How to hide your Amazon echo! I have the old schoo How to hide your Amazon echo! I have the old school Amazon Echo. We have the dots around the house, but our kitchen one is still the OG! I don't love it being on the counter so I came up with a way to hide it!

How do you hide your electronics? 

#homehacks #homeandgardens #homedecorideas #kitchenideas
Let's make an Easter basket Bundt cake! It's so ea Let's make an Easter basket Bundt cake! It's so easy and cute to create!

First, use edible grass or icing and a grass piping tip to add grass to your "basket." Then attach peeps to a toothpick and insert into the cake. Add eggs and other Easter candies. Finally, add a handle to complete the basket look!

What are you doing for Easter this year?

#eastercakes #easterbrunch #easterideas #springrecipes #easyrecipesformoms #springcakes #springparty #recipereels #easypartyideas
Snaps from staycation! We spent the weekend in Atl Snaps from staycation! We spent the weekend in Atlanta for Benjamin's birthday! 

We started at @childrensmuseumatlanta and then headed over to @skyviewatl! Then we had dinner at @johnnyrockets and spent the night. Then, we woke up early and headed over to the @georgiaaquarium for the day.

It was SO much fun. I highly recommend doing a staycation in your own city. I've lived here 30 years and always find something fun to do. 

Happy birthday to my big 2-year-old! 💙 

#atlantastaycation #staycation #toddlertrip #toddlertravel #toddlertravels #georgiaaquarium #childrensmuseumatlanta #skyviewatlanta #johnnyrockets
This is the easiest idea for a fun summer party! 🦀 I took these crabby chicken croissants to our margaritaville themed party last week. I also made them for a mermaid-themed party a few years ago!

To make these:
-slice mini croissants down the middle but leave the back connected.
-fill with chicken salad.
-attach a toothpick to the back of edible eyeballs with cookie icing and allow it to dry.
-insert the toothpicks into the croissants to create eyes!

Save this for later when you need a dish or appetizer to bring to summer parties! 

#easyrecipesformoms #easysummerrecipes #easyrecipesforkids #easyfamilyrecipes #summerpartyideas #summerbarbecue #chickensaladsandwich #recipereel #easyrecipesathome
My big, sweet, wonderful boy is 2! Being his mom i My big, sweet, wonderful boy is 2! Being his mom is the greatest gift I've ever been given. I am so incredibly grateful for my tiny bestie. 

Thank you @keikilaniphotography for these precious photos of our boy!
Today we're making frito corn salad! This might be Today we're making frito corn salad! This might be the most southern dish I've ever made. However, it is a perfect side to take to a barbecue or to make for a summer party. 

It's also the perfect dish to make if your kitchen is under construction like mine was for this video. It's a cold dish so nothing to heat up. 

First, mix together two cans of drained whole-kernel corn, two cups of mexican blend cheese, one cup of light mayo, diced red pepper, pepper and a bit of cilantro in a bowl. Then, add crushed Chili Cheese Fritos and mix well. Serve and enjoy! 

#recipereel #sidedishrecipes #sidedishes #cornsalad #cornrecipes #barbecuerecipes #recipereels #easyrecipeideas #easyrecipesformoms
You'll just have to excuse me this week. I'm feeli You'll just have to excuse me this week. I'm feeling extra sappy. I love sharing a birthday week with my boy, and I'm extra grateful for another year with my tiny bestie. 💕

Thanks for all the birthday love! Can't wait to celebrate my sweet boy the rest of the week! 

Cover photo is from the incredibly talented @keikilaniphotography 

#toddlermoments #dailymotherhood #toddlerboymom #toddlermomma #twoyearolds
It's my birthday! We're making glitter drinks! ✨ It's my birthday! We're making glitter drinks! ✨

This is my favorite way to make a regular drink feel fancy! Sprinkle a little edible glitter in a silicone mold and fill with water and freeze. When it melts, your drink will be cute and sparkly.

My drink today is two ounces of bourbon, one ounce of peach syrup, lemon juice and club soda! Stir and watch it sparkle. 

#glittercocktail #peachcocktail #birthdaydrink #birthdaycocktails #edibleglitter #easydrinks #easydrink #easydrinking #signaturedrinks #recipereel
Today we're making golf tee cupcakes for the Maste Today we're making golf tee cupcakes for the Masters! ⛳️

First, either make or purchase cupcakes with green frosting. My kitchen was under construction for this video, so I purchased mine. But you can easily make your own and even use the grass piping tip to make grass. 

Then I found these golf-tee toothpicks. Place one in each cupcake. 

