Resort Review - Sandos Caracol Eco Resort

Sandos Caracol, in Playacar, Mexico is a wonderfully unique place. A few weeks ago I was able to stay there and take a tour of this beautiful all-inclusive eco resort. I instantly fell in love.

This is such a multi-dimensional place and each aspect comes together in perfect harmony. The best way to explain what they offer is just breaking it down.

Accommodations

Sandos Caracol offers a Family Section, Adults-Only Select Club and The Royal Elite Section. I stayed in the Select Club and was very happy. My room  was located near the main lobby and also close to the Select Club pool and reception area. The Select Club has a private restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and became one of my favorite spots (more on that later).

The Royal Elite rooms offer a close proximity to the beach and pool, as well as VIP service and a private restaurant.

Family Suites are sprinkled in the middle section so again, be prepared to walk a little bit to reach the beach and main pool. There are golf cart shuttles that come around and will take you across the resort if needed, so it's not a big deal to be further back on the property. Plus, the grounds are so beautiful the walk is enjoyable!

Pools & Beach 

The adults-only pool was quiet, calm and relaxing. Very nice for couples on a honeymoon. The only downside is that these rooms are a little walk from the beach area and the main entertainment plaza.

The main pool was located near the beach and that's where you will find the activities, water sports and nearby dining options.

The beach has gentle waves, not as much seaweed as several other resorts in the area this time of year and is only rocky on one side. If you walk the beach you will find the perfect spot to walk in!

There is an adults only section and Royal Elite section on the beach too, which offers some exclusivity.

Dining 

There were plenty of places to eat at Sandos Caracol. From an international buffet, to Italian and Mexican buffets there were plenty of choices. In addition, the A La Carte options were amazing. My favorite was the vegetarian restaurant, called Salvia. They have recently been discussing more vegan options there too which is very exciting!

Other dining options were with Teppanyaki, Brazilian, Mediterranean, Italian and a Steak & Fish place. I didn't have anything bad to eat the whole time. I will also mention that in the past I have been to all-inclusive resorts where the desserts look beautiful but have no taste.. not true here. They were all amazing. I think it may have to do with everything being made on site.

There is also a snack place open 24 hours so there is always something to eat. I didn't try the food there (except one evening when I grabbed a quick ice cream cone)!

 The bars were all great. They have a list of drinks they can make for you as resort specialties, but they are skilled bartenders and will make any other drink you request as well. I was very impressed with the bar service and quality of the drinks.

Activities/Entertainment

This is where Sandos Caracol really excels. Sure, there are plenty of resorts in the Riviera Maya. They all offer entertainment, water sports, land sports, etc. What you get at Sandos Caracol is that - plus MUCH more. They are called an Eco Resort for a reason.

Wildlife

Walking around you can spot several types of birds, turtles, coatis, iguanas all over, racoons and spider monkeys. The best part of my trip was when I was eating breakfast at the Select Club and four spider monkeys came down from the trees to grab bananas. They were hanging around eating their breakfast while everyone took pictures. They had no fear of us, but kept their distance too. It was such an amazing experience to be so close to nature.

I was very impressed that the resort respects nature and wildlife and leaves the animals alone in their natural habitat.

Nature

This place was built around the jungle. They didn't knock everything down to make room for the resort. Instead, they built around cenotes, trees, Mayan ruins and lagoons.

Our guide showed us different trees and explained the stories that the Mayas told about them. He also showed us the ruins that are on site and did a sensory experience with our group that was really cool.

What makes this place so unique is that you can explore the jungle (on foot or on provided bikes), swim in a cenote, view wildlife, get immersed in Mayan history and culture, yet still have all of the comforts and benefits of an all-inclusive beach resort at the same time.

Culture

The resort has entertainment every night and a huge focus is the Mayan culture. You can watch fire shows and ceremonies and participate in a survival game too. It's great for the whole family. For something romantic, couples can take a private boat ride in the Jade river.

Kids

For kids, there is a nice water park with slides and pools as well as a kids program with a full schedule each day to keep kids busy and happy the whole trip.

I'm already planning my next trip back. I will be recommending Sandos Caracol to my clients for sure! For more photos visit facebook.com/LoveLandandSea

For booking info contact beth@lovelandandsea.com

Resort Review - Sandos Playacar - Mexico

Sandos Playacar Beach Experience -  Mexico


A couple weeks ago I was able to tour and stay at all three of the Sandos resorts in the Cancun area. The first one I stayed at was Sandos Playacar Beach Resort. It's all in the name. this is a true beach experience. This resort had a fantastic long stretch of sandy white beach with clear water and gentle waves rolling in.

Cancun beaches typically have a lot of sea grass this time of year, and this year in particular it's been pretty bad. Sandos was on top of it! They worked hard day and night keeping it cleaned up. What I liked most about this beach is that it was truly walk-able. The resort sits at the end of the strip of hotels in this area,  so I was able to take a very long walk down nothing but beach.

