Hotel Profile: Antigua Posada Barrio Latino

This is the namesake hotel for the Barrio Latino neighborhood from Second to Sixth Streets, between the beach and 30th Avenue, in the heart of Playa del Carmen. The area is reminiscent of the way that Playa used to be, with traditional hotels and a slower pace than the rest of town. The 16-room Italian-owned hotel is a popular home base for Europeans, student travelers, and others who may have money to stay at one of the more luxurious properties around town but choose to stay at a smaller hotel for the local charm, traditional character, and family-like service.

The hotel is just 1.5 blocks from Quinta Avenida, providing quick access to the town’s restaurants and nightlife. Rooms are secure and clean, with private bathrooms, tile showers, ceiling fans, and in-room safes. Many also have air-conditioning. The owners can book most of the same tours that the larger tour agencies can, but they return their sales commission to their guests, resulting in a nice discount. An Internet station is located near the front desk, and complimentary wireless Internet access reaches most rooms. Rates: average $50 a night; include complimentary continental breakfast and a discount at the nearby Café de la Luna Italian restaurant.

Hotel Profile: Temptation Resort Cancun

Introduced to the market at the end of 2007, this cleverly named resort seems to conjure images of the anything-goes “Temptation Island” reality show and the similarity doesn’t necessarily stop there. The 384-room upscale adults-only all-inclusive beachfront hotel is known for its lively atmosphere, topless swimming pool, adult-themed activities program and sexy vibe throughout. It is NOT a “lifestyle” resort, though, and it retains a sense of class and even elegance through its facilities, staff and accommodations.

The resort is located in the northern end of Cancun’s hotel zone, just 10-15 minutes from downtown Cancun or the main entertainment and nightlife district at Punta Cancun. The beach behind the resort is powdery white sand, leading to a calm waterfront, ideal for relaxing in and around the ocean.

The stylish rooms have balconies with ocean or garden views, plus modern and stylish décor themed after the forbidden apple. A red “sexy light” glows from behind the headboards while dramatic silver sculptures, illuminated bedside tables and plush bedding give rooms a romantic vibe. Each room has satellite TV, phone and clock radio. Some first-floor rooms also have a terrace Jacuzzi. Minibars are stocked daily with sodas and a couple beers.

The main Embarcadero restaurant serves three buffet meals a day. Bellavista serves poolside breakfasts and Caribbean dinners by reservation. Margarita’s Snack Bar & Grill is open for continental breakfast, late lunch and late-night snacks until 5am. The Village Wok offers a la carte Asian cuisine for dinner. The Tex-Mex dinner restaurant is open by reservation on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and Il Piacere serves Italian dinners by reservation every day but Wednesday.

Bar options include a couple of swim-up bars, a sports bar and a highly popular patio bar that serves as the main meeting point in the evenings. The Nice Shoes Disco hosts nightly shows in the evening, ranging from Karaoke Night to sexy dancing shows to a lingerie show. Brief full nudity is allowed at some of the shows.
There are three pools, each with a distinct atmosphere—sports, relaxing and topless.
Poolside activities at the topless pool (or “Heartbeat Pool,” as it’s called) include a naughty joke contest, water volleyball, exotic dance lessons, striptease classes and other games designed to get guests to interact. The use of kayaks and other watersports equipment is included in the rate. Nightly bar tours are offered for a fee, including one-way transportation.

There is an on-site beauty parlor, jewelry shop, travel agency, car rental desk and a couple of fee-based Internet workstations.

The resort appeals to a wide variety of guests, but most tend to be couples and groups of friends in the 30-45 age range. They are upwardly mobile and interested in a wide range of recreational activities. The tropical grounds, convivial atmosphere and non-stuffy ambiance make the resort a great vacation getaway.

Rates start at about $140 per night, per person, based on double occupancy.

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Hotel Profile: Casa Ticul Playa del Carmen

Located in the newly bustling northern part of Fifth Avenue (Quinta between 38th and 40th Streets) this independently owned adults-only boutique hotel opened in early 2008. It is named after an old Yucatan city 60 miles south of Merida known for its clay pottery and leather shoes, but the environs here are decidedly more contemporary. The cozy lobby feels like a stylish home in 1940s Europe and the quaint courtyard with a small pool and sundeck looks especially charming after the sun goes down.

