To celebrate our parents 50th wedding anniversary, our immediate family took a trip to Cancun, Mexico. We stayed at the Live Aqua (all-inclusive) resort, which was the best all-inclusive that we've ever been to - very classy and high-end. We particularly loved our suites, the reserved palapa beds on the beach, and our daily foot massages. Food and drinks were good, too.
Hotel: Live Aqua Link to my review
Mexico: Live Aqua Cancun (November 2013 )
BACKGROUND: My spouse and I and four other family members
stayed at Live Aqua Cancun for 5 nights in late November 2013. In 2012,
Live Aqua was rated the number one Mexican resort by Travel &
Leisure magazine, an accolade with which we agree! The name of the hotel
is pronounced as you would say in “Live and Let Live”, not as you would
say in “Live from New York ... it’s Saturday night”, although we heard
guests pronounce it both ways. This
member of the Grupos
Posadas conglomerate participates in the Fiesta Rewards frequent stay
program (for Fiesta Americana, Live Aqua, and One properties). Live Aqua
Cancun (there is another Live Aqua in Mexico City) is an adults-only
all-inclusive resort. (When Live Aqua Cancun first opened, it was NOT
all-inclusive and allowed children.) Live Aqua is an all-inclusive for
those who do not want the typical all-inclusive experience: nightly
shows, kitchy entertainment on the pool deck, and party-hearty drinkers
are replaced with quality cuisine, elegant restaurants, hip decor, and
good service. One thing that does resemble other all-inclusives:
throughout your stay, you are required to wear a plastic bracelet to
indicate that you are a hotel guest.
LOCATION: The hotel is located about 20 minutes from the airport, and it seems like an easy drive if you try it yourself. You can also hire a taxi (approximately $130 round-trip) or a transfer service (approximately $55 round-trip for 1 to 3 passengers) if you want someone else to drive. Some of our group used USA Transfers (highly recommended, everything arranged online ahead of time, $55 round-trip, payable upon pickup at the airport), and others used Olympus Tours (more expensive, necessary to arrange return transfer at tour desk after you are on-site at the hotel). The Las Isla Mall is located right across the street (you must cross a four-lane road, but it is not too difficult), and the Plaza Kulkulcan is a short distance away. La Isla contains both high-end (Gucci, Louis Vuitton) and moderate shopping, an aquarium (where you can swim with the dolphins), and a movie theatre (Cinemark); a canal with gondolas runs through some of this semi-outdoor mall. One day, two of us walked from the hotel (at km 12.5 to the closest “town” area at km 8), which felt safe and was enjoyable because there were sidewalks the entire way and much of the walk was in the shade. We saw lots of well-marked public buses driving on the street in front of the hotel, so it seems like it would be easy to investigate further if you so desire.
ROOMS: The semi-circular white building with green glass has 371 units (including 335 rooms [35 of which are deluxe on the Aqua Club floor] and 36 suites) spread over 9 floors. Our group of 6 people was celebrating a special occasion, so we upgraded from the Aqua Club to two Tierra Suites and one Aqua Suite. (Other suite types include the Fuego Suite, Viento Suite, and the two Presidential Suites.) Viento (Wind) Suite has a living room area, bedroom area, jacuzzi tub and jetted shower, and two balconies (not connected). The living room and bedroom are separated by a full floor-to-ceiling partition, with open doorways/walkways on both ends, so it is not possible to close off the areas from one another. Fuego (Fire) Suite has a living room area, bedroom area, jacuzzi tub, and a terrace with views of both the lagoon and the sea (because the Fuegos are located on the four corners of the hotel). The living room and bedroom are separated by a full floor-to-ceiling partition, with open doorways/walkways on both ends, so it is not possible to close off the areas from one another. The Fuego has only one full bathroom, but it has a fancy oval jacuzzi bathtub that is more a part of the whole bedroom/bathroom area (it is not in the small bathroom). Aqua (Water) Suite has two rooms, although they cannot be closed off from each other (however, you can draw a filmy curtain between the two), one full bath (although it is open to the bedroom area and can only be separated by another filmy curtain) and a half bathroom (toilet and sink only). A big draw to this room is the large oval jacuzzi bathtub that sits between the bedroom and bathroom areas of this room. The toilet and shower are exposed to the rest of the bedroom/bathroom, although both have frosted doors. Only the half bathroom near the entrance to the room (and off the main living area) has a door that can be closed for complete privacy. The large terrace is the real attraction of this room, with a dining table for four people, two reclining lounge chairs (and excellent sunny views all day); two sets of sliding glass doors access the terrace: one from the living room area, and the other from the bedroom area. The only drawback to the terrace is that is completely exposed, and does not contain an umbrella or covered area where you could sit when it is either too sunny or perhaps rainy. The Aqua Suites are located on the ends of the building (which look like steps), and provide perfect ocean views. Aqua Suites are positioned farthest from the elevators, because they are positioned at both ends of the semi-circular building. Sol (Sun) and Luna (Moon) Presidential Suites are the epitome of luxury, from the photos that we have seen, with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, dining area, bar area, dressing rooms, and a terrace that includes a small lap/plunge pool, outdoor jacuzzi/spa, and terrace space partially covered by a wooden pergola. Tierra (Earth) Suite features two large completely independent (self-contained) rooms, so this suite has two full bathrooms, which we loved because I could use one, and my spouse could use the other, and we did not need to coordinate our schedules. This also means that the suite has two entry doors, two balconies (although they are not connected), two full closets, two minibars, two TVs, two beach bags, four pairs of flip-flops, four pairs of slippers, and four bathrobes. One room is set up as the bedroom, with a king-size bed, chair/ottoman, and square table and two chairs, and the other room is set up as a living area, with a two-piece sectional sofa and a round table with two chairs. The bedding was plush, with crisply starched sheets (replaced daily unless you left a card on the bed), a fluffy duvet, and several different kinds of pillows (two foam, two feather, one long body pillow, decorative bolster/neckroll pillow). We did not see a pillow menu, nor an aromatherapy menu, but the drawer beneath the telephone housed the room-service menu. (Perhaps the rooms should also contain a spa menu to encourage guests to make appointments for treatments?) Each room contained an aromatherapy kit - a little plug-in burner that when warm/heated, produced a great scent. The rooms had flat-screen TVs (not very many English channels other than CNN and about 5 versions of HBO), DVD players (you can borrow movies from the front desk), and iPod docking stations/clocks. A coffee maker and supplies is available, along with a large 2-liter bottle of water. The mini-bars are restocked daily (by the morning maid service) and contain 2 bottled waters (sometimes they were tiny bottles, and other times they were small bottles), 2 Diet Cokes, 2 regular Cokes, 1 Sprite, 1 orange soda, 2 club sodas (or perhaps they were tonic water?), and about 6 beers (2 each of 3 different kinds), as well as snacks including Oreos, potato chips, peanut M&Ms, and granola bars. A 2-line telephone (not cordless), electronic scale, electronic safe (fairly large, could fit an iPad but not a larger laptop), iron and ironing board, and flip-flops and beach bag. The flip-flops did not fit anyone in our group - not only lengthwise, but also width wise (maybe our feet are too chubby?), but the beach bag was large, well-shaped, and very useful. We saw nearly every guest using their beach bag. If you want to take the beach bag home, you can purchase one. Bathrobes are also provided (again, there is a charge if you want to take a bathrobe home). The bathroom contained a separate soaking tub (but it was not a jetted tub), glass-walled shower (which might fit two people but is really comfortably designed for one person; note that the shower door swings both out and in so that you can open it either way), toilet, and sink/vanity. A tiny but powerful and hot hairdryer (not affixed to the wall) is provided, and a lighted makeup magnifying mirror is attached to the wall. The bathroom mirror contains a built-in light in its frame, which is useful as a night light. Closet space is plentiful (including room to hang items (and enough hangers!) as well as drawer space. Although we did not have a do-not-disturb sign in our room, we saw a cute one hanging on someone else’s door (we imagine that unique these signs “disappear” quite easily). We were permitted to check in early (approximately 1:00 pm), but that surely varies based on occupancy the evening prior to your arrival. The air conditioning in our room worked very well, and we often found it to be a bit chilly (admittedly, the weather itself did not top 28 degrees Celsius [81 degrees Farenheit] during the heat of the day, though). The Tierra Suites are located closest to the two elevator banks, although we were not at all bothered by the noise (they were rather silent). Our room was also located directly across from the ice machine, but very few people used it.
