Printed in New York Resident Magazine • September 2011
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The JW Marriott Cancun Resort & Spa is located on a mesmerizing stretch of the Mexican Carribbean coast. This luxury beachfront property is rated Category 6 in the Marriott Rewards program and a level 5 in the AAA Diamonds rating scale.
Outside on our terrace, during our first morning there, we sipped hot room-delivered coffee and gazed at the aquamarine breaking waves. Directly below us we could see the upscale Marriott grounds complete with magnificent free-form pools.
Bedding was 100 percent cotton and felt smooth to the touch. Our pillows were soft down and the mattress finely tuned firm. The sheets and plush towels were bright sterile white. Everywhere we looked in the large bathroom there were tissues folded into flowers, toilet tissue creased into seashell-like fans and towels sculpted into pockets that held aromatic oval soaps.
There was a comfortable loveseat couch next to a table and a large desk. Wi-Fi access in the room was reliable, fast and easy. Each room had a flat 32-inch LCD television plus the usual amenities—mini bar, digital safe, climate control air-conditioning, etc. The room attendants were lovely. In fact, the entire staff at the hotel must have been well trained, well managed and treated with dignity because they were all cheerful, friendly and eager to please.
There were many restaurants to choose from right there within the hotel. This worked out great for us. Most days we felt like lounging on beachchairs down by ocean. Whenever we got hungry it was easy to go enjoy a meal and get back to vegging poolside with a book, or napping.
At Sasi Thai the food was delicious. We chowed down on appetizers that included steamed shrimp dumplings, lobster with shitake mushrooms, and chicken satay. For the main course we split a plate of stir-fried rice with Portobello mushrooms, bell peppers and fresh basil leaves.
La Capilla Argentina Steakhouse was another winner. One evening we feasted on tuna tartar and seafood empanada appetizer, followed by entrees of herb-crusted rack of lamb with caramelized onions and Chateaubriand with potatoes and grilled vegetables.
The bountiful breakfast buffet was available every day. It offered scrambled eggs with fresh cilantro, plump sausage, crispy bacon, fried plantains, guacamole, rolled tortilla with beef, wedges of fresh iceberg lettuce, sliced tomato, orange and red tortilla chips, refried beans, and cold cuts of ham, salami and mortadella. Believe me, you wouldn’t go hungry. I was pleased to get my cappuccino just the way I like it, with skim milk and two shots of espresso. And a handsome man with jet-black hair wearing a crisp uniform served it with a smile.
We had a fabulous time at many of the local attractions. One in particular was crazy fun. It’s a club called Coco Bongo. Imagine a combination of Cirque du Soleil, MTV and a discotheque. The crowd participation reminded me of the Blue Man Group—complete with confetti, balloons, streamers, steam machines and constant sensory overload. I loved it!
The music was so loud it vibrated thru the floor and into my chest. It flashed me back to all the years spent at Studio 54, Bonds and Danceteria. Big disco hits from Donna Summers and KC & the Sunshine Band played. When Lady Marmalade came on the crowd went wild. I was so surprised to see the 20-year olds mouthing all of the words to these now ancient songs.
Next was Phantom of the Opera projected onto the huge background screen. Dancers soared from the ceiling on cables and ropes, while gyrating and performing gymnastic moves. During a tribute to Elvis his name was displayed in huge solid caps made of red pulsing neon lights. On the background screen was movie footage of The King performing classics like Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog, while dancers matched the projected dance moves in the old footage.
The wow factor was even bigger than the first time I saw the Rocky Horror Picture Show phenomenon. At Coco Bongo, songs and dancers flitted by so fast, it was as if they were fast-forwarded via remote control. We were dazzled by an impressive tribute to Jack Sparrow, complete with pirates flying and one talented actor doing an impressive Johnny Depp imitation while the real Johnny, doing his beloved Jack Sparrow shtick, was simultaneously projected onto the back wall.
Another must-see adventure is Museo Subacuatico, a subaquatic museum, an underwater universe of art. Sculptor Jason Decaires Taylor created 1600 life-size realistic sculptures that are strategically placed to fuse with the undersea life. The artworks create artificial coral reefs designed specifically to attract sea life. The art changes over time as the coral grows in and around the sculptures and marine life settles in. The brochure said, “It promotes a sustainable future through human intervention in the regeneration of ecosystems.” Due to its harmony with the surrounding environment, the Ministry of Environment of Mexico, and the Nautical Associations of Cancun and Isla Mujeres promote the project. But, hey, besides all that, it’s tremendous fun.
Another excursion was a daytrip from Cancun through Tulum to explore the Mayan ruins. We learned about the extraordinary architectural and cultural accomplishments from an ancient civilization alike no other. Tulum is majestically set high on top of limestone cliffs that spill down to the turquoise waters of the Caribbean below. Make sure you see the temple, El Castillo, and the Temple of the Descending God. Wear lots of sunblock and don’t forget your camera.
And now, the highlight of the trip—the luxurious JW Marriott spa. It’s a womb with a view. The background music sounded like an angel’s voice, hauntingly spiritual as if heaven was singing just for me. The lyrics were “Come into my arms. I’ll be there for you.”
I was scheduled for a 50-minute Swedish massage with a masseuse named Vanessa Diaz. Eduardo Hidalgo Montecino, at the scheduling desk, was warm and tended to every need for each guest. I was ushered to a welcoming room with fresh orchids and tiger lilies. Vanesa instinctively knew where each of my muscle knots were and she kneaded them like pastry dough until they were smoothed and soothed. She was so in tuned that when I muttered, “That was the spot,” she said, “I know. I could feel it.” When I asked her if she’d consider moving to NYC and into my apartment, she laughed and gave me a hug. Her teeth were bright white against silky coffee ’n cream skin. On my way out of the spa I signed up for an 80-minute massage with Vanesa the next day.
I headed back to my room feeling safe and jello-mellow. I asked Vanessa why she chose to do massage. Her eyes lit up when she explained, “I was pregnant and my husband gave me a gift. It was for a massage. It felt so good and at that moment I felt my life changed forever.” It was such a profound experience that she told her husband she wanted to learn everything about why that massage made her feel so amazing. She took a course, loved it and realized that massage was what she was meant to do. She studied hard for three and a half years, left her job as a secretary and became a masseuse. She said, “I love my work,” and I could tell she meant it.
My muscles softened and I felt sweet, supple, and satisfied. The last thing Vanesa did was a chop chop hand motion on the back of my neck. I was like buttah.
Stress? After this trip—Ba-da-bing, it’s a memory.