Top 3 Reasons Why All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels Really Rock!

June 26, 2013

D. Omar Solis
The Luxury Travel Concierge
TI & All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels Ambassador

I LOVE Hard Rock Hotels! It’s like going to a Las Vegas Resort where virtually everything is included! The hotels have everything that the Hard Rock brand is known for – from the awesome ambiance to the rock star paraphernalia everywhere you look.

Here are my top 3 reasons why I LOVE the All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels:

1 – This may sound cliché, but the energy is like no other! From the staff to the guests, everyone just wants to have fun and really enjoy where they are.

2 – The food is fantastic! There are countless dining options from the amazing steakhouse, Toro, to the ice cream shop, with home-made ice cream, to the 24-hour room service, you will never be hungry. And, if you do get hungry, just head to one of the restaurants or even the pastry shop, and you’re in for a treat!

3 – You can still get pampered! Although the All-Inclusive Hard Rock Hotels are so lively and bring out the fun in everyone, you can still use the vacation for relaxation and pampering. The Rock Spa is awesome – you must check out the hydrotherapy circuit and the ice room! Who would’ve thought of an ice room?!

Check out my pics from a recent trip to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana:

Check out my pics from a recent trip to Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana:

The Amazing Royal Hideaway in Playacar Mexico

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to Journey to the Village of Playacar in the Riviera Maya, just 35 minutes south of Cancun International Airport. The Royal Hideaway Playacar was the first all-inclusive adults only property to receive the prestigious AAA 5 Diamond Award and I can attest to it very much deserving the distinction. This property is a place where service and style come together in such sophisticated fashion that it might forever change the way you view All-Inclusives. The 200 Room resort is ideally located on 13 acres of lush, tropical foliage that opens onto one of the most beautiful stretches of beach on the Yucatan Peninsula and offers 8 amazing gourmet restaurants including the Club Royale dinner show twice weekly, Azia 4 Diamond asian themed restaurant, Ventanas with amazing ocean views, The Chef's Table which is a gourmet interactive dining experience with the resort's executive chef.  

Let's begin with the arrival,
After a short ride from The El Dorado Royale were we stayed at the beginning of our stay we pulled up to a very elegant and impressive Porte Cochere where a bellman in crisp uniform and hat opened our doors, greeted us with warmly, asked if there was anything we needed and unloaded our bags. Once unloaded he asked that we leave our bags there while we proceeded to the check-in. The foyer is both elegant and grand and also offers an amazing view of the property all the way down to the beach and ocean. The resort is medium sized I would say but from this vantage point appears pleasantly small from the Main Building to the Ocean.

 Entering the Lobby one almost forgets being in Mexico momentarily as the style of the building is more reminiscent of an Italian Renaissance Mansion than a Mexican Resort. Chilled champagne, warm smiles and a speedy check-in awaited us. We were given a small map of the resort, shown the basic layout and locations of restaurants, spa, pools and answers to whatever questions we had at that point. We were also told about our concierge (each building has a concierge) and to speak to her about making any dinner reservations, questions or other needs. I have to share with you how the architecture, style and decor, landscaping and the attention to Superior Service of this resort just exudes a feeling of Elegance and Class. It may not be everyone's cup of tea but I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed feeling, how can I best describe it, "fancy"?

  We arrived a little earlier than check-in time (3pm) so we opted to go to "The Deck" Grill for a light lunch. The restaurant is located Beachside with really amazing ocean views. The beach at this resort is truly one of the best I've seen in Mexico and the Caribbean. There was also a wonderful infinity pool with stunning ocean-views, We were seated quickly and thereafter always addressed by name. Although it seemed a little formal at first, after the first 2 times it felt proper given the surroundings to hear "Señor Solis may we bring you more water? Señor Solis would you like some extra cheese, Señor Solis is there anything else you would like?" Needless to say this is one resort where service is where they shine very brightly. The food was also a major strong point. Even the grill served delicious and visually appealing snacks. Below are a few of the goodies we sampled.

