At One Stylish Party, we believe in celebrating all of life’s special moments. Sometimes that may mean throwing a party, and on other occasions, it may mean taking a vacation to spend some quality with your family.
A few weeks before Christmas, my husband and I found ourselves overwhelmed with work, holiday to-dos and just life in general, so I jokingly threw out the idea of booking a last minute vacation to Mexico to get away from it all and reconnect as a family to end the year. Thinking it was just another one of my crazy ideas that my husband would shrug off, I couldn’t believe when he went for it!
After quite a bit of research, we decided to book our getaway at Now Jade Riviera Cancun, a contemporary luxury resort set on the sandy white beaches of Puerto Morelos, which is located just 20 minutes from the Cancun airport.
For those of you considering an Unlimited-Luxury® family vacation to Mexico, I thought I would share a few highlights from our stay.
THE PROPERTY
One of the key selling points of choosing Now Jade Riviera Cancun was the Unlimited-Luxury® experience, where everything is included. With eight gourmet dining options, seven bars and lounges, 24-hour room service, endless daytime activities and nighttime entertainment for guests of all ages, it seemed like the perfect fit for our active family of four.
While we love staying at beachfront properties, we typically find ourselves spending most of our time at the pool during vacation. And let me just say, the pools at Now Jade did not disappoint! The resort boasts three on-site pools: a large infinity pool that fades into the crystal clear waters of the ocean, a children’s pool and an adults-only pool for Preferred Club guests. I loved that we still had a beautiful view even when enjoying the pool instead of the beach!
THE ROOM
Upon arrival at the property, we were quickly whisked away to the Preferred Club for a private check-in, complete with a buffet of snacks and a bar to mix up our own cocktail while we waited. The staff members were extremely friendly and helpful when explaining the ins and outs of the resort and getting us settled into our room.
We stayed in a Preferred Club Ocean View Suite, which included a beautiful view of the beach and Preferred Club pool, a private balcony with a whirlpool tub, a king size bed and a separate sitting room with a sofa bed and a dining table. Typically the most premium rooms at the resort are Preferred Club status, so if you are interested in the most picturesque ocean view from your room, then Preferred Club is for you. Plus, along with the daily replenished in-room mini bar that comes standard with Unlimited-Luxury® privileges, you also receive an array of mini liquor bottles, a can of Pringles and Peanut M&M’s each day too.
THE DINING
I’m not sure about you, but eating is usually one of my favorite parts of vacation, especially when it is food that I don’t have to cook! Now Jade Riviera Cancun has six gourmet à la carte restaurants, plus an international buffet and a café with freshly brewed coffee, gelato and light bites.
We would start most of our mornings with a big breakfast at the Carnival International Buffet, which included choices like french toast, made-to-order omelets, nutella crepes, fresh fruit parfaits and much more. By the afternoon, we’d usually take a break from the pool to sit down to an ocean-front lunch at Castaways, where we’d indulge in guacamole and pico de gallo, fish tacos and personal pizzas (for the kids!)
One of my favorite times of the day was dinner. With so many restaurant choices on property, we looked forward to trying a different cuisine every night. We especially enjoyed the bold Italian flavors of the dishes at Capers and were really impressed with the upscale Mexican cuisine at Tamarindo.
The servers were so friendly every night and were incredibly accommodating of our family and keeping the kids happy during dinner, thanks to endless chocolate milk and super speedy delivery of the kids meals.
THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITIES
We loved spending the majority of our time at the main resort pool, which always had plenty of activities to choose from, such as water polo games, zumba classes or beach volleyball matches just a few steps away. In the afternoon and evening, we’d break up the day with one of the many activities hosted by the event staff such as the Euro-Bungee, rooftop basketball or NFL games shown in the open-air lobby.
Our trip also allowed us to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the property, which was such a fun and memorable way to welcome the New Year together as a family. The resort staff put together an incredible celebration in the main courtyard of the resort, complete with Vegas-style lighting and entertainment, a huge dance floor and music that kept many guests dancing well into the early hours of the evening. We started our evening by enjoying a special 5-course meal at Tamarindo and loved that we could be in the mix for the New Year’s Eve festivities, but also had the option to retreat back to our room when our boys got tired.
THE MEMORABLE MOMENTS
It was so nice to be on a vacation where we didn’t need to worry about logistics, reservations and activities and our toughest decision was where we’d like to eat dinner each night. Our stay at Now Jade Riviera Cancun allowed us to disconnect from the stresses of everyday life, enjoy Mexico’s beautiful weather and create memories as a family. We are already looking forward to planning our next trip back to Now Resorts & Spas in the future!
Ashley O says
Thank you for this beautiful post! We cannot wait to visit next weekend. Similar situation, last minute trip to relax and reflect.