महासागर ओलांडणारी स्वप्न

                        

अमेरिकेला बऱ्याच काळापासून संधींची भूमी म्हणून पाहिले जाते. जागतिक दर्जाचे शिक्षण व  वैद्यकीय, अभियांत्रिकी, संशोधन आणि तंत्रज्ञान यासारख्या क्षेत्रात वर्चस्वासाठी ओळखले जाणारे हे ठिकाण. भारतात अनेक पालक आपल्या मुलांनी अमेरिकेत उच्च शिक्षण घेऊन स्वतःसाठी यशस्वी जीवन घडवावे अशी  स्वप्न पाहतात. मग मुले कठोर परिश्रम करतात. प्रवेश परीक्षा, अर्ज, अभ्यास ह्यात स्वतः ला झोकून देतात. आई वडील भारतीय बँकांकडून शैक्षणिक कर्ज घेतात ज्याचा बहुतेकदा व्याजदर १२% पर्यंत पोहोचतो. आणि मग एके दिवशी ही मुले दोन सुटकेस आणि आशेने भरलेली स्वप्न  घेऊन विमानात चढतात. 

आंतरराष्ट्रीय विद्यार्थी म्हणून जीवन हे एक सतत कठीण संघर्ष आहे. रोजच्या जगण्यासाठी लागणाऱ्या पैशासाठी कॅम्पसमध्ये नोकऱ्या शोधणे, अभ्यास करत करत ती नोकरी करणे, शैक्षणिक क्षेत्रात अव्वल राहणे, आर्थिक व्यवस्थापन करणे आणि घरी आपल्या आई वडिलांनी ज्ये कष्ट केलेत त्याच चीझ करून देण्याचं स्वप्न रोज पाहणे. डिग्री मिळवल्या नंतरही आराम नाहीच. मग  दुसरी शर्यत सुरु होते. स्पर्धात्मक युगात नोकरी मिळवणे आणि दररोज स्वतःची योग्यता सिद्ध करणे. 

एकदा नोकरी मिळाली की मग त्या मोठ्या शैक्षणिक कर्जाची परतफेड सुरु होते. ते करत असतो तो आणखी एक अध्याय सुरू होतो. आयुष्य समांतरपणे पुढे सरकायला लागते. लग्न, मुले आणि जबाबदाऱ्या वाढत जातात. वर्षे उलटतात. बघता बघता ग्रीन कार्डसाठी अर्ज होतो. तोपर्यंत, जवळजवळ एक दशक उलटून गेलेले असते. ह्या सगळ्यात कुठेतरी अमेरिका दुसरे घर वाटू लागते. ह्या काळात स्वतःचे घर विकत घेतले जाते. बायको ही नोकरी करायला लागते. मुले अमेरिकेत शाळेला जायला लागतात. ह्या सगळ्यात साता समुद्र पलीकडे भारतात पालकांना कुठेतरी अभिमान वाटत असतो. त्यांना त्यांची मुलं यशस्वी होताना दिसतात. जे स्वप्न त्यांनी एकेकाळी पाहिले होते ते आता उंचावले आहे ह्ये बघून आनंद होतो. 

पण प्रत्येकजण ते तसे पाहत नाही.... लोकांची टीका होते. कुजबुज होते.. "ह्यांनी आपल्या आई वडिलांना मागे सोडलंय आणि ह्यांचं आपलं  परदेशात मस्त चाललंय." 

पण अनेकदा कथेची दुसरी बाजू ही असते की त्या मुलाने बांधलेले सर्व काही... करिअर, घर, स्थिरता, हे त्याच्या पालकांच्या स्वप्नांमुळेच अस्तित्वात आलेले असते कारण त्याच्या पालकांनी एकदा त्याच्यासाठी ही मोठी स्वप्ने पाहिलेली असतात. आणि ती स्वप्ने मुलांनी पूर्ण ही केलेली असतात. मग, यशस्वी झाल्याबद्दल मुलांनी अपराधीपणाची भावना का बाळगावी? आणि प्रामाणिकपणे सांगायचे झाले तर, यातील बऱ्याच टिप्पण्या चिंतेपेक्षा मत्सरातून येतात. ज्या पालकांची स्वतःची मुले परदेशात स्थायिक झाली आहेत त्यांना तुम्ही कधी असे आरोप करताना पाहिले आहे का? क्वचितच. 

