Recommend May 2016 - (Page 22)

onsitereview Bali beds on the Heaven side offer stunning views of the surroundings. Rock Royalty Only professional DJ controller to jamming on a Fender electric guitar, guests can create the soundtrack to their stay in the comfort of their own room through The Sound of Your Stay program-just call room service to make a reservation. Additionally, the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya has curated special playlists for guests to download featuring songs from well-known and cutting-edge artists. Guests are provided with a download code for the tracks playlist with their room key. Spa House Rock Experience a taste of the rock star lifestyle at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, no Grammy necessary. Melissa Bryant Do you hear that? It's the sound of the rave reviews you'll be receiving from your clients for booking them at the new Rock Royalty Level program at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya in Mexico. As with any rock-star-worthy digs, the 1,264-guestroom resort, part of the All Inclusive Collection, offers plenty of spaces for play and relaxation between its family-friendly Hacienda section and adults-only Heaven section. A private white-sand beach hugging the coast of the Caribbean Sea? Check. Lavishly appointed rooms and suites furnished with posh amenities? Check. An on-call personal assistant available from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. to help orchestrate guests' stay? Check and double-check. Now all that's left for your clients to do is... Live It Up Upon arrival, Rock Royalty guests are swept off to a dedicated check-in area where their rock star initiation takes place. My weekend of bliss began here, on the Heaven side, somewhere between a glass of champagne, delectable small bites and an introduction to my personal assistant Tania. As a VIP guest my bags were immediately whisked off to a 482-sq.-ft. Rock Royalty Deluxe Platinum suite, complete with a hydro spa tub; bold artwork and musical accents; a premium liquor dispenser; a mini-bar with snacks; an LCD TV with satellite; an oceanview balcony with a hammock; and a plush king size bed-because rock stars need sleep, too. They also need fuel for days spent gallivanting around the globe. Fortunately for guests of the resort, epic eats and tropical drinks from an ensemble of nine restaurants, and eight bars and lounges are all included. Enchiladas with mole, oil poached salmon with an arugula pesto, and prime rib with cauliflower couscous are just a few of the dishes your clients can savor at the vibrant Mexican restaurant Frida, French bistro Le Petit Cochon, and steakhouse Toro, respectively. My group's dinner at Frida also came with guacamole prepared tableside, and concluded with a tequila fire show and tasting, where a skilled barista created a warm dessert cocktail using a medley of ingredients, including flaming 1921 Crema de Tequila, Mayan coffee and whipped cream. The Sweet Sound O' Your Stay If it is true that music is food for the soul, then it is fitting that Heaven offers a bounty of visual and hands-on musical amenities and programs. From mixing tracks on a Make sure your clients set up a memorabilia tour with the Hard Rock Riviera Maya's vibe manager Juan Carlos to get the back story on the funky get ups and guitars from music's greats that are on display at the resort. 22 may 2016 For rock star celebrities, participating in over-the-top experiences is just another "day at the office," so to speak, which is why it's no surprise that the new Rhythm & Motion treatments on the Hard Rock Hotels' Rock Spa menu utilize amplified vibrations, pressures and patterns. During my Synchronicity massage, I bumped, jiggled and grooved along to an energizing indie playlist as hidden subwoofers sent bass vibrations rippling through the massage table and treble beats reverberated from an overhead dome. All the while, my masseuse, Abigail, kneaded and worked in sync to the tracks. A short field trip up the road from the hotel leads to Dos Ojos (Two Eyes), two of Riviera Maya's centuries-old cenotes or sacred wells. According to Maya belief, these naturally formed underground river systems were believed to be a portal to the underworld. After snorkeling through the freshwater pools amongst sardines, bats, and catfish, guests can say they've been to the underworld and back. While I was away, my personal assistant Tania was busy in my suite drawing a bath and leaving a mint and lavender aromatherapy pillow on the bed. It's good to be Rock Royalty. Rates for a Rock Royalty Deluxe Platinum suite on the Heaven side start at $538.69 per night dbl in the low season, Aug. 21 to Oct. 31; call for rates for the remainder of the year. Contact Information Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya: hrhrivieramaya.com recommend.com http://www.hrhrivieramaya.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2016

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: On the Waterfront
Tour Talk: A Peek at Our Peaks
All-Inclusives: Raising the Bar
Onsite Review: Puerto Vallarta’s Hotel Scene
Onsite Review: Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Onsite Review: Iberostar Playa Mita
Onsite Review: Moon Palace Jamaica Grande
Hotel and Experience Pairings
New Properties Beckon
Onsite Review: Cambodia
Southern Africa’s New Enticements
Onsite Review: Rail Europe
New Frontiers in Travel
Innovation on the High Seas
Mountain Resort Vacations
What’s New in Orlando
Onsite Review: Escape to Discovery Cove
Official Florida Travel Industry Education Program–Family Course

Recommend May 2016