Mexico - Full-Time Travel

Mexico

Mexico

Finding a New Kind of Cool


A new wave of cool is crescendoing throughout Mexico, taking hotels into new architectural, culinary and wellness terrain: By casting double vision — to Mexico’s rich past as well as its future — a group of pioneering chefs, designers and hoteliers is homing in on Mexico’s very own luxury groove. “A lot of developers in Mexico have elevated design to an international scale, to introduce some of the most globally recognized and accomplished architects to design, and develop out the latest resort and residential developments in the country,” says Ricardo Santa Cruz, Developer of Mandarina, a soon-to-open, low-environmental impact, high luxury resort and residential development.

FIELD NOTES

More than 350 new hotel properties will open in Mexico between this year and 2022, according to real estate firm CBRE. Overwhelmed by the bounty? We’ve honed some of the best soon-to-open options:

1. Architect Rick Joy has been tapped to imagine another, otherworldly experience at One&Only’s foray into Mexico with Mandarina. Located on the Riviera Nayarit near Puerta Vallarta, the resort and residences will incorporate jungle vegetation and dramatic cliffside drops to the Pacific.

2. Mexico is set to get its first ryokan-style inn with Nobu Hotel Los Cabos. Bringing clean-lined Japanese design to a beachfront location in Cabo San Lucas, the 200-room, contemplative hotel will include wooden soaking tubs, stone floors and, perhaps best of all, Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s signature fare.

3. Amanvari Resort and Residences will craft its own dramatic beach-meets-desert oasis. Neighboring the soon-to-open Four Seasons Resort Los Cabos at Costa Palmas, the private retreat includes striking pavilions built on stilts over the ocean.

INN CROWD

Long a lure for art-seeking explorers, the tiny mountain town of San Miguel de Allende casts a spell all its own: Colonial architecture, terra cotta-topped buildings and hot springs. Now Hotel Amparo weaves past and future into a residential-style retreat where turn-of-the-century architecture meets state-of-the-art amenities, including a chef’s teaching kitchen for culinary classes. Hotel owners Taylor Goodall and Mariana Barran de Goodall mix heirlooms with ultramodern touches, like a striking marble coffee bar serving what is arguably Mexico’s homegrown answer to Starbucks, BUNA coffee. 

LAUNCH PAD

Ignacia Guest House split screens then and now: On one side there’s a 1913 home, on the other, a modern glass and steel structure. Connecting the two eras, a cactus-filled courtyard that creates an intimate oasis within Colonia Roma, one of Mexico City’s best barrios for galleries, restaurants and shopping. Solar-powered interiors blend old and new — original architectural detailing and sleek marble bathrooms; small wood-paneled nooks and glass catwalks connecting rooms. Upstairs, Casa Jacaranda hosts cooking classes. Or you can skip the effort, slide into true vacation mode and enjoy the amazing home-cooked breakfasts served in the courtyard or on your own private balcony.

WELL + GOOD

Spread across 750 acres of remote Yucatan jungle, Chable Resort offers a high-contrast study in then-and-now Mexico: Consider its combination of glass-and-concrete stand-alone villas that come outfitted with plunge pools, smart technology and an architectural ruin artfully blended into the compound. Ancient Mayan-inspired spa treatments take center stage at its wellness center while the Temazcal Ceremony offers a shaman-led journey involving chanting, rocks, fire and teas.

EAT, DRINK, REPEAT

Learn why Valle de Guadalupe is gaining on Napa as the wine-making region to beat. Almost 70% of Mexico’s wine is produced in the area, where architecturally daring hotels, chic eco-lodging and cutting-edge tasting rooms are just two hours south of San Diego by car. Visit Finca Altozano to experience Chef Javier Plascencia’s unbeatable interpretation of Baja cuisine accompanied by some of the best local wines. Or make it a weekend and head to Encuentro Guadalupe, where hillside-hugging cabanas offer sweeping views, great food and no shortage of gems from its wine cellar.

Merida is emerging as one of Mexico's top culinary hotspots. Here are some of Chef Jorge Vallejo's top dining destinations:

1. Nectar is one of my favorite restaurants because the cuisine is authentic, maintaining flavors that we have used in Mexico for centuries.

2. La Tradicion pays homage to traditional Yucatecan cuisine in a place where you feel at home because of the warm attention from the staff.

3. I always recommend Oliva Kitchen for its Italian food made with quality products. It’s the perfect place to change things up.