एक उदाहरण घ्या. एका भारतीय लष्करी सैनिकाचे सीमेवरच्या जंगलात खोलवर किंवा डोंगरांमध्ये उंचावर पोस्टिंग झाले आहे. तो त्याच्या पालकांच्या जवळ आहे का? नाही. त्याने जे करिअर निवडले त्यासाठी त्या अंतराची आवश्यकता आहे. अमेरिकेत राहणारी मुलं ही तेच करता आहेत, फक्त वेगळ्या गणवेशात.

वास्तव हे आहे की परदेशात राहत असले तरी कुटुंबे एकमेकांशी जोडलेली राहतात. मुले दर काही वर्षांनी त्यांच्या पालकांना भेटायला येतात. पालक अमेरिकेत येतात, त्यांच्या मुलांसोबत आणि नातवंडांसोबत वेळ घालवतात. रोज फोन आणि विडिओ कॉल होतो. 

आता संयुक्त कुटुंबांचे दिवस गेले. आपल्यापैकी बहुतेक जण आता वेग वेगळे राहतात. आपल्या पालकांनी शहरात करिअर घडवण्यासाठी गावे सोडली. आणि ह्या मुलांनी करिअर घडवण्यासाठी देश सोडला. हा विश्वासघात नाही, ह्ये जागतिकीकरण आहे. जे लोक आरामात बसून टीका करतात त्यांना कधीच पूर्णपणे समजणार नाही की २१-२२ वर्षांच्या मुलाने परदेशात येऊन स्वतःला पूर्णपणे सिद्ध करण्यासाठी काय काय करावे लागते; आर्थिक, भावनिक आणि बऱ्याच काही बाबतीत. त्या मार्गावर न चालता टीका करणे खूप सोप्पे आहे.

आणि विडंबन म्हणजे, आपण सर्वांनी एकाच छताखाली राहणारी बरीच कुटुंबे पाहिली आहेत, परंतु प्रेम आणि काळजी ह्यांचा मैलोन मैल संबंध नाहीये. ह्ये लक्षात घ्यायला पाहिजे कि जवळीक किलोमीटरमध्ये मोजली जात नाही. लांब राहून आई वडिलांचे स्वप्न पूर्ण करून त्यांना प्रेम आणि आदर देणं, आणि त्यांना  ताठ मानेनी आपल्या मुलांचं कौतुक सांगता येणं  ही पण एका प्रकारची जवळीकच आहे कि. 

त्यामुळे भारतात लोकांनी आपण कधीही न केलेल्या प्रवासाचे मूल्यांकन करणे कुठेतरी थांबवले पाहिजे आणि महासागर ओलांडून शून्यातून सर्व उभारण्यासाठी ज्ये धाडस लागतं त्याचं समर्थन करायला पाहिजे.

अमेरिकेत राहणार असाच एक आपला मित्र,

पृथ्वीराज भोसले 

Spirituality Over Religion: The Journey to Finding Yourself...

As we move through life, caught in the whirlwind of responsibilities, expectations, and uncertainties, many of us eventually find ourselves asking: "What truly matters in life?"

For me, this question led to a quiet but profound realization over time: being spiritual is far more important than being religious.

Here are some brief points why I believe in that shift and why I feel it is transformative.

The Selfishness in Religious Practices

Here’s an uncomfortable truth I’ve observed, and it took me years to say this out loud: Most of us visit places of worship not to express gratitude, but to make requests.

We go to temples, mosques, or churches and say, “Please let this get better,” “Fix this problem for me,” “Forgive my sins.” But why do we do that? If we’ve made mistakes, shouldn’t we face the consequences? Learn from them? Grow from them? Why ask for forgiveness?

Religion becomes transactional at that point. A place we visit when in crisis, a bargaining chip to throw into the universe.

What if we flipped that narrative? What if we worked hard, held ourselves accountable, and only visited these places to bow our heads in gratitude? No asks. Just thanks.

