The summer is hectic for my family. Hard to believe, it's even busier than the school year. So when the chance to head off to the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun for three nights with 45 Macaroni Kid publishers came up, I was apprehensive and excited in the same breath. It would take some serious finagling to coordinate the details at home but I was determined to make it work. A chance to relax and recharge was exactly what I needed to make it through my summer. The fact that I would be surrounded by my Mac Kid sisters just made it that much better!
So at 5 a.m. on a Sunday morning, my husband dropped me off at Newark airport where I waited to use my passport for the first time since my honeymoon. I sat down at my gate and exhaled. Now, I'm a mom that always tries to make some time for myself - an hour to read here, coffee with my girlfriends there - but 72 hours of no "Mom, where's my favorite shorts?" or "Mom, Nick won't leave me alone," seemed too good to be true. Top that off with an amazing itinerary and everything I had read about the luxurious resort I would be heading to and this Mama was on cloud nine!
| Arriving at the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun and seeing my room was nothing short of spectacular. It was spacious, light and airy with a patio that was 10 feet away from the nearest pool. An in-room whirlpool tub, coffee maker and the ability to connect my bluetooth up to the tv so I could have music in my room were just the little extra touches I needed to make it perfect for me! |  |
The room was just the beginning. The resort surpassed my expectations, from the gourmet food to the beautiful pools. After my first day, I was looking around and noticing how my kids and husband would find this place just as amazing as I did! While I was enjoying a solo mom-cation, I knew that I could bring the whole family back for a stay. They would enjoy everything this Karisma resort had to offer and I would still feel completely pampered with a worry-free, relaxing vacation - and with kids that is no easy feat!
1. Gourmet Inclusive
A foodie at heart, I couldn't wait to experience the Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Experience - and I'm excited to say it did not disappoint. Fresh ingredients paired with authentic preparations, transcended any expectations I held. Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun is home to five gourmet restaurants, each providing a unique dining experience, starting from the detailed decor of the restaurant to the flavors on the plate. The food displays at Spoon, where I ate breakfast and lunch a couple of days, offered what felt like an endless amount of choices - including my favorite, a crepe bar. A highlight of the trip was our dinner at Le Chique, voted the #1 restaurant in Mexico and a true culinary experience. Our evening included a 14 course tasting menu designed to delight us visually as well as surprise our palates. Each course seemed to surpass the previous with unique creations and scrumptious flavors. Paired with six wine tastings, it was truly an indulgent evening for this self-proclaimed foodie.
What's a vacation without a yummy adult beverage and some room service? This resort had both. As a guest, you have access to 24 hour room service with a push of a button. Without a doubt this would be a family favorite with my kids - free range to order what they wanted without mom telling them no because I was worried about the cost! I think I tried at least half of the resort's eight all-inclusive bars. From their extensive tequila selection to an amazing list of mojitos options at the Mojito Lounge, the vacay drinks did not disappoint. Karisma's Gourmet inclusive Experience truly surpassed my dining expectations for an all-inclusive.
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2. Endless Things to Do or Not Do
The activities for families at Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun are overwhelming in the best possible way. Daily classes and programs for the kids include arts and crafts, Nickelodeon themed activities, a splash pad, and a My Gym Fitness Center including ropes and trampolines. My daughter would be right at home in the Extreme Breeze Teens Lounge with movie nights, air hockey, Xbox and more! The beach is just steps away with kayaks and paddle boards to rent for a nominal fee. There are three daily schedules of activities to choose from all day long- entertainment, fitness and kids - including morning yoga on the beach!
Want to do absolutely nothing (like I did most of the time)? They have six amazing pools, including an adult-only option, where you can simply lounge around and catch some rays. Need a break from the pool? There is a beachside bar with swings, hammocks outside of my favorite coffee shop (yes, they had a Starbucks) to relax with a book, and plenty of spots to lounge on their Roof Top Garden that overlooks the entire property! Live entertainment every evening, a local crafter's market and plenty of spots to sit and enjoy a quiet drink keep your nights as full as you want them to be.
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 | 3. Unrivaled Personalized Service One of the first things I noticed upon arriving at the resort was the smiling and friendly staff. Besides the professional concierge, who is there to help with any necessary planning, this resort has the best staff to guest ratio in the industry (2:1) and it showed during my entire stay. The staff was above and beyond helpful and went out of their way to ensure I felt completely pampered during my entire stay. It was like the poolside butler was quietly whispering, "Relax," all day long! From remembering my drink order to answering all my questions about which restaurants were open when, they really did help me plan less and play more on my vacation! As a mom, who is typically doing the pampering, the personal attention provided by the Azul Beach Resort Riviera Cancun resort staff was really the cherry on top! |
| 4. Vassa Spa My spa experience was a complete splurge and I have to say, the luxurious experience was worth every single penny. When I booked my spa appointment, I was told to arrive one hour prior for the Water Journey Ritual. I really was unsure of what to expect but was quickly in awe of this multi-step guided experience that included alternating hot and cold hydrotherapies. Just halfway thru, I understood the name for this treatment as it truly felt like a journey back and forth between the ultimate relaxation of the hot water and steam treatments followed by the truly invigorating cold water therapies. The Ritual was only the beginning of my experience at the Vassa Spa and relaxed me physically and mentally so I could truly enjoy the spa treatment I had chosen. The Be Irresistible treatment I received included an exfoliation, body wrap and massage, utilizing cocoa butter, chocolate and hazelnut oil. The massage was so relaxing, I think at one point I may have dozed off. |  |
5. A True Mom-cation...even with the Whole Family
It was a once in a lifetime experience to be able to go away for a few nights without my children and truly relax and recharge with friends. As I walked around the resort and noticed everything they had to offer, I knew that a trip to l with my whole family would still be the ultimate Mom-cation! While the kids would enjoy time with newly made friends at the many activities offered, my husband and I could visit one of the adult-only pools complete with cabana and swim up bar for an afternoon date! Family time could be spent paddle boarding or taking a kayak out right off the beach of the resort! Time spent with my kids, where I don't have to hear, "I'm bored," or be the camp coordinator is the very definition of relaxation! A vacation where I don't have to say "No," to the mini bar soda and bag of chips because everything is included is literally PRICELESS!
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Have really little ones? Karisma's "Toddler Inclusive" provides a full list of amenities to make traveling with toddlers a breeze. Strollers, cribs, pack and plays, plus a toy lending menu help you keep packing to a minimum. Plus you have a choice of organic baby food prepared by their chefs or Gerber baby food available in all restaurants as well as room service.
| After three and a half days of eating amazing food, lounging my afternoons away followed by dancing the night away with my incredible Macaroni Kid sisters, I was recharged, heading home and ready to plan a Karisma getaway for the entire family! |  |
Check out all my Boondoggle fun here:
I received a complimentary stay to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.
