Hello.
Thank you for joining us!
This is our travel top five list.
And I'm Philip Banks, President of Legacy Travel.
And I've got two of my top agents with me, over here I have Terrah "Heyyy"
and Hannah "Hiiii" And we're gonna talk about our top five all
inclusive adults only resorts in the Cancun Riviera Maya area.
So that's going to be from a little bit north of Cancun and the Playa Mujeres area all the
way down to Tulum.
And just to give you a little bit of background, I really don't know how many times I've been
to Cancun/ Riviera Maya, it's got to be 50,60, 70 times, it's been alot!
In fact, in the next two months I'm going three times.
So we're down there alot, and I know Terrah, you've been down there a ton and Hannah I
know you have too.
We've been there alot so, this is an area that we do know alot about, we've been to
alot of resorts.
So I'm going to kick it off, we're going to do top five resorts, that are all inclusive
and adults only.
I'll start with my number five propert, and that's going to be Live Aqua.
Live Aqua is in Cancun, it became an all inclusive a few years ago and they hired a good friend
of all of ours, Alfredo, who had been the General Manager at El Dorado Maroma, and he
moved over to help it become an all inclusive and they've done a great job.
So normally I'm not big on the Cancun resorts compared to Riviera Maya, I prefer Riviera
Maya, but in this case, I love Live Aqua.
What do you think, do you like it?
Oh yeah, yeah that's a great property, definitely a great property.
Not in my top five, but I love it.
It's fabulous, great beach!
What's your number five, Miss Hannah?
My number five would have to be Iberostar Grand, it's a fabulous property, it is one
of the larger adults only resorts, but even though it is large it does not feel large.
The staff is very welcoming and friendly, it has pretty good food, it has a great beach,
the beach does tend to be a little bit more crowded just because of the family resorts
next door.
But overall for quality and you're definitely wanting that luxury feel, with marble bathrooms
and marble floors, it's definitely, definitely a good one.
Also, another thing I like about your property, Iberostar Grand, is that you can go to the
properties next door, the other Iberostars.
Absolutely, absolutely.
But they can't come to yours, but you do get to enjoy theirs.
Definitely.
And if you enjoy golf, the Iberostar Grand has golf included, one of the best golf courses
in the area, right on site.
You know I actually forgot about that, I forgot about that, not in my top five but that golf
thing might make it to be in the top five.
It's a big quest for groups and stuff too that golf for sure.
It is, what's your number five Miss Terrah?
Alright, my number five is a very budget friendly resort, it's down in Tulum, about an hour
drive south of Cancun, it's called The Catalonia Royal Tulum.
Really?
Yes!
In your top five?
Top five!
Ok.
I know, i know.
I wanted to throw in a budget friendly one, not everybody can afford the Iberostar Grand.
True So yes, it's one of the most beautiful beaches
in the area, Cathi and I got to see the resort a couple years ago and we just fell in love
with it.
It was actually adorable, very authentic, alot of jungle and beach plafas???
They have beach butler service included, overall I love it!
I'm a little suprised, to be honest with you.
Number four, Miss Hannah, why don't you lead us off with your number four.
My number four would have to be Secrets Capri.
It is, again it's going to be a little bit of a larger adults only property but it's
one of the smaller adults only properties.
It is a quiet resort, it's in the shape of a U, so most of the views, most of the rooms,
excuse me, that do offer an ocean view do actually indeeed have a view of the ocean.
There aren't very many high trees in front of the property so it's easy to see the beach
and the ocean.
It's also not a very tall property and it does feel very intimate, you have one large
pool that the entire resort shares.
It's very jungley feeling and it does have a great great beach.
I absolutely, absolutely love it.
And let me jump in here because I heard what Hannah said, and I understand her completely
but I want to clarify, when she said it was one of the larger AND smaller all inclusives,
what she means is, it's not boutique, because some of these ones are like 40/50 rooms, this
isn't going to be that.
But compared to the other all inclusives adults all inclusive, it is smaller when you compare
it to even the Iberostar Grand and or any of the elements.
How about you, number four?
Number four, is going to be the brand new Secrets Playa Mujeres, which is just opening
just north of Cancun.
All the rooms are ocean view suites, it's a Secret's resort so you know the food and
the service is going to be amazing, no reservations at the restaurants, no wrist bands, no towel
cards, just going to be a more easy come easy go resort experience.
