Recommend May 2015 - (Page 46)

fiesta americana grand coral beach cancun resort & spa onsitereview F E B R UA RY 2 015 continued from page 20 on some nights an artist is on hand painting pieces for the restaurant; and the oceanfront Isla Contoy, which offers fresh seafood-its ceviche is very tasty and a must-try. the cultural experience There are many opportunities to experience the local culture, including a ferry ride to Isla Mujeres, where I had the opportunity to tour the cobblestone streets, and visit the art park, Parque Escultorico Punta Sur, with sculptures by artists from around the world. Here, I also had a chance to stand at Acantilado del Amanecer, or the Cliff of the Dawn-the easternmost point in Mexico-where the views of the crystal-blue waters crashing against the cliff completely took my breath away. For lunch, we went to Zama Yacht & Beach Club, an upscale beach club that guests can book to spend time beachside on the island enjoying watersports, indulging in a massage, or simply having lunch before returning to the hotel. A minimum consumption of $20 is required. At the Museo Maya de Cancun, I had a chance to take in the Maya culture by viewing an array of archaeological artifacts within the museum and at the next door San Miguelito archaeological site. This experience was not a part of the resort credit, but deﬁnitely a must-do for Maya aﬁcionados. Shopaholics should schedule time to dig into their pocketbook at the upscale shopping mall, Fashion Harbor, which features many brand-name shops, including Louis Vuitton, Kate Spade, and others. An offering your clients can experience with the resort credit program is snorkeling. We took a boat ride out to sea, where a guide snorkeled with us and pointed out some of the ﬁsh. It was a gorgeous experience, and I was able to spot numerous sea creatures, including a small sea turtle that swam to us, then quickly descended under the surface. the hotel experience The 602-room, all-suite property offers stunning ocean views. My room was the Grand Club Junior Suite King, which in addition to the spacious square footage, offers guests private check-in, snacks and a selection of domestic and imported drinks at the Grand Club or en-suite. The room's neutral palette with pops of lime green and aqua, allows the ocean view to be the main focus. The property's pool spans the length of the hotel with blue "lagoonlike" waters. Grand Club guests also have access to a private beach area with cushioned lounge chairs; breakfast and lunch snacks are also offered beachside. the resort credit experience The resort credit is applicable to guests staying a minimum of ﬁve nights in any room category. The options include one complimentary Romantic Spa Dinner for two; complimentary hydrotherapy rituals at Gem Spa for two; complimentary tickets for the ferry to Isla Mujeres for two; a romantic beach cabana set-up; a complimentary bottle of sparkling wine at the pool or beachside; a tequila tasting session for two at La Joya restaurant; and much more. Rates start at $250 for a standard suite, and $400 for the Grand Club Junior Suite in low season; in high season, a standard suite starts at $400, and rates for the Grand Club Junior Suite start at $600. ● Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): Club Med Cancun Yucatan (March 2015) contact information Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa: ﬁestamericanagrand.com/en/ mx-cancun/hotel-grand-coral-beach or ﬁestamericanagrand.com/en/travel-agencies 46 may 2015 18-47 CB Onsites.indd 46 Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta michelle marie arean It's no wonder Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had a love affair in Puerto Vallarta while ﬁlming "The Night of the Iguana." With green-shrouded mountainous landscapes and verdant jungles vying for attention with a stunning bay and a charming city complete with cobblestone streets, I had a love affair of my own with the destination, and my home away from home was the perfect complement to all that beauty-the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta. a new vision First, let's begin with the property. Formerly a Dreams resort, and now owned and managed by Playa Hotels and Resorts, the renovated Hyatt Ziva offers ocean views from just about any spot on the property. "It was always our vision to recreate it and make it a new property," says Bruce Wardinski, CEO, Playa Hotel & Resorts. "It's an iconic hotel with the only private beach in Puerto Vallarta, and close to the downtown area." Alexander Stadlin, CEO of Playa Resorts Management, adds that, "The relationship with Hyatt is great. They challenged [us to do] something different and [to get] out of the mold of what all-inclusive is. They've challenged us not to become a cookie-cutter type of product." at first glance The open-aired lobby has 180-degree views of the ocean; each restaurant on property-four a la carte and one buffet-also offers ocean views and delicious cuisine, too, and all guestrooms face the ocean. Speaking of guestrooms, recommend your clients stay in the Club Tower, which provides spacious rooms such as the Ziva Ocean View Junior Suite, featuring ample balcony space complete with seating and a small table, and the bathroom features a soak-in jacuzzi tub. The swim-up suites on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of the main tower are also a great option. Guests who stay in the Club Tower have access to a minifridge with both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, which are replenished daily. The lobby of the Club Tower offers round-the-clock snacks such as a variety of cheeses, prosciutto, mini sandwiches, and bite-size desserts, as well as wine, soft drinks, and water; breakfast choices are also offered in the a.m. recommend.com 4/21/15 12:05 PM http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.fiestamericanagrand.com/en/mx-cancun/hotel-grand-coral-beach http://www.fiestamericanagrand.com/en/travel-agencies http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend May 2015

Editor’s Notes
Lodgings Take Comforts to New Heights
Exclusive Group Travel
What’s New in All-Inclusives
Riu Palace St. Martin
Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach Cancun Resort & Spa
Trinidad & Tobago Travel Agent Specialist Program
Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta
Andalucia, Spain
Israel
Different Routes to Southeast Asia
The Guatemala Travel Experience
New Ships Bulletin
What’s New in Orlando
Orlando World Center Marriott

Recommend May 2015