{"id":407,"date":"2008-04-30T10:07:35","date_gmt":"2008-04-30T15:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/04\/caribbean-mexico-vacation-spots-are-new-and-improved\/"},"modified":"2016-12-17T20:44:23","modified_gmt":"2016-12-18T02:44:23","slug":"caribbean-mexico-vacation-spots-are-new-and-improved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/2008\/04\/caribbean-mexico-vacation-spots-are-new-and-improved\/","title":{"rendered":"Caribbean, Mexico vacation spots are new and improved"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Couplessanssouci_2\"<\/a>
\nBy Lena Katz<\/em><\/p>\n

Mexico<\/strong><\/a> and Caribbean<\/strong><\/a> resort and hotel developers are going crazy with openings, revamps and new experiences lately. It seems like they’re all in competition to out-glam, over-option and underbid each other. It’s great news for vacationers, especially since short-haul travel<\/strong><\/a> is in a lot of our plans this summer.<\/p>\n

Spas are no longer for the 18+ crowd … in fact, at Grand Velas All-Suite Resort<\/strong><\/a> in Nuevo Vallarta<\/strong><\/a>, there’s a whole program geared toward the "Please Mom, let me borrow your makeup" set. A special menu of 25-minute kiddie treatments includes the "Little Green Elf Facial" and scented "Malt Baths" in chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. Mommy and Me offerings include a "Princess Ritual," "Glamour Ritual" and "Dream Nails" — all with standard pampering for moms, and lots of sparkly stick-on stuff for little girls.<\/p>\n

All-inclusive mini-chain Couples Resorts improves on a winning formula with the $4.5 million refurb of Couples Sans Souci<\/strong><\/a>. Updated d\u00e9cor and public facilities make this classic luxury all-inclusive even more appealing. A $15 million property-wide renovation of Couples Ochos Rios<\/strong><\/a> follows; the property is closed throughout the summer and fall.  Meanwhile the Couples manifesto remains the same: a "Chief Romance Officer" heads up the twosome-friendly staff; personalized romance novels are back for a second season; and an enhanced "Romance Rewards"  program caters toward Couples’ loyal repeat guests.<\/p>\n

This winter, two popular hotels<\/a><\/strong> for weekend getaways — the San Juan Marriott Resort<\/strong><\/a> in Puerto Rico<\/strong> and Marina el Cid<\/strong> hotel in Cozumel<\/strong><\/a> — completed extensive renovations and expansions. The Marriott increased its numbers to 525 rooms and updated all of them with 36” flat-screen televisions<\/strong>, wireless Internet<\/strong>, and remodeled bathrooms with rain showers. The hotel also expanded on-site Stellaris Casino<\/strong>. Marina el Cid finished a $50 million expansion in January, adding 150 new suites and a convention center. This all-inclusive deluxe resort also has four restaurants<\/strong>, a 120-slip marina and a 13,000-square-foot spa<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Related Orbitz resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n