Cancún
This extremely cold weather has me dreaming of our warm vacation to Cancún. The weather was just perfect, the people so kind and the hotel extremely allergy friendly. This is easily my favorite vacation we have taken with Musa!
Why Cancún?
We went to Cancún December of 2015 so about a month after Musa turned one. To be honest, my husband and I were just SO relieved to be in “the clear” regarding Musa’s overall health. No more skin infection, no more nursing and we had Musa’s allergies in control (finally). So what better way to celebrate our first year as parents (& Musa’s first birthday, of course) than with a trip! Our most pressing concern was flying with Musa and finding a hotel that would accommodate his long list of allergies. Being in the Midwest, we wanted to get away from the harsh winter so Cancún seemed like a good option with a relatively short flight and warm weather.
Making a Reservation
Before booking ANYTHING, I searched for the best hotel accommodations for guests with allergies. I did a simple Google search and ended up reading reviews on Trip Advisor. (Quick tip: TripAdvisor is the best place to search for honest reviews prior to booking.) The JW Marriott Cancún had a ton of reviews from people with multiple food allergies who had good experiences. So, I called the hotel and was able to get in touch with their chef right away. Chef Israel Cetina was able to make a list of food items Musa could have from the menu and some he would make especially for him. He reassured me that all of Musa’s food would be cooked separately and on cleaned surfaces which would take an extra 30 minutes to prepare. This information was exactly what I wanted to hear and we booked! Keep in mind, Musa had allergies to a few more foods that he has outgrown now. So, being easily accommodated was wonderful!
Flight & Food
The flight there was about 3.5 hours and was Musa’s first plane ride. Musa’s allergist suggested giving him a dose of Benadryl prior to boarding and then every 4 to 6 hours after for the duration of the flight. He only needed it once and was asleep pretty much the entire flight because of it. (Not going to complain about having a calm flight, but still wish he didn’t need it.) We did get a chance to pre-board and wipe down the seats but there are so many allergens present in a flight-no matter if it’s been cleaned. Giving Musa a dose of Benadryl was mainly to avoid him reacting to anything and being unable to tell us at just a year old. He’s 4 now and we still give him Benadryl before a flight.
Once there, we were able relax and enjoy ourselves. The chef met with us while checking in which was reassuring. Still, each time we ordered food we double and triple checked everything was okay for Musa and it was! Apart from the food, we were pleasantly surprised to see Musa’s skin was so much better there. He was over his skin infection but had a bit of eczema but the light breeze and warmth of Cancún was just perfect for him. He swam all day and slept all night.
In the mornings, we’d order pancakes and fruit for Musa. For a late lunch/early dinner we ordered boiled rice, steamed vegetables and grilled chicken. In between, Musa had snacks to munch on. He was still into pureed baby foods so we had the little pouches for him. I also brought along some rice and chicken which lasted the first 2-3 days. The hotel had a few restaurants on premises within that we could have ordered food from for Musa. All we needed to do was confirm what he could have at those restaurants prior to heading there and they would have it ready. But by the time we made it for dinner around 7:30pm, Musa had fallen asleep in his stroller for the night. It was a great option to have for those traveling with older kids (or themselves) with allergies and wanting more options apart from room service.
Activities in Cancún
The hotel had a bunch of swimming pools and we lounged around a lot, mostly by the kiddie pool. We took a nice little boat ride to Isla Mujeres, a small Island off of Cancún. There we rented a golf cart to explore the island and then relaxed on the beach. For lunch, I took Musa’s food along in our thermos container which kept it warm for up to 6hours or when he was ready for it. I also brought his soy milk in a thermos straw cup so it stayed cool (for up to 9 hours).
We also ventured out to the nearby shopping area. There was an outdoor and indoor mall about 3 miles from the hotel that we took a bus to. The bus was available right outside the hotel which was convenient with the stroller and all. Alongside the mall, there was a huge supermarket (I can’t remember the name but it was the only and biggest grocery store there.) that we mistook for another mall but did end up going inside when we realized what it was. I was pleasantly surprised to see soy, coconut and almond milk available there along with the typical snacks I get for Musa from here including baby food jars/pouches, chips, gluten free pretzels, fruit cups, fruit snacks and cereals. Had I known I wouldn’t have packed so much! If you plan on going, I would definitely ask your hotel for the name of the supermarket to make sure they carry a few items that you can grab if needed.
A Memorable Trip
Booking a vacation, finding the right hotel, taking the flight and packing was so stressful that it really didn’t feel like a vacation at first. But once we were there and the allergy situation was taken care of, we were SO happy we went and it truly was a memorable vacation for us! Cancún is definitely on the list for us to revisit.