Valentin Imperial Maya

Out of the myriad of hotels in the Riviera Maya area, we decided to stay at the Valentin Imperial Maya, which turned out to be a great choice for us. One of the reasons for this is because it was an adults only resort, which sounds dirty, but it just means no screaming, crying kids.

The Room

All the rooms at this hotel are suites. Our particular suite was gorgeous. The building we were in had a swim-up pool right in the back, which was very convenient. The resort was huge, so instead of trekking all the way to the pool area, you can just step right out of your suite.  The room was huge with two queen sized beds and a TV and another area with a couch and a TV. The bathroom is huge and we had a large balcony overlooking the pool. The pool was great but since it was only about 4 feet deep it would get really warm sometimes which feels gross to swim in. That’s what you get for going to Mexico in September.

The view from our balcony

The Grounds

The grounds of this place are amazing. The landscaping is beautiful and well maintained. There are always workers tending to it. Every place within the hotel is a walkable distance, but if you’re old or just feeling lazy, you can call a golf cart to pick you up at any time. There is a huge plaza near the lobby which contains stores, restaurants, bars, and a spa. At night you can always find musical entertainment in the courtyard.

One of the courtyards

Pretty walkway

The Food

Since this is an all-inclusive resort, you do not need to pay for any of the restaurants. Valentin Imperial Maya has restaurants specializing in steak, seafood, Mexican, French, Italian, Japanese, Thai, and Indonesian cuisine. There are also two restaurants that serve breakfast and lunch buffets throughout the day. The food at all of them varied from a B- to an A. The service was great in all of them. There is a dress code at most of the restaurants, which basically means no shorts or flip flops. There are a few things that stuck out to me. I remember that the Italian place made a sad excuse of a calzone; but what do you really expect from a resort in Mexico? The rest of the dishes at the Italian restaurant were good. The Mexican restaurant also stuck out to me because I am a huge Mexican fan. One night I decided to try chocolate covered enchiladas. This sounded pretty good to me at first, but after tasting them, I think there should be a rule against mixing cheese with chocolate.

Would I go here again?

Yes. Definitely. This place is made for couples, not families, so I would probably go with a male companion.

Costa Rica

So two years ago, I wrote about Costa Rica without having been there myself. Since then, I have gone to Costa Rica and I have a lot to share. My parents and I decided to go to the Manuel Antonio area which is on the Pacific facing side of Costa Rica and is home to Manuel Antonio National Park.  However, the real reason why my family chose this location was the Hotel La Mariposa. Hotel La Mariposa is featured in the book 1000 Places to See Before You Die: A Traveler’s Life List. I will discuss this hotel in detail a little later.

We started our journey by flying into the San Jose (capital of Costa Rica) airport. From the airport it is either a 20 minute flight or a 3 hour van ride to the town of Quepos, which is located about 20 minutes from the hotel. We opted for the flight which was on a 10-seater plane. I got to sit right behind the pilot who was probably my age.

The 10 seater plane

View from my seat

View from the plane

Next Stop- the hotel. The Hotel La Mariposa is located on a hill so the views are amazing. There are 2 infinity pools. There is one at the bar and another one which stretches across the property and has gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean. A good deal of the hotel is older, mostly the rooms that don’t have the views. When we were there, many rooms were being completely renovated, especially the suites. Our room was completely new and had a great view. One interesting thing about these rooms is that while they do have internet access, there is no TV. This is a good thing for people who want to enjoy the scenery without distractions, but I always like a TV to make me feel more connected to the world. You get free breakfast when you stay here which is always a plus. You have a choice between an American breakfast and a typical Costa Rican breakfast. An American breakfast has all that you would expect: fresh omelettes, fruit, breads, bacon, sausage, hash brown, yogurt, etc. The Costa Rican breakfast consists of eggs anyway you like, plantains, bread, and the Costa Rican staple, rice and beans. While the breakfast is decent, I wouldn’t recommend the restaurant for other meals because the food is pretty subpar for the prices they charge. Basically, you’re paying for the view. Speaking of the view, wherever you are on the hotel’s premises, you’re likely to see some kind of Costa Rican wildlife. You will see plenty of lizards, iguanas, and monkeys, specifically the white-headed capuchin. The beach is located 15-20 minutes away from the hotel, and there are 4 shuttles a day from the hotel to the beach. Beware though, the road to the beach is steep and narrow, so you’re in for a climb on the way back. You also have to keep an eye out for cars. Stay tuned for more on restaurants, activities, and ways to save!

View from the balcony

View of the pool from the restaurant

View from hotel room

Morning in Costa Rica

Random post: The 10 Most Amazing Pools in the World

I’ve always been a big fan of pools. Whenever I would go to a hotel, I would always be excited for the pool. Hotels know that their pools are a big attraction for visitors. I found a site that lists the top 10 pools in the world and I now want to visit every one of them. In no particular order:

1. Hotel Villa Mahal in Turkey

The infinity pool at the Villa Mahal is an amazing infinity style pool that gives the guest the illusion that it drops from the sky. There is even a pool suite with sweeping views of the Kalkan bay and beyound. The suit consists of a lower level den and upper level sleeping area, which overlooks the crescent shape infinity pool.

2. Atlantis Resort in Paradise Island, Bahamas

I have wanted to go to Atlanis forever. Well, actually, ever since I saw that Mary Kate & Ashley movie where they go there on vacation. This pool is HUGE and features a number a slides, waterfalls, and grottoes.

