Here’s a trio of luxury all-inclusives for every market, from the nightlife-loving Millennial to the spa-loving Baby Boomer.
Sandals Royal Caribbean
Sandals’ first-ever over-the-water suites are set to open this month at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Perhaps the two best features of the five “Over the Water Private Island Butler Villa with Infinity Pool” rooms are the floating water hammocks and glass floors.
Each bungalow villa has a smart TV, a large ceiling fan and bathrooms with his-and-hers sinks and a walk-in rain shower.
Pictured: The Over-The-Water Bungalows at Sandals Royal Caribbean have a private outdoor Tranquility Soaking Tub, over-water hammocks, extended sun deck and an outdoor shower.
Private patios have extended sun decks, two outdoor showers, sun loungers and a bistro table set for two. Couples also have access to a private butler, water taxi service to take them to and from the resort and 24-hour room service.
Note: The positive booking response to the first wave of bungalow villas in Sandals has prompted the company to build 12 more over-the-water bungalows.
We hear the new “Over-the-Water Private Island Butler Honeymoon Bungalow” room category is available now for arrivals beginning February 1, 2017.
Pictured: The Bret Michaels Rock Star Suite at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya has a full-size cutout of the rock star commanding a concert crowd.
These additional over-the-water bungalows will also have glass vision floor panels and lit water so guests can enjoy underwater views at any time.
Hint: These rooms are almost identical to the “Over the Water Private Island Butler Villa with Infinity Pool” rooms except they are a bit smaller and do not have infinity pools. Instead, these bungalows include a private outdoor soaking tub.
Tip: Guests can also arrange for in-room dining in the bungalows and villas.
Luxury travel advisors with special room requests can reach out to Kitanya Mirander ([email protected]), sales manager.
Bungalow villa guests can opt to have treatments in their room or on the sun deck, or they can take a water taxi back to the hotel’s indoor spa, which houses five treatment rooms and two cabanas each on the mainland of the resort and the hotel’s private island.
Hint: Luxury Travel Advisor was told the best treatment here is the “Scents of Love Couples Massage.” During this treatment, the therapist will guide couples through a romantic candle-lighting and warm oil-massage ritual based on their chosen sensory experience. Note: Couples can choose from different indigenous aromas of the Caribbean.
To customize the best spa treatment for guests, advisors should get in touch with Dorothea Gordon ([email protected]), spa manager.
Travelers heading to Sandals Royal Caribbean can book a flight to Sangster International Airport, which is five minutes away. This is also where A-listers will find the nearest helipad. Luxury private transfers to Sandals Royal Caribbean can be arranged.
For private pickups and all other inquiries, advisors should connect with Dezreen Reid-Stewart ([email protected]), the hotel’s head concierge.
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
Being a great pitch for multigenerational families, singles, friends and couples, the music-themed, all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is arguably the All Inclusive Collection’s most balanced hotel.
Note: On “Hacienda,” the family-friendly side of the hotel, is the Deluxe Family category, which is well-suited for large families. These two-bedroom accommodations have two connecting rooms — one with a king-size bed and the other with two double beds — in addition to a kid-friendly mini-fridge stocked with juices and chocolate milk, kids’ beach toys and a children’s room service menu available 24 hours a day.
Tip: At “Heaven,” the adults-only side of the property, the Bret Michaels Rock Star Suite is a good fit for Millennials, particularly singles or couples traveling with other couples. The Suite was designed by singer Bret Michaels and has the reputation of being the hotel’s most lavish accommodation. Note: This is basically Hard Rock’s spin on the traditional penthouse and reflects design elements that speak to Michaels’ personal experiences. Nice Touch: Guests are greeted with a full-size glass cutout of Michaels commanding a cheering concert crowd and a large display case showcasing the rock star’s motorcycle and guitar.
The 9,204-square-foot space also holds a digital photo booth, private screening room, upper level DJ booth and bar, raised dance floor, inspirational quotes, a Camaro-converted billiard table, a cowboy hat display and bandana-influenced ceiling décor to showcase the famed rocker’s persona.