EVENING TURNDOWN: Turndown was fairly complete - the only thing missing was a small bottle of water and a drinking glass placed on each beside table/nightstand. The duvet was turned down, trash emptied, towels and toiletries replaced, ice bucket filled, TV/music/lights turned on, and slippers set out. Each night, the turndown service placed some zen object on our nightstand - an incense burner, a tiny musical instrument, or a sand garden with a tiny rake. We never received a rice design on our bed, although the couple who was celebrating the special occasion (in the Aqua Suite) received several. STAYING CONNECTED: Wi-Fi was complimentary in the hotel itself (rooms, lobby, restaurants), but did not work well near the pool or on the beach. At certain times of day, the connectivity was faster than others. Newspapers (both English and Spanish) are available in the lobby near the concierge desk, and in Siete restaurant (although these seem to disappear early in the day at Siete). There is a business center on the Lobby level that contains about four computers and a printer, and secretarial service is available from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
DINING: The hotel has 14 food and beverage options: 9 restaurants and 5 bars. Restaurants include Azur, Siete, mb, Sea Corner, Sushi Station, Inlaa'kech Lobster & Grill, Hidden Garden, Varenna, and the Café Deli Boutique. Bars include AKA Bar, Egos Bar, Pool Club, and the Beach Bar. The hotel also offers 24-hour in-room dining (IRD)/room service, and there is a room service menu in one of the nightstands. (We did not use room service, but another couple in our group did several times, and they felt that it generally arrived quickly and correctly and in plentiful amounts.) None of the restaurants (except for Inlaa’kech) accepts reservations. If there is not space for you to dine when you arrive, the hostess will place your name on a waiting list. Azur is located in the pool area and features sea views during the daytime. Azur serves lunch (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm) and dinner (6:30 pm to 11:00 pm). The restaurant has an open-air feeling because it features high vaulted ceilings beneath a thatched palapa roof and surrounded by glass windows on three sides. The open kitchen on the main/pool/entry level, and tables on two subsequent lower levels (the first level has a ramp and is handicap-accessible), as well as outdoor dining overlooking the beach. (The lower level and the deck are not handicap-accessible.) Azur also has a comfortable and trendy-looking lounge area directly on the pool deck that is open from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. We ate dinner one evening at Azur, and the restaurant went out of its way to show us a special time, personalizing a menu for us from their usual offerings. Siete is the main restaurant for the hotel, offering buffet-style dining for breakfast (6:30 am to 12:00 noon), lunch (1:00 pm to 4:00 pm), and dinner (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm). This restaurant is large, with lots of windows that look out onto the foliage and some of the pools. Most of the restaurant is on the ground/floor level, with some tables just one step up from the main floor (but therefore, not handicap-accessible on that upper level). There is a long communal high-top table near the entrance, but most of the restaurant features individual tables and separate tables that share a banquette wall. The decor features Mexican art and Pop art. We ate breakfast every day at Siete, as well as a few lunches. mb is the fanciest of the restaurants at Live Aqua, open only for dinner (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm). This is the only restaurant with a dress code: men must wear long pants and a shirt with a collar (although that can be a short-sleeved Polo-type shirt). We read that close-toes shoes were also mandatory for men, but we did not see anyone turned away for footwear as we saw them turned away for wearing shorts. This restaurant is elegant, with a partially open kitchen, indoor dining on two levels (the upper level is up about 4 steps from the main floor, and therefore, that level is not handicap-accessible), and some tables outdoors on a covered deck (but without any view). We dined at mb twice - the first time we thought it was excellent, with menu offerings, presentation, and service that is equitable to that of any big city, but our second experience was different (same menu, but the service was lacking, the food cold, and the presentation rushed). On the first night that we dined at mb, we were standing in line to request a table 15 minutes before they opened at 6:00 pm, and we were seated immediately. The second time that we dined, we placed our name on the waiting list at 7:15 pm, and were still waiting 1.5 hours later, when we finally told the hostess to split up our table for 6 people into two smaller tables (at which point we were seated immediately, and very close to one another); one of our only criticisms of the hotel is that they should accept dinner reservations for mb, even if just the morning of. There is a surcharge for certain items such as lobster and premium cuts of meat at mb, but the standard menu is great without needing to pay extra. (Note that initials for the restaurant, mb, represent the name of the Miami-based celebrity chef who set up the restaurant back when it was NOT an all-inclusive, but she no longer has any association with it.) Sea Corner is a completely outdoor restaurant (although it is shaded by a kind of canopy) that is open for lunch only (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm). This restaurant is almost hidden a few steps down from the swim-up pool bar at the far corner of the property. This restaurant is not handicap-accessible. It serves various ceviches, tacos, and other seafood entrees. Sushi Station is located on the Pool level near the AKA Bar and mb restaurant. Sushi Station is a takeout self-service option only open at night (5:00 pm to 11:00 pm); there is no formal seating for Sushi Station, nor is there any table service. (The photograph that we saw on the Live Aqua website that corresponded to the Sushi Station is a bit misleading; it is really a photo of mb.) Inlaa'kech Lobster & Grill is the only restaurant that requires additional cost to dine ($60 per person). The restaurant is outdoors, located between the hotel building and the pool, but does have some open-air roof coverings that provides protection in a drizzle (but not in heavy rain); other tables are completely uncovered. The restaurant is surrounded by foliage, so it is nearly impossible to see in or out. The menu includes steaks, lobster, and kebobs, accented by house-made sauces and marinades. Reservations are requested, and there are three seatings (6:00 pm, 7:30 pm, and 9:30 pm). We ate here one evening, and the food and service were good, but we are not sure that it was worth paying approximately $120 USD extra per couple. (Each couple had a $60 USD resort credit to use towards dining, so in the end, we paid $60 USD per COUPLE, which was more palatable.) This restaurant is mostly handicap-accessible, although some of the seats beneath the roof require a step up, and some of the tables on the ground level have less-than-stable flooring. Hidden Garden is a semi-outdoor restaurant that is located across from Inlaa’kech (between the main hotel building the pools). This restaurant is open for dinner only (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm) and features Asian cuisine. We think that at one time (when Live Aqua was NOT an all-inclusive resort) that this space was used as the outdoor relaxation area for the spa. This restaurant is handicap-accessible, and even has its own restroom (although that requires a step up), which is again probably left over from its days as part of the spa. This is an attractive space, Balinese-looking, with a small waterfall on one wall and another wall with niches that hold glowing candles. Varenna is the new Italian restaurant that opened in mid-November 2013. Open for lunch only (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm), it is an attractive, completely outdoor restaurant. The restaurant was too new when we visited to present menus, but the restaurant offers pasta dishes (several different noodle options paired with several different sauce choices), as well as flatbread pizzas. We are not sure what the final format will be, but when we dined, the servers walked around with different pizzas, and you either requested a slice or passed. Pasta entrees were plated and presented per person. We tried 6 to 8 different pizzas, with ingredients like pulled pork, chicken, vegetables, margarita, brie and apple, and so on. Café Deli Boutique is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. In the morning, the cafe offers coffee, tea, and pastries (if you just want a light breakfast snack, this is the place, rather than going to the buffet at Siete). For breakfast, the staff prepare coffees and other beverages for you, but you serve yourself pastries. The cafe offers sandwiches, desserts, and other snacks during lunch and dinner time. The cafe/boutique sells reading material, sunscreen, clothing, and souvenirs at an additional charge. AKA Bar is located on the Pool level, between Siete and mb. AKA offers bar seating as well as some lounge-type seating, and also has a pool/billiards table and two televisions (the TVs are not large - perhaps 20” - and primarily broadcast sports [moderated in Spanish, of course, even if it is an American game, which is kind of fun to listed to!]). This bar prominently features premium liquors. At night, there is flaming coffee service available, which is a worthwhile sight even if you do not personally drink it. AKA Bar is open all day from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, but really only gets busy in the evenings. Egos Bar, located on the Lobby level, has a trendy nightclub atmosphere, with a large bar, comfy seating areas, and plenty of space to dance. Egos Bar is open only in the evenings from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am. The Pool Bar (sometimes called Pool Club) is the area surrounding the swim-up bar, and features the most intimate and lively outdoor atmosphere of any of the pools or the beach. Music plays around this bar area, unlike the other pools and beach on the property which are more quiet and restful. This bar is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. One evening we saw a private event (a wedding for about 20+ people) held in this area. The Beach Bar (sometimes called the Shore Club) is located on the sand, open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and features some cute swings where you can sit and have a drink - if you can manage to haul yourself onto one of the high swings, that is! Another dining option is to plan a romantic private dinner on the beach. We did not see anyone doing this, but reportedly, the cost runs between $200 and $300, presumably depending on the menu items chosen. POOLS and
BEACH: The hotel has 8 pools that overlook the wide, white-sand beach. Each pool is a different temperature, based on the color of the pool, with the lightest being the warmest and the darkest being the coldest. The hot tub/jacuzzi spa was a good temperature, although we would have preferred that it was even a bit hotter. One pool contains a swim-up bar with several barstools, so that you can sit down and enjoy a drink while you are in the water. The swim-up pool was generally the busiest and liveliest of all the pools. Note that there is no pool that is reserved solely for Aqua Club members; we had read this information somewhere, but it is not true (perhaps it was accurate when the hotel was NOT an all-inclusive?). Each afternoon, near the hot tub, a cart was set up that served hot dogs, and alongside of the cart was a table with some sort of food/snacks (such as fajitas or paella). We also saw people ordering food right to their beach chairs. The beach fronting Live Aqua is wide and long, with soft white sand and gorgeous aquamarine water. Most of the chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas are set up in close proximity of each other, but the beach has lots of empty space available; if you do not want to meet your neighbors, ask the pool valets to move your chairs elsewhere (the cabanas are stationary). A lifeguard is on duty on the beach during daytime hours.
CABANAS: There are approximately 36 cabanas at the hotel. Each SUITE includes complimentary access to a cabana, so if all the suites are occupied, there is little chance that someone in a regular room (or even in an Aqua Club ROOM) could reserve a cabana. (The cost is $90 per day for those not staying in a suite.) Staying in an Aqua Club ROOM does not entitle you to a cabana (only the Aqua SUITES, Viento Suites, Fuego Suites, Tierra Suites, and Presidential Suites come with a cabana). The cabanas are a bit different than what we have seen at other hotels - they are really just large canopy beds with a comfy mattress, curtains surrounding all four sides that you can open or close, and some type of roof covering. (Some cabanas had a sort-of solid see-through sunshade/sunbrella material, other cabana tops had some wooden dowels that were woven with the sunshade fabric, some had an additional sunshade piece on the front that blocked more sun.) Being sun-lovers, we were concerned that using the cabana bed would not give us enough exposure, but we need not have worried. The cabanas are reserved at the same little hut/desk by the pool where you get your towels (you must provide your room number when you request towels, but you are not given a card and are not held responsible for returning them). You can reserve cabanas one day prior, or you can call down to the pool area to reserve one beginning at 7:00 am. The towel/cabana desk has a small lending library of books that you can borrow. You can book your 20-minute foot massage when you reserve your cabana; foot massages are given from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (although some staff gave conflicting hours), and one guest can take the full 20 minutes, or you can split the time into two 10-minute massages guests. There are seven cabanas directly on the beach (numbered 1 through 7). There are more than a dozen cabanas located a few steps up from the beach but also a few steps down from the pool deck; these cabanas are on their own “level” and they all face the sea (these MIGHT be numbered 8 through 24). There are another six cabanas near the main pool area (near Varenna restaurant), four other cabanas near the steps down to the Beach Bar (those might be numbers 25-26 and 27-28), and three cabanas near the swim-up pool (might be numbers 30-33). [DO NOT QUOTE US ON THE CABANA NUMBERS; this is just our best guess from what we remember; most of the cabanas are not numbered in any clear way.] We preferred the cabanas on the beach (1 through 7) because they afforded the most space and privacy around them; it was easy to pull two regular lounge chairs between them (actually, you could have fit four chairs between them), whereas the cabanas near the pools were right next to each other (which might be preferable for groups traveling together if you plan to talk all day, but those pool cabanas left little room to pull a regular chair nearby if you wanted full sun). The benefit to sitting at the pool is that they come around with appetizers and shots, which did not happen for the cabanas on the beach. There are several (10+) mattresses on wooden platforms (similar to the cabana beds, just not as high, and not surrounded by the canopy curtain) that are first-come, first-serve, and there are another three raised round beds near the hot tub that are also not reservable. The umbrellas and chairs that used to be set up in front of Azur on the “cabana” level are no longer there - it is just an empty space right now. We are not sure whether they might add more cabanas there, or if something else is planned for that space. In front of this empty Azur area is the outdoor spa where you can get a massage looking right at the ocean. There are plenty of umbrellas available both at the pool and on the beach.
AQUA CLUB: The Aqua Club lounge is located on the fifth floor and has great views of the beach and water. There is also a balcony/outdoor space with a view of the lagoon that has some small tables and where smoking is permitted (it is very windy, though). You can check-in and check-out at the club lounge; they also offer a concierge service if you want to plan any activities or ask for advice. The lounge features a serve-yourself breakfast (with both cold and hot options), afternoon tea, and evening canapes (both hot and cold). Most drinks are served by a staff member; premium liquor bottles are out for display, but the staff prefers to mix drinks for you. (Cans of beer are available self-serve.) Complimentary short 5-minute chair massages are sometimes available. The lounge is nicely decorated with seating arranged in different groupings. There is a good selection of coffee table books for reading while you are there. There is no computer available for guests to use in the lounge; however, there are computers on the Lobby level that are set up as a business center. SPA: The Aqua Spa is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and is located on the Pool level. The surcharge to use the relaxation areas is $20 per day, and also includes the jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy, and cold bath. Most 50-minute treatments cost approximately $120 USD, including massages, baths, and facials. Other hotel amenities include a fitness center (this large facility, located on the Pool level, overlooks the gardens, and is open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm), beauty salon (seemed to be open daily from approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 pm), aromatherapy boutique, gift shop/cafe, and conference/meeting rooms. Laundry services are available at an additional fee (shoe shine service is also available, but we are not sure whether there is a charge).
TIMESHARES: Two rooms in our party were not bothered by requests to attend timeshare presentations, however, the third room (the Aqua Suite) received relentless requests (the staff must have thought that is who has the money!). The timeshare proposition happens like this: On arrival (or at various other times during your stay, depending on how aggressive the agents are), you may be approached and asked to take part in a 90-minute timeshare sales pitch for the Fiesta Americana’s Vacation club. For attending, you are given a gift such as free massages or private dinner credits. The salesman tries to build rapport and learn things about you (your income, where and how you vacation) so that they can tailor their sales pitch to you. Then they explain how their vacation club works. Then they ask you to buy it. Each year you own points that you can use to purchase hotel rooms, plane tickets, and so on. They request 20% to 30% as a down payment that day by credit card, and you to pay the balance over 5 years (at 15% interest). There are also yearly fees on top of that price that total approximately $1K.
