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| The Presidential Villa at Nizuc Resort & Spa includes a master bedroom with a king-sized bed and a second bedroom with two queen-sized beds. |
Representatives of Nizuc Resort & Spa, including Jaime Jaramillo, the new managing director, and Darrick Eman, global director of sales and marketing, dropped by our New York office last month to give us an update on the three-year-old, ultra-luxe, five-star resort.
Jaramillo is among the new leadership Nizuc welcomed recently. He brings to the resort 25 years of experience in the tourism industry with an extensive background in Mexican hospitality that includes previously held positions at Galeria Plaza Reforma in Mexico City, Las Brisas Acapulco and Las Hadas Golf Resort & Marina in Manzanillo. Also, new to the resort is the executive chef, Sylvain Desbois, who has logged more than 15 years of experience in the catering and hotel business. Desbois is originally from France and has most recently held the position of executive chef at The St. Regis Mexico City.
Nizuc is just 15 minutes by car from Cancun International Airport at the start of Cancun’s famed resort row. It sits on a 29-acre natural preserve and hosts both families and adults, with one secluded beach for adults and another for families (both swimmable). If parents do want to enjoy the adults-only beach, the resort offers Winik’s Kids Club for children ages 4 to 12.
As for accommodations, families will be most comfortable in the Presidential Suite, which is on the 5th floor of the residence area of the hotel. This top accommodation includes panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Families and couples will enjoy the floor-to-ceiling windows that open to a terrace with a private plunge pool and outdoor shower.
For another spacious accommodation option, consider the Nizuc Villa, which boasts 2,610 square feet of interior space along with a rooftop sundeck and a patio, entertainment areas and an infinity pool. This hideaway has a separate bedroom suite but can also be connected with an additional villa to accommodate groups. The Presidential Villa is also designed to host gatherings; it includes a master bedroom with a king-sized bed and a second bedroom with two queen-sized beds. Other amenities include large bathrooms with freestanding tubs and separate rainfall showers. Guests can also relax on the large patio or beside the infinity pool.
While it’s too soon to know what enhancements Chef Desbois will bring to Nizuc (something with a French twist, perhaps?), guests will continue to enjoy their choice of several dining options,which currently include Asian, Peruvian, Italian, Mexican, a grill and a spot for brunch. It is suggested that guests make reservations for dinner, as the restaurants are open to the public. (The spa is also open to the public, so advance reservations are suggested.) For an evening drink, the Havana Lounge has live music three days a week, while Bar A-Kan is known for its fabulous sunset views. Travelers should note that it is also possible to see the sunset from the main pool because of the placement of the hotel.
As for resort activities, Nizuc is now giving guests an opportunity to participate in complimentary boat trips to MUSA, an underwater museum of sculptures. The underwater gallery has become a coral reef, so snorkelers can enjoy both marine life and art by Mexican artists, including Jason Decaires Taylor, Karen Salinas Martinez, Roberto Diaz Abraham and Elier Amado Dil. This complimentary experience takes place on Thursdays at noon. Those interested in a more adventurous experience should book Nizuc at Sea, wherein travelers sail the seas on a 56-foot-long catamaran. This trip includes an onboard butler, chef, full staff and treats like champagne and caviar. The staff will take guests to MUSA’s deeper dive sites and down the Mayan Riviera.
More Accommodations News
Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH) has added three additional properties to its Mexican portfolio, expanding its current portfolio of seven SLH hotels in Mexico to 10. Travel agents booking with SLH can receive commissions, ranging from 10 to 20 percent on SLH’s total portfolio. The new hotels are Stara Hamburgo and Stara San Angel Inn, both in Mexico City, and Chablé Spa & Resort in the Yucatan.
Stara Hamburgo opened in January and is set inside a historic 19th-century Spanish mansion. Many of the 60 rooms and suites have a private balcony with a view of the city or garden. The Roof Garden Restaurant serves Mexican and international cuisine and offers guests panoramic views of the city.
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| SLH’s Stara Hamburgo is set inside a historic 19th-century Spanish mansion in Mexico City. |
Stara San Angel Inn comprises 22 suites, all with modern kitchens, designer bathrooms and private terraces. Guests will also want to take advantage of the Roof Garden, which boasts some of the best views in San Angel. The artistic neighborhood is near Studio Diego Rivera and Plaza San Jacinto. In fact, the hotel suggests that travelers visit the San Angel’s weekend bazaar on Saturdays for work from local artists.
Chablé Spa & Resort welcomes guests to a unique location in the Mayan forest. Spread across 750 acres on the Yucatan Peninsula, this hotel is set to open in November. Guests will stay in 38 stand-alone pool villas complete with outdoor showers, hammocks and living areas. The spa, built beside a cenote, is the highlight of this future resort. It includes nine treatment rooms, a steam room, a sauna, a salt cabin and floatarium. As an added touch, the two restaurants serve organic, seasonal cuisine from the onsite gardens.
The Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen Resort has put together an inventive agenda of autumn activities, balancing a mix of traditional Mexican celebrations and grand takes on American classics, such as Halloween (October 31) with traditional American costumes followed by the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) on November 1. For the latter, the resort also suggests heading to La Quinta Avenida, which will be adorned with traditional Mexican skulls and decorated with cempasuchil (Mexican marigolds). Another celebration for those two supernatural-inspired events will also be held October 30 to November 2 at nearby Xcaret Park. The resort is also offering events on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to make their guests feel at home during the holidays.
As an added incentive to the onsite festivities, Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen is offering 20 percent off on bed and breakfast rates and 15 percent off on treatments at the Cenote Spa, available to book now for travel through December 20, 2016.