Escape to Paradise: Wyndham Garden Playa del Carmen Awaits!
Escape to Paradise? More Like a Playa Del Carmen Rollercoaster: Wyndham Garden - Here We Go! (A Messy Review)
Okay, so I just got back from my "Escape to Paradise" at the Wyndham Garden Playa del Carmen, and honestly? My brain is still processing. It wasn't quite the idyllic beach-bum fantasy I’d envisioned, but hey, life never is, right? Let's dive in, shall we? Buckle up, because my review is going to be… well, a bit all over the place. Like my suitcase after I realized I packed way too much.
Arriving: The Accessibility Conundrum (and a Bit of a Sigh)
Right off the bat, let's talk accessibility. Because, you know, it matters. The Wyndham claims to be accessible, and technically, yes, there are elevators. But… it felt more like a tentative "mostly-accessible" situation. Navigating the paths to the pool? Sometimes a struggle, especially with the bustling crowds. They do have facilities for disabled guests, but it felt like an afterthought sometimes. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I did notice the occasional awkwardness. They could definitely up their game here. My first impression? A gentle sigh of potential. You know? Like a polite "Could do better."
Rooms: Comforts & Quirks (My Bed was a Champion!)
The rooms, ah, the rooms. Let's start with the good: the bed. Honestly, that thing was a cloud. I sank into it every night like I was made of pure, exhausted joy. Amazing. Seriously, if the Wyndham had a Bed of the Year award, they'd win. Hands down. The blackout curtains? Crucial. I’m a terrible sleeper, and those babies saved me. I could sleep through a mariachi band, which, living in Playa, is a valuable skill.
Now for the quirks: the "complimentary tea" was a single Lipton teabag. A single one. Felt a little… stingy. And the "mirror"? Well, it did the job, I guess, but it wasn’t exactly a glamorous Hollywood-style affair. Still, you get your basics – a desk, a safe (always a plus!), and pretty decent storage. And hey, free Wi-Fi? In this day and age, it's a necessity, and it mostly worked. Though, I did notice a few dead spots, especially near the pool bar… (more on that later).
Internet: The Digital Realm (Mostly Smooth Sailing)
Speaking of Wi-Fi, I'll say the Wyndham's Internet was reliable. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms -- a big plus. I used it for work, streaming, and all the usual internet activities. There’s even Internet [LAN], just in case you're still rocking some LAN-enabled devices (honestly, are those still a thing?). It wasn't lightning fast, but enough to get the job done. The public areas were surprisingly good too. No complaints there.
Dining: A Fiesta of Flavors (and Occasional Missteps)
Okay, let's talk food. This is where things got… interesting.
- Breakfast [Buffet]: The buffet was a mixed bag, to put it mildly. The Asian breakfast options were intriguing (I'm a sucker for anything with soy sauce in the morning!), but some days it was amazing, other days a culinary… experiment. Western breakfast? Predictable, but reliably good. The coffee shop offered decent coffee, but it wasn't quite the same as a perfectly brewed cup.
- Restaurants: There were a few restaurants on-site, offering a mix of International and Western cuisine. The a la carte options were generally good, but pricey. The pool bar (told ya we'd come back to it) was my go-to for snacks and drinks. The Poolside bar offered a great time, especially during happy hour.
- The “Vegetarian Restaurant” Myth: They claimed a vegetarian restaurant, which got my hopes up! But it seemed like more of a "vegetarian options in other restaurants" situation. Not a dealbreaker, but don’t go expecting a dedicated veggie nirvana.
- The Buffet in Restaurant: A buffet in restaurant? Yes, sir/madam, for breakfast and lunch.
- Happy Hour & The Poolside Bar: Ah, happy hour. The real hero of my trip. The pool bar was lively, serving up some killer cocktails (and the occasional questionable concoction, but hey, that's part of the fun!). The food was great -- you can't beat the easy accessibility and casual atmosphere. My daily dose of relaxation.
- Room Service [24-hour]: Always nice to have available, even if I didn't use it. The thought was comforting.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams (and Reality Checks)
Okay, here’s the "Escape to Paradise" part, right? Well… sort of.
- The Spa: The spa was… okay. Expensive. A massage was nice, but not mind-blowing. The sauna, steamroom, and pool with a view were highlights.
- Fitness Center: The fitness center was decent, nothing spectacular, but got the job done if you're someone who needs to work out on vacation.
- The Pool: The pool was gorgeous. Definitely a highlight. I spent hours lounging by the side and getting my tan on.
- Body Wrap/Scrub: The body scrub sounded divine, I was tempted, but expensive, but maybe next time.