There may be a higher power. But don’t outsource your life to it.

I’m not saying God doesn’t exist. I’m not saying there’s no divine energy that surrounds us. But I’m saying this: don’t use that belief as a crutch. Don’t wait for a sign. Don’t request the universe to clean up your mess or carve your path.

You are here, breathing and thinking, for a reason. You were given a mind to question, a heart to feel, and a soul to evolve. Don’t waste that by handing over your life’s remote control to a force you haven’t even tried to become yourself first.

We are our own god

This might sound bold, but I believe it deeply: we are our own god. We hold the power to create, destroy, love, hate, rise, and fall. The divine is not out there somewhere, it’s within. In our thoughts. In our choices. In the silent strength we summon when no one’s watching.

Our actions, our self-improvement initiatives are eventually going to shape our life in every possible way. 

Prepare your mind, not your plate of offerings

Let’s be real. If something is meant to happen, it will. Life doesn’t bend because you fasted for three days or visited ten temples. Bad days come, just as good ones do. That’s the nature of existence.

What truly helps in tough times isn’t prayers, it’s preparation. It’s resilience and mental strength. It’s training your mind to stay calm when the storm hits. Like they say, “The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war.” That philosophy applies to life too.

Build the version of you who can survive even if no prayers are going to work or to better put it, you don't need prayers in the first place. That is the real deal. 

Only experience can teach you how to live

No scripture or ritual can teach you what a broken heart, a failed dream, or a painful mistake can. Spirituality is born out of self-awareness. And self-awareness comes only when you learn through living, when you make mistakes, when you hurt, when you lose, and when you find your way again.

Life doesn’t hand out instruction manuals. It gives you puzzles and expects you to figure it out. The people who grow spiritually are those who embrace those puzzles, reflect on their errors, and choose to correct themselves again and again until they become better versions of who they were yesterday.

Something in your own life can be your prayer

Following your dreams, nurturing a hobby, building something from nothing, that’s one of the purest forms of prayer in my opinion. When you’re fully immersed in what you love, you’re connecting with your own soul.

It’s ironic how we often separate work and worship. But what if your work was your worship?  True spirituality flows when you’re aligned with what brings you joy and purpose.

Final Thoughts

The world doesn’t need more people who blindly follow religious customs. It needs more people who are awake, aware, and alive in their own skin. It needs people who are brave enough to question, strong enough to change, and humble enough to grow.

So don’t just go through the motions. Don’t outsource your accountability. Don’t trade action for superstition.

Reflecting often in your own actions should be our mantra of life.

And above all, remembering that our own spirit is our biggest temple. And it's our job to keep it sacred.

Planning to be a First Time Dog Owner? Read this!

 

Being a first-time dog owner isn’t easy. It comes with a lot of responsibility and work. But don’t be fooled by that statement. What you get in return is way more worth than you could ever imagine! I grew up with 2 German Shepherds so dogs have a very special place in my heart. And the day my son was born, somewhere I knew I wanted him to grow up with a dog as well. The companionship, that unconditional love that you get from a dog is beyond imagination. And especially when you are a single child, the meaning of that support and love quadruples.

This article is to educate families who plan to own a dog for the first time. I have often seen that people get a dog and then later realize it is not their cup of tea. Eventually the dog is put out for adoption after a few months. Most of the times it happens because families don’t envision what responsibility comes with a dog. They don’t do enough research before they get a dog and then it becomes a disaster for both the family and the pet. I will break this article into sections, so it is easy to read and understand.

Researching on a lot of different things before getting a dog is the first step that any family should undertake. Trust me it is not a decision you make in a week. It can take several months of research. Let us look at some of the things you need to research upon before you get a dog.

1.       Selecting the breed:

Several factors to consider are:

·       What breed and size do you prefer?

·       What type of home do you stay in? For example, if you stay in a condo or a small townhome, getting a dog like German Shepherd which requires a lot of exercise might not be a good idea. As opposed to that if you have a large, fenced backyard, it makes perfect sense.

·       Do you want a hypoallergenic dog who doesn’t shed much?

·       Do you want a dog that doesn’t drool?