Seafood Ceviche

Chicken Kebab on bed of rice

Spicy Wings

Steak Burrito

Brownie With Coconut Jelly Garnish and Chocolate Ice Cream

After lunch we headed to our building where we met our wonderful concierge Rosalia. She sat us down and told us a little more about our room, the resort, the restaurants that were open that night and also made reservations for us at Azia their Asian Themed 4 Diamond Award winning Restaurant  that specializes in Japanese cuisine. In today's tech driven world you should know Free Wi-Fi is included and wer were given the Free Wi-Fi Login codes for all the different gadgets we had (Netbook, Laptop, Cell phone, Tablet). We were then escorted upstairs where our bags awaited us inside our fantastic room. 

The Luxury Jr Suite was very spacious with tall vaulted ceilings,  a huge king bed loaded with pillows, chilled champagne and fruit basket, Cable TV with DVD Stereo System, daily stocked mini-fridge and 24 hour room service of course. The bathroom was also large with 2 sink vanity and separate Jacuzzi Hydro-therapy tub and shower.  Enjoy the walkthrough video with extra resort pics I've created below.

The first evening our Concierge Rosalia made reservations for us at Azia, the Asian Themed Four Diamond Award winning restaurant. As with all the resort's evening dining options casual elegance is required attire (Collared shirts and pants for men, Dresses for women).  I was impressed both by the greeting by name as I walked in, and the very classy Contemporary Asian decor. The hostess wasted no time in seating us where we had personalized name cards at the table. Our waiter then came and introduced himself, followed shortly by the maitre d'.  Throughout the meal the waiter seemed to psychically know when my glass or plate was close to empty, promptly refilling it or removing it. Of course I have to mention the main reason for being there to begin with, the food! I wish pictures were scratch and sniff because its difficult to convey just how wonderful the food was. Presentation, Flavor, Aroma and Taste of course were perfectly balanced. We tried both Japanese, Thai and Chinese Dishes and none failed to impress.
Below are pictures of some of the dishes including Sushi, Thai Curry Fish, and Tepenyaki Chicken and Beef Entrees. The dessert finale was a fried ginger ice cream that was the perfect sweet ending to the meal. 

The next day we ordered room service for breakfast which came promptly and was just as delicious as everything sampled at the Royal Hideaway. We then took off to tour the town of Playacar which although was a 15-20 min walk away we took a $7 cab as it was sprinkling on and off. Our "short" shopping trip took most of the day as we perused countless souvenir shops, upscale boutiques, duty free liquor shops, and other quaint shops. I had some amazing Gelato, some great tacos and got some great deals on souvenirs and Tequila. After a full day out there we were ready for some more Royal Hideaway pampering and couldn't wait to try the Ventanas Restaurant where we had reservations that night. 

Shopping in Playacar

  Ventanas is their signature restaurant serving various gourmet offerings at Royal Hideway and it did not disappoint in any respect. The service as we had become accustomed to was spectacular and again the personalized name card on our table was a nice touch. The decor was luxurious and the food was insanely delicious.Adjacent and connected to the Restaurant is the Piano Lounge which lent its musical touch for a elegant and relaxing atmosphere. Below are a few of the dishes we sampled, some were better than others but all delighted our tastebuds.

That evening we retired early as we had a flight to catch the next day but we did again sample room service for a late night snack which again was fantastic and arrived promptly. The following morning our bags were retrieved on schedule and we proceeded to go to Spices which sits on the beach with amazing beach and ocean views. Without going into too much detail I think Royal hideaway gave us one last "wow" moment with the delicious breakfast spread, spectacular service and the views as the perfect topping for both. As we walked out of the restaurant I felt I was leaving friends and family as 6 different people greeted me by name and practically begged to be of service in some way and to please return soon. I have to admit they seemed utterly sincere in their attention and service. 

Ventanas Beachside Restaurant

Leaving Mexico and  this wonderful resort was beyond difficult. With Royal Hideaway's 24 hour room service, free resort wide WiFi, impeccable world class service, fantastic gourmet food, beautiful white sand beach and lovely grounds I have to say it is a perfect place to relax, unwind and be pampered. For those needing a little nightlife Playacar and its many nightlife and shopping options are walking distance away or a very short cab ride. You simply cannot go wrong with this resort unless you want to bring children along or want a louder atmosphere. 

