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About this trip
Come and experience this exclusive My Trish Advisor Day of the Dead Trip in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico! 2023 & 2024 were such a success and everyone LOVED the boutique hotel, El Palacito Secreto and the city of Merida, we are doing it yet, AGAIN for 2025!!
Join others like yourself who have a love and curiosity for Mexico and its deep culture surrounding Dia De Muertos / Day of the Dead / Hanal Pixán! Well in the Yucatan they call it Hanal Pixan and it's very similar but the FOOD is very different than other parts of Mexico.
You will spend 5 days and 4 nights in Merida in a SPECTACULAR and elegant boutique hotel that is in an amazing location for all the activities we will be doing! We will have the entire 11-room hotel to ourselves!
The trip starts on Thursday, October 30th, and ends on Sunday, November 3rd. You can extend to see the celebrations, continue and check out later, or move to another hotel! Also, in Merida, many ceremonies and celebrations take place the weekend before the Day Of The Dead on November 1st and 2nd. So, if you're looking to come a few days early, you will have all kinds of activities and events going on in the city to attend.
SOME of what we will experience: ( I want to keep SOME things a surprise!)
The city of Merida has a TON of things going on at this time! We will experience the large ofrendas that they set up for their loved ones who have passed on come for a visit. We will go to the Mayan Museum and learn about the Mayan culture and history. We will build an ofrenda together for all of our lost loved ones. These are just a few things we will experience together!
Mayan Kitchen Experience and how they cook and get to taste some varieties of Yucatan / Mayan food. This includes showing how they make the homemade tortillas and cook them in the PIB. The PIB is the area where they cook below the ground and is also a type of food that is only made for the Day of the Dead in Yucatan! This is one of my favorite parts of the trip.
The entire weekend they have all kinds of activities and events set up so you will be able to immerse yourself and learn so much about this amazing tradition.
We will attend 1 or 2 parades: They will have all kinds of food stands, items for purchase and bands and shows going on! These nights are a lot of walking and standing. If you want to bring a small travel stool this is a good idea. Also in case it rains we ask that you bring a poncho or raincoat. (It happened 2024 but we had a blast with it!! haha)
While walking around you will see many "Ofrendas" These are altars where they leave food, drinks, and other favorites from those who have passed on. You will see them everywhere and pay close attention to all the details. We will of course explain while we are there. It's beautiful!
This trip is scheduled with plenty of free time for you to explore on your own as well! We know once you meet a few friends you will want to go explore on your own!
We are located within about a 10 min walk of many of our activities and outings.
Come join in on this amazing experience!
About Merida & the hotel
Merida!
Merida is over 400 years old and has amazing French and Spanish architecture! You feel like you are in Europe, NOT Mexico! This city is growing in popularity for many reasons and one is the beautiful architecture and another is because it is consistently rated one of the safest cities in all of LATIN AMERICA! The historic buildings all around are just so enchanting and you will want to take lots of photos!
The first time I came to Merida I could not believe I was in Mexico it's so different than anywhere in the Riviera Maya! When I took a friend once all he could say was that there was a surprise behind every door! The houses & businesses are built where you walk into a door and the place goes back farther than you expect and has such unique space. So really a surprise behind every door! We have a few great local bars nearby that on your free nights, I recommend you to walk to and check out! One is a great Jazz bar that I always enjoy!
We are staying at El Palacito Secreto a BEAUTIFUL boutique hotel in an amazing location. As mentioned above this hotel has the WOW factor and is worth the trip all on its own! Set in the French Colonial era the details, decor, and furniture are all top-notch. This hotel was originally built and intended to be a personal home then later became a boutique hotel. So with that in mind, the details are there for us to enjoy! The place has 11 rooms, 2 pools, a restaurant, a beautiful bar, a spa, and common spaces.
Rooms:
Include A/C, Internet, luxurious shampoo & conditioner, bath & pool towels, small safe, hair dryer, luggage rack & drinking water. Refillable drinking water is located in the common space.
