Karisma Hotels and Resorts has introduced the world’s first Autism Concierge at most of their Mexico resort properties. An Autism Concierge will be the dedicated contact for all resort guests who either have autism themselves or are traveling with someone who has autism.
Exhausted and frustrated in trying to find the right all-inclusive resort for your next vacation in Cancun or the Riviera Maya in Mexico? There is a LOT of info out there for vacationers who don’t want to use a travel agent’s help or suggestions–most travel agents truly do work hard to find just the right vacation “fit” for their clients, but some agents will push resorts which offer the most commission.
Some surprising news, several Royal Resorts in Cancun and the Riviera Maya have been sold to Holiday Inn Club Vacations–Royal Sands, Royal Cancun, Royal Haciendas, and Grand Residences now belong to this IHG partner. These properties are the first in the Holiday Inn Club Vacations family to be located outside of the US. It is estimated it will take 1 yr. to fully integrate these resorts into the IHG portfolio with no anticipated changes in operation during that time.
I just read that a resort in the Riviera Maya was seized by the FGE on the evening of April 25, 2023 (the FGE is basically the State Attorney General’s Office in Mexico). According to the report in the Riviera Maya News article, the property was seized after receiving a complaint of “dispossession”. From what I understand, someone else has claimed that they actually own the land/property and are contesting current ownership.
If you’re vacationing in Cancun’s Hotel Zone or staying in Playa Mujeres/Costa Mujeres north of downtown Cancun, you may want to consider taking a day trip over to Isla Mujeres. It makes a a great change of pace if you are becoming bored with staying at your resort as well as a way to see a great beach and beautiful water you can actually swim in (the east-facing beach areas in Cancun’s Hotel Zone are often red-flagged making swimming conditions impossible).
For those who like the Marriott hotel brand, just a short post to remind everyone that the Marriott Cancun (formerly known as CasaMagna Resort Cancun) closed March 13, 2023 in order to completely renovate the property. It will open early 2024 as an all-inclusive resort; it was previously operating as an all-inclusive optional resort.
Hola and Buenos Dias! In case you were wondering why I haven’t done any recent blog posts, I just returned from my latest Cancun/Riviera Maya trip and was having so much fun I barely had time to post pics to my Instagram account! Stay tuned for articles related to this stay.
I don’t know if this will be the trend across the board in terms of resort policy, but Riu Resorts seem to be cutting off hours here and there from check-in/out times. For example, I stayed at Riu Palace :Peninsula several years ago and noticed that check-out time was 11 a.m., not 12 noon as is common at resorts in this part of Mexico. I will be staying at the new Riu Palace Kukulkan in a couple of weeks and noticed from my travel docs that not only is check-out time at 11 a.m., but check-in time is 4 p.m. That cuts off two potential hours you would normally have at this resort, plus you won’t get your room until after 4 p.m. If anyone knows if this is now a Riu resort policy in general, please let us all know!
Do you feel safe if Cancun or the Riviera Maya is your most recent vacation destination? I have vacationed in this area of Mexico since 2012, sometimes 2-3 times p/year, and have felt safe every time. That doesn’t mean I travel without safety in mind; being a woman I have had to consider certain applicable safety standards in just about every situation I have come across over the years. So, traveling anywhere, even to my favorite spot in Mexico, requires considering how to keep myself and members of my travel party safe.
I was reviewing my travel documents last night for my trip in March and ran across some interesting info for my Riu Palace Kukulkan stay. If you have a late arrival to this new resort, be aware that they will only hold your reservation until 6 p.m., after that they will release your room to other guests. You must give the hotel advance notice that you will be arriving late for them to hold your room until you get there. Interesting, this is the first time I’ve come across this policy for a late arrival, I’m used to resorts holding your room until midnight the date of arrival. Also, it looks like Riu may be cutting an hour from check-out time, the official check-out time here is 11 a.m. instead of the typical 12 noon check-out which most resorts have. The last Riu I stayed at that had an 11 a.m. check-out time was Riu Palace Peninsula several years ago. So, be aware of a resort’s check-out time or else you may be charged extra. Even though a resort’s website often says something about late check-out, that is only if there is availability. Every time I’ve asked for a late check-out at a resort I’ve been told no, that my room had other guests coming in that same day. So don’t count on it, and don’t assume the same rules apply from resort to resort.