After realizing we are still on Hawaii Time, we woke up at noon. Don’t laugh, a surprisingly firm mattress covered in fine Frette sheets do wonderful things after spending 12 hours on planes and in airports.
Lunch makes a fine breakfast. Fresh mango margaritas are better than OJ any day! The casual restaurant, Kaax, serves a 4 course lunch that turned into a 7 course lunch (they saw that Mary and I share our selections, so they brought our appetizers, salads, and my pasta separately, only bringing our entrees together, so we could savor each unique flavor fiesta in its own glory. Try the chicken breast: broiled with a very thin, light, crispy breading, it is stuffed with goat cheese and apple slices that have been simmered in red wine, bringing out their natural sweetness to a candy-like delight.
Next was the spa experience. A basic skin analysis and 20 minute neck/shoulder massage is part of your experience here, but if you wish, you can pay the difference to upgrade to a Visia® complexion skin analysis, and/or to one of their Thalasso spa treatments. We chose a couples-massage and got an amazing aromatherapy, deep tissue 80 minute couples massage for the price of the 50. To begin the spa treatment, you enter through a Mayan archway into a delightful, naturally lit Jacuzzi room. A roman style, jetted hot tub sits in the center of the room adjacent to a cold plunge, surrounded by lounges (again with the Frette towels!). Adjoining that room are men’s and women’s rooms with steam rooms and saunas. As for the massage treatments, I am going to be shy and leave a few of the details out, suffice to say we floated out of the spa with a new appreciation of massages and silly grins on our faces.
On Sundays, their fine dining restaurant was closed but a fine dining experience was to be had again at Kaax. Sunday is their prime rib and seafood night. Starting with a lovely little Argentinean merlot, and a basket of a variety of still warm rolls, we ordered a beef Carpaccio sliced impossibly thin, and topped with the smoothest of guacamoles. A dollop of the most amazing garlic “smashed” potatoes, strips of mushrooms and asparagus bring out the savory-ness of their wonderful roast beef. During the meal, a strolling trio of guitar players gave Spanish versions of 50’s songs like “Peg o my heart”. Then, to the delight of all, the chef came out and sang an operatic version of “I did it my way” in Spanish of course, and brought the house down!
After dinner, we highly recommend a visit to their library. Inside awaits a quiet retreat with large paddle ceiling fans, comfy couches and photos of the various celebrities that have visited here. A new laptop and WiFi are available to those who cannot “disconnect” themselves from the world, but the star is the bar: staffed by another genuinely friendly barkeep, a wide selection of liquor awaits your tempted palate. Normally a good bar at an all-inclusive resort would consider Absolut their premium top shelf vodka (NOTHING wrong with this, I am a fan of Absolut), but here at Paraiso De La Bonita, Grey Goose (our favorite) and Belvedere tops their vodka selection. In Mexico, you would naturally expect a good tequila selection, but here Cuervo 1800 is their well tequila. Don Jose and even a bottle of Platinum Silver Gran Patron await the discerning connoisseur (Super premium liquors and wines are an additional cost).
Additional complimentary activities include sailboat trips to shopping areas and sunset cruises, complimentary golf nearby, gym with a view (refrigerated!), yoga classes performed at the end of the pier, surrounded by the ocean and the accompanying breezes, water gym in their jetted salt water pool, an authentic Mayan Temazcal steam ceremony (imagine a spiritual Native American sweat lodge), scuba demonstrations, sailboats, kayaks, afternoon tea served surrounded by parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, and finches (Look for the talking green Macaw that plays “fetch”), a pool surrounded by double sized daybeds that are built on iron or wooden rack, all adjustable to your comfort. Regular drink and snack service is de rigueur. Our favorite was the tequila tasting where 3 types of Don Jose (shop for it by name!) were GENEROUSLY sampled along with 2 types of sangrita (red: like a sweet bloody mary mix. Green: salty, sweet, cilantro with tomatillos) made to refresh the palate after tequila tasting. Have you ever been to a wine tasting where everyone spits the beverage into a pot after tasting? This was not one of those places, even our host was sampling (he may or may not have had actual tequila in his glass, if any of his bosses are reading this). Taquitos, fresh guacamole, and REALLY fresh tortilla chips were served afterwards to give us a fighting chance of being able to walk back to our rooms unassisted.
Call me and ask about days 3 and 4, all this typing is taking me away from all the fun!
Hiapo
213-784-4910 or 800-256-4280 ext.102
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