·       Can you walk your dog everyday for a good 45 to 60 minutes? Or do you prefer a couch potato?

·       Do you have children at home? If yes, what age?

·       Are you ready to own a dog breed that requires regular brushing and maintenance of their coat?

These and so many other factors that need to be taken into consideration just to decide what breed of dog you want to get. Many websites allow you to take a quiz and then come up with top 3 breeds that suits you well. You can take 4 or 5 different quizzes and then see which breed shows up in most of the quizzes. That probably might be your best choice. Also, talking to friends and family who already own a dog and getting their opinion can be helpful as well. Once you lock upon a breed, do research on “breed specific” dog maintenance to see if you can commit to those responsibilities as a dog owner.

2.       Associated Cost:

One of the major factors that many people fail to consider is the factor of COST. A dog comes with a cost associated with it in terms of money. Some of the things that you need to spend money on are:

·       Cost to get a dog (If you are buying a puppy from a breeder, based on the breeder, breed and other factors, you will pay a price to get the puppy). In general price can vary from $200 to $3500.

·       Dog health insurance. Like humans, it is best to get a health insurance for dogs (Both preventive care and illness/accident insurance). Dog insurance from a reputed company can run anywhere from $25 to $100 per month based on coverage you choose.

·       Routine visits to Vets (especially during first one year) for vaccinations, worm control treatment etc. It is best to call a Vet place and find out what is the average cost for vaccinations and preventive care for a puppy.

·       Dog basic needs such as crate, playpen, dog food, dog toys, harness/collar, leash etc.

·       If your dog needs regular grooming, the cost of grooming also needs to be taken into consideration. Grooming can cost anywhere from $50 to $125 and your dog might need it every 2 or 3 months based on the breed and size.  

·       Dog sitters: If you want to go on a vacation and you want your dog to stay at a dog sitter’s place for a few days, you will need to consider paying the dog sitter anywhere between $30 to a $100 per day for taking care of your dog. Even on an everyday basis, if both you and your spouse have to go to work for 8 hours, you’ll need someone to come to your home and feed and walk the dog. Again, if you have friends and family that are willing to help, awesome! But sometimes when no one is available, a pet walker will come, feed and walk your pet for 30 minutes for a fee (Usually $12 an hour). Other option is to drop your dog at a dog day care. All of these options surely cost money.

 

3.       Responsibilities:

So, you decide on what breed you want to get. Now you need to research on what responsibilities come with that dog. Some responsibilities like puppy training, house training is common for all dogs. But other responsibilities can be specific to what dog breed you plan to get. For example, many Doodles such as Goldendoodle, Labradoodle require regular grooming and brushing. I would say they need to be brushed almost every other day in order to avoid matting of their hair. You need to ask if you can commit to such responsibilities without fail on a daily basis. 

Along with breed specific responsibilities, there are many other common responsibilities that come with a dog. Some of them are:

·       House Training: Any puppy needs to be trained to go out and take care of their potty and pepe business. House training a puppy needs some serious commitment during the initial days. A two-month-old puppy can’t hold its bladder for longer than 2 hours, which means you will have to make sure your puppy needs to be taken outside at least every two hours. How to house train a puppy is an entirely different world so I will not dive into details, but it can take a good 4 to 5 months before your puppy is fully house trained. And more importantly, all house members should be on the same page when it comes to disciplining and encouraging the puppy to get house trained. While all of that is happening, remember there will be accidents around the home. As dog owners you need to be calm and patient until your puppy is completely house trained. Some people punish their puppies for an accident or even hit them! PLEASE never ever do such a thing. That little fellow is learning through his initial tough phase along with giving infinite love to you. Last thing you want is hurt or punish the puppy or even an adult dog at any stage of their life. It is MISERABLE and INSANE when I hear people hit their dogs. Such people should never be allowed to become dog owners. PERIOD!

