Videos – 3-20-08
Video 1 - panorama of the beach on the first day.
Many of these details are laid out earlier in the trip report so I’ll try to be brief yet add some things I can recall here in these video segments. Full or other details can be read and seen with the pictures for each day, earlier in the TR.
We arrived at the airport at about 12:45 p.m. on 3-20-08. In the packet of Mapchick Maps that I ordered, they threw in a map of the Cancun airport, which was helpful navigating through it as we deplaned. Generally, though, the flow of traffic leads you where you need to go, and each baggage claim carousel has the flight numbers listed above it on an electronic marquee as in any other airport, so it was easy to locate the right one for our luggage.
We retrieved our bags at the carousel, which the workers load on a conveyor outside the walls of the airport and the bags flow in, around a large U shaped conveyor, then back out again. You could feel the warmth and humidity at the openings in the walls where the conveyor entered and exited the baggage claim area and it felt great!
Once we got our bags we headed immediately headed for Customs and presented our passports and the tourist card we were required too fill out on the plane, plus the immigration card (1 per family). Because we had prescription medicines, and one of the questions was whether or not we were bringing in any medicines (which was checked “Yes”), we were asked about it and required to press the randomizer button to see if we had to have our luggage searched.
Naturally, it blinked red so all luggage got opened and briefly searched. The staff was friendly and not terribly intrusive and it didn’t take long before we were done & off we went.
The last stretch of walkway before exiting the airport is a gauntlet of timeshare desks staffed by people working the crowd trying to make business happen. We kept eyes front and down the middle of the aisle and were soon outside. Next we located our American Express travel organizer and had to wait about 10 minutes for the van. During that time we chatted with the man about life in Cancun, Minnesota, his kids, our kids, the weather, and a few other things. He really made an effort to make us feel welcome and, of course, we were extremely excited to be here anyway.
We packed in the van with about 8 other people and off we went towards Playa. Since we were last resort on the run, we were let off last and the trip took maybe an hour or so. Be sure to be ready to tip the driver – it’s customary and they do earn it. The bellman immediately took our bags and handed us a numbered ticket so we could claim them after check in, and then they line them up on the floor of the registration Palapa, which is gigantic! There were at least 100 bags lined up on the floor, and they were well watched by the small cadre of bellmen so none would be taken erroneously.
As we waited, we observed the free champagne and juices at the check in at the Sandos, which was crowded with people – some not too happy about their accommodations or lack thereof. Within a half hour we were at the front of the line and presented our reservation card and Sandos VIP card (sign up on their website or check your resort’s home page and send them an email asking if they have any such program and don’t be afraid to take advantage of it) and the email reply I had from the Sandos concierge stating that they had received my requests for ocean view, higher floor room, honeymoon couple, etc… I think this, plus the fact that we went through a travel agent, helped us not get bumped to a hacienda or room farther from the beach. I highly recommend using a travel agent – the extra cost (if any) will save yourself the angst of being in a less than desirable room.
Check in complete, we handed a bellman our luggage ticker and he said, “Where are your bags?” They can’t possibly know where any travelers bags are so we pointed them out, he checked the number on the ticket to match them with the stickers on the bags, loaded them on a dolly and off we went.
There’s nothing like those first few minutes at your resort – you are kind of like a kid in a candy store, deer-in-the-headlights look, eyes wide with wonder. Not sure but we may have been drooling on ourselves and didn’t know it ?
Into our room (1218 – see pics earlier in this report – Great Room!), quickly unpacked and suited up <3 off to the beach we went. It was a quick run down a flight of stairs to the pool area, where Mamasita got one of those henna tattoos that comes off in a week or so. Nice touch!
We visited the beach snack bar for refreshments and onto the Sand-os!
At this point in the afternoon most people had gone in to get ready for dinner and it was windy and overcast, so most chairs were open. That didn’t stop us from hanging out for about an hour and going for our first dip together in the ocean we had so longed to feel washing over our skin. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/v/cJTbNoAUEE4