- Relax Your Way: A foot bath, massage, spa, spa/sauna, steamroom, swimming pool, even a pool with a view. All the things that you would expect.
Cleanliness & Safety: Did I Feel Safe? (Mostly, but…)
The Wyndham tried to be super-safe, and I appreciated the effort.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Check.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Check.
- Hand sanitizer everywhere: Check.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Mostly check (though, the pool area got a little crowded sometimes).
- Daily disinfection: Check.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Check.
- Cashless payment service: Another plus.
- Rooms Sanitization Opt-out Available: Yes, but I'm not sure I like the option.
I had no major safety concerns, which is always a good thing. The security seemed decent.
Services & Conveniences: Bits & Bobs (And a Shout-Out to the Concierge!)
- Concierge: The concierge was a lifesaver! Super helpful with recommendations and booking excursions (definitely recommend a day trip to Tulum).
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent!
- Dry cleaning & Ironing service: Handy to have available, even though I didn't need them.
- Gift/souvenir shop: The gift shop was filled with the usual touristy stuff – perfect for last-minute presents.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Yep, they have them.
- Food delivery: A great option to have, even though I didn't use it.
- Everything else: Air conditioning, daily housekeeping, elevators, facilities for disabled guests, and the whole nine yards.
For the Kids & Getting Around (Just the Facts)
- Family/child-friendly: Yes, the Wyndham is definitely family-friendly, with kids facilities and babysitting if you need it.
- Getting Around: Airport transfer was available (convenient!). There’s a free car park (essential!), and taxi service.
Accessibility, Back in Full Effect
- Accessible features: Yes, but not perfect (mentioned at the beginning). Elevators helped, but some paths needed improvement.
- CCTV in common areas: Helpful.
The Overall Verdict: Paradise Found? (Maybe, with a Few Caveats)
So, would I recommend the Wyndham Garden Playa del Carmen? Yeah, probably. It's a solid option for a relaxing getaway. The rooms were comfortable, the pool was amazing, and the staff were generally friendly and helpful. The food was hit-or-miss, the spa was pricey, and the accessibility could be better. But hey, no place is perfect.
Would I go back? Possibly. But I'd probably pack a few extra teabags… and maybe a book to read by the pool during the few wifi dead spots!
Escape to Paradise: Your Dream i Hotel Awaits in Zhongli, Taoyuan!
Alright, buckle the hell up, because we're about to embark on a Playa del Carmen adventure that’s less “perfect brochure” and more “what the actual heck did I just do?” This is my Wyndham Garden itinerary, but trust me, it’s gonna be a ride.
Day 1: ARRIVALS, ARRIVALS…AND MAYBE A TEQUILA SHOT (or Five)
- Morning (7:00 AM - 10:00 AM): The flight was an experience. Let’s just say the crying baby situation rivaled the volume of the airplane engines. Finally, sweet, sweet land in Cancun. Customs? A blur. The whole vibe is already… hot, humid, and gloriously chaotic. Finding the shuttle was a quest. After a near-miss with a tour tout (who, bless his heart, looked truly desperate), we finally land at the Wyndham Garden. It's… nice. Yeah, nice. The pool looks inviting. The lobby smells vaguely of chlorine and anticipation.
- Mid-Morning (10:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Check-in. My Spanish is… basic. And by basic, I mean "Hola, cerveza?". Thank God for pointing and smiling. Our room, though… a slight issue. We requested a pool view. We got a wall view. Sigh. After a pleading conversation and a flash of my most winning (read: puppy-dog) eyes, they switched us. Hallelujah! Pool time is now a definite possibility.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): Hit up the hotel restaurant. Honestly? A little underwhelming. Nothing truly terrible, but nothing that makes you want to write home (unless you were writing to express "Meh"). Found a passable plate of enchiladas and some guacamole. The guacamole, however, was so chunky, as if the chef just sneezed and grabbed a handful of avocado.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 6:00 PM): Pool time! Ah, the sweet, sweet nectar of chlorinated water and overpriced cocktails. This is where the vacation truly begins, am I right? Not quite. I spent maybe 30 minutes relaxing on the side of the pool. But the sudden downpour that hit the side of the pool was a reminder that I can't win. I quickly learned the hard way: NEVER trust a Mexican weather forecast. The pool's still cool now.
