Our New Favourite Getaway - El Dorado Casitas Royale, Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Truth be told, Tara and I were a little incredulous about going to an all-inclusive before embarking on this trip. Spending most of our travel adventures in hostels, hotels, and Airbnbs, while mainly taking the time to explore outside meant we paid very little attention to “relaxing” when travelling. Not to mention, most of the people we knew who went to an all-inclusive didn’t speak very highly of their experiences…
But boy were we wrong on this one.
Maybe it’s just how you go about researching which ones to stay at, or visiting during a time when most people aren’t around (we like to keep to ourselves, mostly), or (in all honesty) relying on Tara’s amazing planning abilities, El Dorado Casitas Royale was such an incredible experience that we have made it our goal to try and go back each year (while still making time for exploratory adventures in different countries, of course).
From the food, to the atmosphere, to the activities, El Dorado Casitas Royale really did feel like the most pampering and relaxing getaway. Now, I’ve eaten at a lot of places (which would technically qualify me as a “foodie”), and the food here rivalled that of most of the 5-Star restaurants I’ve dined at in Toronto. Not to mention—everything was included. In terms of the atmosphere, everyone who worked there was so warm and friendly (in a way that actually felt genuine), that we never felt uneasy walking around, hanging out or asking for things. Lastly, the activities—and this is where the gamer in me comes out—from the rifle shooting, to the archery, to the bike rides, to the shows, to the spa, there was actually so much to do that we ended up running out of time before being able to try it all!
All that to say, I suppose it’s not that all-inclusive experiences are inherently bad or that they’re “boring” (which was our initial assumption before visiting this place), it’s more so that you need to invest the time (and money, haha) into picking the right place for you that will have you feeling like “coming home” each time you head back!
Till we meet again, Casitas.
-we’ll see you soon.
