Monday - Cancun / Chichen Itza -
Westin Regina Hotel Cancun
Monday morning, June 21st, is Midsummer. We woke up at 6:30 and after some quick dressing, my boyfriend Bob drove me, my sister Jenn and my mom Ann out to Logan. We got caught up in traffic but even so we were there before 9am for an 11am flight. The check-in was electronic and SUPER quick, letting us choose seats together (the last row) with little touch-screen pushes. There was NO food on this flight even though it was about 4 hours. We were prepared with snacks and bottled water! We were in the lounge in maybe 10 minutes, so around 9am. We had 2 hours to kill, so we all took naps.
In short order we were in our seats, and Jenn had a challenge finding her seat belt but we finally dug it out. We were aloft! We slept a while, had our snacks, and I got to see the Florida Keys pass beneath us. Cool! Then another nap, and we were making our final approach over Cancun. The right side of the plane (i.e. not us) got to see all the hotels along the beach, but we were able to see that on the way home. It's wise to sit on the right side going down, the left side coming back.
One of the BIG things they warn you about in Cancun is the number of locals wanting to make money off of the rich American tourists. So you need to be very prepared for that. Our plan luckily included a shuttle to and from the hotel, something I double checked because I'd heard such horror stories about the expensive and pushy taxis from the airport. Sure enough, as we got through the LONG line at customs (an hour, from 2-3pm) and out into the airport lobby, it was full of people shouting and trying to get your attention. Even the "information desk" guides would yell at you and tell you you had to come talk to them. You don't, of course.
We looked for the teal shirted guys, as our paperwork instructed. They're with Lomis Travel, who was the company behind our travel deal. One was by the front door and told us to go look for Bus #10 to the left. We weren't more than 3 feet out the door before a guy in a white shirt and ratty grey pants was there, asking to take our bags. Mom and Jenn handed over their bags and I had to say NO! 3 times before he gave up on me. He walked us the 100' down the path to bus #10 where the blue teal shirted guy was - and now Mr White Shirt wanted money for his "service!" Like I didn't know THAT was coming. Mom hopped quickly on the bus ignoring him, and Jenn said (truthfully) that she didn't have any change.
OK, on the nice air conditioned bus and we waited about 20 minutes before they headed out. A *GREAT* thing about the Westin Regina is that it's at the tail end of the resort strip, closest to the airport, furthest from town. This means it doesn't have the "bimbos" (drunk teens) - it has those seeking quiet and snorkelling. It is literally right next to the best snorkelling area in Cancun (and one of the best in the world). It's also the first stop for shuttles :) Note that pretty much ALL the resorts here are walled and gated, only the 'correct tourists' can get in.
In short order we were dropped off at the Westin Regina. Note that the bus guys said you had to sit in the bus at the hotel until they got your bags out for you - because they then wanted to "walk you to the hotel desk" i.e. and get another tip for that! We said we could walk the 30' on our own :) Also, he claimed the workers are only paid by tips, which I *really* doubt.
Westin Regina Cancun Corporate Homepage
The Westin Regina is a great hotel in many ways. All rooms either look out over the lagoon or ocean. It is one of the only hotels to actually touch both sides, since it's at the end of the strip. Lagoon side is cheaper but just as gorgeous and it gets the sunsets. The lobby is fully open-air with fans overhead. We checked in easily but ran into the BIG ISSUE with the Westin and with Lomis Travel. Part of the Westin is a timeshare - and they are VERY very insistant that you go on a timeshare tour. In fact they hold your return shuttle ticket hostage until you do!! They try to get you in TWO ways. First, when you get there, they want to give you a 30 minute orientation tour of the hotel (i.e. sell you a timeshare). Second, you get a booklet on the shuttle with a stated date, time and person's name that you "have" to meet with about your trip status, i.e. another "30 minutes". Both easily stretch into 90 minutes or more given every account I've heard.
For us, we were now arriving at 4 because of the long customs delay, and they had signed us up for a 4:30 "interview"!
So having read and prepared for all of this, I was annoyed but not surprised when the timeshare attack began as we waited in line. The lady was quite nice, being friendly, asking if my sister and I were indeed sisters. I was in fact wearing my "Yes, We're Sisters" shirt at the time that I made specifically for this trip, so I helpfully pointed to my shirt :) The lady said she would be glad to take 30 minutes to show us around and get us acquainted with the wonderful hotel. I said no. She kept pressing. I said we hadn't eaten at all all day except a roll in the morning, I was starving to death and I would NOT take time right now to tour a hotel in this state. I let my mom and sis decide if they wanted to tour, but they both came after me. Round 1 was won by us.
Or so we thought. We were up on the 5th floor - the 6th has balconies, but as we were already asking to have rooms together I didn't want to also ask to have 6th floor rooms together. They were still high enough up that we were over the treetops and had a GREAT view of the lagoon, the Magnificent Frigatebirds flying overhead and the other birds in the trees. This was idyllic. However, Jenn and my keys didn't work! So back down to the lobby we trudge (starving to death). And ... you guessed it!! Ms Time Share was there and attacked again. I said no no no I am NOT going on a tour while I am starving to death. We are going to the restaurant. She said "But we can give you a 20% off coupon to the fancy restaurant!!" I said it's not OPEN yet (it opens for dinner at 6pm) and I am not waiting until it is!!
Sheesh. OK we get our cards and finally get in our room. It was quite nice! The floors are all stone, which makes cleanup from wet and sandy hotel guests a breeze :) The beds were truly heavenly, and the floor to ceiling windows were gorgeous, with sliding wooden shutters. There was a separate shower and stone bathtub. Quite perfect. The plugs were US and polarized, the water from the faucet was purified.
Down to the Beachside Restaurant
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