Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008 - (Page 17)

On the Riviera Maya, the opening of Rosewood and Mandarin Oriental properties, plus the re-branding of the former Ikal del Mar as The Tides by Kor Hotel Group, provide fabulous new options for upscale travelers. All three are located near Playa del Carmen and offer outstanding rooms, service, food and spas, yet each provides its own unique setting and experience. We think it' s great fun for guests to take a canopied boat to their suite at Rosewood Mayakobá (www.rosewoodmayakoba.com), where all rooms, save for the beachfront suites, have private lagoon docks. Open since December 2007, this resort is carved out of the mangroves and boasts 128 airy, contemporary accommodations. All are on the water (sea or lagoon), feature private plunge pools and are served by butlers. More than half the suites also have rooftop sundecks and outdoor garden showers, while 18 of them extend over the water. The top two room categories each have their own appeal. The Deluxe Oceanview Beach Suites offer sea views on one side and lagoon views on the other. The Deluxe Spa Suites are partially perched over the lagoon and boast their own spa treatment rooms. The ultimate accommodation is the spacious Presidential Oceanfront Suite, with two bedrooms, a swimming pool and beachside dining. Recommend this suite to families and groups of friends, as it can connect to two other suites. Many of the other suites also can connect to form two-bedroom accommodations. Be sure to tell parents about the free kids' club (for ages 3 to 12) and the room service menu for children. Luxury travel advisors can book through the GDS or with Gina Forte (gina.forte@ rosewoodhotels.com; 212-710-6280), director of sales and marketing. For VIP requests, call Forte or the Butler Department on property (52-984-875-8000). Your golf clients will be happy about the priority tee times booked in advance at El Camaleón, the Greg Norman-designed course at Mayakobá that hosted the PGA Tour this past year. The Sense Spa, which opened in March, centers around a cenote on an island in the lagoon. Treatments make use of local ingredients like aloe and agave cactus, and our insiders highly recommend the Moonlight Massage. Tip: Ask to have your VIP clients set up for the weekly chef ' s table, dining in a private wine room or a tour of Chichen Itza by helicopter. The Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya (www.mandarinoriental.com) opened in February adjacent to Mayakobá. The 128 rooms here face cenotes, canals or the beach. Interiors have modern Asian styling highlighted MANDARIN ORIENTAL PREMIER CENOTES (left) are elegantly designed with a modern, Asian flair that is highlighted by Mexican artwork. THE TIDES LUXURY VILLA (above) offers tranquil privacy. May 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 15

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Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Park City Riviera Maya Italian Castles Rotorua China Villa Retreats The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt Rancho Bernardo Port Ghalib Dead Sea Spas Silversea The Professor The Pulse Jetset Report Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - May 2008

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