While the Democratic nominee is not clear yet--Hilary ain't giving up--there is some respite for real presidents.
We're talking about presidents of big corporations or presidents of the PTA or anything in between: the Royal Hideaway Playacar doesn't care what kind of president you are, as long as your business card or letterhead proves it, you'll get presidential treatment at their Yucatan all-inclusive resort.
Your significant other is going to be maaaaadddd if you say no to this retreat.
Like most couples chained to each for more than a decade, our relationship could stand a tune-up. And so can we. And while a romantic and spiritually enlightening package called The Art of Re-Connecting: A Couple's Retreat at the The Tides Riviera Maya sounds dreamy, it'll remain that way for us. A dream.
It is totally worth it if you and your special someone have an extra $7,460 laying around the house. It's on the Mayan Riviera amidst tropical forests and pearly-white beaches, first of all. With a luxurious six-night stay at an exclusive resort, number two. And it comes complete with your own private 1,000 sq. ft. palapos (translation: a kick-ass villa).
We almost walked by the Kinbe hotel, but it was the pool water lapping up against the lobby window that got us to stop and peek inside. The pool is small, but simply put, amazing. From the lobby you walk across a tiny footbridge that leads you into a courtyard, and the pool runs the length, getting deeper and deeper, enough to accommodate a pretty fine cannonball.
It sits inside an interior courtyard with balconies that look out and up to the open air, and a four-story waterwall adds to the tropical ambiance.
Mosquito Blue is the other Mosquito in PDC -- and as sweet, if not sweeter, than its sister hotel, and just as "Chillmex."
Just steps from the heart of the action on Avenida 5, and one block from the playa, Mosquito Blue is so low-key you might walk by it -- but for little blue velvet ropes and a view through the glass windows of an inviting pool.
Sure, The Basico has been covered to death, but it is definitely a cool place to visit, if not stay, when you're in Playa del Carmen. It has so many innovative touches, it's worth stopping by to check out.
Although this boutique hotel sits along the action of Avenida 5, its entrance is along a sidestreet. You enter into a very long, narrow, and tall (four stories high!) vestibule. On one side is a bar; along the other are bistro tables and chairs, and the entire wall is lined with an array of art books.
Underfoot the floor is entirely fitted with tire treads, a very groovy way of reusing materials, a nice "green" touch.
Hotel Maven Annie0007 who made the Oregon Hotel Trail easy for all of us to follow has taken a different path. This time she's summing up the Playa del Carmen Hotel Scene in Mexico. Enjoy.
Forget the highrise Vegas-style hotels and wild parties of Cancun...hop a collectivo and head down to Quintana Roo's up-and-coming, decidedly more mellow counterpart, Playa del Carmen (PDC).
It's got live music and Senor Frogs, to be sure, but you'll find a car-less Avenida stretching for several miles, offering an incredible array of of outdoor restaurants to suit all tastes, art galleries, hidden alcoves, bars under palapas, live music on the beach, and even Mayan ruins around the corner from the Cozumel ferry slip.
It's also home to hotels that are the very definition of "Chillmex" -- smaller boutique hotels incorporating a bit of South Beach style (lounge beds, modern amenities and even DJs) with strong architectural elements of native stone, wood, adobe, and thatch.
Together these create a laid-back feel accentuated by the beauty of the Caribbean sea, a combination that can only be found along the Riviera Maya.
Once again, we checked in on I Love New York the VH1 dating show where some fiery lady nicknamed New York tries to find her best mate.
Last time, Chance and Whiteboy were put up at the Horizon Hotel. But for the final elimination, New York whisks away Chance and Tango to the Viva Wyndham Maya Resort for some fun in the sun and sex.
This was one of the greatest finales in a reality TV dating show that we have ever seen. Where do we begin? Chance and Tango getting into a fight the first night, New York bitching about her fake fur eyelashes, Chance and New York swimming with dolphins? There's just so much. But nevertheless this should be about the hotel.
When the group arrived at the hotel, they were greeted with what appeared to be a Mr. Pineapple head complete with lemon wedges for ears. New York says, "Oh he's cute!" Then everyone starts to have a mini-party in the lobby.
In real reality, not the fake reality on VH1, guests aren't thrilled with the hotel. The reviews praise the location and the good value but it's an older property with okay service and the beach was under some sort of construction. But perhaps most telling is what happened when the crew was filming there. As one guest reports:
When we stayed there they had a reality show, and they kicked us out of the pool area so they could film there. That shows they care more about publicity then their paying costumers.
What is up with Mexico hotels giving guests the boot for other groups? Anyways, New York, Tango and Chance return to Los Angeles where after a tough decision process, New York picks Tango to be her one and only. Tango admits his has "love for New York" and proposes. Crazy bastard.
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Al Cielo is a four room rustic beach boutique hotel is right on Xpu-Ha Beach in Mexico's Riviera Maya. Many Xpu-Ha beach visitors don't hear about this place until they take stroll on the beach and see the view afforded to those lucky few who stay here. The most common comment from these Al Cielo oglers? "Next time we go to Mexico we are staying there".
Meanwhile, the folks who actually are staying in one of the four rustic beachfront rooms can't wait until the gawkers move along, so they can enjoy views uncluttered views like the one above from the comfort of their bed.
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by amandak
