ME Cancun Goes All-Inclusive

by  Justin Ocean | Jan 7, 2011

You don’t go to Cancun for authentic Mexican experiences. You go there for a tan. And the beach. And as I learned this past New Year’s Eve, when the ME Cancun switched over from à la carte to all-inclusive at the stroke of midnight, boozing on said beach and getting said tan while totally forgetting you ever owned a wallet. Ahh… January is made for vacations like this!

You don’t go to Cancun for authentic Mexican experiences. You go there for a tan. And the beach. And as I learned this past New Year’s Eve, when the ME Cancun switched over from à la carte to all-inclusive at the stroke of midnight, boozing on said beach and getting said tan while totally forgetting you ever owned a wallet. Ahh… January is made for vacations like this!

If the thought of submitting to the moored cruise ship experience that many all-inclusive options can come to feel like, think differently: the IGLTA-certified resort’s new “Complete ME” package has all the typical benefits of an all-inclusive experience – free drinks, unlimited dining in one of 4 restaurants (Pan-Asian, Mexican, Mediterranean, Argentinian grill) – without the drawbacks of marauding hordes of children ruining the pools and non-guests being excluded from the property. Indeed the adults-only pool areas and beachfront palapas and day beds were occupied as much by Mexican locals enjoying the holiday over several bottles of à la carte Grey Goose as they were by wrist-banded vacationers turning toasty shades of pink. Think of it as a more permeable beach club with benefits than a lock down compound – an industry first in this market.

The result: a stylish, clubby vibe that lends itself to a decidedly more party-centric, although not-over-the-top, stay as compared to the more staid options along the Zona Hotelera strip. This was where The Real World: Cancun was filmed, after all. It also means a smattering of gay couples and singles amidst the packs of ripped Euro boys and leggy gals. You don’t come here for an all-gay experience, but if you’re looking for that type of vacation, you wouldn’t be in Cancun in the first place.

There are two package types available. Highlights below:

“The Total Experience” – focuses on traditional amenities:

• unlimited food/beverage
• free training sessions in the YHI Spa’s fitness center (spinning, anyone?)
• free resort-wide Wi-Fi
• Aveda products
• mini-bar waters and snacks (although we hope as the transition progresses and kinks get worked out, the entire mini-bar becomes fair game to ease confusion)
• movie nights, couples massage classes, and other optional programming

“The Level” – packages for ballers, which includes adults-only premium rooms, including balconies. All of the above, plus:

• VIP private check in/out
• personal concierge
• top-shelf liquors
• free 24-hour room service
• barefoot dinner for two on the beach
• in-room keepsakes like a beach bag
• free entry to weekend club nights by London’s Hed Kandi and NYC’s 4AM DJ collective
• comped access to the YHI Spa’s “water rituals” (experience showers, pressure jet pool circuit, hot tub, acupressure walking path, sauna, and steamroom)

To book, visit Me-Cancun.com.

And while there, don't forget to take a taxi past the morass of spring breakers standing on tables at Hooters and packing into City, and head downtown to Karamba Bar (KarambaBar.com), the resort town's best bet for a gay night out. Really the only bet. Two rooms playing circuit and pop, DJ shows, a smoking deck, and sickly muscled go-gos get a mostly Mexican crowd sweaty while giant Sol beers keep the flirt factor high.

For general travel info check out our Cancun Travel Guide. Use our Travel Search price comparison tool for other great deals on airfare.

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