Christmas and GuideJ’s Ninth Birthday in Cancun

 

For Christmas this year, we headed down to Cancun, Mexico where we stayed at the JW Marriott. We had last been at this hotel the year that GuideJ turned three, so it was a pleasant to return. Additionally, we were able to get direct flights to and from Cancun which always makes for a faster start to the vacation.

The JW Marriott Cancun is a wonderful resort. As you can see from these pictures that I snapped from our balcony (nope, not a postcard a pic on my MotoX phone) the property has many connected pools, a lovely beach area (much larger since we are not here post hurricane this time) and Club 91. One certainly would have to work hard not to have a good time at this property!

 

Club 91 is like its own little personalized hotel within the hotel. One checks in on the top floor, where there are three concierges on duty at all times to assist you with everything, there are five small delicious meals served a day buffet style and fantastic staff! We greatly enjoyed the wonderful staff whom were like ninjas as every time a glass was empty it was filled before you put it down, if your plate was empty, it was whisked away in a heartbeat. They definitely got to know you well during your stay and were able to anticipate your needs. I would say that this was money very well spent. We enjoyed eating at our leisure, without waiting, a great variety of foods at the buffet (that did not make you feel like you needed to eat a day’s worth of calories at breakfast as you were paying $35/person), more mimosas/margaritas/wine/mixed drinks than you can imagine and an absolute love of ensuring that the kids had everything they needed.  The real magic of Club 91 is that you feel like you are at a very luxurious micro resort while enjoying the amenities of huge resort.

 

Our daily routine was to sleep until 8:30/9am, have breakfast, head to the beach. Move from the ocean into one of the pools, journey from end to end. Go up to club 91 in waves, snack and return to ocean. Go to the pool/ocean until around 5pm. Then the evening would be spent relaxing, having dinner and for the kids on a few occasions, returning for a night swim into the pool! I can honestly say that this was one of our most relaxing Christmas vacations ever as we were all on the same wavelength of relaxing, laughing and only having fun.

 

Now you will note that there is a picture of the hotel elevator panel in the collage and my family trying to look “innocent” and “deeply offended that I lacked “holiday spirit” to see the fun” in their antics! This is what happens when your family watches ELF and acts like “cotton headed ninny muggings” and announce it looks like a Christmas tree. Don’t worry, next year I will just buy them t-shirts, LOL

Floors one to ten lit up like an upside down Christmas tree!!!! 

 

Christmas Eve we enjoyed the beach/pool all day. Made some holiday ornaments in the Club, enjoyed listening to the ocean while using electronic devices (from Minecraft to Instagram (Mommy)) and watched holiday movies. There are few things better than enjoying Christmas Eve this way. In fact, even looking at these pictures relaxes me.... what a wonderful day.

 

Christmas’ day we enjoyed opening gifts, reading on the beach, swimming in the pool and snacking under the umbrella on the beach. That evening we enjoyed a delightful dinner that the Argentinean “La Capilla” restaurant on the joining property (the CasaMagna Marriott). This was a meal of epic proportions, both in flavour and breadth of options. We all tried new items and had a memorable Christmas dinner to cap off a lovely Christmas Day.

 

 

Five and eight more Christmases with you Momma! Better enjoy them before we go to Uni....

 

 

 

 

 

GuideJ’s Ninth birthday was spent enjoying the beach, the pool and a mini birthday celebration in the lounge complete with a gorgeous cake. The weather was most cooperative, producing a plus thirty day with bright blue skies! GuideJ selected a conch shell as her birthday beach purchase and in true sisterly fashion got a fedora for her brother. In return, they spent some time on the balcony with ScoutJ teaching her how to blow into her conch with his trumpet skills. This was perhaps one of my favourite memories of her birthday, them working together as a team.

 

 

I would say that turning nine in Cancun was a great time for GuideJ. She enjoyed being in the water, one of her favourite places, ate lunch on the beach and she was made to feel very special by all of the staff of Club 91 whom had made her a birthday card. It is good to GuideJ, happy birthday baby, we love you!

The next day, we were off to the local mall to grab some souvenirs. While there, the kids tried out the fish pedicure! It was hilarious to watch the looks on their faces when they first plunged their feet in the water and the fish began to nibble away the dead skin off of their feet. They giggled, worked hard not to wiggle around and generally loved the whole experience. I am not sure that ScoutJ would do it again but I know he will certainly not forget his first pedicure. Thanks for being such a good sport ScoutJ and for being so excited to try this out GuideJ.  

 

 

 

With our final two days, we enjoyed the wonderful weather and made the most of our schedule free relaxing time. As the kids get older, these trips seem to become even more fun. This year I was really able to see that when traveling and left to their own devices, the kids really do enjoy spending time with each other despite the usual antics. When you catch them in an unguarded moment laughing or chatting together looking out over the edge of the infinity how can your heart not swell? Now, instead of feeling relief that they are not bickering, I try and file those images away as I can see just how quickly time is going. In fact, this time away has become even more precious to me as I get these three all to myself! We laugh, we play cards, we make memories and we enjoy being together.

 

 

Thank you for an amazing Christmas vacation 4js, I loved it and I am so glad that we went to Cancun!