- Evening (6:00 PM - Onward): After the weather I went back to my room and got ready for what I thought was going to be a relaxing sunset dinner. The plan was to wander down the Playa del Carmen and have dinner overlooking the ocean with a few friends. So as I walk to the beach, I end up bumping into the same tour tout, as before from the airport! This time he's a lot more eager to please. We talked for about an hour about all the best tourist spots in, and I began to regret not trusting him, as I went to dinner, I realised that I was walking with another group of tourists who were asking a lot of the same questions. In addition to that I realised that I wasn't prepared for the dinner I would be having. The food was amazing, but the price was through the roof. By the the time the sunset came I was a bit too shell shocked with my bank account that I missed it.
Day 2: The Unplanned Cenote Dive & The Overwhelming Market
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): Okay, so this is the adventure I never knew I needed. We’d booked a cenote tour, because, well, everyone raves about them. I was prepared for some swimming in a hole. What I wasn't prepared for was… the profound beauty. Crystal clear water, sunbeams dancing through the cave roof, and stalactites that look like something out of a Tolkien novel. It was… humbling. Like, “nature is amazing and I am a tiny, insignificant speck” humbling. We went to Dos Ojos. The snorkeling, the underwater caves, and the natural light… honestly, it left me speechless.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:30 PM): A quick bite at a little roadside place after the cenote. My brain was still swimming with all the cenote experience. But I needed meat. We found a hole-in-the-wall that served amazing tacos al pastor. Seriously, the best I've ever had. The atmosphere was pure chaos. The staff had a distinct preference for yelling at each other over taking orders.
- Afternoon (1:30 PM - 5:00 PM): 5th Avenue… AKA, tourist hell. Or maybe… a vibrant, chaotic, sensory overload paradise? I’m still processing it. The shops, the vendors, the sheer volume of people… it's overwhelming. I am not a shopper. After 1 hour of walking around and being asked to walk around the shops, I had to get out of there. I bought a t-shirt and a cheap souvenir. That’s all the energy I had.
- Evening (5:00 PM - Onward): A little nap was necessary after 5th Avenue. Then, a pre-dinner drink at a cute little bar with live music. The music was great, the mojitos were even better, and for a moment, I felt like I belonged. I even attempted to dance a little. The attempt was… spirited. Dinner was seafood, again. This time it was absolutely divine. The waiter was charming. All felt right with the world… until I checked the bill. Still, overall, a good day.
Day 3: The Mayan Ruins – And a Case of Serious Sunburn
- Morning (8:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Chichen Itza, here we come! The ruins were magnificent. The sheer scale of it all is breathtaking and a reminder of human ingenuity and the passage of time. We hired a guide, which made all the difference. He explained the history, the rituals, the… well, everything. I was thoroughly engrossed. The heat, however, was something else. Even with SPF 50, I managed to get a serious sunburn. My shoulders are currently screaming.
- Lunch (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Post-ruins, we grabbed lunch at a little restaurant near the site. It was… okay-ish. The food tasted like, after reading up about it, just how the tourists feel about the place. But the Coca-Cola was cold. Little victories, right?
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Back at the hotel. Sunburn treatment time. I spent the afternoon slathering myself in aloe vera and trying to avoid moving. The hotel pool felt vaguely taunting.
- Evening (5:00 PM - Onward): Dinner at the hotel restaurant again. More enchiladas. More “meh.” I think I’m starting to get used to it. The upside? No sunburn.
Day 4: The Rest of the Story
- Morning (9:00 AM - 12:00 PM): I woke up early. I went to the bar to take some time to myself. The bar was empty and the morning light was bright. I ordered an espresso and a croissant. I went to the beach. The beach was empty and the water looked so blue. I enjoyed this time to myself. After this I woke up my friend to head off to the hotel. I asked the front desk if we could check out early. They said, yes, and we left.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM): By the time we made it back to the airport, we were so busy. I had to buy some food to stop the hunger.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - 6:00 PM): I sat on the plane and waited to arrive home. I had a lot of time to reflect and think about everything…
Quirky Observations, Emotional Reactions, and General Ramblings:
- The dogs. EVERYWHERE. Stray dogs, pampered dogs, dogs that look like they run the city. I love them all.
- The “Mexican time” concept. Everything is “mañana.” Embrace it. It's liberating. Mostly…
- My Spanish. Still terrible. But I’m learning. Mostly, I point and smile. It seems to work.
- The sun. Brutal. Relentless. But also… spectacular. The sunrises and sunsets are truly stunning.
- My emotions. I’ve been everything from ecstatic to slightly annoyed to deeply moved. This trip has been a rollercoaster, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
- The food. Yes, the food is okay. But more importantly, a good travel itinerary means that you need a good trip to remind you. The food is really just an opportunity to remind you of all the amazing things you have to do and that life has to offer.
