When you walk into a resort for the first time, you can typically tell within a few short minutes what the rest of your days there will look like. For me, pulling up to Finest Playa Mujeres in a stretch limo and being handed a glass of champagne was frankly beyond my wildest dreams, and set the stage for a uniquely tailored experience in a five-star location during my second experience in Cancún.
My sister Caitlin and I were staying in Building 6—the Excellence Club—which was an adults-only area of the family-friendly resort. Adults-only and family-friendly sections of Finest are clearly marked, and pretty equally matched across this stunning, contemporary resort. Although we were excited to get out and explore as soon as we were finished with private check-in at the Excellence Club lounge, both of us were winded from our travel days and went straight for the 24-hour room service. I tell ya, anywhere I go, a plate of french fries makes me feel instantly at home.
Our first morning, we took advantage of our beautiful rooftop terrace views with fresh espresso from our in-room machine (yes, please). One of my favorite things about resort vacations is that all you have to do in the morning is slip on a swimsuit, slather on some sunscreen, toss your book in a bag and head out—so that was exactly what we did.
But, of course, there's more to do at Finest than just relax on a cushioned beach chair and tackle your reading list. There is an open-air billiards room that Caitlin and I stopped at more than once with a fun and gigantic chess board (bucket list item!), a pool table, and ping pong. We spent one afternoon kayaking off the beach, which was a grand ol' time; we got some exercise, a little tan, and saw some beautiful views of the resort and Isla Mujeres from off the shore! Afterwards, a very necessary stop was ONE Spa for a hydrotherapy treatment and massage. The entire spa facility was as beautiful as you'd expect, set up with warming chairs, a sauna, and rocking beds that made me feel like a baby in a cradle—not a care in the world.
My favorite part of any resort never changes: the beach. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, we have beaches for days, but they're cold, grey, and rocky—I didn't see a proper tropical beach until I was twenty-two, and the experience was more than I thought it could be. Sitting in powdery white sand watching the pink and orange skies as the sun sets—that moment just before twilight—is what I started to live for during long winters after I moved to Minneapolis. The Finest Excellence Club beach was clean and spacious, and dappled with luxury cabanas and beach chairs under adorable straw palapas. The perfect place to watch the waves roll in and out.
Our time was spent pretty evenly between lounging and eating, which is just the way I like it. Our concierge Gerardo spoke so highly of every restaurant that he had a hard time narrowing down one recommendation. Most of them can be found in the main lobby—the Market Kitchen (buffet), Brass Steakhouse, Tinto & Tapas (tapas bar), Lizo (Mexican), Le Petit Plaser (French), and Shoji (Japanese). The tapas bar was a fun place to spend our first evening out, since we got to try so many small plates, and got lucky with live music in the background. I even enjoyed the Steakhouse, despite the fact that I don't eat meat, because there exists the most magical cheese empanada that I'm still dreaming about. We saved Shoji for a night toward the end of our trip for a refreshing change of pace after a week of rich and spicy Mexican, Spanish, and Italian food. There's nothing like a good avocado roll.
Besides just dining, there are a ton of places to hang out and relax around Finest. One of my favorites was The Sweet Corner, which makes my number one favorite Mexican delicacy: flaming coffee. Your liquor of choice (mine is Irish whiskey and Baileys) is lit on fire, mixed with espresso and topped with fresh whipping cream. It was Caitlin's first time trying it (she went with amaretto) and I'm happy to report she was as enchanted by it as I am. If you're looking for something caffeine-free, they have a ton of delicious ice cream flavors in a fun revolving freezer.
And just about everywhere you turn, there is a bar or lounge to post up at with a mojito or a margarita or just soda water and lime (my personal preference), and none of them are ever too full, which is a relief. Resorts with swim-up bars are always toward the top of my list, and Finest has two to choose from!
As you can see, Caitlin and I greatly enjoyed our lovely and relaxing week at Finest and I hope you enjoy the rest of the photos from our stay—it was simply unforgettable.
Thank you to Finest Playa Mujeres and Funjet Vacations for sponsoring this post.
