When you hear the words "Vacation in Cancun" you may be thinking of outrageous spring breakers. You would be partially correct, however, there is a whole different side to Mexico's most famous vacation destination. There is definitely a grown and sexy way to enjoy Cancun and I was lucky enough to experience it.

I stayed at the GR Caribe Solaris Resort for my trip. This was a special trip because I was there to celebrate my sister's 30th Birthday. The resort was very clean. The food was not amazing but good enough and the service could be a lot better. However, the price was very affordable. The resort is family friendly so there are a lot of kids and not enough bars. The beach was clean and beautiful. Although this is where we stayed, the most fun we had was off the resort.

Our first night we went to Carlos N Charlie's downtown. We took the dollar bus for about 20 minutes and arrived in the heart of downtown. The buses are safe and come about every 10 minutes so don't waste time haggling with cab drivers.

Carlos N Charlie's is a restaurant and bar that has no cover charge and live music. The band plays awesome salsa music. They even have an interactive song that has everyone dancing. At some point in your visit to Cancun, you need to come here.

The people who sell tickets to the clubs with a cover charge are extremely aggressive. One guy cursed us out because didn't buy tickets from him. So when it comes to dealing with these people stand your ground. If they are rude move on to the next person.

On our second day, we went to visit Chichén Itzá. These Mayan ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage site and they are truly breathtaking. Make sure you bring an umbrella because the sun will be beating down on you and there is very little shade. The ruins are fascinating and our tour guide was so knowledgeable. I learned so much about Mayan culture and how it has influenced Mexican culture. Chichén Itzá is about a two-hour ride from the resorts but it is a very scenic ride through the countryside.

After visiting Chichén Itzá, we went to Valladolid where we ate traditional Mayan and Mexican food for lunch. They had homemade tortillas that were the best tortillas I had in my whole life. The food and drinks were delicious. They make freshly made juice and the hibiscus juice is the most popular.

Next, we went to visit a cenote. A cenote is a natural pit, or sinkhole, resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. This activity is not for the faint of heart. The average cenote is approximately 1000 feet below ground. When I first entered the cenote, I looked down and walked out. After working up my nerve and encouragement from my friends I made it. It's absolutely breathtaking and it's something I think everyone who visits Mexico should experience.

The other nightlife spots we visited on our trip were Fat Tuesdays and
La Vaquita. We have Fat Tuesdays in America and it's basically the same deal. What I think makes this one special is that they have an extremely talented DJ. He was able to mix hip-hop, reggaeton, and pop seamlessly. We literally never stopped dancing. They'll take a picture of your group and put it on a tequila bottle for 250 pesos. I got one for the birthday girl. If I go back to Cancun this will be my first stop.

La Vaquita is a hip-hop/techno/pop club that specializes in that classic spring break fun. It's either packed or empty no in between. Most resorts have a deal where a shuttle bus takes you to La Vaquita and you get open bar for $30 American dollars. On the street, they usually charge you 25 to 30 dollars to get in. The open bar and ride there was worth the extra 5 bucks. The club has a quirky cow theme which I found to be hilarious. Reviews online will claim this club is dangerous. If you've been to any large nightclub in a major city it's the same level of danger. Also, this is an open-air club so if it starts to rain you may get wet depending on where you are standing.

Overall, Cancun was such a fun way to have my first resort experience. If you're interested in taking your first international trip added Cancun to your list.

Below are some more awesome pictures courtesy of Stephanie's Purrty Thirty Crew!