Bottom Line:
Wyndham Garden in Playa del Carmen? You get what you pay for. It’s not perfect, but it’s a solid base
Unbelievable Chai in Samut Prakan: Thailand's BEST Kept Secret!
So, what *is* all this about? (Besides me needing therapy, probably.)
Alright, I'm trying to keep this vague because, honestly, if I told you *exactly* what we're talking about, it’d be giving away too much. But let’s just say it's about a thing that *happens*. And not in a good way, usually. Think… unexpected twists, questionable decisions, and a whole lot of 'Well, that was awkward.'"
And yes, the therapy comment? Probably spot on. But hey, misery loves company, right?
How often does this "thing" happen, anyway? Should I be, like, stockpiling anxiety medications?
Oh, the frequency? Ha! That's the million-dollar question, isn't it? One minute, you’re skipping through a field of daisies (figuratively, because who has time for that?), the next… bam! The thing slaps you right in the face. Sometimes it's a slow burn, a simmering pot of "oh, this is going to go south," and other times? It's a full-blown, dumpster-fire explosion of epic proportions.
As for stockpiling meds… well, consult your doctor. But I'm not going to lie. Maybe having a comfort stash wouldn't be the worst idea. I'd *definitely* have a bottle of something strong if I had to live through [insert personal experience about a disastrous incident].
What are the *signs* that this "thing" is brewing? Can I at least SEE it coming?
The signs, you ask? Oh, they're subtle... at first. A raised eyebrow. A slightly too-sweet smile. A sudden, inexplicable wave of dread that washes over you as you realize you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. It's like the universe is whispering, "Heh heh, you're screwed."
And the worst part? Sometimes, the signs? They *are* the thing. Like that time [insert anecdote detailing the specific signs of the event]. That was a glorious disaster.
Is there *anything* I can do to prevent this from happening? Like, a magic spell?
Magic spells? Ha! If I had one, believe me, I’d be using it. Constantly. Prevention? Look, if I knew the secret to avoiding all the chaos, I’d be sunning myself on a beach, sipping something with little umbrellas in it, not writing this crazy thing.
Maybe… just maybe… intense vigilance? Avoid questionable people? Trust your gut. But let's be honest, you're going to learn the hard way. That's just the way it rolls. Remember last [time]?? The only way to avoid it is to stay in your pajamas and stare at the ceiling forever. Which, now that I think about it, is sounding rather good about now...
Okay, so... what happens *after* this thing happens? Do I just curl up in a ball and die from embarrassment?
Aftermath? Oh, sweet, sweet aftermath. You'll experience a whirlwind of emotions. Regret. Shame. Denial. Maybe even a little bit of hysterical laughter, because, frankly, what else are you going to do?
You'll probably replay every excruciating moment in your head a thousand times. You'll analyze what you *could* have done, what you *should* have said. And eventually, if you're lucky, you'll reach a point of grudging acceptance. Maybe you’ll even be able to laugh about it eventually. Or, you learn from the experience, although, in my case... [insert an anecdote about failure to learn from experience].
Is there like, a *silver lining*? Is anything good come from this?
Silver linings? Sometimes. Maybe. Occasionally. You'll probably learn a valuable lesson about yourself. Possibly about the world. Or you'll realize how truly, spectacularly, wonderfully flawed everything is.
And sometimes, and this is the best part, you'll have one heck of a story to tell. Think about that time [another anecdote, same event in a completely different manner with different angle]. Now that’s a story! And hey, at least it's not boring, right?
Why are you even *doing* this? This is clearly an exercise in self-torture!
Why am I doing this? Honestly? I have no idea. Maybe I enjoy the pain. Maybe I'm hoping someone out there can relate. Or maybe… and don't judge me… I'm just bored.
But the truth is, talking about it? It helps. A little. Like getting it all out there. Just, bear with me. I am just like the people who has been through the event. They do this to help each other. So, I’m… paying it forward, I guess."
So, what’s the *takeaway* here? Should I run screaming, hide in a bunker, or embrace the chaos?
The takeaway? Well… probably all of the above, depending on the day. But here’s my two cents. Try to remember that you are not alone in this. We all screw up. We all make questionable choices. And sometimes, life just hands you a giant, steaming plate of "what were you *thinking*?!"
Embrace the messiness, the awkwardness, and the sheer absurdity of it all. Laugh when you can. Learn when you can. And for the love of all that is holy, never, EVER [insert advice related to the topic that's clearly bad advice, or a joke]. That’s my advice, and I'm sticking to it. Mostly because I have no other options.
