Thanksgiving in Paradise

PLAYACAR -- Viva Wyndham Resorts is offering a special all-inclusive package at the Viva Wyndham Maya in Playacar to make it easy for families to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday at the beach instead of at grandma's house.

The resort will offer a traditional Thanksgiving dinner buffet with turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and everything you'd expect to fine -- and all without the hassle. The package also includes a variety of activities, dining at the hotel's restaurants, unlimited drinks and nightly shows in the resort's own theater. Rates start at only $98 per person per night.

To make it even easier, kids under 17 stay for only $30 each, per night, and have complimentary access to the Viva Wyndham Kid's and Junior's Clubs.

To get this promotional rate, reservations must be made directly through the hotel's reservations line at (800)WYNDHAM or online at vivawyndhamresorts.com.


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Resort Report: Viva Wyndham Maya

The Viva Wyndham Maya has 13 acres of land and 400 rooms, with colonial and contemporary Mexican design. The rooms run on both sides of a central courtyard, where the pool, Jacuzzi, theater, and restaurants are located. Each guestroom features one king or two double beds, bathroom with tub and shower and a private terrace or balcony. Rooms have air conditioning, color satellite TV, telephone, safe and hair dryer.

At meal times, guests can head to the main buffet restaurant or one of the two gourmet specialty restaurants – Mexican or Mediterranean. They can also head into the adjacent town of Playa del Carmen to dine at the hotel’s own Viva Café and only pay a $10 surcharge for a multi-course meal and drinks.

During the day, guests congregate on the hotel beach, at the huge pool or in the many activity centers around the property. Once the sun goes down, there are plenty of options for socializing. There is a nightly live show in the hotel theater, plus live music in the lobby bar. For late-night fun, guests head to the on-site nightclub for dance music and plenty of excitement. And if you need a bite before heading to bed, you’re in luck, because snacks are available at the beach-side restaurant all night long.

Hotel rates include just about anything you’d ever need, such as full breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks; unlimited beverages (including beer, wine, cocktails, soda, water); daily activities and fitness programs; unlimited non-motorized water sports; live nightly entertainment; and even tips.

One thing that’s not included, but still worth a visit, is the hotel’s Renova Spa. The spa’s natural atmosphere and Caribbean design will instantly set you at ease, while you consider which of the dozens of therapeutic and relaxing treatments are right for you. Options include -service hair styling, steam rooms, facials, massages and a host of body treatments and other services.

The Viva Wyndham Maya is popular with couples seeking a romantic retreat, singles looking for some fun and excitement and families looking for an overall great vacation. Guests could easily spend an entire week without leaving the property, but the resort also makes a great home base for exploring many of the area’s top attractions, including the nearby Xcaret and Xel-Ha nature parks, the Mayan ruins of Tulum and other activities, such as horseback riding, zip-lining, hiking, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing and more. The hotel tour desk can help you plan all sorts of excursions.

Rates start at about $225 per person per night. Viva Wyndham Resorts is an all-inclusive chain of hotels, which means that just about everything is included in your stay.






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Hotel Phone - 984-874-4600 (Mexico) or 1-800-WYNDHAM (U.S.)

Viva Wyndham Official Site
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Resort Report: Hacienda Vista Real

This luxurious villa-style property has 78 rooms and is surrounded by the Playacar golf course, straight back from Reef Playacar hotel. The decor is a combination of Mexican hacienda, Roman, and Mayan, with dark woods, marble floors, column and arches, granite accents, and warm colors.

Rooms have air-conditioning, satellite TV, safes, glass showers, original artwork, and amazingly soft sheets and duvets. Suites have up to three bedrooms and feature Jacuzzis, terraces, and large living rooms. The hotel has a restaurant and pool facing several water hazards and the fairway of the first hole and the club house beyond. There is a massive fitness center with more than 30 LifeFitness machines, a kids club, convenience store, bakery, VIP TV lounge, Internet café, and Thai restaurant and sushi bar.

Guests have access to the resort’s exclusive beach club, located on Xpu-Ha beach, 15 minutes south of the hotel. The attached day spa is housed inside a recreation of a Mayan temple that is a marvel just to look at. It is the most lavish facility of its kind in all of Playacar, featuring a 30-foot waterfall, climbing wall, Mayan murals and stonework, and the most modern medical, therapeutic, and relaxing facilities available. Popular treatments include coconut milk body wraps, aroma facials, Turkish baths, hot stone massages, Shiatsu, hydrobaths, and full beauty salon services. There is even an indoor temazcal, with upgraded seating and amenities from the traditional Mayan sweat lodges.

Rates: starting around $161, per room EP (European plan). All-inclusive plans and suites are available for an additional fee.

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NEWS FLASH - Increased Security for Playacar

Following a wave of robberies, the hotels and condos of Playacar have begun to exercise greater control over who enters the resort development. In the past, drivers just had to go through a security gate, but were basically waved through automatically, without any sort of verification of authorization. With the new plan, all visitors to Playacar will have to show identification to enter the access gates.

Passage can be verified by showing a valid ID bracelet for a Playacar resort or by showing a reservation for arrival that day. Construction workers will also be issued ID bracelets, which will help to limit access to anyone not authorized to enter.

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