Last Minute Getaway to Cancun, Mexico!
Spontaneity is the spice of life! Truer words have never been spoken. Embarking on a last minute getaway to Cancun, Mexico is one great way to live in that spirit. I will share how our unplanned adventure started and provide tips on how you can make one happen for yourself.
How it all went down.
Our last minute getaway to Cancun, Mexico started with one little email from Scott’s Cheap Flights on a Wednesday afternoon. Cancun flights from Houston now $181 RT (taxes and all) was the headline. I thought to myself, “damn this is a good deal and my wife is off next week, it could work”. I logged on and checked it out on some airline websites and sure enough it was real. So now I’m excited and head to the bedroom to have the convo with my spouse and of course she was all in. I booked our flights later that evening for a early Sunday morning departure.
I figured I would book a hotel/resort for us the following day but work and life got in the way. Fast forward a couple of days and now it’s Saturday and our departure is 24 hours away and I don’t have a place for us to stay over there. I didn’t have time to do my research on hotels like I normally do with our planned vacations. So I decided to try something different.
I went to Facebook and typed in Cancun in the search box, then filtered by posts from friends. I looked at only posts from the last 16 months and then contacted some of them to ask questions. Price, location, crime, seaweed, etc… It was all covered, lol. With most of my concerns addressed it was now time to make a decision and book.
Panama Jack Resort
Our last minute getaway to Cancun, Mexico would be spent at the all inclusive Panama Jack resort and we couldn’t have been happier with our choice. This was our very first time staying at one of these type (all inclusive) of resorts so we really didn’t know if we were going to like it. But for what we wanted out of this short trip, it delivered in spades. We were looking for a 4 day 3 night escape to disconnect and do as little as possible on one of the prettiest beaches in the world. Panama Jack checked all the boxes.
Location, location, location
Our hotel was located in the heart of the hotel zone and right on the white sand beaches that Cancun is world famous for. We wanted to be near some restaurants and nightlife to have some options in case we got bored at PJ’s. But also not too close because we didn’t want to be in the epicenter of party central. This location could not be beat and fit the bill for us.
There were restaurants across the street and more dining choices within walking distance in either direction. If you wanted to go the big nightclubs they were a 3 minute cab ride or 20 minute walk away. We ended up not needing a plan B as we never felt the urge to leave the property in the evening. This resort provided us with everything we were looking for. I highly recommend this place!
Check in process and Covid testing
When you first arrive you will see a cool yellow sea plane with the iconic Panama Jack logo at the entrance. Upon walking inside to check in, we were offered drinks while we stood in line waiting for our turn to get our keys. Speaking of keys, be sure to get the bracelet room key. It was $10 but well worth it as you never had to worry where your key was and it was also waterproof! We swam in the pool and ocean and it always worked.
Okay back to the check in process. Your Covid testing appointments are scheduled right after you check in and they make sure you’re assigned a date within the 72 hour departure window. Testing is done across the concierge desk at the resort so no need to leave the property or worry. Oh and the test is part of your room charge. They really mean all inclusive.
Pools, Restaurants, and Amenities
This resort has multiple good bars and restaurants to choose from. Below is a list of some the fun things to find there.
- Two pools – One with ocean views & lots of poolside activities (mainly adults)
- & the other is mostly for kids
- Kid-friendly facilities such as water park with pirate ship and slides. There is also activities for teens.
- Five restaurants – Mexican, Asian, European, and Italian cuisines. And also buffets for breakfast and lunch. Our absolute favorite was Viaggo’s. Not only was the food great but they had some singer who could belt out some serious opera type tunes.
- Several bars (including a beachfront one, which was our favorite) – plus free room service
- Small spa, spacious fitness center, and free yoga
- Lively, fun entertainment staff
- Daily activities such as tequila volleyball and nightly entertainment
Our room and views
Get the beach front room! I promise that you will not be disappointed. Having gorgeous white sand right outside our door and the blue turquoise water just steps away is breathtaking and relaxing. See our pics for yourself in this slideshow below.
Stunning Sunrises
Is there anything better than starting your day waking up to the sound of the ocean as gentle waves lap the shoreline? Add a breathtaking sunrise every morning and you’ve got the making of a perfect start. We sat and drank our coffee is silence everyday just in awe of how beautiful and tranquil everything was. This was paradise. Enjoy these shots that we captured.
The Beach and Unlimited Drinks!
The beaches in the hotel zone are the best in Cancun. At the Panama Jack Resort there isn’t a bad spot to chill anywhere near the property. The tricky part is finding beach chairs or cabanas that are unoccupied during the busier parts of the day (11 am – 6pm). Fortunately for us, we are early birds and are always up at sunrise. So after we had our Cafecito, we had an early breakfast and were posted up on the beach by 10:45 am every day. Claim your chairs early! It’s like the wild west out there.
This last minute getaway to Cancun was so different than any other vacation we’ve taken in a long time. We did absolutely nothing but hang out on/at the beach for 3 straight days and loved every minute of it. Drink, play in the water, nap, and then restart the cycle until the sun went down.
Beach chairs were secured twice and then I decided to splurge on a cabana for our last day there. It was such a great time that last day and the service we received was top notch. It was so good that my wife has already warned me that it’s going to be cabanas every day the next time 😲.
Cabana Life
I was always the type that thought renting cabanas was too expensive, over the top, unnecessary, etc. Okay I’m pretty sure some of y’all are thinking “stop being cheap dude 😅” but let me add some context. We’ve never taken a vacation where we do nothing but chill. We are always out exploring, taking tours, and basically keeping to an itinerary. That my wife wanted to try an all inclusive and just relax was also different.
The price to rent a cabana is ridiculously inexpensive at Panama Jack resort. For $50 you not only get a beach front cabana but also 2 beach chairs, dedicated waiter/waitress, a stocked ice chest, champagne, and other small perks. Totally worth it and now that my wife has got a taste of it, I’m sure I’ll be on the hook for several more cabana rentals on future beach vacations.
Aside from the top notch service (more on that further below), we really enjoyed being able to take naps in the cabana while protected from the sun and having a little privacy with the curtains drawn. There’s something very cool about waking up from a day nap and realizing that you weren’t dreaming, you really are on the beach in Cancun.
Cabana service – La Mamita
We had a great cabana attendee for our stay. Not only was she super attentive but she really knew how to cater to my better half. “Algo mas mamita?” “Lo que usted quiera mamita” Needless to say they hit it off and my wife now has a new nickname. When we got back from our last minute getaway to Cancun, we had a get together with her family and she retold the story of her liking the attendant calling her mamita. We all got a good laugh out of it.
Summary – How to find your own last minute getaway
- Go to Scott’s cheap flights and subscribe. It’s free but I highly recommend the paid service. I think it’s only $40 per year but well worth it! I’ve booked Ecuador, Spain, Colombia, and Mexico trips since using their service in only one year.
- Enter your home airport but also add a few more.
- When a great deal pops up in your inbox, book it! Sometimes they only last hours.
So there you have it folks. Finding last minute deals is really not that hard. Be a little flexible and ready to book when you see something you like.
One last Cancun tip. If you must leave your all inclusive resort, take the bus! It’s only $1 USD and you can literally travel anywhere the bus lines go. They’re frequent and efficient. Just be ready to get off quick as the bus drivers don’t mess around. We used the bus to visit to Playa Delfines. I was going to write more about this but I have to end this post as mamita is needing me to run an errand. 😎
