Our Trip to Playa del Carmen in July/August 2020

After a number of cancelled trips during the COVID pandemic, we decided to go and enjoy our Playa home for a couple weeks. Let me first say that the decision to travel, the need to take extra precautions to keep yourself and others safe, and the need to weigh the risks is a very personal, individual choice. For those who may be considering, I want to share our experience so that you, too, can make the best choice for you.

Getting There

The process of flying out of Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was no different than we had experienced many times previously, with the exception of there being very few people. The parking lot had a fraction of the amount of cars it generally does. Everyone, employees and travelers wear masks at all times. Check in and passing through security was the same with only a brief removal of our mask when they verified the picture on our passports. In the terminal there were various stations with hand sanitizer, however we took additional personal precaution by bringing Chlorox Wipes and wiped down all seats before we sat.

We fly Southwest Airlines, almost exclusively. They had suspended all flights into Cancun International late March but then reopened, at a limited capacity, early July. While our flight selection wasn’t optimal, we were pleased by the additional attention they took to our safety. The maximum they would fill a flight would be 66% capacity as they are leaving the middle seats open in each row. Instead of all lining up to get onto the flight they only allowed 10 to board at a time with clear social distance markers on the floor. All flight staff wore masks and they very clearly stated that masks would be required for all passengers to wear at all times. They offered only a very limited snack and water service and the staff was seated much more than usual to encourage more distancing as much as possible. I missed my in-flight cocktail but the additional safety was worth the wait.

At the Cancun Airport

We flew into Terminal 4 and I think the majority of all activity has been concentrated through this terminal at this time. The process of departing the airplane and going through customs was the same process we were familiar with the exception of again, fewer travelers, and social distance markers. Not only did the lack of people assist in our feeling of safety but we got through in record time.

Because we stay for an extended time and we often have the homeowners tasks of trips to HomeDepot, etc while we are there, we rented a car through Enterprise. This is where we started to see a significant difference in the level of health safety that they presented in Mexico. As we approached the Enterprise counter, everyone was given a healthy squirt of hand sanitizer. After taking the shuttle to the main site (the shuttle driver wore a mask) we walked onto a mat to sanitize our shoes and were given another dose of hand sanitizer. This was the beginning of a routine we would be seeing throughout our stay.

Arrival to Vista del Mar at Marea34

The Marea34 Building Team has been focusing their attention on the safety of the owners and guests. They have hand sanitizer at the desk. Signs are posted in the elevator encouraging people to use their elbows to push buttons instead of hands. They have increased cleaning of the common and high touch areas of the elevator, doors, and the pool area. The gym area was available for use but it is locked between guests so that the staff can ensure it is properly cleaned and sanitized between use. I knew our condo would be cleaned because of the additional measures I had put in place with my own cleaning staff with the use of disinfecting and sanitizing products as well as special attention to high-touch areas including remote controls, door knobs, light switches, etc.

Shopping & Dining

In comparison to what I am familiar with in the United States, this is where one can see and witness the largest difference in promotion of health safety. Everyone is required to wear a mask, even walking down 5th Avenue most, including ourselves wore a mask continuously. Each time you entered a store or restaurant the process was the same: Step on the mat to sanitize the bottoms of your shoes, receive a squirt of their hand sanitizer (they did the squirting so that you did not touch their bottle and again, it was always a lot), get your temperature taken, and then you can enter. Some even recorded your name to document the number of people in the establishment at any one time. In a larger store like Mega Soriana (grocery), Walmart, and HomeDepot, only 1 member of the family can be in the store at a time. Some restrict access to those under 18. All carts were clearly sanitized between customers. The traditional volunteer baggers at the end of the grocery lines are no longer there. You must bag your own.

Many restaurants were open, especially in our area, but about 30% of the normal restaurants and vendors were still closed. The southern half of 5th Avenue is being renovated which has caused more business there to remain closed. Most restaurants have removed their physical menus and have moved to a QR Code that can be scanned with a menu viewable on your phone. All restaurants had increased the spaces between tables and the volume of patrons was low compared to our previous experiences. Many are also offering To Go and Delivery options.

Beaches

While we were there public access to the beaches remained closed and monitored. I enjoy an early morning walk to the beach to see the sunrise and I was happy to be able to continue this tradition. You don’t traditionally have to worry about social distancing on the beach at 6am. However, I can say that one morning by 6:30am there were officers patrolling who kindly asked me to leave.

Some Beach Clubs have opened to allow for appropriate measures to ensure social distancing of their guests while offering the opportunity to enjoy la playa. Grand Corasol, Xpu-Ha and Akumal all have clubs where your entrance fee of 200-250 pesos allows you access and goes toward your purchase of food and drink. We enjoyed two beautiful days at Grand Corasol and one day in Akumal after dining in Lol-Ha Restaurant.

With the restrictions very, very slowing and methodically being lifted in the area, a notice came out on August 7, 2020 indicating the opening of public beach access on August 20, 2020.

What else is there to do?

While some of the options for excursions remain closed like trips to see the ruins of Tulum, Coba, and Chichen Itza, some small group options still remain. On this trip we took the opportunity to go kayaking and snorkeling with Soliman Bay Tours toward Tulum and went diving with the team from Diversity Diving. (Both are featured as some of our Preferred Vendors.) Adventure Parks like Xcerat, Xplor and XelHa are open with limited capacity and the same social distancing, mask, temperature and sanitization requirements as other businesses. Local Cenotes are open also with limited capacity. Cenote Azul was beautiful as always.

And of course, you can never go wrong with the rooftop pool at Vista del Mar. With the refreshing water and the breathtaking view, you can never go wrong.

Leaving Playa del Carmen

Unfortunately, after a nice vacation, it was time for us to leave. As most of the activity through Cancun International Airport has been consolidated to Terminal 4 there were more people that I had seen in any facility during our entire trip. Upon check in we had to complete an additional questionnaire regarding our current health, declare all previous travel, and report our flight and seat number. When passing through security we walked passed an area where temperatures were being monitored by a scanner. Once in the terminal, we found an area to sit, isolated from others, and upon wiping the seats myself I saw an airport employee walking around doing the same.

Is it time to travel to Mexico?

I again want to stress that this is a very personal decision. Everyone has their own personal views and comfort level and no one should ever challenge how one feels. For us, we were happy to be back in Playa. Now that I am back in the States I feel funny not sanitizing my hands as I am entering a store. My temperature has not been taken once. I was extremely pleased with what I experienced in Playa del Carmen and I felt my personal safety and the safety of their local community was being considered at all times. As humans we are explorers and for some of us, travel and exploration is what relaxes us most. I hope we can all learn from this pandemic. Learn how to better take care of ourselves and others but to do so while still living. Find a way to get back to doing what you love. You might have to do it a bit differently but we must still enjoy life.