Rosewood Mayakoba

I am so behind on blogging and have SOOO much to get caught up on.  This blog is not only my personal family journal, but also our scrapbook, so bear with me if there are too many pictures of things that mean nothing to anyone but me!  :)

From mid October to mid December, Mike and I were in a whirlwind of traveling.  It was SO MUCH FUN and absolutely amazing, but also utterly exhausting.  I do not recommend trying to fit all of your vacations in to a 2 month period!  Nonetheless, all our trips were wonderful getaways.

Back in September, Mike won a contest with his company.  5 weeks later, as the prize, we were whisked away on an incredible luxury trip to Mexico.  It was a little chaotic getting there.  The night before we were to leave, we took the kids to my parents house to be babysat.  When we got home I asked Mike what time we were supposed to be at the airport.  He said, "Oh, 8 or 9ish."  I said, "No, I thought our flight was super early, isn't that why we took the kids to my parents'?"  He said it wasn't until 9 or 10 and he'd check.  He got the paper out and read to me, "Departure at 9:20AM."  

The next morning we were running a little late and it was about 8:15 AM as we were driving to the airport.  Mike suggested I get out the papers and call the airport so we could check in over the phone.  I got out the papers preparing to call and read, "Departure at 7:35 AM."  I began to panic!  Mike said that was impossible; he had checked the night before.  Well, apparently he was reading lower on the page where it stated the CONNECTING FLIGHT'S departure time FROM PHOENIX, AZ as 9:20 AM.  We had completely missed our flight.  Mike called his company travel agent and she said she'd see what she could do.  Meanwhile we arrived at the airport and went straight to the US Airways check in desk to see if there was anything they could do.  They looked up the flights and said there was absolutely nothing until the next morning.  (This was going to be a very short trip as it was and I didn't want to miss an entire day of our 3-day trip!)  The travel agent said pretty much the same thing.  I had, however, overheard one of the US Airways agents say to the other that the only other airline that goes to Cancun at that particular time of year is United Airlines but their only remaining flight (which was to depart in only about 20-30 minutes) was full.  I, of course, was not going to take that for an answer, so I marched us right over to United Airlines.  (In line Mike called our agent and she also said it was booked and there was nothing we could do.)  After speaking with the kind service reps for United, and a few $$$...$$$$$$$ later, they somehow were able to get us the "last two" seats on that flight.  

After a nice lunch in Houston, Mike said we had plenty of time to enjoy our meal, I finally said let's just get to the gate to be safe.  As we were meandering to our gate a couple of flight attendants shouted to us, "Are you the Morgans?"  "Yes," we replied.  "Hurry, I was just about to give away your seats!  The flight is ready to take off!"  (I have GOT to stop taking Mike's word on things...)

Finally around 7 PM we arrived in Cancun.  Eight hours late, but nonetheless, we were there!  Our driver picked us up and after waiting a while for the 3 other people (the 3 only other people arriving that late for the company) we took a 20 minute drive to the Riviera Maya and our beautiful resort, the Rosewood Mayakoba.

Upon our arrival at the resort, I immediately felt incredibly frumpy and under dressed in my comfy gaucho pants and bedazzled purple butterfly shirt from Costco.  After being greeted, we walked into the main lobby to check in.  OH.MY.GOSH.  I have never seen anything like it.  This picture is of the center of the lobby.  There is a spiral staircase going down to the lagoon where the "luxury boat" will pick you up and take you to your suite.  At the back of the photo you can see one of the check in desks and the main entrance.  Everything (other than the suites themselves, and the spa) are in open air.

I felt like a princess.  A terribly dressed princess, but a princess nonetheless.  Within seconds all the staff were addressing us by name and asking if there was anything we needed.

I was in love with the decor and especially the lighting.  Aren't these pendant lights beautiful?!

While Mike worried about the check-in-process, I enjoyed the view over the lagoon.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoa/

The resort is incredibly expansive but there are only 128 suites and villas because they're all so large.  We stayed in one of the lagoon studio suites.  It would've been possible to walk to our suite (if you were wearing good shoes) but for the most part, the only way to get around was either by boat or by golf cart.  To get there we had to go around the gift shops and across the lighted bridge over the lagoon and then through the mangroves and to the very end of the resort.  Our suite was one of the last on property and felt incredibly secluded.

