First visit to Lagunamar: questions

[Politico]

Looking forward to our first Lagunamar stay. We take advantage of the grills and kitchens and cook our own meals at all the other Westin properties and plan to do the same in Cancun. Where can we get groceries (other than the resort grocery store)? Is there a local fish market? We will not have a car so what shuttle service or public transportation options are there? My son has severe food allergies so we are very "brand specific" when buying food.....which I suspect means the very local grocery stores are not an option for us.

Another question: what can we expect when arriving at the airport? We have two young children so the more we can anticipate and plan for the better.

 

[canesfan]

There is public transportation to a large grocery store and not an expensive cab ride if you buy enough you don't want to take the bus back. There is also another grocery store within a good walk away from the hotel. There are US brands or very similar.
Arrange for transportation beforehand. The airport is crazy with people trying to get you to take rides. If you arrange it beforehand it will be less expensive and they will have a person that meets you with a sign.

 

[DeniseM]

Make sure the kids are up to date on all the immunizations, because you may come into contact with people who have never had immunizations. *Check with your doctor.

 

[dioxide45]

I would suggest booking round trip transportation to and from the airport in advance. We have used USA Transfers.

As to groceries, if you are brand specific, I would perhaps try to bring as much brand specific items as you can. While you may find some of the same brands, you aren't going to have the kind of selection you are used to in the US. Also, not sure how easy it will be shopping with two kids in tow. You might want to just have one person go for groceries. With that I would stick with the markets in the Hotel Zone and take a cab to and from. Others will have ideas on places near buy, but you don't need to be tied to the on site market.

 

[DeniseM]

The resort also offers a grocery service - you will have to check with them and see if you can order specific brands:

https://www.vistana.com/destination...04_SVN_WLOR_SPECIALCONDITIONS#groceryServices

 

[SMHarman]

Make sure the kids are up to date on all the immunizations, because you may come into contact with people who have never had immunizations. *Check with your doctor.

What do immunizations have to do with allergies? Or is this general health advice and I'm the one conflating. Parents equally should have immunizations if yiu go down that route.
Of course most children in the US school system have to be immunized*

* religulous exemptions excepted

 

[SMHarman]

My son has severe food allergies so we are very "brand specific" when buying food.....which I suspect means the very local grocery stores are not an option for us.

If you care to share, what specific allergies, I've travelled there with an egg, tree and ground nut allergy kid.

 

[DeniseM]

Per OP:

We have two young children so the more we can anticipate and plan for the better.

BTW - children in the US who aren't in school yet, go to private schools, or are home schooled, do not have to be immunized, and it is easy to get behind on the immunizations.

Also - children don't get their first measles immunization until 12-15 months of age, so children under that age haven't been immunized against the measles at all.

 

[SMHarman]

Per OP:

BTW - children in the US who aren't in school yet, go to private schools, or are home schooled, do not have to be immunized, and it is easy to get behind on the immunizations.

Also - children don't get their first measles immunization until 12-15 months of age, so children under that age haven't been immunized against the measles at all.

Private school are required (at least here in the ny tri state) to follow state immunization checks. Land of the free how to medicate your children and all that.

 

[SMHarman]

So as others have said. Shopping wise there is a Soriana in walking or bus (other side of road) or taxi away.
Shared route
From The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas and Spa to Soriana Súper Plaza Kukulkan via Blvd. Kukulcan/Punta Nizuc - Cancún.

13 min (1.0*km)


1. Head south on Blvd. Kukulcan/Punta Nizuc - Cancún
2. Arrive at location: Soriana Súper Plaza Kukulkan

To see this route visit https://goo.gl/maps/EoLP43iVrm62

Its OK. I would not go back there.

There is also a chedraui select I'm the zone hotelara. Also on the bus route (same side of street) near the pier to Isla mujares. Or taxi.

This place is great. Larger, cleaner better selection also great wine and beer selection.

Shared route
From The Westin Lagunamar Ocean Resort Villas and Spa to Selecto Chedraui Cancún Zona Hotelera via Blvd. Kukulcan/Punta Nizuc - Cancún.

8 min (3.6*km)
14 min in current traffic


1. Head north on Blvd. Kukulcan/Punta Nizuc - Cancún
2. Turn left
3. Arrive at location: Selecto Chedraui Cancún Zona Hotelera

For the best route in current traffic visit https://goo.gl/maps/icehwRNwfgs

You can import pretry much anything in a box / original packing. You can import meats if they are in producer packages usda stamped packages. Not butcher counter meats.

On arrival at CUN get a porter. Cheap. Helps with bags and expedites customs clearance.

The Westin shuttle is an underrated transfer option. Good value for a family.

We found most restaurants prep and cook on site so know what allergens are in foods and in their kitchens. Easier than St John actually.

 

[DeniseM]

Private school are required (at least here in the ny tri state) to follow state immunization checks. Land of the free how to medicate your children and all that.

I applaud your state or counties - unfortunately, that is not true nation-wide.

Anyway - the point is to talk to your Dr. and make sure the whole family is up to date with immunizations.