Then use cookie icing to secure a white chocolate truffle to each of the tees. 

Allow the icing to harden, serve and enjoy!

#mastersparty #masterssunday #masterstournament #springdesserts #golfcupcakes #golfparty #golfpartyideas #springparty #recipereels #cupcakereel #cupcakereels
  • SHOP
    • INSTAGRAM
    • AMAZON
    • GIFT GUIDES
  • ABOUT
    • FAQ
    • Disclaimer
  • BLOG
  • LET’S WORK TOGETHER
  • HOLIDAY HUB
    • Super Bowl
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Masters Tournament
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • 4th of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas
    • New Year’s Eve
  • FREEBIES
    • Charcuterie Basics Course
    • 12 Cocktails of Christmas
    • Midsize Style Guide
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Contact

Helen G. Bailey

  • WEAR
  • PRIMP
  • ENTERTAIN
  • DECORATE
  • DINE
  • FAMILY

Life · May 19, 2022

Tulum Travel Guide

Last week I went to Tulum for a destination wedding! It was the first destination wedding I had ever been to in another country! We had such a great time. In this post, I’m sharing where we stayed, what we ate and what we did in Tulum, Mexico. I’m also sharing some things I learned about traveling to Tulum.

Tulum Travel Guide:

Where to Stay in Tulum

Where to stay in Tulum

We stayed at Hotel Panamera in Tulum. This is a boutique hotel and it was great for a destination wedding. The bridal party all stayed here so out of the 14 rooms, our group had 12 of them. It is an intimate setting with a bar and restaurant, a unique pool and a beach club. The hotel is right on the beach so literally you are steps to the ocean and the whole hotel is built around the pool.

I loved staying here but there are a few things to note when selecting this hotel. This is a very minimalist hotel. So no fridge in the room, television or hair dryer. You can request a dryer, but it isn’t already there. We were in Tulum so I didn’t need a television, but a fridge is something to note especially if you are breastfeeding. I had to dump all my milk. I knew this going into it so I was prepared, but for all the mamas, just know this going in.

The bigger thing for me was there is no door to the bathroom. It’s one big room and the shower and toilet are kind of hidden behind a half wall. While aesthetically it looks cool, you have to be VERY comfortable with whomever you are sharing a room with. You can go to the lobby though if you need some privacy. There are single-stall bathrooms next to the pool.

Tulum Travel Guide

The food and drinks at the hotel are amazing. I highly recommend the avocado toast, guacamole and chips, pizza, Palomas, spicy margaritas, smoothie bowls and iced coffees. It is a boutique hotel, not an all-inclusive so everything was priced individually, but you can charge it to your room.

Every day they give you two glass bottles of water so you can brush your teeth, drink, etc.

Also, the whole hotel is Instagram-worthy. So it’s perfect for the IG aesthetic.

Where to Eat in Tulum

Pineapple drinks in Tulum

 

We had some awesome food in Tulum. We had incredible seafood, fresh fruit, unique dishes and some awesome cocktails.

Cenzontle

The first night we ate dinner at Cenzontle. This is an outdoor garden restaurant with a great menu. I highly recommend the Ella cocktail that is Mezcal, Epazote, Cucumber and Lime. I had homemade Tagliatelle with coral butter and shrimps salted in cognac with lemon zest and parsil for dinner. This was a popular order from our table and it was awesome. The atmosphere and dinner was superb at Cenzontle. It says online that they take cash only, but we paid with a card. You just have to put the whole bill on one card.

cenzontle tulum

WILD

The second day of the trip we had bachelor/bachelorette days so we split up. Girls went with the bride and boys went with the groom. For dinner, we went to WILD. I am going to say they are all my favorite meals because they were all really great haha. I had a great experience at WILD too. We did the tasting menu for our whole group and, honestly, this was the way to go. We got to try a little bit of everything on the menu and it was the perfect way to do dinner and get the full experience.

Also, the HAYATÉ cocktail was amazing. It was tequila Infused With red pepper, lime, agave syrup, basil, and spice tincture.

A little tip before dining at WILD: wear your bug spray. It is legitimately in the jungle. They do walk around with incense, but I could feel myself getting bitten at dinner. If you followed along with my mosquito saga on Instagram, this is where it started. More on this in a minute.

Tacos in Tulum

Tantra Beach Club

Tantra will come up again in a minute for things to do, but we did eat lunch here. I highly recommend the lobster tacos. They were a favorite among our group!

Casa Malca

This is Pablo Escobar’s former home turned into a hotel. It has great restaurants and a beach club. We had breakfast here and it was an awesome experience. For $40, you get a fresh juice, coffee or tea, a pastry, bread, fruit, an entree and two mimosas or bloody marys. I had the eggs benedict as my entree it was delicious. This was a morning of luxury and I was here for it.

where to eat in tulum

Hartwood

Now on the flip side of luxury, you have Hartwood. An equally awesome experience, but completely different. Hartwood is completely off the grid. They base their menu daily on what the “sea and land harvests offer them.” It is a changing spoken menu every day. The restaurant runs on solar panels and all food is cooked on an open fire in a wood-burning oven. You need to make a reservation here and you need to arrive exactly at 6 p.m. Before would actually be best so that when they open at 6, you are ready to go. This restaurant fills up quickly.

What to Do In Tulum

We were there for a wedding so we did a lot of different things with the wedding party. Some of our excursions were planned and some we just did on our own. Here are a few fun things to do in Tulum!

What to do in Tulum

Casa Malca

Yep, the same one I mentioned earlier. You should definitely make a stop or pay for a day at the beach here. It’s a beautiful property with really great food and lots of Instagram-worthy spots.

Ruins and Cenote Tours

Ok, I will admit that I skipped this excursion for more beach time, but I had also seen them before. The cenote and ruins are beautiful and there are lots of different tours that will take you to see them.

Tantra Tulum

Tantra Beach Club

We went to Tantra Beach Club for the Bachelorette day. The boys went to RosaNegra. These is the typical influencer-type Tulum images you see on social media. Sparklers with bottle service, beautiful people swaying around in long flowy skirts and bikinis, etc. It was fun and definitely worth a trip if you are on a girls’ or guys’ trip. For a romantic getaway, you can skip this. It’s a good party atmosphere.

Shopping in town

Tulum has lots of little cute shops and stores if you want to get some Tulum fashion or street tacos. It’s fun to walk up and down the street.

Things to Note When Traveling to Tulum

Shuttles

There are no direct flights to Tulum. You have to fly into Cancun and then it’s about a 2-hour shuttle ride. We booked a private van shuttle because a lot of people flew in around the same time. Some hotels offer a shuttle service. I DO NOT recommend a bus or public transportation. It’s just not as safe. Go ahead and do some research on your shuttle options and book a private transfer.

Mosquitoes

Tulum is in the jungle. I didn’t think this through. I got eaten alive by mosquitoes on the trip. I’m allergic already and so I had over 100 bites with an allergic reaction. It was awful and I had to be put on a steroid. It still hasn’t completely healed, so seriously, bring bug spray.

Travel restrictions

At the time we went to Tulum, if you are a US citizen, you do have to have a negative test to re-enter the United States. There are private companies that come to your hotel to perform your test. Some hotels offer the test as part of your package for staying with them. Just do the research and make sure to book a test before you get there. Make sure it is scheduled for the day before you leave (we left Friday, so we took our tests Thursday morning.)

Check out what I wore in Tulum here! 

Have you ever been to Tulum? What did you do and where did you stay?

In: Life

You’ll Also Love

2018 Blooper Reel
Welcome to 2020! New Year, New Site, New Resolutions
Wedding Planning Wednesday: How to Ask Your Bridal Party
Next Post >

How to Make Charcuterie Cups

hi, i’m helen

About Me
Welcome to Helengbailey.com, a digital lifestyle haven where I share the best in affordable style, beauty, food, DIY, family and home decor. As a former certified event planner, I also offer lots of tips and inspiration to plan the perfect party.

Search This Blog

join the hive

Reader Favorites

trending now

instagram

Follow @helengbailey

How to hide your Amazon echo! I have the old schoo How to hide your Amazon echo! I have the old school Amazon Echo. We have the dots around the house, but our kitchen one is still the OG! I don't love it being on the counter so I came up with a way to hide it!

How do you hide your electronics? 

#homehacks #homeandgardens #homedecorideas #kitchenideas
Let's make an Easter basket Bundt cake! It's so ea Let's make an Easter basket Bundt cake! It's so easy and cute to create!

First, use edible grass or icing and a grass piping tip to add grass to your "basket." Then attach peeps to a toothpick and insert into the cake. Add eggs and other Easter candies. Finally, add a handle to complete the basket look!

What are you doing for Easter this year?

#eastercakes #easterbrunch #easterideas #springrecipes #easyrecipesformoms #springcakes #springparty #recipereels #easypartyideas
Snaps from staycation! We spent the weekend in Atl Snaps from staycation! We spent the weekend in Atlanta for Benjamin's birthday! 

We started at @childrensmuseumatlanta and then headed over to @skyviewatl! Then we had dinner at @johnnyrockets and spent the night. Then, we woke up early and headed over to the @georgiaaquarium for the day.

It was SO much fun. I highly recommend doing a staycation in your own city. I've lived here 30 years and always find something fun to do. 

Happy birthday to my big 2-year-old! 💙 

#atlantastaycation #staycation #toddlertrip #toddlertravel #toddlertravels #georgiaaquarium #childrensmuseumatlanta #skyviewatlanta #johnnyrockets
This is the easiest idea for a fun summer party! 🦀 I took these crabby chicken croissants to our margaritaville themed party last week. I also made them for a mermaid-themed party a few years ago!

To make these:
-slice mini croissants down the middle but leave the back connected.
-fill with chicken salad.
-attach a toothpick to the back of edible eyeballs with cookie icing and allow it to dry.
-insert the toothpicks into the croissants to create eyes!

Save this for later when you need a dish or appetizer to bring to summer parties! 

#easyrecipesformoms #easysummerrecipes #easyrecipesforkids #easyfamilyrecipes #summerpartyideas #summerbarbecue #chickensaladsandwich #recipereel #easyrecipesathome
My big, sweet, wonderful boy is 2! Being his mom i My big, sweet, wonderful boy is 2! Being his mom is the greatest gift I've ever been given. I am so incredibly grateful for my tiny bestie. 

Thank you @keikilaniphotography for these precious photos of our boy!
Today we're making frito corn salad! This might be Today we're making frito corn salad! This might be the most southern dish I've ever made. However, it is a perfect side to take to a barbecue or to make for a summer party. 

It's also the perfect dish to make if your kitchen is under construction like mine was for this video. It's a cold dish so nothing to heat up. 

First, mix together two cans of drained whole-kernel corn, two cups of mexican blend cheese, one cup of light mayo, diced red pepper, pepper and a bit of cilantro in a bowl. Then, add crushed Chili Cheese Fritos and mix well. Serve and enjoy! 

#recipereel #sidedishrecipes #sidedishes #cornsalad #cornrecipes #barbecuerecipes #recipereels #easyrecipeideas #easyrecipesformoms
You'll just have to excuse me this week. I'm feeli You'll just have to excuse me this week. I'm feeling extra sappy. I love sharing a birthday week with my boy, and I'm extra grateful for another year with my tiny bestie. 💕

Thanks for all the birthday love! Can't wait to celebrate my sweet boy the rest of the week! 

Cover photo is from the incredibly talented @keikilaniphotography 

#toddlermoments #dailymotherhood #toddlerboymom #toddlermomma #twoyearolds
It's my birthday! We're making glitter drinks! ✨ It's my birthday! We're making glitter drinks! ✨

This is my favorite way to make a regular drink feel fancy! Sprinkle a little edible glitter in a silicone mold and fill with water and freeze. When it melts, your drink will be cute and sparkly.

My drink today is two ounces of bourbon, one ounce of peach syrup, lemon juice and club soda! Stir and watch it sparkle. 

#glittercocktail #peachcocktail #birthdaydrink #birthdaycocktails #edibleglitter #easydrinks #easydrink #easydrinking #signaturedrinks #recipereel
Today we're making golf tee cupcakes for the Maste Today we're making golf tee cupcakes for the Masters! ⛳️

First, either make or purchase cupcakes with green frosting. My kitchen was under construction for this video, so I purchased mine. But you can easily make your own and even use the grass piping tip to make grass. 

Then I found these golf-tee toothpicks. Place one in each cupcake. 

Then use cookie icing to secure a white chocolate truffle to each of the tees. 

Allow the icing to harden, serve and enjoy!

#mastersparty #masterssunday #masterstournament #springdesserts #golfcupcakes #golfparty #golfpartyideas #springparty #recipereels #cupcakereel #cupcakereels
Obsessed!! From the day we got the cabinets painte Obsessed!! From the day we got the cabinets painted to the finished project with backsplash and under cabinet lighting. I love our kitchen so much! 

We are going to replace the outlet and switch covers to blend a little more, but for now, we are so excited to have this completed kitchen! 

#kitchenreno #kitchenbeforeandafter #kitchenremodels #kitchenrenos #kitchenrenovations #farrowandballpaint #kitchencabinetsmakeover #kitchenbacksplash #kitchenidea #kitcheninspo #coastalgrandmother

Work With Me

  • About
  • Let’s Work Together
  • FAQ
  • Disclaimer

join the hive

Shop My Favorites

Copyright © 2023 Helen G. Bailey · Theme by 17th Avenue