Upon arrival at our suite we were greeted by our personal butler.  Yes, our PERSONAL BUTLER.  He welcomed us to our suite and showed us around.  Then he escorted us up to our private rooftop terrace to enjoy the view.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

He also turned up the temperature in our private plunge pool and called a golf cart to take us to dinner as soon as were got cleaned up and changed.

We then headed to Agave Azul Raw Bar and Tequila Library for dinner.  We ordered the salmon and California Temaki Rolls which were quite tasty although I must admit I really don't get the extreme appeal for sushi.  We also ordered Asparagus Tempura which was super yummy and the Rock Shrimp Tempura which was delectable.  Mmmmm!  We got some fried rice too, which wasn't on the menu, but when we asked they whipped it up for us.  Aside from "rice man" the street vendor in a giant red tent in Meiyuan, China, I have never had such delicious fried rice!

The Tequila Library was quite incredible itself, and very beautiful and modern.  One of the waiters gave us a lesson all about tequila as he showed us around the library while we waited for our food.  He taught us all about the agave plant and how tequila was discovered and made.  It was really very interesting.  But alas, we didn't drink any tequila.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

In the morning we awoke feeling like royalty.  In the light of day we could really see our beautiful surroundings and enjoy our exquisite accomodations.

Our suite was spacious and comfortable.

We had a nice sitting area.

And a little dining area.

It really was quite luxurious.

We even had a complimentary (and incredibly fancy) bottle of tequila in our entryway to welcome us. --Milagro Select Barrel Reserve Reposado to be exact.  

 

Although we don't drink tequila, I did bring the hand-blown glass bottle home.  Isn't it awesome?!  I think the detailed glass agave plant blown inside is so neat!

My favorite part of our suite, though, was by far, the bathroom!  It was beautiful!  It had a dual vanity with vessel sinks (which I've always loved).  There was also a gorgeous garden bathtub made of tiny stone tiles with a waterfall faucet.  The bathtub was surrounded by widows looking out onto our back deck where the outdoor shower was along with the stairs leading up to our rooftop terrace.  Yes, I did say the outdoor shower!  :)

There was also an indoor shower which was to the left of bathtub.  The shower was circular with a channel/trench drain around the edges.  It had a glass door on one side of it which was the way to get to the outdoor shower on the back deck.

The bath was definitely my favorite part.  The skylight made it so bright in the bathroom, it was really nice.  I loved the bamboo ladder which was great for decor but was also practical for hanging towels on.

 Next to the tub was a wooden bowl with hand towels and our own loofah (a real one, the kind that grows, not the mesh kind).

Mike and I decided to order room service for breakfast so we could enjoy our beautiful surroundings as we ate.  When they arrived with breakfast, we had them set up on our veranda overlooking the lagoon.

Breakfast was good.  Mike ordered a traditional Mexican breakfast, chilaquiles, while I went American with granola and two eggs over easy.  We also had pastries, fresh fruit, and juice. 

I loved the beautiful Gerber daisy they brought to adorn our breakfast table.

As we ate we enjoyed the nature around us.  We could hear birds chirping and crocodiles snapping in the lagoon (seriously).  After breakfast we took a short dip in our private splash pool on the veranda.

The resort really is tucked way back in the mangroves on the Riviera Maya.  Although we had such luxurious accommodations, we still felt a part of nature and were able to enjoy a whole lot of animals in their natural habitat.  Mike and I never did actually get to see the crocodiles that lived in the lagoon, but we definitely heard them a couple of times.  We also saw a lot of other very interesting creatures. 

Of course there were lots of lizards and iguanas all over the place.

 This bird came to visit on our boat dock next to the plunge pool. 

A little while later I was hearing some very loud bird calls.  I looked out to find where the caws were coming from and just across the lagoon from our dock was this giant bird, wings outstretched, perched in the mangroves. 

It was quite a sight to see!