The 20 rooms are thoroughly modern, with dark wood furnishings, luxury bedding with pillow-top mattresses, large flat-screen TVs, powerful air conditioning, minibars, safes, nice bathrooms with rainshowers and plenty of hot water, bedside slippers, radio alarmclocks, diffused lighting and complimentary wireless Internet access, even by the pool.

Across the street is a large condo complex and there are many shops, restaurants and bars within easy walking distance. A great stretch of beach, backed by luxury hotels and beach clubs, is just two and a half blocks away and the ferry dock and town square are about a mile and a half to the south. Rates range from $130 to $220. Highly recommended.

Direct Contact:
Casa Ticul Hotel
MX: 984-267-3501

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Elan Resort Brings Old World Charm to Cancun

The Elan Resort & Spa opened in May 2007 after a $15 million renovation of the former Club Las Velas. The hotel is located on a private beach facing the Nichupte Lagoon on the Cancun mainland, just a few miles from the resort town’s main commercial and entertainment district. The hotel was designed by Mexican architect Tomas Aunon to resemble a 17th Century Mexican village and the staff works hard to maintain a gracious Old World sense of warmth and service. Strolling mariachis, Mexican folklore shows, cooking classes, history lessons and a weekly Mexican fiesta in the main courtyard also help to set the tone.

Given its lagoon-front location, expansive grounds and adults-only policy, the Elan has a faraway feeling of peace and tranquility hard to find at other Cancun-resorts.

It is much more sedate and relaxing than other hotel properties that are so firmly established in the area. The staff is exceptionally warm and accommodating, giving the hotel an exclusive and friendly atmosphere.

At meal times guests have several options. The day starts for many with a fresh and delicious Mexican breakfast at the waterfront La Palapa Restaurant. Guests in the villas can also opt for coffee and a Continental breakfast in their room. El Embarcadero is open for poolside lunches and afternoon snacks. The Trattoria serves brick oven pizzas next to the lagoon for lunch and dinner. Fans of Asian food head to Tao for fresh sushi and noodle dishes. For a taste of the Mediterranean, guests can go to the Mare Nostrum dinner restaurant and for a sampling of authentic dishes from across Mexico, they head to Cielito Lindo. In the evening, the hot spot for pre-dinner cocktails and snacks, plus live piano music, fortune-telling exhibitions and billiards is the Café Mystic. Diners can return after dinner for coffee and dessert. Other options for food and drink include the lobby bar and swim-up pool bar.

The resort is operated as an all-inclusive, with all food, drinks and non-motorized water sports included. The on-site fitness center offers workout stations, exercise classes and free weights. Other recreational opportunities include a white-sand beach, two freshwater swimming pools, two tennis courts, beach volleyball, kayaking, windsurfing and sailing. There is also a full-service day spa, offering ancient Mayan healing treatments, facials, massages and a number of ayurvedic treatments. There are steam rooms, a Temazcal sweat lodge, massage, yoga, Pilates, aikido, body wraps, facials, Reiki, reflexology and a host of salon treatments. Accommodations include a half-hour massage on their day of arrival.

The hotel’s guestrooms are built around a courtyard, reminiscent of a traditional Mexican colonial town square, with meandering pathways and tropical gardens. Each room has king or queen beds with premium Egyptian cotton sheets, wireless Internet access, cable TV, minibars stocked with water and juice, safes, clock radios, bathrobes and private terrace or balcony with views of the hotel gardens or lagoon. Villa suites also have coffeemakers, a living area with additional TV, CD/DVD player and wine and beer included in the minibar.

Key Facts:
Elan Resort & Spa
Blvd Kukulcan, Esq. Galeon St km 3.5
Cancun, Q. Roo, Mexico
Hotel Direct Phone - (52) 998-891-4080
USA Reservations Line - (888) 400-Elan (3526)

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Hotel Profile: OM Lounge & Hotel

Built above the ultra-hip red-and-black OM Lounge, this 17-room hotel is great for travelers primarily concerned with proximity to the Playa del Carmen party scene and the beach. The rooms have simple furnishings, walk-in shower stalls, TVs, exotic candles, powerful window-unit air conditioning, mini-fridges and refillable pitchers for purified water.

Given their unbeatable access to the 12th Street nightlife scene, the rooms themselves somehow seem to remain fairly quiet, especially on the upper floors. Guests can secure their valuables in a safety box at the front desk. Rates: $60 - $150.


