EXCELLENCE CORAL - PLAYA MUJERES
EXCELLENCE CORAL PLAYA MUJERES: A CHIC TAKE ON THE EXCELLENCE COLLECTION |
A PROPERTY SO BEAUTIFULLY DESIGNED, IT DOESN'T BEG FOR PRAISE—IT EXPECTS IT.
FROM THE MOMENT I STEPPED INTO EXCELLENCE CORAL PLAYA MUJERES, I KNEW I WAS SOMEWHERE THAT UNDERSTOOD THE ASSIGNMENT. THIS WASN’T YOUR AVERAGE ALL-INCLUSIVE ATTEMPTING TO IMPRESS WITH SHEER SIZE—THIS WAS AN INTIMATE, ELEVATED, AND EXQUISITELY DESIGNED ESCAPE.
THINK: A SULTRY MEXICAN INTERPRETATION OF ART DECO MEETS MODERN RESORT GLAM. MARBLE FLOORS UNDERFOOT, VEINED VANITIES THAT CAUGHT THE MORNING LIGHT, AND SHARED SPACES THAT FELT MORE LIKE A PRIVATE MEMBERS CLUB THAN A LOBBY.
AND DARLING, IT WAS BOUTIQUE IN THE MOST SEDUCTIVE SENSE—ELEGANT BUT NEVER FUSSY. THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE YOU INSTINCTIVELY LOWER YOUR VOICE AND RAISE YOUR STANDARDS.
MY SWIM-UP SUITE FELT LIKE A WHISPERED PROMISE FROM THE UNIVERSE: MINIMALIST YET PLUSH, WITH A SEPARATE PRIVATE POOL AND A FULL WALK-IN CLOSET TO HOUSE EVERY SILK ROBE, SEQUIN KAFTAN, AND STRAPPY HEEL I IMPULSIVELY PACKED. THE JACUZZI TUB PRACTICALLY BEGGED FOR ROSE PETALS AND A GLASS OF CHILLED PROSECCO, WHILE THE FRAGRANT L'OCCITANE AMENITIES MADE EVERY RINSE FEEL LIKE A RITUAL.
AND LET’S NOT BREEZE PAST THIS: FULL-SIZED LIQUOR BOTTLES IN THE MINIBAR. NOT MINIATURES. NOT "SAMPLE-SIZED." FULL. BOTTLES. REPLACED AT YOUR LEISURE, AS CASUALLY AS YOU'D REQUEST EXTRA TOWELS. A TOUCH OF DECADENCE THAT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED.
THE CULINARY SCENE WAS AS BOUNTIFUL AS IT WAS BEAUTIFUL. PLENTIFUL RESTAURANTS, EACH WITH THEIR OWN SEDUCTIVE AMBIANCE—ALTHOUGH, TO BE HONEST, I WAS SO ENAMORED WITH THE PRIVATE POOL AND SWIFT ROOM SERVICE THAT I MAY HAVE DINED AL FRESCO IN MY ROBE MORE OFTEN THAN I SHOULD ADMIT.
THE CHOCOLATE SHOP DESERVES A STANDING OVATION (AND POSSIBLY ITS OWN REVIEW). YES, YOU READ THAT CORRECTLY: A DEDICATED CHOCOLATE SHOP—WHERE INDULGENCE DIDN’T FEEL LIKE CHEATING, BUT LIKE COMING HOME.
THE BEACH? AS SOFT AS SIFTED FLOUR AND JUST AS WHITE. TURQUOISE WATER SO CLEAR IT COULD'VE BEEN CURATED. AND DESPITE MY INITIAL SUSPICIONS, THE ROMANCE WASN’T JUST IN THE SETTING—IT WAS IN THE DETAILS. FROM THE CANDLELIT PATHWAYS TO THE WAY THE STAFF REMEMBERED YOUR PREFERENCES WITHOUT PROMPT, THE ENTIRE PROPERTY EXHALED SENSUALITY AND EASE.
THERE WAS, HOWEVER, ONE DETAIL THAT LEFT A FAINT SMUDGE ON AN OTHERWISE PRISTINE CANVAS... A SPEAKEASY—INTENTIONALLY HUSH-HUSH, WITH WHISPERS OF EXCLUSIVITY SO THICK YOU COULD SLICE THROUGH THEM.
I LOVE A VELVET ROPE MOMENT AS MUCH AS THE NEXT WOMAN, BUT APPARENTLY THIS ONE REQUIRED KNOWING WHOSE PALM TO GREASE. IT CONVENIENTLY “OPENED” THE EVENING OF MY DEPARTURE. A MISSED MOMENT? PERHAPS. BUT NOT ENOUGH TO DULL THE SHINE.
AS FOR THE JOURNEY IN? SEASONS PRIVATE TRANSFERS IN A SLEEK SUBURBAN MADE THE TRANSITION FROM PLANE TO PARADISE SEAMLESS, WITH JUST THE RIGHT HINT OF VIP ENERGY.
MY ONLY REGRET? THAT I DIDN’T STAY LONGER. THIS WASN’T JUST A VACATION—IT WAS A MASTERCLASS IN HOW TO DO LUXURY WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD. EXCELLENCE CORAL DOESN'T ASK TO BE ADORED. IT SIMPLY IS.
