Palace Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico

Five-Star Fantasy
STRATOS samples Palace Resorts along Mexico’s
white-sand Riviera Maya and finds a truly extraordinary, adventuresome experience.
By Marion Hager
A
cool scented towel, frosty tropical drink and a friendly
welcoming committee set the stage for a surprising
experience at the Palace Resorts in Cancun and the
Rivera Maya in Mexico.
When my friend asked me to accompany her to check out
the Palace Resorts for a family reunion she was planning, I
reluctantly agreed. It was July, Mexico is hot and humid, and
the Palace Resorts are what is known as “all-inclusive,” a term
I have always associated with poor service and lots of
mediocre buffet meals.
Despite this, I decided to expand my horizons and tag
along. Am I ever glad I did. I learned that the all-inclusive
resorts are not the “one-buffet fits all” I had imagined. Instead
I found myself enjoying an experience equal to that at many
luxury resorts.
Palace Resorts was established in 1984 by brothers Roberto
and Jose Chapur of Merida, Yucatan with their first resort,
Beach Palace.This resort was a novelty because it was a
pioneer of the all-inclusive concept —
accommodations, dining, premium drinks and
gratuities all included in one rate. Beach Palace
offered luxurious accommodations in an
unbeatable location — the breathtaking white
sand beach of Cancun. Built upon the success
of that first location, the Chapur brothers have
expanded Palace Resorts to total of 12 luxury
properties in Mexico and the Dominican
Republic.
The Palace Resorts signature is evident
throughout the 12 properties — beautiful
Located on a fabulous stretch of stunning white
sand beach in Cancun’s hotel zone, LeBlanc
provides everything expected in a five-star luxury
property — and then some.
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spacious rooms with balconies or terraces,
lovely furnishings and double Jacuzzi
tubs. Add a choice of restaurants, many
ala-carte with gourmet food and great
wines; friendly and attentive service and
facilities to satisfy everyone, and you have
the perfect combination.
The properties range from the large
3,000-room family-oriented resort, Moon
Palace, to the 144 room eco-friendly
property at Xpu-Ha and the 250 room,
adults-only, 5-star LeBlanc. Every resort,
regardless of size, has a wonderful variety
of restaurants. In addition, guests receive
complimentary transportation between
the resorts, offering endless choices. All
have outstanding service with a minimum
of one-to-one staff to guest ratio.
My friend chose Moon Palace for her
family reunion. Although it boasts 3,000
rooms, it is divided into three sections,
each literally a resort within a resort, with
continuous transportation between the
sections. There are a total of 14
restaurants, a countless number of pools,
and beaches. Family oriented shows in
the evenings provide after-dinner
entertainment for young and old alike.
Numerous bars and lounges satisfy adult
tastes.
My two favorite resorts were Xpu-Ha
and LeBlanc. I am an animal lover, and
enjoy lots of outdoor activities. Xpu-Ha
features a “mini-zoo,” an area for injured
and orphaned wildlife. If the animals can
be sufficiently rehabilitated they are
returned to the wild. If not, they have a
permanent home. The 144 rustic
bungalow-style guest rooms are immersed
in the lush vegetation of the secluded 37acre location near Playa del Carmen and
Tulum. Clear estuary waters offer wildlife
viewing, superb snorkeling and kayak
excursions. This family resort has five
restaurants and bars, an outdoor pool
with separate areas for adults, kids and
teens, and a Kids Club facility.
I love the fact that Xpu-Ha is pet
friendly. I know a lot of resorts are,
however, Xpu-Ha goes the extra mile.
While there are some “non-pet” rooms for
those with allergies, most of the
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For golfers, Moon Palace is home to
the only Jack Nicklaus Signature
Golf course in Cancun.
accommodations are equipped with a pet bed and dishes.
The first pet is complimentary, and receives two meals a day
with a choice of several different brands of food. They have
a day-care facility (complimentary) for the pets, with a fulltime care taker, indoor and outdoor play areas and an agility
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course. I’ve never seen anything like it at any resort. When
I inquired about bringing my dog from the U.S., I was told
that I just needed the vaccination certificate and proof of
veterinarian examination to bring my dog into Mexico — no
quarantine period.
LeBlanc, my other favorite, was pure heaven. Located on
a fabulous stretch of stunning white sand beach in Cancun’s
hotel zone, LeBlanc provides everything expected in a fivestar luxury property — and then some. Most notable was the
service. The resort has a one-to-one staff to guest ratio so
you never want for anything. Pampering begins with a
pillow menu featuring everything from the basic orthopedic
and goose-down pillows to extravagant lavender and
chamomile pillows. You’ll enjoy personalized turn-down
service, and a relaxing Butler-prepared Jacuzzi bath each
night.
The Spa at LeBlanc is perhaps the finest I’ve ever
experienced. I nearly fell asleep in the candle-lit quiet area,
relaxing with a warm aromatherapy neck pillow behind my
neck. The spa’s hydrotherapy circuit is fabulous. Your initial
relaxation is followed by hot and cold plunge pools with
waterfalls, herbal steam rooms, saunas with eucalyptus
essence and music therapy. Everything about the experience
was peaceful. By the time my massage was over, I had
reached that state of total relaxation and peace that I only
dream about.
I was amazed that a resort of this size had eight on-site
restaurants, bars and lounges. Each has its own unique
ambiance and type of cuisine. Wine lists and sommeliers
offer vintages from around the world, all with a Wine
Spectator score of 90 and above. The newest restaurant,
Lumiere, features fine Italian cuisine with unparalleled views
of the Caribbean Sea.
For golfers, Moon Palace is home to the only Jack Nicklaus
Signature Golf course in Cancun. Its dynamic layout requires
golfers to navigate through native vegetation as well as
numerous wetlands and strategically placed bunkers.
Another feature of Palace Resorts is the tours they offer.
The Yucatan Peninsula is rich in Mayan history and ecology.
The resorts offer a choice of unique experiences from a visit
to the archeological sites at Coba, Chichen-itza and Tulum,
to snorkeling on the two shallow reefs at National Marine
Park.
It is most notable that Roberto and Jose Chapur, while
building on the success of their all-inclusive resort concept,
have invested in the ecology and people of the region
through the Palace Resorts Foundation. The foundation
enables employees and local residents to achieve a better
quality of life by providing resources to families in need of
medical care, psychological and legal assistance.
Ecologically, the Palace Turtle Conservation Camps relocate
the hundreds of eggs produced by each of the 800-odd
turtles that nest along a protected nine-mile stretch of beach
in Cancun and the Riviera Maya, to a dedicated facility
where a team of scientists and specialists care for the turtles
until they are ready to be released.
The 144 rustic bungalow-style guest rooms at XpuHa are immersed in the lush vegetation of the
secluded 37-acre location near Playa del Carmen
and Tulum. Clear estuary waters offer wildlife
viewing, superb snorkeling and kayak excursions.
= Details
• MOON PALACE GOLF AND SPA RESORT
10 minutes from Cancun International ..........(011) 52-998-881-6000
www.palaceresorts.com
• LE BLANC SPA RESORT
25 minutes from Cancun International ..........(011) 52-998-881-4740
www.leblancsparesort
• XPU-HA
60 minutes from Cancun International ..........(011) 52-998-891-4100
www.palaceresorts.com
FBO INFO: CANCUN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
UVAVEMEX Agent ................................................(011) 52-998-147-6779
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