But the most unique, was the coati.  I was getting ready for our spa appointment and as I walked past the sliding glass doors I noticed a large animal on our veranda.  The large bushy tail made me think it was a (very large) cat, but then it turned and I saw its extremely long nose and knew it was definitely not a cat of any kind!  I had never seen anything like it before, and it was up on our deck, right by the sliding doors!

www.eximango.tumblr.com

After scaring the coati away with my camera, Mike and I headed to the spa for some relaxation and a massage.  We got there early to enjoy the facilities a bit before our massages.

http://www.michaelnassar.net/

The spa was absolutely incredible.  These pictures don't even show the half of it.  But I was too busy enjoying myself to take many pictures.

They had a beautiful outdoor pool with lounge chairs.  The host informed me it is a very nice pool because it is for adults only, but considering I had truly not seen one single child the entire time we were at the resort, that didn't seem to make much of a difference.  The whole resort including all the pools seemed to be adult only to me!

The relaxation room was modern and serene.

Soon it was time to head off to get our massages.  We were each introduced to our massage therapists.  Then the therapists lead us down a secluded boardwalk through the mangroves where we split off into separate paths and were lead to our individual massage rooms.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

Each room had its own porch and sliding glass door to the room.  After bringing me into my massage room my therapist had me sit in a chair and she brought over a large tin bowl and knelt in front of me having me place my feet in the warm water.  As she washed my feet I felt moved by the love and service she seemed to be exuding.  It made me think of Christ washing the apostles feet and how much love and humility it shows.

(Later that night at the banquet, one of Mike's coworkers began talking to us about our massages and how incredible they were.  Mike had wandered off to talk to some other people and this man continued talking to me about his massage.  This seemingly tough Hawaiian man was brought to tears when he began to talk to me about the emotions he felt when his therapist knelt before him and began to wash his feet.  He told me he thought of the woman who washed Christ's feet with her tears.  It was such a spiritual experience hearing about how he had felt at that time and knowing we had felt so similarly.  Although we both have different religious beliefs we both know Christ lives and had felt his spirit at that time.  On our final day we ended up riding together to the airport and I felt impressed to share with him a passalong card from our church.  I told him I loved what he had shared with me about his experience and I thought he might enjoy some of the religious videos, etc. on the website.)

After the foot bath, scrub, and foot and leg massage, it was time for my massage.  The massage we chose to get was their specialty massage.  Here is the description from their website:

Mayakoba Signature Island Massage  Surrounded by the sounds of Mayakoba’s rivers and mangroves, the spa’s signature massage is set on a private lagoon island and integrates Mayan chocolate with the gentle, healing hands of our skilled therapists. This one-of-a-kind outdoor spa experience is designed to promote ultimate relaxation and balance between body, mind and spirit.

It was a 90 minute massage and was UNREAL!  It seriously was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced.  Whenever Mike and I have gone to get massages together Mike tends to fall asleep.  This is really not surprising because Mike falls asleep ANYWHERE, but I never understood how he could possibly fall asleep while someone was touching his body all over.  But now I understand.  This massage was the most relaxing and exceptional thing, I cannot even describe it.  It was A-MAZING! 

After our massages we were each led back along the boardwalk through the mangroves and to the lovely and serene outdoor sitting room / lounge.  Surrounded by beautiful stones, mangroves and a lovely waterfall, it was a nice place to just sit and enjoy the lasting effects of our incredible massages.

They brought us each a glass of jamaica (the juice of the hybiscus flower) and a little plate of fruit.  It was delicious!

We sat there for quite some time listening to the waterfall and enjoying our fruit and juice while lounging in our comfy robes.  I also loved the little "house slippers / sandals" we were provided.  (They even let me take two pairs home!!)

Mike and I both looked hilarious.  We were both so out-of-it from the utterly relaxed feeling and were so puffy and groggy too.

When we were finally done basking in the feeling, we decided to spend a little more time in the spa.  Inside the spa, the men and women were completely separated with their own facilities.  Each side had a hot sauna and a steam room.  Also a jacuzzi and a cold plunge pool.  The cold plunge was extremely cold but also quite relaxing.  The jacuzzi was very nice. 

