Mexico hits really close to home for me. Growing up, my father brought us there almost every year. It wasn’t for your typical family vacation though. He wanted us to see the way people lived, the way cultures were different than ours, and most of all, he wanted us come home more appreciative of the life we had. I hadn’t been back to Mexico since, but it felt like the perfect place for Dave my next “Inspired In” destination.
And before getting into it all, a huge thank you, as always, to our incredible partners that made this trip possible – Le Chateau, Kiehl’s Canada, Zaful, and Poppy and Peonies.
Quintana Roo (the province which houses Cancun, Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen, and all the tourist hotspots) had changed a lot since I was there last. I love keeping my eyes wide opened when I travel and
There were definitely two huge reoccurring themes that we took away from the beautiful tropical destination loved by many – hustle and paradise.
Every time Dave and I have traveled somewhere new, we always pick up travel tips for those specific destinations. Rounding up how we packed, what outfits are the perfect tropical hyrbid, how we kept our skin fresh (we were on 4 back to back trips), all my outfits from the trip, and best of all, where to visit to capture those breathtaking moments.
Poppy & Peonies is also a brand I whole heartedly love, not only for their extremely functional and affordable bags, but because it is spearheaded by such an incredible boss lady who built the brand inspired by her daughter and other boss women. I mean, how can you not be obsessed?! I gushed all about it last year on the blog.
While on Poppy and Peonies, I picked up the Beauty Bag Trio (to separate my accessories, skincare, and haircare), as well as the Clearly You Travel Pouch (love that I could access whatever was in in super quick). You’d be surprised how crazy your suitcase gets after a couple weeks of traveling. Keeping it all organized kept me (and my suitcase) sane.
However you pack:
- Make sure you’ve got your products (especially with liquids) separated and compartmentalized
- Find totes and bags that don’t weigh a ton (baggage fees are expensive) – All my Poppy and Peonies pieces weighed only 3 pounds all together
- Go for sleek/flexible fabrics that are easy to manoeuvre within your suitcase
Putting together outfits before a trip is both one of the most fun parts of my traveling process, as well as the biggest pain in my butt. When traveling to tropical destinations, I realized there’s an art to voting certain outfits off the island, and making alliances with others.
More on Dave’s blog for the boy’s tips, but let’s just say that I may just be jealous that he looked more effortlessly sharp than I did.
For your tropical travel outfits:
- Find breathable fabrics that flow and allow for breeze
- Layers, layers, layers (that goes for just about about any season though, doesn’t it?)
- Keep your eye out for pieces that translate from day to night seamlessly
- Use accessories to travel light while still giving you outfit variety
Boy, oh boy, did my skin suffer from all the travel. From cold to hot, to cold again, back to hot, then back to cold.. my skin was not happy with me. We’re still getting over our fight (between my skin and I, that is). What really helped while we were on the road (and is still helping now) is Kiehl’s new Vitamin C serum. Their new Powerful-Strength Line Reducing Concentrate Vitamin C serum helped to keep my skin’s texture smooth and always gave me that extra glow in the morning.
Keep skin fresh by:
- Know how the climate change is going to affect your skin (are you going from hot to cold, cold to hot?)
- Carry small sized bottles (like this 50mL Vitamin C serum) to make sure you have no issues with security
- Find hydrating products, even if you’re going somewhere hot. The sun takes a huge toll on your skin’s moisture levels.
Places To Visit
- Mayan Ruins of Coba – you can actually still climb their highest temple (the other ruins have been closed due to security risks). You can also rent a bike or rickshaw to hike up to the ruins from the entrance of the park. I suggest the bike!
- Tulum Beach – easily one of the most beautiful beaches you’ll find. It’s surrounded ruins, which is really unique since the Mayans never used to build their cities near water,
- Playa Del Carmen – Cancun, but better. Better prices, more chill over parties, and the quaintest pedestrian-only streets and markets. Extremely lively in the evening!
- Isla de Mujeres – a tiny island off the coast of Cancun where you can rent a moped/golf cart and explore the entire island in a day. So much authentic Mexican culture preserved and a lot of amazing architecture
- Parque de las Palapas – a Mexican night market… for locals. You’ll be 1/3 tourist groups there. Churros, $3-5 food, incredibly friendly people, live music… and all for free
- Xplor – probably the coolest excursion you’ll find in the area. Zipline across 14 ziplines over the Mexican jungle (take about 2 hours), swim in underground Cenotes, drive a a Amphibious car through the jungle… it’s worth it.
- Cenote Swimming – fresh water pools in a cave. The photos are real and they’re as epic as they look.
Mexico (Quintana Roo in particular) has changed so much since I was young… but I think I love it more than I did when I was there last. There is such a unique energy to it all. It’s ripe for discovery and is extremely safe if you don’t go off the beaten path. The beauty is in the small shop owners, the coral on the beach, and the history that’s so celebrated.
Hasta la proxima vez, Mexico. Gracias por todo!
** This post was made in generous sponsorship by Le Chateau, Kiehl’s Canada, and Poppy and Peonies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