 

·       Crate Training: Puppies have a habit of chewing things or even picking things and putting them straight into their mouth. Letting a puppy roam around the entire house can sometimes be extremely unsafe. Imagine the puppy swallows a Q-tip or a bunch of your kid’s Legos! That will have you drive straight to emergency! Restricting the puppy’s mobilization area through either a playpen, crate or baby gate is extremely important for both the safety of your puppy and your house (Imagine your puppy getting on top of an expensive couch and ripping it off with its puppy teeth!). Just like house training, crate training is an entirely different topic of discussion so I will let you ‘all research more on that.

 

·       Socialization: Puppies need to be socialized with both humans and dogs for a healthy mental hygiene. Puppies who don’t socialize with other dogs and humans can have very severe mental issues that can lead to destructive nature or even fear for other humans or dogs. As dog owners it is extremely important that we commit time to socialize our puppies. Having your puppy attend an age-appropriate dog socialization meetup, calling friends and family over so your puppy can meet other people and many other activities are needed in order to introduce your puppy to its new world. This requires commitment in terms of both time, effort and money. It is best to enroll your puppy in a puppy training and socialization class that will help build your puppy’s confidence and also help you to train your puppy for obedience and basic commands.

 

Along with some of these basic responsibilities, walking your dog every day, playing with it, training it for basic obedience and spending quality time with it becomes an integrated part of your life. You can’t just get a dog and let it live outside without spending any time with it. We as dog owners need to realize that as soon as we get a dog, the dog becomes a part of the family.   

On an ending note, just remember that raising any little one takes lots of efforts. Be it your own kid or a little puppy. But once you get past that tough phase and the little puppy grows up, then you really enjoy that beautiful time and bond with your dog. After a tiring day when you come home, your dog is ready to welcome you with a wagging tail and lots and lots of licks and kisses. Trust me that is the BEST feeling in this entire world. The whole world may turn against you, but your dog will always stay besides you no matter what! Hope this article helps you in making an informed decision whether getting a dog is a right choice for you. And if you ever decide to get one, then all the best to you and welcome to the “Dog Owner’s” world! Finally, here is a picture of our 5-month-old Labradoodle puppy, “Leo”! He means the world to us!

Thanks for reading through this. Please reach out to me at pnbhosale@gmail.com if you have any questions. Happy to assist! 

 

6 Months Body Transformation

 






Background:

Life happens to all of us. Some major events in our lives can often change our everyday routine. Career changes, relocation, part-time college; the list goes on. I started my part-time MBA back in August of 2017 and my day's routine went on a turmoil. With a toddler at home and a full time job, most of the day's hours that were available for myself apart from home and work were either spent attending Business School or studying at the library. Studying late night at a 24-hour coffee place, I often ate a donut or two and had few rounds of coffee. Before I could realize, I had wrapped up my MBA and had found a new job for myself. With that, I had to prepare for an out-of-state relocation which meant I had to pack everything, sell my home and move to an entirely new destination! With so many events happening around me, I hardly paid any attention to my body. I had always been a fit person mostly because I have been a competitive Tennis player since I was a fourth grader. I was never used to seeing myself like this. By September 2020, I had gained more than 20 pounds with a body fat percentage of more than 30%.

New Chapter of Life:

I moved to North Carolina in September 2020 and slowly indulged into the new chapter of my life. Wrapping up my MBA and relocating out-of-state had kept me super busy. After I relocated to NC, I had gotten myself on cruise control. Take it easy as they say! I lacked any motivation to hit the gym or get into any serious exercise routine. Fast-forward about 1.5 years; I had gained some more pounds on top of what I had gained already. I started looking at my pictures and I realized how bad of a shape I had gotten into. At that point, I decided that this chain of bad habits needs to be broken and I need to get back to a "Fit" me one more time.