Royal Hideaway Playacar Beachview

Till we blog again,
Feel free to ask me any questions and please subscribe to the Blog and learn about all the top resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America from a 14 year Travel Veteran.


See you on the beach!

D. Omar Solis
       LTC
Luxury Travel Concierge
305-520-9714

Your First Adventure with me is to El Dorado Casitas Royale, Riviera Maya Mexico

Welcome my fellow Luxury Travelers, friends, colleagues, clients and future clients. After much delay, hesitation and utter procrastination I am finally joining the nation of BLOGenstein. I hope to excite and perhaps motivate you to travel by sharing my many travels to Luxurious Hotels, Resorts and Villas both near and far. I hope you find my Blog, pictures and reviews compelling enough to visit the many amazing places that offer a slice of heaven, away from the daily hustle and bustle of life. With just a little planning even those of us with the most modest of budgets can more than just travel. You can travel to world class destinations and resorts and be treated like kings and queens during your stay. I encourage you to share my love for the finer things in life, don't you deserve it?

Last week I had the privilege of being invited to tour all of the Karisma Luxury Resorts in the Riviera Maya as well as a few others I arranged to see on my own. So as to not bombard my readers with 10 different hotels/videos/albums all at once I am going to review each hotel separately over the course of the next few weeks. 

I am going to start with my host resort The El Dorado Casitas Royale. I have traveled 5 times now to the Mexican Riviera and seen just about every 4 and 5 star hotel in the area. Many have been impressive and definitely upped the ante and standard by which I judge other hotels in the Caribbean and Latin America. I have to say I have been impressed yet again and have a new favorite resort with the El Dorado Casitas Royale. I can see why it was chosen as one of Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Top 100 Hotels in the World and a AAA Four Diamond Resort. The resort is snuggled along the beach in a separate, private area within the larger El Dorado Royale Resort Complex on Mexico's Riviera Maya. El Dorado Casitas Royale is an adult's only resort with an impressive selection of amenities and services making this an unmatchable destination for romantic escapes, weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries.

Karisma Resorts signature concept is the Gourmet-Inclusive Vacation. I can attest to the fact that they live up to the name in not just the Cuisine but the service and spirit as a whole. From the moment we stepped out of the Airport and were taken to the Lincoln Navigator awaiting us (not standard for transfers but can be arranged on request) I had a feeling I was going to like this place. After a short 30 minute drive we arrived at the main lobby of the El Dorado Royale and greeted with chilled towels and champagne and were told a Golf Cart would be taking us to the separate check in facility for the El Dorado Casitas Royale. On que about 5 mins later our Golf Cart arrived and whisked us over to the Casitas Check-In. The resort is fairly spead out and from the other lobby was a good 5 minutes by Golf Cart. For those that don't like walking you might want to either wait for one to drive by or call for a golf cart pickup when headed to the Royale Main Section but it wasn't that bad a walk really. Check-in was fairly standard and fast and we received a quick map tour of where our room was and restaurants/bars/pools/etc. So far the resort seemed very well maintained, great landscaping, lobbies, and friendly staff but the best was yet to come. The architectural style of the buildings and restaurants I would say is a rustic meets contemporary chic. White walls, thatched roofs and exposed logs stained a reddish brown. I had seen pictures of the suite that awaited me but the pictures did it NO justice at all. Take a look at the short walk through video and you'll see what I mean. Not only was the suite HUGE, it had tall cathedral ceilings, a huge and very comfy bed, a Jacuzzi with views of the ocean, a big balcony with a day bed and table and chairs and amazing views also, a table inside with fruit basket and champagne, a big flatscreen TV, and a fully stocked mini-bar with 4 types of beer, 4 types of soda, pretzels, candy bars and bottled water. Then there was the large size bathroom with 2 showers, one large one inside and the "Aguas De Amor" outdoor one. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed showering outside with the sun shining, palm trees swaying and wind blowing. You really don't know what you're missing showering indoors until you take a Aguas De Amor shower. By the way, this was the entry-level room type at El Dorado Casitas Royale. There are rooms with everything this one has, but bigger and with either swim-up rooms or an infinity pool on the terrace/balcony and your own personal little villa building. 