ACTIVITES/ENTERTAINMENT: This resort does not offer complimentary non-motorized water sports such as sea kayaking, snorkeling, boogie boards, or paddle surfing; however, there is an independent vendor offering jet skiing and parasailing on the beach at the edge of the property, but the representative is not part of the hotel. This resort has no traditional all-inclusive nightly entertainment, although there are two evenings when the hotel offers something special: one evening (Thursday), an outdoor dance club (“Dancing Under the Stars”) was set up near the hot tub/Azur, and another night (a Tuesday, which was not a night that we were there), there was a fire show. From 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm on other nights of the week, live music (piano, violin) is presented at varying indoor locations. The hotel offers many daytime activities, but they are low-key and subtle, such as a Top Chef competition, sushi-making, guacamole lessons, wine-and-cheese-tasting, tequila tasting. For sports activities, the hotel offers yoga (hatha, vinyasa, and couples), volleyball, bocce, ping-pong, billiards, horseshoes, and beach soccer. Catholic Mass (in Spanish, of course!) occurs on Sunday afternoons in the lobby. The resort has resident parrots that fly around the resort from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon each day; you can hold and feed them. The hotel has 2 Rolls Royces with license plates AQUA1 and AQUA2, although these seem to be for display purposes only and are not used to chauffeur guests. The hotel runs a shuttle to different clubs in town in the evenings. We just missed the turtle season, but if you visit the hotel during the early fall, you can help release baby turtles into the ocean when they hatch from their eggs at night! On the Pool level, Lomas Travel and some other tour desks are on-site to help plan your off-site activities and excursions.
ACCESSIBILITY: We traveled with someone who has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair and power scooter. Handicapped access is fairly good. The hotel has six elevators (in two different elevator banks) that are somewhat slow, particularly if you are on the ninth (top) floor, like two of our rooms were. Some rooms can be quite far from the elevator banks. You cannot roll the scooter or wheelchair out on the balconies/terraces easily because of the threshold from the sliding glass door frame. The beach is completely inaccessible (unless someone carries you down), and the restrooms closest to the beach (near the Pool Bar and near Azur) both require a step to enter, making them inaccessible for someone who cannot walk up a step. (Oddly, right next to the Pool Bar (swim-up bar) restrooms is a ramp that leads back to the parrot cages; it would be great if the hotel had some way to connect that “parrot ramp” to the restrooms right next door. Having arrived with only a manual wheelchair, the hotel was able to rent a motorized scooter for us, and was also able to obtain a plastic shower chair. All restaurants (except Sea Corner) are accessible.
EVENT PLANNING: We held a small event at the hotel (for just six guests), and the staff went out of their way to make it truly special. Both our event planner (Gabriella) and our photographer (from Daniel Gastaldi Photography) did a great job! We set up the event via email in the months preceding our arrival, and all communication was prompt and courteous. Originally, we had planned to hold the event on the beach, but after scouting the location, we realized that our handicapped family member would have difficulty reaching that area. Instead, we held the event on the balcony adjacent to the lobby and Egos Bar, which we felt was even more picturesque (and more private) than if we had held it on the beach. There were potted palm trees, a white billowy canopy, pretty chairs with white covers, and appropriate music. The non-denominational officiant led a very touching ceremony, including a sand ritual, and when the event ended, the planner surprised our group when perhaps 15+ staff members surrounded us on the balcony and blew bubbles. How thoughtful!
TIPPING: We brought lots of small bills for tipping. Over the course of 5 days, each couple probably spent about $200: $100 in 1s and $100 in 5s. In general, each couple gave $3 for morning maid service, $3 for evening turndown, $2 for breakfast (buffet), $5 for lunch, $10 for dinner, $5 for foot massage, $3 for cabana set-up, and $2 to $5 for each round of drinks (depending on the number of drinks and degree of difficulty).
SERVICE: Service was great. Prior to arriving at Live Aqua Cancun, we read many reviews online, and most of the reviews mentioned staff by name. After staying at the hotel, we can see why past guests want to specifically mention staff - because they are caring, courteous, and willing to help. We want to compliment Lorena and Fernanda (concierges in the Aqua Club), Gabriella (the event planner), Angie (at the towel/cabana hut), and Luis (who provided great drink service at the beach/pool).
We had a great time at Live Aqua Cancun, and give it a thumbs up!
LOCATION: The hotel is located about 20 minutes from the airport, and it seems like an easy drive if you try it yourself. You can also hire a taxi (approximately $130 round-trip) or a transfer service (approximately $55 round-trip for 1 to 3 passengers) if you want someone else to drive. Some of our group used USA Transfers (highly recommended, everything arranged online ahead of time, $55 round-trip, payable upon pickup at the airport), and others used Olympus Tours (more expensive, necessary to arrange return transfer at tour desk after you are on-site at the hotel). The Las Isla Mall is located right across the street (you must cross a four-lane road, but it is not too difficult), and the Plaza Kulkulcan is a short distance away. La Isla contains both high-end (Gucci, Louis Vuitton) and moderate shopping, an aquarium (where you can swim with the dolphins), and a movie theatre (Cinemark); a canal with gondolas runs through some of this semi-outdoor mall. One day, two of us walked from the hotel (at km 12.5 to the closest “town” area at km 8), which felt safe and was enjoyable because there were sidewalks the entire way and much of the walk was in the shade. We saw lots of well-marked public buses driving on the street in front of the hotel, so it seems like it would be easy to investigate further if you so desire.
ROOMS: The semi-circular white building with green glass has 371 units (including 335 rooms [35 of which are deluxe on the Aqua Club floor] and 36 suites) spread over 9 floors. Our group of 6 people was celebrating a special occasion, so we upgraded from the Aqua Club to two Tierra Suites and one Aqua Suite. (Other suite types include the Fuego Suite, Viento Suite, and the two Presidential Suites.) Viento (Wind) Suite has a living room area, bedroom area, jacuzzi tub and jetted shower, and two balconies (not connected). The living room and bedroom are separated by a full floor-to-ceiling partition, with open doorways/walkways on both ends, so it is not possible to close off the areas from one another. Fuego (Fire) Suite has a living room area, bedroom area, jacuzzi tub, and a terrace with views of both the lagoon and the sea (because the Fuegos are located on the four corners of the hotel). The living room and bedroom are separated by a full floor-to-ceiling partition, with open doorways/walkways on both ends, so it is not possible to close off the areas from one another. The Fuego has only one full bathroom, but it has a fancy oval jacuzzi bathtub that is more a part of the whole bedroom/bathroom area (it is not in the small bathroom). Aqua (Water) Suite has two rooms, although they cannot be closed off from each other (however, you can draw a filmy curtain between the two), one full bath (although it is open to the bedroom area and can only be separated by another filmy curtain) and a half bathroom (toilet and sink only). A big draw to this room is the large oval jacuzzi bathtub that sits between the bedroom and bathroom areas of this room. The toilet and shower are exposed to the rest of the bedroom/bathroom, although both have frosted doors. Only the half bathroom near the entrance to the room (and off the main living area) has a door that can be closed for complete privacy. The large terrace is the real attraction of this room, with a dining table for four people, two reclining lounge chairs (and excellent sunny views all day); two sets of sliding glass doors access the terrace: one from the living room area, and the other from the bedroom area. The only drawback to the terrace is that is completely exposed, and does not contain an umbrella or covered area where you could sit when it is either too sunny or perhaps rainy. The Aqua Suites are located on the ends of the building (which look like steps), and provide perfect ocean views. Aqua Suites are positioned farthest from the elevators, because they are positioned at both ends of the semi-circular building. Sol (Sun) and Luna (Moon) Presidential Suites are the epitome of luxury, from the photos that we have seen, with two bedrooms, two full bathrooms, dining area, bar area, dressing rooms, and a terrace that includes a small lap/plunge pool, outdoor jacuzzi/spa, and terrace space partially covered by a wooden pergola. Tierra (Earth) Suite features two large completely independent (self-contained) rooms, so this suite has two full bathrooms, which we loved because I could use one, and my spouse could use the other, and we did not need to coordinate our schedules. This also means that the suite has two entry doors, two balconies (although they are not connected), two full closets, two minibars, two TVs, two beach bags, four pairs of flip-flops, four pairs of slippers, and four bathrobes. One room is set up as the bedroom, with a king-size bed, chair/ottoman, and square table and two chairs, and the other room is set up as a living area, with a two-piece sectional sofa and a round table with two chairs. The bedding was plush, with crisply starched sheets (replaced daily unless you left a card on the bed), a fluffy duvet, and several different kinds of pillows (two foam, two feather, one long body pillow, decorative bolster/neckroll pillow). We did not see a pillow menu, nor an aromatherapy menu, but the drawer beneath the telephone housed the room-service menu. (Perhaps the rooms should also contain a spa menu to encourage guests to make appointments for treatments?) Each room contained an aromatherapy kit - a little plug-in burner that when warm/heated, produced a great scent. The rooms had flat-screen TVs (not very many English channels other than CNN and about 5 versions of HBO), DVD players (you can borrow movies from the front desk), and iPod docking stations/clocks. A coffee maker and supplies is available, along with a large 2-liter bottle of water. The mini-bars are restocked daily (by the morning maid service) and contain 2 bottled waters (sometimes they were tiny bottles, and other times they were small bottles), 2 Diet Cokes, 2 regular Cokes, 1 Sprite, 1 orange soda, 2 club sodas (or perhaps they were tonic water?), and about 6 beers (2 each of 3 different kinds), as well as snacks including Oreos, potato chips, peanut M&Ms, and granola bars. A 2-line telephone (not cordless), electronic scale, electronic safe (fairly large, could fit an iPad but not a larger laptop), iron and ironing board, and flip-flops and beach bag. The flip-flops did not fit anyone in our group - not only lengthwise, but also width wise (maybe our feet are too chubby?), but the beach bag was large, well-shaped, and very useful. We saw nearly every guest using their beach bag. If you want to take the beach bag home, you can purchase one. Bathrobes are also provided (again, there is a charge if you want to take a bathrobe home). The bathroom contained a separate soaking tub (but it was not a jetted tub), glass-walled shower (which might fit two people but is really comfortably designed for one person; note that the shower door swings both out and in so that you can open it either way), toilet, and sink/vanity. A tiny but powerful and hot hairdryer (not affixed to the wall) is provided, and a lighted makeup magnifying mirror is attached to the wall. The bathroom mirror contains a built-in light in its frame, which is useful as a night light. Closet space is plentiful (including room to hang items (and enough hangers!) as well as drawer space. Although we did not have a do-not-disturb sign in our room, we saw a cute one hanging on someone else’s door (we imagine that unique these signs “disappear” quite easily). We were permitted to check in early (approximately 1:00 pm), but that surely varies based on occupancy the evening prior to your arrival. The air conditioning in our room worked very well, and we often found it to be a bit chilly (admittedly, the weather itself did not top 28 degrees Celsius [81 degrees Farenheit] during the heat of the day, though). The Tierra Suites are located closest to the two elevator banks, although we were not at all bothered by the noise (they were rather silent). Our room was also located directly across from the ice machine, but very few people used it.
