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Margaritaville St. Somewhere now open on Holbox Island, Mexico

If Holbox Island, Mexico isn’t on your bucket list, you might want to consider adding it. Holbox (pronounced hol-bosh) is a small island just off the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is about two hours north of Cancun and is accessed by a ferry from the small town of Chiquila. 

It’s a tropical paradise where visitors can escape the mainland crowds of Tulum or Cancun.

The beauty of Holbox is in the simplicity, the nature and the slow rhythm it exists in. It is known for its crystal-clear blue waters, pristine beaches, no cars and no worries. It is a refreshing destination free from congestion and stress. 

Karisma, Punta Coco chose Holbox for their newest Margaritaville resort, which has just opened. Margaritaville St. Somewhere, which is absolutely stunning, lets you experience everything the island has to offer while enjoying their signature top-notch service and total luxury. With just 39 well-appointed suites, more than 26 miles of pristine, unspoiled beach, and the award-winning, easygoing luxury of Margaritaville, this new resort offers an intimate island escape that feels a world away from the everyday.

They offer two types of accommodations, ocean view rooms and swim up suites. All of the ocean view rooms feature stunning views of the sparkling turquoise sea and a balcony or glass-enclosed terrace, perfect for sipping early-morning coffee or enjoying cocktails during happy hour. The swim up suites are beautifully decorated and offer access to swim out to the main pool. The resort was designed with an open-air, boho-chic style.

The resort also features two gourmet restaurants and a swim-up bar featuring handcrafted cocktails, top shelf spirits, wine and beer. You can enjoy excursions that include scuba diving, fishing, seasonal whale shark swimming and more. Or stay onsite for shoreside volleyball, cornhole, cooking classes, bocce ball and unforgettable pool days. 

Margaritaville St. Somewhere in Holbox offers the ultimate island escape for everyone. Contact us today to book your next stay!

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Hyatt Ziva Rivera Cancun is now open!

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is an all-inclusive family-friendly resort located near the world-famous Cancun Hotel Zone, just 20 minutes from Cancun International Airport.

The resort offers 438 luxury suites, 17 globally inspired and locally authentic restaurants, bars, and lounges, a full-service spa and fitness center, Mexico’s newest water park and an over-water gazebo for weddings and events.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun offers contemporary accommodations with private balconies featuring stunning ocean views and modern amenities and special touches, including spa-like bathrooms with rainfall showers, hot tubs, turndown service, high-tech entertainment and complimentary minibars stocked daily with water, beer, soft drinks and snacks!

Upgrade to Club Level and experience additional offerings such as:

  • Private check-in and check-out in an exclusive area
  • Personalized concierge services
  • Premium-brand liquors
  • Late check-out based on availability
  • Access to the Exclusive Club Level Lounge featuring imported premium drinks, appetizers and continental breakfast, table games & Wi-Fi

Enjoy 10 dining options like Rue De Rivoli! This adults-only restaurant has the perfect ambiance to explore the flavors of French cuisine, which come in modern form in mouthwatering dishes.

Miyako features Thai, Chinese and Japanese cuisines that come together as chefs prepare sushi, curry, ramen, stir-fry and more right before your eyes.

Aftonia is a delectable breakfast buffet by day and At night, enjoy Mediterranean cuisine perfectly prepared with the freshest ingredients in a relaxing ambiance.

Relax at Seven bars and lounges including Infusions, a lively spot serving over-the-top drinks made with fresh ingredients.

Enjoy nine swimming pools including an ocean-view pool and a sprawling water park with tall slides and a kids pool providing fun for all ages.

Children can enjoy KidZ Club with kiddie pool and special supervised activities coordinated by trained professionals.

While adults can enjoy sunrise yoga, water aerobics, beach sports or wine tasting with expert sommeliers. The whole family will love the nightly entertainment, live music, and cultural performances.

The resort also features a fitness center with state-of-the-art amenities and a two-story Zen Spa inspired by the pre-Hispanic Mayan culture with 13 indoor and eight outdoor treatment rooms designed to reflect the breathtaking, natural scenery.

To book your stay at Hyatt Ziva Riveria Cancun, contact us today!

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Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa Coming in Late 2021

AMResorts recently announced it will open a brand new Breathless branded property – Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa scheduled to open on December 7, 2021.

Breathless Cancun Soul Resort & Spa will be a four-diamond vibrant, chic and modern all-suite resort nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Nichupte Lagoon. This beachfront resort will be the soul of Cancun, conveniently located on the iconic Cancun strip in the Hotel Zone.

