Toothbrush … Check!
Bathing suits … Check!
Money … Check!
Passport … Check!
MackBook … Eh, negative!
For the first time in 3 years since purchasing my Macbook, I left it behind (insert real tears here) to travel. I don’t travel much outside the United States but I am on a plane at least 3-4x a year going somewhere. My Macbook and I are very attached, because it not only helps me to earn a living but it’s also a tool I use to educate myself and connect with others. Anyways, leaving it behind was hard BUT that’s not the point of this blog, I just needed to get that off my chest (lol).
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to take a trip last weekend to Cancun, Mexico to just relax. I disconnected from work, friends, my world to eat, sleep, and walk around in a bikini all day. The beach was beautiful, the locals were amazingly friendly and the weather was amazing. Sometimes our understanding of the world can be limited based on our upbringing, immediate living circumstances and experiences. But there is soooo much more beauty out there to be seen. God is soooo big, bigger than our simple understanding, therefore, his work is much greater than we can imagine.
Cancun, has something for everyone! If you are a day person, there’s activities on the water, in the water or on land. From scuba diving, jet skiing, to snorkeling, but of course if you are not a “get in the water” type of person, there are semi-submarines that allow you to explore the underwater world through a glass. But for those who like to lounge around during the day, the evening/night life is definitely something to explore in Downtown Cancun. From the shops, restaurants to the bars and clubs. You can practically run into any type of person there because there’s so much diversity of people AND it’s SAFE (disclaimer: if you are going out to be crazy, I can’t guarantee the same)! There’s police officers on almost every corner, near every restaurant, club, walking, etc. No one is being harassed and you are able to have a good time. Obviously, it is a tourist friendly city because of the amount of people that travel there each year, so I am pretty sure they invest into making sure tourist are safe.
As for tourist, there are 10 things I’d like to share with anyone traveling internationally on vacation to a warm/beach location. Some helpful tips to make your experience more fun and enjoyable if you’re traveling solo, couple or a group.
1. Be nice and talk to strangers. Yes actually say hi and have a conversation with someone you just met. It’s ok, because chances are they will be willing to talk as well. I met a group of people from Argentina while walking on the beach and they wanted to teach me how to dance salsa. Though their English wasn’t strong, we managed to laugh and have a good time interacting.
2. Everybody is beach ready. No seriously, all shapes and sizes are able to wear a bathing suit. Just because it is not your preference or you may not be confident to show some parts, does not mean others will be held back. I love how people walked around in their bathing suits around the resort and beach and no one even cared to stare because they were enjoying themselves. Nobody cares if you have a flat tummy, a gut, fresh baked rolls on your back, big butt, flat butt, seriously don’t hold yourself back from going on a trip or kill yourself to try to fit into this “beach body or nothing” mentality (my opinion). You can go how you are!
3. You are not the only one with Tattoos. I have a few tattoos (the number isn’t relevant lol) and I was shocked as too how different types of people have tattoos. From people who look like top executives, soccer moms, to grandparents. If you have an issue with tattoos, then maybe vacationing by the beach isn’t for you. And if you thought you had cool tattoos, you will easily run into people who will inspire you to probably get more. Being around so many people with tattoos, was another thing to connect strangers with on another without saying it.
4. Don’t look at the water, get in the water. Forget cute, forget that you don’t know how to swim, forget the pictures, get in the water. Even if you don’t know how to swim, at least get your feet and legs wet. The ocean is an amazing experience, to just let the salt water touch your skin and soak in all that sun. Being from Boston, I have always been around water BUT nothing compares to going to a beach with nice sand and clear waters that you can see your feet at the bottom. For those who may not be ready, if there is a pool where you are staying, try it out. You are on vacation, so try something new.
5. Must have eat and drink balance. This is for those who are planning to drink alcohol on their trips. YOU HAVE TO EAT, YOU HAVE TO EAT….again YOU HAVE TO EAT if you plan on drinking, so you don’t get sick. While on vacation I did drink alcohol and I always kept my meals regulated, not once did I get sick. I chose to stay away from fried food and kept my body hydrated with water. I did not drink too much local water but there was always accessible water bottles somewhere.
6. ALL people protect your skin. So I have heard that people of color can’t get sunburn so there’s no need for sunscreen. Well, I have be around people of color who got sunburn and it almost happened to me. I put sunscreen on but I missed my chest and went outside to sit in the sun for like hours (in the shade) but by the late afternoon when I got back in my room, part of my chest had visible redness. If you are going to a place where it’ll be hot and plan to have parts of your body exposed for a long period of time, wear sunscreen. The pain and pealing from a sunburn isn’t worth it.
7. Don’t be ignorant and yell if someone doesn’t speak English. I speak more than one language but Spanish is not one of them. I have seen people raising their voice to try to get something across to someone who speaks another language. Yelling does not solve anything, but here’s a tip. If you have a cellphone bring it out and use Google translate or ask someone in the place you’re staying to translate. If you are staying at a resort or hotel, most likely the people there speak some level of English. I could be wrong but I strongly believe that if you are planning to stay at a resort/hotel the staff there will do whatever necessary to make sure you get what you need.
8. Be kind and tip (you’ll need ones). I thought I was going to feed a nation for as many ones as I took to Cancun. I’m joking, but I did bring quite a few and it was beneficial to tip the staff, pay for transportation, shop, etc. There are options to exchange currency, but if the country takes American dolars than it works for me and it helps me keep track of how much I am spending (budgeting blog coming soon lol). I will also advise that you check with your bank to see how much it will cost you to withdraw money or use your card in the country you are planning to visit. And it’s good to give your bank a heads up that you’ll be outside the country so they don’t freeze your card.
9. You don’t need to post every moment, be present and enjoy the time. I enjoy posting and sharing the cool things I do but for this trip I posted maybe 2 pictures towards the end. I wanted to physically enjoy each moment and be present to experience all that was happening. There was a point I think I lost track of what time or day it was because I wasn’t always on my phone. I would suggest that if you choose to vacation somewhere to disconnect and enjoy it or post less than you normally would. Social media will be there waiting for you when you get back. While people are back at home, you get to be somewhere exciting, be present and not on your phone.
10. Do what makes you happy, you don’t have to do everything in one trip. You can plan away, have a schedule or just go with the flow of things. Some people are early birds and others are night owls, it’s your vacation so enjoy. If you happen to miss doing something this time around, plan to do it on your next trip. If you go with people or with another person, you don’t have to do the same things they are doing or not do anything because they don’t want to do things with you. There was a point when I went for a long walk on the beach in the evening while my friend took a nap. I didn’t get upset because she didn’t come, I just did what made me happy.
Overall, this world is amazing and I plan to continue traveling and sharing my experiences with you. If you have the opportunity to travel with friends, family or a significant other, go for it. I almost did not take advantage of this vacation BUT I am so grateful that I had the ability, funds and time to do it.
I hope this is helpful for someone. 🙂
Cheers to LIVING ON PURPOSE!
Liz
