Downtown, Dining, and a Day Pass

Sorry to the Expedia Dude that we probably got fired

Kurt and I originally booked our Tulum trip for three nights at Azulik, BUT…a few weeks before we were set to leave he had the best idea, “Katy, why don’t we call Expedia and modify the reservation for two nights so that we can try out another resort on the last night?”

It was a brilliant idea in theory, but of course it wasn’t that simple. The lovely man at Expedia who informed me that I would get a full refund for the last night at Azulik apparently swerved out of his lane into oncoming traffic, because when I called Expedia the next day, they acted like I was insane in the membrane. Eventually, I insisted that they play the recorded call in order to prove that I had indeed been told I would get a full refund (thank GOD, because rebooking would have been way more expensive). After the money was safely in my account, it was time to pick a place!

I had seen Mi Amor when searching for honeymoon destinations last year and was so taken with the design and intimacy of the place, so I knew it would be a perfect spot to book for our last night in Tulum (spoiler: it was perfection). But first, it’s time for a rundown of what we did before we got there!

Dining

When doing research for this trip, I devoured every single blog I could find on Pinterest. Ironically, we only ate at one place recommended in said blogs, and it was the only sub-par meal we had on the entire trip.

Bal Nak

Our first night, we drove into town and were determined to eat somewhere that we had heard of online. We parked at one of the public parking lots and walked past a random place with the friendliest host out front. It turns out, Bal Nak is a relatively new dining experience, and it was DIVINE. Rustic wooden tables in a modern jungle setting with string lights and spotless bathrooms? Just what we wanted.

Almost every restaurant in Tulum is open air, but that is part of the magic! Our waiter was such a sweet guy and even offered to take photos of us without being prompted. We never once had to ask for anything at this place.

We were served delicious food and drinks (the Bal Nak Mule is pictured below), and just soaked up how cool the vibe was. We ordered shrimp for an appetizer, and Kurt RAVED about it. The flavor profiles of everything were so well-developed and complex with every item we tasted. The black beans were the best I have ever eaten. For entrees, we had the pork belly and the roasted chicken. Needless to say, both plates were clean at the end of the meal. This place is truly impressive in every aspect and I cannot recommend it enough.

La Eufemia

I had read about this place in so. many. blogs. I couldn’t wait to try the “delicious tacos” and check out the beach (maybe even see the dog that inspired the name of the place). When we walked in, we were apparently “too early” and got turned away. When we came back at precisely 12pm, we were promptly ignored and then given mediocre service. We had nachos and tacos (which were BLAND because the waiter neglected to tell us about the toppings bar on the other side of the restaurant). The verdict? It’s a no for me dog.

Mina

After our subpar lunch, we made it our mission to redeem ourselves at dinner. We got hype and hopped in the rental car. We parked downtown and walked along the main road until we saw Mina, a restaurant that prides itself on delicious meats cooked over open fire. We honestly planned to stay for just an appetizer, but we couldn’t stop at that. Delicious drinks, guacamole that my avocado-phobic husband dove into like a basic white girl, and the MEAT? So. Freaking. Good. To top it off, we sat on the edge of the dining room that overlooked the beach. Put this on the to-do list, because we will be back here on our next trip to Tulum!

Day Pass at Intima

Because we checked out of Azulik at 10am and couldn’t check into Mi Amor until 3, Kurt had yet another brilliant idea: Get a day pass! He had apparently found Intima on a travel site, and knew that it was a small and intimate (duh) resort tucked away in town. Kurt skipped the online booking and directly emailed the front desk, who gladly let us have a room for the afternoon at a great rate! We had our pick of a rooftop jacuzzi or swim-out suite. We chose the swim-out, and to say we were blown away is an understatement.

The grounds of this walled-in resort are absolutely immaculate, and we had our own little jungle oasis for my birthday!

The rooms are comparable to something out of a modern decor magazine. Clean, fresh, and luxurious would be three words I would use to describe it, although they would fall woefully short. The room also included a kitchenette with a microwave, fridge, and toaster! After about 5 minutes, we were ready to book an extra night in Tulum just to come back and stay at Intima (unfortunately, the airline did not share in the free-spirited philosophy of us living our best life and flying by the seat of our pants…whatevs). BUT, we are going back this month!

