Riviera Maya Scrapbook + Travel MVPs
The last time we went on a kid-free vacation, we only had two kids. 2017, Nicaragua, our ten-year wedding anniversary. Since then, we’ve had another baby. Moved. Brett’s changed jobs three times. I wrote a book. Had a miscarriage. We survived a pandemic.
… a lot can happen in five years.
If we had the money and childcare, I would love to take a yearly trip like this. Alas, we do not, so we’re averaging one vacation every milestone anniversary. We’re already dreaming about where we want to spend our 20 year, although I’m actively trying to convince Brett maybe 18 years is worth a trip, yes?
We stayed at Unico on the recommendation of my friend Kristen, who is a travel agent. This was our first time staying at an all-inclusive resort, and I’ll confess every time I hear “all inclusive” — I cannot help but think of Michael Scott and Sandals Jamaica. I’ve heard mixed reviews about food at all-inclusive resorts, but I am happy to report the food at Unico was VERY GOOD. Having never done the all-inclusive thing before, I do get the appeal now. I loved showing up to dinner every night and being presented with a menu with no dollar signs on it. I loved not thinking twice about ordering whatever I wanted.
(Yes, we ordered dessert every single night. Yes, they kept our minibar stocked. Yes, we both gained five pounds on this trip.)
Before we left, I did extensive research on all the activities and excursions we could do. Zip lining! Swimming in a cenote! A tour of Tulum! The underground river! I read reviews and watched YouTube videos and presented Brett with all my findings, and then we got to our room (an upgraded suite—perks of using a travel agent!) and all of that went out the window because suddenly staying at the resort and doing absolutely nothing sounded a lot more appealing. I don’t know if that makes us lame, or old, but we never left the resort and I can’t say I regret that decision.
It was one of those vacations that felt like a vacation, you know? Neither of us brought our laptops. I deleted all social media before I left, and did not respond to a single email while we were there. I read three books, start to finish. Also, TMI? I never wore a bra. I mean ever. The whole trip. Not once. Apparently that is a marker of a good vacation for me? The less makeup and bra-wearing, the better.
Travel MVPs:
These are a few of my favorite things, vacation edition:
1) Supergoop unseen sunscreen. I’ve been wearing this clear face sunscreen year-round for three or four years now and cannot sing its praises enough. It glides on super smooth and makes for an excellent primer. Life hack: if you have an HSA card, you can buy this at hsastore.com.
2) Straw visor. This is my go-to beach/pool hat. I love that I can throw my hair up in a ponytail or messy bun through the top.
3) Olive dress. I bought this on super sale at Nordstrom and have worn it twice a week this entire summer. Flowy, easy, breezy, has pockets and adjustable straps. Perfect for wearing around the house, out to dinner, or throwing over a swimsuit! (If you’re small-chested like me, you can easily get away with these in lieu of a strapless bra.)
4) Brixton hat. I’ve had this hat for five or six years and it’s held up great. Goes with everything, excellent for dirty hair days.
5) Straw bucket bag. I bought this at the MTHR Co. retreat a few years ago and it’s been my favorite spring/summer bag ever since. I love that you can wear it over the shoulder or across your body. I typically use it as a purse, but on vacation this made for the perfect pool bag, too.
6) Becca swimsuit. Five years ago, I bought a Becca swimsuit before our trip to Nicaragua and it quickly became my favorite swimsuit I’ve ever purchased. I am real picky about swimsuits (namely—I like a good one-piece that is sexy-but-not-too-sexy.) This suit checks all the boxes and as soon as it went on sale, I scooped it up!
7) Heatless curls. You already know how I feel about this weird little hair gadget. Let me tell you what you do not want to be doing in 96 degree weather with 80% humidity: using a blow dryer or curling wand. This is the only hair “tool” I brought to Mexico. I didn’t use it a ton, but I was glad to have it on hand.
8) Probiotics. I bought these gummies on a whim to, ahem, help my tummy while traveling and I’m pleased to report I really liked them and will definitely be bringing these on future trips.
Bottom line: if you’re looking for an all-inclusive vacation spot, I would wholeheartedly recommend Unico with the teeny tiny caveat that the main pool has a bit of a spring break vibe during the day. That’s not really our scene, and I’m thankful we had a swim-up room off a quiet corner, which is where we spent most of our time. If you’re not into spring break vibes, I’d request a quieter room on the side of the resort further from the pool. Other than that, zero cons. Our room was stunning. The food was delicious. The entire property is full of interesting art. Anytime we needed something, it appeared before our eyes. The service and hospitality: consistently 10/10.
Currently dreaming (see: saving our $$) for this trip next. Hopefully in 2027 if not sooner.
Would love to know: what’s the best vacation you’ve ever taken? Any other travel MVPs I should know about?