Next to the sauna there was a beautiful flower shaped bowl with tiny individual wooden bowls of coarse salt and in the center a bowl of fresh honey.  We were supposed to mix a spoonful of honey into our salt and take it with us into either the steam room or the shower and exfoliate.  I took it with me into the steam room and it was wonderful.  The steam room was incredibly hot and I stayed in there as long as I could until I couldn't take it anymore and had to finish off in the shower. 

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

Shockingly, aside from the massage itself, the greatest part of the spa were the showers!  OH.MY.GOODNESS!  They were amazing!  I want one in my house!  The back of the shower was all glass--practically looking out into the jungle.  The shower head was enormous and felt lovely.  Then there were six additional nozzles that you could adjust to shoot at all different angles.  They had wonderful smelling soap and shampoo and conditioner (the same as the ones in our suite.)  It was completely luxuriating!

www.tripadvisor.com

Feeling absolutely wonderful, we returned to our suite to find all of our clothes unpacked from our suitcases and hanging nicely in the closet. 

The clothes we had been wearing that day before heading to the spa, had been folded nicely and placed on the makeup vanity.  (Wow, they weren't kidding when they said we had a private butler and our own maids!)

After spending the entire day at the spa, it was time to get ready and head off to the rewards banquet.  The banquet was set up in the Event Palapa.  It was beautiful!  There were waiters walking all around with appetizers and also a bar serving all you could drink.  They didn't have frozen drinks at the banquet so I couldn't have my usual (virgin) piña colada or Miami vice (yum yum!) so I tried a (virgin) mojito and it was super good.  I loved it!

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

There were also couches and lounge areas set up on the beach.  It was really neat and fancy. 

The buffet tables were set down on the beach, except the dessert table which was up under the cabana.  Because most of the women, including myself, were wearing high heels, a good number of us took off our shoes to walk on the beach and get our food.  While I was in line to get food I looked down at my bare feet and saw a crab scurrying by in the sand.  It freaked me out half to death!  After getting my first plate of food Mike got everything else for me because I was too afraid of getting pinched!  :)

It was a fun night and was good to get to know some of the people with whom Mike works.

After dinner I was able to enjoy a nice relaxing bath in our awesome tub.  This picture is taken standing by the outdoor shower.  Here you can better see our indoor shower and the beautiful tub. 

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

(Did I mention our suite is the "cheapest" of all the suites available at the Rosewood Mayakoba?!  Whoa...  I did get to go into one of the oceanview suites which is a little more expensive, but I actually liked our room better!)

The next morning we headed to Casa del Lago Restaurant for breakfast. 

The food was wonderful and the view, breathtaking.

 

After breakfast we decided to take a lagoon nature tour on one of the luxury boats.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

We headed down the spiral staircase in the lobby to the dock and boarded our awaiting vessel.

(I really do love these lights!)

I was just in awe as we set off.  The view was incredible.

 

It was just me and Mike along with our skipper on the boat.  

He took us all over the area and was a plethora of information about all the wildlife.  He took us right up to the mouth of the crocodile's lair, but it's too shallow and overgrown with mangroves to actually take the boat in there.  We didn't get to see the crocodile, although the skipper said the crocodile had been there only an hour prior.

He not only showed us the natural habitats all around us, but he also gave us a tour of the resort (at least all of it located on the lagoon).  He took us right up to the back deck of the presidential lagoon suite, where Sophia Vergara had stayed only weeks prior.  The suite was enormous and seemed to go on and on!

He told us all about her and said she was very nice and beautiful too.  :)  About a month or two prior to us being there, there had been a large Hollywood party at the resort.  He told us about a lot of the celebrities he met.  He said Jennifer Aniston was very sweet, and Sylvester Stallone was really cool.  He said Bruce Willis never stopped drinking and that he and a few of the other employees practically had to carry him back to his suite, but that he was really funny and nice too.  He said Naomi Campbell was beastly.  And also said Leonardo DiCaprio was a complete jerk and would not even acknowledge any of them and constantly had bodyguards surrounding him.  Of Leonardo DiCaprio he stated, "No es good friend." 

