Who's Going
Dallas Weekenders, Blackberry Businessmen, Spa Lovers
Reason to Stay
Private Beach, Beach Club, Acclaimed Spa
Hotel Type
Beach Resort
Some call it the classy-side of Cancun and others simply by Mayakoba. Having made its mark in Mexico with the opulent Las Ventanas Resort near Los Cabos Mexico, Rosewood Hotel debuts its newest pristine Caribbean resort in along the Maya Riviera and underwater sanctuary discovered in 1961 by Jacques Cousteau. <br /><br />It's as lavish a hotel you'll find on the Yucatan peninsula, accessed via the dreadful Cancun International airport and then a short freeway drive to the exclusive Mayakoba enclave home to several upscale residential developments and nearby Mandarin Oriental. An over-the-top lobby area is constructed from raw stone and decorated in a muted-color palette that exudes a sexy spa appeal. Expecting those sexy Californians and movie stars that frequent Las Ventanas, we were disappointed to see a crowd far similar to those found at Rosewood's Mansion at Turtle Creek or Crescent Court in Dallas, namely curvy businessmen who should avoid being shirtless. <br /><br />The lobby area connects three gourmet restaurants, chocolaty lobby lounge clad in wood paneling and brown leather, and lagoon to the spa 'island' accessed by private paddleboats. An oceanfront pool pavilion overlooks the sea with exotic cabanas and lounge chairs arranged for privacy and seclusion. Do bring your I-Pod, as the beach area is free of DJ and eye-candy we have come to desire at any world-class resort. Free of the physical diversions of Playa del Carmen or Cancun, Mayakoba is a couple's paradise of ingenious architecture.<br />
The Room
Guest suites are arranged around a central lagoon or along an oceanfront beltway with teak decks and small plunge pools. Entry-level rooms are meticulously composed with stone walls and minimalist furnishings constructed from teak and rattan. Ceiling fans create a soft breeze as floor-to-ceiling windows frame unobstructed lagoon or sea views. Creamy limestone floors extend into extravagant bathrooms with step-in bathtubs and glass-enclosed rain showers. An area of rampant mass-development, the hotel is a stylish sanctuary that may not draw the sexiest or chicest crowds in the area, but offers stylish indulgences best experienced with someone you love. (Image Courtesy of Rosewood Hotels)
Preferred Room
Beachside Suite
Special Features
Oversize Guest Rooms, Plunge Pools, Celebrity Clientele
Amenities
Restaurant, Pool, Lounge, Beachfront Location
