I returned home from my UNICO fam (familiarization) trip last week and already need another vacation! Ok, it wasn’t really a vacation – we had a full agenda, but it sure was nice to be away. After I landed at the airport back home, I drove straight to my boys’ soccer game, then started caring for my sister’s kids for 6 nights while she and her hubby celebrate their anniversary in Aruba (they are returning the favor in November!), and also started my host agency’s annual conference Monday. So, basically, I am juggling all the things that back up during a trip away, a virtual conference, caring for four kids, watching my sister’s dog, and the biggest task of all – our puppy TimTam. I am flip flopping between two houses so that TimTam is not alone during the day and so I can continue trying to potty train him. I’ve had my boys with me in the evenings at my sister’s house so they can have cousin time while Rob handles TimTam at night.
I’ve also been trying to learn how to make an effective Instagram Reel. I’ve got to be honest, I get frustrated with social media always changing things on me right as I start grasping something. Thus, I resisted reels for a while but being with this group of travel advisors last week and having conversations about the trials and tribulations of social media made me decide to give it a go. I am going to divide today’s email into the various themes of my Instagram reels and include a link to each one.
the experience
Every room at UNICO 20°87° comes with a local host which is kind of like a butler, but better! These hosts do more than run errands, they want you to experience the resort and surrounding areas. Every day, my host would let me know what was going on at the resort and offer to help make my stay better. Here is a list of services offered to give you an idea of the level of service offered at UNICO and a photo of the ‘spa tub preparation’ service!
Since last Wednesday was so rushed because we were touring other properties all day, my local host was a big help. He arranged for my Mexican boho dress to be steamed while I was out and about (I was given outfit suggestions prior to departure for each activity and last Wednesday was Mexican Independence Day so it only made sense that we dress appropriately and eat at the onsite Mexican restaurant!). More importantly, my host arranged for me to participate in the hat activity last Wednesday even though I wasn’t there for the actual event. Every room at UNICO comes with two hats as a gift for your stay. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, they have an artist come to paint these hats. He overheard my disappoint for missing the event, so my host made sure my hat was painted in my absence! How nice is that? And how cute is my hat?!
So here is my Reel highlighting all the experiences I had or saw at UNICO – live music, street food, fireworks for Mexican Independence Day, DIY souvenirs, mixology, private chocolate tasting, and of course – hat making! There are also many more experiences we missed like dance lessons, live music and shows, wine tasting, macrame art class, shaman ritual, group exercise, hydrotherapy and spa services, a popsicle cart, tours, and more!
the design
I would describe the design as modern Mexico. It is inspired by Mexican culture, and also connects to the nature of the area by incorporating locally sourced handmade materials. The art displayed in the hotel must follow one rule: the artist must be Mexican or have a connection to the country. I never forgot that I was in Mexico which can easily happen at many an All-Inclusive resort. Not all All-Inclusives are created equally which is why working with a travel advisor is a must to ensure you are getting the best value for your hard-earned vacation dollars and time off!
the vibe
UNICO is all about the pools. They cover such a big percentage of the grounds, but the beach was nice even if it is not the focus of the resort. Since becoming a travel advisor, I have learned a lot about which All-Inclusive resorts are best for beaches versus pools. The seaweed can be a problem in Cancun and Riviera Maya, and some resorts have less issues than others. I have done a lot of research on this since my trip to the area in June. More reasons to use a travel advisor!
So, which one of these was your favorite element at UNICO? The experience, the design, or the design. You are probably not surprised that mine was the experience! After all, my brand is all about creating custom, authentic travel experiences for those looking to engage with each other while connecting to the world. Let me know when you are ready for me to do this for you!
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