A quick trip to Mexico and Delta One Suites Review

[Milboo]

Life has been a tad busy since this trip in July (including a quick trip to NZ) so thought I better tackle it before I forgot to many details!

I had a conference in Mexico in early July so tacked on a few days R&R ahead of it and this is how it went down...

Flight Review - DL 40 - SYD to LAX. Followed by LAX to CUN via ATL

Can I say off the bat that J flights ex SYD to the US are insanely expensive. I’m used to about $6k return to Europe on EK or EY. This one in total came in around $9k! Thank goodness it was not me paying.

There was not much price differential for DL or VA but I was keen to try the new Delta One Suites and was willing to put aside my intense dislike of US carriers for this. QF to DFW was not an option - I simply refuse to fly that long LOL!

Flight was delayed leaving by 90 mins which put my connection in LAX in jeopardy - until I found out that this plane carries on to ATL (being my connection). It was also a packed flight.

The Suite was in parts great and perplexing in other ways. The primary reason I choose it was because they offer the sliding door and damn I loved that bit! It was nice to be cocooned away from everyone and not feeling so exposed when sleeping. TV sceeen was a good size and easy to use. Tumi amenities kit was standard. No PJs.

The downsides. You want one against the window and not aisle. I tried both and the aisle one felt very cramped in comparison. And there was NO storage bar a small recess. No pocket for a computer, No bin for personal stuff.

Service was friendly and okay. Not AU carrier, SQ or ME3 standard.

Food was average but the ice cream sundae cart was a nice addition.

Entertainment selection I found to be a bit dated and not a massive range.

Got a good 6 or so hours sleep after working and hit the ground running in LAX to connect. Was handed a priority pass as I came off the plane and all went well until the new passport machines rejected me and I had to go to secondary, where there is no priority. Suspect issue was a brand new passport as I’ve been through the US 6 times previously. Baggage clearance was straight through.

I then basically had to walk/ jog a 6km round trip with a torturously slow TSA queue and had time to quickly change, being the last person to board in J. And sat in the exact same seat...

It is 4 hours to Atlanta. Frustratingly the DL direct flight from LAX to CUN leaves just a smidge too early to make the connection for so via ATL it is. Had not realised how big ATL airport actually is! Hit with delays here too thanks to storms passing through.

Obviously the plane was the same. Crew was fresh, and a step down again. Food was pretty mediocre. I shut the door and slept.

Then a short hop to Cancun in standard style J seats. Again a busy flight and pretty absent service and I don’t think the food was worth looking at!

 

[Milboo]

I was only overnighting in Cancun and landing in mid evening meant I booked a hotel close to the airport. Clearing CUN was a non event from memory - was one of first off the plane and no other flights in so took 5 mins. By contrast colleagues took an hour plus to get through immigration from their flights.

Had booked the Fairfield Inn by Marriott given its proximity and also a shuttle service.

Hotel is fairly new and for around $140 AUD it did the job nicely. Great room. Food choice limited at that time of night but tacos and margarita did the trick! Breakfast buffet was included and was not great.

 

[Milboo]

The next morning I was collected by a driver who was recommended by a friend. Being Mexican and speaking Spanish, she coordinated us in a group WhatsApp translating which was super helpful. I just went with the flow, and hoped I’d been picked up by the right person and was not being taken away to a Mexican drug cartel

For what it is worth, I never felt unsafe once during my time there, but acknowledge I did not stray away from main areas.

He was driving me up to Holbox Island. It was just over 2 hours drive from memory, taking the express way. Long long straight roads with minimal traffic, as we headed off about 8am Saturday.

To get to Holbox you need to get to Chiquila and then take the fast ferry across to the Island. Ferries leave every 30 mins and alternate between 2 companies with no real difference. Ticket was about $3 AUD one way. Luggage is easy to cart as they load it on the front for you. Takes around 25 mins to cross the inlet and was mirror calm.

On arrival in Holbox, there is an area to grab a taxi right by the wharf. Taxis are golf carts or the like as there are no cars on the island (bar a few delivery vehicles coming back and forward from mainland).

 

[Milboo]

My destination was Casa Sandra, which is at edge of the village, but less than 10 mins walk. I did not look at other options as this was recommended by a friend and in return, I can not recommend it highly enough.

Everyone was friendly, facilities were excellent, rooms comfortable and well appointed and food lovely. They arranged a tour for me without an issue and included a 30 min massage for free (and it was damn good!). Internet was limited to main areas but my room was close enough to get okayish coverage.

I was way too early for my room to be ready (11am) but I’d arranged this with them. I had a quick traditional breakfast (standard breakfast included in rate, with some dishes additional) of huevo ranchero from memory - tortilla, sauce, eggs, black beans, fresh cheese which was so simple but so tasty. I was able to use bathrooms to change and they stored my luggage and once I was suitably dressed in a kaftan, with hat and book in hand, I walked a couple of metres across the road to their beach club and took up residence on a day bed under a palm frond roof. And then spent the next few hours dipping my toes in the ocean, reading, drinking frozen margaritas and eating tacos (and being waited on!).

It was pure bliss! A hot day but a beautiful sea breeze kept the heat at bay and was lulling me to sleep quickly!

