Search results matching tags 'Travel' and 'real estate playa del carmen'

Grocery Shopping in Playa del Carmen - by Laurie Ritchel

435836 — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:00:00 GMT

A Trip to the Grocery Store in Mexico - by Laurie Ritchel

Going to the grocery store can be an entertaining adventure in Mexico! We enjoy exploring the culture through their food - and visiting a grocery store is an excellent start on that journey.

The most obvious "adventure" lies in the different proteins consumed in Mexico - in Playa del Carmen you will see an abundance of seafood that is unusual to find even in a seafood shop back home. Octopus, squid, giant squid and exotic fish are just some of the unusual sights on ice in the seafood section. In the beef and pork section, it gets even more odd - Mexicans, like many other cultures, eat most organs and other parts of the animals that Americans would never consider eating. So this is your chance to gaze upon beef tongue, brains, eyeballs, and anything else that you can think of. Twelve year old boys will especially enjoy this activity!

Refrigeration (or the lack thereof) makes for another significant difference. In Mexico, eggs are stored in the aisles and not refrigerated. Obviously, this is OK as it is the only way you will see eggs here. But it makes me wonder what it is about OUR eggs at home that require cold storage? Anyone know? Milk is one of the other things sold off of the shelf - it is sold in boxes off the shelf instead of plastic bottles in refrigerated cases. I have been told that this milk is processed with extremely high heat which somehow results in no refrigeration needed. You can buy boxed milk in the U.S., I have some at home saved for when I run out - great option! Once it is opened, however, even boxed milk needs to be refrigerated.

A delightful place in a Mexican supermarket is the fresh bakery! All kinds of pastries and goodies are placed out in the aisles. Grab a pizza tin and a pair of tongs and go through the aisles choosing what you want. When you're done loading up your tin, take it to the counter where a lady will put it in bags for you and place the price on the bag. Very inexpensive and good. I prefer the ones with sugar or chocolate on them, as Mexican breads and pastries are not as sweet as what we eat in Texas.

In the larger stores such as Mega and Wal-Mart, you can find most anything your heart desires and is used to from home, but it may not be available in the brand you are accustomed to. Of course, Mexican brands will cost you much less, but American brands are there too for many items. If you have a child who must have peanut butter, however, bring a jar from home. For some odd reason, we have trouble finding this in stock when we are there. Nutella is more widely available as an alternative.

1 of 2 lime sections at the grocery store in Playa del Carmen, Mexico!

And don't forget to spend some time in the produce section. You won't believe the number of limes displayed!! Along with many other tropical, tasty fruits and vegetables. Pick up something you aren't familiar with to sample back at the condo. But remember to soak ALL fruits, veggies and greens in the sink with a few disinfectant drops first. And note that produce doesn't stay fresh long in Mexico, so only buy what you will eat today and tomorrow, then make another trip.

Open your mind to the experience and enjoy something new!

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After 10 years of vacationing in the Riviera Maya, Laurie and Mark Ritchel bought their own little slice of paradise in Playa del Carmen in 2008. Their time there has instilled in them a love of the Mexican people and their culture, and an appreciation for their approach to daily living. While they hope to semi-retire in Playa eventually, for now they are content with vacation time whenever they can escape their full time jobs in Texas. When they are not in Mexico, they love sharing their Playa home, Casa de Sueno, with others and especially enjoy helping new and old friends alike to make the most of their visits to the area. Laurie is employed as a fundraiser for Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

Learn the Art of Mixology at Viceroy Riviera Maya

435836 — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 17:58:00 GMT

Learn how to mix Mojitos, Margaritas and other popular cocktails the way expert bartenders do by immersing yourself in the art of mixology with a unique hands-on program introduced at the Viceroy Riviera Maya. Artisanal Cocktail Coaching teaches professional mixology skills and insights that can easily be applied at home - and incorporates actually working at the resort's Coral Bar to hone your newly acquired knowledge.

"More than a class, Artisanal Cocktail Coaching is an experience where our guests learn mixology from the bottom of the glass up," explained General Manager Pedro Lara. "The full scope of mixology is covered, including understanding the unique characteristic of each ingredient, rules and techniques of blending, putting the perfect final touches on a cocktail, and practical application by working at our Coral Bar as part of the mixology team."

