When I Went: May 3-6, 2012
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? I loved being here in May because the sun is already hot enough, and the summer travelers haven’t flooded the town much at this point.
Who Went With Me? It was a girls weekend! My friend Anne and I knew we needed a break, and what better way to escape than with a five-diamond resort, a cocktail, and a pristine beach!
We Stayed Here: The Grand Velas Riviera Maya. We really only left the resort once, since this place is truly a destination in itself. Our suite (no rooms here; just suites) came with a private plunge pool on the balcony with a chaise lounge outside where you can fall asleep outdoors to your own music through the iPod dock/surround sound system. We had a private tequila station with limes and salt always on hand, a stocked (and complimentary) mini bar, an elaborate rain shower, a huge jetted tub, and quite possibly the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in. Our room was opulent, luxurious, and absolutely perfect for our girls getaway, with tons of space, and a large walk-in-closet.
[mapimage url=”http%3A%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fapi%2Fstaticmap%3Fsize%3D200x200%26sensor%3Dfalse%26markers%3DPlayadelCarmen%2CMexico%26zoom%3D8″]You Won’t Want to Miss: Again, there’s no real reason to leave this resort unless you can’t go home without getting a dolphin tattooed on your ankle or hitting up Señor Frog’s in downtown Playa Del Carmen (clarification: I’m not speaking from experience, thankfully). This all-inclusive resort has three pools with swim-up bars, miles of groomed beaches, a jungle, a karaoke bar (so fun!), eight restaurants, and, most importantly, an amazing spa! Don’t. Miss. The. Spa. Their treatments are reasonably priced, and if you show up 80 minutes early, you can pay a small amount more and travel through the spa’s Water Journey that takes you from dry to steam to cold to clay to bubbles to complete zen relaxation! I got the coffee ritual the first day, while my friend went with the cocoa body wrap ritual. Both rituals start off with an ancient Mayan treatment and end with a delicate massage. The next day both of us opted for the Nik Te Ha Aquatic Massage, touted for helping with insomnia, stress, and more. Although it’s hard to describe this treatment without just saying “wow,” it involves a pool of water, a massage therapist, and a lot of underwater movement. I was warned going into my massage that there are three typical reactions to this treatment: extreme emotions, vivid visions/dreams, or memories of being born. Luckily I only experienced one of those reactions and, even more luckily, it wasn’t an experience that involved being slapped on the rear by a doctor … or visions of childbirth either. But, seriously, this treatment was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and if anyone has a chance to do it, I recommend it highly. It’s definitely one of those “you can’t explain it, but you know it was worth it” type experiences.
Eat Here: The dining options at this resort are truly top notch. Piaf is the most romantic of the restaurants in my opinion, but Cocina de Autor is now on my list of top dining experiences of all time. This restaurant is run by chef Bruno Oteiza and chef Mikel Alonso, two amazing chefs trained personally by the famous Spanish chef Juan Mari Arzak. They offer a 10-course dinner of molecular gastronomy that rivals the top restaurants around the world. The food here is not just “good for a resort.” This restaurant truly can compete on a global level and has achieved numerous awards to prove it. The menu is ever-changing based on what’s in season, but with carefully selected wine pairings for each course, this restaurant (part of the all-inclusive plan) really does offer an unparalleled dining experience. Truly unique. Truly spectacular.
Play Here: The thing my friend and I were most concerned about with this vacation was relaxation; hence the spa and hours spent sipping cocktails on the beach. If you must play here, there are kayaks, sailboats, snorkeling gear rentals, and I’m sure some sort of scuba package as well. For me and my guest, our big way to play here was to sing a few rounds of Salt ‘N Pepa and Journey at the karaoke bar after dinner each night.
If I Went Again: I would definitely spring for the Garra Rufa fish treatment. Since these callus-eating fish are virtually banned in the United States, I don’t know what I was thinking passing up an opportunity to experience this while at the resort. Not only do they give you 20-30 minutes to soak your feet in the tub while these little toothless fish clean your feet to baby-smooth perfection, but they follow the treatment up with a 30-minute leg massage. When I go back, I will make sure I don’t make the same mistake twice, and I will try this out, even though it does freak me out just a little.
How Did You Get There From Dallas? I took a direct flight on American Airlines from Dallas, and then a very nice shuttle from the airport to the hotel. Driving up to this hotel was borderline breathtaking with a mammoth white-washed wall welcoming our van. Once through the wall we were met with another gate made from rich, reclaimed wood, and then took a gorgeous drive through the somehow manicured jungle to our kid-free section of the hotel!
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: There are three sections to this resort: Ambassador, Zen Garden, and Grand Class. Each one uses rich textures and appeals to all the senses with delicate smells of hibiscus petals floating around pools of water around the resort and gorgeous wooden furniture at each corner. This hotel is a “must” experience, and I recommend it without hesitation to even the most discriminating traveler.