After the tour was over, our skipper took us back to our suite where he waited while we got our stuff to head out into the city.

It's pretty amazing being taken to your private suite via private boat on a gorgeous lagoon.

Even though we'd been at the resort for a couple days by this point, I was still in awe of it's magnificence.

We took a few photos around the grounds (because we hardly had any pictures with us in them).

And then we took a cab and headed into Playa del Carmen for a day of shopping and sight seeing.

I had to get a picture with my Mexican boyfriend.  :)  I think I have a similar picture with him from our honeymoon when we stayed on the Riviera Maya and took a day trip to Playa.

We perused the shops and bought some souvenirs.  The whole time my goal in going to Playa was not only to get souvenirs but also to see and photograph the gorgeous white cathedral I remembered from our honeymoon.  I had thought it was to the south but Mike kept insisting it was on the beach so we just kept walking east.  Eventually we gave up and headed up to one of the main roads to hail a cab to head back to the resort.

As we headed up to the main road, I finally spotted it. (Of course, to the south--I have really gotta start listening to my own instincts!!)

It was really neat because there was a wedding going on at the cathedral right as we arrived.  We got to see the beautiful bride and groom and the happy wedding goers.  Isn't this cathedral beautiful?  It reminds me of something you might see in Santorini, Greece, which just so happens to be my DREAM vacation destination.

I must say, although I love that cathedral, Playa del Carmen is by far my least favorite Mexican vacation destination I've visited.  I absolutely love the cathedral, but that's about it.  The shopping is no better there than in America, and is quite possibly worse.  The vendors don't bargain, and aren't particularly kind either.  It seems like very much of a college party town and the beach was extremely over crowded to the point that there was almost nowhere to even walk (even right along the shore).  Keep in mind we were there at the end of October which is definitely not peak season so I cannot even imagine what it would be like over spring break or in the summer. 

When we finally got back to the resort from Playa, we got on our swimming suits and headed down to the beach and oceanside pool for a quick swim before dusk.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

We had appetizers and drinks with Jake and Jana (one of Mike's coworkers and his wife) at Punta Bonita restaurant before meeting back there for dinner with Mike's boss and his wife.  

We couldn't get dinner reservations until 8 PM with Mike's boss, Josh, but we were pretty hungry so we just thought we'd eat a little something before.  Around 7 though, in walked Josh and Amy and we quickly tried to make a cover up!  :)  Turns out they were a little hungry too and ordered drinks and shared a little of our food as we enjoyed the ocean sunset over the beach.

After that we went back to our suite and got changed into nice clothes before heading back to Punta Bonita for dinner with Josh and Amy.  Dinner was yummy and after dinner we headed over to their oceanview suite.  Jake and Jana met us there too and we ordered lots of room service dessert and chatted on their rooftop terrace as we dipped our feet in their plunge pool which was heated up hot. 

(Ocean view from the plunge pool) 

 

It was really neat to be in a pool on the roof--although I'd still take our extremely private and secluded pool over the rooftop one anyday!  hehe! ;)

(The view from Josh and Amy's rooftop terrace of the next door suite's rooftop plunge pool)

On our final morning we woke up and spent some time relaxing on our rooftop terrace.

 

 

 

(View of outdoor shower from rooftop)

We took a final ride on the lagoon and then walked around the resort taking pictures and just soaking in our last moments of pure luxury before heading off to the airport.

(Lobby)

(Lobby)

(Lobby decor)

(Lobby decor and view of pool)

(Lagoon)

(View from lobby)

(Another lobby view)

(Pool)

 

(Casa del Lago and pool)

(Infinity pool above lagoon)

(

(Pool and lobby)

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/

It was incredibly bitter sweet having to leave...more bitter than sweet, but we were excited to go home to our kids.  I just wish they could've come to us, instead, and we could've stayed in that fantasy world forever!

Finally we couldn't put off leaving any more, and headed to the airport with a bunch of other people from the company.

I had to get my picture with the giant walking tequila bottle...ONLY IN MEXICO!!  :)

It was a dream vacation and was definitely too short.  But the Rosewood Mayakoba was a fantasy land that will always live on in my memory.

http://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/mayakoba/