Holiday Destination: Mexico

As I'm writing this post, the sun is just beginning to peek through the grey clouds. I'm back in the UK and the weather is awful! Take me back to non-stop sunshine, cool cocktails, a suite made for a queen and the white sand of the Caribbean coast.

We'd booked Riviera Maya, Mexico, back in 2016 and after months of paying it off, holiday shopping and anticipation, we left Birmingham airport on a dreary Monday morning at the end of June and headed on what can only be described as a holiday of a lifetime. 

The Hotel

Booking a Mexican holiday is something that, at the time, proved a little more difficult than we thought. There's so many options and you're spending a lot of money... what if it's not what you thought it would be?!

The Hideaway at Royalton Riviera was the best choice we could have made. What a hotel. It's difficult to put our experience into words but from the moment we walked into the resort, everything was even more incredible than what we could have ever imagined. Not only does every inch of the resort have the most amazing panoramic views of the clear blue ocean and white sandy beaches that lie alongside the hotel, but the service, atmosphere and attention to detail was unlike anywhere else I have ever stayed.

We never went hungry and the 11 restaurants on offer were of a quality I have never experienced at any hotel before. Our favourites had to be the French cuisine restaurant (we're talking 10/10 chateaubriand and crepe suzette), the Italian and Hunter's steakhouse. The pools and beach were gorgeous, whether you wanted to join in with drinking games, play table tennis or just sit and read your book... and the sunbeds were something else - resulting in maybe one too many midday naps.

Our suite was the cherry on top of an already 3-tiered, smooth frosting, fondant flower decorated cake! Full-to-the-brim fridges every evening for those midnight snacks, two jacuzzi's for ultimate relaxation and a beautiful view from our panoramic balcony was much appreciated during the warmest of sunsets. We were very lucky to be able to experience this resort in the way that we did and would recommend this hotel to anyone looking at staying in Riviera Maya!

Day Trips

I'm starting to think maybe I should have split this into two posts... I'll try not to blabber on!

One of the reasons Ollie and I decided to book Mexico wasn't just for the all-inclusive food and getting some Caribbean sun - it's somewhere that we've always wanted to explore and learn more about. We booked a Chichen Itza tour through Gray Line before we went away and honestly, it was one of the highlights of our trip. Although the transfer was just over two hours, the drive went really quickly and was completely worth it for the incredible views and surrealness you felt while stood underneath the famous Mayan antiquities. You can really take in your surroundings and appreciate why this ancient city is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. On your day out to Chichen Itza, you can also take time to explore famous cenotes, which is a must - because Mexico is one of the only countries in the world where you can see them.

Visiting Isla Mujeres is probably the most fun I have ever had and would tell anyone visiting anywhere remotely near Cancun to take a day trip there. The island is particularly famous for one thing, Corona, and even has its own Corona drive thru but if you really want to feel like you're in a Corona commercial, head to Playa Norte. It's without a doubt the most beautiful beach I've ever visited and has one of the cheapest bars we came across - even better! For the rest of your day, we're talking feeding turtles, haggling shop owners, taking in the views from the southern part of the island and trying street food - all whilst exploring on a golf cart.

Playa Del Carmen was probably our closest town and we headed there towards the end of our trip to focus on one thing... shopping. 5th avenue runs parallel to the beach and is jam packed full of shops, stalls, bars and restaurants. From American high-street shops to traditional market style stalls, incredible street food (you have to try the churros!) to nightclubs, it's all there in one place. Once we had explored the buzzing street, we headed down to the beach to unwind and get some shade. From Playa Del Carmen you can also get the ferry over to Cozumel, a beautiful, large island, famous for scuba-diving, which we'd have done if we'd have stayed in Mexico longer but that's just another reason to return.

After two weeks of soaking up the sunshine, exploring Mexican wonders and sipping a little too much tequila, we headed home with some of the best holiday memories (and a few magnets!). I would recommend Riviera Maya to anyone, it really is a holiday of a lifetime. I can't wait to head back already but for now, it's time to start planning the next one...

Film review: Spectre

It starts in Mexico City. The tracking shots of 007; swerving through the crowds, leading a mystery woman up the stairs into the hotel room, walking along the rooftops. Explosions grip us from the start, the storyline yet to unfold.

Bond is most definitely back.

Charming and courageous, Daniel Craig’s performance is everything you imagine it will be. Capturing the essence of Bond time and time again, 007 uncovers the secrets from the previous three films in the series in one thrilling masterpiece. With gadgets and humour, girls and cars, Spectre plays on the iconography of Bond, but with an edge. The wondrous performance from Craig leaves you with hope for the next film, surely they won’t get rid of him?

Every scene in Spectre is anticipated, but with twists and turns that make it enthralling to watch. The thrill of a fight-scene, Bond’s determination and forward thinking which Craig portrays wonderfully. The typical sex-scene, heart racing and expected. But, in the shadows of a boardroom, Bond is lurking. The eeriness and quietness from the scene make it one of the most tense, yet, intriguing scenes from any of the Bond films.

The exotic locations are typical to James Bond films, and these certainly did not disappoint in Spectre. The ancient city of Rome, the bitterness of Austrian mountains and the familiar backdrop of London all serve their own purpose and certainly bring a glamorous, luxury element to the film.

Music is a huge component for any film, especially James Bond. The anticipation of ‘Writing’s on the Wall’ gave us the first glimpse of what the film would be like and alike any Sam Smith track, was outstanding. Throughout the film, the music is brilliant; carefully selected and paced, building up tension or slowing it down, it is evident that Mendes’ selections for every second of this film were thoroughly pondered – something that definitely doesn’t go a miss.

The writing is as always, brilliant. Using the humour and sarcasm that, in the last film, made the Bond series’ really come alive worked just as well again; carefully placed and brilliantly delivered. As well as the humour bringing Spectre to a new era, the scripts don’t hold back on the one-liners that we all know and love. Together with incredible performances from not only Daniel Craig - but Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Naomie Harris and Ben Whishaw - just to name a few, the 24^th film in the series is no doubt the greatest film of the year so far.

This is the perfect end to a much-awaited sequel, one that I can’t wait to watch again.