The Food at Intima

Intima has both a restaurant and a beautiful swim-up pool bar. Unfortunately, we weren’t there long enough to try out the restaurant, but the pool bar spoke volumes! The staff was warm and friendly, and the bartender made the most delicious and refreshing margaritas. We ordered bean and cheese nachos with steak along with a chicken quesadilla, and we almost licked the plate. It was like your favorite Mexican restaurant on steroids. We loved it so much, we went back the next day for lunch as well! Also, Intima LOVES good Instagram content featuring the resort, and kindly asked to repost my photo and used several of my photos and videos in their story!)

Mi Amor

I will be honest…we were a little more than reluctant to leave Intima once it was time to check in at Mi Amor, but I knew that I had wanted to stay at this adorable boutique resort since I first saw it online last year…so we gave it a chance, and it more than delivered on the charm that I was expecting!

First off, the staff is SO friendly! We got welcome cocktails and a tour around the property. It’s a very small resort, but the grounds are stunning! The infinity pool and glass restaurant take your breath away right as you step onto the property.

The Food at Mi Amor

One definite plus to staying at Mi Amor is the food and beverages, as well as breakfast being included because that eggs Benedict changed my life *praise hands* I had lurked their food and drink menus before the plane even took off (I’m a stalker, I’m aware), so we knew we were about to throw down on some craft cocktails as soon as we got there. Their cocktails are named after famous couples, which jives with the whole “Amor” vibe they have going on. The “Sonny and Cher” was my personal favorite (don’t try it if you don’t enjoy Aperol).

Dinner was equally charming, and the short rib croquettes had us both staring at each other with that whole “can you believe how good this is?” look. The roasted chicken was so flavorful, and the beyond hospitable fellows working that night even presented me with this precious mango cheesecake for my birthday and sang to me! P.s this cheesecake alone is worth a visit to Mi Amor for a meal!

It was so nice, we’re going TWICE!

Yep, that’s right. We booked another trip for the end of this month, and can’t wait! Intima has great deals on their Instagram, and we jumped right on that ASAP.

We have had a lot of adventures, but Tulum is the most unique place we have ever been. Jungle roads with open air bars and cafes, boutiques with soft pastel dresses hanging in the windows, multi-colored produce stands with fruits stacked in perfect pyramids, macrame dreamcatchers blowing in the sea breeze and the fascinating promise of something different to see in every direction. Until next time, Tulum.

xoxo, That Basic Belle

Azulik Adventures

If you’ve been on Instagram say…ever, you’ve probably seen photos of Azulik. This eco-conscious paradise with it’s winding wooden pathways and deliberate (yet glamorously orchestrated) lack of modern amenities make it the perfect adventurous alternative to the cement encased mega-resorts that line the two hour drive between the Cancun Airport and the boho-chic town of Tulum. However; if you aren’t willing to fully embrace living like Tarzan and Jane for a few days, you might just want to play it safe.

Arrival at Azulik

Upon our arrival at Azulik, we were warmly greeted by the staff, who informed us that all parking was complimentary valet (super convenient), and we were led to the main lobby through a little jungle passage lined with tiki torches and rose water basins. I tried to act cool, but I’m pretty sure my mouth was open for the entire walk, because this place immediately shows you that it’s unlike anything you have ever seen before.

However beautiful, the smell of whatever hippie smoke they burn in those chalices will just about give you an immediate case of mesothelioma because it is GOD AWFUL. Kurt was also not a fan of the “welcome ceremony” which consists of them covering you in even more smoke and playing drums accompanied by the Spongebob magic conch being blown, but we had to get those demons out of him so we could enjoy the vacation, right?

Traveling in Azulik

Word to the wise: DO NOT BRING HEELS. Thank God I married a short man and didn’t even think of packing any, because you will surely break your neck and die. All of the paths at Azulik are made of natural materials, and are winding and irregular. The entire place is beautifully lit up by candles and soft globe lights at night, which is basically a majestic death trap for anything other than flat footwear. I’ve linked my favorite sandals here (they come in tons of colors)!

