My little "trip within a trip" with Sara was coming to the end, but we were definitely on the way up. We arrived in Cancún on Friday, perfect timing for a weekend full of partying ... and what a place to be when you're looking to party. Cancún was the finale of the trip and it delivered, and more...

A few casual drinks Friday evening escalated somewhat when a game of Beer Pong broke out at the hostel (shock), after which we went out with our new friends to a nearby bar and partied the night away until about 3AM. The night was topped off with a late (early) run - literally a run across the highway - to McDonalds to break my year long duck of no McDonalds. Well worth it.

We had to back it up on Saturday night (how could you not)... the much talked about Coco Bongo nightclub awaited us, but not before a trip to the mall to get some new shorts after my trusty old ones had split the previous night (Beer Pong got serious).

Coco Bongo exemplified the Hotel Zone of Cancún - excessive, over the top, expensive, unnecessary, but great fun. There were cover bands, dancers, gymnasts, movie star lookalikes, midgets, confetti, cold smoke shot in your face, all on a constant rotation every couple of minutes for the whole night. Then when it stopped, you look down at your watch (for the first time that night) and realise it's already 5AM, the bar is closed and everyone is leaving. While great fun, it's the kind of thing you'd only do once. Just like Cancún.

I gingerly climbed down from my top bunk on Sunday morning as Sara and I headed off with our day bags to spend the night in Isla Mujeres, a mere 20 minutes on the ferry away from the port at Cancun. The weather was sensational upon arrival, and we immediately wished we had more time to spend there. The afternoon was spent in the water, walking along the beach, eating, then enjoying the live music at the hostel.

Come Monday morning and after we'd been to the MUSA Underwater Museum for our final bit of scuba diving, Sara had a little surprise up her sleeve. For all the planning I'd done for our last couple of weeks together, she wanted to thank me and as such treated us to TWO nights at an all-inclusive resort in the Hotel Zone of Cancún. Of course, I was never going to say no to such an offer, so for the last few nights I was able to put the hostel life behind me and live like a king.

I'd never stayed at an all-inclusive resort before, I just assumed they were overpriced for what you were getting. But there was one thing I'd never considered - the feeling you get when, after finishing a huge meal at one of the many upscale onsite restaurants, you just get up and walk away. There's no comedown moment after receiving the bill and realising what you just enjoyed cost a lot of money. You just walk out. And maybe you walk next door and get some free dessert. And a free coffee. And free drinks at the nightclub. I don't know. It all feels free. In saying that, I don't know if I'd feel the same way if Sara wasn't paying for it all...

Anyway, what a great way to end our trip together. It had everything - small towns, big tourist towns, diving, snorkelling, shitty hostels, lavish all-inclusive hotels, quiet nights in and huge nights out, but most importantly great company - and more great memories for life.