GO AHEAD, TAP THAT CLASS
GO AHEAD, TAP THAT CLASS
When life gives you lemons, sometimes all you can do is make lemonade. In November 2020, I lost my dad to COVID-19, but truthfully, I lost him years before to Alzheimer’s. Experiencing the second loss of a family member within 1 1/2 years put me in a downward spiral (I will save that story for another day), so I did the only thing I knew that would bring me joy and happiness…. I went on vacation…. for a MONTH! Isn’t that BOUJEE?
Okay, truthfully, it was a vacation for only part of the month as I worked most of the time remotely. However, I did live on the island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico, for a month, and it was indeed a fantastic experience! I joke with my girlfriends that I brought more baggage home than I had left with in November as I spent much time reflecting, journaling, and finding myself again.
Oh, did I mention I brought my four-month-old (at the time) puppy with me?
FLIGHT: As Rudy and I arrived in Denver with two full-sized checked bags, a carry-on, and Rudy’s carrier, we learned we were upgraded to First Class (Thanks, United Airlines, for silver status). This was Rudy’s second flight and his second time sitting in First Class. He loved having his own seat, and those around us were excellent sports with having a puppy in First Class.
ARRIVING IN CANCUN WITH A DOG: There were a few hoops to jump through to bring Rudy with me to Mexico. Before leaving the airport, you must visit the Animal and Plan Inspection office. After you claim your bags and walk towards the exit, the office will be on your left before the exit doors. The officer reviewed vaccination records and completed a quick look-over of Rudy. After the inspection, we were cleared and able to leave the airport.
TRANSPORTATION: From the Cancun Airport, I had prearranged a transfer with Canada Transfers (yes, even though I was flying from the United States). I could also pre-purchase round-trip Ultramar Puerto Juarez ferry tickets through Canada Transfers. The company handles your bags at the ferry and ensures they are placed on the ferry. At the time we were there, the ferry departed each hour.
Once you arrive at Isla Mujeres, you will either grab your bags from the back of the ferry OR wait for a porter to unload them for you. Then, you will walk through the ferry station – when I was there, you had to walk through a sanitizing spraying station – and go to your left outside the station. You will walk about 1/2 block to the taxi station. Before getting into the taxi, please ensure you agree with the price with the taxi driver.
A few days after we arrived, we decided to rent a golf cart for the rest of our stay. The golf cart is the primary form of transportation on the island for tourists. Locals are often seen riding on motor scooters (often with three plus people on one scooter), and a few cars are on the island. My Airbnb contact suggested renting a golf cart through Ppe’s Golf Cart as they viewed them as the fastest, plus they had bought their golf cart there. I can attest to them being fast as we passed multiple carts during our stay. They delivered the cart to the condo, and be warned, they take your driver’s license until the cart is returned. Gas was included with the rental, so any time you stopped by their shop downtown, they would put more gas into it for you.
Note: Going to their shop is slightly awkward as you have to drive a short distance on the pedestrian-only street to get there. The first time I went there, I parked a few blocks away as I was concerned with driving on the pedestrian-only street, but I learned it is acceptable to drive on the street (approximately a 1/2 block) to get to their shop.
HOUSING: Did you know Airbnb offers deals for stays of at least 30 days? I was lucky to find an incredibly kind host who is originally from the United States but lives on the island full-time now. I rented a two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in the Isla 33 building. Isla 33 is a “newer” building on the northcentral side of the island. It is not near many tourist attractions, and a golf cart for transportation is highly encouraged. It should be noted that Isla 33 is on a slightly noisy road. It didn’t bother me as I could still hear the ocean waves, but some may be bothered by it.
Isla 33 has three pools—two on the ground level and one rooftop pool. I spent almost every day at the rooftop pool, and I usually had it all to myself as the condo buildings were mainly vacant. The rooftop pool also has an upper deck area that provides a 360-degree view of the island.
If you rent a golf cart, there is underground parking at Isla 33. In addition, the condo building has security onsite 24 hours a day. I never feared for my safety on the island or at Isla 33.
DAILY LIVING: Spending a month on the island allowed me to live somewhat like a local, without knowing a lot of Spanish other than por favor and cerveza. Often, the language barrier was challenging. However, I leaned on various translation apps to get me through, and the locals I met were extremely patient.
I did most of my grocery shopping at Chedraui. It was a short golf cart drive from the condo. I walked there the first time I went there, but it took a lot of work to walk back with the groceries. Chedraui is similar to a Wal-Mart. It has groceries, liquor, clothing, souvenirs, beauty products, etc. They also have a few cash machines that I found to have better exchange rates than other places on the island. Credit cards and pesos are accepted at the checkout lane. No bags are provided at the checkout, so please bring your own. I found the bakery items to be delicious!
