At the new Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, the top accommodation is the 4,575-square-foot Presidential Suite but we hear the Ocean Front Suites are the most popular so far; book these quickly since there are only four. All rooms have open layouts with natural color palettes (think sand, stone and water colors), and sport art by local artisans. Each room has a terrace with views of the resort gardens and mangroves, the lagoon, golf course, or the Caribbean. Good to know: Suite terraces include a plunge pool.
To be sure you get the room you want, book at least three months in advance with Reservations Manager Christopher Ramirez (christopher.ramirez@andaz.com). Note: The hotel is pet-friendly. If you’re considering bringing your pet, let the hotel know at least three days prior to arrival.
The Mayan-themed spa has six cabins and two hydrotherapy rooms. We hear that treatments are personalized during the appointment and that Carmen and Abigail are the two most requested therapists. Be open with them so they can prescribe the best remedy. To book a treatment or request more information, contact Spa Director Daniel Escalante (daniel.escalante@andaz.com).
The main dining venue is Cocina Milagro, the poolside pavilion restaurant with two open kitchens serving a breakfast buffet and rotating menu for lunch and dinner. Casa Amate, which is open exclusively for dinner, serves Latin American specialties in a residential-style setting; each room has a theme such as the Bar Studio, Library, Estancia and The Comedor. OllaTaco is the resort’s take on “elevated street food.” It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and offers a variety of tacos and other Yucatan specialties and craft beer. OllaCeviche is located on the beachfront and serves fresh ceviche, sharing plates and custom tequila. Good to know: Guests can sign up for guacamole and taco cooking classes here, as well as mezcal, tequila and beer tastings.
Shown here is the living room of the 4,575-square-foot Presidential Suite at Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya.
Looking for that special experience during your stay? Andaz Mayakoba can help customize experiences such as a boat picnic through the canals or romantic dinners on the beach, the Casa Amate garden or Cocina Milagro’s boat deck. The Mayan Encounter Expedition is a private tour that teaches travelers about Mayan culture — in particular the medicinal practices — while simultaneously supporting a social program that aims to preserve the Melipona bees; combine this with a Mayan food tasting or cooking class for a full experience.
General Manager Lin Schatz (lin.schatz@andaz.com) is available to help organize any experience you wish.
Active travelers will love the two and a half miles of nature trails through the resort’s tropical gardens, mangroves and lagoon. Guided kayak tours are available for a different perspective of the canals and lagoons. If you’re looking to experience the region, popular day trips include: Chichen Itza, one of the Maya’s largest cities and site of numerous pyramids and cenotes; Cozumel (think bars and restaurants as well as top diving and snorkeling spots); Isla Blanca, popular for its kitesurfing (if you’ve never been, be sure to sign up for lessons); Isla Holbox, home to the Yum-Balam Biosphere Reserve; Isla Mujeres, which was put on the map for its underwater museum filled with sunken statues; and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve.
Rosewood Puebla opened in May near Zócalo de Puebla, the city’s cultural, religious and political center. Fun Fact: The resort comprises a collection of historic buildings centered around a private courtyard with a 300-year-old chapel, which is used for wedding ceremonies. The design showcases traditional craftsmanship notable in the arches, ironwork and Talavera pottery. There are three dining venues, a spa and a rooftop bar.
Guestrooms include oversized bathtubs, top-notch entertainment systems and local artwork. The best room is the Rosewood Suite, which has a personal bar and a 1,215-square-foot terrace with views of the Old City and surrounding volcanoes. Good to know: All suites offer private butler service. We’re told the rooms facing the hotel’s interior courtyard have the best views.
Rosewood Puebla comprises a collection of historic buildings centered around a private courtyard.
We love Rosewood Puebla’s welcome amenities for pets, which include prepared treats, a map of nearby dog parks, water and food bowls, a dog bed and more. Get This: You can even order an in-room massage for dogs, given by Sense Spa therapists, among others.
For guests who wish to be pampered just the same as their pooch, contact Xadeni Tlamani (xadeni.tlamani@rosewoodhotels.com), acting spa manager. The Essential Remedies Massage and the Talavera Massage are the two most popular options. The former combines three “lost recipes” into a single experience that is intended to help relax, relieve pain and energize; the latter incorporates clay and onyx stones in a combination of relaxation, deep muscle relief and hot and cold therapies.
Dining options includes Pasquinel Bistrot, the signature restaurant fusing traditional Mexican fare with a French Bistro concept; the European-style Café Azul, which is accessible from the street; the intimate lounge, Bar Los Lavaderos, which serves Mexican tapas, local charcuterie and margaritas; and the Rooftop Bar. We recommend signing up for the mezcal pairing at Bar Los Lavaderos. Be sure to ask for a table by the window at Pasquinel Bistro for some people-watching as you eat.
