RIVIERA MAYA

BY JESSICA LOWNDES

I recently had the privilege of staying at the Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya. One of the best features of the resort in my opinion is that it is literally sectioned into two equal parts. One side is for families. The other side, known as Heaven, is a resort within a resort and reserved exclusively for adults! As far as the beach front goes, it is unique in it's design, extremely private and peaceful. The beach is a lagoon which makes swimming safe at all times! There were a ton of daily activities going on throughout the resort. I had never been to a foam party before, but I am very happy that we decided to go. It was one of my favorite activities during our stay for sure. The entire pool was filled with foam making it like a huge bubble bath. There was a DJ, dancers and balloons. The second day we decided to lay out and relax. You can't beat the lush beach beds. It’s the perfect all-inclusive vacation. The rock culture in our Rock Star Suite embodied the spirit of the Hard Rock brand. The decor was fun! The staff is super friendly and cannot do enough for you. We felt totally relaxed and comfortable and it far surpassed all expectations. :)

DAY TRIP TO TULUM

Only 45 mins away from Riviera Maya!!! I have SO much love for Tulum. We only had 12 hours to explore what this incredible and special place had to offer but we made sure to squeeze in as many attractions as possible.

First stop: Breakfast at Zamas, a hotel, bar and restaurant right in the center of Tulum. It has an incredible view of white sand beaches and beautiful turquoise waters. You MUST try the cappuccino and their eggs are out of this world. Their fresh juices were only $3!!! Best. Deal. Ever.

Next stop: Bike rental. It was such a fun and enjoyable way to get around town! Probably the most efficient way to see everything. All the shops are within feet of each other so not having to find a spot to park our rental car was a major perk.

Next: We went to the Ruins. This is a must. Pictures don't do this Mayan city justice.

After that: We rode our bikes 1.5 km to Playa Paraiso Beach, Tulum! Paraiso meaning "Paradise", this beach is truly a paradise on earth. The most stunning white sand beaches with crystal clear water on the Caribbean coastline of Mexico. The restaurant has decent food and good cocktails. It was such a beautiful place to lay out.

Sunset: We went to Ziggy Beach. We placed our order for Tequila-shrimp-tacos (Melt in your mouth goodness) and walked along the white sand while we waited for our food. These tacos were the best in town! We even ordered some to go so we could bring them back to our hotel to enjoy later!