Spotlight: Our Recent Trip to Riviera Maya
Dining at Hotel Esencia comes with fantastic views
As I shared last week, my time in Mexico was rejuvenating, relaxing, and also quite fun. It was my second stay at UNICO in Riviera Maya, which I loved the first time I was there and it felt quite indulgent to spend an entire week at the resort. There are three new UNICO properties in development - Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, and Montego Bay - and I'm looking forward to visiting these resorts in the future.
During our last visit to UNICO we didn’t have much time to explore outside of the resort so we made a plan to get off site at least one day. We considered visiting the Tulum ruins on a half-day excursion, but instead chose to do some snorkeling and see the cenotes. I’ve long wanted to swim in the cenotes and it was a very cool experience - if you haven’t been, definitely consider an excursion on your next trip to this part of Mexico. The cenotes are considered to be spiritual places by the Mayans: entrances to the underworld where the Mayan gods would visit. They are a really special place to visit - most have installed lighting so tourists can visit, but when the lights are turned off it’s completely dark in there! The water is fresh and also quite cool - just to be warned! The cenote we visited was quite shallow in most places and we floated through the deeper spots - but there are some cenotes where you can swim and dive if that's your preference!
I also had a chance to visit a few different Virtuoso properties in Riviera Maya - it’s important for to conduct these site visits so that we can get a sense of atmosphere and experience at different resorts to recommend them to our clients. There are A LOT of hotels in this area so I had to choose just a few for this trip - I was on vacation after all!
Conrad Tulum
his resort has only been open for a few years, but is definitely worth considering for your stay in Riviera Maya if you’re looking for a sophisticated, contemporary resort. Great for couples, friends traveling together, and for families as well. The resort is quite spread out around a cove so the beach feels very private. You’ll find 11 different restaurants on site featuring a mix of Asian, Mexican, and Mediterranean fare, 5 pools, and a seriously stunning spa that I would love to return to!
Interested? Book the Conrad Tulum now thru March 31 and you'll receive your 4th night free and free airport transfer included. AND when booking with Brilliant Escapes now or at any time, you'll receive:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
VIP Guest status
Daily Full Breakfast for up to two guests per bedroom
$100 USD equivalent Hotel or Resort credit
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out
Hotel Esencia
Step into Hotel Esencia and you'll think you just arrived at your most stylish friend's beach house.
Ranked one of the World's Best Hotels in 2023, Hotel Esencia is just one hour from Cancun and feels a world away from the typical resort you'll find down here. The hotel was originally the home of an Italian duchess before it became a hotel, now under new ownership in 2013. There are 45 suites and 4 villas on property and a focus on personalized, attentive service for each and every guest. The air of quiet luxury and privacy make this an ideal spot for honeymooners or couples just looking to get away together. Guests receive coffee and pastries delivered to their room every morning, and a 24/7 Concierge service is available to help with anything you may need. The beach here is also quite private and makes for a beautiful background at the pools and beachside restaurant.
When you book Hotel Esencia with us, you'll receive:
Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Full breakfast for up to two guests per room
$100 USD equivalent Resort credit
Bottle of wine
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
New Airport in Tulum
If you haven’t heard, it’s become even easier to reach the Tulum area now that there is an international airport located there! Beginning March 28, the airport will welcome international flights. If you live in one of these cities, I think it’s time you plan your next trip south of the border!
American Airlines will fly twice daily from Dallas/Fort Worth and daily from Charlotte and Miami
Delta Air Lines offering daily service between Atlanta and Tulum
JetBlue will have daily service from New York’s JFK beginning in June
Spirit Airlines will fly seven days a week from Fort Lauderdale and Orlando
United Airlines will offer daily service to Tulum from Newark, Los Angeles, Chicago O’Hare, and Houston
Keep in mind that a new highway is being built to accommodate the traffic from the new airport to the resorts in Riviera Maya. Currently airport traffic must go through Tulum city before getting to the resort area so you won’t actually save as much time flying into Tulum vs Cancun at the start. However, once this new road is available, that should speed up travel from the new airport.