You must have a lot of confidence in them because it's not even opened yet and you put
it in your top five?
Totally!
Okay!
It's a very trust worthy brand Okay.
My number four, my memory is not as good as you young ladies here.
Is THE Royal in Playa del Carmen.
Now THE Royale just through an ownership change and so far we haven't seen any huge ripples
from that so we're getting good reviews on it, the only recent negative reviews are that
it is noisy with construction but that will be over soon, we trust.
But I love this resort because there is wonderful food, great drinks, you have your beach, but
also you walk out the front door and you are in Playa.
So you could go do the nightlife and all the fun things that you do in Playa Del Carmen
right there without having to do a taxi.
It's very convenient.
I totally agree.
It's a super fun property, alot of bachelor/bachelorette party groups love to be there because of teh
close access to the city.
Now if you're wanting a quieter resort, it definitely probably would not be the place
that you would want to go, but lots of entertainment on site for sure that you don't have to pay
for, that you dont have to go anywhere except for the lobby to get.
And similiar, they have Gran Porto Real next door.
It's a family resort and you can go there right?
You can go over there.
It's just across the street.
Not sure you'd want to, but if you have THE Royal in Playa Del Carmen, you'll probably
want to hangout there, it's a great, great property.
Number three, Miss Terrah.
Mine is going to be the Live Aqua, which was your number five.
There we go!
But yes, Great minds.
My good friend Alfredo is the GM there.
They just do a phenomonal job, the spa is amazing, the beach is of course picture perfect
and they have a huge infinity pool.
All the rooms face the Caribbean Ocean, just top notch, love it!
And it smells really pretty on the inside.
It does, kind of like the whole thing feels like a spa.
Kind of laid back and very nice place.
Number three for me, is...
Now this is one that I'm going by reputation because I have not actually seen this one
yet, but we are getting great reviews from it.
I know others have seen it, it is the Blue Diamond.
The guests seem to love it, has a strong management team and they seem to be doing everyhting
right.
And so that is, that is one that I'm very excited that we've got that new high quality
all inclusive adults only in the are.
It's a beautiful resort, it's very pretty.
The rooms are HUGE!
That's right, you did see it right?
I have, the rooms are huge!
It is just luxury at its finest and it is a very quiet resort so if you're wanting calm
and relaxation and just a peaceful, quiet getaway, it's wonderful, especailly if you
enjoy nature and you want to be surrounded by natural senotes???
and lagoons and just the jungle, it's just such a peaceful experience, to just bring
you back to nature.
The food is amazing and just absolutely fantastic.
Have you seen it?
*shakes head* You haven't seen it?
Yah, me either.
What is your, My number three?
Yah.
My number three, to throw a Cancun one in there, would have to be Secrets The Vine.
I think it's fabulous, I was there the second day that this resort was open, and it was
amazing!
I know several other people in our office have seen it and stayed there.
It's just fantastic when you first walk into the property, they have this huge glass wall
of just wine bottles all in the back, so it's just very wine focused.
They do wine tastings and tequila tastings here and they have a beautiful pier when you
walk out.
You just overlook the beach and the ocean and it's just absolutely gorgeous!
When I think of chic, modern luxury I think of that property.
The ocean views are just spectacular, even the lagoon views are beautiful.
You can literally see all of Cancun.
And their preferred club is actaully one of the more, I think, important resorts to get
the preferred club at because you do have a private rooftop lounge with a private pool
that overlooks also the beach and the entire resort and its just a very luxury experience
and I, I absolutely love that property.
And they have the fun piano bar that is crack-a-lackin every night.
I know, I know that it loses points for you because it doesn't have a swimup bar right
but besides that.
It does not have a swimup bar.. yah I need a swimup bar.
We did not prepare a list before we did this, so just so you know that.
I think it's down to number, our number twos.
And so my number two is Secrets The Vine.
So ditto!
What is your number two?
My number two is El Dorado Maroma.
It's a fabulous, beautiful beach front property on one of the top ten most beautiful beaches
in the ENTIRE world!
Entire world, that's saying something!
The beach is absolutely grogeous, it has the air conditioned sand when you walk on it,
your feet don't ever get hot.
It's absolutely beautiful and breathtaking and the ocean water is just so blue and so
pretty.
And it is a boutique property, I do love it and the food is fantastic.
If you want a great relaxing getaway, you are not going to find any better service or
food just anything, it's got the whole package.
I totally forgot about THE Royal Playa...
