Whether honeymooning clients are dreaming of sand between their toes
while cuddling, or exploring Mexico’s vibrant colonial side as a twosome,
an array of new hotel openings cater to their fantasies.
Los Cabos
Although three’s definitely a crowd when it comes to honeymoons, these three new resorts in Los Cabos offer the just-perfect backdrop for intimate moments.
At the 22-acre Chileno Bay Resort & Residences, which opened this past February along the protected cove and natural marine reserve of Chileno Bay, newlyweds can relax in private poolside cabanas lining the 450-ft.-long, 3-tiered, infinity-edge pool that cascades through the center of the property. Or they can unwind in their 2-bedroom villa with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Sea of Cortez. Or they can dine on crispy octopus with hazelnut mole complemented by inventive handcrafted cocktails at the resort’s signature restaurant, COMAL. Or they can share a selfie together while on a sunrise or nighttime standup paddleboarding excursion. This new Auberge Resorts Collection boutique property, located nine miles from Cabo San Lucas and 13 miles from San Jose del Cabo, features 92 accommodations in all—60 guestrooms and thirty-two 2-, 3-, 4- and 6-bedroom villas—and if I were planning my honeymoon I’d go for one of the two 3-bedroom Sky Villas, with its own spacious private rooftop terrace with private pool, extended living area and bar. Active couples will want to check out the H20 Cave watersports activity center, which has been ingeniously carved into a natural granite bluff and provides equipment for everything from paddleboarding to snorkeling with masks donning GoPro attachments. After a day of snorkeling or kayaking on glass-bottomed kayaks, couples can bite into authentic tacos and antojitos at the beachfront tacos and tequila bar, TnT. And what’s a honeymoon without the requisite couples massage—the resort is home to the 10-room Auberge Spa, with locally inspired treatments and an outdoor bathing circuit cleverly called Purification Garden. Rates at this hideaway start at $675, and you might want to recommend a few nights here and a couple of nights at Auberge’s other Cabo resort, Esperanza, perched on the bluffs of Punta Ballena outside of Cabo San Lucas.
No doubt the opening of the adults-only, all-inclusive Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos is on your list of highly anticipated hotel openings, especially if you’ve sent honeymoon couples to its sister property in Cancun. Set to open this fall, the 373-room beachfront property—part of the Palace Resorts family of brands—will feature spacious accommodations with private terraces and ocean views, and suites ranging from 760 to 1,400 sq. ft. Guests can expect such details as comfort menus—a variety of specialty pillows, bath salts, and aromatherapy scents; en-suite high-def Smart TVs with Apple TV; in-room signature beach tote and umbrella; a 7-course French tasting menu at the resort’s signature restaurant, Lumiere; Bvlgari products; an ice room at the 29,000-sq.-ft. BLANCSPA; and interactive mixology classes.
And set to debut in early 2018 is Zadun, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve, built into the steppes of the desert landscape. It’s the fourth resort in the Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio, and the second in the Caribbean and Mexico region. When it opens its doors next year, guests will be welcomed into a retreat encompassing 115 suites and villas, each with a personal butler and many with private plunge pools. They’ll also have access to two championship golf courses and a desert botanical park. Now let’s jet across the country to…
…the Riviera Maya
This month, Mexico’s Caribbean coastline will see the debut of a new luxury private Karisma Villa, the 6-bedroom oceanfront Villa Casa Del Mar. Honeymooners will have 35,586 sq. ft. to play around in if they book this villa stay—the fourth and largest of the Karisma Villas collection. It comes with two common living areas, a formal dining room, a gourmet kitchen, a wine cellar stocked with vintage selections, and a wellness gym. Outdoors, they’ll have access to a private pool, a jacuzzi, a dedicated dining space, lush gardens, a brick pizza oven, and views over the stunning Caribbean Sea. The opulence continues with daily restocked beverage fridge, personalized pre-arrival service, onsite motorized watersports, daily activities such as Spanish classes, king-sized beach day beds, a private chef providing three meals per day, a lobster candlelight dinner at the Sky Aqua Pier, and, among a host of other delights, the option to take a 5-hour private yacht trip or a deep-sea fishing excursion. And if honeymooners are so inclined, they can request a private yoga class, cooking classes, tequila tastings and photo shoot sessions. Rates start at $4,337 per night.
The all-inclusive Hotel Xcaret, set to open its doors this December, will be hugged by the Riviera Maya jungle and the Caribbean Sea, and is ideal for eco-conscious newlyweds. Around every corner, guests will find nature beckoning, as the resort boasts coves, rivers, caves and a jungle setting. For honeymooners, recommend the premier adults-only Casa Fuego accommodations, with direct access to semi-private beaches, private pools, and a rooftop pool/bar area. Ideal for newlyweds, the Fuego Master Suite Ocean-Front accommodations feature VIP private airport pickup/dropoff, complimentary massages and body treatments, access to private beach coves and lounge areas, and a complimentary dinner at the Ha’ restaurant for stays of four or more nights, among other amenities. Premier services at Casa Fuego also include butler services and access to a pool concierge team, who can coordinate romantic experiences, as well as tours and activities at Experiencias Xcaret parks. Ooh…and the salt water isolation cabin at the Muluc Spa sounds delightful.
Colonial Chic
Just last month a new Rosewood property opened its doors in Puebla. Located near the city’s spectacular main square, the 78-room and -suite hotel is housed in a collection of buildings from varying eras, all surrounding a private courtyard. The boutique retreat is home to a rooftop bar and swimming pool that offers views over the neighboring Iglesia de San Francisco; and Sense, A Rosewood Spa, where couples can opt for a Talavera Massage, a treatment inspired by the city’s traditional handmade pottery that incorporates mineralizing clay and onyx stones.
The Rosewood Suite is an ideal choice for honeymooners—they can have their morning coffee on the 1,215-ft. terrace enjoying the sun rising as it makes its way across Puebla’s skyline. Or for those who want to celebrate the city’s famed Talavera tradition recommend the Puebla guestroom with Talavera tile flooring, and beautiful hand-crafted Talavera details. And if your clients are thinking of a colonial chic wedding prior to the honeymoon, let them know that the property features a 300-year-old chapel that’s available to guests as a wedding venue.
Puebla, by the way, is home to a UNESCO-listed downtown area, over 2,600 historic sites and over 365 churches (one for every day of the year). It’s here, too, where your clients can spoil themselves if they want to try one of Mexico’s national dishes, the mole poblano; or celebrate Cinco de Mayo in its birthplace.
Contact Information
Chileno Bay Resort & Residences: chilenobay.aubergeresorts.com
Hotel Xcaret: hotelxcaret.com
Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos: leblancsparesort.com
Rosewood Puebla: rosewoodhotels.com
Zadun, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve: ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/mexico/los-cabos