EVENING TURNDOWN: Turndown was fairly complete - the only thing missing was a small bottle of water and a drinking glass placed on each beside table/nightstand. The duvet was turned down, trash emptied, towels and toiletries replaced, ice bucket filled, TV/music/lights turned on, and slippers set out. Each night, the turndown service placed some zen object on our nightstand - an incense burner, a tiny musical instrument, or a sand garden with a tiny rake. We never received a rice design on our bed, although the couple who was celebrating the special occasion (in the Aqua Suite) received several. STAYING CONNECTED: Wi-Fi was complimentary in the hotel itself (rooms, lobby, restaurants), but did not work well near the pool or on the beach. At certain times of day, the connectivity was faster than others. Newspapers (both English and Spanish) are available in the lobby near the concierge desk, and in Siete restaurant (although these seem to disappear early in the day at Siete). There is a business center on the Lobby level that contains about four computers and a printer, and secretarial service is available from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
DINING: The hotel has 14 food and beverage options: 9 restaurants and 5 bars. Restaurants include Azur, Siete, mb, Sea Corner, Sushi Station, Inlaa'kech Lobster & Grill, Hidden Garden, Varenna, and the Café Deli Boutique. Bars include AKA Bar, Egos Bar, Pool Club, and the Beach Bar. The hotel also offers 24-hour in-room dining (IRD)/room service, and there is a room service menu in one of the nightstands. (We did not use room service, but another couple in our group did several times, and they felt that it generally arrived quickly and correctly and in plentiful amounts.) None of the restaurants (except for Inlaa’kech) accepts reservations. If there is not space for you to dine when you arrive, the hostess will place your name on a waiting list. Azur is located in the pool area and features sea views during the daytime. Azur serves lunch (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm) and dinner (6:30 pm to 11:00 pm). The restaurant has an open-air feeling because it features high vaulted ceilings beneath a thatched palapa roof and surrounded by glass windows on three sides. The open kitchen on the main/pool/entry level, and tables on two subsequent lower levels (the first level has a ramp and is handicap-accessible), as well as outdoor dining overlooking the beach. (The lower level and the deck are not handicap-accessible.) Azur also has a comfortable and trendy-looking lounge area directly on the pool deck that is open from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm. We ate dinner one evening at Azur, and the restaurant went out of its way to show us a special time, personalizing a menu for us from their usual offerings. Siete is the main restaurant for the hotel, offering buffet-style dining for breakfast (6:30 am to 12:00 noon), lunch (1:00 pm to 4:00 pm), and dinner (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm). This restaurant is large, with lots of windows that look out onto the foliage and some of the pools. Most of the restaurant is on the ground/floor level, with some tables just one step up from the main floor (but therefore, not handicap-accessible on that upper level). There is a long communal high-top table near the entrance, but most of the restaurant features individual tables and separate tables that share a banquette wall. The decor features Mexican art and Pop art. We ate breakfast every day at Siete, as well as a few lunches. mb is the fanciest of the restaurants at Live Aqua, open only for dinner (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm). This is the only restaurant with a dress code: men must wear long pants and a shirt with a collar (although that can be a short-sleeved Polo-type shirt). We read that close-toes shoes were also mandatory for men, but we did not see anyone turned away for footwear as we saw them turned away for wearing shorts. This restaurant is elegant, with a partially open kitchen, indoor dining on two levels (the upper level is up about 4 steps from the main floor, and therefore, that level is not handicap-accessible), and some tables outdoors on a covered deck (but without any view). We dined at mb twice - the first time we thought it was excellent, with menu offerings, presentation, and service that is equitable to that of any big city, but our second experience was different (same menu, but the service was lacking, the food cold, and the presentation rushed). On the first night that we dined at mb, we were standing in line to request a table 15 minutes before they opened at 6:00 pm, and we were seated immediately. The second time that we dined, we placed our name on the waiting list at 7:15 pm, and were still waiting 1.5 hours later, when we finally told the hostess to split up our table for 6 people into two smaller tables (at which point we were seated immediately, and very close to one another); one of our only criticisms of the hotel is that they should accept dinner reservations for mb, even if just the morning of. There is a surcharge for certain items such as lobster and premium cuts of meat at mb, but the standard menu is great without needing to pay extra. (Note that initials for the restaurant, mb, represent the name of the Miami-based celebrity chef who set up the restaurant back when it was NOT an all-inclusive, but she no longer has any association with it.) Sea Corner is a completely outdoor restaurant (although it is shaded by a kind of canopy) that is open for lunch only (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm). This restaurant is almost hidden a few steps down from the swim-up pool bar at the far corner of the property. This restaurant is not handicap-accessible. It serves various ceviches, tacos, and other seafood entrees. Sushi Station is located on the Pool level near the AKA Bar and mb restaurant. Sushi Station is a takeout self-service option only open at night (5:00 pm to 11:00 pm); there is no formal seating for Sushi Station, nor is there any table service. (The photograph that we saw on the Live Aqua website that corresponded to the Sushi Station is a bit misleading; it is really a photo of mb.) Inlaa'kech Lobster & Grill is the only restaurant that requires additional cost to dine ($60 per person). The restaurant is outdoors, located between the hotel building and the pool, but does have some open-air roof coverings that provides protection in a drizzle (but not in heavy rain); other tables are completely uncovered. The restaurant is surrounded by foliage, so it is nearly impossible to see in or out. The menu includes steaks, lobster, and kebobs, accented by house-made sauces and marinades. Reservations are requested, and there are three seatings (6:00 pm, 7:30 pm, and 9:30 pm). We ate here one evening, and the food and service were good, but we are not sure that it was worth paying approximately $120 USD extra per couple. (Each couple had a $60 USD resort credit to use towards dining, so in the end, we paid $60 USD per COUPLE, which was more palatable.) This restaurant is mostly handicap-accessible, although some of the seats beneath the roof require a step up, and some of the tables on the ground level have less-than-stable flooring. Hidden Garden is a semi-outdoor restaurant that is located across from Inlaa’kech (between the main hotel building the pools). This restaurant is open for dinner only (6:00 pm to 11:00 pm) and features Asian cuisine. We think that at one time (when Live Aqua was NOT an all-inclusive resort) that this space was used as the outdoor relaxation area for the spa. This restaurant is handicap-accessible, and even has its own restroom (although that requires a step up), which is again probably left over from its days as part of the spa. This is an attractive space, Balinese-looking, with a small waterfall on one wall and another wall with niches that hold glowing candles. Varenna is the new Italian restaurant that opened in mid-November 2013. Open for lunch only (12:00 noon to 5:00 pm), it is an attractive, completely outdoor restaurant. The restaurant was too new when we visited to present menus, but the restaurant offers pasta dishes (several different noodle options paired with several different sauce choices), as well as flatbread pizzas. We are not sure what the final format will be, but when we dined, the servers walked around with different pizzas, and you either requested a slice or passed. Pasta entrees were plated and presented per person. We tried 6 to 8 different pizzas, with ingredients like pulled pork, chicken, vegetables, margarita, brie and apple, and so on. Café Deli Boutique is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. In the morning, the cafe offers coffee, tea, and pastries (if you just want a light breakfast snack, this is the place, rather than going to the buffet at Siete). For breakfast, the staff prepare coffees and other beverages for you, but you serve yourself pastries. The cafe offers sandwiches, desserts, and other snacks during lunch and dinner time. The cafe/boutique sells reading material, sunscreen, clothing, and souvenirs at an additional charge. AKA Bar is located on the Pool level, between Siete and mb. AKA offers bar seating as well as some lounge-type seating, and also has a pool/billiards table and two televisions (the TVs are not large - perhaps 20” - and primarily broadcast sports [moderated in Spanish, of course, even if it is an American game, which is kind of fun to listed to!]). This bar prominently features premium liquors. At night, there is flaming coffee service available, which is a worthwhile sight even if you do not personally drink it. AKA Bar is open all day from 10:00 am to 11:00 pm, but really only gets busy in the evenings. Egos Bar, located on the Lobby level, has a trendy nightclub atmosphere, with a large bar, comfy seating areas, and plenty of space to dance. Egos Bar is open only in the evenings from 7:00 pm to 1:00 am. The Pool Bar (sometimes called Pool Club) is the area surrounding the swim-up bar, and features the most intimate and lively outdoor atmosphere of any of the pools or the beach. Music plays around this bar area, unlike the other pools and beach on the property which are more quiet and restful. This bar is open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. One evening we saw a private event (a wedding for about 20+ people) held in this area. The Beach Bar (sometimes called the Shore Club) is located on the sand, open from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, and features some cute swings where you can sit and have a drink - if you can manage to haul yourself onto one of the high swings, that is! Another dining option is to plan a romantic private dinner on the beach. We did not see anyone doing this, but reportedly, the cost runs between $200 and $300, presumably depending on the menu items chosen. POOLS and
BEACH: The hotel has 8 pools that overlook the wide, white-sand beach. Each pool is a different temperature, based on the color of the pool, with the lightest being the warmest and the darkest being the coldest. The hot tub/jacuzzi spa was a good temperature, although we would have preferred that it was even a bit hotter. One pool contains a swim-up bar with several barstools, so that you can sit down and enjoy a drink while you are in the water. The swim-up pool was generally the busiest and liveliest of all the pools. Note that there is no pool that is reserved solely for Aqua Club members; we had read this information somewhere, but it is not true (perhaps it was accurate when the hotel was NOT an all-inclusive?). Each afternoon, near the hot tub, a cart was set up that served hot dogs, and alongside of the cart was a table with some sort of food/snacks (such as fajitas or paella). We also saw people ordering food right to their beach chairs. The beach fronting Live Aqua is wide and long, with soft white sand and gorgeous aquamarine water. Most of the chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas are set up in close proximity of each other, but the beach has lots of empty space available; if you do not want to meet your neighbors, ask the pool valets to move your chairs elsewhere (the cabanas are stationary). A lifeguard is on duty on the beach during daytime hours.
CABANAS: There are approximately 36 cabanas at the hotel. Each SUITE includes complimentary access to a cabana, so if all the suites are occupied, there is little chance that someone in a regular room (or even in an Aqua Club ROOM) could reserve a cabana. (The cost is $90 per day for those not staying in a suite.) Staying in an Aqua Club ROOM does not entitle you to a cabana (only the Aqua SUITES, Viento Suites, Fuego Suites, Tierra Suites, and Presidential Suites come with a cabana). The cabanas are a bit different than what we have seen at other hotels - they are really just large canopy beds with a comfy mattress, curtains surrounding all four sides that you can open or close, and some type of roof covering. (Some cabanas had a sort-of solid see-through sunshade/sunbrella material, other cabana tops had some wooden dowels that were woven with the sunshade fabric, some had an additional sunshade piece on the front that blocked more sun.) Being sun-lovers, we were concerned that using the cabana bed would not give us enough exposure, but we need not have worried. The cabanas are reserved at the same little hut/desk by the pool where you get your towels (you must provide your room number when you request towels, but you are not given a card and are not held responsible for returning them). You can reserve cabanas one day prior, or you can call down to the pool area to reserve one beginning at 7:00 am. The towel/cabana desk has a small lending library of books that you can borrow. You can book your 20-minute foot massage when you reserve your cabana; foot massages are given from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (although some staff gave conflicting hours), and one guest can take the full 20 minutes, or you can split the time into two 10-minute massages guests. There are seven cabanas directly on the beach (numbered 1 through 7). There are more than a dozen cabanas located a few steps up from the beach but also a few steps down from the pool deck; these cabanas are on their own “level” and they all face the sea (these MIGHT be numbered 8 through 24). There are another six cabanas near the main pool area (near Varenna restaurant), four other cabanas near the steps down to the Beach Bar (those might be numbers 25-26 and 27-28), and three cabanas near the swim-up pool (might be numbers 30-33). [DO NOT QUOTE US ON THE CABANA NUMBERS; this is just our best guess from what we remember; most of the cabanas are not numbered in any clear way.] We preferred the cabanas on the beach (1 through 7) because they afforded the most space and privacy around them; it was easy to pull two regular lounge chairs between them (actually, you could have fit four chairs between them), whereas the cabanas near the pools were right next to each other (which might be preferable for groups traveling together if you plan to talk all day, but those pool cabanas left little room to pull a regular chair nearby if you wanted full sun). The benefit to sitting at the pool is that they come around with appetizers and shots, which did not happen for the cabanas on the beach. There are several (10+) mattresses on wooden platforms (similar to the cabana beds, just not as high, and not surrounded by the canopy curtain) that are first-come, first-serve, and there are another three raised round beds near the hot tub that are also not reservable. The umbrellas and chairs that used to be set up in front of Azur on the “cabana” level are no longer there - it is just an empty space right now. We are not sure whether they might add more cabanas there, or if something else is planned for that space. In front of this empty Azur area is the outdoor spa where you can get a massage looking right at the ocean. There are plenty of umbrellas available both at the pool and on the beach.