In addition to working remotely, I spent a lot of time reading, journaling, floating in the pool, and painting. Okay, it was painting by number, but it still counts. Here are some of the books and workbooks I would highly suggest if you are interested in self-reflection and self-love:
When I travel to a beach or pool destination, I always travel with my own pool float, which I always leave behind for other guests to use. I have tried a lot of pool floats…. A LOT…. here are a few of them that I think are the best for you to purchase for your next beach or pool destination. You can travel with your own plug-in air pump or use the hot air you were born with to inflate the float.
I mentioned paint-by-number, so I wanted to share my favorite (and only) paint-by-number kit I have ever done. I loved that it came with all the paint needed, and the canvases were on a rigid board, so an easel wasn’t required.
RESTAURANTS/BARS: I didn’t eat out often, but there are a couple of places I would highly suggest. If you love pizza, you have to visit Pizza Mike’s. The pizza, calzones, bread, anything there is fantastic! Mike is often there for opening and is extremely friendly. A group of Americans who live on the island sit across the street from Mike’s, and they are also super friendly. Mike’s also delivers, but I never had to use their delivery as Isla 33 was either a walk or golf cart away.
The second place I would highly suggest is The Soggy Peso. For starters, I would state it is not a kid-friendly location. I was there later in the afternoon, and a group of adults were enjoying the adult beverages. Two women became topless behind the bar, making their signature drink mix. The bar’s atmosphere is fun and tends to be full of tourists. Parking can be challenging directly outside the bar, but there is another parking lot or on-the-street parking just down the road.
If you remember, bring a baseball-style hat to leave behind as the ceiling of Soggy Peso is full of hats. I didn’t know this and didn’t have a hat to leave behind, but it would have been enjoyable to participate in it and come back a few years later to look for the hat.
Walking around the restaurant/bar is fun, especially when looking at all the hats and where guests have visited. It’s a place to check out!
THINGS TO DO: There is so much to do on the island, but I didn’t explore too much, truthfully. However, I suggest checking out Isla Mujeres Women’s Beading Co-Op. Here, a group of local women make original pieces of beaded jewelry. Their attention to detail and creativity is mind-blowing. You will often see some women making their next masterpiece in the store while you are shopping. They accepted American dollars. However, they do not provide change back in USD. I love supporting local businesses when I travel, and 80% of what you spend goes directly back to the artist, while the remaining 20% is for materials.
Before selecting Isla Mujeres as our destination, I researched which cities in Mexico allow dogs on the beach, and I was surprised to learn it was illegal in many cities. I am guessing people still take their dogs to the beach, but I am a rule follower (usually) and don’t want to get arrested in a foreign country, so I picked a place with an actual dog beach. Yep, Isla Mujeres has an actual dog beach, and the crosswalk to the beach is adorable!
Rudy and I walked to Dog Beach each morning after breakfast. It was a wonderful place to watch the sunrise. Rudy was not a massive fan of the ocean as it was loud and made him wet. I am a significant planner, so I bought a few specific dog items for the beach. The bright orange leash is designed to prevent sand from collecting on it. In fact, I liked it so much that we still use it every day. In addition to the leash, Rudy had a shark life jacket to help him in the ocean. He never went out far enough to see if it worked, but it did help keep water out of his face.
Are you looking for a fantastic massage?? We highly recommend Mimi and her team of women. The massage I had was one of THE BEST I have ever experienced. At the time, their studio was located downtown above a restaurant; however, since our visit, there has been a fire in downtown Isla, and they have had to move to a new location, which we haven’t visited (yet). They are now located at CASA Havana and will travel to your location for no additional cost! If you want to make a reservation, please contact Mimi via Facebook. You will LOVE the experience! Plus, Mimi is such a sweet person.
Are you interested in getting a few mementos of your experience in Mexico or Isla? There are shopping options to help fill up your suitcase(s) before heading home. What you will find on Isla is similar to what you will find in other tourist cities in Mexico – tchotchkes GALORE!
We are blessed with amazing friends at BEING BOUJEE – some who often feel like family. Of course, since we had such a fantastic time at Isla Mujeres the first time, we wanted to share the experience with our “family,” so we went back in November 2022, and the island was very different.
As a reminder, our first trip was during the pandemic, so only a few people traveled then. The island was quiet and provided a lot of serenity during a dark time. Fast forward to November 2022, the island was bustling with people! It took a little time for us to adjust because it was different from our first experience.
