I WON'T LIE - I CAN BE A LUXURY SNOB SOMETIMES.

AND WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE PROPERTY AND MY MOONLIGHT SOAKING TUB DIDN'T HAVE HOT WATER, FOUND OUT THEY CHARGE FOR EVERY ROOM SERVICE DELIVERY [IN AN ALL INCLUSIVE?!], THAT YOU MUST HAVE RESERVATIONS FOR THE ACTIVITIES ON THE PROPERTY, AND MY PERSONAL BAR DIDN'T HAVE MY PRE-ORDERED DRINKS - I NEARLY THREW A FIT.  WELL, I ACTUALLY CALLED MY TRAVEL AGENT AND ASKED HIM TO FIND ME A FLIGHT TO LOS CABSO STAT! I WAS READY TO LEAVE ABOUT 30 MINS AFTER I CHECKED IN.

THE BLUE DIAMOND TOOK SOME GETTING USED TO.  FROM THE LAYOUT OF THE ROOMS AND LACK OF A CENTRALIZED HUB, THIS RESORT REQUIRES A BIT OF RESEARCH BEFOREHAND TO APPRECIATE ITS UNIQUE FEATURES.

BECAUSE THE RESORT IS LOCATED ON AN ECOLOGICAL SITE WITH NATURAL CENOTES AND WETLANDS THE DEVELOPER PLOTTED THE SUITES AND BUNGALOWS IN A MANNER TO MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THE LAND. THE LAYOUT OF THE RESORT WAS THE FIRST THING I TOOK NOTICE OF. IT’S QUITE LINEAR – IN FACT IT’S A STRAIGHT LINE FROM THE FRONT LOBBY TO THE BEACH.

DESPITE BEING CAUGHT OFF-GUARD BY ITS DESIGN, THE RESORT DOES NOT LACK IN BEAUTY. THE SCENIC ROUTES TO EACH SUITE IS A DREAM; SURROUNDED BY ART INSTALLATIONS, THE NATURAL JUNGLE, AND WATER FEATURES.

GOLF CARTS ARE READY WITHIN A FEW MINS TO TREK YOU FROM YOUR ROOM TO THE VARIOUS DINING AREAS AND MY SUITE HAPPENED TO BE ADJACENT TO THE SPA [A FACT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL TO KNOW FROM THE ONSET].

THE SPA, MY GOODNESS, I MUST HAVE SPENT 40 HOURS GETTING VARIOUS MASSAGES AND FACIALS. 2ND BEST SPA BEHIND UNICO WHICH IS ALSO IN THE RIVERIA MAYA REGION.

I STAYED IN THE CENOTE LAGUNA DELUXE JUNIOR SUITE WITH WRAP AROUND FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS.  THE SUITE WAS ABOUT 1300 SQ FEET AND FEATURED A PRIVATE COURTYARD WITH SOAKING TUB.