Meet the travel advisor who relocated to Playa del Carmen in search of Mayan Gold
This week Travel Courier checks in with Stephen Sully of SWELL Destinations, who packed his bags and left Lethbridge, Alberta for the warmer shores of Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Sully has been documenting the experience on his website In Search of Mayan Gold.
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you decided to get into the travel industry after retiring?
Travel has always been a passion of mine and when I retired it seemed to be a natural transition to become a travel advisor. Creating and sharing travel memories was the impetus.
What led you to move to Playa del Carmen and what have you been up to since then?
I have considered moving to Mexico for many years, even before I retired, and this past summer the circumstances of my personal life presented the opportunity to make the move. As well, I visited the area in July upon the invitation of Hard Rock Hotels and Air Canada to experience their new COVID protocols. Those two weeks solidified my decision to move, and here I am.
“The excursions and attractions I was and still am interested in are the less touristy places, off-the-beaten path, if you will. At Christmas I spent four days in the Yucatan jungle, lived in a Maya hut, ate Maya food, visited ruins and private cenotes, fed crocodiles, and spent Christmas Eve (Nochebueno) with a Maya family in the small town of Santa Rita in central Yucatan.”
Stephen Sully
Once travel from Canada resumes, do you plan on continuing your career as a travel advisor?
The pandemic has hit travel advisors very hard. I’m fairly new to the industry, and that has been both a blessing and a curse. I have a small clientele so I was not affected by the trip cancellations and the entire refund fiasco. On the other side, now I will have to start over with building my brand and gaining new clients. To that end, I shifted my focus on writing about travel. I did have a crisis of conscience, considering throwing in the towel, but after conversations with colleagues and mentors, I was reminded of the enviable position I’m in. I am here, experiencing travel while others cannot, and my writings will not only inform and educate travellers, it will also help establish my brand. That may attract new clients once travel resumes.
Tell us a bit about your “In Search of Mayan Gold” tour and how not all that glitters is gold?
When I planned my “In Search of Mayan Gold” tour I intended to visit as many resorts (the “Gold”) along the Maya Coast as I could, reporting on their COVID protocols and the limits of their opening. As I wrote in my article “A Metal of a Different Mettle…” I discovered not all that glitters is “Gold.”
There are many other gems, such as the boutique hotels, that shine and sparkle as much, but offer alternatives to the all-inclusive gig. And I’m starting a new series, “Feet in the Street” that features the beach clubs, the bars, restaurants, and the carnival-like atmosphere of Playa del Carmen’s famous 5th Avenue.
How many resorts and attractions have you visited since you’ve been there and is there anything you want to share about how they’ve adapted to the new normal?
Since the inception of my tour, including the “COVID vs Cancun Summer Tour” last summer, I have seen almost three dozen properties and all have implemented COVID protocols, although some are more thorough and enforced than others. All in all, I have never felt my health and safety has been compromised or threatened in any way, even on the streets of Playa del Carmen.
Once flights resume, would you recommend Canadians visit?
I have been here in Mexico for almost six months, and I am as healthy now as I was before I left. If you’re able to travel, then I say do it. If you follow protocols and behave responsibly, there is little to no chance of contracting Covid. I’ve maintained for the past year that, in my experience here in Mexico and at home in Alberta, you are safer flying to Mexico than a trip to the big box stores at home.
What is a lesser known experience that you recommend people not miss out on during a visit?
When I planned my trip I jokingly said if it starts with an X, I don’t want to see it. The excursions and attractions I was and still am interested in are the less touristy places, off-the-beaten path, if you will. At Christmas I spent four days in the Yucatan jungle, lived in a Maya hut, ate Maya food, visited ruins and private cenotes, fed crocodiles, and spent Christmas Eve (Nochebueno) with a Maya family in the small town of Santa Rita in central Yucatan. There is so much to experience with the Mexican culture and history I would suggest a trip to see as much of that as you can.
Do you have any tips, advice or words of wisdom for other travel advisors who may be needing a little bit of inspiration in these trying times?
As I mentioned before I am still new to this industry, and I would not pretend to offer any advice to seasoned and experienced travel advisors. I will say, however, that despite all the political and scientific uncertainty, the travel industry is alive and well, and it’s here, waiting for you.
