Suite of the week: Beachfront in Mexico at Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Mexico is having a moment. Three popular destinations -- Cancun, Riviera Maya/Playa del Carmen/Tulum and Los Cabos appear in Expedia's top 10 list of places people want to visit in 2021.
And as a destination that requires no quarantine upon arrival, coupled with relatively easy access for a quick getaway, travelers who are willing to vacation again are arriving to soak up the sun.
In the Riviera Maya area known as Mayakoba, less than an hour from Cancun International Airport, is the Banyan Tree Mayakoba -- a luxury eco-resort that's a favorite among golfers. The resort's El Camaleon golf course is the host of the PGA's Mayakoba Golf Classic. It's also home to seven restaurants, two bars, several pools, tennis, a beach club, spa and nature trails.
And in response to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines requiring all travelers entering the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test result, the resort will offer onsite COVID-19 testing for all departing guests beginning Jan. 23.
Among the resort's 123 villas -- each with a private pool -- are two new beachfront villas. The Beachfront Pool Suite and Beachfront Sunrise Pool Suite each have an open-air bedroom, private entrances, outdoor showers, private indoor/outdoor patio solarium with a heated plunge pool and whirlpool bathtub, as well as direct beachfront access to the Caribbean and water views.
Guests can also book private experiences available in the safety of their own pool deck, suck as in-villa BBQs hosted by a private and masked chef, complimentary beach cruiser bikes, one-on-one mezcal tastings, Mexican cooking classes and recycling paper workshops.
Travelers interested in visiting Mexico from the United States are not able to do so via land crossing until at least Feb. 21 unless the travel is considered essential. Visitors are able to travel by air, rail or sea.