Foodies will have the chance to explore the city through the hotel’s myriad cooking and mixology classes and excursions to nearby markets and wineries. A signature cooking class offered at the hotel teaches guests how to make its famous mole sauce.
Visiting Rosewood Puebla for a wedding, anniversary or other special romantic occasion? They’ve got a package for you. The Babymoon experience includes birth month tags, a baby napkin, rattle and socks, and a selection of teas for mom. The Anniversary experience includes a Talavera picture frame and a selection of food and beverage options. The Honeymoon experience includes a hand-painted guaje (water jug), a bath bomb and a selection of food and beverage items. Executive Chef Jorge Gonzalez can even prepare private romantic dinners for couples.
Rosewood Puebla has 78 rooms and suites.
For those who wish to get married at the hotel’s historic chapel, contact Event Sales Manager Mariana Martinez (mariana.martinez@rosewoodhotels.com). The wedding package includes a four-course menu, a wedding coordinator, butler service for the newlyweds, a photo session, a signature treatment at the Sense Spa, an anniversary dinner at Pasquinel Bistrot, and airport transfers, plus more. Post-wedding brunches, bridal showers, rehearsal dinners and more are available for an additional charge.
There are plenty of places to explore off-site. Start with the Zócalo, then head around the city to places such as El Parian, a market with over 100 stalls where locals sell various artisan wares, the Forts of Loreto and Guadaloupe, which were chapels that were modified for military use during the invasion of 1862 — the site of the Battle of Puebla (also known as Cinco de Mayo) — or any of the museums in town, which include the Constancia Museums, the Art Chapel and the International Museum of the Baroque.
Opening this winter is Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos. As the name suggests, the 29,000-square-foot spa is the focal point of the adults-only beachfront resort. It will have 25 treatment rooms, a hydrotherapy facility, hot and cold plunge pools, an herbal steam room, chromotherapy and an ice room. There is also a nearly 4,000-square-foot fitness center and a beauty salon.
Guests looking for more than just a spa treatment can sign up for personal trainers, TRX Suspension training, spinning and aqua spinning classes, yoga and Pilates instruction or meditation.
There will be seven specialty restaurants offering cuisine from around the world, including Lumiere, the signature restaurant, which serves a seven-course French tasting menu paired with wines. Additionally, there is a casual, all-day dining restaurant; an upscale Italian restaurant; a pizzeria; an Asian restaurant serving sushi, Thai and other Asian fusion options; a seafood restaurant popular for fresh-caught fish and Mexican cuisine; and a café with baked goods. There are also six bars spread across the resort offering live music, a fire pit and interactive mixology classes.
Le Blanc Spa Resort is beachfront with a 29,000-square-foot spa.
The top accommodations are the four Royale Deluxe Partial Ocean View suites. They come with a Jacuzzi, a balcony with a sitting area, a minibar with premium liquors, Bvlgari bath amenities, an Apple TV, a beach bag, and a comfort menu with a selection of pillows, bath salts and aromatherapy. Good to know: Each room includes a welcome bottle of wine and butler service. The Royale Deluxe Partial Ocean View suites are also the best suited for physically handicapped travelers.
Contact Victor Vargas (vvargas@lebrancsparesorts.com), director of sales, to find the best room for you.
On the Horizon
Opening in 2018 will be Zadún, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve on the coastline of San José del Cabo. It will be the fourth resort in the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio. The name is derived from dunas, which is Spanish for “dunes.” Similarly, the design “will celebrate the desert and the sea.” There will be about 100 suites and villas, many with their own plunge pools. Sandra Estornell has been pegged as the general manager. She has spent over 15 years with The Ritz-Carlton and has overseen 17 total openings.
Renderings from Le Blanc Spa Resort.
Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas will be located in its namesake resort community, which has its own private marina, members-only beach and yacht club, and two-mile stretch of beach. The Four Seasons will have multiple pools, indoor and outdoor event and wedding facilities, five dining outlets, a spa and a Robert Trent Jones II signature 18-hole golf course. This will mark the third Four Seasons hotel in Mexico following Punta Mita and Mexico City.
In spring 2018, Montage Los Cabos will open with Marco Ortlam at the helm as general manager. Located in The Twin Dolphin community in Santa Maria Bay, the resort will have a signature Spa Montage, multiple dining venues, two pools, a children’s program and more. Guests will have access to the nearby Fred Couples Signature Golf Course.
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