Recommend February 2011 - (Page 60)

nEw ChoICES in luxury tweak mexico’s landscape continued from page 58 “Guests can look forward to spacious rooms, double-twisted Egyptian cotton sheets, four fixture bathrooms, hand-crafted and handmade furniture and furnishings from Guadalajara and San Miguel. Another luxury will be the quality of the culinary experience.” Alan Love, Director of Sales and Marketing, Rosewood San Miguel de Allende Lumina Luxury Suites in Mexico City’s Polanco district. tiful towns. “San Miguel has beautiful weather year-round,” says Love, “with average daytime temperatures in the 70s, and has numerous outdoor activities to experience like shopping, guided walking tours and ATV tours. It is also known as a wonderful place to create art and learn about art, with many galleries throughout town to be discovered and many art classes offered by local artists.” The famed Instituto Allende is right next door to the hotel, offering Spanish classes and a wealth of art workshops; and even if clients don’t sign up for lessons, it is certainly worth a visit. The resort has a special opening offer starting at $295 plus tax and service, which includes breakfast for two, a 25 percent discount on all spa treatments and complimentary valet parking, valid through April 20. luxury comes to la paz The Baja Peninsula knows luxury well thanks to top-tier resorts in Los Cabos, but outside of this small enclave posh offerings have been few and far between. Expand clients’ horizons, as now Baja California Sur’s charming capital, La Paz, has its first five-star property: CostaBaja Resort and Spa, the first property in Mexico from Grand Heritage Hotels. The resort is 10 minutes away from the city and forms part of the 550-acre Costa Baja development, set right by the Sea of Cortez. It is 60 february 2011 adjacent to the marina of more than 250 slips from which clients can set off on excursions (offered daily) to the island of Espiritu Santo, one of the most biologically diverse in the continent—there’s even a species of cactus found only in this island. Around the marina is a path that winds around galleries, restaurants, shops and outfitters ready for a day of fishing, snorkeling and other outdoor pursuits—it’s a tiny village of sorts, with all conveniences just steps away from the hotel. CostaBaja’s 115 rooms, housed in low buildings of just four stories, are made up in dark mahogany, large balconies and glass-enclosed showers in an open-bathroom concept. Many clients will also be happy to know that the development is also home to the brand-new, 18-hole Gary Player Signature Golf Course, offering 14 holes that overlook the Bay of La Paz, as well as a spiffy spa offering more than 60 treatments and therapies. Again, location is key here: La Paz is quiet and friendly, with a great boardwalk lined with bronze sculptures following a sparkling blue beachfront, lots of delectable informal eateries and a casual feel that’s unusual for a capital city. Best of all, it’s a destination that’s yet to be overrun by visitors or hotels and still offers a fresh take on that classic Baja magic. Rates at CostaBaja start at $139 per night and run to $329 per night for a SuperSuite SeaView. continued on page 62 recommend.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend February 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk
Tour Talk
Crystal Cruises' Serenity
Flights of Fancy With One&Only Cape Town
South African Airways
South Africa Set to Score Big in 2011
Fantastical Fiji
Luxury Lands in Puerto Rico
Grenada
Barbados: High-End, Low-Key
Bermuda Scales Back
Peru is Gaga Over Luxury
Starry Arizona
Acqualina Resort & Spa, Florida
Baden-Baden, Germany
New Choices in Luxury Tweak Mexico's Landscape
Invigorating Girl Escapes

Recommend February 2011