Guests not only learn to make a variety of different drinks like a professional bartender, but also sophisticated specialty cocktails that have been created by the master mixologists at the Viceroy Riviera Maya. These include Mojitos in fruit flavors, including Very Berry and Citric; Popsicle Margaritas, in such flavors as Ginger, Pineapple and Cilantro, and Watermelon Smash, garnished with a popsicle of a complementing flavor; Micheladas, prepared cocktails that are similar to a Bloody Mary; and Carafe sparkling drinks in unique flavors such as Julep (with aged rum, gin, sour orange and mint leaf) and Mango Basil (with rum, prosecco, mango nectar, sour orange and basil leaf). See the attached Viceroy Riviera Maya Cocktail Menu.

Artisanal Cocktail Coaching is available for one guest, a couple, or a group of up to four guests. Rather than held at a set time, it may be arranged at a time convenient for the guests. It is conducted by the Artisan Mixologist Master at the Coral Bar. The cost is $85 per guest and includes all the alcohol, mixers and other ingredients. The training is approximately 1 ½ hours, followed by about 1 ½ hours of working at the bar. In recognition of their new skills and understanding of mixology, guests receive a diploma certifying them as an ‘Artisan Cocktailier.'

"By transcending the traditional class concept with a fully immersive, hands-on experience, guests are instilled with the ability and confidence to dazzle their friends back home with the most professional cocktails," added Mr. Lara.

The Viceroy Riviera Maya is a serene hideaway of sugary-white sands lapped by the warm Caribbean and a jungle ambiance of ferns, palms and guava trees. The resort merges every luxury amenity with dramatic sea and jungle, bringing together the best of the destination. All 41 villas feature a private patio and plunge pool, outdoor shower, and a high-ceiling, thatched-palapa roof that resonates with the jungle environment. Guests enjoy fine dining on the sea-view loft of La Marea, Mexican-Mediterranean fare at beachside Coral Grill, a Maya-inspired spa, and state-of-the-art workout equipment in the fitness center. The resort has its own pier where guests can sunbathe, enjoy massages, savor romantic dinners, and may be conveniently picked up by boat for snorkeling, diving and other excursions. The six-acre resort is on the Caribbean coast of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 40 miles south of Cancun International Airport, and three miles north of popular Playa del Carmen, known for its beach scene, restaurants, boutiques and nightlife. For more information and reservations, contact Viceroy Riviera Maya at 866-332-1672 or reservations@viceroyrivieramaya.com.

New Clothing Optional Resort to Open in Puerto Morelos

435836 — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 17:42:00 GMT

April 6, 2012
Joe Pike - Travel Agent Central

Original Resorts, a Mexican hospitality brand, continued its strategic plan to expand with the opening of its new clothing-optional resort, Desire Pearl Resort & Spa on March 30.

Original Resorts opened the first clothing-optional hotel of the group, Desire Resort & Spa, in the Riviera Maya. This new five-star hotel complex, located on a beautiful beach in Puerto Morelos, just a few minutes outside of Cancun, is an exclusive couples only-hotel, marking the brand's fifth resort in Mexico.

Rodrigo de la Pena, president of Original Resorts, announced that after his successful negotiations with the owners of the hotel, previously known as Ceiba del Mar, the property will be operated by Original Resorts Group to offer the region's second clothing-optional resort.

The decision to transform this hotel into Desire Pearl comes from a high demand for unique clothing-optional resorts that, until now, only Desire Resort & Spa was able to offer.

Desire Pearl Resort & Spa includes 32 Oceanfront Rooms, 13 Junior Suites, 36 Master Suites, and seven Penthouse Passion Suites. Clients can enjoy the hotel's grand pool, the 80-person private Jacuzzi, a tennis court, a holistic spa and a pier with docking facilities, among other luxurious amenities.

For information about real estate in Puerto Morelos and all along the Riviera Maya, contact Rob@BuyPlaya.com.

Acanto Boutique Hotel is Now Open!