Room Breakdowns: (will update as bookings come in)
6 rooms with King Only = 2 people each room
1 room King & 1 Double= 3 people MAYBE 4
1 room with 2 doubles = 2 people
2 rooms with 1 King & 1 single= 2 people each room
1 room with 1 Matrimonial =1 person
19 people total MAX
Note: Once you are booked you will be added to our private Facebook group to start connecting with other group attendees! We encourage posting within this group while you're on this trip, as well as sharing your socials if you have any!
We are taking over the entire hotel with 2 pools, 11 rooms, and a bar! Yeah baby!
Disclaimer: This is a medium active experience. For those who have any disabilities or issues walking on uneven surfaces this trip would be very difficult. Merida has very uneven sidewalks and are always a surprise. I always joke around and say if anything is dangerous in Mexico it IS the sidewalks! This trip would not be recommended unless you have extensive travel with these types of disabilities and know how to figure out how to get around in Mexico.
Getting Around:
Walking distance to everything!
The location of our hotel is within walking distance of about 10 minutes or less to everything! Just be careful when walking the sidewalks are not even!
UBER/DiDi prices:
When you have time to yourself we are within walking distance of everything but maybe you want to go see a specific park? Or Activity going on for Day Of The Dead! Merida has Uber and it's very affordable. You can go almost anywhere you need for less than $5 USD
We are providing transportation to all activities that are more than a 15-minute walk. Everything else is about 10 min or less to walk to. Anything further if you don't want to walk take DiDi or Uber they are really affordable!
Be Prepared!
Please remember if you are taking the Mayan Train or the ADO bus back to Cancun to book in advance! Spots on buses and flights fill up quickly on Day of The Dead weekend!
Travel insurance & Opt-out info
For those of you who have been following me for a while, you know that I encourage people to travel to Mexico despite the negative media. We want you to feel safe as possible an to be able to get the help you need if needed while on the trip. We know in travel things can happen or health scares can sneak up on us anytime. In Mexico they will want you to pay cash for any issue and them you will have to file with your insurance for the payback. This is pretty standard. So first we do want to mention we will need proof of travel insurance for your stay.
We want to take into consideration of weather issues, closures and any other issues beyond our control but please remember travel doesn't always go as planned. Please be patient if we have to make any travel changes along the way. Many insurance policies will cover some of these issues as well. The tour is purchased as a package and if any changes or cancellations are made no refunds will be made.
Additionally, the tours & experiences are listed as a package, and no price adjustments will be given if someone wants to "opt-out" of an included activity.
Costs and Payments
You will secure your spot with a $ 400 USD deposit. The deposit is non-refundable and the remaining balance is due by October 20th 2025.
For those who book the trip early:
We have a payment program that after the deposit you can break the balance into 8 payments to make it easier for those that may not have the money all at once! I thought this was pretty cool because that would be me! haha
About My Trish Advisor
If you have been following me on social media for a while you know I love Mexico BUT maybe you don't know this My Trish Advisor lady?! GASP Well, Let me introduce myself!
Who is this Trish gal?? Oh well, I thought you would never ask! Hola! My name is Trish and I am originally from Iowa BUT I left the cold winters of Iowa behind in 2001. I moved to warm Huntington Beach California and lived in So Cal for over 8 years. Then I moved to NYC got married and left that terribly abusive marriage. Whew, got out of that one! Shortly after I left NYC to go back to Iowa I was recruited by my old boss to go back to Cali and I did just that.