AMResorts bills it as the perfect place to visit for adults seeking a sophisticated and lively getaway and singles, couples and friends to discover the perfect balance of excitement and tranquility on this beachfront playground in paradise with endless possibilities.

This all-suite oceanfront resort will offer a variety of amenities and services including three spectacular pools, ten gourmet dining options, a nightclub, fitness center, and luxury spa.

To book your stay at Breathless Cancun Soul, contact me today!

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A new AMResort is coming to Mazatlan, Mexico

Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán will be located on the Pacific Coast of Mexico, across from the tip of the Baja California Peninsula in Estrella del Mar, a private gated golf and residential community just over five miles from Mazatlán’s International Airport (MZT). This will be the first Dreams Resorts & Spas in Mazatlan – the destination known as the “Pearl of the Pacific.”

Features of the 350-room resort include:

  • An elegant design with locally sourced materials, highlighting the natural beauty and vegetation on-site
  • 350 beachfront suites, including 29 swim-out suites and a separate adults-only section
  • A prime location along a central pedestrian walkway
  • 5 gourmet restaurants featuring diverse international cuisines
  • Multiple pools, an aquatic park and a lazy river, all of which face the Pacific Ocean
  • A theater and a convention center for up to 700 people, overlooking an 18-hole professional golf course

The property will also have an 1,800-square-foot, state-of-the-art spa and wellness center that will incorporate elements of the resort’s surroundings, including water elements and natural light, inspiring a connection to nature. The spa will also feature a hydrotherapy area with waterfalls, whirlpools, geysers, a panoramic sauna and a hammam, and all of the treatment rooms will have private terraces.

AMResorts has not yet provided a date of when Dreams Estrella del Mar Mazatlán will open.

For more information about this resort or to book your next stay at an all-inclusive resort, contact me today!

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Traveling to Cancun during a pandemic

After traveling to Jamaica at the end of July and having such a good experience, I jumped at the chance to go to Cancun last week. Spoiler alert, it was quite a different experience. 

I flew from Grand Rapids to Chicago and on to Cancun. Both of my flights were full, in fact, over-sold. American Airlines was still implementing the same safety protocols — mandatory face masks, no in-flight service, and asking all passengers to remain seated during the duration of the flight. Unlike a few of the other airlines, they are not leaving the middle seat open. 

Other than the flight because being completely packed, it was fine. I wasn’t super comfortable, but I wore my mask and face shield and tried to relax. For this trip I was traveling alone, so I think that made me a bit more on edge. 

While in Jamaica, the resorts where we stayed were around 20% occupancy. There was social distancing and serious safety precautions. For this trip, because it was hosted, I was not able to select the resort for my stay. Our group of travel agents were placed at the RIU Palace Peninsula in the Hotel Zone in Cancun. 

The resort was at 60% capacity which was the government allowance at the time I traveled. This felt like a lot to me. The resort didn’t feel crowded, but felt very full.

RIU Palace Peninsula

During COVID-19, everyones comfort level is different and I understand that. Personally, I traveled within my comfort level and am pointing out the practices and protocols that bother me. In my opinion, The RIU Palace Peninsula did a lot of things “right”…

  • Hand sanitizing upon entry to the hotel.
  • Washing/wiping of your shoes upon entering the hotel. 
  • Thermal temperature taken as you enter. 
  • Social distancing markers at check-in and at the buffets. 
  • Plexiglass barriers are the front desk. 
  • Enforcing masks be worn in the lobby and when you order at bars (with one exception). 
  • Elevators were marked for 4 guests per elevator.

However there were a few things that I felt they did very wrong and these few points bothered me. A LOT.

  • Buffets were still self serve with shared serving utensils (I was told they were changed out every 30 minutes and did see them changed once).
  • Social distancing was almost never followed by guests, especially at the buffet where guests would come right up behind you. In my experience when I hung back, guests would cut right in front of me.
  • Tables were not spaced out and there were no outdoor dining options.

I had quite a few problems with my stay at the RIU Palace Peninsula, as did almost all of the agents that I traveled with, but that’s a story for another day. Don’t ever request to stay there because I won’t send you. It was that bad.

The good news is that I visited 8 other properties in Cancun and saw and learned a ton! There are many resorts where I would feel comfortable staying and booking clients during this time. I think that the biggest takeaway from this trip is that to travel during COVID-19, you need to understand the protocols of each resort and where they fall within your comfort level. This is why traveling during this time is so important for me to do for my clients.

Will this experience deter me from traveling again soon? Absolutely not!!! Having visited two different countries now within the last 90 days, I feel comfortable traveling at this time and hope to get on a plane again soon! 😉

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