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Resort Report: Grand Oasis Cancun

The Grand Oasis Cancun is a luxury all-inclusive resort in the heart of the Cancun hotel zone. The main attraction is the picture-perfect beach, ideal for sunbathing, strolling, site-seeing, building sandcastles and playing in the water. The hotel is less than 30 minutes from the Cancun International airport and half that from the main nightlife, shopping and entertainment district of the city.

A large pyramid-shaped main building rises above the green grass of the golf course and gardens that front the hotel. Once inside, guests are surrounded by hanging plants and tropical flowers, which ring the interior atrium and help create an exotic and faraway ambiance.

Guest rooms feature contemporary styling with aspects of Mexican design, including earth-tone walls, native print linens and decorative headboards. All rooms feature shower/tub combo, cable TV, direct-dial phone, hairdryer, minibar and private terrace or balcony with views of the Caribbean or lagoon (perfect for watching the sunset). Suites have separate sitting areas and spacious bathrooms with jetted tubs.

The Grand Oasis Cancun has more food and beverage options than nearly any other hotel in the Cancun area, giving guests plenty of choices at mealtime. There are bounteous buffets served at a couple of different restaurants, plus specialty a la carte restaurants serving Italian, Asian, Tex-Mex, gourmet Mexican, sushi, Mediterranean, Brazilian barbecue, seafood and more. Between meals, guests can hit up the poolside snack bar or a casual restaurant next to the beach.

Nightlife options are nearly as numerous. There is a lively lobby bar serving exotic cocktails, a sports bar with several TVs and the UP & Down Nightclub, home to the Thursday night Foam Party, draws revelers from all across Cancun. There are also theme parties and live music each evening to keep guests entertained.

The hotel pool is famous throughout the Caribbean. It is more than a quarter of a mile long, with waterfalls, tropical gardens, several swim-up bars and plenty of room to lounge in the sun. The beach in back of the hotel is huge, also, with lounge chairs and umbrellas for guest use. Most days, the water is fairly calm and clear, making it a great place to play in the water. The sand is powdery white and is so fine that it doesn’t get hot, even in the middle of the day.

Active guests can enjoy a wide variety of activities and recreational opportunities without leaving the resort. There are two lighted tennis courts, a soccer field, basketball court and fitness center with workout stations, free weights and treadmills. Guests can also visit the hotel’s water sports center, which offers free kayaks, paddleboats and surfboards. They also offer a variety of local fee-based tours, including scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, adventure tours and visits to Mayan ruins.

Guests can play golf for free at the resort’s own 9-hole course, located just in front of the property. The holes are short, but still present a fun challenge for all levels of play. There are sand traps, water hazards and palm trees aplenty. The hotel maintains a corporate membership at Cancun’s Pok-Ta-Pok Country Club, located about 20 minutes away. Guests get great discounts on fees and can make reservations through the hotel concierge desk.

You can’t keep going at high-speed your whole vacation, though. When it’s time to relax, guests head to the on-site day spa and salon. Popular treatments include massages, sunburn relief, body wraps, facials, waxings and visits to the Temazcal, which is a Mayan-style sweat lodge.

The Grand Oasis Cancun is popular with young vacationers, active couples and families. It is known as one of the most lively and fun resorts in Cancun.

Key Facts:
Hotel Grand Oasis Cancun
Blvd. Kukulkán, Km.16,5.
Phone from USA: (52) 998-881-7000

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La Zebra Offers a Taste of Tulum's Past

TULUM, July 2007 -- With pristine white sand beaches, overgrown jungle cloaking mysterious ancient ruins, and a special, laidback uniqueness all its own, it's no surprise that Tulum has tipped the radar of trend-watchers on the lookout for the next "tropical hot spot."

But with this fame came a disintegration of what has made this magical place a jewel in the crown of Caribbean destinations. As record growth along Mexico's Mayan Riviera creeps south, traditional fishing pueblos such as the once-tiny village of Playa del Carmen have become overpriced, overbuilt and overdone.

Luckily, this is not the case with La Zebra Beach Cantina & Cabanas, a nine-cabana beach escape with a retro-jungle vibe that takes visitors back in time to a laidback Tulum of old.

"While a lot of smaller places are remodeling themselves into trendy boutique hotels, guests don't really feel they are having a Mexican beach experience," explains owner John Kendall, an Australian who also owns Tulum's wildly successful Mezzanine hotel and Thai restaurant, which brought a distinctly hip, European stylishness to the quiet town. But when Kendall found the spacious beachfront property of La Zebra, he decided to recapture area's relaxed essence he fell in love with 15 years ago. "At La Zebra you feel that you're actually experiencing Tulum before all the development, with a simplistic, rustic and slightly whimsical flavor," says Kendall.

