Recommend April 2018 - 16

Page 14 (clockwise from top left): Walk Out suites at the newly transformed Playacar Palace; poolside at
The Explorean Kohunlich; Los Riscos restaurant at Hacienda Encantada; and Hotel El Ganzo has new
culinary offerings at its restaurants.

fab venues is accompanied by stays in the
Walk Out suites, which now feature a private
terrace, and entry is keyless via a wave of
guest wristbands.
At the new, 480-room Krystal Grand
Nuevo Vallarta, guests can indulge in
Mexican specialties at El Mortero, dine on
traditional Italian cuisine at Risotto, and
take a detour to the East, if only figuratively,
while dining at Ayami, serving Oriental-style
dishes. There's also a rooftop sky lounge,
three pool areas, and an array of room
categories, including the Deluxe Suites with
swim-up pools, for them to enjoy.

Culinary Fixes
Culinary getaways are eating a big part of the
tourism pie, so hotels from Los Cabos to San
Luis are putting the spotlight on gastronomy
with new excursions and enhanced menus.
Take the new Argentinian steak house,
La Bodega, which just opened its doors at
Fiesta Americana Villas Cancun; it offers
top-of-the-line cuts and a magnificent wine
selection. On the other side of Mexico, the
Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta AllInclusive & Spa has a chef's table experience
with the Pacific Ocean as its backdrop that
your clients can reserve for private occasions;
here, they can enjoy culinary demonstrations
and have their pick between T-bone steaks
and fresh lobster.
Playa Hotels & Resorts properties across
Mexico are implementing the ever-popular
street food-whether it be at a station, a
buffet, or even a stand by the pool, guests
can choose from ramen, BeaverTails snacks,
and tacos. The food stands rotate and change
what they are serving and where they are
every day.
At bohemian Hotel El Ganzo, San Jose
del Cabo's hip artistic haven, there's a new
chef in the house who's revamped the menus
and is creating a gastronomy that mixes the
flavors of Spanish and French cooking with
Mexican cuisine. They are said to be as "eyecatching as they are flavorful." The menus

"

were developed to give each restaurant a
distinctive personality: The Downstairs is
a bistro-style restaurant and the Rooftop
only serves seafood, sushi and ceviche since
it is an ode to the sea, which surrounds the
rooftop in all angles. The Container serves
Mexican specialty and an insider told us that
the fish tacos are a must.
Your clients can top off all of that delicious
cuisine with mescal, which guests of Conrad
San Luis Potosi can experience on the
hotel's trip to a local mescal distillery. There,
guests can learn all about the agave, and buy
exclusive bottles that can't be purchased
anywhere else. Ok, the smoky spirit isn't
for everyone, but it's a good bet your clients
will love the hotel's excursion to El Atrio,
where the menu is curated around recipes so
authentic that cooking times are measured by
reciting Hail Mary's.
Or, if they really want to keep their strict
food regimen while on vacation, at the
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya the biggest
culinary push is the Fresh Fix menu, which
is a healthier culinary experience that puts
the highlight on unique flavors and natural
ingredients-think a refreshing soup or notso-sinful desserts.
Then there are those clients who want to
try it all, and then some. Tell those headed to
Los Cabos that Hacienda Encantada, located
along Millionaire's Row and overlooking
the Sea of Cortez, offers a Hacienda Dine
Out Privileges Plan that includes an a la carte
fine dining and beverage experience at any
of the onsite restaurants and bars; a dineout all-inclusive plan at select restaurants
in the Golden Zone at the Cabo San Lucas
Marina; free shuttle to the Golden Zone and
downtown; full bar service at resort pools;
24-hour concierge service and exclusive
access and discounts at the resort's Holistic
Spa with a temazcal and meditation area,
among other offerings. There are also onsite
cooking classes with local chefs and tequila
tastings, during which guests can make their
own mescal.

UNICO 20°87° draws all of its inspiration from the destination,
the Riviera Maya, from art, upholstery, cuisine, spa, materials,
and even its legends and stories. When there, be sure to ask
about the jaguar on the main lobby bar!

"

-- Scott Wiseman, President, Travel Impressions

16 april 2018

Hang Out Like a Local
As more and more of your clients wander
throughout the world, the more they grow
curious of how locals live, eat and breathe.
UNICO 20°87° Hotel Riviera Maya has
taken this "live like a local" concept to new
heights with offsite excursions that tap into
the surrounding culture. The new excursions
include the Mayan Village & Tankeh Cenote,
which has guests swimming, canoeing,
taking in the sights and getting a taste of the
local culinary offerings. The 5.5-hour Muyil
Archeological Ruins excursion takes visitors
to one of the earliest and longest inhabited
ancient Maya sites, Muyil; there are visits to
lagoons, a hike in the jungle and a relaxing
float down an old Mayan channel river.
Says travel consultant Kim Goldstein,
"For clients who want a nice mix of local
immersive experiences, along with the relaxing
lifestyle of an all-inclusive resort, I'm sending
them to UNICO 20°87°. There are so many
options with a great balance of relaxation and
experiencing the destination, all included in
the package price."
Local immersion is also top of mind at
Grand Fiesta Americana Puerto Vallarta AllInclusive Adults Only, which offers a guided
7-hour Las Caletas Beach Hideaway tour aboard
a catamaran cruise along the south coast of the ➤

What Your Peers are
Whispering in Their
Clients' Ears

Travel consultant Kim Goldstein told us that
"travelers visiting Mexico want to experience
the vibrant culture and see the history."
She recommends "going to the Mayan ruins
to learn about the past," and says the "eco
parks are always extremely popular because
not only can you experience some unique
water activities, but you can learn about
the culture and traditions with some of the
entertainment that is provided." She also says
not to leave Riviera Maya without "visiting
the town of Playa del Carmen; it's a must do."
So we asked her where she sends clients who
want to go off-the-beaten path: "If someone
wants to go off the grid for the day, a great
place to visit is Isla Holbox, which is just a
few hours from Riviera Maya. It's a quaint
little town with unspoiled beaches
and sparkling blue water. If you're lucky,
you'll be able to see the wild flamingoes or
whale sharks."
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