The Room

In case you were unaware, Azulik does not have air conditioning (unless you stay in the Oprah budget villas, which we were not doing). When we walked into our room, it was HOT. Absolutely stunning, but hot as Hades and panic immediately creeped into my brain. I was just about to run when our guide opened up both sets of french doors onto the balcony and the cool ocean breeze flooded the stifling room. So, to answer a burning question that leaves many people skeptical of this place…you WILL be okay without air conditioning. We left both sets of doors open at all times (yes, it was safe), and just kept the mosquito net around the bed closed. The breeze is pretty strong though, so I didn’t see any bugs or critters (other than lizards).

No Showers, but tons of Water

Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE a bath. Azulik shares that philosophy, and there are no showers in the rooms. Instead, there is a huge mosaic tile tub (complete with a hollowed out coconut bowl for rinsing). They also include the neatest all natural soaps, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, bath salts (which ended up in the jacuzzi) and aloe gel. I used their toiletries both days, so I should have left the Pantene at home, but this hanging travel organizer was such a space saver and even had slots for my makeup brushes!

There are showers for guest use behind the spa, if you are not a fan of the bathtub but even Kurt enjoyed it! The Mayan Villas also include a private hot tub on the deck (you can use it as a mini pool if you leave the heat off). Room service was awesome and filled it with clean water for us automatically on our second day.

Electricity at Azulik

Azulik has limited electricity (and Wi-Fi in common areas only), which we both needlessly worried about. There is one outlet in each room for charging devices or plugging small things in. If you plug a hairdryer in, you will probably blow the place up so I do not recommend that…BUT the outlet was strong enough to support the straightener that ended up staying in my suitcase during the whole trip. It is pointless to style your hair in any other fashion except for just slapping some product in it and hoping for the best. I used Monat air dry cream and curl cream, and it worked great! I also became a huge fan of the “half-up top knot” while on this trip, as well as the best beach hat that you can snag here. Kurt bought a rechargeable USB-powered fan that I used while putting my make-up on, and the beds have fans in the top of the mosquito nets to keep you cool while you sleep.

Every evening,  the staff lights all the candles in each room and across the resort, making everything look like something out of a dream. It was basically impossible to capture it on a phone camera after dark, but it was still magical before sundown.

Food and Drink at Azulik

I am well aware that I failed in my blogging duties because we did not eat at the famous Kin Toh restaurant with nets in the floor and nests on top of the roof. Upon checking into Azulik, you do get a certificate for the sunset ceremony up by the nests (which includes a free glass of champagne). We were going to do this on night #2, but as Kurt so aptly put it, “that looks like a hot crowded mess up there” and we opted out, instead snapping a picture of it from the bridge above our room. You can also it from below in the video I snapped one morning while exploring.

You can see the rooftop scene at Kin Toh in the distance. Sorry, we did not do it for the gram

Cenote is a more casual restaurant that is nestled beside the second lobby, and we ate there for breakfast both days. Tulum is a sleepy little town, and we were up before the sun on both days. Thankfully, Cenote opens at 7am and I was able to get my coffee fix. They also had “energizing” breakfast smoothies, which Kurt fell in love with. He later stated that he felt like he could run 25 kilometers through the jungle after we ALMOST made it to the biosphere, but that’s a story for my next post. I had these beautiful banana cream cheese waffles two days in a row because they were so delicious!

We also visited the beach bar both days (think delicious gallon-sized mojitos), and enjoyed the swing seats that overlooked the beach. Azulik’s beach has loungers and daybeds, as well as giant hammocks that you can climb up into via rope ladder. The bar and drink service is great on the beach, and I honestly regret not trying the overpriced guacamole!

There is also a third restaurant on the property that serves Japanese fare called Tseen Ja, but we only snuck in one morning for a neat photo because it was connected to our room’s building via upstairs bridge.

All-in-all, we had heard that the dining at Azulik was extremely pricey, and wanted to get out and experience the town of Tulum, so I stick by our decision to miss out on the whole “Azulik dine in a nest” deal. However, I might try it if we weren’t staying at the resort. Azulik is definitely something that has to be seen if you are ever in Tulum.

