Cancun was awesome. just plain awesome. my first real vacation in 9 years...

we originally booked our stay at Xpu Ha Palace (pronounced Ess Poo Ha - means the Lagoon or something like that). Off the strip and as far away from the college kids as much as possible. The place was just okay. It was meant for a family retreat with wild animal parks in between the clusters of bungalows. Unfortunately, it is the raining season now and the place was infested with misquitoes. the place has pretty nice beaches and just okay restaurants, about 4 restaurants and about 3 or so bar/grills spread out. the bungalows are a cool idea, but its not for me. if they were on the beach like advertised, then i wouldn't mind at all... but the setting is a jungle setting. the animal parks had a croc pool, deer park, monkeys, jaguars, etc... everything is spread pretty far apart from one another so they used alot of golf carts to shuttle people around.

after the 2nd night, we had enough of Xpu Ha. We went over to Adventura Spa Palace and transfered over. This place is magnificient. IMO, its on the scale of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Tile and marble everywhere. The theme of this place is a Spa. They gave us a presidential suite, which is about 1500 sq ft, has its own lobby, living room, dining room that seats 10, servents kitchen, wrap around balcony, 2 bedrooms, etc etc etc... its nicer then my first house.

the Palace resorts are all inclusive. we really didn't have to pay anything, not even tip. but we did because the service is so good. at the lunch buffets, the waiters take your plates back to your table for you. also, everyone's english is excellent and i mean excellent. they speak better then most high school kids in the usa. we had a couple's 3.5 hr massage session in one of the ocean huts that was just awesome.

we're part of the vip vacation club membership there now. the Palace resorts do have 3 other resorts on the main strip in Cancun. But like i said, i wanted to avoid the younger crowds and stayed off the strip. my next trip, i'll stay take the whole family to the Moon Palace and take another presidential suite.

anyways.. here's pics... with subsequent followup posts of more pics.

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