3. Perivolas Luxury Hotel in Santorini

 

The infinity pool at the Perivolas Luxury Hotel may be one of the most famous hotel pools in the world.  It has one of the best views from any hotel pool and has been featured on a large number of travel magazines. The luxury suite features spacious living areas in a grotto-like setting, enhanced by a steam bath and a relaxing pool.

4. Six Senses Hideaway in Zighy Bay, Oman

 

Every single villa at this resort comes with your own pool. Some villas even come with your own private section of beach and cabana.

5. Four Seasons in Costa Rica

This resort has three swimming pools immersed in lush landscaping and surrounded by pool decks with abundant chaises longues. The freshwater main pool is joined on either side by two smaller pools. The quiet, adult pool is steps from the quiet beach while the more lively, social pool overlooks the activities beach. There is also a whirlpool grotto nearby.

6.  San Alfonso del Mar in Chile

The pool at the San Alfonso del Mar is the largest freshwater pool in the world. This pool is large enough to enjoy water sport activities like paddling and sailing. The pool holds the current Guinness record as the world’s largest crystalline water pool, with an extension of more than one kilometer in length and 250 million liters of water.

7.  Mandarin Oriental in New York

At the Mandarin Oriental hotel, you can enjoy the famous New York skyline while lounging in the pool. This luxurious NYC hotel has a lap pool with floor-to-ceiling windows and provides a spectacular view of the Hudson River.

8.  Begawan Giri Hotel in Ubud, Bali

This hotel’s pool may not be big but it has a amazing view.  At any given time you will probably be the only person in the pool.

9. Blue Lagoon Geothermal Resort in Grindavík, Iceland

I’ve always wanted to go to Iceland because of their lagoons that basically function as jacuzzis. At this hotel/spa, the water’s temperature is 98-102°F. The lagoon holds six million liters and geothermal seawater, which is renewed every 40 hours. Common bacteria does not thrive in this ecosystem and additional cleansers such as chlorine are not needed.

10. Golden Nugget Las Vegas

This pool has a salt-water aquarium complete with sharks that is part of the pool.  There is also a clear tube slide that goes through the aquarium and into the pool.

First Post! Savannah Part 1

Welcome to my blog! I’ll be updating this pretty frequently with all things travel related. The content will range from travel deals, hotels, food, places to see, and things to do. I hope you find this blog helpful and even entertaining at times.

On to the second order of business. The last place I traveled to was Savannah, Georgia. I went at the end of March for about 5 days. The good part about going somewhere close like Savannah is that the plane ride is relatively short. The decision to go to Savannah was made by my parents who had heard how beautiful it was and that it was a must see. The first thing I noticed when I got there was how many older people there were. So Savannah is obviously a destination for retired couples, but don’t write it off just yet…Savannah really has something to offer to everyone.

When staying in Savannah, it’s best to stay on or near Bay Street.  Bay Street and River Street are right near the water and that’s where you have the most access to everything Savannah offers. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency on Bay St., but there are numerous hotels and Inns around the whole city which vary in price range. One of the first things you’re going to want to do in Savannah is take a trolley tour. We decided to take a tour with the trolley company that the concierge suggested. The tour cost $30 dollars per person and went all around town. Right after we bought the tickets we went to the Visitor’s Center and the man there suggested a different company that costs $10 dollars per person and hits the same spots. This is why you should always go the visitor’s center first because the hotels have deals with local companies and they make a portion of the profits. So if you’re looking for a thorough and cheap tour, choose Oglethorpe Tours.

One demographic that Savannah definitely caters to is the foodie. First and foremost, I want to recommend THE  BEST place to eat in Savannah, Mrs. Wilkes. It was definitely a different dining experience than what I was used to. First of all, Mrs. Wilkes is only open for lunch and there WILL be a line. The line could range from just outside the door to literally around the block. The wait is worth it. Lunch will cost about $16 dollars. Again, worth it. Secondly, you’re seated at a large table with a bunch of strangers to eat. Third, there is no set menu to chose what you’d like to eat at Mrs. Wilkes. Instead, numerous bowls of food are put on your table and everyone gets to treat themselves to what they’d like…(sort of like a Thanksgiving dinner). They will bring out as much food as you can eat.  Their specialty is southern home style cooking. Some of my favorite items included fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, beef stew, and the dessert, which is always banana pudding. Lastly, when you’re done your meal, they ask you to take your dishes to the kitchen.

Outside Mrs. Wilkes

Another place I would recommend is Huey’s on River Street. They serve New Orleans’s style food in the heart of Savannah. It has a nice ambiance as well because you face the river and there are often street performers with trumpets or saxophones that frequent the area at night. We went to Huey’s for a couple of meals because of the proximity to our hotel.

Finally, you cannot go to Savannah without seeing the face of Paula Deen literally EVERYWHERE. Most people know Paula Deen from her Food Network show Paula’s Home Cooking. She and her sons own a restaurant in downtown Savannah named The Lady and Sons. This restaurant is probably one of the most popular places in Savannah and you definitely need a reservation ahead of time. I did not eat at the restaurant but I heard many good things about it.  I have also heard that Paula Deen is seen at the restaurant fairly often. There is a store attached to the restaurant where you can buy her cookbooks and cooking supplies.

The Lady and Sons

Hope you found this helpful so far. On my next blog post I’ll talk more about the historical sites and activities that are available in Savannah.