Recommend November 2017 - 26

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review

Finding Your
Rhythm at Sandos Cancun

Poolside at the Sandos
Cancun Lifestyle Resort.

Regina Baraban

A jewel-box in the heart of Cancun's hotel
zone, the 213-room Sandos Cancun Lifestyle
Resort offers an all-inclusive experience
tailored for those who want a luxurious
getaway with plenty of action.
More intimate than most all-inclusives, the
resort feels compact yet uncrowded; upscale
yet informal. Among the amenities are three
interconnecting infinity pools that cascade
down towards the turquoise Caribbean Sea,
five restaurants and four bars that serve up a
tasty variety of food and drink, and a worldclass spa with 13 treatment rooms.
During my stay at Sandos Cancun, I loved
having the amenities of an all-inclusive within
the personalized environment of a boutique
hotel. "Being a boutique hotel means that
our guests are going to get special attention,"
says Xavier Ulloa Gispert, marketing director,
Mexico, Sandos Hotels & Resorts. He also
references the resort's cosmopolitan flair
that appeals to "sophisticated young guests
who come to Cancun for a beach vacation,
shopping, and nightlife."
Although the resort has an active vibe,
clients have plenty of space to chill out in
canopied sun beds that line the beach and pool
areas. "While located in the hustle and bustle
of Cancun's hotel zone, Sandos has a serene
feel that allows guests to relax on property
before venturing off site," notes Carrie
Schoeberl, a Kansas City-based travel agent
with Love to Travel. "The pools are open 24/7,
which is a key selling point for my clients who
want the freedom to take a dip at any time
day or night. I also recommend Sandos
Cancun for weddings-there's a large rooftop
terrace that provides a gorgeous space for
ceremonies and receptions."
26 november 2017

For clients who have "been there, done
that," the Sandos concierge can arrange
unforgettable activities through tour operator
Seek & Go. Visiting in August, I had a
bucket-list experience snorkeling with whale
sharks, gentle giants who migrate to the
warm waters of the Mexican Caribbean in
the summer months to feed on plankton
and mate. The largest fish in the sea, these
mysterious creatures reach lengths of more
than 40 ft. Swimming near the surface, they
open their gigantic jaws to filter everything in
their path. Carefully regulated excursions on
motorboats go to the waters where the whale
sharks are feeding, then allow two people at
a time to jump in with a guide for a close-up
look. Advise your clients to take seasickness
meds even if they don't typically need them-
the rocking motion of the motorboat brings
on queasiness. We had several opportunities
to swim with the whale sharks, then motored
to a beautiful beach on Isla Mujeres for
guacamole and ceviche.

The Rhythm Experience
A resort day at Sandos Cancun offers clients
a mix of kickback relaxation with onsite
partying. Starting with the copious breakfast
buffet-where I couldn't resist the freshly
made tostadas-the food here is fresh and
delicious. I had a quick workout in the large,
well-equipped fitness area before retreating
to the resort's spacious spa. The signature
body treatment here allows clients to select
their personalized rub from a range of organic
products, then let the rub penetrate with
steam, sauna, and hydrotherapy. Heads up:
The facilities are co-ed and a bathing suit is
required. Traditional treatments including

massages and facials are also available (my
relaxing massage was excellent).
Poolside afternoons at Sandos Cancun are
animated by a new activity called The Rhythm
Experience, with a DJ playing a different
musical genre daily and an expanded theme
event on Saturday. "Our Millennial clientele
are very into music, so we created something
special for them," says Gispert. Indeed, guests
had a great time during a Saturday Champagne
and Sparkles event that included a lively
conga line, dancing in a pool full of bubbles,
and specialty nibbles and cocktails. Clients
who choose not to participate can observe
the action from the comfort of a canopied
sun bed.

Smart Agent Portal
Also new from Sandos is the Smart Agent
Portal, "launched specifically to help travel
agents become brand experts," says Gispert.
"You are going to be getting lots of questions
from your clients, and this is where you
can get answers about all of our Sandos
properties."
Schoeberl touts the Smart Agent Portal
as "an invaluable resource for training and
marketing materials. The portal makes it
incredibly easy to register my bookings and
redeem points for complimentary nights,
allowing me to experience the resorts and
better recommend them to my clients. It is
one of the best travel agent rewards programs
in the industry!" ■

Contact Information
Sandos Cancun Lifestyle Resort:
sandos.com/sandos-smart-agents
recommend.com
http://www.sandos.com/sandos-smart-agents http://www.recommend.com
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