The Journey Begins:

A friend of mine had just enrolled into an online diet and exercise plan. I reached out to her to get the details. This was a 28-day plan, which focused on eating healthy along with simple floor based exercises at home. I thought to myself that this would be a good head start. With a coach who is monitoring my progress on a weekly basis, I would get into a discipline of following the diet and exercises (Sometimes having someone watch you closely helps tremendously in terms of pushing yourself towards the goal). In the middle of February 2022, I started my 28-day plan towards weight loss!
The next 28 days were a test in terms of discipline and consistency! I ate healthy and exercised on an everyday basis. My diet routine mostly involved eating very little carbs. Most of my diet comprised of Grilled Chicken and Veggies, Nuts, small portions of Oat Bread and Millet/Quinoa etc. Sugar and Dairy products were a total ban for me. Along with this, I exercised 6 days a week. My entire workout was at home that required very little equipment (A pair of Dumbbells at the most). I did about 8 to 10 different kind of exercises. Every exercise comprised of 3 to 4 sets of 15 reps each. Some of the exercises I did on an everyday basis were Pushups, Planks, Glute Bridges, Burpees, Lunges and Squats. After following a rigorous diet and exercise plan, I was able to lose 10 pounds in 28 days.

The Journey Continues:

By now, I had realized that there was no turning back for me. I had to carry this discipline forward. I was 100 percent committed towards this because I had seen the changes that happened to my body. I knew I had to take things to the next level now. I enrolled myself in a Gym, which gave me access to a wide variety of exercise equipment. The Gym's mobile app had several exercise routines for Strength Training. I picked the "6-Week Shred" program. This program consisted an exercise routine for 5 days in a week (Monday: Chest, Tuesday: Back, Thursday: Shoulders, Friday: Legs, Sunday: Arms, Wednesday and Saturday: Rest days). Each day had about 6 to 8 weight-based exercises. Every week was a different challenge in terms of exercises and weights. I finished two rounds of the 6-Week Shred program (12 weeks total). A point to note here is that apart from this exercise routine, I absolutely made sure that I ate no powdered sugar, no fried or fast food, very little carbs and consumed as much protein as I could on a daily basis (I did have 1 to 2 cheat meals a week).

Here is a summary of a typical everyday diet for me:

Breakfast: Kodiak Protein Pancakes mixed in Almond Milk (Pecans, Raisins, Dates, Almonds and Walnuts added to the mixture) OR 2 whole eggs on a slice of Oat Bread
Lunch: Millet, Quinoa or Brown Rice with Indian Chicken, Goat or Vegetable Curry (Cooked in very little Coconut Oil)
Snack: A low sugar Protein Yogurt OR Protein Bar.
Dinner: Millet, Quinoa or Brown Rice with Indian Chicken, Goat or Vegetable Curry (Cooked in very little Coconut Oil)
Beverages: Tea or Coffee (2 times a day) with very little milk. Stevia added for sweetness.

Apart from this, I also consumed Organic Plant based Protein Powder (3 scoops) in Almond Milk after my workout. I did have one or two cheat meals every week (Like Fried Rice, 1 or 2 slices of pizza or a bowl of ice cream). Trust me; life will be boring if you keep eating the same thing everyday. Having 1 or 2 cheat meals helps you fulfill your cravings and gets you ready mentally to diet and exercise well for the next week.

After 12 weeks, I had dropped an additional 17 pounds, which meant I had lost a total of 27 pounds since I started my diet plan in February! My body fat percentage dropped to 17.3%. I had a toned body now compared to where I was after finishing the 28 day plan back in Feb-March.

No Turning Back Now:

I tell myself that I have entered a maze so deep that when I look back, I do not see the entry point. I cannot dream about going back to that old me! The amount of hard work, discipline, self-motivation and consistency that I have put into my health and body over the past 6 months has molded me into someone very different. It feels amazing after waking up everyday. A feeling that makes you pat yourself on the back for eating healthy and working out rigorously in order to be in your best shape. Looking into the mirror, you feel good about yourself. It provides a huge amount of boost in terms of self-confidence. Suddenly everything you wear starts looking good on you! The feeling is simply priceless! I decided to write this article in hope that my journey would help many people to start eating healthy and getting into an exercise routine on a daily basis. Once you do that, it would not be long until you realize that someone surely has very wisely said, "Health is Wealth"! On an ending note, here is a picture of happy "me" after stepping out of the gym:

Thanks for taking time and reading through this article. I am hoping this inspires many to indulge into a healthy lifestyle. Until next time!

