I stayed four nights at the Fairmont Mayakoba during the ILTM Americas conference. During this time, the resort was only occupied by people associated with the conference. The complimentary Virtuoso amenities are as follows: Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests $100 USD Resort or Hotel credit, to be utilized during stay * Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability *Further restrictions for $100 Resort Cred

During my time in Cancun I decided to pop over to the Ritz-Carlton to see their new room product. We stayed at the hotel last November for Thanksgiving, but they had just started the renovations and all of the renovated rooms were occupied, so I had not yet seen the updates. The renovations are gorgeous! The rooms had always been extremely well-maintained and spotlessly cleaned, but they used to be quite dated and very traditional. They now have a fresh modern “beachy” feel.

I flew down to ILTM Americas a couple of nights early in order to squeeze in a little rest and relaxation. I wanted to be close to the airport in order to maximize the amount of time I could spend at the pool. So of course I decided to stay at NIZUC! Since my last stay at the hotel in April 2013, which was shortly after their opening, they have completed the spa, fitness center, the Italian restaurant Terra Nostra, the tennis courts, and all of the rooms. Luckily, they did no

Can you hear the Yucatan calling? I recently returned from a trip to Mexico where I attended the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Americas conference which was held at the Fairmont Mayakoba where I stayed for four nights in a Deluxe Casita Room (photo tour below). [new_royalslider id=”25″] In addition to making some wonderful contacts for my clients and strengthening existing relationships with suppliers, I was fortunate to be able to take a couple of side trips. I f

Our second visit to Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa was every bit as good as the first. Perhaps even better. This time we stayed in an Oceanview Room on the far south end of the resort. It faced a beautiful pool and was near the gym and water sports facilities. Our room was clean and cool, which are my two main requirements when on a beach vacation. I love the white stuccos walls, thatched palapa roofs, and handmade Mexican tiles. It is the perfect antithesis to the 500 room all-

We spent Thanksgiving week at The Ritz-Carlton Cancun to celebrate my husband’s birthday. Once again, we had an absolutely wonderful time (see also 2007 and 2011). We stayed in a lovely Ocean View Suite which had nearly 900 square feet of space, one and half bathrooms, and beautiful ocean views. Our days were spent mainly on the beach, although we did enjoy the Quiet Pool one afternoon. The waves can be big, especially when compared to the Caribbean, but it makes the swimming

Are you looking for a luxury beach getaway that is easy to get to, but far away from everything? NIZUC Resort & Spa is about 15 minutes from the Cancun airport and about 15 minutes from the hotel strip, but it is worlds away from the hustle and bustle. It is located on Punta Nizuc on land that once housed Mexico’s Presidential retreat. The original concept and design of the resort was created by Aman Resorts and the Asian influence can be seen in the art and architecture. The

It’s still summer, but savvy travelers know that the best time to plan their winter getaway is before the weather turns cold. In fact, the best deals for tropical getaways are available for travel from mid-November through Christmas. Here are my picks (in no particular order) for amazing sun and sand vacations this winter. 1. Caneel Bay, St. John, USVI This resort is Adirondack lodge meets Caribbean bliss. Rustic charm, but all of the luxury you would expect. Seven beaches s

Do you want to get away from it all? Then check out Villa Rolandi on the island of Isla Mujeres, Mexico. You can be relaxing on their private yacht for the short trip to the hotel a mere twenty minutes after arriving in the Cancun airport. Thirty-five rooms, two pools, one huge saltwater hot tub, plus a private beach. The food is excellent and the service is great. A fun island to explore, or just spend your days relaxing at the beach. Contact us today to book your stay at Vi

I have had many clients ask me about this property, especially after the announcement of their new all-inclusive option called Appetite for Luxury. I was thrilled to be able to do a site inspection and gain firsthand insight into what makes this resort unique. I loved the eco-friendly luxury, serene spaces, and focus on family. Rooms: I toured three different room categories: Deluxe Casita, Beachfront Casita Suite, and Oceanfront Casita Suite. All room categories have the sta

The second post in my series of my twelve day trip to Mexico. My husband and I stayed three nights in an Ambassador Class Suite at Grand Velas Riviera Maya. Wow – This is not your typical all inclusive resort! The rooms, food, and service were all wonderful. They also do a great job at the difficult task of catering to the needs of both couples and families. In fact the kids club stays open until 11:00PM to allow parents to have dinner alone, if they so choose. The huge beach

This is the first post in a three part series on my recent twelve day trip to Mexico. I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Cancun, Grand Velas Riviera Maya, and the Rosewood Mayakoba. I also did a site inspection of the Fairmont Mayakoba. The first four nights of my trip were spent with two friends at the Ritz-Carlton Cancun. What a fabulous experience! This was my third stay at the hotel in the past four years. The service, food, and amenities have been consistently great during eve

If you are looking for a relaxing and tranquil vacation on the best beach in the Mayan Riviera at an intimate boutique property, then you will love Maroma Resort and Spa. We had a wonderful five night stay with lazy days spent lounging on our beach bed, swimming in the warm ocean, snorkeling on the reef, and eating delicious Mexican food. Wake up in the morning to a fresh pot of coffee waiting outside your room and end your day with a nightcap among flickering candles and twi

This was our second visit and it was every bit as good as the first. Rooms: Oceanview Suite This suite is one of two suite types at the Rosewood Mayakoba that offer ocean views. The other is the Deluxe Oceanview Beach Suite which is larger and closer to the beachfront pool and restaurant area. There are also two suite types that are ocean front. These include the Beachfront Suites and the Two-Bedroom Presidential Oceanfront Suite. The remaining suites offer lagoon views. Loca

In need of a getaway we decided to stay at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba, based on fabulous reviews. Rooms: Courtyard Pool Villa We originally booked a Garden Pool Villa, but due to the cold temperatures in Mexico we decided upon arrival to upgrade to a Courtyard Pool Villa. The main reason for this was that the Courtyard Pool Villa has a hot tub and the Garden Pool Villa does not. I would recommend this as the minimum room category for anyone staying at here during the colder win

This was a great vacation! Loved it. In fact, we went back in July 2010. Rooms: Beachfront Suite If you are a beach person and if you love privacy, then there is no better room than the Beachfront Suite. Every morning our butler would set up our chairs on our private deck for us, and we had an uninterrupted view of the beach. We didn’t have to lug around a big beach bag, we could walk a few steps into our suite to cool off in the air conditioning, check to see if we were gett

We had a fabulous time at the Ritz-Carlton with our friends. This hotel does a great job of providing numerous activity opportunities, especially if you’re a foodie. We had a blast at the Tequila Tasting, enjoyed the free use of the boogie boards, and the varied options for meals. It’s easy to get here, but hard to leave! Rooms: Ocean Front Room Overall the decor of the hotel and the rooms is a bit dowdy (personal taste) and heavily European influenced – think wealthy aristoc