After spending three nights in Cancun we decided to branch out and explore outlying areas. We made reservations at a resort in a small fishing village called Akumal. The resort is all-inclusive and was on a huge stretch of beach. Since we booked our reservations over the internet at our other resort, we were unable to print out the confirmation. When we checked in, they told us that we only paid for one person. He asked us if we had our print-out with the voucher on it and we said no but we had the confirmation number. He said he needed the voucher. We asked to talk with the manager then he said everything's okay. The room was very rustic, but clean. We paid extra for the "superior" room, and I'm glad we did. We found out that you have from 10 to 12 to "sign-up" for dinner to eat at a restaurant versus the buffet. If you go on any day trips or if your first day, you have to eat at the buffet. We weren't excited about that limitation. We went to the beach and it was expansive but rocks were everywhere and impossible to swim. It was creepy because this is a huge place but we only saw 35 people the entire time. There were more workers than guests! That night during our buffet dinner, we got eaten alive by mosquitoes in the dining room. It was so bad the staff was passing around mosquito lotion. They bit me in the room when I was trying to sleep amidst the loud pipe groans and creeks that kept us awake. The TV was a mess and no alarm clock. The mosquitoes were flocking around the door trying to get in. Looking back, i'm not sure why we tried to stay another night, except that we were on a mission to eat in one of those coveted restaurants! We checked with the front desk and he told us that the walk-up rate would be $50 more than what we paid from hotels.com. We asked if they had internet access and he said that they do, but need to print out our "voucher" that is required. He told us that we could walk to the village and go to the internet cafe to print it. After getting there we found that there were no rooms available! We checked many sites. Hmmmm. Well, we hoofed it back and talked to the same guy again. We asked to speak with the manager. About 5 minutes later he came back and said that the manager is in a meeting. He said there are rooms available, and asked if we used the computer correctly? He said he'd be glad to offer us the walk-up rate but couldn't give us the discount. The manager wouldn't come out of his "meeting" to talk with us. We promptly went back to the room, packed and then checked out.

We arrived in at the end of April for an all-inclusive family vacation in a beautiful area. I cannot even express how beautiful it was. The resort is stunning. They meet you with mimosas and fresh fruit, handle your luggage, and do everything possible to relax you, just as a vacation should be. My family never complained of boredom, we were treated absolutely wonderfully, the food was fabulous, and the choices were many. You had the option of several restaurants, which required reservations and a dress code, but the food was indescribably. The beaches were glorious and the pools were great. We bounced from our resort, the Akumal, to the sister resort the Tulum via little trolleys and utilized their pools and restaurants.

It was truly a fabulous vacation, with many things to do and a wonderful location. We met with activity directors, who helped us schedule a trip to Xel-Ha, an eco-park. We went snorkeling in a huge natural lagoon-type setting. We also took a trip to the Tulum ruins. It was a fascinating journey, and we learned a lot. We had such a good time, we scheduled another trip to Play del Carmen, a small town north of our resort. We had a fabulous time wondering the streets of this little town, shopping, having a wonderful meal, and finally finding a beach that was to die for.

I believe my only complaint is that our vacation was simply too short. I would do it again in a heartbeat. The all-inclusive part is great for a family or really anyone looking to simply relax and have a good time without worrying about constantly opening the wallet. The buffets were world-class, even my kids had plenty to choose from. Which as a parent is a huge deal. We didn't have the time to utilize all that the hotels had to offer, but I can tell you this: when the budget allows, we would go back in a minute. Our package price including airfare, and for a family of four in a junior suite it was a mere $3,600. Honestly, we have spent much more at Disney World. My kids today still say that they prefer Mexico. So, if you are looking for a wonderful family-oriented vacation, definitely check into the Riveria Maya in Mexico. Words just don't do it justice.