Hola Peter!
I recently spent five fabulous days at an all-inclusive, adult-only resort in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, on a beach about 25 minutes south of Cancun.
I hadn’t been to an all-in-one beach resort since my Club Med honeymoon in Mexico and honestly, I wasn’t looking forward to a repeat performance. .. that little bout of typhoid still lingers in my memory.
I was concerned about eating the lettuce, drinking the booze, (can you imagine a piña colada or margarita without ice?) and oh yeah, being bored.
Also, frankly, I am not the Cancun type and specifically wanted something non-touristy.
No reason to worry! There was plenty to see and do, lots of great food and drink … and no extra trips to the loo. I just had to add in that detail, in case you were afraid to ask.
MI CASA
My suite at the Valentin Imperial Maya opened onto a meandering pool so I could say hello to the iguana who lived on my terrace rock before I took a dip whenever I felt like it.
There were spa treatments (LOVED the Lavender essence massage), yoga classes, swim-up bars, Broadway-style nightly entertainment and more restaurants than in most small towns.
All have a no-reservations, eat-at-will policy, so it’s possible to have appetizers at the French Alsace, main course at the Mexican La Hacienda, and dessert on the beach at Tierra. Other options include Japanese and Indonesian cuisine. House wine (hmmm, a little rough on the palate) and cocktails are free; there’s premium wine available for purchase. (Tip: rates drop from about $500 per night in the high season to $300 in summer. I found the best rates on www.locogringo.com.)
Find more of Sarah’s shopping adventures in our Shopping section.
SHOPPING FIFTH AVENUE
By day three, I was sunburned and ready to shop, so I booked the hotel shuttle ($17 round-trip) to Playa del Carmen, a former fishing hamlet now best known for Quinta Avenida, a red-brick pedestrian shopping street that stretches more than a mile north of the Cozumel ferry dock.
The stores are created for tourists, but good deals can be found if you’re willing to play the bait-bargain-and-walk game. You’ll find Starbucks and Häagen-Dazs stores next to open-air restaurants, taco stands and tourist traps selling an eclectic mix of crafts, gold and silver jewelry, pottery, clothing, and of course, tequila.
Learn more with our Mexico & Central America travel section.
ABOUT THAT TEQUILA
My many amigos told me to look for Don Julio, Mexico’s most popular high-end brand. Don Julio 1942, considered the grand-daddy of tequila, has a sweet roasted agave flavor with hints of vanilla and sun-ripened tropical fruits. Blanco is smooth and crisp with citrus notes, good for killer margaritas, while reposado is ultra-rich with a golden amber color. Along with anejo, all are aged in oak barrels, just like fine wines.
Ultrafemme, with three locations on Fifth Avenue (at Calle 12, 16 and Paseo del Carmen Shopping Plaza) is the best and glitziest duty-free shop in Playa. It’s also air-conditioned, which is a blessing in the heat. Along with beauty products and perfume, there’s accessories and a separate division called Ultrajewels, complete with a Tiffany & Co counter.
Learn more about Ultrafemme and other local hotspots with our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Riviera Maya, Mexico.
Without asking for a cash deal or special price, I was offered 5 percent off a purchase of two or more items, and a flat 20 percent off Elsa Peretti silver jewelry. Had I used my Chase Visa, there would have been a 3 percent international service fee, which I don’t consider a good bargain. Not bad, but no cigar, not even an illegal Havana.
Just off Quinta Avenida lies tiny Calle Corazon, I found Haviana flip flops for half the US price, and Palm Beach-quality straw totes and sandals at the Mamzel boutique. John Gray’s Place is a good choice for a quiet drink or dinner.
CANCUN FIELDTRIP
As luck would have it, the rains came. And lingered. My buddies were depressed, but I saw it as an omen that it was time for a major shopping outing. I grabbed my brollie, ordered a taxi, and headed to Cancun to check out Luxury Avenue, the mall-within-a-mall at Kukulcan Plaza.
Owned by the same folks that operate Ultrafemme, this showcase of local and international designer labels (Cartier, Carolina Herrera, MaxMara, Vilebrequin, and Tous, among others) hosts a personal shopper concierge and special events year round including fragrance launches and pro make-up sessions. There’s also an Eyelash Bar where they’ll do what you can’t accomplish on your own: apply false lashes.
Don’t miss our Ask the Locals Travel Guide: Cancun, Mexico.
My favorite store in Luxury Avenue, Pineda Covalin, showcases the talent of two Mexican designers (Cristina Pineda and Ricardo Covalin) who create stunning clothing and accessories featuring Mexican imagery, from Monarch butterflies to Mayan gods.
They have another shop at the airport, where prices are the same.
INVASION TO COME
The next few months will bring around 30 new domestic and international flights to Cancun. Virgin America will open two flights from San Francisco and five from Los Angeles, capable of carrying over 220 passengers each, and British Airways has announced that new flights will begin operation between London and Cancun starting in November.
con abrazos,
Sarah
By Sarah Lahey for PeterGreenberg.com. Join Sarah and her shopping BFF, Suzy Gershman, on a shopping spree with the Born to Shop Japan tour, November 4-10, 2010, with an optional three-day add-on to Hong Kong. Visit www.SuzyGershman.com for more information.
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