Girls Getaway Guide News

Before this trip, I heard a lot of concern regarding safety. Some people even tried to talk me out of going on this trip. But the reality is, although there is some areas of concern in Mexico, Cancun is as far away from those areas as LA is from Chicago. Where exactly is Cancun? It is located in the northern part of the southeastern Mexican state of Quintana Roo. The island of Cancun is in the shape of a "7" and is bordered to the north by the Bahia de Mujeres; to the east by the Caribbean Sea; and to the west by the Nichupte Lagoon. Cancun, the gateway to Mexico and the Mayan world and the country's most popular tourist destination, offers luxurious hotel infrastructure with more than 28,000 rooms, and is Mexico's most beautiful and stylish destination. Opportunities for new experiences are everywhere, as the setting brings you into contact with both nature and Mayan culture like nowhere else. Cancun...here I come!

After checking in to the Le Meridien Cancun Resort & Spa (http://tinyurl.com/g6jhj),

I made the most of the late afternoon with lunch and cocktails on the beach (Cancun's beaches just underwent a $71 million restoration), then unpacked and got fully rested for tomorrow's adventures. After all, I had been awake since 3:00 a.m.

Our buffet breakfast that morning at Le Meridien was a meet and greet. With about 15 people on our trip from all over the U.S. and Canada, we were doing good just to remember everyone's names, much less where they were from. Cancun Fashion Show

We got on the bus and made our way to the beautiful La Amada Hotel (www.LaAmadaHotel.com) to see Spanish fashion designer Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's (www.AgathaRuizdelaPrada.com) photo shoots. Since several of our group members are fashion editors for major publications, they interviewed Agatha about her fashions, inspirations and why she chose Cancun for this line's fashion show and photo shoot.

We also got to speak with and see fashions Runway Model at Fashion Show

from Mexican-based designers, such as Erica Flores and David Salomon. After a late lunch at La Amada, we bused back to Le Meridien for some more beach time. Although we had just met, the group bonded pretty quickly as new acquaintances quickly became friends.

Monday morning's agenda included snorkeling in the Underwater Museum with Aquaworld (www.Aquaworld.com.mx). The museum will eventually consist of more than 400 permanent life-size sculptures, becoming one of the largest and most ambitious underwater artificial attractions in the world. After the swim, a few of us hammed it up with the crew who furnished the sombreros and oversize bottle of beer.

We arrived back at La Amada for the ocean side fashion show, Cancun & The Treasures of the Caribbean. The setting was beautiful and we quickly took our seats in the front row facing the ocean. With champagne in hand, we watched the fashions as they made their way down the catwalk. Designers included: Pineda - Covalin, Erica Flores, Daniel Espinosa, David Salomon and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. After the fashion show and outdoor reception, we joined the designers and Mexican dignitaries for dinner at La Amada, which included gastronomical tastings by some of the area's top chefs.

While some of us had "too much fun" the night before, the adventure seekers woke up the next morning to an exciting day! Gearing up for zip line

We arrived at Selvatica (www.Selvatica.com.mx), an award winning attraction in Cancun, and quickly got geared up for our 12-station zip line experience (and getting dressed was half the fun; well, maybe 15%). With helmets, cables, and straps all in place (and in places you didn't know existed), it was time to climb up and zip through Mexico's lush, tropical canopy. It was such a great feeling to effortlessly glide over the treetops. I must have looked like an expert zipper because at my third station, the guys decided to turn me upside down and send me over. I won't lie; I was a little scared and not quite ready to be upside down traveling at high speeds without any knowledge of how I would stop once I reached the other side. Here's the video: http://tinyurl.com/ybcstjp. My apologies to Cheech, once again, for kicking him.

After the zip line fun, we climbed into Selvatica's

army trucks for a quick ride to the Cenote, which is a freshwater sinkhole where we enjoyed more zip lining fun. This time, however, we let go mid-zip and plunged into the water. We had so much fun and were disappointed to leave, but we were starving and a delicious lunch was waiting for us back at Selvatica's headquarters.

Selvatica also offers horseback riding, night zip lining, Segway tours, corona buggy adventures and more, so be sure to stop by next time you are in Mexico. There's a reason they are ranked the #1 attraction in Mexico.

Our next stop was El Cid Marina for a sunset sail and snorkel. We boarded the boat and left the harbor excited to see the sun covering the top of our boat, which made for the perfect sunning deck. Some of us snorkeled the reef and some stayed on the boat enjoying Bloody Marys. But the party started when crew member Mario unveiled a shot glass and tequila. No one could say no to him, and we felt like we were in college on Spring Break! Guess he knew I needed to "Leave Your Baggage at Home®."

I finished the trip with a lovely group meal at Le Meridien, where we reminisced about our short time together and exchanged contact information in order to stay in touch. Thank you Le Meridien, Cancun CVB and Cessie Cerrato for a fantastic trip to Cancun! Adios Cancun.