AQUA CLUB: The Aqua Club lounge is located on the fifth floor and has great views of the beach and water. There is also a balcony/outdoor space with a view of the lagoon that has some small tables and where smoking is permitted (it is very windy, though). You can check-in and check-out at the club lounge; they also offer a concierge service if you want to plan any activities or ask for advice. The lounge features a serve-yourself breakfast (with both cold and hot options), afternoon tea, and evening canapes (both hot and cold). Most drinks are served by a staff member; premium liquor bottles are out for display, but the staff prefers to mix drinks for you. (Cans of beer are available self-serve.) Complimentary short 5-minute chair massages are sometimes available. The lounge is nicely decorated with seating arranged in different groupings. There is a good selection of coffee table books for reading while you are there. There is no computer available for guests to use in the lounge; however, there are computers on the Lobby level that are set up as a business center. SPA: The Aqua Spa is open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and is located on the Pool level. The surcharge to use the relaxation areas is $20 per day, and also includes the jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy, and cold bath. Most 50-minute treatments cost approximately $120 USD, including massages, baths, and facials. Other hotel amenities include a fitness center (this large facility, located on the Pool level, overlooks the gardens, and is open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm), beauty salon (seemed to be open daily from approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 pm), aromatherapy boutique, gift shop/cafe, and conference/meeting rooms. Laundry services are available at an additional fee (shoe shine service is also available, but we are not sure whether there is a charge).
TIMESHARES: Two rooms in our party were not bothered by requests to attend timeshare presentations, however, the third room (the Aqua Suite) received relentless requests (the staff must have thought that is who has the money!). The timeshare proposition happens like this: On arrival (or at various other times during your stay, depending on how aggressive the agents are), you may be approached and asked to take part in a 90-minute timeshare sales pitch for the Fiesta Americana’s Vacation club. For attending, you are given a gift such as free massages or private dinner credits. The salesman tries to build rapport and learn things about you (your income, where and how you vacation) so that they can tailor their sales pitch to you. Then they explain how their vacation club works. Then they ask you to buy it. Each year you own points that you can use to purchase hotel rooms, plane tickets, and so on. They request 20% to 30% as a down payment that day by credit card, and you to pay the balance over 5 years (at 15% interest). There are also yearly fees on top of that price that total approximately $1K.
ACTIVITES/ENTERTAINMENT: This resort does not offer complimentary non-motorized water sports such as sea kayaking, snorkeling, boogie boards, or paddle surfing; however, there is an independent vendor offering jet skiing and parasailing on the beach at the edge of the property, but the representative is not part of the hotel. This resort has no traditional all-inclusive nightly entertainment, although there are two evenings when the hotel offers something special: one evening (Thursday), an outdoor dance club (“Dancing Under the Stars”) was set up near the hot tub/Azur, and another night (a Tuesday, which was not a night that we were there), there was a fire show. From 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm on other nights of the week, live music (piano, violin) is presented at varying indoor locations. The hotel offers many daytime activities, but they are low-key and subtle, such as a Top Chef competition, sushi-making, guacamole lessons, wine-and-cheese-tasting, tequila tasting. For sports activities, the hotel offers yoga (hatha, vinyasa, and couples), volleyball, bocce, ping-pong, billiards, horseshoes, and beach soccer. Catholic Mass (in Spanish, of course!) occurs on Sunday afternoons in the lobby. The resort has resident parrots that fly around the resort from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon each day; you can hold and feed them. The hotel has 2 Rolls Royces with license plates AQUA1 and AQUA2, although these seem to be for display purposes only and are not used to chauffeur guests. The hotel runs a shuttle to different clubs in town in the evenings. We just missed the turtle season, but if you visit the hotel during the early fall, you can help release baby turtles into the ocean when they hatch from their eggs at night! On the Pool level, Lomas Travel and some other tour desks are on-site to help plan your off-site activities and excursions.
ACCESSIBILITY: We traveled with someone who has limited mobility and uses a wheelchair and power scooter. Handicapped access is fairly good. The hotel has six elevators (in two different elevator banks) that are somewhat slow, particularly if you are on the ninth (top) floor, like two of our rooms were. Some rooms can be quite far from the elevator banks. You cannot roll the scooter or wheelchair out on the balconies/terraces easily because of the threshold from the sliding glass door frame. The beach is completely inaccessible (unless someone carries you down), and the restrooms closest to the beach (near the Pool Bar and near Azur) both require a step to enter, making them inaccessible for someone who cannot walk up a step. (Oddly, right next to the Pool Bar (swim-up bar) restrooms is a ramp that leads back to the parrot cages; it would be great if the hotel had some way to connect that “parrot ramp” to the restrooms right next door. Having arrived with only a manual wheelchair, the hotel was able to rent a motorized scooter for us, and was also able to obtain a plastic shower chair. All restaurants (except Sea Corner) are accessible.
EVENT PLANNING: We held a small event at the hotel (for just six guests), and the staff went out of their way to make it truly special. Both our event planner (Gabriella) and our photographer (from Daniel Gastaldi Photography) did a great job! We set up the event via email in the months preceding our arrival, and all communication was prompt and courteous. Originally, we had planned to hold the event on the beach, but after scouting the location, we realized that our handicapped family member would have difficulty reaching that area. Instead, we held the event on the balcony adjacent to the lobby and Egos Bar, which we felt was even more picturesque (and more private) than if we had held it on the beach. There were potted palm trees, a white billowy canopy, pretty chairs with white covers, and appropriate music. The non-denominational officiant led a very touching ceremony, including a sand ritual, and when the event ended, the planner surprised our group when perhaps 15+ staff members surrounded us on the balcony and blew bubbles. How thoughtful!
TIPPING: We brought lots of small bills for tipping. Over the course of 5 days, each couple probably spent about $200: $100 in 1s and $100 in 5s. In general, each couple gave $3 for morning maid service, $3 for evening turndown, $2 for breakfast (buffet), $5 for lunch, $10 for dinner, $5 for foot massage, $3 for cabana set-up, and $2 to $5 for each round of drinks (depending on the number of drinks and degree of difficulty).
SERVICE: Service was great. Prior to arriving at Live Aqua Cancun, we read many reviews online, and most of the reviews mentioned staff by name. After staying at the hotel, we can see why past guests want to specifically mention staff - because they are caring, courteous, and willing to help. We want to compliment Lorena and Fernanda (concierges in the Aqua Club), Gabriella (the event planner), Angie (at the towel/cabana hut), and Luis (who provided great drink service at the beach/pool).
We had a great time at Live Aqua Cancun, and give it a thumbs up!
Philadelphia: Hilton Philadelphia Airport (November 2013)
My spouse and I stayed at the Hilton Philadelphia Airport for 1 night in late November 2013 using one of their Park-and-Fly packages (which includes a room for 1 night either at the beginning or at the end of your trip, and 7 nights of complimentary parking while you are on vacation).
The 9-story property has 330 rooms, and is located less than 5 minutes from the airport. The complimentary airport/hotel shuttle runs 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes beginning at the top of the hour. The hotel shuttle driver helps you load your luggage in the back of the shuttle bus, and there is seating for about 10 passengers, with standing room for about 6 or 8 more. The shuttle bus is also wheelchair-accessible. The hotel offers plenty of surface parking that is surrounded by a fence, although one does not need to access the lot through a latched/locked gate, so the parking lot is not completely secure. Be sure to book the parking package if you are leaving your car there for more than 1 night; you would not want to risk coming back from your vacation to find that your vehicle has been towed away. (The front desk provides a placard that you place on your dash board stating your arrival and departure days.) There is no bellman or valet parking at the hotel, but perhaps if you have mobility issues, they could make some accommodations. The hotel entrance features a long, covered porte-cochere, which was particularly useful on the rainy and blustery night that we checked in (you can probably fit 6 or 8 cars beneath it at the same time). There are some benches set up for smokers beneath the canopy, and a portion of the roof near the front door has outdoor heaters so that you do not freeze if you prefer to wait for the shuttle bus outside. There is a revolving front door, as well as a door that opens automatically for handicapped access. (There are other doors that exit into different areas of the parking lot near the conference rooms that are supposed to be locked during the night hours; however, we found them open and accessible without a room key at times when they should not have been.)
The hotel has several dining options: The Landings (a full-service fancier restaurant), Players Sports Bar (a full-service casual restaurant), and Café Express (open mornings only and serving Starbucks products as well as other drinks and snacks). The lunch menu at The Landings seems to be the all-day menu at Players (sandwiches primarily); however, the dinner menu is more fine-dining with steaks and other complete main course options (the Landings is open until 9:00 pm). The hotel offers an all-day complimentary coffee service in the lobby near the front desk. Players was a lively spot on the night that we stayed; the restaurant has both bar and table seating, as well as a comfy sofa and chairs in front of a large-screen TV. (There are several smaller TVs also.) Players has some video games for the kids, and two pool tables for the adults. There is a door from Players to the exterior parking lot that faces the nearby Starwood hotel complex (Sheraton, Four Points, and Aloft), although you must cross the exit ramp from I-95 to access those properties. (There is a Marriott Residence Inn located behind the Hilton that is more safely walkable.) We shared the buffalo won-tons as an appetizer, and the sliders and Philly cheesesteak as entrees (along with French fries and onion rings), and everything was good (and better-than-expected) except for the onion rings. We also tried the pecan pie for dessert, which was just acceptable. (The dessert menu comes directly from The Landings.) Players is open until 1:00 am but stops serving food at 11:00 pm.
As Hilton Hhonors Diamond members, we were given coupons to the buffet breakfast at the Landings (which sadly, we could not try because our flight departed too early), as well as two coupons for a drink or appetizer at Players (pretty generous, and ended up saving us about $20 off our total bill).
The indoor swimming pool is more attractive than we expected. Instead of being stashed in a dark, dreary basement, the pool at this hotel is on the main/lobby level, and it has tinted windows that look out onto the lobby. (The windows are merely tinted, not frosted, so you can see in and out, which means someone checking into the hotel could see you lounging around in your bathing suit.) There are some chairs spread around the pool, and plenty of striped towels (so there is no need to bring a bath towel from your room), and the area is bordered by some indoor plants. The fitness center is adjacent to the pool and features the usual equipment (perhaps 3 treadmills, 2 ellipticals, 2 bikes, some free weights, and some universal gym/weight machines). It seems that at one time there was a hot tub/Jacuzzi in the pool area, but it has been covered up/closed off (the image still shows in the hotel map in the hotel directory). There is a portable lift available if someone handicapped wants to use the pool. Off the fitness center and pool are locker rooms that contain bathroom stalls, lockers, changing areas, and one shower.
There is a small but well-stocked gift shop (open late until 10:00 or 11:00 pm) that sells both typical merchandise (snacks, reading material, OTC medicines, toiletries) and more atypical items (Philadelphia souvenirs, swimsuits, neckties, jewelry). There is a flight information board near the front desk, so you can check departure and arrival times. (Supposedly, this information was also available on one of the TV channels, but it was not working on the night that we were there.) A somewhat makeshift business center is located near the restaurants, outfitted with two computers and a printer. There are many conference/meeting rooms at this hotel. There is a good amount of comfortable public seating in the lobby area, and there is a small alcove across from the restaurants that offers seating in front of a fireplace (which was a popular place on the cold and rainy night that we visited).
