Travel, beaches, pools, luxury, wanderlust, adventure, cities, islands, food, people
The very special moments on our journey through Asia came in two somewhat similar packages. Boutique, private Island, resorts that focused on improving the social and environmental conditions of the local area.
Misool – I will carry this with me, passionately, forever. It’s beyond a review or a recommendation, if you love the ocean it’s somewhere you should visit.
We left rainy Seattle for Cancun and instead of heading straight to Tulum, we made a pit stop at Nizuc Resort & Spa. It’s near the airport, but feels a million miles away.
We love a great room. So many people say – well you don’t spend that much time there anyway so who cares… but we do. We like to come home after a day of exploring or being on the water to a place that inspires us. We like to relax and reflect, not be forced to go-go-go just because our room isn’t worth enjoying.
Four nights here was perfect, it allowed us time to enjoy the pool, the food, the spa and explore Cancun a little.
Penthouse Suite 651. Each morning we would wake up to fruit and coffee on the patio and each night we would watch the sunset over the mangroves. Storks, pelicans, swifts and other birds would play beneath us as well as paddle boarders and kayakers from the resort. If you splurge on the Penthouse, ask for this room if possible or the one on the far end (pictured below). Your views are better and you won’t feel sandwiched between other buildings.
Whether it was room service or drinks at the pool, the staff was amazing. The vibe was luxurious yet relaxed, low pressure, and the details mattered. Big thanks to everyone who works to make this experience special.
The Spa provides a special experience. While mine was great from end-to-end, Daniel’s massage yielded a very sore back and limited mobility for the days to follow (update: He had a bruised nerve, took six weeks to recover, and the hotel responded once on the issue but then did not follow through on anything). I would suggest just doing the hydrotherapy and skipping the massage given the mixed experience. But the layout is unmatched…. the Sauna, steam room, hot tub, ice bath allow you time to as Daniel put it, “go inside your head”.
If we ever come through Tulum again, which I am sure we will, we will be making a stop at Nizuc. After exploring the hotel zone a bit, we quickly realized that we hated it, but this little gem of the south end provides a luxury oasis that is the perfect way to bookend a trip deeper into the Mayan Riviera.
All photos provided by Nizuc Resort & Spa
Today I started the process of cleaning out my office in preparation for a four month sabbatical. Who would have guessed a desk could hold so many memories? Well, a desk and a trunk to help hide the fact I am disorganized…. Stacks of business cards reminding me of people I’ve met along the way, old notebooks of ideas – some that came to life and some that didn’t, and funny memories that resulted in texts to old and current coworkers #becausemiami… I found old iPhone3s from when we used to issue them to drivers, our Portland launch party invite (the second one…), newspaper articles, an ant farm we never set up, Christmas cards and a full bottle of Woodford Reserve. It was a good ride, it was a tough one too, but I am thankful. We created a lot and I’m proud of that, but now it’s time to take a break, reflect on the lessons… It’s time to be me and not Brooke from Uber.
First, we are off to the East Coast of Mexico. Nizuc Resort & Spa and then a bohemian AirBnb in Tulum. We have little planned…. just thoughts of swimming, cenotes, diving, eating, drinking…post your recommendations if you have any!
I want more than anything for the clear identity of Sugar Beach to be just as bold at every Viceroy property.
Sugar Beach
Sugar Beach stood out in superior ways, though I would never return to St. Lucia – this property is stunning and I would almost suggest visiting the island just to experience it. Around every corner something magical awaited, an illuminated vase in the shower of our villa, a dramatic stairway with bold artwork or a hidden daybed nestled in the gardens. We spent tons of time at the pool, the service was kind, subtle and the setting was out of this world. The staff we spoke with loved working there and the General Manager was visible and warm. By far the best Viceroy property and a flagship of what I want from the brand.
Zihuatenejo
Oh jeeze, if this had been my first Viceroy, it would have been my last. Terrible service, manipulative staff… they were not happy and it showed. There is so much potential here, I loved the town, enjoyed the beach and our second room (after complaining about the first and being forced to pay for a misrepresented upgrade) was fantastic. There wasn’t any character, identity or special touches. I longed for Sugar Beach.
I recently looked up the property (stayed there in Feb 2017), and it looks as if the Viceroy brand has departed. I could find no news on why or how the move from Viceroy to Thompson occurred… Did Viceroy back out? Did they get the boot? Who knows, but they should be happy this place is no longer polluting the brand – but it makes me sad that Viceroy wasn’t able to achieve what I would have expected. It also goes to show how important an amazing General Manager is.
Zetta
My SF oasis! I frequent the Zetta when in San Fransisco for work and I’ve had some productive nights cranking away in the creative, but highly functional space. The food isn’t typical room service, though the hours are limited. When not holed up in the hotel room, the lobby bar is easy and fun. Many great memories laughing with coworkers over a cocktail.
Santa Monica is fantastic too, but often priced higher than similar hotels in the area. I’m still searching for the next Sugar Beach and will keep trying new properties, I hope they don’t disappoint otherwise I may be thinking twice about choosing Viceroy.
Travel, beaches, pools, luxury, wanderlust, adventure, cities, islands, food, people.
Wanderlust runs deep in our veins, traveling sets us free and allows us deepen our respect for all aspects of life. We are open to anything, you will see us explore history one day and then review a luxury hotel the next. We love food, all food, street food to fancy bites. You will see us obsess over pools, beaches, anything we can jump into – we love the water.
Life is a unique gift that we intend to approach mindfully, like a child. We invite you to come along with us and our future selves to reflect upon our journeys.