435836 — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:28:00 GMT

Great Hotels of the World has announced one of its new member properties, Acanto Boutique Hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico has just completed a $5 million refurbishment following a two year rebuild. Acanto Boutique Hotel has rebuilt the entire hotel with 14 added bedrooms, making it fully equipped with 21 luxurious one, two and three bedroom mega suites.

The suites are fully furnished with deluxe marble flooring and granite counters, along with solid wood cabinets and plasma televisions. They will now also have their own fitted kitchens and private outdoor areas with hammocks, where guests can enjoy the climate and relax within the privacy of their own terrace. The hotel will feature brand new leisure facilities, including an intimate spa, offering an array of treatments, seven new rooftop Jacuzzis and the possibility for guests to host barbecues on the terrace. A total of 21 underground parking spaces have now been added to the property, ensuring greater convenience for its guests.

Acanto Boutique Hotel has added a café and a wine bar to further add to the services provided. With a prime location, being just one block away from the beach and half a block from Playa Del Carmen’s bustling 5th Avenue, Acanto Boutique Hotel now offers guests privileged access to the Playa del Carmen Beach Club and discounted rates at the fitness centre, located only one block away.

Matthew Schilowitz, director of sales at Acanto Boutique Hotel commented: “Acanto Boutique Hotel has undergone rapid improvement, putting our hotel in a unique position.“We have all worked extremely hard to incorporate a variety of new features and facilities and we only hope to move forward in improving and bettering Acanto Boutique Hotel in every way we can for our guests.”

Acanto Boutique Hotel was one of the first boutique hotels in the area from 2004 and has been recommended by Frommers and Master Card global premium division. The hotel also has a selection of residences.

Source: Breaking Travel News

For information about condominium sales at Acanto and other Mexico investment opportunities, contact Rob Kinnon.

Top 10 Take-Aways from the Social Media Boot Camp

435836 — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:00:00 GMT

"Accomplished: A room full of people who are passionate about tourism and social media."

So tweeted Arianna Bañuelos from her @AryCancun twitter account at the close of the first ever Social Media Boot Camp for Riviera Maya Tourism. Looking around the room, I see people putting the finishing touches on their notes, asking questions, exchanging email address and twitter handles. Each one of them looks tired but happy. I have come away with a notebook full of information, cemented some friendships and made new relationships with smart motivated people working in this region. We all represent different industries and interests but each of shares the desire to promote Riviera Maya as a destination and increase commerce within the region. We also seem to share a passion for learning and a willingness to share our collective knowledge and experiences.

Without giving away the farm, here are my personal Top 10 Takeaways from Kay Walten's Social Media Boot Camp for Tourism.

1. People want to do business with people, not companies. Put a face on your company or humanize the customer interaction and engagement in every way you can.

2. 100 Fans or Friends who engage with you and advocate on behalf of your business are better than 10,000 that do nothing.

3. If your messages are well organized, well researched, properly timed and interesting, your advocates will "share" it and spread your sphere of influence.

4. Be consistent with your social media efforts by creating and utilizing an editorial calendar.

5. Better to learn and master one social media venue and utilize it effectively than to dabble in 5 or 6 poorly.

6. Connect and cross promote between all the social media venues you are using. Integrate social media with traditional marketing strategies.

7. Whatever social media platform you are using, finding and using the right keywords and search terms will be essential to getting found by your target audience.

8. Before you jump into social media, make sure your house is in order. Be 100% ready to receive an increase in business.

9. Be honest about how you portray yourself and your product, service or business.

10. Don't broadcast or sell. Offer information. Answer a question. Solve a problem. Start a dialogue. Engage.

It is so important that we take advantage of opportunities like this to invest in ourselves and in our businesses whenever we can. The information we were provided over the weekend, regardless of how much or how little we are able implement right now, will help to make each of us influencers and trusted experts in our respective industries in Cancun and all along the Riviera Maya. I am coming away inspired and looking forward to continuing my social media education with all the great online resources we were turned on to and especially with Kay's upcoming webinar series. As soon as I have the registration details, I will be sure to get them out to all "Life's a Beach" readers who have an interest in social media. Take a moment and sign up. Even if you can't commit to the live webinar times, you can still receive and listen to the replays at your leisure. You can even listen to them on the beach with your toes in the sand sipping on a margarita! Isn't that what we all came here to do?