Hint: The suite is topped off with a full terrace, which works well for both daytime and late-night parties, complete with a kitchen, dining area, hot tub, fire pit and plenty of places to lounge in the Mexican sun. Tip: The Bret Michaels Rock Star Suite also comes with a “Personal Assistant,” Hard Rock’s version of a butler.
For all room inquiries, luxury travel advisors should connect with Yesenia Diaz ([email protected]), Hard Rock’s “vacation expert,” who is basically the hotel’s lead reservations representative.
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya houses a massive spa, which has 75 treatments rooms. Luxury Travel Advisor was told the spa’s “Rhythm & Motion” experience is its most requested offering. Nice Touch: While most spas encourage a quiet and tranquil setting for relaxation, all of the Rhythm & Motion treatments invite guests to crank the music of their choice as they disconnect with some volume.
The hotel’s Posh Beauty Salon has a “Posh Kids” package, which includes polish on fingernails and toes, as well as a hair shampoo and blow dry or half-head braiding. The “Angelina Ballerina” package includes make up, custom hairstyle or braids, a manicure and pedicure.
To further customize a guest’s spa experience, advisors should reach out to Daniel Escalante ([email protected]), “rock spa manager.”
Be sure to tell Millennials with a love for nightlife to enjoy the hotel’s sexy pool at the modern and chic Club Heaven, the product of renovation of an existing hotel gymnasium, yoga studio and grotto pool area. It includes the Lobby Bar, Rock Star Library and Club Heaven Dance Club, which has a pool and hot tub areas.
The bar is designed around the pool, which is anchored by a DJ booth, flanked by two hot tubs and surrounded by cabana-style seating pods.
Club Heaven is accessed through the interior lobby bar space or via the “Stairway to Heaven,” a walkway, cabana and stairway path that goes from the beach over an existing cenote up the back terrace of the club with waterfalls, hot tubs and cabanas along the journey.
Celebrity Watch: It’s common for guests to have a run-in with a celebrity here as the hotel has hosted everyone from Jon Bon Jovi to Nick Jonas to Eva Longoria to Bret Michaels.
Note: The all-inclusive Hard Rock Hotels have developed an exclusive partnership with Les Mills, a provider of choreographed exercise-to-music group fitness classes. Through a weekly visiting-instructor program, the collaboration provides guests three daily classes from a collection of 14 training programs — from 10 group fitness classes to four, 30-minute “High-Intensity Interval Training” (HIIT) programs, as well as “Born to Move — Youth Fitness” program for toddlers and teens.
To further customize guests’ vacation at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya, advisors should reach out to Juan Rivera ([email protected]), general manager.
Grand Velas Los Cabos
In July, Luxury Travel Advisor shared a report on the new Grand Velas Los Cabos. The resort, which opens at the end of the year, now says it will have a new spa concept and we have the skinny.
The Spa Atelier comprises a series of designed educational workshops for guests. Tailored to aid a variety of ailments and needs, these custom-made workshops will be inspired by local Mexican culture and based on the principles of ancient Ayurvedic medicine.
Tea leaves, herbs, spices and fruits can have contrasting effects on the body. Through “The Tea Party” option, guests will learn how combinations of tea and natural ingredients can benefit the body.
The “Healthy Kids Aromatherapy” workshop allows guests to create child-friendly essences that can be combined and used for a wide range of purposes. Combinations can, for example, be made to help children relax at bedtime and also for many other beneficial functions that assist kids to go about their daily lives.
Note: Two distinct couples’ workshops will take place in the realm of Spa Atelier. One will boost a couples’ existing connection and the other will aim to potentiate their love for each other.
Through the “Custom Dosha Exfoliation,” travelers can have the unique opportunity to create custom exfoliations depending on their Dosha, a central concept of Ayurvedic medicine wherein health exists when there is a balance between three energies — Vata (space and air), Pitta (fire and water) and Kapha (earth and water). Nice Touch: Each exfoliation will be carefully crafted to the needs and desires of the guest based on this ancient Ayurvedic practice.
Tip: All workshops will be between 50- to 80-minute long, taking place in the Spa Atelier space by the entrance of the spa.
Note: Some workshops will be complimentary whereas others will be available at an extra cost.
Advisors looking to book a workshop for a guest should connect with Josselyn de la Mora ([email protected]), spa director.