We booked a deluxe room, and it was a generous size, with a king-size bed, easy chair and ottoman, desk/bureau/TV stand combo, and so on. The bathroom was a fine size as well, with a single sink in the vanity. Peter Thomas Roth toiletries were provided (two kinds of bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion). Previous reviewers remarked that this hotel was looking old and tired, so we had low expectations, but we were pleasantly surprised that everything was clean and in good working order. The property may need some updates to meet current full-service Hilton appearance, but we will gladly stay here again before an early flight. We liked the full-service aspects of this hotel (on-site bar and restaurant, gift shop, pool, room service, flight info board) that might not be available at the nearby Hampton Inn (although we would try that property, too, if their rates were substantially less).
The 9-story property has 330 rooms, and is located less than 5 minutes from the airport. The complimentary airport/hotel shuttle runs 24 hours a day, every 20 minutes beginning at the top of the hour. The hotel shuttle driver helps you load your luggage in the back of the shuttle bus, and there is seating for about 10 passengers, with standing room for about 6 or 8 more. The shuttle bus is also wheelchair-accessible. The hotel offers plenty of surface parking that is surrounded by a fence, although one does not need to access the lot through a latched/locked gate, so the parking lot is not completely secure. Be sure to book the parking package if you are leaving your car there for more than 1 night; you would not want to risk coming back from your vacation to find that your vehicle has been towed away. (The front desk provides a placard that you place on your dash board stating your arrival and departure days.) There is no bellman or valet parking at the hotel, but perhaps if you have mobility issues, they could make some accommodations. The hotel entrance features a long, covered porte-cochere, which was particularly useful on the rainy and blustery night that we checked in (you can probably fit 6 or 8 cars beneath it at the same time). There are some benches set up for smokers beneath the canopy, and a portion of the roof near the front door has outdoor heaters so that you do not freeze if you prefer to wait for the shuttle bus outside. There is a revolving front door, as well as a door that opens automatically for handicapped access. (There are other doors that exit into different areas of the parking lot near the conference rooms that are supposed to be locked during the night hours; however, we found them open and accessible without a room key at times when they should not have been.)
The hotel has several dining options: The Landings (a full-service fancier restaurant), Players Sports Bar (a full-service casual restaurant), and Café Express (open mornings only and serving Starbucks products as well as other drinks and snacks). The lunch menu at The Landings seems to be the all-day menu at Players (sandwiches primarily); however, the dinner menu is more fine-dining with steaks and other complete main course options (the Landings is open until 9:00 pm). The hotel offers an all-day complimentary coffee service in the lobby near the front desk. Players was a lively spot on the night that we stayed; the restaurant has both bar and table seating, as well as a comfy sofa and chairs in front of a large-screen TV. (There are several smaller TVs also.) Players has some video games for the kids, and two pool tables for the adults. There is a door from Players to the exterior parking lot that faces the nearby Starwood hotel complex (Sheraton, Four Points, and Aloft), although you must cross the exit ramp from I-95 to access those properties. (There is a Marriott Residence Inn located behind the Hilton that is more safely walkable.) We shared the buffalo won-tons as an appetizer, and the sliders and Philly cheesesteak as entrees (along with French fries and onion rings), and everything was good (and better-than-expected) except for the onion rings. We also tried the pecan pie for dessert, which was just acceptable. (The dessert menu comes directly from The Landings.) Players is open until 1:00 am but stops serving food at 11:00 pm.
As Hilton Hhonors Diamond members, we were given coupons to the buffet breakfast at the Landings (which sadly, we could not try because our flight departed too early), as well as two coupons for a drink or appetizer at Players (pretty generous, and ended up saving us about $20 off our total bill).
The indoor swimming pool is more attractive than we expected. Instead of being stashed in a dark, dreary basement, the pool at this hotel is on the main/lobby level, and it has tinted windows that look out onto the lobby. (The windows are merely tinted, not frosted, so you can see in and out, which means someone checking into the hotel could see you lounging around in your bathing suit.) There are some chairs spread around the pool, and plenty of striped towels (so there is no need to bring a bath towel from your room), and the area is bordered by some indoor plants. The fitness center is adjacent to the pool and features the usual equipment (perhaps 3 treadmills, 2 ellipticals, 2 bikes, some free weights, and some universal gym/weight machines). It seems that at one time there was a hot tub/Jacuzzi in the pool area, but it has been covered up/closed off (the image still shows in the hotel map in the hotel directory). There is a portable lift available if someone handicapped wants to use the pool. Off the fitness center and pool are locker rooms that contain bathroom stalls, lockers, changing areas, and one shower.
There is a small but well-stocked gift shop (open late until 10:00 or 11:00 pm) that sells both typical merchandise (snacks, reading material, OTC medicines, toiletries) and more atypical items (Philadelphia souvenirs, swimsuits, neckties, jewelry). There is a flight information board near the front desk, so you can check departure and arrival times. (Supposedly, this information was also available on one of the TV channels, but it was not working on the night that we were there.) A somewhat makeshift business center is located near the restaurants, outfitted with two computers and a printer. There are many conference/meeting rooms at this hotel. There is a good amount of comfortable public seating in the lobby area, and there is a small alcove across from the restaurants that offers seating in front of a fireplace (which was a popular place on the cold and rainy night that we visited).
We booked a deluxe room, and it was a generous size, with a king-size bed, easy chair and ottoman, desk/bureau/TV stand combo, and so on. The bathroom was a fine size as well, with a single sink in the vanity. Peter Thomas Roth toiletries were provided (two kinds of bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, body lotion). Previous reviewers remarked that this hotel was looking old and tired, so we had low expectations, but we were pleasantly surprised that everything was clean and in good working order. The property may need some updates to meet current full-service Hilton appearance, but we will gladly stay here again before an early flight. We liked the full-service aspects of this hotel (on-site bar and restaurant, gift shop, pool, room service, flight info board) that might not be available at the nearby Hampton Inn (although we would try that property, too, if their rates were substantially less).
Pittsburgh (November 2013)
Hotel:
- Doubletree
- Up Modern Kitchen
- Romano's Macaroni Grill (Harrisburg)
Pittsburgh: Up Modern Kitchen (November 2013)
My spouse and I dined at Up Modern Kitchen for lunch on a Saturday afternoon in mid-November 2013. The restaurant participates in the Open Table reservation system, although we just walked in. There is street parking as well as a parking lot and parking garage nearby. The restaurant is located on the corner of busy Walnut and Bellefonte Streets, so be sure to allow some time before or after your meal to stroll through some of the shops. This was my first visit to Shadyside (and the return visit for my spouse after 20+ years), and it will not be our last!
The restaurant is located on the second/top floor of the building, with both stair and elevator access. One-half of the restaurant is comprised of more of a bar-type area (with both bar seating and tables), and the other is the dining room. There are a good number of windows to let in light, and the space seems open and airy and slightly industrial in appearance.
The lunch/brunch menu (Saturday and Sunday only) is a bit limited; we liked to have a multi-course lunch, and there really were not any appetizers on the menu with the exception of soup (which they ran out of before we dined). The sandwich offerings are more interesting than they sound, and all come with finely-cut Parmesan herb shoestring-type French fries. The lunch/brunch menu consists of about 5 breakfasty options (eggs, waffles), 5 sandwiches, and 5 salads. We ordered a meatball sandwich and an Italian sandwich, which were both tasty, although both were served on a smallish round roll, not the longer submarine-type hoagie roll that we had expected. The dinner menu (served Tuesday through Sunday nights) sounds much more interesting and extensive. (Although the brunch menu that we ordered from was a la carte, we have recently heard that brunch is now buffet format.)
We would give Up Modern Kitchen another try for dinner if we find ourselves in Shadyside.
The restaurant is located on the second/top floor of the building, with both stair and elevator access. One-half of the restaurant is comprised of more of a bar-type area (with both bar seating and tables), and the other is the dining room. There are a good number of windows to let in light, and the space seems open and airy and slightly industrial in appearance.
The lunch/brunch menu (Saturday and Sunday only) is a bit limited; we liked to have a multi-course lunch, and there really were not any appetizers on the menu with the exception of soup (which they ran out of before we dined). The sandwich offerings are more interesting than they sound, and all come with finely-cut Parmesan herb shoestring-type French fries. The lunch/brunch menu consists of about 5 breakfasty options (eggs, waffles), 5 sandwiches, and 5 salads. We ordered a meatball sandwich and an Italian sandwich, which were both tasty, although both were served on a smallish round roll, not the longer submarine-type hoagie roll that we had expected. The dinner menu (served Tuesday through Sunday nights) sounds much more interesting and extensive. (Although the brunch menu that we ordered from was a la carte, we have recently heard that brunch is now buffet format.)
We would give Up Modern Kitchen another try for dinner if we find ourselves in Shadyside.
Annapolis MD (October 2013)
My spouse and I spent an enjoyable weekend in Annapolis, Maryland in late-October 2013. Our primary reason for visiting was to attend the University of Pittsburgh vs. Annapolis football game, but Annapolis seemed like a lovely place to spend the weekend itself. My spouse had business in the Washington DC area on the days preceding our trip, so I flew down to meet him (ABE to CLT, then CLT to DCA; not the most direct routing, but it saved me driving time). We met and stayed at the Hampton Inn at Reagan National Airport for one night prior to driving to Annapolis.
We checked into our hotel, the Westin, before we took the free trolley to the harbor area. We walked around the historic town. We ate lunch at the Federal House, after which we toured the United States Naval Academy. Later that evening, we dined at Level Small Plates Lounge.
The next morning, we ate breakfast at Fado Irish Pub, before walking to the game. The game was close, but ultimately Navy won. It was so impressive to see all the cadets marching into the stadium before the game, dressed in their uniforms. After the game, we ate dinner at Factor's Row.
The next morning, we toured the Annapolis Cemetery, before we ate brunch at the Metropolitan Kitchen, and then depart for home.
Hotels:
We checked into our hotel, the Westin, before we took the free trolley to the harbor area. We walked around the historic town. We ate lunch at the Federal House, after which we toured the United States Naval Academy. Later that evening, we dined at Level Small Plates Lounge.
The next morning, we ate breakfast at Fado Irish Pub, before walking to the game. The game was close, but ultimately Navy won. It was so impressive to see all the cadets marching into the stadium before the game, dressed in their uniforms. After the game, we ate dinner at Factor's Row.
The next morning, we toured the Annapolis Cemetery, before we ate brunch at the Metropolitan Kitchen, and then depart for home.
Hotels:
- Westin Annapolis Link to my review
- Hampton Inn Reagan National Airport Link to my review
- Federal House Link to my review
- Level Small Plates Lounge Link to my review
- Fado Irish Pub Link to my review
- Factor's Row Link to my review
- Metropolitan Kitchen Link to my review
Activity:
- United States Naval Academy Link to my review
Annapolis: Metropolitan Kitchen (October 2013)
My spouse and I dined at Metropolitan Kitchen for brunch on a Sunday in late October 2013. We made a reservation using the Open Table reservation system, which is wise if you do not want to risk waiting for a table. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner from Tuesday through Thursday, and breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Friday through Sunday. (Metropolitan Kitchen is closed on Mondays.)
The main dining area is spread over two rooms on the ground/street level. One room contains a large bar/counter where you can eat and drink, and a few tables, and the other room contains a more traditional full-service dining space. The restaurant has a rooftop lounge on the third floor (with a bar and table seating) that is open-air in nice weather (and temporarily enclosed and heated in the wintertime for private events only), and two few tiny tables on the sidewalk outside the main entrance door. The second floor contains venue space. Handicap-accessibility might be a bit dicey in this restaurant, which was originally two buildings located side-by-side that were joined into one space. Near our table, we could see a long electrical/extension cord laid along the carpet and taped into place, which seemed to be a bit of a safety-code violation.
