This past Christmas, I decided to take a much-needed vacation. I usually spend this time with family but do to COVID-19 restrictions, I was unable to do so. Because I did not want to be alone for the holidays, I grabbed one of my gal pals and took a trip to Cabo, Mexico. Yes, I know COVID-19 is still on the rise around the world, especially in the U.S. I was a little hesitant to go at first but with lots of prayer and research, the trip was amazing, so I wanted to give a full recap in the event you decide to take a trip.
Flight
We decided to fly Southwest because I love the fact that you can check two free bags. Also, their flights are usually reasonable. I flew through Hobby Airport here in Houston, Texas. As expected, it was mandatory to have your mask on while in the airport. We had to be socially distant while going through TSA pre-check as well. We were not required to be socially distant when waiting to onboard but for the most part, everyone remained 6 feet apart and wore mask unless they were eating or drinking something.
One thing I was a bit nervous about was the fact that the flight was full and there wasn’t any space between seating. Luckily my friend and I were the only people on our row, however, there were people in the front and back of us. I made sure to wipe down my seat and the area around me with Lysol wipes. I also kept the air above me circulating just to help with breathing. In-flight food and drink options were minimized to only water and a snack, even for first class. The flight attendants made sure we did not keep our masks off for too long and they collected the items we wanted to discard quickly. Overall, the flight experience wasn’t bad at all. The only call out I have was not spacing us out during the flight.
Hotel
We stayed at the Riu Palace Baja California. This location is the newest of three Riu Resorts and they all are walking distance from one another. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the hotel only allowed 50% capacity. Upon arrival our bags were sprayed with a cleaning substance and separated to dry. We then were required to stand in another cleaning substance with our shoes on and get our temperature checked before entering the resort.
While checking in we were required to be socially distant and the counters had a protective shield between the guest and the employees. The resort did a great job with having signs hung in many different areas reminding you to wear a mask and stay 6 feet apart. Only 2 people were allowed on the elevator and there was floor signage encouraging you to be 6ft apart.
Food
Normally at an all-inclusive you can have room service throughout the day at any point of your stay. Due to COVID-19, room service was not provided. Instead, the hotel allowed you to come to a designated area that had all of the items you would receive on the room service menu. There was a barricade to keep you from serving yourself or touching the food. A staff member was always there to service you the options you wanted. Though I really missed the convenience of having room service, I totally understood and appreciated them eliminating the service for now.
Before entering any of the Resort restaurants, we were required to wear a mask, have our temperature checked and sanitize our hands. The seating areas were all 6 feet apart and the waitstaff always had their mask on. Overall, I was very pleased with the way the hotel handled the food process.
Amenities Pool
The lounging area at the pool was placed 6ft apart. The pool area was a bit different. I didn’t really see any mandate as it related to people being socially distant in the pool however the resort had 3 different pools, some were empty, and others were pretty full. You have to use your better judgement and decided which pool area is more comfortable to you. Mask were not required while in the pool which makes sense to me if you are swimming however there were some people who wore them in the pool and some who did not.
Spa
Spa services were by appointment only. We were required to have our temperature checked before getting services and a mask was required to enter. We had our own room that was enclosed as well. The staff wore mask and gloves while providing services but upon your request, they will take the gloves off. The spa area was very clean and free of clutter.
Activities
We ventured off the resort a bit to do a few activities. We took a boat to Lovers Beach and it was beautiful. During the ride we wore our mask and so did the boat captain. While on the beach everyone stayed with their party for the most part so no issues there. We also had dinner at a restaurant on the beach called ” The Office”. The food was delicious, the waitstaff was nice and the tables were six feet apart.
We also wanted to experience the night life so we went to a nightclub. A mask was required to get in, you also had to have your own section and wasn’t allowed to walk around unless going to the restroom are the bar. we were allowed the take your mask off when we were in our own section.
In closing, my Cabo experience was amazing! The resort as well as the other places we ventured off to did their best to ensure they were keeping everyone safe. Ultimately, we as consumers have to do our part as well to abide by the safety measures that are put in place. Hope this recap helps and comment below if you have any additional questions.
March 9, 2021
