King of the one-liner! A disgruntled Kevin makes for awesome content!
@wicked_smaaht6 ай бұрын
You bet. 😂 …. Some of his best videos.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Well I'm glad I don't 'suffer' for nothing haha
@sonnysantino78496 ай бұрын
Welcome back Kevin! We missed you!🥂
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
@rwpoly87603 ай бұрын
We have stayed here 3-4 times per year each year since 2002 and we come here for the incredible service, with many of the same employees still here from our first visit. They’ve watched our kids grow up. Such a special place!
@tfft3 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing ✈️
@Scott-pe6te6 ай бұрын
I stayed at this property in the year 2000 when it was a Ritz Carlton and it was at the time the best luxury in the Cancun hotel zone. Now it looks sad and tired for the price. I had considered returning to this hotel later this year. After your helpful video, I will choose somewhere else. Thanks for the review.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Good choice lol
@tommykay74276 ай бұрын
Thanks Kevin. Always great vids. The COLLAPSED daybed is nuts. That's not a five star resort. That's a wishfull thinking 2 star hotel. Keep 'em coming we love all of your work.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Agreed!
@Thefinestselection20246 ай бұрын
Welcome back Kevin…. Get well soon
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
@giz18476 ай бұрын
Stunning photography of the morning sunrise ❤
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching 🩴
@jimmyjames64926 ай бұрын
I'll be sure to place this on the DO NOT VISIT list. Thanks for the info + video!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching 🩴
@zwatwashdcАй бұрын
Stayed at the Kempinski Bangkok. It was amazing. We loved it.
@tfftАй бұрын
Thanks for sharing ✈️
@ahmedabualkhaiir5 ай бұрын
We looking forward for a tour from Saint-Tropez 🇫🇷
@tfft5 ай бұрын
Oh, you're going to be looking for quite a while lol
@williamthompson65005 ай бұрын
I stay here often. Sadly they lost the Ritz/ Marriott Brand and converted over to Kempenski. They have spend a lot of money over the past few years doing renovations. I have been told they will be doing a remodel outside for the pool etc later this year. The best thing about this hotel is the service and the food. I have stayed at many hotels in cancun and this one is always top notch for food and service. The owner is old and has left his daughter in charge to run things. I would not be surprised to see this hotel be sold off in the near future.
@tfft5 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing ✈️
@shakesnbake6 ай бұрын
Hope you're feeling better Kevin
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
@hrizonsdebbie6 ай бұрын
"Beautiful Retirement Home" is your indie band name. Feel better!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
And here I thought it was "Tropical Assisted Living"...!
@gebe89786 ай бұрын
Looking at the lobby, I would not be surprised to find a huge CRT TV in the room with a keyboard for "internet" and a LAN cable at the desk... I continue watching later.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Haha
@НиколайОлегович-л1н2 ай бұрын
Thank you so much for this video. There are a couple of short questions, I would appreciate it if you would answer them. 1) What exactly is included in their all-inclusive system? 2) which restaurants are included in the ala-card system (i.e. for which you do not have to pay extra)? 3) I'm afraid to even ask how much does a regular beach lounger with an umbrella cost?
@tfft2 ай бұрын
I didn't have all inclusive, you'd need to inquire with the hotel.
@notactuallymyrealname6 ай бұрын
Wow, big colonizer energy in that decor. Hope you're feeling better soon!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
"Big colonizer energy" will be used in a future review 😂
@matthewmurphy5866 ай бұрын
New sub here. Love your videos - would love to see you review TRS Coral in Costa Mujeres, and some of the other resorts up there.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
I do love Isla Mujeres, used to do day trips up there every year. Wasn't sure of the demand (on KZbin) for resorts up there, so didn't do any yet- but surely in the future.
