The Kilkenny Observer Friday 11 March 2022
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Travel & Leisure FROM the Caribbean to Mexico, Belize to the Virgin Islands, the list of tropical vacation destinations covers some of the most beautiful (and not too far) places in the world. 1. RIVIERA MAYA, MEXICO The Riviera Maya is a stretch of Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s northeastern Yucatán Peninsula. It’s known for its all-inclusive resorts, yoga retreats, ancient Mayan ruins, and long, white-sand beaches. Fairmont Mayakoba offers the ultimate tropical beach vacation and is the best way to experience what Riviera Maya has to offer. At Fairmont Mayakoba, guests can spot exotic birds, turtles, and even crocodiles from a resort boat in the mangrovefilled jungle. Marine wildlife lovers can snorkel among sea fans, giant sponges and moray eels, or take a catamaran out on the water. Golfing, spa services, mezcal tastings, or Mexican delicacy cooking classes are also offered within this tropical paradise. If you can imagine it, they probably offer it at the resort! The private, gated 240 hectares property is surrounded by lush rainforest (that can be cycled along) lined with waterways, right on the Caribbean shoreline. 2. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS The British Virgin Islands is a British overseas territory and part of a volcanic archipelago in the Caribbean. It’s known as a haven for yachties, divers, and kiteboarders alike. Saba Rock, an island resort located within the British Virgin Islands, dates back to the 1960s. Saba Rock was put on the map
SO you arrive at your top star hotel and there on the pillow of your luxurious bed are chocolates. Ever wondered why? Why you’re greeted with a sweet treat on your pillow when you enter a nice hotel room? It turns out we have a romantic actor caught in a scandal to thank. That actor is Cary Grant, the British-American leading man in movies from the 1930s to the 1960s, including the 1930s version of Alice in Wonderland and Arsenic and Old Lace. According to the most widely spread legend, Grant booked the penthouse suite at the luxurious Mayfair Hotel in downtown St Louis during one of his frequent stays in the early 1950s. Grant, who was married to his third wife at the time, was trying to court a secret lover. As a romantic gesture, he decided to leave a trail of chocolates that began in the living room area all the way up to her pillow along with a letter. A manager at the hotel had gotten wind of Grant’s gesture and decided to start leaving a chocolate on the pillow as a standard amenity in the
town of San Ignacio, and many splendid Mayan ruins. Some travelers have claimed to have experienced nirvana from the summit of the main pyramid of Xunantunich, which offers a sweeping vista of the Mopan Valley and Guatemala. The all-inclusive resort offers excursions such as scuba diving, fly fishing, mainland tours, bonefishing, private yacht tours, and bird watching tours. Pair that with world-class cuisine and a spa, and Cayo Espanto becomes your private oasis. All of Cayo Espanto’s premium villas are seafront and on the beach with private pools.
Five tropical places for the ideal holiday by diving pioneer Herbert Kilbride when he founded his diving base for scuba diving and launched the legendary Pirates’ Pub, which is known for being one of the best oceanfront bars in the Caribbean. Since then, visitors have flocked to Saba Rock for a taste of the “old” Caribbean, from on-the-water adventures and breathtaking scenery to fresh-from-thesea cuisine and lively Happy Hours. The secluded resort
offers kayaking, paddle boarding, boating, diving, windsurfing, yoga, massages, and snorkeling. 3. GRENADA Grenada is a Caribbean country dubbed as the “Spice Isle” due to numerous nutmeg plantations. Whether you participate in sailing, paddle boarding, fishing, a beachside massage, or lounging away stresses on the white-sand beach with the sounds of the waves lapping
against the shore, you will have found paradise at Mount Cinnamon Resort and Beach Club. An added bonus is that Mount Cinnamon Resort and Beach Club supports The South St. George’s Primary School through an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community. If you save just a few pounds of space in your suitcase to take supplies for the project, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives
Infidelity and that chocolate on your hotel pillow
of local children and families. 4. BELIZE Belize is a nation on the eastern coast of Central America, with Caribbean Sea shorelines, a dense jungle, and Mayan ruins. Located three miles off the coast of San Pedro, Belize, Cayo Espanto is truly an unforgettable private island retreat. The Cayo region encompasses nature sanctuaries, the majestic Hidden Valley Falls, the lively
5. ANGUILLA Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the Eastern Caribbean, is known for its prehistoric petroglyphs and a wildlife conservation site. Frangipani Beach Resort, a family-owned and operated establishment, is a luxury boutique resort in Anguilla. With just 19 rooms and suites and a four-bedroom villa, the resort allows guests an unrivalled, intimate experience. Guests have the opportunity to attend the weekly managers’ cocktail party, set sail on a sunset cruise, or dance the night away with staff at a local beach bar. Frangipani Beach Resort boasts a wide variety of activities. Whether you’re looking for poolside relaxation, water sports, a private boat charter, or a tennis match, they’ve got you covered. In case you still need an excuse to book a trip to Anguilla, Frangipani Beach Resort is committed to giving back to the island community with opportunities for social and cultural development in Anguilla.
hotel. Soon, many hotels did the same, turning the practice into a tradition. Now you’ll find everything from expensive or locally sourced chocolates to the more generic stuff, a cookie bite, or mints. The Mayfair was purchased by Marriott and became the Magnolia St Louis — a Tribute Portfolio Hotel in August 2014. The hotel had ended the tradition before it was sold. When Marriott purchased the property, management brought back the tradition using chocolates from Bissinger’s, one of the finest chocolatiers in the nation. The industry changing extra isn’t the only nod to the hotel’s past: In honou r of Grant, guests who stay at the Magnolia can dine at the Robies Restaurant and Lounge, named after Grant’s character in the film To Catch A Thief, and they can book the Cary Grant suite on the 18th floor. So, the next time you indulge in a sweet treat you’ve found on your hotel pillow, it turns out you have infidelity to thank.