The first order of the day was renovating all nine rooms to reflect the property's jungle-chic, organic vibe. The result is an eclectic contrast of tongue-in-cheek humor and home-grown natural comfort: Amenities include overhead fans, king size beds featuring soft linens draped with extra roomy mosquito nets, complimentary bottle of tequila, and wireless internet. Interiors are hand-crafted from the elements: cantera stone, local hardwoods, thatched palm and real tree root towel rails.

At the heart of the property is Lena and her sisters, who infuse La Zebra with a feminine energy and create home-cooked, traditional cuisine such as hearty soups and savory empanadas at the Mexican-style cantina. A huge outdoor charcoal grill is the inspiration behind the all-day pit roasts every Sunday that serve up the delectable smoky flavors straight from the grill with salsa dancing to live fusion Latin music. From Thursdays to Sundays, La Zebra's round hardwood deck on the beach plays host to sizzling salsa lessons.

And on tap at the cantina's bar are dozens of the finest tequila, fresh juices and the house specialty, fruity, tropical margaritas. "We want guests to feel that they are in real Mexico when they set foot in La Zebra," says Kendall. "We're not creating a new concept that doesn't fit into the natural energy of Tulum. La Zebra gets back to the basics and lets Tulum's true dynamic shine through."

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Resort Report: Azul Blue Hotel + Spa

Billed as the world's "first stress-free hotel," the Azul Blue Hotel + Spa enjoys a privileged setting at the center of the Tulum beachfront hotel zone. It's an amazing property that truly can indulge travelers looking for a complete getaway.

There are 96 spacious suites, with features such as hand-carved mahogany doors, rain-shower heads, Jacuzzis, plasma TVs, Italian linens and butler service. A pre-arrival concierge customizes your suite according to your preferences in aromatherapy, pillows and music for your in-room iPod.

The resort offers three gourmet restaurants (with five-star chefs, renowned sommeliers, top-shelf liquor), a full-service 10,000-square-foot spa and tour desk that can plan outings across the Riviera Maya. Upgraded packages are available that include spa services and other exclusive amenities. All-inclusive rates are about $250-$500 per night, per person, based on double occupancy.

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U.S. Information number - 866-KARISMA
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Hotel Profile: Las Palapas

One of Playa’s original hotels, Las Palapas is still one of its most revered. It’s a bit north of the main strip (34th Street, near Playa Mamitas), so the beach is a touch more secluded, and there are no rocks, making it a great place to play in the water.

There is a shady pool, Mayan-inspired lawn art, and an interpretive walking trail through the jungle. The hotel’s 75 rooms are housed in spacious individual cabanas near the beach or in two-story villa-like buildings with palapa roofs and private porches, built around a pair of grassy courtyards.


The beachfront rooms don’t have air-conditioning, but most of the rest do. Rates: range from $160 for a standard room up to around $200 for a beachfront cabana.

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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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Hotel Basico - Playa's Most Unique Property

Básico is a concept hotel owned by the same company that runs Deseo, just down the road. It has 14 rooms, including three suites, housed on three floors and built above Quinta with an entrance on 10th Street.

The beige facade owes its unusual color to the Caribbean sand that was mixed with concrete to form its solid walls. The design was conceptualized by a well-known avant garde design firm in Mexico City called Omelet, since, as management says, it takes “huevos” to do the kind of design they do. The theme is rooted in 1950s Mexico and Latin America, when oil production and construction boomed and beach vacations were a sign of prosperity.

The building shines with creative use of tile (imported from Mérida), glass, rubber, and latex. Rooms have high beds with built-in minibar and lighting system, exposed plumbing, a corner rain shower, TV with DVD player, and colored neon accent light, plus air-conditioning and a security safe. The ground-level juice bar doubles as the front desk. The patio level features a Veracruz-style seafood restaurant, and the visually striking rooftop terrace features canopy sunbeds, a trendy bar, projection movie screen, ocean views, hammocks, and two smallish plunge pools, modeled after holding tanks commonly found at Mexican oil fields.

Guests have complimentary use of the hotel’s three-wheeled bicycles during their stay. Rates range from around $150 (patio view) to $235 (ocean view) and are slightly more in high season.

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