@sirpa896 ай бұрын
Hey Flip Flop, I am big fan of your work. if you ever decide to visit in Sri Lanka I highly recommend a hotel called "Ahu Bay". its a Ceylon Tea family owned hotel, they only run 2 or 3 hotels total. I don't get anything from recommending this, I am like you I just love to travel and share great experiences!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing ✈️
@hectorpalermo8756 ай бұрын
Glad Kevin you are back and that your hotels review are back. Not having visited Cancun before, I have to say that your series left me with no desire to do so. Compared to Asia and Dubai, none of the hotels were impressive. Also, it is too American - resort fees, big all you can eats or extortionate prices for a la carte and paying for sundbeds, no thank you
@tfft6 ай бұрын
I chuckle each time I read "you're back"... I just missed one posting date, but I didn't have a day off 😂
@Ralphie2246 ай бұрын
i see the soap in bathroom had their sticker on it........or....did they place the sticker over the former hotel logo.....😄😁....great job....and review......safe travels
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Well at least I know the bottles are the correct shape for Ferragamo lol.
@MusicAvi8Tr6 ай бұрын
Got a great rate for a junior suite here a few years ago when it was the Ritz. Food was MEH I got food poisoning & the executive chef himself came to my suite to apologize. Room was huge with wrap around balcony. Dated but enjoyed the stay.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Everything has the correct price- surely this one is no different and I'd be happy to return for the prices they should be charging. Thanks for watching 🩴
@NurseVivАй бұрын
Thanks so much for this review..it keeps coming up on my IG and FB feeds although I’d never heard of this brand before…resort and cabana fees?…Nah, I’ll stick to the Hyatt Inclusive brands…😊
@tfftАй бұрын
Thanks for watching 🩴
@roybackhouse1176 ай бұрын
I was searching retirement homes. This popped up! Looks better than many…..
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Haha good to know search still works!
@camand27692 ай бұрын
You were too hard on this hotel. It is indeed an older properly but that is apart of its charm. Breakfast buffet is AMAZING and honestly one of my favorite parts. I’ve been to the Kempinski Cancun three times and at 31, I’m sure I’m on the younger side of their clientele. On my most recent trip, I thought about trying the Waldorf Astoria but was put off by its modern design and sterile decor/aesthetic. I’m sure that will be the popular choice for the influencer/ social media crowd and I intentionally wanted to avoid that. Kempinski 4.5/5 stars.
@tfft2 ай бұрын
There are bright spots at the Kempinski but I wholeheartedly disagree with the breakfast buffet. It was a pathetic offering for $50++ at a Kempinski. Other Kempinskis on my channel have buffets that would make this one cry lol.
@camand27692 ай бұрын
@@tfft Maybe that is slightly overpriced but isn’t that to be expected buying food at ANY hotel? You should also highlight the buffet is complimentary for 2 guests when you book the hotel through AMEX FHR.
@firstlast10476 ай бұрын
My understanding: It is MX federal law that menu prices reflect IVA included. I had a similar instance at an upscale taco restaurant in Campeche. I brought it to the attention of the wait staff. The IVA was removed from my check.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
I've seen both, usually included but sometimes fully separate.
@firstlast10476 ай бұрын
@@tfft Yes. It can be confusing. Sometimes, especially super markets, the final receipt reflects the shelf price of items, but the IVA is broken out as a non charged item.
@charliebrown56 ай бұрын
Thank You ✈️
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching 🩴
@mathieubrosseau11536 ай бұрын
Well 😮 I so badly wanted to go there. Taught it was the best in Cancún. Thanks Kevin. I will save myself a LOT of money and go somehwere else I guess . AND i might have a better ‘vaicai’ !
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Farrrrrr from the best lol.
@major_lag26436 ай бұрын
@@tfftwhat hotels are better for a Cancun vacation?
@ToddHawk5 ай бұрын
@@tfft Are you planning on doing a "Cancun overview" or "What I learned" video? Loving your channel!
@williamthompson65005 ай бұрын
I have stayed at this hotel 2-3 times a year for 10 plus years now. It is a great place to stay. I enjoy it because it is not all inclusive and the staff treat me great. I usually have my breakfast included. It is in a great location as well. The beach and service is some of the best around IMO.