 

[SMHarman]

I applaud your state or counties - unfortunately, that is not true nation-wide.

Anyway - the point is to talk to your Dr. and make sure the whole family is up to date with immunizations.

Which could be a whole other discussion.

Dr. You need a polio Booster.
Patient. But I'm not travelling to Afghanistan or Pakistan.
Dr. But the vaccine is so low risk that the big pharma has got the US government to underwrite their product liability. Only 1 in a million get bad side effects from the vaccine.
Oh and I get paid by the shot and under the ACA my performance is measured on the number of sticks I do.
Patient. But zero in 800 million people get polio in Mexico or the US. I like those odds better.

 

[DeniseM]

Actually, that would be a controversial political and social issue, so let's not go the direction, K?

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Brand Specific

brands you are used to in the USA May look the same but may be sourced in Mexico and have differences .This could be positive ( see below) but for someone with food allergies it could create complications.

Example número uno - Mexican Coca Cola uses real sugar NOT high fructose corn syrup and is made in Mexico .

*******

McCormack is a major name brand .

Walmart Mexico will generally have their House brand " Great Value " and a slightly higher priced McCormack brand version

I believe Heintz ketchup in Mexico is also - high fructose corn syrup free - just like Canadian Ketchup .

However if there is a USA brand that works for your son - you may wish to bring some with you - to prevent any complications due to variations in ingredients in the " hecho en Mexico " version .

.

 

[blondietink]

There are plenty of gas grills around the resort and we used them every night. They are kept very clean.

We just walked to the Soriana grocery store with no problems. They offered to deliver, but on advice from our Bell services man, we carried ours back to the resort. Apparently sometimes they don't deliver promptly and this can be a concern with meat and dairy products when it is so hot. But, others have had good luck. We used to stop at the WalMart in town before heading to the resort, but found everything we needed at Soriana. They have a discount card also. Just ask at the cash register.

On our 3 trips to Cancun so far, we have been stopped in customs twice asking if we brought food with us. They even searched our bags when we said no, so I would be careful bringing groceries into the country. I have no idea what they would have done if they had found any food.

Hope you love Lagunamar as much as we do!

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

I have brought -Oatmeal , Coffee , individual sugar packs - for 1st morning breakfast before going to the grocery store

Also -

100% peanuts peanut butter ( no salt or sugar added ) - because it is hard to find in Mexican grocery stores

I have always declared everything - and said yes to food questions - on any customs paperwork .

****
I believe I have read on a TUG thread about driving to Puerto Penasco / Rocky Point from Arizona - that meat could be an import issue .

.

 

[canesfan]

Definitely bring coffee filters. They hardly give you any in the room and you don't want to buy a huge pack at the store. Housekeeping was not generous about giving them out either.

 

[blondietink]

We have used USA Transfers round trip on every one of our visits to Lagunamar. Lots of room in their vans for the 4 of us plus luggage and very efficient service.

 

[Politico]

My son's allergies are peanut, tree nut and sesame seeds.

 

[Politico]

If you care to share, what specific allergies, I've travelled there with an egg, tree and ground nut allergy kid.

My son is allergic to sesame seeds, peanuts and tree nuts.

 

[SMHarman]

My son is allergic to sesame seeds, peanuts and tree nuts.

We find that those are pretty easy to deal with in MX. The Mexicans just dont use them much.

Mole sauce is one to pay attention to. Many add nuts.

While there we have eaten at...
El fish fritanga
La habichuela sunset
Jugo de Limon magisterial mexicana
Taco y tequila

All in walking distance to the hotel

We also went down to Playa Del Carmen for the day and ate at random places there. Honestly it's easier than in the US as the kitchen knows there food and is not normally reading box labels.

We have kids that like rice, beans, chicken, guacamole, salsa so this makes it easier.

And learn.

Mi hijo es alérgico a los cacahuetes, las nueces y semillas de sésamo.

 

[Fredward]

We have always been contacted by one of the concierges to arrange for airport transfers, and have had great experiences. They will email you a few weeks before arrival with lots of information on transfers, grocery stores, etc. Westin Lagunamar has the best concierges that we've ever found in a resort.

 

[surrey91724]

There is public transportation right out front of WL. Costs less than $1. We went to Walmart and Sam's Club (if you have a membership). They drop you off 1 street over. You can take bus back in opposite direction from where they drop you off. Just tell the driver Walmart and they will let you know. We have never had a problem. The walmart store had many US brands and is an experience in itself. The kids will like the bakery. Sam's club next door feels like any sams club in the US. Even has the hot dog/ pizza out front.

 

[RnU]

One thing that's different about grilling at Lagunamar than the resorts at, say, Hawaii, is that you need to check out the utensils from the store.

Took us forever to realize that the first time we were there

Have fun!

 

[bizaro86]

One thing that's different about grilling at Lagunamar than the resorts at, say, Hawaii, is that you need to check out the utensils from the store.

Took us forever to realize that the first time we were there

Have fun!

Our first trip I flipped burgers with a regular fork before someone took pity on me and explained it...