Natural Crafter: Cozumel, Mexico ~ 2009

Our first trip as a couple was to Cozumel, Mexico. We both love to scuba dive, so we thought this would be a good vacation for us. It still blows my mind to think that I went on a trip like that with a guy I'd only been dating for 6 weeks. I had known for 6 weeks, though, that I was going to marry him.

We got the deal through cheapcarribean.com. Our trip was a 7 days/6 nights, all-inclusive stay at the Palace Resort in Cozumel. When I saw all-inclusive, I mean all-inclusive! All room service was included! All adult beverages... included! All meals at any restaurant in the resort (and they served GOOD food)... included! All that, and it only cost us $1100 total INCLUDING airfare!!! Now THAT'S a deal! But... it gets better!

If you've never been to Mexico, let me warn you. When you get off your plane and get through customs you will be greeted by some locals that seem very helpful. I think they wear blue jackets. I can't remember the color for sure. You will see a lot of them, though. They are NOT there just to help you. They work for timeshare resorts and they are trying to draw you in to sit through one of their presentations and use high-pressure techniques to sucker you into buying a timeshare. Now here's where I'm going to give you different advice than some would give you. DO IT! If you don't have a schedule while you're down there, do it! We did, and we are so glad we did. If Tim would have been alone, it probably would not have been good. He's a pushover, and he probably would have bought into an expensive timeshare. I'm stubborn and outspoken at times, though, so I kept us from spending the money. For agreeing to sit through their presentation they gave us 2 days of 2-tank dives each for FREE, 2 days of a motor scooter to ride around the island for FREE, and a day's trip to Playa del Carmen to sit through the presentation with FREE transportation, FREE breakfast, FREE adult beverages while there, and FREE lunch. GOOD food! To top it off, we were given a FREE week's stay at the resort we visited. It had to be used within 2 years, and used it was! You'll see that post later.

Now... we did buy a type of timeshare, but it wasn't the full-blown timeshare. We got 10 years of 4 weeks per year stay at any of their resorts in Mexico, Spain, Dominican Republic, or one other place that escapes me. We paid $3000, and each time we go we only have to pay the all-inclusive fee of $37 per person per day. That means all your food is included. You would spend at least that much at home if you ate out every day.

Check out our pics, and feel free to holler at me if you have any questions or want any advice on how to score some awesome travel deals!

Dinner at one of the fabulous restaurants: