Inspiring Travel and Wellness. Join me for adventures above and below the ocean, exploring nature, luxury travel experiences, spa and wellness activities.
Aji spa and salon tour, plus review. Spoiler Alert: This is my favorite spa in Phoenix, Arizona.
Aji Spa is the best kept secret of Sheraton’s Wild Horse Pass Casino and Resort. The spa is positioned away from the cars, crowds, and casino, hidden behind the edge of the golf course and tennis center. Little did I know that Aji spa would be such a hidden oasis and my new favorite spa, but it almost wasn’t.
A friend of mine won tickets for a Production at Tempe Center for the Arts and was kind enough to invite me. I watched this beautiful facility built several years ago (2007 was just a few years ago, okay) and this was my first visit.
Sunday afternoon offered a ChildsPlay production, with shows ideally suited for young people. This is a great opportunity to introduce children to the arts and etiquette of live performance. The show included intermission and a Q&A session with the audience after the show. Such a great event for children!
The most well-known Mayan ruins and archaeological sites are in the interior of Mexico and Central America which can be difficult to visit, often requiring long car or bus rides. The nearest airport to Chichen Itza is Cancun and then it is still several hours travel by car. There are two noteworthy Mayan sites located within Cancun.
El Rey
El Rey
El Rey is located along the Hotel Zone of Cancun, tucked away behind large trees and a small sign. For 43 pesos (per person) this hidden gem is an old Mayan village for exploration. The area surrounding the structures is cut back leaving very little shade. The site opens at 8 AM for the coolest temperatures. There are plenty of signs in both Spanish and English translation.
View of modern hotel in the distance at the El Rey site
The entire site takes less than an hour to walk and take a few photos.
The Mayan Museum, Museo Maya de Cancun, is just down the street from the El Rey site. The museum opens at 9 am, one hour later than El Rey, allowing for a full morning of Mayan history. At a mere 57 pesos, the entrance fee is one of the best bargains in Cancun!
Explore the incredible ancient Mayan city of Chichen Itza! Travel Guide with transit time, tours, the pyramid, beyond the pyramid, Mayan History in Mexico, and more!
Art, Museums, History, Science, Natural Wonders, and Archaeology are a few of my favorite things! So what could be better than an archaeological site full of art, culture, science, an ancient pyramid, an astronomical observatory, and more located in a jungle? That was my motivation to spend the day at Chichen Itza Mayan archaeological site.
The Chichen Itza site is located in the Yucatan state of Mexico, the nearest village is Piste (pronounced pis-tay). Our adventure started in Cancun, Mexico on the far East coast. The cheapest way from Cancun to Chichen Itza is by tour bus, it is also the slowest and most restrictive. We skipped that and arranged for a private car through our resort, paying $250 USD for private driver all day including fuel. Slightly more expensive, but we set the schedule and our little car passed all the buses so we arrived before the crowds. By car, it is a 2 hour drive using toll roads, or an extra hour to avoid the tolls. Tolls are charged by type of vehicle, meaning that our private car paid approx $500 pesos for both tolls (approx. $42 USD) but van or bus is more expensive.
Canyon Ranch Spa in the Venetian Resort of Las Vegas is a little slice of heaven. Full review of my experience and the incredible amenities in the spa.
Hidden between casinos and pools in the Venetian resort in Las Vegas, there is a magical place of beauty called the Canyon Ranch Spa. This little slice of heaven is world famous, but it was my first visit. On a recent girls trip, we scored spa credit as part of the reservation package. Any service was going to be a bit pricey, but the spa credit was a fantastic deal! Massages were booked for the group, and a full day pass to the spa was included for the day of service. Without a paid service, it is a $25 per day for hotel guests, and $40 for non-guests, to use the spa amenities (totally worth it, and here’s why).