@markfellows746 ай бұрын
Perhaps I’m just used to spending most of my beach resort holidays in South East Asia, but these Cancun hotels just seem like an overpriced version with lesser quality food. Appreciate your Cancun videos convincing me to stick to what I know and love though!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
I do think there’s a difference though and a place for both kinds of resorts/destinations. Cancun is 1-5 hours away from all of the population centers in North America. Part of what you’re paying for is that proximity. Same how I don’t think Ibiza and the Canaries are the best resorts on earth, but again, they’re a quick one and done flight for all of Western Europe. Even Hawaii is the same. Hawaii is more beautiful for sure, but their insane prices are simply bc they’re a narrow body flight away from the west coast.
@mdjay10006 ай бұрын
Wow this looks welll uhmmmmmmmmmm interesting.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
I reckon there might be a bit of sarcasm laced in there lol
@mikas29346 ай бұрын
Is this what AI Kevin sounds like? 🤔😂 Get well soon my man!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Don't tell anyone but I actually have an AI clone of my voice already which I've never used bc it's way way way too accurate and creeps me out lol
@Thongger6 ай бұрын
30-50USD to rent a beach deck chair?! WHAT!? That's the first time I've heard of such a thing
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Oh, well then best you avoid most of the western hemisphere lol I remember paying for chairs/cabanas in Hawaii 30 years ago.
@jbennison56726 ай бұрын
You need to pay extra to use the beach furniture? Outrageous. Is this standard practice in Cancun?
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Standard practice in much of the western hemisphere- specifically for cabana style chairs.
@williamthompson65005 ай бұрын
I do not believe they charge for the blue loungers on the beach. The cabana does have a daily fee for rental.
@well-blazeredman61876 ай бұрын
Resort fees? 😢 Cripes - you Americans have a lot to answer for! What makes for a good beach in places like this? I like a lot of palm tree/jungle-edge action and a smattering of decent beach-bars to break up the monotony of one hotel after another - like the one at the top end of Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman. Cancun kinda failed that test for me. Good review, with great choices of music, neat sound-editing and nicely-shot moody skies.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
In my mind, they are two different things. For some trips, I like the action of a place like Cancun (and therefore my "beautiful beach' criteria is all about the water and sand...)... for other types of trips, yes I agree with you.
@petek55236 ай бұрын
What a shame, great potential for this property totally wasted. And those food prices are insane 😅. Thanks for sharing 😊
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Agreed!
@ThatcrazyAK6 ай бұрын
Will you review the Etihad residence? I watched the review on Etihad’s first class apartment and thought you should review the residence, especially when Etihad has its a380 operating from Abu Dhabi to JFK, just a suggestion.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
No plans on it, not much more I can add about it now that it's simply a 'bigger' First Class seat as opposed to the full original Residence white glove experience.
@ThatcrazyAK6 ай бұрын
@@tfft You got a point
@ThatcrazyAK6 ай бұрын
@@marcd6897 still tho, it would be nice if the flip flop traveler reviewed it.
@gebe89786 ай бұрын
OK, I finished watching your trip back in time, thanks for making me feel 20 years younger. The property seems a rip off, nothing new when it comes to old hotels trying to keep up with their old grandeur. I am not surprised about the service, most likely staff there since 20+ years with their minds on retirement, knowing what to do and doing it well to repeater guests, but uninterested to majority of the others. As for what Kempinski has done here and their properties in Asia, let's not forget they are a management company, depending on owners. The owner of Apurva Kempinski spent a lot of money, same as the Sindhorn Kempinski in Bangkok, to note two of the new ones. Or the doubtful (by many people as I heard) origin of the money spent in Siam Kempinski. I do agree they could have selected better as access to the market, however I also believe the one in Havana is the true showcase for them for America.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
I'll take your word for it. Hard to introduce a brand to North America by making it so that Americans can't experience it 😂
@gebe89786 ай бұрын
@@tfft Perhaps they are not so interested in the US market in America. In any case, let's not forget plenty of their properties in China are also old and not in a pristine condition. The one in South Spain, same story. Perhaps you, like me, have been spoilt by being introduced to the brand at their top properties, in my case Siam and Apurva.
@tidusfantasy6 ай бұрын
bummer, why u didnt stay in JW or Marriott in this series? There are more bonvoy members than any hotel loyalty program, so these 2 properties are highly searched and researched... :(
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Highly searched, researched and highly reviewed lol. The Marriott was closed for reno while I was there and the JW's prices were sky high due to the vacuum of not having the Marriot (and the RC, perhaps). The new AI Marriott, I'd visit.