I was going to do Secrets I would have loved for that to be on the list.
I was thinking Maroma.
No, no no no, we don't
Ok so that was your number two, Miss Rominger what is your number two?
My number two is going to have to be THE Royal in Palya Del Carmen.
Really, really?
Shut up?!
No wayy Yes, I love that resort.
It's right in the heart of Playa Del Carmen.
Voted top ten beaches in the world by the travel channel.
It's about a forty-five minute drive from Cancun.
All the rooms are jacuzzi suites with liqour dispensers, royal beds, the most comfortable
beds.
Fantastic service, they all take very good care of their employees there so everybody
is always happy and I think that spreads to the guests.
Easy access to downtown Playa Del Carmen, overall, love it!
Very good.
Thank you, thank you.
Now we are down to our number one.
Number one.
I think you'll lead us off with number one.
My number one resort and favorite vacation spot personally and for my clients is El Dorado
Casitas Royale.
The reason being, that it's fantastic, the Casita Suites are sectioned off into these
little horseshoe sections, so it feels like you're in your own little resort when you're
really in this larger resort that's spread a mile across the beach, so you're beachfront,
you have this huge room with the MORE comfortable bed, it's a giant king sized bed with a huge
jacuzzi tub that's so romantic, you have an outdoor shower, they actually call those the
Aguas De La More??
Setting the mood, but the outdoor shower is absolutely beautiful, they have a rain shower
inside, a double vanity sink.
I just absolutely love it.
My favorite room category there is the Infinity Swim Up Casita, because you actaully have
direct swim up acess to the lazy river, that connects to your own little Casitas section
swim up bar, and you actually have an infinirty pool, so you have your own private little
pool right there and you're literally just a rock throw from the beach, you are so close.
Just beautiful and if you're actually in one of the two story, the second story castia
sections, you can actually see the ocean from most of those.
I just, again with El Dorado Maroma, with the Casitas, you can't beat the food, it's
the only gourmet all inclusive resort chain in the world.
So it's just absolutely fantastic and I can't think of any better was to spend a vacation.
There you go.
What's your number one?
Nicely done.
Top that!
Well, my number one is the same, it's going to be the El Dorado Royale.
Really?
Yes, the El Dorado Royale, which is you know, part of the Casitas, I mean back in the day
it was all just one hotel but now Casitas is loaded in the system as a different hotel,
but I still consider it all one hotel.
They have a really fun beach club, Guacamillas?
is also crack-a-lackin everynight.
It is!
And they have a really just amazing staff, once again, and the food is always made fresh
in house, never frozen.
They have their own greenhouse on site, they have perot wineo???, they have fantastic house
wine, and let's see.
All the rooms there are also jacuzzi, jacuzzi suites and they offer 24 hour insuite dining
in every room category.
Overall it's great, especially for multi-generational groups and for wedding groups, honeymoon couples,
because everybody has a good time there.
Well again, we've got two people in a row.
So here are a couple of these that are really good resorts, we've got great resorts down
in this area that are all inclusive and adults only, here are some that are like honorable
mentions, that didn't get picked that, What was your number one?!
I'm getting to it, I'm getting to it.
But you got things like Valentin.
I'm really surpised that no one did Royal Hideaway.
Anyways, and Le Blanc, those are some that are still just very good resorts, just didn't
make any of our top fives.
And i swear to you, you know, scout's honor, we did not compare lists before we did this
and mine is going to be Casitas Royale.
The El Dorado Royale complex and when I hear these two talk about it, I felt a little bit
bad because Hannah was talking about the outdoor shower and how it "gets you in the mood" and
Terrah is talking about the great night life and mine is going to be for food.
I'm kind of a big guy, I like my food and it's got like a million restaurants, like
13 or 14 restuarnts here.
Talking about that, next door at Generations, which is a family resort but you have access
to that one, so you can go to both places.
They have amazing, amazing cuisine.
You've got Italian, you've got French, you've got, my favorite, which is going to be campi??
which is going to be Asian, but there are so many different things food wise you can
do.
Also the drinks, they've got great bars in there, the martini bar obviously focusing
on martinis.
So it's by far my number one, and it feels like going home when I got there.
We all picked the same place, we did not compare notes ahead of time probably would have been
more exciting if we had different choices at number one but it is what it is.
So anyways, thank y'all very much for watching and we will be back in a couple weeks with
our next top five list.
Thank you!