What better way to start your birthday than on vacation? I’ve learned that planning only goes so far then comes life. And when that happens you just go for it. My original plan was to spend my birthday in Aruba but I had to make some last minute decisions thus I ended up celebrating in Mexico. For those of you who’ve never visited Cancun, Mexico, this blog post will tell you why I love it so much. I thoroughly appreciated the busy streets, touring the weekend farmers market, and the free-spirited people that Cancun seemed to attract.

Where to stay

I first want to rave about my accommodations in Cancun at the Dreams Sands Resort & Spa. For those of you who may not know, Cancun is bordered by the Caribbean Sea, composed of two distinct areas. One more of a traditional downtown area, El Centro, and Zona Hotelera, a long, beachfront strip of high-rise hotels, nightclubs, shops and restaurants (where we stayed). I chanced upon Dreams Sands on booking.com (though you can book directly through the hotel). The Boho inspired boutique hotel sprang up in defiance of the all-inclusive resorts overtaking Cancun and the rest of Mexico. Located smack dab in the heart of Cancun’s tourist and entertainment district, Dreams seeks to immerse its guests in the local community and culture, rather than isolate them from it.

Where to shop

Luxury Avenue – even if you don’t buy anything, this luxury shopping area has all of my favorite brands from Gucci, Zara, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade. From the food on the bottom level to the shoes at the top. If you want to do some luxury shopping on vacation, I highly recommend this mall. It was only a 5 minute bus ride from the hotel.

What to do

The resort gave so much to do I barely left. The unlimited luxury resort provided 24 hour room service, open bar, daily refreshed mini bar, 8 different restaurants, complimentary messages on the beach, and a host of activities. I spent most of my time on the beach, soaking up the sun rays. It was so peaceful to be around kind and happy people.

There were so many other places I wanted to see (most notably the Underwater Museum and Swimming with Dolphins), but 4 days just wasn’t enough time. I will, however, be returning within the next year for another visit, so I’m sure you’ll be seeing photos of those spots on my blog and Instagram in the near future!

Shop My Looks:

Look #1 – Missguided Culotte Jumpsuit | Halogen Coral Mules | Rayban Shades

Look #2 – Off the Shoulder ASOS Jumpsuit | Steve Madden Heels | Mac Ruby Woo Lipstick

Look #3 – Kate Spade dress (sold out)| Steve Madden Heels