions and here we go with the Q & A!

Years ago our family went to Mexico and stayed at an all-inclusive Dreams property. We liked it, but I’d choose the JW Marriott over the Dreams. Since that Dreams vacation, I’ve also stayed at Secrets Maroma, Excellence Playa Mujeres, the Ritz Carlton Cancun, and Grand Velas. All but one of those are all-inclusive and were really great destination spots. I’m not someone who has to have the all-inclusive feature, but the amenities, resort, rooms, pools, etc. are all more important to me. We loved the JW Marriott!

Yes! There was a table service dining option that served the big traditional breakfast buffet you usually find at a resort. {We ate here every morning.}. Then there was also a small little cafe type store that served quicker options as well as coffees. For lunch we always ate at the restaurant by the pool. And then for dinners we changed it up each night. The JW Marriott is located right beside the Marriott which allowed us to utilize the dining options at that property as well without technically leaving the resort. We had seven restaurants to choose from between the two properties {if you never wanted to leave the resort}. Most guests I spoke to left the resort for dinner. We walked across the street the first night but the rest of our trip we stayed on property.

Yes, you have to have a negative Covid test to return to the United States. That’s the only test you had to have and the resort was great to set that up as soon as we checked in.

No, I typically judge a resort by how quickly the best pool chairs get snatched or how early you’ve gotta claim your beach spot but this resort always had great options available. I was surprised each day because there were always chairs available. We made dinner reservations but all the dining options never felt crowded either.

We went to Cancun, Mexico, which is just about a 2.5 hour flight from Dallas so it’s a quick and easy destination for us. Other than one dinner we stayed at our resort the entire time so we never felt unsafe.

Yes, our transportation we’d set up was amazing and super safe. The resort felt super safe and our dinner was very safe as well. {Not that there aren’t unsafe areas in Cancun but we steered clear of those areas.}

Yes, we wore masks inside the resort.

No, our resort wasn’t all-inclusive.

All of the staff at the JW Marriott spoke English so there was never a language barrier we dealt with. Since we’d been to Cancun several times we knew where everything was located so there was never any airport confusion either.

On a random note, we ran into three families we knew at the airport so it felt a little extra safe knowing so many others there at the same time. All three families just happened to be on our flight as well. We were randomly all at different resorts during our stay.

I think there’s a time and place for both! My kids loved the beach, loved the pool, and are ready to go back to Mexico. We’ll do it again! But I loved our adult getaway in May last year as well.

We stayed at the JW Marriott Cancun and YES-we’d ALL recommend it!

Yes, the water at the resort was safe to drink.

Our resort had a “baby pool” that was maybe 1-2 feet deep. It was in it’s own space so that would be a really nice spot if you took littles. The resort also had some great grassy spots with lawn games. Lots of connecting pools so my kids would swim from one spot to another. And then the beach is so close, convenient, and great for all ages.

I think I covered most of the questions sent over! If you’d like to check out the JW Marriott Cancun or talk to someone about the best resort for your family, check out Mix and Match Travel Agency! We’d love to help send your family on a great getaway as well. Tab’s been out of town on a work trip for the last three days and he’s returning today! WAHOO! This mama is ready for a tiny break. :). Hope you guys have a great day and I’ll see you tomorrow!

XO

Leave a Comment

16 Comments

  1. 3.23.22
    Elspeth said:

    I always find these Q and A posts so helpful and informative! Thank you!
    http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com

    • 3.23.22
      Erika Slaughter said:

      Thanks for reading!

  2. 3.23.22
    Sheaffer said:

    Lots of great info!

    • 3.23.22
      Erika Slaughter said:

      We should plan a girl’s trip STAT!

  3. 3.23.22
    Kristen said:

    I am looking at the Excellence at Playa Mujeres.. do you have a post on that resort?

  4. 3.23.22
    Erin Leckey said:

    I know you mentioned in your initial recap post that the passports took a while. Do you mind letting me know how long it took between sending in your paperwork and when they arrived? My husband and I have passports but our kids don’t so I was curious. Thanks!

    • 3.23.22
      Erika Slaughter said:

      Tab and I had current passports but our kids had expired. We expedited them and 3/4 had some sort of issue so we received them back to “fix”. And then we had to resend. They took about 7 weeks, but I’d plan for more than that-super stressful and we spent a lot of time on the phone getting to the bottom of it.

  5. 3.23.22

    I love me a travel related post!!!

    • 3.23.22
      Erika Slaughter said:

      Me TOO!

  6. 3.24.22
    Lauren said:

    Thanks for sharing! My husband and I booked the JW a week before you posted your trip, felt like a good sign that we made the right choice after months of decision paralysis on where to stay! One follow-up question on dining, did you need to make reservations before hand or were you able to walk in? Wondering how far ahead I should plan. Thanks again for sharing!

    • 3.24.22
      Erika Slaughter said:

      Oh Lauren! How funny! I made most of them through Open Table before we went but I think as long as you make them your first day you’d be good to do it there too.

  7. 3.24.22
    Regina mott said:

    I would
    Love to know where you got your white tennis shoes with the camo or leopard on the front.
    Thank you!!

  8. 3.29.22
    Rachel said:

    Mexico is great but we just got back from a week in Belize which was hands down better. May I suggest that for a future trip? The treehouses at Caves Branch were amazing and Hamanasi resort was the best. Neither one are huge like the Mexico places but amazing food and activities for all.

    • 3.30.22
      Erika Slaughter said:

      Oh Rachel! Thanks so much for the suggestion! I’ll have to check it out!