Cliffnotes instead of Cenotes

The Bottom Line

Azulik is certainly an experience that I will never forget, but I can understand why it gets mixed reviews. While the resort is undeniably beautiful and a paradise for photo enthusiasts, there is staff EVERYWHERE. When just casually walking around, they seem to pop out of nowhere (which sucked when we were trying to peek into the high dollar villas). We had to lie and say we were thinking about upgrading for the night (at the bargain price of $500, who could resist?) *eye rolls self into next dimension*

Surprisingly, the disconnect from modern conveniences like wi-fi and electricity didn’t really bother us. Like I said, you have to be willing to completely immerse yourself in the Azulik “join the tribe” mentality. We made a promise that we were going to put our hearts and souls into this trip, and it paid off tenfold.  My motto has been for a long time, “Never touch anything with half of your heart,” and I feel like Kurt and I truly lived by this while in Tulum.

Without hesitation, I recommend Azulik for couples who need a romantic escape, but also might need a little “assistance” provided by the sheer beauty (and lack of Wi-fi) that Azulik boasts, basically forcing you to stop and enjoy the moment. My hyperactive husband sat in the hot tub with me for hours and braided my hair one night. You read that right, Kurt Gerald does a mean braid. You’d be amazed at what happens when you can’t just turn Netflix on!

xoxo, That Basic Belle

 

 

If you’ve never been in a Burke’s Outlet, I’ll go ahead and tell you that you’re missing out. I would describe it as a step or two below TJ Maxx, but cleaner and brighter than Ross (not trying to throw shade, but it’s seriously dark in there). There isn’t as much name brand gold here, but there are some surprisingly cute and refreshingly affordable finds. Spoiler: I left with a ceramic curling iron for TEN DOLLARS!…and yes, it worked like a charm (check out the curls in my Easter pic).

I decided to write this post because lately I’ve felt that ugly tug of comparison in the back of my brain. I see these bloggers with their lovely cohesive feeds, all with the same perfect filter and then look at mine, a patchwork of 5 or 6 different color schemes and I forget to give myself grace because my feed doesn’t look like a delicious pink cloud of perfection. This caused a serious realization:

QUIT TRYING TO BE “THAT GIRL.”

If your pictures look unprofessional, that’s okay. It’s a learning curve Kate! (Lightroom Preset advice and recommendations welcome because I have no idea what I’m doing) *facepalm emoji*

I wanted to start writing because I genuinely enjoy the process, but I realize that social media has made us believe that we have to have all these expensive things to be “a legit blogger.” …not that I wouldn’t love to have a bright pink Gucci bag and not have to say to myself “this is dumb because it’ll only match like 1% of my stuff,” but I digress. Whether or not I have a hot pink Gucci bag, my writing is uniquely mine and so is my style. I am just an ordinary girl writing about my life and learning more about self-love every day.

There is an art to appreciating others without comparing, so maybe this post will help some of my beautiful newfound blogger friends starting on this journey and wrestling their own demons of comparison and trying to love themselves in the process. As Carrie Bradshaw once said, “We were dressed from head to toe in love… the only label that never goes out of style.”

My fashion philosophy has always been as follows: spend your big bucks on some staple pieces that will be used often, and then supplement your wardrobe with a variable price range of items that speak to YOU. For example, I carry a Louis Vuitton as my everyday purse, because I know it will go with everything and will last forever. I hate buying something expensive and then wearing it once for a special occasion only for it to be relegated to the back of the closet forever because “everyone has already seen me in that” DON’T LIE, you say it too! Here’s where Burke’s Outlet comes in. Don’t want to spend a fortune but want to look cute (and not feel guilty if you don’t wear it again)? Here you go! My lovely sister and I were feeling summery, so we had a blast doing a “pretend vacation” fitting room haul!

The Bottom Line

These clothes may not be designer, but we honestly had the best time picking things out and laughing in the dressing room. Not to mention the steal I got on that curling iron! Most of my favorite wardrobe pieces came from TJ Maxx or Poshmark, and there is no shame in that. I have just as much fun writing this blog as a girl with 100,000 followers does. We all have different goals and paths, and that is beautiful. Like people always say, Jesus only had 12 followers. It’s easy to get caught up in the mentality of wanting more than you have, but confidence and kindness looks just as good in a $5 romper as it does in a $1000 evening gown. It’s been a long road for me, but you can rock anything when you learn to love yourself and be unashamed in your skin.

