HotelChatter - mx

The Fairmont Mayakoba Inspired This Designer's New Line of Travel Accessories

MsRebecca — 2012-01-11T09:15:01-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/StephanieJohnson_FMayakoba.jpg" class="top">Usually, when fashion designers get inspired by fancy hotels and resorts, it's <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/11/15/82548/531/hotels/The_Hotel_Bikini_Trend_Continues_Now_Starring_Trina_Turk">bikinis</a> they churn out. But in the case of designer <a href="http://blog.stephaniejohnson.com/">Stephanie Johnson</a>, what we get is a new range of travel accessories. And the hotel that took Johnson's fancy? <a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/4143'>The Fairmont Mayakoba</a>, on Mexico's Riviera Maya. We haven't stayed at this property but we've stayed at <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Rosewood+Mayakoba/local/902">one next door</a> that's on the same Mayakoba development of lush jungle rolling down to the ocean. Can't say we blame Johnson for getting inspired--it is indeed very pretty! So is the new line of bags, which includes an iPad case and a few small cosmetics bags that double as cute clutches for a night out

The New-Look Acanto Hotel is Now Open in Playa Del Carmen

MsRebecca — 2011-12-22T10:40:02-05:00

All of the big five-star resorts and convention-ready hotels may be off the highway between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen, but if you want to experience the activity of a Mexican town and still be a short stroll from the beach, you need to stay in Playa Del Carmen.

You won't find the Fairmonts, Rosewoods and Tides of the world here, but you will find smaller, independent hotels lining the beach and streets off of Quinta Avenida (Fifth Avenue). The newest--although actually a longtime resident, now coming out of an expansion and renovation--is Acanto Hotel & Suites.

The Tides Riviera Maya is Looking Good (And Has a Soap Concierge)

MsRebecca — 2011-12-22T09:35:01-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/TidesRM.JPG" class="top">Good news: the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/7/20/92957/5678/hotels/The_Tides_Riviera_Maya_is_Giving_Itself_a_Jungle_Chic_Makeover">renovations</a> at the <a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/3585'>Tides Riviera Maya</a> are this close to completion. We were at the resort last week and saw all of the finishing touches being, well, finished. The new villas look like places we'd happily swap our apartments in the States for -- hell, we'd even sleep in the new gym with floor-to-ceiling views of the beach. Luckily, we didn't have to resort to that and stayed in one of the Tides' existing villas, which happily looks exactly like the big, glossy photos on the hotel's website. (No switch and bait here.) Even though we only had a short hop over to Cancun from Miami, any lingering sense of obligations at home

In These Tough Economic Times, Mexico Puts Its Money On The Pop-Up Hotel

ASchechter — 2011-12-14T09:00:02-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/61268/PapayaPlaya.jpg" class="top">After learning last week that <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Design%20Hotels%20Collection">Design Hotels</a> had been partially <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2011/12/6/141158/682/hotels/Eek_Design_Hotels_Now_Partly_Belong_to_Starwood_Hotels">taken over</a> by <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/Starwood%20Hotels">Starwood</a>, we worried that the originality and flair of the former might start to be undermined. Starwood's great and allbut running a multi-brand corporation is certainly different than running a small, design-oriented boutique collection like Design Hotels. For now, our worries have been put to rest by some exciting news about a new pop-up hotel being launched by DH this month in Tulum, Mexico. According to <a href="http://itineraries.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/09/9325267-hotel-pops-up-on-caribbean-coast-in-tulum-mexico">MSNBC.com</a>, Papaya Playa is a 99-cabana resort on the Mayan Riviera, and boasts a spa, private suites, and several restaurants. Unlike other flashy resorts along the Caribbean, this spot has an expiration date of May

Why We (and Celebs) Like Lagoon Suites vs. Beach Suites

MsRebecca — 2011-12-12T14:15:01-05:00

<![CDATA[<img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/30451/RWMayakoba_LagoonSuite.jpg" class="top">Last year, we named the Ocean View Suites at <a href='http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel/local/902'>Rosewood Mayakoba</a> one of <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/7/20/195259/603/hotels/HotelChatter_s_10_Sexiest_Hotel_Rooms_Alive_">HotelChatter's 10 Sexiest Hotel Rooms Alive!</a> This is a fact. However, after returning to the property this fall, we were introduced to a new breed of sexy hotel suite: the Lagoon Suite. At first, we were all like, "why would we wanna stay here, where we might see a crocodile swimming below our bedroom floor?" Then we had the pleasure of bunking down in a lagoon suite for a few nights and voila! We were converted. And now we know why so many of the celebs who stay at this ritzy Riviera Maya retreat also opt for the lagoon over the ocean view