Large Beach Area

Sunrise 

The resort is only a few miles to Playa del Carmen, where you will find fifth avenue, a charming street with shops and restaurants. A short cab ride will take you right there. For those wanting to stay inside the resort for their stay, there's no need to worry about running out of things to do.

Beach at Sandos Playacar

Dining

I arrived at the resort just in time for dinner. Our group met at Riviera Maya, the Mexican restaurant at Sandos Playacar. This restaurant provided authentic Mexican dishes with seafood options. I only had dessert here but everyone at the table seemed very happy with their dishes.

The next night I had an amazing Vegetarian Lasagna from the Italian Restaurant, El Pimonte. I could have eaten 10 more (although the serving size was quite big) it was just that good.

In addition to Italian and Mexican dining options Sandos Playacar offers Asiana, with oriental cuisine, Blue Moon, a casual beach side sandwich shop, El Gaucho (steak house), Fogo de Janeiro (Brazilian), Iztapalapa for Mediterranean specialties, Le Gourmet (French) and the International Buffet. For those staying in the Sandos Select rooms, there is an additional breakfast buffet located in the Select Club. The newest restaurant is Chayita Mexican Grill. I had lunch here on  my second day and it was set up just like Chipotle. I had a burrito bowl and it was fantastic. The hot salsa was a little hotter than Chipotle's so keep that in mind. Sandos Playacar also offers 24 hour room service.

Chayita Mexican Grill

One of my favorite spots at this resort was the Cupcake Cafe. This cute little shop was full of pastries, gourmet cupcakes and coffee drinks. For travelers who need their morning latte or afternoon frap this place is heaven. The best part, of course, is that it's all included. No additional costs for any of the dining here.

There was so much to do here. I would have needed several more days to experience it all. From beach activities like  snorkeling, kayaking, sailing, windsurfing to land sports (Biking, walking, billiards, ping-pong, chess, tennis, mini golf) There was something for everyone. Teens will especially love this place. The teens area offered plenty of activities and the entertainment team here is top notch!

I was able to see the Madonna show and it was fantastic. A tribute to all of her music with fun dancing and great visual effects.

Fantastic Entertainment

If you are traveling as a couple I highly recommend the Select Club. Access to the adults-only pool and beach area is a huge benefit, along with private check in. Families will love this whole property. There is so much to do for kids and teens (not to mention the adults) that everyone will be happy! The Royal Elite Haciendas on this property are ideal for large families who want VIP treatment and a semi-private pool.

I also found this to be a great place for weddings. Brides and grooms are able to choose from a beautiful garden location or a breathtaking beach spot. There are plenty of benefits to having a destination wedding here too, including a current special where you can get a free room when you book 7 rooms.

Garden area for weddings

I will be recommending this resort to my travel clients for sure and I will be back here in the future! For more details or a quote contact beth@lovelandandsea.com. For a full album of photos check out my Facebook page 

Resort Review: Now Sapphire - Puerto Morelos Mexico

Now Sapphire

I recently returned from a week in Mexico and had the opportunity to stay at and tour several resorts. The first resort I stayed at was Now Sapphire in Puerto Morelos, near Cancun. I took an AmStar Transfer from the airport, a company that I recommend and arrived at the resort around 11:00 A.M.

As a "Preferred Club" guest I was able to leave my luggage with the bell man,  bi-pass the front desk in the lobby and head over to the Preferred Club Lounge for a private check-in.

Inside the air-conditioned lounge there were a few desks, couches and chairs, several snacks and cookies and a business center with computers for personal use. I sat down at the desk to begin the check in process. A moment later the lounge bartender came over and asked if he could get me a drink. Despite the fact it was eleven in the morning I requested a Pina Colada. He returned quickly and the drink was amazing.

Now Sapphire Preferred Club Lounge

Check in was very easy. Since I'm a travel agent and had a full property tour arranged with management later that afternoon we skipped the resort introduction. I did overhear another couple and a resort representative discussing details. He was explaining the dining options, how reservations were not needed, where to find entertainment, bars, etc.

My room was not quite ready so I headed over to the Blue Water Grill for lunch. The outdoor seating gave a perfect view of the ocean and had a lovely breeze. The blackbirds would occasional come down to steal leftover food or wait on the umbrellas for someone to drop a tortilla chip. To some they may be considered a nuisance, to me they were fun to watch and just part of being outside.

The garden salad was fresh and beautiful, but I didn't care for the dressing. The cheese quesadillas I ordered were very good, as was the salsa and guacamole.

Blue Water Grill

Garden Salad at Blue Water Grill

I continued my day by meeting with the sales director and taking a tour of resort facilities. The main lobby is large and surrounded with fountains and clear water. There are some decks that go across and act as bridges to get from one area to the next. Here is where you find a path to the restaurants, lobby bar, beach and pools.

Main Pool

The pool was very large, and even though the resort was at full capacity it did not seem overcrowded. The vibe was lively with music and pool activities going on.

The resort offers fantastic meeting spaces and would be ideal for corporate incentives, workshops and events.

