sUMMER 2010
celebratedliving.com
54
©BEN FINK/THERITZ-CARLTONCANCUN
Readers’ Choice Platinum List
H
Top10Mexico/Central
America/SouthAmerica
1. TheRitz-Carlton, Cancun
(800) 542-8680, ritzcarlton.com
2. JWMarriott CancunResort &Spa
(888) 813-2776,
jwmarriottcancunresort.com
3. LasVentanas al Paraíso,
ARosewoodResort, LosCabos
(888) 767-3966, lasventanas.com
4. LeMéridienCancunResort &Spa
(800) 543-4300,
cancun.lemeridien.com
5. One&OnlyPalmilla, LosCabos
(866) 829-2977,
oneandonlypalmilla.com
6. CasaMagnaMarriott CancunResort
(800) 228-9290,marriott.com
7. LasBrisasAcapulco
(800) 223-6800, brisas.com.mx
8. Four SeasonsHotel BuenosAires
(800) 819-5053,
fourseasons.com/buenosaires
9. Four SeasonsResort PuntaMita,
Nayarit,Mexico
(800) 332-3442,
fourseasons.com/puntamita
10. CopacabanaPalace, Riode Janeiro
(800) 237-1236,
copacabanapalace.com.br
Top5U.S.CasinoResorts
1. Bellagio, LasVegas
(888) 987-6667, bellagio.com
2. Wynn LasVegas
(877) 321-9966,
wynnlasvegas.com
3. TheVenetianResort-Hotel-Casino,
LasVegas
(866) 659-9643, venetian.com
4. MandalayBay, LasVegas
(877) 632-7800,mandalaybay.com
5. MGMGrand, LasVegas
(877) 880-0880,mgmgrand.com
coaching.OnOahu, thespaat the
HALEKULANI
developedanearly four-
hourdetoxprogram that incorporates
Asianand island influences from foot-
pounding todry-brushing.And
THE
FAIRMONTKEALANI
focusedonenviron-
mentalbalance,offeringguests theop-
portunity toeradicate invasivespecies
onMaui’ssanddunes.
Luxe isbynomeans“out” in the
islands. If anything, it’smorepre-
cious.
HALEKULANI
createdTableOne,
a restaurantwithin itsOrchids
restaurantwhere thechef offers
bespokemenus.Andon theBig
Island, the
FOUR SEASONSHUALALAI
justunveiledsevennewvillasand
suiteswithsuchflourishesasan
artist-madewall of feathersora
hand-carvedcanoeondisplay.
When it comes to thenew, few
rivalLasVegas’ resorts.Thesemas-
siveentertainmentpalaces thriveon
change,and thisyear’s latest includes
theEpicureanEpicenterstagingchef
demonstrationsat
CL
’srepeatwinner
BELLAGIO
.
WYNN LASVEGAS
has lured
singerGarthBrooksoutof retirement
foraseriesof performancesandalso
recentlyopenedanewbeachclubat
Encore.
MANDALAYBAY
debutedaresi-
dentproductionof
TheLionKing
and
offersguestswhoarecertifieddivers
the thrill ofdivingwithsharksat its
in-houseaquarium,while theHard
RockHotel sprouted twonewglitter-
ing towers.
FairmontHotels&Resortsagain
dominated inCanadawith its largely
historicproperties. Icons like
THEFAIR-
MONTBANFFSPRINGS
staycurrentwith
BMWbikes,golfclubs,fitnessgear,
andMP3players—allcomplimentary
tomembersof its frequent-staypro-
gram.The
FAIRMONTCHATEAULAKELOUISE
treatsguests toglacierviewswithbot-
tlesofprivatevintagewines.
All isnot rosé and roses, of
course. Inanother signof the
times, volunteering—alreadypop-
ular amongadventure travelers
and spring-breakers—has emerged
asadriving trendamonghotels.
Thisyear’sMexicowinner,
THERITZ-CARLTON, CANCUN
, notonly
restored its300-foot-deepbeachand
threwsaturday-eveningbeachpar-
ties, but italsoofferedguests the
chance tovolunteerbyworking ina
needyMayancommunitynearby.On
theoppositeshore inLosCabos,
ONE&ONLYPALMILLA
sellsadoll designed
byactressJenniferAniston,with
proceeds funneled toaTijuanaor-
phanage. For furtherheartwarming,
the resort launcheda three-day
wellnessprogram that combines
laughteryoga—yes, laughingwhile
The Ritz-Carlton, Cancun