XOXO, That Basic Belle

The Resort

FIRST OF ALL…let’s get one thing straight. It isn’t pronounced like most of us have been saying it (Ann-tee-gwah). As soon as we got there, we made sure to ask the first available bartender. Now that we have the preliminaries aside, let’s talk about this holy grail of vacation spots.

My husband and I wanted to go somewhere unusual, but WHY is it so hard to find a resort with rooms that don’t resemble the finest Myrtle Beach Holiday Inn with mushroom fountains in the pool?! It took us a while to find this hidden gem, but I will tell you that it was worth all 127 visits to various travel websites and blogs. Keyonna Beach Resort is everything you want in a resort, yet nothing you would expect. If you love big mega-resorts with dumped out buffet food and screaming youngins, this place is NOT for you. First of all, the entire lobby and dining area is open. The dark wooden floors and paneling are such a dreamy contrast with the white sand beach (like RIGHT in front of you) and the white cushions on the multitude of couches and daybeds are just icing on the cake. Whoever designed this place was a genius. I was so relaxed, sometimes I felt like I was just a step or two above a coma…just kidding. But not really.

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The Rooms

After the lobby, I didn’t think this resort could get any better. I WAS WRONG. The walk from the lobby (guided by the amazing Clint), was a charming sidewalk bordered by bright green plants, pink flowers, and palm trees. The resort is super small (less than 50 rooms), so it’s easy to walk from room, to beach, to bar, to pool (on repeat). Fortunately, we got a a corner room right across from the main pool. All rooms have the same dark floors that I mentioned in the lobby, completed with crisp-looking white linens and canopies… AND THERE ARE NO INDOOR SHOWERS. That’s right, each room has a secluded little outdoor shower with two rainfall shower heads. It’s going to be hard to top standing in the outdoor shower drinking a Carib (my FAVORITE beer) and listening to the ocean. Kurt wants one at home, but the surroundings in Conway just aren’t that majestic. The rooms are also equipped with double sinks, closet areas, private porches with Adirondack chairs, and a mini fridge that is stocked daily.

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Sheer Rocks

Of course, we spent most of our vacation lounging on the luxurious Bali beds that Keyonna provided, but we did go outside the resort several times for activities. Saturday night started off with a trip to Sheer Rocks (driven by the AMAZING Cordell…more on him later). When you arrive at Cocobay Resort, your breath is taken away by the GORGEOUS views. This is like something out of another world. I was waiting on a unicorn to fly by us. BUT…the food at this place is BOUGI. We like to think that we are sophisticated people, but we had to google some menu items. I love raw fish as much as the next person, but nah. The prices are in Eastern Caribbean Dollars (but are still expensive when converted to US dollars). Our overall impression? Views were a 10, and the food was a 2. Once we figured this out, we jetted after drinks and appetizers and headed back to Keyonna for DELICIOUS shrimp pasta with rum sauce, conch fritters, and jerk pork! Not to mention that the sommelier, Rohan, had the perfect white wine to pair with the meal.

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Shirley Heights

After searching Pinterest…and asking a random dude on the plane, we were convinced that we HAD to do Shirley Heights on Sunday night. AND WE WERE SO RIGHT. This is basically a huge community party hosted every Sunday night on top of a mountain overlooking the harbor. The views are unreal, but then they threw in authentic jerk food AND music. I’m still craving that potato salad TBH. We danced the night away (the band even did a cover of “Believe” by Cher to every drunk girl’s delight). Kurt bought a random maraca from a toothless man and backed it up like nobody’s business. Our driver, Cordell, was absolutely the best for putting up with my crazy husband (still shaking said maraca), and then taking us to a local bar for a hot dog and a beer after the party. It was one of the best nights ever. Bottom line: DO NOT GO TO ANTIGUA WITHOUT A SUNDAY NIGHT AT SHIRLEY HEIGHTS.

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Perspectives from Home

Now that we’re home, I’m even more grateful for a trip like this. I’m so glad that I married someone who loves to travel as much as I do (even if he wants to kill me for checking a bag with all my 900 outfits instead of a carry-on). I’m currently bugging him about our next adventure. One thing is for sure though, the travel bug has bitten the Geralds. Next project? Finding a carry-on sized bag to fit all of my “necessities.” SUGGESTIONS WELCOME!

xoxo, That Basic Belle

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