FIELD NOTES: @Amanvari Resort and Residences

INN CROWD: @Hotel Amparo

LAUNCH PAD: @Jaime Navarro

WELL + GOOD: @Chable Resort

EAT, DRINK, REPEAT: @Encuentro Guadalupe

The Christmas market in Frankfurt, Germany, transforms Römer square into a festive haven with twinkling lights and charming stalls. Aromas of roasted chestnuts and mulled wine fill the air as visitors explore handcrafted gifts and traditional treats. The iconic Christmas tree and live performances create a magical atmosphere, making this market a cherished holiday tradition.

Reel: @pillter_
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It`s cabin season where crackling fireplaces and peaceful solitude creates a magical and cozy atmosphere in the winter time.

Reel: @dirtandglass 📍 @evergreen_cabins
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We love a pre-winter adventure just before the water freezes into ice. @jaspernationalpark

Reel: @ninadefilla
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Throughout November, the mountains surrounding the well-known abodes of Shirakawa-gō begin to adopt the colors of autumn. 🍂 ...

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"The wait is over... it`s that time of year again! Every year from November to early March, millions of butterflies blanket the high altitude forest in central Mexico in a mesmerizing display. It`s truly spectacular to witness." - 🎥 @jess.wandering @everchanginghorizon ...

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In the latest episode of our podcast, an award winning editor, writer and producer and the host of the podcast, Travel That Matters, @brucewallintravel travels through Central America with his then fiancee to enjoy what they imagined to be their last big adventure before settling down. It was a trip that gave Bruce a new travel ethos, that travel gets better the more effort you put into it. 🎧 Link in bio to listen! ...

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When fall meets winter in Utah.

Reel: @ashleylporter
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Ethereal moments from a sunset in Scoresby Sound, Greenland.

Reel: @kylekotajarvi
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Autumn in Lago di Saoseo, a stunning alpine lake in the Poschiavo Valley of Switzerland, is a magical experience. The season transforms the surrounding landscape into a picturesque tapestry of vibrant colors. The dense forests that encircle the lake burst into a riot of reds, yellows, and oranges as the leaves change, creating a breathtaking contrast against the crystal-clear, emerald waters of the lake. The cool, crisp air of autumn adds to the tranquility of the scene, making it an ideal time for peaceful hikes and nature appreciation. It`s a time when the natural beauty of Lago di Saoseo truly shines, making it a must-visit destination for nature enthusiasts and photographers alike.

Reel: @jakeguzman
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6 Spooky Fall Adventures (An Hour from NYC)

Follow this guide from @steffy where everything is Halloween themed
including the street signs!

- @pumpkinblaze
- @harvestmoonorchard
- @lyndhurst_mansion
- @ Sleepy Hollow Cemetery
- @sleepyhollowbookshop
- @horsefeathers for a spooky drink
- @castlehotelandspa to stay!
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Zhangjiajie, located in China`s Hunan province, is a stunning national park known for its towering sandstone pillars, deep ravines, and lush forests. It gained international fame as the inspiration for James Cameron`s "Avatar." The park`s surreal and otherworldly landscape, particularly the "Southern Sky Column" (renamed "Avatar Hallelujah Mountain"), served as the muse for the film`s floating mountains and lush forests. Zhangjiajie remains a popular destination for travelers seeking to witness the real-world beauty that inspired the cinematic masterpiece.

Reel: @cyn_cynti
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The scent of crisp, autumn air fills the atmosphere of this picturesque region in southern Germany. Allgäu turns into a patchwork of fiery reds, golden yellows, and rustic browns as the leaves change color.

Reel: @_marcelsiebert
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Host of our very own podcast, The Trip That Changed Me, and this week’s Travel That Matters guest, Esme Benjamin (@esmebenjamin), tells us about her year-in-the-making five-month-long road trip across the United States.

On the podcast, Esme starts by telling us the things that happened in her life that led her to take this life-altering adventure. Then, we hear about her path through the following incredible places: Black Hills & Badlands (South Dakota), Glacier National Park and Bozeman (Montana), Cody (Wyoming), Boulder, Rocky Mountain National Park, Gateway Canyons Resort and Spa (Colorado), Monument Valley, Antelope Canyon, and the Grand Canyon (Arizona), Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana), San Francisco and Los Angeles (California), and more!

🎧 Link in bio to listen and to explore the transformative power of travel.
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