UPDATE

******If you are interested in social media and interested in tourism don't miss Kay Walten's upcoming webinar series. It is reasonable priced and includes a line-up of great speakers and instructors. You can sign up right HERE.

Guadalajara Day 2 - Enarte and Tlaquepaque

435836 — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 14:47:00 GMT

Today we got up bright and early, enjoyed the fabulous breakfast buffet at the hotel and caught a cab for Tlaquepaque. Everyone, and I mean everyone, told us that we absolutely must see this charming town. Everyone was right! It was quaint and picturesque and a shopper's heaven! Although the village has been absorbed geographically by the city of Guadalajara, Tlaquepaque has managed to maintain its own character amidst the urban sprawl. The delightful zocalo and cobblestone streets attract millions of visitors a year who come to shop and Guadalajara locals who come to stroll, relax and dine with their families.

Our plan for the day was to attend the Enarte Decorative Arts Expo, cleverly scheduled to coincide with the International Furniture Expo and ensuring the best possible attendance for the artists and craftsmen participating. We were pleased to see that there were plenty of buyers taking cards and placing orders for their shops and online stores. We were there for purely selfish reasons as we are looking for handcrafted decorative items for our own home which we hope to complete this year. Much of the merchandise was not what we were looking for (jewelery, glassware, porcelain dolls for example) and there was a lot of imported crap to weed through but we did manage to make a great connection with a guy who offers custom made copper sinks and a lovely source for lanterns and mirrors. Photography was not permitted within the expo so unfortunately, I have no pictures to share from this portion of our day.

Moving on, we made our way to the cobblestone pedestrian only street where the majority of the shops and galleries are located. We made our way in and out of each one of them, seeing a lot of the same product represented at Enarte. (Well, now we know where it all comes from and the retail mark-up, don't we?)

After wandering through town for a bit, we made a visit to the regional ceramics museum. There we were able to see a small collection of gorgeous pieces from various parts of Mexico.

We have one almost exactly like this on our dining room table. It is my favorite!

In Tlaquepaque, one does not have to visit an art museum to see art. It is everywhere around you, both in and outside the galleries and shops. Most of the stores have a strict policy forbidding video and photography, which I respected. There was certainly plenty of interesting work in the streets and a lot of delightful signage. The buildings themselves were all stunning with gorgeous architectural detail.

On recommendation from friends, we ended our afternoon at El Parian hoping to see and hear some of the Mariachis that the city is famous for. Unfortunately, since it is technically off season, the mariachis were only playing on the weekends but we still sat and enjoyed a quick bite and a drink to hold us over until dinner. El Parian is actually one of a group of bars, all under the same management it seems, that run continuously covering an entire city block creating what is reported to be the longest outdoor bar in the world. I wouldn't doubt it. This place stretched on and on and made the perfect place to rest a bit, catch up on email (thanks to the city's free wifi) and watch the world go by.

El Parian

Cazuela con Cazadores. Yummm!

The famous torta ahogada!

After a bit of a rest at El Parian, we strolled back through town to the main plaza just in time to see the street lamps come on and the church light up for the night. I met up with a very nice group of local artisans who were studying English in order to help their businesses. With so many English speaking international buyers, having a good grip on the language would enable them to tap into this market and increase their sales. There were out in town, strolling through the zocalo with their teacher, tasked with finding a native English speaker to practice on. I turned out to be the perfect subject and we all chatted and asked each other questions for half an hour or so. Good fun!

The vendors were out in full force but we were saving our appetites for dinner at La Vaca, an Argentinian restaurant in the suburbs of the city. We were kind of done with the tourist spots and ready to find the finer dining establishments frequented by well healed Guadalajara locals. La Vaca certainly fit the bill. It was elegant but lively (loud) and bustling with well dressed patrons and experienced waiters. The food was fabulous, as expected, and we paired our meals with a rich Shiraz from Casa Madero, one of many excellent selections from their extensive wine list. Unless you have really done your homework on the names of the various cuts of meat in Spanish, the menu is going to be intimidating. Fortunately, there are enough English speakers on staff to talk us through the opinions and make sure we got exactly what we were expecting. This is exactly the kind of place I like as it reminds me of a restaurant I used to work for back home. It's elegant but comfortable. It's the kind of place where the food is good, the staff remember you and what table you like and people regularly come to dine three or four nights a week. If you find yourself at La Vaca, be sure to split an order of the asparagus appetizer with your entrees. Yummm!