Because we had arrived in the late morning, we had hoped to order from the lunch menu, but we were limited to just the breakfast options (we were told that we would have to wait 20 minutes if we wanted lunch, an amount of time that seemed negligible). We ordered a breakfast flatbread pizza called The Hangover, and an egg and seafood scramble that was served in a miniature iron skillet. We are not big breakfast eaters, but we loved the flatbread - delicious and plentiful - but the scramble was a little disappointing. The lunch and dinner menus sound much more interesting to us; had we been able to order from the lunch menu, we would have spent a lot more time and money there because some of the dishes sounded great (shark tacos, short rib tacos, crab rolls, charcuterie, flatbreads - and those were just the starters!). Service was acceptable, but not as attentive as we would have liked.
Although we probably would not return to Metropolitan Kitchen to dine indoors, we might try their rooftop deck for a drink, and we might try another restaurant owned by the same people - Tsunami or Lemongrass (or Bier House, when it opens).
The main dining area is spread over two rooms on the ground/street level. One room contains a large bar/counter where you can eat and drink, and a few tables, and the other room contains a more traditional full-service dining space. The restaurant has a rooftop lounge on the third floor (with a bar and table seating) that is open-air in nice weather (and temporarily enclosed and heated in the wintertime for private events only), and two few tiny tables on the sidewalk outside the main entrance door. The second floor contains venue space. Handicap-accessibility might be a bit dicey in this restaurant, which was originally two buildings located side-by-side that were joined into one space. Near our table, we could see a long electrical/extension cord laid along the carpet and taped into place, which seemed to be a bit of a safety-code violation.
Because we had arrived in the late morning, we had hoped to order from the lunch menu, but we were limited to just the breakfast options (we were told that we would have to wait 20 minutes if we wanted lunch, an amount of time that seemed negligible). We ordered a breakfast flatbread pizza called The Hangover, and an egg and seafood scramble that was served in a miniature iron skillet. We are not big breakfast eaters, but we loved the flatbread - delicious and plentiful - but the scramble was a little disappointing. The lunch and dinner menus sound much more interesting to us; had we been able to order from the lunch menu, we would have spent a lot more time and money there because some of the dishes sounded great (shark tacos, short rib tacos, crab rolls, charcuterie, flatbreads - and those were just the starters!). Service was acceptable, but not as attentive as we would have liked.
Although we probably would not return to Metropolitan Kitchen to dine indoors, we might try their rooftop deck for a drink, and we might try another restaurant owned by the same people - Tsunami or Lemongrass (or Bier House, when it opens).
Annapolis: Factor's Row (October 2013)
My spouse and I dined at Factor's Row for dinner in late October 2013. We made our reservation online using the Open Table reservation system. No one from this restaurant called to reconfirm our reservation, which we were surprised about, but they did have our information when we arrived. When we entered the restaurant, the hostess asked us whether we wanted to sit upstairs or downstairs - we had thought that making a reservation ensured us of a table upstairs, but apparently we could have chosen to dine on either floor. (Supposedly, the menu downstairs is more casual and less expensive.) The restaurant also has outdoor seating on the sidewalk with a view of the harbor. There are not many tables in the upstairs dining room - some of the room is used as a bar area for drinks (with just a few stools) and space is dedicated to the open kitchen area (fronted by a chef's bar with 5 stools). We did not know about the chef's bar; otherwise, we might have requested to sit there so that we could watch the chefs work; however, it was not particularly busy on the Saturday night that we dined (despite there being a Navy home football game and it being homecoming), so there would not have been much to watch the chefs prepare. (We dined at 8:00 pm, which we did not feel was so late to have such a small crowd.) It did not appear that the chefs on the second floor were preparing food for the patrons on the first/ground floor, so there must be another kitchen elsewhere in the building.
The food looked better than it tasted - there was nothing wrong with our dishes, but for the price, we wish that they had been tastier and better executed. We shared a great beef tartare, the consistency and texture of which was coarser and chunkier than other similar dishes we have eaten. We also shared a roasted beet and smoked trout salad (which lacked flavor, despite the trout). For entrees, we ordered duck (which sounded as if it would be served in several different preparations, but was instead just plated in different quartered sections atop varying accompaniments) and scallops (which might have been good, except that the scallops that we had eaten the evening previous were so delicious that these paled in comparison). For dessert, we shared a generous slice of Smith Island cake, a 12-layer cake that can either have chocolate frosting between vanilla layers or some other combination (we had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting between the layers). The bread that was served prior to our meal looked great, but when we reached into the tiny wire basket, we were surprised to find that the rolls were completely cold (they looked freshly baked) and were also already sliced down the middle (so it seems that they came pre-packaged from a bag); by contrast, the butter looked unique and perhaps homemade. The cutlery was looked and felt inexpensive, which we did not expect from the prices that they charge for their entrees. Service was acceptable, but no one went out of their way to make it any more special than that. Our meal was satisfactory in general, but we would probably not return to Factor's Row.
The food looked better than it tasted - there was nothing wrong with our dishes, but for the price, we wish that they had been tastier and better executed. We shared a great beef tartare, the consistency and texture of which was coarser and chunkier than other similar dishes we have eaten. We also shared a roasted beet and smoked trout salad (which lacked flavor, despite the trout). For entrees, we ordered duck (which sounded as if it would be served in several different preparations, but was instead just plated in different quartered sections atop varying accompaniments) and scallops (which might have been good, except that the scallops that we had eaten the evening previous were so delicious that these paled in comparison). For dessert, we shared a generous slice of Smith Island cake, a 12-layer cake that can either have chocolate frosting between vanilla layers or some other combination (we had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting between the layers). The bread that was served prior to our meal looked great, but when we reached into the tiny wire basket, we were surprised to find that the rolls were completely cold (they looked freshly baked) and were also already sliced down the middle (so it seems that they came pre-packaged from a bag); by contrast, the butter looked unique and perhaps homemade. The cutlery was looked and felt inexpensive, which we did not expect from the prices that they charge for their entrees. Service was acceptable, but no one went out of their way to make it any more special than that. Our meal was satisfactory in general, but we would probably not return to Factor's Row.
Annapolis: United States Naval Academy (October 2013)
My spouse and I visited the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis on a Friday afternoon in late October 2013. It is not possible to make reservations for tours (other than for large groups), but they occur at the top of every hour on weekdays and on the hour and half-hour on weekends. We paid approximately $10 per adult, and we were able to use a credit card to pay for our tours. You must pass through a security gate to access the campus of the academy, which is surrounded by a high gray wall. We waited in line for about 20 minutes on the day that we visited (so you may want to plan accordingly), but other guests seemed to think the crowds that day were larger than normal. Visitors must show picture ID and pass through a metal detector to access the campus. There are other gates besides the main gate (Gate 1), and as we saw later in the day, access was faster at those ancillary gates. The main gate (on King George and Randall Streets) is closest to the Armel-Leftwich Visitors Center, though, where you will purchase your tour, and where you can visit the gift shop, use the restrooms, buy a cold beverage from a vending machine (which takes credit cards), and see a short 12-minute film. The movie is worthwhile - it gives you a visual representation of the process that the cadets go through from matriculation through graduation. You can also visit the nearby Drydock restaurant if you want a bite to eat or have a few minutes to spare before or after your tour. The walking tour takes about 1.5 hours and covers a lot of ground, so be prepared to stand for extended periods of time. Our tour included the Lejeune Physical Education Center (with its Olympic-size pool and wrestling venue), Dahlgren Hall, Tecumseh Court, and Bancroft Hall (the largest residence hall in the country, where you can view an example of a typical midshipman's dorm room). Bancroft Hall also features Memorial Hall, a solemn and beautiful space that holds the famous "Don't Give Up the Ship" banner. The lobby of Bancroft holds many photos and plaques of notable graduates, including Senator John McCain, former President Jimmy Carter, past presidential hopeful Ross Perot, and pro football player Roger Staubach. Because we visited on Halloween weekend, and a concert was scheduled for the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel, we were not able to go inside the bright copper-clad dome, beneath which lies the crypt of the Revolutionary War Naval Officer John Paul Jones. Other important features of the campus include the Levy Center and Jewish Chapel, and Preble Hall (which houses a museum). You might want to consider taking a tour of the USNA with Annapolis Tours, where guides in Colonial dress show you around the historic district, as well as on the Naval Academy property (although this company independent from the USNA). We visited West Point in New York a few years ago, and our visit to the Naval Academy in Annapolis offered a great comparison and contrast between the two campuses and military prep schools; next up, the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs!
Annapolis: Federal House (October 2013)
My spouse and I dined at Federal House on a Friday afternoon for lunch in late October. We were looking for a restaurant in the heart of the harbor area near the Naval Academy, and this restaurant met our needs. This excellently located historic building dates back to the mid-1800s, with a brick exterior and lots of wood inside. The restaurant features some outdoor seating on the sidewalk, and lots of seating inside on ground/street level in two different rooms. One of the street-level rooms contains a traditional dining room, with tables spaced nicely, some in front of windows. (Some tables are a step up from other tables.) The main room contains the large bar, lots of TVs, and is open to the second floor (where banquet/event space is available). There are a few steps to gain entrance to the restaurant, so we are not sure how handicap-accessible it is, although there are handicapped restrooms on the first floor (as well as additional restrooms on the second floor); there might be another entrance that does not involve steps. The restaurant seemed family-friendly during the day, at least - we think that they have a DJ and dancing later in the evenings, when it might be more of a bar scene. The lunch menu offered both casual American fare (like sandwiches and salads and raw bar items) as well as entrees, with lots of seafood options. We shared calamari as an appetizer, and then ordered fish and chips and an oyster po'boy; the French fries were good, and the fish seemed like actual fish that someone had breaded (as opposed to something frozen). Our food was satisfactory, but we do not think that we would splurge on entrees that cost twice the price. Service was fine, but the restaurant was fairly empty when we dined, so it may take longer when it is filled to capacity. We feel that Federal House is a solid choice near the harbor, but there are many other options nearby.
Annapolis: Fado Irish Pub (October 2013)
My spouse and I dined at Fado Irish Pub on a Saturday morning prior to a Navy football game. We stayed nearby at the Westin Annapolis, and we read on the Fado website that the restaurant opened at 10:00 am, which would allow us just enough time for a quick bite before walking to the game. However, when we arrived, we learned that the restaurant often opens even earlier (for example, 7:00 am) when it broadcasts European soccer, in order to accommodate customers because of the time difference. So do not be afraid to show up earlier than the stated opening time.
The restaurant space is large, with half of their seating on the main floor and the other half of the seating just a few steps above the ground/street level. The restaurant also offers outdoor seating, and in the cooler weather, roll-down tent flaps keep diners warm in the semi-outdoor environment. One criticism of this restaurant is that the door that opens onto West Street says to use the side entrance, but that entrance is a little difficult to locate because of the roll-down flaps (and also, on the weekend that we were visiting, there was plastic fencing set up outside to keep customers queued to enter in the evening when the bar is busy and trying to maintain capacity control).
We realize that this is a chain restaurant, but it is not one with which we are familiar. We thought that the food was good - far better than other chains. Even though we visited in mid-morning, both the brunch (breakfast) and lunch/dinner menus were available. We enjoyed the pork belly, the macaroni and cheese, the lamb French dip served with thick-cut chips, and the bread pudding. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, and the staff worked well together.
We had a great experience at Fado, and we would visit again if we encountered a location in another city (or if we return to Annapolis).
The restaurant space is large, with half of their seating on the main floor and the other half of the seating just a few steps above the ground/street level. The restaurant also offers outdoor seating, and in the cooler weather, roll-down tent flaps keep diners warm in the semi-outdoor environment. One criticism of this restaurant is that the door that opens onto West Street says to use the side entrance, but that entrance is a little difficult to locate because of the roll-down flaps (and also, on the weekend that we were visiting, there was plastic fencing set up outside to keep customers queued to enter in the evening when the bar is busy and trying to maintain capacity control).