Ok Trish that's fine but how the heck did you end up in MEXICO? Funny you should ask, ok LONG story short I went to Rosarito by myself to do the JET PACK, yes to fly around over the water! After spending a few weekends there I met some people at a party that were driving to Cancun for diving jobs. Well, I said I'd join them, and well... 3 days later I was driving my 2 dogs, Sassy and Peace Out Dog across Mexico with people we just met! We had 6 people, 2 SUVs, and 4 dogs we drove over 3,000 miles across 18 states of Mexico which took 16 days! I arrived on November 12th, 2015, in Puerto Morelos and after about a week people were asking me what I was gonna do, I was like oh I can't just DRIVE back! I guess I will stay a while! Lol, It was a VERY FAR drive! haha, So I stayed! I ended up flying back to San Diego selling everything I own officially quitting my job that I was KILLING it at then went home to Iowa to see family and friends and then arrived a 2nd time by plane on Jan 7th, 2016 officially moved to Puerto Morelos!
Ok, gotcha but how did My Trish Advisor get started?? By ACCIDENT, but now of course I believe it's all for a reason! Well….I was frustrated with some news that came out in March 2018 about how dangerous Mexico and that people should not travel here. I decided to make a video sharing my frustration about how the media portrays Mexico. I basically said that people should not cancel their vacations because the news says that Mexico is dangerous. That shootings happen even in schools in the USA and kids still go to school. Of course, some people were very upset about what I said but my point was and still is that terrible things happen all over the world. We have the choice to sit on the couch and be scared or actually go out and have experiences of our own! I had 2 videos that went viral that had over a million views each. I never want a viral video again, it's very stressful, and people are mean!
So after that, I had TONS of people reaching out to me asking things like: Where do you recommend to stay? What should we do while visiting? Do you know any good taco spots? I already had my tour company and that was called Adventurous Spirits Tours and NO ONE can ever spell that. Well after a meeting with friends that were gonna help me with social media they were the ones that came up with My Trish Advisor. In our area Trip Advisor is everywhere and the new name just fit well! Ya seeeee I had hired them to help me with Adventurous Spirits Tours and then it swiftly changed to My Trish Advisor. It just made sense. I was a person that people could connect with and learn about Mexico and what it's like not just to visit but also to live here. Since I had airport transfers and hosted day trips like catamaran sailing, cenotes, Mayan ruins, and MANY more for over 5 years it worked well to combine it with My Trish Advisor.
Ok now what!? I know many people want to explore other areas of Mexico or want to meet new friends to travel with. Also, some are nervous or scared to travel alone, as a couple or with their family. Then, for me I LOVE hosting people, throwing parties & traveling sooo why not combine all that and create a community that can travel together!?
I have helped groups from 4 to 100 travel the area, including weddings, families, MANY girls' trips, and corporate groups. I have also been making YouTube videos, FB and IG posts, and sharing all these beautiful places I visit but NOW I want to BRING YOU ALONG! This is why we are launching MTA Group trips! I hope you join us and invite your friends and family!
If you read all that thank you, I know its long winded but I wanted to you know a little about me! Also if you did read all of that & take a spot on the trip I will buy you a drink! Just be sure to write “Trish you owe me a drink” in the booking or in an email that you send to me after booking this trip! [email protected]
See you soon in Mexico!
Trish
P.S. We are only starting with Mexico, I have plans for many other locations but we will start with Mexico, there is a lot to explore here! Columbia, Africa, Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada....some on the horizon!
Refund info:
In the event that you need to cancel your trip, these fees will be applied:
2025
• Between Now - Feb 1st, MTA retains only the non-refundable deposit ($200)
• Between Feb 1st till May 1st, MTA retains 50% of the amount paid.
• Between May 2nd till August 1st, MTA retains 75% of the amount paid.
• Between August 15th and till departure date (October 30th), MTA retains 100% of the entire tour price ($1975)
• Any refunds are given within 60 days after cancellation.
ADD-ONS - you can choose to add these up until 30 days before the trip. These are non-refundable within 60 days of the trip.
A single room for the duration of the trip is an extra cost of $675. -- This can not be canceled or refunded closer than 30 days before your trip.
What’s included
- Hotel StayAll hotels during the trip (4 nights)
- Some Meals and DrinksPlease note- this includes: 4 Breakfasts, 2 dinners and 1 lunch! We encourage you to explore the city! I will have a list of reccomendations as well!