@ivanvargas65906 ай бұрын
How o can take a Uber in the airport?
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Book it on the app? lol
@ivanvargas65906 ай бұрын
@@tfft yeah i know, whats i mean can the Uber pick me ok the airport, or i need to get out the airport??
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Ah, I took "in" as "to"... you cannot get an Uber from the airport, you can only get one to the airport. Maybe you can walk a long distance to get one, but considering the tension between taxis and ubers in Mexico, this would not be advisable.
@jranario6 ай бұрын
if they do all inclusive, i might consider.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
All Inclusive for less than what I paid, ok lol
@robm30746 ай бұрын
This seems to be a problem at many locations throughout the world. With travel demand sky rocketing, so has the greed. To do any type of decent traveling anymore really takes a total financial investment and a huge budget.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Sure, but a change of management is the perfect time to change things too.
@zamrunikhalid6 ай бұрын
I was wondering why you sounded snappy until you said that you had some kind of flu 😅
@tfft6 ай бұрын
And here I though sounding snappy was a good thing lol
@rosecolouredglasses5 ай бұрын
The building and the beach are very nice. Breakfast is lame but if it were free, that could be looked over, and if the dinner prices were lower and if the broke ass loungers were free...surely they don't charge for the broken ones do they?!
@tfft5 ай бұрын
The broken ones were specifically the ones that were charged for lol
@rosecolouredglasses5 ай бұрын
@@tfft there must be some consumer protection law against selling defective things/services
@waterguy31076 ай бұрын
Kempinski in Singapore is much better than this! You have to try it when you are in SG. 😊
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing ✈️
@panagiotismatziounis47786 ай бұрын
This hotel gives me Indian vibes. Get well soon.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks very much 🙏🏻
@kevboynet6 ай бұрын
Without consistency, a luxury brand is sure to be thought less of. I know I think a lot less of Kempinsky now. The sheer nerve of setting out a kline like that...
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Very curious what a kline is lol
@kevboynet6 ай бұрын
@@tfft It's more of a leitmotif than a physical manifestation.
@anthonyprice-zm5iu6 ай бұрын
Disappointing for a Kempinski Kev 😮
@tfft6 ай бұрын
For sure!
@cusodha14 ай бұрын
Why i feel the ur voice is diffrent ?
@tfft4 ай бұрын
Some people get colds lol
@dennisrettke6 ай бұрын
"Resort fees", "destination fees", whatever they want to call them, are an absolute scam!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
That they are.
@CLAR-oo1lg4 ай бұрын
A very bog standard U.S. room style set up, functional and uninspiring. This overpriced Hotel looks dull in places, lacking atmosphere. I certainly wouldn't choose to stay at this property. The sad Breakfast Buffet offering didn't match the Mexican Sunrise especially after seeing what the Al Bustan Palace served up in Oman. Surprisingly; very disappointing, not what I would expect from Kempinski Brand. There are surely solid 4****, perhaps even 3, that I would enjoy a better holiday stay.
@tfft4 ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing ✈️
@iwasmidnightrain.6 ай бұрын
First!
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Thanks for watching 🩴
@TheMaartian6 ай бұрын
Even a complete remodel wouldn't justify the usurious food and beach facilities prices. Hard pass.
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Fair enough!
@DeniseSommerRoque6 ай бұрын
What a dud…lacking any character and so uninspiring! A real shame knowing how capable they are of pulling off a showstopper infused with local influence. Hope you feel better soon and thank you for the review 🙏🏼
@tfft6 ай бұрын
Yupp, been a long time since I've seen such an imbalance of a deal. Almost makes me think something was used against Kempinski to accept the deal lol. The local owner got away with a coup!
@tonyreid8336 ай бұрын
I’ve stayed in better Motel rooms globally than this The furniture looks dirty and very used Its basic 3 star at best
@tfft6 ай бұрын
To be fair, you've been to some very very fancy motels lol
@Shello586 ай бұрын
I wouldn't go back to Mexico under any circumstance. Nope. Not even for free. Never.