Hotel Akumal Caribe Reopens
Over the years, I truly have no idea how many reviews, recommendations, group itineraries and events I have written about or mentioned Hotel Akumal Caribe. I came through the Akumal arch on my 3rd trip to Mexico and have been returning ever since.
After being in lock-down for 3+ months we were dying to get away. We couldn’t travel far because here in Mexico several areas are still on very strict lock-down. We didn’t want to go some place that would put us in contact with a lot of tourists and we wanted to be sure without a doubt that we were safe and secure. That is when we decided to go spend a few nights in Akumal. I knew Hotel Akumal Caribe would be safe, clean and would welcome us with open arms, even though they could not embrace us literally! We also knew how rough it has been to keep the staff paid and supported with absolutely no revenue coming in, so we wanted to help anyway we could. In addition, it was a place that Manito loves to visit! After all, his Madrina (Godmother) lives there.
So, we packed up our bags and made a reservation for two nights. Ocean-front room surrounded by palms trees, right on the beach and next to the pool! What more could we possibly want? Driving only 17 minutes south may seem ridiculous to some, but to me it was like going home! And to be here with practically the entire bay and beach to ourselves was HEAVEN!
The steps Hotel Akumal Caribe has taken to assure the health and safety of their guests as well as their staff is impressive. Many may not even notice a change. Staffing decisions were based on employee needs. Those who were financially responsible for families, for instance, were brought back first. Those who had to travel far to get home were allowed to stay and given room and board. Staff members that stayed on throughout the pandemic lock-down continued to work, but for most, if not all, it was not in their regular positions. For example, a chef who would have had to travel to Mexico City to go home, may have stayed and cleaned the beaches, worked to keep the property maintained or whatever needed to be done. These are the same steps that impressed me when I came down right after Hurricane Wilma. Everyone was more than willing to step outside their comfort zone and expertise to do what needed to be done. Not only does that benefit the resort and assure it will be ready to open as soon as possible, but it also instills a deep feeling of respect and ownership in the property. It no longer is just the place you do your regular job, the connection goes deeper than that. You can feel this with the staff, even though you can’t really put your finger on why.
Staff is now working in 2 weeks shifts, the first half to return were those with children and family members for whom they were financially responsible. In two weeks, there will be a shift change and this will continue until they can return to full staff. The selection was not taken lightly and the staff members were all involved in the decision process.
In addition to the staff schedules, there are many safety procedures in place to assure cleanliness and safety. Some are hard changes to make, for example, Hotel Akumal Caribe has worked very hard over the years to be an environmentally friendly resort, like reducing the amount of plastics used. Right now, however, the regulations require they use those plastics they long ago discarded. For instance, each towel and linen is individually placed in a plastic bag, each item and utensil in the rooms is individually wrapped in plastic or saran wrap to assure your safety and lack of contamination. They know these steps are necessary for combating Covid-19, and as soon as the threat is over they will go back to more eco-friendly ways.
Upon arriving, wearing your mask, you are greeted at the reception area, you step on pads that clean the bottom of your feet, hand sanitizer is given and your temperature is taken. These steps are also at the entrance to the resort and the entrance to Lolha. There are plastic shields at the reception desk, and all staff wears masks and protective glasses, regardless of their position.
Masks are required when you enter or are walking around the restaurant. The entire resort is limited to 30% capacity at this time.
The cleaning doesn’t stop there, the entire property is sanitized after each use and several times a day. Employees are required to wash their hands every 30 minutes or more. Each morning every lounge chair is sanitized. After each use, tables and chairs at the restaurant and on property are disinfected.
The beaches are not officially open, but if you are enjoying the beach bar or staying at the hotel you are able to enjoy the bay. The nice thing about the resort is we were able to get our lounge chair and set it up in the sand under the palapa and go between that and a chair in the sun near the pool. Speaking of the pool, it is one of my favorite pools around. I love it because it is perfect for morning laps, deep enough to dive right in and the view!!! We brought our floats with us and enjoyed floating in the pool, feeling the warm tropical trade winds and gazing at the Caribbean Sea lined with palm trees. Manito enjoyed finding a cool spot in the shade to nap.
The beach bar is the only restaurant open and it has a limited menu – breakfast until 11 and snack and entrees until 8. I’ll write more about that separately, but I will say they also took every precaution necessary, which included going above those required. They even provide a downloadable menu to your phone so you never have to touch a menu. If you choose the menu, it is laminated and cleaned thoroughly after each use.
We have not gone without restaurant food during our lock-down, but delivery and pick up is not the same as being waited on! I realized just how much I missed being waited on! Lolha’s staff did not disappoint! And the food, well, as I said, that’s for another article!
We had such a lovely time that on our second morning, when it was time to start packing, we decided to extend our stay another night. It wasn’t that the conditions were perfect, some sargasso has started to drift in and the crews were working hard to eliminate it. The skies were not a bright tropical blue because the sand was starting to arrive from the Sahara, but it was just so peaceful and relaxing that we were just not ready to leave. One more day was just what we needed. And as we checked out I have to admit we booked 2 more nights next month! I am really loving having my favorite home away from home just down the road. And soon we hope to be able to expand our little get-aways to more places around the Yucatan, but for now, this makes me happy, and knowing we are helping the staff we care so much for just makes it better.
By the way, if you would like to help the staff, if you frequent Hotel Akumal Caribe and/or Lolha Restaurant but can’t get down here right now, please visit their facebook page - Friends of the Lolha/Hotel Akumal Caribe Staff Covid-19 Relief Fund community page! Link to Paypal Money Pool for contributions to help assist our friends at Lolha and Hotel Akumal Caribe:
https://paypal.me/pools/c/8pVUgJcM08