- Some TransportationTransportation to the Mayan Museum and the cemetery.
- Airport ShuttlesRound trip transfers from the Merida airport to the hotel. Shuttles only. Shuttle times: October 30th 2pm, 4pm & 6pm November 3rd 9am 11am 3pm. (Departures: Pickup is 2 hours before.)
- Pool Party!We will have a pool party with a taco bar included and other surprises!!!
- Mayan World MuseumThis will be a group trip that will take a total of about 4 hours. After you will have the day to yourself!
- Bike Rental1 hour bike rental on the historic Paseo Montejo! The street is closed down for families to ride! 8am - 12pm. So those with afternoon or later flights can join us! IT makes for a fun mor!ning
- Tour of Beautiful GravesThe Mexican culture is to celebrate those that have passed on and you will see all kinds of decorations on the grave sites.
What’s not included
- Flights to Merida/CancunWe will need your flight details at least ONE MONTH in advace. Please keep in mind we include certain time of arrivals and departures. Off schdeule pick ups and departurs will be in "ADD-ONS' tab..
- Certain MealsMeals not outlined in the itinerary are on your own. Average meal will be about $10USD, unless you go fancy. Beers average about $2-$3 USD and at cantinas in Merida they bring you food as you drink!
- Add - OnsThis can be extended hotel nights, off time Airport Transportation, tours and activities. **Add ONS listed below**
- AlcoholAlcoholic drinks may be included in some meals. Extra drinks are purchased on your own.
- Off-time Airport ShuttleShuttles outside of the group arrival time will be an add on. Shuttle times: October 30th 2pm, 4pm & 6pm November 3rd 9am 11am 3pm. (Departures: Pickup is 2 hours before.)
- From/To CancunCheapest: Rental Car or ADO Bus. Contact Snap Car Rentals. ADO is about $30USD per person. We can arrange pick up from the bus station for a charge of $60USD each way.
- Travel InsuranceIt is HIGHLY recommended to travel with travel insurance. If anything does happen in Mexico you have to pay CASH for services. This could be mean life or death so please travel with insurance.
- Trip Processing FeeAll payments processed have 1% Service Fee, Credit Card payments have an additional fee of about 2.99%
- Souvenirs & Other ItemsYou will purchse these when we have unschedule activites in town. We have lots of great shops!
- Tips for Drivers & MealsThe tips for meals, hotel staff, tours are not included. Average tip will be about $5-10USD. Please remember to tip your fellow workers! Tips for hotel staff goes in blue jar!
- Additional TransporstionIf you use Uber or taxis while getting around the town during free time. Also for times we walk if you choose to take Uber these are not included. We never walk too far.
Available Packages
In this package, if with your spouse you will get a queen or king bed. If booked and willing to share a room each person gets their own bed. Strangers will not share beds, not like when we were in our 20s!! hahaha! If you choose the single room option you will be garaunteed a room alone. (When traveling with a friend or spouse you will let me know in the notes below) For those willing to share a room we will have a questionnaire. We will ask things like if you stay up late, wake up early, do you snore, how flexible you are with a roommate, etc. Those kinds of questions so we can pair you up the best we can with your new best friend!
If you want a room for yourself you would pay an additional $675 USD room supplement option for the entire stay. (ONLY 2 Available) You can book that in addition to this package below.
Room Set up below:
6 rooms with King Only = 2 people each room
1 room King & 1 Double= 3 people MAYBE 4
1 room with 2 doubles = 2 people
2 rooms with 1 King & 1 single= 2 people each room
1 room with 1 Matrimonial =1 person
19 people total MAX
19 people MAX
We will be taking over the entire hotel! We will have all 11 rooms and 2 pools to ourselves! BOOM!
Room arrangements will be set once we have all bookings.
Pricing is based on 19.84MXN to 1 USD. If at the time of your purchase, the Mexican peso has dropped between 15 and 16, we will have to adjust the price. It would be around $500USD but we will do it for $300 USD. I' will take a hit of about $ 200 USD but the show must go on!