We decided to give a unique VRBO a try, and it worked out well. The property is called Villa Makax and, it is located on the island’s west side and overlooks Cancun Bay. At night, you can see Cancun’s beautiful city lights.
What makes the property unique, is that four separate cottages are rented individually. We loved this option as we each had our own space but yet had a great pool we shared with the homeowners. Yes, the property owners have a main house that they live in much of the time so that they will enjoy the pool with you every so often. The couple is a hoot and so kind. We loved chatting with them. The caretakers live in the small cottage closest to the road and are always available if you need anything. According to the owner, the caretakers have come from the same family for years.
This was the first time we had stayed on the island’s west side, which was fine. The main road you drive down to the property initially smells bad. If you have been to the island before, this property is located down the road (towards the dead end) past the Ice Bar to give you a reference point. A few restaurant options are on the road, but nothing too exciting.
The best part of Isla Mujeres is driving around the island in a golf cart. It is so refreshing to have the ocean air flowing through your hair.
As we did previously, we rented golf carts from Ppe’s Golf Cart again. They delivered the two golf carts to the property for us. They were at the property waiting for us when we arrived from the taxi we took from the ferry.
REMINDER: They take your driver’s license as collateral when you rent a golf cart. It feels odd but go with it. It will be fine.
You aren’t going to Snappers for the food, so keep that in mind. It is meant to be a Sports bar rather than a luxury restaurant.
Snappers does host live music. When we visited, live music was every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7 p.m. Checkout their social media pages for updated information.
Mango Cafe is THE PLACE for breakfast or brunch. The food is delicious! Mango Cafe is a very popular spot, so be willing to wait. There is a souvenir shop across the street from the restaurant in case you need to find something to do.
When we visited, it was cash only, so keep that in mind. There was also live music for our brunch, which was so enjoyable!
Parking is straightforward, as ample on-street parking is available for your golf cart.
Mango Cafe is unique because it isn’t in the popular tourist area of Isla Mujeres. When we visited, there were locals eating breakfast there. There isn’t a great view from the restaurant, but the food makes this place a must-visit when you are on the island.
Across the street from Mango Cafe is a beautiful church. It is at the top of a little hill, but the view from inside the church is worth it. I think services still happen in the church so if that fits into your schedule, definitely check it out.
Another favorite breakfast location is North Garden. The breakfast is delicious and the atmosphere is so beautiful. While there isn’t an ocean view, the space is so beautiful you don’t even realize it. North Garden is located across the street from Snappers on your way to Mia Hotel.
There is more to do while visiting Isla Mujeres than just eating, although eating is a lot of fun! As a treat to our friends, we rented a private catamaran for the day to tour around the island. There are a lot of options for private catamaran companies, so we selected Cancun Sailing for our adventure. While only five of us were sailing, we selected the Mango catamaran, which is supposed to hold 30 people! We can’t imagine 30 people being on the catamaran, but what do we know?
To give you an idea of the cost. We rented the catamaran for 7 hours, including lunch, snacks, adult beverages, and snorkeling at the MUSA Underwater Museum of Art. It was $1,692, not including the tip for the two staff on board.
The water around Isla Mujeres is truly breathtaking! It is what makes the island experience so memorable!
Isla Mujeres is genuinely one of our favorite destinations! It is Heaven on Earth! We highly recommend it! A trip to Isla Mujeres is guaranteed to be one of the best travel experiences of your life. WE PROMISE!
In September 2023, we visited Secrets The Vine in Cancun, Mexico for five nights. This was the first time we visited the island on a day trip and it was A LOT!
We got up early and took the city bus which was located one block from our hotel to the Ferry. Honestly, we thought we got the city bus going to the main Ferry terminal, but we were brought to a different terminal. This ferry only left every hour while the main terminal has ferries that depart every 30 minutes. Thankfully, there was a convenience store onsite, so you could get an adult beverage as you waited.
As usual, we rented a golf cart from Ppe’s Golf Cart. It is a brief walk from the ferry terminal, but they are the fastest golf carts on the island! Before leaving their shop, make sure they have put gas in the golf cart. They won’t fill it full, but they will give you just enough to get around the island for the day.
LeAnn is a mentor and the ultimate BOUJEE glamour gal. When she left daily drudgery behind in favor of following her own personal path to joy, she made a promise to herself that she would help others do the same. All she’s ever wanted is to do is stay healthy, live her best life, and give back to others by introducing them to their inner BOUJEE.