Travel Guide - Cancun Mexico

Each one of us should have a few days of vacation time in winter by planning a getaway to some warmer place. From my personal experience, escaping a few days from cold is extremely beneficial for your body and your mind! Cancun - Mexico is one of the most popular destinations to travel from the eastern shore especially because of the travel time. A direct flight takes you to Cancun in about 3 hours and 20 minutes. I and my family went for a vacation to Cancun recently and we fell in love with the place! I love to write so I knew I had to write a blog when I got back! I will be covering each aspect of travel like time, flights, resorts, activities etc. in the sections below.

Time of Travel

Good season to travel to Cancun is from November through March. Everything from mid-November becomes expensive because a lot of people plan around thanksgiving holidays and prices in December are always on the higher side. Prices drop significantly in the 1st week of January so travelling from January through February is the best time in my opinion. A point to note is that Martin Luther King holiday comes around 3rd or 4th week of January so avoid that long weekend (Unless you absolutely have no choice) because flights are expensive around that time. From what I have experienced, the same package of flight and hotel that I booked for 2nd week of January was 3.5 times expensive from 15th of December through New Year’s. March and April are other months to avoid because Spring breaks happen during that time so Cancun is flooded with college kids. Everything is expensive during that time! So if you want to go during March or April, find out about spring breaks and time your trip accordingly.

Weather

Weather in second week of January was in lower to mid-80s during day time and mid to late 70s during night time. Sunrise happened around 7:30 AM and sunset around 6:30 PM. A bright sunny day is a perfect day to relax either at the beach or at the swimming pool in the resort! On super cloudy and windy days, it might feel little chilly to be in the water but it is manageable.  

Beautiful day at the pool

How many days?

Don’t settle for less than 3 nights and 4 days. That’s the minimum you want! If you breakdown your days, you’ll need to spare one day for activities around Cancun. So at least another 2 days to just relax in the resort and enjoy the ambiance and food. In my opinion that’s what matters the most especially in a trip like Cancun. You don’t want your trip to be like you are running all over the place. Many people want to do everything while they are there. That just ruins the trip in my opinion especially if you are with kids. The point is do some activities but then give time to yourself at the resort. Relax at the beach and at the pool, sip some nice cocktails and eat your heart out!

Where to book from?

There are several travel websites like bookvip.com or applevacations.com. Most of these travel sites have either non-refundable charges or a heavy cancellation policy so watch out when you book. Read the terms and policies carefully. I booked from Southwest vacations for 3 reasons. First, I found better deals on nonstop flights. With a kid, last thing I want is to take a pit stop somewhere and have my travel time lengthened to 6 or 7 hours. Direct flight takes you there in 3 hours and 20 minutes! Second, checked baggage is free for southwest airlines. Lastly, southwest has excellent policy in terms of re-scheduling. If for some reason I need to reschedule my vacation, there are no additional fees. I just pay the difference of flight plus hotel and that’s it.

Immigration and VISA

If you have a stamped American VISA on your passport, you get Mexican VISA upon entry. The only documents you will need to carry is your passport with the stamped VISA and I-797 (It is advisable to make sure that the passport isn’t expiring in the next 6 months). Green card holders and US citizens don’t have to worry at all.

From Airport to Resort

When you book your vacation, there is an option of purchasing transportation to and from the airport and hotel. If you don’t want to rent a car, this is your option. Just get out of the airport and head to the transportation company’s van (The name of the transportation company is mentioned on your itinerary). You share the van with people who are heading to either yours or other resorts.

Vans ready for pickup outside the airport

Hotel Zone

The hotel zone is a strip of land along the coast that has several resorts next to each other. The hotel zone is an extremely safe area so you can get out of the hotel and go for a walk or to nearby stores if you want to get something (There are pharmacies and other stores in the area just in case you need something on an urgent basis). Also, many resorts have a convenience store inside of them so you may not need to step out (Confirm with the hotel before you book if that matters to you). Our hotel had a convenience store which had everything from baby wipes to toothbrush. I advise not to leave hotel zone and go to deeper pockets of downtown Cancun. Not safe!  Also, everyone understands English at the hotel zone so no need to worry about language barriers. Although before the trip I would still recommend learning some basic communication in Spanish like good morning, thank you, how are you etc.

