Reviews

LIVE AQUA SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE URBAN RESORT

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After hitting the highway early in the morning and driving for three calm hours from Mexico City, we arrived in the beautiful town of San Miguel de Allende. Through the stretch of small streets we found our way to the hotel; and let me tell you, even though it’s beautiful from the outside, we were not ready for what awaited on the inside.

As we entered the hotel, we noticed big, beautiful open places, gardens, art, architecture and lots of perfect spots for pictures. In the lobby we didn’t even wait a minute before a kind woman approached us and took care of us while we enjoyed a refresher; this proved one of the fastest and most comfortable check-ins I’ve witnessed, granting access to our room earlier than expected. She gave us important information about the services, amenities and sanitary regulations so we could enjoy a safe but fun stay, because protecting ourselves and others remains important.

GUEST QUARTERS: Our room could accommodate two to three guests, but for comfort I recommend keeping it to two. The hotel left us a welcome gift of a bottle of red wine and a plate of strawberries with chocolate, all perfectly fresh. The staff truly thought about every detail.

The well-organized bathroom featured two sinks; a bathtub for a relaxing soak; a separate, private shower; and a door leading to the toilet. Our room included a TV, a record player and a selection of vinyl to play, an espresso machine with capsules of coffee and tea, and a mini fridge stocked with basics you might want in the middle of the night.

When you book a room, consider requesting one with a view of the countryside.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: I was impressed by the number of services and amenities I could access, starting with the wellness center — more than properly equipped, extra clean and with a touch of street art on the walls.

The pool area with a bar offered a comfortable space perfect for a drink before any outside plans; the views and climatized pool were delightful. You must pamper yourself at Feel Urban Harmony Spa, which takes guests to another level of relaxation with a private sauna.

My brother needed the laundry service for a shirt, and the fast turnaround impressed us; we thought it would take longer.

REVIEWED BY Mariana Zenizo

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

The hotel is 100 percent dog-friendly, a wonderful characteristic. I will bring my dog with me next time. -------------------------Just an eight-minute walk from the hotel you’ll find the beautiful San Miguel Patio Decor gallery, which includes mini cafés and restaurants for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The art, the food and the coffee will delight you. -------------------------I found the pillow menu perfect for me; since I have neck problems, I consulted the menu and chose the right pillow for a good sleep. I didn’t know how important this detail was until I stayed at Live Aqua.

LIVE AQUA SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE URBAN RESORT Calz. de la Presa 85 Zona Centro 37700 San Miguel de Allende Mexico tel 52 415 150 2300 liveaqua.com

CABANA

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: Since you’ll be taking your accommodations on the road in the form of a customized van, you will enjoy a wonderful pre-arrival process from home that allows you to curate your experience with the Cabana app. You can choose a pick-up location (currently Los Angeles or Seattle) and select how much or little assistance you want with the onboard amenities list. Once everything is confirmed, you eagerly await trip time. On trip day, you arrive at the pick-up location with your van number in hand and use your Cabana app to access your van, where you’ll find your keys and embark on your adventure-filled journey.

GUEST QUARTERS: Your luxury RV comes with all the comforts you might not expect if you’ve never been on such an adventure. You might expect compact quarters, but you’ll find all the comforts you’ll need on your trip. The standard facilities include a shower (with hot water), toilet, a queen-sized bed, linens, towels and toiletries (so you can pack light), coffee and a kettle.

SERVICES/AMENITIES:

Cabana offers a truly customizable experience. Regardless of your other selections, you will enjoy WiFi (with hotspot), a 24-inch TV, fridge for the essentials, plenty of USB ports and power outlets, heater, ceiling fan, a stand-in shower and bathroom. We made the best use of our heater since we traveled in the winter. In winter, Cabana will automatically provide tire chains should you need them.

Make your experience easier with the following: Cabana offers Concierge to take care of your entire trip with services like making reservations at your overnight spots and mapping them out and creating an itinerary with recommended breakfast spots, sights of interest and more. You can choose from a selection of add-ons; for example, reduce your packing by adding a full kitchen with basic dishes including an electric kettle, a pot and pan and full sink. Pups are also welcome on this journey … just add the Dog Kit.

REVIEWED BY Maria Angeles

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

Cabana offers the perfect recreational vehicle experience for those who have put off the experience for fear of driving an oversized vehicle. -------------------------Cabana’s team stays with you the whole way. If anything comes up, its team is just a click away through the app. -------------------------Starting January 2022, Cabana began offering one-way trips, either from Seattle or Los Angeles pick-up locations.