A local street vendor selling steamed corn, peanuts and chick peas.

My new friends and their professor.

La Vaca

Go to Day 3 - Zapopan

Looking for real estate in Playa del Carmen?

Guadalajara Day 1 - International Furniture Expo

435836 — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:46:00 GMT

Today was the first day of the big furniture show at the Guadalajara Expo, a twice annual event bringing furniture manufacturers and distributors from all over Mexico and the world. This is an enormous and very well organized show that apparently draws thousands of buyers every year. I can't be sure whether it is a reflection of the economy of the backlash from the unusual violent attacks that occurred in and around the city just last week, but the show was practically empty. The exhibitors were out in full force but the buyers were scarce. There were a few independents like us and a few groups of 'suits' obviously there representing large hotel chains but really, it was pretty quiet. Considering the cost to rent the space, the expense to set up these mobile showrooms and the shipping, I felt very badly for all the exhibitors this year. Great for us as we had the place practically to ourselves and the rapt attention of every rep, but terrible for their companies. I hope the following days filled up a bit more.

The view of San Francisco from our room

The furniture expo

Press Conference to open the show.

These guys transfer your own photos and designs onto fabric. Cool.

Carlos, our outdoor furniture rep. Super nice guy!

Custom design ceramics with your own colors and patterns. Lovely!

The expo for us was an invaluable experience. As we are now going to be offering several furniture packages to our customers who purchase unfurnished condominiums, it was important that we see and feel the quality of the furniture that we will be offering. Out of the many units we have sold in the past few years, probably 120+ have been unfurnished leaving it up to the buyer to shop for the right pieces, negotiate a decent price, arrange for shipment, take delivery and troubleshoot any problems with the order completely on their own. We knew we could do much better by our buyers if we just went straight to the source. I'm glad we did as we were able to meet the reps and see all the options. At first, I thought it would be very intimidating and difficult to choose who to work with and what furniture to select. In the end, there were some nice things....and a lot of crap. I think everyone is going to be very happy with what we are providing.

After the show, we were starving and treated ourselves to lunch at Santo Coyote, one of the most popular and sought out restaurants in all of Guadalajara. The setting was absolutely stunning and the menu was quite inventive. I would classify it as modern Mexican with a great emphasis placed on using traditional ingredients and seasonings in new ways. The service was outstanding and I can see why this has become a top pick of both National and International tourists. Every cab driver we have spoken to has recommended it. Next time we come to the city and the kids are with us, we'll be sure to come back for dinner and the night shows.

Santo Coyote

Fresh salsa prepared table-side

Following lunch, we cabbed it back into town and went for a stroll through the downtown historic district.

Cathedral Metropolitana from the Plaza de Armas.

The Municipal Palace of Guadalajara.

Teatro Degollado

The pedestrian walkway leading to the Instituto Cultural Cabanas which house some of Orozco's murals.

Fountain of the Inmolacion de Quetzalcoatl

We strolled for several hours finally making our way back to the Plaza de Armas for the evening's band concert. From there, we enjoyed a quiet drink in the Restaurante La Antigua overlooking the Plaza Guadalajara, watched the city light up and then headed out for dinner at another Guadalajara dining destination, El Fondo de San Miguel. The food was not terrific but we certainly did love the atmosphere. If you happen to find yourself in the city, do go there for a drink or a bottle of wine and maybe an appetizer.

The rotunda in the Plaza de Armas, a gift from France

El Fondo de San Miguel

Exhausted, we returned to our room and tucked in for the night. Tomorrow we have the decorative arts show in Tlaquepaque and a lot more site seeing! Night all.....

Go to: Guadalajara Day 2 - Tlaquepaque

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