Feb 09 2011

Live in the NOW Sapphire Resort, Mexico

By: Dave Goodman, Marketing Director

It took about 30 minutes to get to the Now Sapphire Resort and Spa from the Cancun International airport. Heading down the highway, we passed signs for the other resorts on the Riviera Maya and knew that right through the overgrown jungle, separating the highway from the coast, was a beach of pristine white sand. My toes were salivating in the shuttle... or maybe that was just the humidity.

As I headed through the main entryway and into the lobby, a feeling of calm washed over me, and never left. The entire hotel is like one enormous spa, with water features everywhere and wide-open spaces that gently carry the salty breeze and Pacific smells. There were plenty of seating areas around the lobby and as I walked to the end, I was captivated by a bright blue body of water that made me forget I was in the middle of checking-in. No it wasn’t the ocean (yet), it was the resort’s unparalleled pool - the cornerstone of the Now Sapphire. I don’t think it’s possible to swim from one end to the other without stopping to catch your breath on one of the submerged lounge chairs lining the sides.

Further out past the pool, was the white sand and then the ocean, which oscillated the same beautiful bright blue.

Our room was the perfect size, comfortable, and came with a stocked mini-bar – the Now Sapphire is an all-inclusive resort, after all. All the amenities were there, including a new flat-screen TV, iPod player, bidet, couch and sitting area, and balcony.

I hadn’t been to Mexico for a number of years, but last time I stayed at an all-inclusive resort, I think I was forced to tip more money then I spent on the entire vacation. This was not the case at the Now Sapphire. The entire staff was extremely professional and I never heard a single person asking for a tip. The food was also delicious, as promised. We dined at 2 of the 6 specialty restaurants and at the main Market Cafe buffet a number of times. The hibachi sushi restaurant, Lemongrass, was great - the fish was fresh and the chefs were equally as gifted as Benihana chefs. And the formal French restaurant, Paramour, was just as good - there we dined on goat cheese and spinach salad, fillet medallions, and delicious profiteroles.

During the day, the staff set up a poolside BBQ and buffet station so we barely had to leave our lounge chairs to eat. There was also a group of staff with white polos on that read ‘The Now Sapphire Entertainment Team’ and you can guess what their job was... perhaps one of the best jobs in the world: to make sure all the guests were having the time of their lives. From beach volleyball to water sports to poolside flash dance mobs, they kept all the guests on their toes and made sure every day of sun-filled lounging was different and unique.

By night the resort came alive with libations and music but if you weren’t in the mood, a quick stroll back to your room would give you all the peace and quiet you would ever need.

Located on an absolutely gorgeous beach just outside of the tourist-heavy areas of Cancun, and staffed with attentive and fun people who legitimately care about bringing you a relaxing and unforgettable vacation, the Now Sapphire is a delicious cocktail of a hotel I would sip on any day of the week. It was a wonderful vacation and one I won’t soon forget.
 

For more information on the Now Sapphire Resort, contact an All-Travel Agent at 800-300-4567!

About Dave Goodman

I began my career in public relations and marketing in the Entertainment Industry and have always had a knack for understanding how to incorporate new technology in client outreach. I’ve traveled to Mexico, Western Europe, Canada, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and took a tour of a majority of the states about 10 years ago. My favorite destination would have to be Amsterdam (I lived there for 5 months), but Barcelona was pretty cool also. I specialize in online marketing, HTML and website design, database analysis, data collection, and marketing coordination and development. I hold a Bachelor's degree and ATLAS certificate (Alliance for Technology Learning and Society) from the University of Colorado at Boulder and am proud of our recent Travel Age West Trendsetter Award for ‘Best Agency Website’ and Travel Weekly’s Magellan Award for Internet Marketing. I love this industry because I get to talk about beautiful and exciting places all day, and get to experiment with new and interesting marketing tactics.