CABANA cabana.life

CASEY KEY RESORTS - BEACHFRONT

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: I planned a trip to Sarasota to visit some co-workers in late February and arrived at Casey Key Resorts - Beachfront in the early evening after driving all day. Situated on a narrow road lined with vacation homes, rentals and cottages, I found Casey Key Resorts - Beachfront tucked in between, with clean white walls and a designated parking space for guests. The resort lies on the same stretch of road that trails through the gorgeous beach homes of Siesta Key.

This keyless resort sent me an email with a code to enter my room. Each door exits to the outside for optimal enjoyment of the Florida sun and Gulf breeze; and upon walking around the corner to my room (Room 7), I suddenly faced the blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the white sands of the beach. My doors opened right up to the beach, facing the setting sun.

GUEST QUARTERS: The resort recently renovated the rooms of the beachfront properties. In addition to having my own designated beach chairs and umbrella just outside my door, the influence of the beach continued in the décor and layout of the room. The bed sat in the center, facing the French doors so that, as the sun set, lying on the bed entailed a bask in the golden light.

The back wall featured black metal wall lamps as well as a wooden surfboard sitting behind the bed, positioned horizontally with the cursive “Surf” scrawled on the front. The room incorporated neutral tones like whites, creams and tans to draw some of the earthy tones of the beach into the room. In addition to a spacious closet, microwave, WiFi, smart television and mini fridge, the bathroom further elevated the room and was, in my opinion, a highlight of the stay. The mirror had a light-up option to provide natural lighting for makeup and hair styling. The standing shower featured intricate tile flooring with a sleek glass wall and a built-in shelf on the far wall.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: The beachfront resort lies just five miles down the road from the mainland resort, and guests can take advantage of its many amenities. While the beachfront properties come with private beach chairs and direct access to the beach, additional amenities at the mainland property include a resort pool and tiki bar, which serves refreshments Thursdays–Sundays. Guests can also enjoy their in-room Keurig coffee machine.

Those wanting an escape to the quiet Gulf will find muchneeded respite at this resort. Casey Key Resorts - Beachfront blends simplicity with the beach to create a calming ambience.

REVIEWED BY Aoife O’Riordan

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

Sitting just steps from the beach, few other resorts can boast having the Gulf of Mexico on their doorstep with a private view of the waters.

-------------------------At night, the resort is quiet and allows guests to fully enjoy the solitude and peacefulness of the beach. Despite the resort sitting near other resorts and vacation properties, the area is quite calm. -------------------------Recently renovated from top to bottom

CASEY KEY RESORTS - BEACHFRONT 221 Casey Key Road Venice, FL 34275 tel 941 966 2121 caseykeybeachfront resort.com

AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT MIAMI BRICKELL

ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: My colleague and I arrived earlier than normal check-in time, so I didn’t expect the room to be ready for us. However, the staff was polite and offered to keep my luggage while we headed out to a lunch meeting. When we returned later that afternoon, the room was ready and I checked in with no issues. One thing that stood out was the AC Hotel and The Element hotel shared a lobby on the sixth floor, making the floor entrance an elite experience with a hallway leading to separated elevators.

GUEST QUARTERS: The room was everything I imagined from the photographs online — modern and clean with lots of light and open space. With recent updated innovations such as tap key entries, I felt safe and secure in my 14th-floor room. Each room included a full-sized desk, making it comfortable to work from my room. My favorite part of the room was the bathroom with full mirror lighting and an open glass shower with a rainfall head complemented with high-end shampoo and conditioner. The room also had a mini fridge to store leftovers plus plenty of space to hang clothing and store shoes and luggage.

SERVICES/AMENITIES:

This inner-city hotel features a well-equipped gym located on the top floor; a refreshing rooftop pool overlooking the city with several shaded cabanas; fine dining done right with a glorious bar; and complimentary breakfast with a staffed crêpe bar, open until 10 a.m. But that’s not all! The hotel also offers a gorgeous rooftop known as Rosa Sky, open to the public, by night club owner Alan Roth and creative director Jasmine Viana. At Rosa Sky, I exited the elevator doors to a breathtaking view and into the life of a party with great cocktails and live DJs. This proved a fun way to end my workday without venturing far.

REVIEWED BY Christyn Pek

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

AC Hotel by Marriott Miami Brickell sits in a centralized location in downtown Brickell near the business district, making it convenient for business travelers to attend meetings or hop on the freeway to commute to Doral or Fort Lauderdale.

-------------------------Only two blocks from great shopping at Brickell city center, surrounded by fine dining and nightlife

AC HOTEL BY MARRIOTT MIAMI BRICKELL 115 S.W. 8th St. Miami, FL 33130 tel 786 628 1500 marriott.com