The kid's program had a full schedule, broken down by the hour so children always had something to do and parents could relax at the beach or at the pool.

The beach was a bit disappointing. The entire area of Cancun has had a bad year with sea grass. This particular stretch had quite a bit. The resort staff was working hard on it around the clock, starting early in the morning. The water was not as clear and blue as I would have hoped for.

I had dinner at Cibu, and my vegetarian lasagna was amazing. I also enjoyed the bruschetta appetizer and salad bar.

Overall, I think that Now Sapphire offers a great value. The rooms are nice and very clean. The staff was all very helpful and food was great. If your main focus is a great beach, this resort is not for you. If you tend to spend more time at the pool then it's a great option! I do recommend the Preferred Club option. It just adds so much to the experience. For booking information, please contact beth@lovelandandsea.com  or www.LoveLandandSea.com

Preferred Club Garden View Room

Sunset

Garden View 

Meat-Free Dallas

As a vegetarian, I must admit I was concerned about traveling to Texas. When I think of Texas I think of huge T-Bone steaks, smoked meats and lots of barbecue... at least I used to. I'll admit I'm a bit ashamed of my narrow-minded preconceived ideas of what Dallas had to offer in the way of dining. If you are looking to eat vegetarian or vegan in Dallas, here are some ideas and reviews.

Cane Rosso  Menu
My accommodations were near Deep Ellum, a neighborhood with several arts and entertainment venues that I wanted to check out. It was suggested that I try a place there for dinner.  Pizza is always on the top of my list to try in any city, so I headed to Cane Rosso for some Neapolitan style pizza.

The place was full of diners and bar-goers that Saturday night. The atmosphere was modern and hip, yet casual and comfortable. It seems like the perfect place to go on a casual first date or out for happy hour with friends. There was a 45-minute wait, and although there was a bit of confusion with the hostess finding us when our table was ready, my dining partner and I were eventually seated at a cozy table near the door.

Although vegan cheese is an option here, we opted for the Margherita Pizza with house-made mozzarella. The crust was thin and had the perfect crisp. It was easy to tell that the pizza was cooked in a wood-fire oven. The sauce had a subtle and fulfilling flavor that left us wanting more.

Besides the Margherita Pizza there were a few other menu items appropriate for vegetarians, along with the option to substitute vegan cheese. Overall I give this place a 6/10. The pizza and atmosphere were great, but I would love to see a few more meat-free specialty pizzas or sandwiches.

Cane Rosso

Dream Cafe  Menu 

For brunch on Sunday we found a cozy place Uptown called the Dream Cafe. We couldn't resist trying the cinnamon coffee cake to start. The decision was a good one. This was by far the best coffee cake I've tried. Next was the Granola-Crusted French Toast. While the overall taste was good, and unique, I would have preferred less granola on the edges since it made the overall texture awkward. We accompanied the french toast with some vegetarian sausage. Even though it was cooked from a frozen patty (Morningstar Farms) it was cooked to perfection and was a nice protein source to balance the "carb fest" we had going on.  The eggs we ordered on the side were tasty, and were cooked just as we requested.

The atmosphere is very laid back and casual. The staff was friendly and the vibe was chill. I noticed quite a line forming as we were leaving near 11:00 am, so earlier on the weekends is probably your best best. I would have liked to have seen some more vegan options, but overall this place was a 7/10 for me.

Outside of Dream Cafe 

Spiral Diner Menu 


This was such a find. If I lived in Dallas I would spend at least 1 meal a day here. Not only is the place completely organic, it's all vegan too. You can order anything off the menu and know that you aren't consuming any animal products. With so many choices on the menu, I consulted with a few patrons who frequent the Spiral Diner.

They suggested the nachos and cheese and said that it is considered the best nacho dish in Dallas, despite the fact that it's not even made with real cheese. They also insisted that I try one of the desserts the Death Star. One of the women ended the conversation with, "Really, anything you choose here will be great. I have never had a bad meal here."  We were feeling pretty confident that we would enjoy our food. The decision was hard, but I went with Ramsey’s Perfect
Protein Platter. The dish was black beans and quinoa cooked with homemade salsa,  avocado and tahini dressing.

Ramsey’s Perfect Protein Platter

My dining partner chose the Sketti and Meatballs. I had to try some, of course, and found that they had the a great texture, unique flavor and just the right hint of spice. I would definitely order either of these dishes again. 

For dessert, I took the advice I was given and chose the Death Star. Never in my life I have been more impressed with a dessert. This sundae  consisted of a brownie, covered with a shot of hot expresso, then topped with i-scream and whipped cream. This was the most delicious combination of vegan desserts I've ever had. I should mention, also, that I'm quite confident that anyone who tries this dish with the assumption that it is made with dairy products would never know the difference. It tasted like a real ice cream sundae. 

The Sprial Diner was my favorite restaurant in Dallas. I will return many times if I should travel to Dallas again.  This place was 10/10 for me. I wish they had a location in Cincinnati!