I truly have amazing friends. Earlier this month, I was invited by a family I have known for more than 20 years to join them on a vacation to the Hyatt Ziva Cancun in Mexico. It was an incredibly generous invitation and one that I will always appreciate.
The Hyatt Ziva Cancun is an all-inclusive resort located at the very tip of Cancun’s famous Hotel Zone. Surrounded on three sides by the beautiful turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, the resort offers stunning ocean views, multiple pools, numerous restaurants, beach access, and all the amenities you could possibly want for a relaxing vacation. Before arriving, I had watched several YouTube reviews of the property, and I was excited to see if it lived up to the hype. It absolutely did.
I drove down to Minneapolis to meet my friends at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Thanks to TSA PreCheck and arriving with plenty of time before our flight, getting through security was incredibly easy. I had originally planned to embrace my minimalist side and fit everything into a carry-on bag. However, a few days before departure, reality set in. What I wanted to bring simply wasn’t going to fit in a carry-on.
So much for minimalism!
Since my friends were already checking luggage, I decided to bring a larger suitcase and check a bag as well. After arriving in Cancun, we waited a while for our luggage to arrive, but thankfully everyone’s bags showed up. Once we collected them, we headed outside to find our shuttle transportation.
After locating our shuttle, we climbed aboard and enjoyed a comfortable 35 to 40-minute ride to the resort. While the drivers spoke English, we were fortunate that my friends’ daughter had just completed her freshman year of college and had been studying Spanish. She was able to communicate with the driver with ease, which made the ride even more enjoyable.
As soon as we arrived at the Hyatt Ziva, we experienced the exceptional hospitality the resort is known for. We didn’t have to touch our luggage. Resort staff handled everything and delivered our bags directly to our rooms.
Before we even checked in, we were greeted with glasses of champagne.
Now that’s a great way to start a vacation!
The check-in process was simple and efficient, and before long we were heading to our rooms.
When I opened the patio doors to my room, I was greeted by a beautiful ocean view. I could also see the resort’s dolphin habitat from my balcony. The sound of the waves, the warm ocean breeze, and the sight of the bright blue Caribbean water immediately put me into vacation mode.
Naturally, one of my first stops was the mini-fridge.
Inside were bottles of water, juices, soft drinks, and several beers. I grabbed a Tecate, stepped out onto the balcony, and thought to myself, “This is going to be a fun week.”
After settling in, I took a walk around the property to familiarize myself with the layout. The resort grounds were immaculate. Palm trees lined the walkways, pools overlooked the ocean, and there seemed to be another beautiful view around every corner.
Later, I met up with my friends and we headed to Habaneros, the beachfront restaurant located directly on the sand. Prior to the trip, several reviewers had recommended the fish tacos, so that is what I ordered.
They did not disappoint.
The fish tacos were fantastic and turned out to be one of my favorite meals of the week.
Without going into detail about every day of the trip, let me simply say that it was an amazing experience. One thing I learned about staying at an all-inclusive resort is that you think you’re going to spend all day eating and drinking because everything is included. While you certainly enjoy more food and beverages than usual, you still get full. Looking back, I don’t think I ate nearly as much as I imagined I would.
What I enjoyed most was the freedom of the experience. Every day was simple. Wake up, take a walk along the ocean, spend some time by the pool, enjoy good food, have a cocktail or two, and spend time with good people. There were no schedules, deadlines, or responsibilities.
Another thing I quickly discovered was the value of tipping. While tipping is not required, the staff work incredibly hard and provide exceptional service. I found that after tipping my servers and bartenders, they frequently checked back to make sure I had everything I needed. Whether it was water, another beverage, or simply asking how my day was going, their attentiveness made the experience even better.
The Hyatt Ziva exceeded every expectation I had. The staff were friendly, the food was excellent, the grounds were beautiful, and the location was spectacular. More importantly, it provided an opportunity to spend time with wonderful friends and create memories that will last a lifetime.
As I sit back and reflect on the trip, what I remember most isn’t the food, the pools, or even the ocean views. What stands out most is the generosity of friends who invited me to share the experience with them. Vacations come and go, but friendships like that are truly something special.