Available options
If you choose not to share a room, you can pay extra to be sure to NOT share a room with anyone. The cost is $675 USD for four nights.
This is ONE WAY transportation for the early arrivals & late Departures outside of the shuttle times & trip dates. Anytime outside of Oct 29 to Nov 3. MID / Merida Airport only. Since we encourage 1 day early arrival we will include OCT 29th shuttles from MID airport.
This is a price for up to 2 people in one room for each night. For dates outside of the nights of Oct 30th- Nov 3rd. If you want to stay in a more economical hotel I have other recommendations for you if you are arriving a day before or staying longer. We highly recommend taking an early flight the day of the trip or arriving the day before!
This is an ALL-DAY adventure! You can book this for the free day we have OR if you are extending your stay. Deluxe tour. This is an all-day adventure lasting about 10 to 12 hours. This is a LONG DAY!
Cenotes are the undeground rivers in the Yucatan Peninsula! They are a must-visit if you have never been to one this is a great time! This is about a 7 hour tour. We will take a poll with the group if we have most ppl book this then we will go as one group. 2024 group went all together and it was fun! If the same happens for 2025 we will decide together what time we should leave. This is a 7 hour round trip tour. This includes food and 1 non-alcoholic drink.
All the cenotes have a lot of stairs! If you were to choose 1 I would just wait for the last one! It is ABSOLUTELY worth it!
Want to celebrate something special on this trip??? We can create something private or share with our group, which of course will be more fun, especially a birthday! Want to congratulate a loved one on an accomplishment or celebrate an anniversary? Or you want to treat yourself! We can make it happen!
We can include cake, flowers, and rose petals in the room champagne, wine, chocolates, a pinata, a mariachi band, and other any other ideas you might want to include!
We can also make reservations at a special restaurant as well!
The price below is what the package will start at and can go up from there. You can add later if you want. We will discuss your needs and I will get the price to you!
Itinerary
THIS IS ONLY AN EXAMPLE ITINERARY: We include as much as we can but it depends what the final schdule Merida releases and thats about 2 to 3 weeks before the trip! We will send out a final itinerary about 2 weeks before the trip.
Day 1: Cocktail hour, welcome dinner & we build our ofrenda!
We will be having a welcome dinner at 8:00 pm. So an idea that others had was to arrive a day early. We can still arrange the hotel and transport for you. We will have this beautiful night view of the pool and the bar.
6:30 pm Meet at bar for drinks!
7:30 pm Dinner is served. (Food and one drink included) Additional drinks are on you, you lush! haha
After dinner, we will build our ofrenda!
Arrivals:
Some are driving or taking a bus from Cancun or Puerto Morelos.
For those flying into Merida the airport is about a 25 min drive from El Palacito. If you are coming a day earlier and want to stay in a cheaper hotel the day before, I reccommend EL Conquistador! It's a 5 min ride from El Palacito and an easy UBER ride. Heading to your hotel in Merida which is about 20-30 min away from Merida (MID) airport depending on traffic.
Those flying into Cancun its suggested to take the very easy ADO bus. It is about a 4-hour ride and around $ 30 USD. Very easy to take and if you do we suggest arriving a day earlier. **If you need any help with this please do not hesitate to contact me**
The best is to arrive at least 1 day before the trip! If you want to stay at a cheaper hotel I have a few recommendations just message me once you have decided and I will help you with that!
The Latest suggested time on this day is 5:00 pm to give you time to get your shuttle, get to the hotel, and get ready for the welcome dinner. Some are arriving the day before. Cocktails will be served at 7:30 pm, and dinner at 8-8:30 pm.
Airport Shuttle
We will ask prior to the trip about your flight details and put you on a shuttle either at 2, 4, & 6 pm. If you would like to come at a different time or from a different location, we can help to arrange that for an additional cost.