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Girl Gone Travel

North America, Travel
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February 2, 2015

Playa del Carmen: An intro to Mexico

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As I write this the chilly wind keeps forcing the frozen branches outside to slap against my window pane. My house is warm but I can’t help but feel a slight chill come over me. “It’s freakin’ cold outside,” I think as I grab a warm cup of tea, in the hopes that it will make me forget.

Oh, to be back in Mexico, on the beaches of Playa del Carmen, taking in the rays and drinking a Negra Modelo.

My first impression

Playa del Carmen is not that far from other popular touristy spots such as Cancún, Riviera Maya, Tulum, and Sian Ka’an (all of which were my introduction to Mexico as well).

Tourists love Playa del Carmen. It’s Mexico, but Americanized. Super tourist-friendly, everyone speaks English – some people only speak English (which I’m still in awe of) and you can even pay in American dollars in many of the restaurants and businesses!

It’s one of those destinations that I would say are perfect for the nervous traveler who maybe isn’t really sure what to expect from a new country, or maybe a family traveler who doesn’t want to have to deal with too much or think too hard, or worry about too many things. You get the atmosphere and the beautiful beach, the great Latin culture, and then of course all the amenities of a resort, but on a larger scale.

For someone like myself, who speaks Spanish fluently and is comfortable traveling across Mexico and can easily assimilate to the cultural norms, it might not be the ideal Mexican experience I would seek out, but I can still appreciate why so many visitors like it there. And during the cold months here, I’d take it without hesitation.

Where I stayed

There are no shortages of lodging options in Playa del Carmen. Hotels, B&B’s, even vacation home rentals. I visited as a guest of House Trip (full disclosure), a home vacation rental which operates primarily in Europe but is slowing growing their market in North America and Mexico.

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel

The apartment complex was beautiful. Secure, bright, modern, clean, pretty luxurious in fact. Many of the apartments faced the beach and all had balconies. Some had private access to a rooftop hot tub and barbecue area, and the complex was literally steps from restaurants, shops, and night life.

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel

It was great for families, but I thought it fun to come here with a bunch of friends too. Some apartments had up to three floors and plenty of bedrooms, while others had one or two. (The listing for this property).

I absolutely loved my stay here and highly recommend it. I was able to get to see what Playa del Carmen was all about, but I also loved how easy it was to get out of Playa del Carmen and enjoy the rest of what the area had to offer.

Where I ate

I ate at several small eateries in the area, and when on a tour, many of which would go on through lunch time, I ate whatever the tour organizers had set up for us.

But there were two memorable meals I had. One was at a restaurant in Playa del Carmen called Plank. The name comes from their concept of cooking directly on Himalayan salt or wooden planks. It’s a pretty cool concept and a unique presentation of food to the table. Everything I tried here, from the fish to the steak was delicious, but I will say the winner was their carrot cake. If they have it on the menu get it, if they don’t ask for it – if you get lucky and they serve it, I promise you that unless you have some weird visceral reaction to awesomeness of this kind, you will remember this dessert for a very long time.

The other great dining experience I had was actually in our apartment rental (I shared with other media pros). We had Chef Alexandra Iserte, owner of Food in Motion, which offers cooking classes, catering and events, and personal chef services. She was funny, entertaining, smart, and despite our large and easily distracted group, she was able to pull off a really great dinner and a quick cooking lesson which we all took a part in.

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravelLoved Chef Alex’s energy. She’s made the cooking lesson fun and the food was delicious.

Great option for those with a bigger budget who want delicious, authentic Mexican dishes, without having to go out each time (which might actually even out the costs) or try to prepare it themselves.

What I did

I took a couple of tours offered through Viator which were a lot of fun. (Read about my experience in swimming with whale sharks and swimming in the cenotes.)

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravelPlaya del Carmen is a great central point to all the wonderful things to do in the area.

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravelMake the most of your visit by getting out there!

I think that’s really the way to go, when visiting any area of Mexico, is to take tours and recruit local guides to help you get around and discover areas that you wouldn’t otherwise.

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel
Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravel

Playa del Carmen_girlgonetravelTake advantage of the tour photographers. They are friendly and take great shots. The memories alone are worth it. 

Now that I have been to Mexico a few times since my first visit to Riviera Maya, I have found that I most enjoy the places that have a bit more local tradition and culture. Areas like Mexico City which is so rich in culture and diverse and Mazatlán, which is slowly changing as well, but retains many of its traditions and customs, these are places that I feel have really given me a sense of what Mexico is. This is a huge country and so its safe to say that visiting one of two or even three different areas won’t give you the full flavor of all one can experience here. Every city and region has its own identity, allowing for something different.

I would encourage anyone to visit beyond the larger tourist areas, but understand that we all have to start somewhere. And when it comes to beginnings and laid bad vacations, Playa del Carmen is not a bad place to start.

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Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, whether close to home or farther away. She is a small business owner and travel writer. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and Principal of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She lives, works, and plays in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of NY.

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Hi! I'm Carol! I am an award-winning travel blogger, a keynote speaker, and the Principal and owner of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency. I a wife to a handsome Irish/Scot and a mom to 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading and for your support!

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If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a des If you are a foodie traveler, Madison, WI is a destination for you. This list of good eats were all within close proximity to each other and spots we made time for during our short weekend visit. So definitely note that this doesn’t even begin to cover the tip of the iceberg, but makes a good starter list!