Then there was the 24 hour Room Service. Can you say "Weight Gain"? I have to admit I tried just about 60% of the menu while I was there for 4 days and had not one thing I didn't enjoy. Some favorites were the Steak Sandwich, Cheeseburger, Chicken Taquitos, Creme Brulee and Fried Ice Cream. I also have to say that even the Room Service Cuisine had an attention to detail and presentation not commonly found at All-Inclusive resorts. 








The day after arriving we were lucky to enjoy a wedding cake tasting (see pics) although the sugar high made me forget which of the 8 types was my favorite. Lets just say that it was hard to go wrong with any of them.

We also were privy to a formal wine tasting courtesy of the Resort Sommelier of the 8 different house wines each paired with a different gourmet bite. 
 After the wine tasting we were treated to an amazing private dinner for our group. I can't begin to tell you how much care and detail goes into every dish. Only the freshest ingredients are used, many of which are grown on site at the Resort Greenhouse. The Greenhouse is a world class operation that grows enough produce to supply all of Karisma's Resorts with many of the vegetables and herbs used daily. On two different nights we stayed on resort we experienced two of the options available for nightly entertainment. One was the Martini Bar that had over 40 different types of Martini's (kudo's to the Chocolate Martini). It had a classy lounge atmosphere, perfect for having great conversation over some great cocktails. The other was the nightly entertainment at the Guacamaya's Bar. Most resorts have nightly entertainment that varies from mildly fun to extremely corny, the El Dorado was definitely amongst the best I have experienced. The house band playing at the resort was as good as any I've seen anywhere with a wide range of music from Whitney Houston to AeroSmith. A few times I actually thought it was a DJ playing they were so good with their covers.

 That night was also Casino night and the entertainment staff kept us very entertained while we pretended to gamble our play money away and we were able to "buy" a tequila bottle with our "winnings". Unlike many resorts where after 7-8pm its a ghost town, the party here was happening until at least 12 midnight when I just had to call it a day (but the guests seemed ready to party till the wee hours). There was a palpable feeling of FUN that many places seem to not be able to channel but El Dorado captured with no problem. Many upscale resorts suffer from being beautiful but boring, not so with this resort. However, if going into "town" (In this case Playa Del Carmen) is your thing, the resort provides free transportation to and from several times a week (with reservations). 






For you foodies, the property offers dining in over five distinctive a’ la Carte restaurants. You may choose between international cuisine at the main restaurant El Cocotal, Italian fare at D'Italia, Gourmet Mexican at La Carreta, Fondue at Le Fondue, creative pan-Asian dishes at Kampai or specially prepared grilled fare at Jo Jo's Seaside Caribbean Grill. There are also 3 Gourmet Corners (mini-restaurants), a Pizzeria, Healthy Bar and Mexican Grill. Let's not forget the premium brand alcohol served at 10 different bars including the specialty Martini Bar and 8 different house wines. You simply will not go hungry or want for anything as they have just about every kind of cuisine covered.

Capuccino Corn Chowder with Basil Oil

Spinach and Avocado Salad

Honestly I could write a book about this resort but let me leave you with some last highlights. 13 Pools, Beach Beds for every single Room, Beach and Pool Butlers that will cater to your whims without leaving the water or beach, International cable, DVD players in each room (you can check out movies from the concierge), a Concierge for every 30 rooms to tend to your every need and staff that cannot be more friendly, helpful and genuine. I have found a new favorite resort not just in the Riviera Maya but in my top 5 of all Mexico and the Caribbean.

Feel free to ask me any questions and I have some more slideshows and videos in the works. Please subscribe to the Blog and learn about all the top resorts in the Caribbean and Latin America from a 14 year Travel Veteran.


See you on the beach!
D. Omar Solis
  LTC
Luxury Travel Concierge
305-520-9714

Casitas Infinity Pool Suite

Enough Beach Palapas for every room

Casita Suite

Casita Suite Jacuzzi (Oceanview behind curtain)

Casita Suite

Fruit Platter and Champagne

Casita Suites Building

Beach Bed