 

[Milboo]

I splurged and booked the Ocean Front Suite which is the best room in the house. A few pics of the place

 

[TomVexille]

Mmmmmmm tacos

 

[tgh]

Any news on the dengue plague ?
It is reportedly the worst year ever in Belize

BOGOTA (REUTERS) - Central America is grappling with its worst outbreak of dengue fever in decades - and scientists say the disease is likely to spread and become more frequent in the future due to climate change.

Worst hit is Honduras where 109 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease have been recorded, many among children, making this year's dengue fever outbreak the deadliest on record in the Central American nation, the United Nations noted.

Also hard hit in Central America are Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala, with other Latin American nations such as Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia and Belize also affected, according to the Pan American Health Organisation.

 

[Milboo]

Mmmmmmm tacos

I reckon I ate a variation of tacos every day and drank as many margaritas too! At my next stop, we had epic breakfast buffets with handmade tortillas and could load them up with protein, guacamole, refrained beans, salsa etc and that was how I started the day.

 

[Milboo]

Any news on the dengue plague ?
It is reportedly the worst year ever in Belize

BOGOTA (REUTERS) - Central America is grappling with its worst outbreak of dengue fever in decades - and scientists say the disease is likely to spread and become more frequent in the future due to climate change.

Worst hit is Honduras where 109 deaths from the mosquito-borne disease have been recorded, many among children, making this year's dengue fever outbreak the deadliest on record in the Central American nation, the United Nations noted.

Also hard hit in Central America are Nicaragua, El Salvador, and Guatemala, with other Latin American nations such as Brazil, Paraguay, Colombia and Belize also affected, according to the Pan American Health Organisation.

None. Have to admit to not even really considering vaccinations etc!

 

[Milboo]

I woke from a nap in time for a gorgeous sunset

 

[Milboo]

The next morning was an early start and the main reason I’d come to Holbox - to swim with the whale sharks. I’d organised this through the hotel in advance and was around $175 from memory. They arranged a boxed breakfast and I was picked up before 7am and taken the short distance to the wharf.

All the boats essentially leave the same time and are 8 person speedboats with a canopy top - and no bathrooms! If you don’t own a go pro then you can also rent these from a stand by the wharf.

Whale Shark season is limited and the day is dependent on how far you have to travel out, which can be as far as the Caribbean Ocean sometimes. Luckily for us they’d been relatively close to shore of late, so we were there in about an hour. On the way out we were one of the back boats and this turned out to be a good thing as we encountered several large pods of dolphins so sat and watched them.

The water was dead calm and it was silent out there except for the exhaling of the dolphins as they surfaced.

 

[Milboo]

There were several whale sharks in the area so the boats split between them. And then it was a pretty well orchestrated process to ensure everyone was given an opportunity to be in the water.

The boats essentially sat in a wide circle and would take turns. You’d approach and 2 people from your boat and your guide would be on the side of the boat and would have seconds to hit the water (snorkels, masks, jackets and fins on). You’d immediately get your head under, locate the whale shark and turn and swim. Once it moved away then you’d return to the boat. You had two chances to be in the water.

It was an amazing experience. I nearly chickened out at the last minute as while I am a very confident and excellent swimmer, I do have a thing about deep water but I was rallied by another passenger and know now I would have deeply regretted not doing it.

It was surreal underwater with them. It was dead silent and there is just this massive whale shark there beside you, in touching distance (no touching allowed!). I didn’t get a go pro so no underwater pics.

These things were massive - as a point of reference, in the 2nd and 3rd photo, the guy swimming alongside was 6’3 and he’s dwarfed.

 

[Milboo]

After we finished here, we were taken to an offshore reef and given the chance to snorkel for about half an hour.

We were then taken to an estuary area, which is a bird sanctuary. Here there is again a well oiled routine where each boat pulls out the ingredients for ceviche and guacamole and both are made fresh and served for lunch along with tortilla chips. And Mexican Coca Cola (which is the best in the world as it uses pure cane sugar!)

There is a school of cat fish who have clearly learned this is a good feeding opportunity for them and they hang around waiting for chips.

After this, as it is flamingo season we headed back along the length of Holbox and saw the flamingo.

Then it was a short trip back to the wharf. Due to the location of the whale sharks, it was about 5 hours all up.

 

[Milboo]

A few pics around Holbox and then the perfect lunch - a green (herb) ceviche with shrimp.

 

[Denali]

The Delta One dessert cart is amazing - but not as amazing as the food cough pics youre posting. Look so yummy!

Please continue!

 

[Milboo]

After a nap (love afternoon naps on holidays!), it was a little cooler so walked into town. Holbox is known for its painted colourful murals so went to find some of those. And some aloe gel as I’d clearly forgotten to sunscreen part of my hand/ wrist...

 

[Milboo]

 

[Milboo]

It was then time to take up position at the private Beach Club at the hotel, for some lounger side service and a spectacular show! Apparently it’s tradition for people to howl when the sun finally dips below the horizon.

The Beach Front Suite is the bottom of the building.

 

[Milboo]

I was determined to also see the sunrise the next morning and go for a long walk along the beach to find the famous hammocks, before the heat of the day kicked in. There was something glorious about a sunrise swim in the ocean with no one around.

 

[Milboo]

Sadly my time here was up but not before a final delicious breakfast. The hotel organised me a pick up taxi and dropped me back at the wharf for the mid morning ferry. My driver picked me up again and drove me the 2 hours down the coast to the Riveria Maya (just south of Cancun and north of Tulum).