📍@ShortStackEats in the heart of Downtown Madison is clearly a UW favorite. Loved their pancakes! We thought it was a pricey for breakfast, and only offered drip coffee, but the scene was fun, food was good, and service was friendly.
📍@SardineMadison is a waterfront French bistro that has stood the test of time (we’ve been coming here since we lived in Madison!). It can feel very corporate some nights, but their Happy Hour and brunch are definite highlights and it’s a really nice dining experience overall.
📍@EatattheAudrey impressed us! It’s not your usual “hotel restaurant” and I would say it easily stands alone as an eatery worth checking out in Madison. Great breakfast options, cozy vibes, nice bar, and good service!
📍@RamenStation1124 good, affordable ramen.
📍BlindShotSocialClub We really loved this spot for brunch (sorry, was enjoying the company and totally spaced out on capturing food images!). Golf fans will love hitting the putt here (you can reserve a private room too), and what I though was most cool was the delicious and wide selection of non-alcoholic cocktails to choose from. This place is a total vibe!
📍@StringsRamen is a chain, but I have to say it is some of the best ramen I have had in a long time. I especially loved how you can choose your ramen but heat level but also by Japanese region which allowed us to taste a couple of new flavors!
📍@Parthenongyros has been around awhile (hubby recalls coming here during his college years!) and was voted #1 take out in Madison! Though we indulged inside and away from the snow. A delicious, quick bite when strolling around State Street.

And again, this is just a starter list. There is so much more to eat and enjoy in this top foodie city! What other spots would you add to this list?

#madisonwi #foodiegram #foodiedestinations #goodeats @destinationmadison
I love to travel. It has always been important to I love to travel. It has always been important to my family. My parents got my first passport weeks after I was born. They couldn’t afford to travel like I do now, but they understood, as immigrants, the absolute privilege that comes attached to having that shiny blue American booklet and they wanted me to have it.

I was yet again reminded of my privilege when my travel back home on this last trip was delayed over 24 hours. I have a village in place to make sure my kids were ok. Having my own business meant I didn’t have to report in to anyone, and was still able to work remotely so none of my clients were inconvenienced by it. Though the airline covered our hotel and food, we never worried that we couldn’t do it ourselves otherwise. While we were annoyed, we weren’t stressed.

So while I love to travel, and I love sharing my travels with you, I acknowledge that being able to do so, and dealing with the consistent travel disruptions so prevalent today without worries is a privilege…one that started with a little blue booklet that gives me more access to the world than some others do.

And I want us all in this travel space to be reminded of this. Of how lucky we are. Of our privilege to access and time and money.

So let us travel with grace and awareness. Let us remain rooted in reality and perspective. Acknowledging that our escapism isn’t one so easily accessible to others. Understanding that this is also why local stories have as much value as those to exclusive destinations, if not more. And, never forgetting, especially in the travel influencer and media space, that were it not for hosted campaigns and paid-for travel opportunities, most of us wouldn’t be able to afford the lifestyle we so beautifully curate online.

It doesn’t matter how often you travel, or how far. Just that hopefully you will be able to gift yourself the experience of doing so and experiencing something new.

#travel #travelmedia #travelinfluencer #wheretonext
As I work on compiling all the good eats I experie As I work on compiling all the good eats I experienced in Madison, WI, I have to ask: what is your favorite meal of the day, and where did you experience a highlight of the same?

I am a huge fan of breakfast. This beauty was a blueberry pancake order from @shortstackeats. Pancakes are not a big thing for me, but these were pretty perfect. I am craving them still. 🥞♥️

#madisonwi #goodeats #travelingfoodie @destinationmadison
We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a qui We got back on a plane! Here are scenes from a quick trip to Madison, WI - my first time back in 14 years! Though we were here for family matters, we did take a moment to explore a bit of what used to be a place we called home.

We couldn’t do anything else until we drove around Lake Monona, where we once had a home, and took in the wintery views (there is an epic 13.2-mile trail that loops around the lake that is worth exploring if you visit!). Though our time was limited, we were able to enjoy some of it along State Street exploring the shops, eateries, the FREE @mmocamadison, and the beautiful architecture of the WI State Capitol Building (the Dane County Farmers Market will soon pick up again - Saturdays, April 15 thru November 11, 2023 around the Capitol Building and it is one of the best farmers markets anywhere!). 

We booked a room at the @hiltonmadison Monona Terrace to be within walking distance of all the downtown fun (tip: for a room with a lake view make sure to book at the upper levels above 10th floor for an unobstructed view of Lake Monona). 

Madison, WI is a skip and a hop from the Finger Lakes so this short and sweet visit didn’t feel difficult at all. And we absolutely loved the winter scenery and seeing what has changed (a lot) since we lived here.

Stay tuned for my list of where we ate!

Have you ever been to Madison, WI?

#madisonwi #weekendgetaway #wisconsin @destinationmadison
The joy of that first sip of the day. #randommom The joy of that first sip of the day. 

#randommomentsarethebest
I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t be I think my husband enjoys it, but still can’t believe how easily I’ve been waking up in the early mornings since our last trip. Not sure how to shake it, or if it’s temporary, but here it is: the rare sighting of me up and moving early in the day. Am I a morning person now? Has travel ever permanently changed any of your habits?

#morningperson #lifeinthecountry #newme <-😂

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