Written By: Geoff Millar, Owner – Ultimate All-Inclusive Travel Inc.
This month we are going to look at AM Resorts newest chain, Reflect Resorts and Spas. AM Resorts has taken over the management of the Krystal Resorts, remodeled them and renamed them Reflect Resorts and Spas. The name suggests that guests, both families and adults only, take the time to reflect and focus on whoever they are with. I would place these resorts between the Sunscape and the Now Resorts as far as quality. Sunscape being their entry level chain. These resorts are for clients that are not looking for entry level resorts but are looking for a little higher level of quality and luxury but also resorts that do not break the bank.
At this time there are 3 Reflect Resorts, all in Mexico. One in Cancun, one in Los Cabos, and one in Puerto Vallarta. I am sure there will be more to come.
The first resort we are going to look at is the Reflect Krystal Grand Cancun. It is located on the hotel strip in Cancun. Those that sell Cancun know that the hotel strip is shaped like a 7 and the Reflect Krystal Grand Resort is located right at the elbow of the 7. This is a great area because it is within walking distance of a number of great restaurants and many of the night clubs of Cancun. This resort has 395 rooms and suites situated in two circular towers.
Accommodations are made up of Deluxe Rooms, Deluxe Partial Ocean View Rooms, Deluxe Ocean Front Rooms, Family Suite Ocean Front rooms, and Honeymoon Suite Ocean Front rooms. In the resort’s Altitude Club, their Concierge Level, they have the Altitude Suite, the Altitude Suite Ocean Front, the Altitude partial ocean View Corner Suite, the Altitude Corner Ocean Front Suite, the Altitude Family Suite, the Altitude Master Suite, and the Ocean Front Presidential Suite. Be carful because what they call a suite is really just a larger room. The only true suite they have is the Presidential Suite.
As far as dining options, there are a number of them. The resort has 3 A La Carte restaurants, Pan Asian, Italian, and Mexican at the Hacienda El Mortero across the street from the resort. There is also the International Buffet, the Grill for A La Carte grilled fare, and the Coffee House for coffees as well as sweet and savory snacks. There is the option for 24 hour room service. Guests are within walking distance of some of the top Cancun restaurants. As far as bars, there is the Beach Bar, the pool bar with swim-up section, the Lobby bar, and the Lounge bar with Tapas. There is an Altitude bar for those guests that are in the Altitude section.
As with most of the resorts that are located in the Hotel Zone, water sports are limited to the pool areas and the beach. There are four heated pools including an adults only pool, there is the beach for swimming and relaxing. Non-motorized watersports are not offered on this beach because the water a really too rough for things like kayaks, paddleboard, windsurfing and other non-motorized watersports. Motorized water sports like jet skis and parasailing are available from vendors on the beach for an additional cost. On the land there is shopping within walking distance, aqua aerobics, yoga, dance lessons, Pilates, cookng classes, wine and tequila tasting, and beach volleyball. Be aware that because this resort sits at the end of the main beach that the beach area is not as long or as deep as the rest of the main beach, especially at high tide. There is golf and off site tours available at an additional cost. There is a fitness center on the property and also a fabulous Spa.
For kids 3-12 there is the Kids Explorers Club made famous by the AM Resorts Dreams and NOW Resorts. There is babysitting available at an additional charge.
This resort is for families and couples that want an upscale experience without breaking the bank. It is also for adults that want to be close to the nightlife of Cancun. It also would be a good resort for Destination weddings.
The next resort we will look at is the Reflect Krystal Grand Los Cabos located in San Jose area. The resort offers easy access to downtown San Jose Del Cabo, the airport, and is about 20 miles from Cabo San Lucas. It sits on a beautiful beach but, as most beaches in the Cabo area, it is not a swimmable beach. This resort used to be the Krystal Resort.
Accommodations consist of 429 rooms and suites including swim-out suites. As with most resorts in todays world the rooms at the resort are non-smoking rooms. The rooms and suites consist of Deluxe Rooms that are really Jr. suites, One Bedroom Garden View Suites, Deluxe Palmilla Garden View Room, Palmilla Ocean View Room, Jr Suite Ocean View, Jr. and Suite Swim-Out Garden View. In their Altitude Club Level, the Concierge level, they have, Jr. Suite Ocean Front, Altitude Jr. Suite Swim-Out Ocean Front, Altitude Governors Suite Ocean View, and Altitude Presidential Suite Ocean View.
As far a dining, there are 3 A la Carte choices as well as an International Buffet, a Grill, a Deli and Coffee Shop, and a pool snack bar. There is also 24 hour room service. The A la Carte restaurants are, Mexican, Italian, and Pan Asian. As far as bars, there is a choice of the Lobby Bar, the swim-up bar located in the adult only pool, the martini and tapas bar, and the roof-top bar.
Activities consist mainly of land and pool activities as the beach is not swimmable. There is whale watching from the beach during the whale season running November through March. There is water aerobics in one of the 4 pools on the property including an adult only pool, water and land volleyball, dance lessons, yoga, and nightly entertainment. There is great shopping in downtown San Jose del Cabo as well as golf at an additional cost. There are also a number of off-site tours at an additional cost. For the children there is the award winning AM Resorts Explorer Kids Club as well as a great Teen Club, all with supervised activities. Guests can relax at the Spa with a large selection of treatments. This is a great resort for destination weddings since it is a great family resort but with some relaxing adult areas. As all the Reflect Resorts there is a great Spa.
This resort is great for families and couples looking for an upscale experience that won’t break the bank. It is also great for those that want to go to Cabo but want to stay outside the hectic, party atmosphere of Cabo San Lucas. San Jose del Cabo provides a quieter experience with a nice downtown that provides great upscale shopping and dining venues.
The last Reflect Resort we will look at is the Reflect Krystal Grand Puerto Vallarta. This Resort is located in the Nuevo Vallarta or Nayarit area that is about ½ hour north of Puerto Vallarta. It is in the north end of the bay close to the town of Bucerias and south of Punta Mita. It is located on a great swimmable beach and close to a wide variety of outdoor adventures. It is also close to the eclectic surf town of Sayulita.
Accommodations at this resort are made up of 410 rooms and suites including swim-up suites. The room categories include, Deluxe Resort View Rooms, Deluxe Tropical View Rooms, Deluxe Ocean View Rooms, Jr. Suite Pool View Rooms, Jr. Suite Ocean View Rooms, Jr. Suite Swim-out Rooms, Jr Suite Ocean Front Rooms, and in the Altitude or Concierge section the rooms consist of, Jr. Suite Ocean front Rooms. As all the Reflect Resorts, all rooms are non-smoking and have 24 hour room service.
There are plenty of both water and land activities at this resort. They include the fantastic beach and watersports, beach volleyball, 3 heated pools and an adult only pool as well as a kid’s pool. There are a number of great golf courses close by at an extra charge. Off-site tours abound in the area as well as shopping in Puerto Vallarta. For Kids and teens there is the AM Resort Explorer Kid’s Club as well as a Teen Club with a lot of activities. There, of course, is a fantastic Spa with a wide variety of treatments.
This is an excellent family and couple resort for those that want to be outside Puerto Vallarta but still be close enough to enjoy the shopping and nightlife of town. It is great for those that want an upscale vacation at a reasonable price. It is great for Destination Weddings and groups. Be sure your clients visit Sayulita while they are there. It is a fantastic little town.
Well this closes out another year of resort reviews. Join us next month for another review of another fantastic all-inclusive resort chain review. Until then, good selling and safe travels.