Your 24-hour during-travel assistance number is at the top of your travel docs. Save it in your phone and WhatsApp before you leave.

Call them, not me — they have live access to your flights and hotel, I don’t during your trip. Faster answers, no middle man.

• Flight delays or cancellations
• Lost bags
• Medical situations
• Any “am I stuck” moment

Attached to your booking through your flights. Covers lost/stolen baggage, medical situations, and extended stays from delays or cancellations — including meals and anything you have to buy while you wait.

• Coverage starts the day of your trip, the moment you step inside the airport
• Keep ALL receipts the entire trip — you’ll need them to file a claim
• I file claims for you for an additional fee — contingent on you having every document needed at the time of filing

• Never pack your passport in your luggage — checked or carry-on. It stays in your personal item, on you, at all times — even before your trip starts
• Check that your passport does not expire within 6 months of your check-in date. This is the #1 thing that gets people denied boarding

• Check in with your airline 24 hours before departure
• Arrive at the airport 3 hours before departure
• Don’t pack your car with your luggage the night before — load up morning-of
• Carry 1-2 days of essentials (a change of clothes, toiletries, medication) in your carry-on or personal item, just in case your checked bag gets delayed

• Download WhatsApp before you land in Mexico — it’s how staff, drivers, and concierge will reach you
• Share your WhatsApp with family and friends back home so they can reach you in an emergency
• Contact your phone carrier before you leave to add international calling and data for your travel days — cheaper than paying per-use once you land

Bring small bills — singles and $5s. Rates have gone up in Mexico, this isn’t the $2/day it used to be:

Inspect your room before you unpack. If something’s off, take a photo and go back to the front desk kindly and patiently — explain it in a friendly tone.

Go to the concierge desk the day you check in and lock in:

• Dinner reservations at the restaurants you want
• Non-motorized water sports gear (kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear)
• Your spa day time slot

These fill up — the earlier you go, the better your pick.

Download the Xcaret app before you land — search “Xcaret” in your app store. It’s got your park schedule, maps, and show times.

Shuttle to the hotel (included): After customs and grabbing your bags, head outside and look for the pink “Hotels Xcaret” sign — staff wear pink shirts and khakis. The shuttle vehicles are black with the Hotels Xcaret logo. Skip anyone inside the terminal trying to wave you down — those are timeshare reps, not your ride.

• Terminal 1 — between the exit and the boarding platforms
• Terminal 2 — after luggage control, first exit to the right
• Terminal 3 — after luggage control, continue up front to the boarding platforms
• Runs every 30 min from 6AM-9PM, every hour overnight (9PM-6AM)

Shuttle back to the airport: Visit the Concierge/Guest Services desk at least 24 hours before departure to register your return transfer. Gratuity is optional but appreciated.

This isn’t the fun part of trip planning, but it’s the part that matters most. This also means I’m handing you off soon to my trusted colleagues at the resort and on the 24-hour line to take great care of you while you’re there.

If you feel like I’ve given you excellent service anywhere along the way, tips are always appreciated → Leave a Tip