We realize that this is a chain restaurant, but it is not one with which we are familiar. We thought that the food was good - far better than other chains. Even though we visited in mid-morning, both the brunch (breakfast) and lunch/dinner menus were available. We enjoyed the pork belly, the macaroni and cheese, the lamb French dip served with thick-cut chips, and the bread pudding. Our server was friendly and knowledgeable, and the staff worked well together.
We had a great experience at Fado, and we would visit again if we encountered a location in another city (or if we return to Annapolis).
Annapolis: Westin Annapolis (October 2013)
My spouse and I stayed at the Westin Annapolis for 2 nights in late October 2013 so that we could attend a Navy football game and do some sightseeing. We booked our room months in advance, which was wise, because most hotels sold out quickly on the weekend that we visited (it was also Navy homecoming, so there were many class reunions). The hotel required a 2-night minimum, which may be standard procedure on fall football weekends.
The hotel is about a 15-minute walk to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and also a 15-minute walk to the harbor area; however, there is a free trolley system, called the Circulator, that operates from early morning until 12:00 midnight (2:00 am on weekends). The vehicle traffic is pretty congested in downtown Annapolis, so the trolley will only get you to your destination as fast as traffic allows (sometimes it seemed faster to walk where we wanted to go). The trolley stops at the bottom of the hotel driveway, and makes its loop every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic (so you will see it every 15 minutes if there is no traffic, and closer to every 30 minutes if there is traffic); there are two trolleys that run the loop. The hotel offers valet parking for $24 per day (although the website said $23), or self-parking for $10 per day (the valets were extremely helpful in directing us where to park ourselves, which earned them a nice tip despite the fact that they did not park our car). The hotel is located in a residential and shopping complex called Park Place, which contains a spa (Varuna by Aveda), Italian restaurant (Carpaccio) and related take-out pizza shop (Carpaccio Pizzeria 2 Go), Irish pub (Fado), and breakfast café (Shirley's). There is a 7-11 convenience store (with gas pumps) within 2 blocks, as well as another gas station with a smaller mini-mart. There are many restaurants and shops within easy walking distance of the hotel, and the USNA is a 15-minute walk toward the harbor area.
The hotel has a grand front entrance with a circular driveway, but the lobby is minimalist and modern-looking. The lobby area opens onto the Azure bar/lounge and restaurant, and there is a small pantry shop near the front desk. Outside the main entrance, there are a few teak tables and chairs that may be set up as a smoking section, relatively far from the front door so that most guests do not have to walk through others second-hand smoke. The part of the hotel that faces the traffic circle seems to have an entrance into the hotel itself, but the design is poor, and that back door is locked because it opens into a banquet room. Oddly, there are some teak tables and chairs outside of this entrance, but we do not know how people would reach those tables and chairs without circling around the building. The indoor pool is small and utilitarian; the area also contains a small Jacuzzi and a movable lift for the handicapped to use either the pool or spa. The pool is staffed by a lifeguard. The pool is open continuously from morning until night in the summertime, but in the fall/winter, the pool closes for a few hours in the afternoon. A fitness center is next to the pool with equipment like treadmills, Stairmasters, bikes, and free weights. (The hotel will loan you New Balance gear like shorts, T-shirt, socks, and sneakers if you forget yours.) This hotel has many function/meeting/banquet rooms, most of which were occupied on the weekend that we visited.
We reserved a room with two queen beds, which was all that was available to us when we made our reservation. We tried to switch to a room with one king bed when we checked in, but none were available. We were permitted to check in before noon, but that probably depends on availability the previous evening (which in our case, was a Thursday night). We were offered a late Sunday checkout up to 3:00 pm when we checked in, as long as we could give the reservationist some idea of when we would actually depart (this complimentary perk is part of the Westin Weekend plan). Our room was fairly compact - the two queen beds took up most of the available space, with a sort of sofa table in between them that functioned as a shared nightstand. The nightstand held two lamps, and a regular old-fashioned digital alarm clock (a rarity these days! Sometimes the new iPod docking station-type clocks are a bit hard to figure out, especially when you are tired and just want to go to sleep). Our room had a large window that had a roll-down modern privacy shade as well as blackout curtains. The bureau area featured a desk and chair, clothing storage space, and an empty refrigerator (there are ice machines on every floor, and an ice bucket and glassware are available as well). We did not have a comfy chair (or a divan or sofa) as we saw in some of the hotel photos - other than lying in bed or sitting on the hard, rolling desk chair, there was nowhere to watch TV from comfortably. One robe hung on the back of the bathroom door. The bathroom was a decent size, although it contained only one sink in the vanity area. Westin Heavenly Bath signature toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion) in a white tea aloe scent that were present when we checked in were not replaced on the morning of our second night (one tiny bottle of each item for two people for two nights just is not enough!). Plenty of fluffy towels were provided on the open wooden racks below the sink, as well as a hair dryer (not attached to the wall). The bathroom mirror was a bit unique - framed in a lighted rectangle, the lights caused a similar lighted rectangular reflection in our pupils every time we looked in it (which could be a little freaky if you had a few drinks). The bed linens were great - Westin offers nearly everything that they use in the rooms for sale (Heavenly Bed mattresses, sheets, duvet cover, pillows, shower curtain, double shower head, mirror, toiletries, and so on). Coffee service is provided in a single-cup machine. The closet contained an iron and ironing board, electronic safe, and TWO luggage racks (much appreciated, because generally there are two people per room, and just one luggage rack). Internet is NOT complimentary (approximately $10 per day). Some previous guests report connecting their devices in the lobby, where Wi-Fi is free, and then taking them up to their room without turning them off, in order to maintain the free connectivity. Evening turndown is by request. The hotel tries to be "green" - there was a good-size recycling trash can (in addition to the regular trash can) in our room, and the hotel offers a $5 credit per night of your stay to be used in the bar/restaurant if you decline daily maid service (which means absolutely NO service, not even trash removal or towel replacement); this offer is not available for 1-night stays, because obviously the room must be cleaned prior to the arrival of the next guest.
We loved Annapolis, and the location of this hotel suited our needs perfectly. There are not many large lodging options in the historic area - just the Westin, Loews, and Marriott, as well as an independent hotel called O'Callaghan's - and given the chance to visit Annapolis again, we would probably pick the Westin for our next stay.
The hotel is about a 15-minute walk to the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, and also a 15-minute walk to the harbor area; however, there is a free trolley system, called the Circulator, that operates from early morning until 12:00 midnight (2:00 am on weekends). The vehicle traffic is pretty congested in downtown Annapolis, so the trolley will only get you to your destination as fast as traffic allows (sometimes it seemed faster to walk where we wanted to go). The trolley stops at the bottom of the hotel driveway, and makes its loop every 15 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic (so you will see it every 15 minutes if there is no traffic, and closer to every 30 minutes if there is traffic); there are two trolleys that run the loop. The hotel offers valet parking for $24 per day (although the website said $23), or self-parking for $10 per day (the valets were extremely helpful in directing us where to park ourselves, which earned them a nice tip despite the fact that they did not park our car). The hotel is located in a residential and shopping complex called Park Place, which contains a spa (Varuna by Aveda), Italian restaurant (Carpaccio) and related take-out pizza shop (Carpaccio Pizzeria 2 Go), Irish pub (Fado), and breakfast café (Shirley's). There is a 7-11 convenience store (with gas pumps) within 2 blocks, as well as another gas station with a smaller mini-mart. There are many restaurants and shops within easy walking distance of the hotel, and the USNA is a 15-minute walk toward the harbor area.
The hotel has a grand front entrance with a circular driveway, but the lobby is minimalist and modern-looking. The lobby area opens onto the Azure bar/lounge and restaurant, and there is a small pantry shop near the front desk. Outside the main entrance, there are a few teak tables and chairs that may be set up as a smoking section, relatively far from the front door so that most guests do not have to walk through others second-hand smoke. The part of the hotel that faces the traffic circle seems to have an entrance into the hotel itself, but the design is poor, and that back door is locked because it opens into a banquet room. Oddly, there are some teak tables and chairs outside of this entrance, but we do not know how people would reach those tables and chairs without circling around the building. The indoor pool is small and utilitarian; the area also contains a small Jacuzzi and a movable lift for the handicapped to use either the pool or spa. The pool is staffed by a lifeguard. The pool is open continuously from morning until night in the summertime, but in the fall/winter, the pool closes for a few hours in the afternoon. A fitness center is next to the pool with equipment like treadmills, Stairmasters, bikes, and free weights. (The hotel will loan you New Balance gear like shorts, T-shirt, socks, and sneakers if you forget yours.) This hotel has many function/meeting/banquet rooms, most of which were occupied on the weekend that we visited.
We reserved a room with two queen beds, which was all that was available to us when we made our reservation. We tried to switch to a room with one king bed when we checked in, but none were available. We were permitted to check in before noon, but that probably depends on availability the previous evening (which in our case, was a Thursday night). We were offered a late Sunday checkout up to 3:00 pm when we checked in, as long as we could give the reservationist some idea of when we would actually depart (this complimentary perk is part of the Westin Weekend plan). Our room was fairly compact - the two queen beds took up most of the available space, with a sort of sofa table in between them that functioned as a shared nightstand. The nightstand held two lamps, and a regular old-fashioned digital alarm clock (a rarity these days! Sometimes the new iPod docking station-type clocks are a bit hard to figure out, especially when you are tired and just want to go to sleep). Our room had a large window that had a roll-down modern privacy shade as well as blackout curtains. The bureau area featured a desk and chair, clothing storage space, and an empty refrigerator (there are ice machines on every floor, and an ice bucket and glassware are available as well). We did not have a comfy chair (or a divan or sofa) as we saw in some of the hotel photos - other than lying in bed or sitting on the hard, rolling desk chair, there was nowhere to watch TV from comfortably. One robe hung on the back of the bathroom door. The bathroom was a decent size, although it contained only one sink in the vanity area. Westin Heavenly Bath signature toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, body lotion) in a white tea aloe scent that were present when we checked in were not replaced on the morning of our second night (one tiny bottle of each item for two people for two nights just is not enough!). Plenty of fluffy towels were provided on the open wooden racks below the sink, as well as a hair dryer (not attached to the wall). The bathroom mirror was a bit unique - framed in a lighted rectangle, the lights caused a similar lighted rectangular reflection in our pupils every time we looked in it (which could be a little freaky if you had a few drinks). The bed linens were great - Westin offers nearly everything that they use in the rooms for sale (Heavenly Bed mattresses, sheets, duvet cover, pillows, shower curtain, double shower head, mirror, toiletries, and so on). Coffee service is provided in a single-cup machine. The closet contained an iron and ironing board, electronic safe, and TWO luggage racks (much appreciated, because generally there are two people per room, and just one luggage rack). Internet is NOT complimentary (approximately $10 per day). Some previous guests report connecting their devices in the lobby, where Wi-Fi is free, and then taking them up to their room without turning them off, in order to maintain the free connectivity. Evening turndown is by request. The hotel tries to be "green" - there was a good-size recycling trash can (in addition to the regular trash can) in our room, and the hotel offers a $5 credit per night of your stay to be used in the bar/restaurant if you decline daily maid service (which means absolutely NO service, not even trash removal or towel replacement); this offer is not available for 1-night stays, because obviously the room must be cleaned prior to the arrival of the next guest.
We loved Annapolis, and the location of this hotel suited our needs perfectly. There are not many large lodging options in the historic area - just the Westin, Loews, and Marriott, as well as an independent hotel called O'Callaghan's - and given the chance to visit Annapolis again, we would probably pick the Westin for our next stay.
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