Recommend August 2018 - 31

Beachside Bliss at
Hotel Riu Dunamar

The first thing that captured my attention
at the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Dunamar
was the stylish mid-century moderninspired interiors. The property boasts 740
guestrooms designed with clean lines and
a bold blue-and-white color scheme that
exudes modernist cool.
Located on Quintana Roo's stunning
Costa Mujeres Beach, some 18 miles from
Cancun's hotel zone, the Hotel Riu Dunamar
opened in December 2017 and one of its
most impressive features, aside from its
cool look, is its beach with its white sands
and clear waters. Guests can enjoy free sun
loungers as well as water activities such as
kayaking, paddle surf, Hobie Cat, boogie
board, wave runner and snorkeling. The
lengthy expanse of the beach is also perfect
for long walks and getting some quiet time
with nature.

Discover the Property
Guests will find five pools, including a
children's pool and an adults-only pool
with a swim-up bar. For those seeking more
aquatic excitement, Splash Water World
offers 4-lane body slides, a free-fall slide, and
an exhilarating tube slide.
For a more sedate afternoon, recommend
the Renova Spa, where I opted for the
80-minute Ixchel Massage.
Culinary options abound, ranging from the
poolside steakhouse Las Brasas; Pompeya,
offering Italian cuisine; Bamboo, an Asian
restaurant; and Isla Mujeres, the resort's
main restaurant that features themed buffets
and live cooking stations. Tell clients not
to leave the property without having dinner

The resort features five pools,
including one for adults only
with a swim-up bar.

"
The high season runs from
Dec. 23 till April 30. It is
important to highlight that during
July and August the hotel is at high
occupancy, too. The biggest part
of the U.S. market is sold through
travel agents, and it is an ideal
hotel for family getaways.

"

Steve Grasso

onsitereview

-- Javier Monje, Director of Sales
and Contracting in the Mexican
Caribbean area, RIU Hotels & Resorts
and cocktails at Kulinarium, which features
fusion cuisine and is the only restaurant
at the property that requires a reservation.
I tried the ceviche tasting platter as an
appetizer, featuring Peruvian-style seabass,
Mexican shrimp and Nikkei-style tuna,
followed by an entree of barbecued grouper
with yucca and mojo sauce.
There are also six bars to choose from,
including the poolside Tequila Bar and
Mezcal Bar, which hosts lively beach parties
in the evening. Other options are the
sophisticated Plaza Bar and Bolero Lounge
Bar, plus the El Jardin lobby bar and a sports
bar. There's also the Pacha nightclub, open
until the early hours with DJs playing the
latest in reggaeton.

Go Sightseeing
For those who want an authentic taste
of their surroundings, recommend the
expedition to the Chac Moc Chuc lagoon
with RIU partner ScubaCaribe. Part of the
excursion includes undergoing a purification
ceremony performed by a Mayan shaman

before getting into a boat that takes
guests across the lagoon and deep into the
mangrove swamp. Here, they'll learn about
the mangrove trees, their important role in
the local eco-system, and the conservation
efforts that strive to keep this pristine natural
environment intact. They'll then head
deep into the dense swamps on the hunt for
crocodiles, which tend to sun themselves at
the waterside and swim around the boat.
For an off-property dinning option, head
to the Mar-Bella Fish Market Raw Bar &
Grill in Isla Mujeres, a well-hidden gem
popular with locals and boasting idyllic views
over the harbor and cool Caribbean breezes.
When there's a row of fishing boats right
outside the restaurant, you know you're
about to eat some fresh seafood. Our feast
included flavorful shrimp, octopus and
fried catfish.

Agent Partnership
"We offer special rates for travel agents
through our program Riu Partner Club,"
says Javier Monje, director of sales and
contracting in the Mexican Caribbean area
for RIU Hotels & Resorts. "One of the
main goals is to provide the best training
for the travel agents and invite them to get
to know the product first-hand, by earning
points with every booking that they can
exchange for free stays at our resorts. We
believe that this is the best way to enable
travel agents to recommend the hotel that
best meets our customers' expectations." ■
Contact Information
Hotel Riu Dunamar:
riu.com/en/hotel/mexico/cancun/hotel-riu-dunamar
august 2018 31
http://www.riu.com/en/hotel/mexico/cancun/hotel-riu-dunamar
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2018