Resort

I will say this a thousand times. BOOK AN ALL INCLUSIVE RESORT. It’s worth every penny! All-inclusive resorts are resorts where you stay and eat unlimited food and drink unlimited beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic). The resort has several restaurants inside of it. Either buffets or luxury restaurants. Every restaurant serves alcoholic beverages so if you love margaritas and cocktails you will fall in love with the all-inclusive package! The swimming pool also has a poolside bar and a bar in the middle of the swimming pool called as swim-up bar. So you can just sit at the pool and sip drinks or swim and come sit in the water at the swim up bar and order drinks. The room has a small refrigerator which is stocked with beer and water everyday. The buffets have several cuisines so you get different variety of food to eat everyday. All you do at the all-inclusive resorts is just relax at the beach or pool and drink and eat whatever you want and how many times you want in a day! While researching on resorts look for kid friendly resorts (If travelling with kids) because kids remain occupied with different activities in the resort. The resorts have activities for kids of different ages be it at the pool or a dedicated mini water park. You can relax while kids play at their designated spaces. Many resorts have a babysitting facility (Paid service around $15 an hour). So if you and your spouse want to go on a dinner date for a couple of hours, you can do so. Again, don’t forget to read a lot of reviews before booking the resort. Websites like TripAdvisor have excellent in-depth reviews both by travel experts and recent customers. Another tip I have is to spend little more money and book a room on a higher floor and with an ocean view. You’ll not regret a bit! Waking up and looking out of the balcony at the blue ocean is just breathtaking. If you have booked a room without a view, at the reception just ask if they have an upgrade option. With empty rooms they just move you up for a very little charge.

Sunrise from the room

Swim up Bar

Buffet at the hotel

Workers and Tips

From what I’ve observed at the resort, the workers at the resorts are always smiling and greet you with respect. I have seen these guys work double shifts tirelessly. From what I’ve read, they work on a minimum wage.  But they still always smile at you and have their happy faces on. So please make it a point that you tip them in an appropriate way. Little appreciation goes a long way. There was a guy who was so nice towards us at the buffet and took care of our table so well. When we tipped him more than usual the joy on his face was just undefinable. So if you find an exceptional service from a waiter or a bartender don’t hesitate to give something extra. Tips are accepted in dollars and in Mexican pesos. Also, don’t forget to tip the driver who drops you off to the hotel from the airport. They take care of all of your luggage so they expect a dollar or two. As a guideline here are general tips that you can offer at different places inside of the resort:

1. Waiter serving your table at Buffets: $1 per person
2. Waiter at upscale restaurants: $5 per table
3. Bellboy: $1 per bag
4. Bartenders: $1 per one or two rounds of drinks
5. Housekeeping: $5 every time they clean the room
6. Room Service: $2 to $3 per service

Activities

The two most frequently done activities in Cancun are Snorkeling and visiting the historic site of Chichen Itza. If you have a toddler I wouldn’t recommend going to Chichen Itza. It’s almost a 3 hour drive one way from the hotel zone. So the day trip lasts for about 8 hours total. A toddler would get exhausted in the bus the whole day and your day might get ruined because of a crazy tantrum. Also, you can’t go snorkeling if you have a less than 5 year old kid so that isn’t a good option as well. What I would recommend though is doing the SubSee adventure. The SubSee adventure takes you through a glass bottom boat into the coral reefs where you can see the reefs, fish and other aquatic life. It is like travelling through a submarine. My 3.5 year old loved it! The total duration is 3 hours from and to the hotel so it isn’t very overwhelming. Most resorts have a desk near the reception area from where you can book the tours. I would recommend that as opposed to booking it from an outside vendor. Other activity to do is hop onto one of the local city buses and go to Market 28 to shop for local handicrafts and other souvenirs. If you love bargaining, Market 28 is the place for you!  

SubSee Boat

Handicrafts at Market 28

I hope this information is beneficial to any prospective families travelling to Cancun. I remember reading through so many blogs and forums when I was planning my trip so I thought it was my moral responsibility to write a blog myself for others to read. So plan a trip soon and have a blast! Please don’t forget to comment if you liked the write up or if this helped you plan your trip in a better way! Gracias Amigos!