Travel Talk: Finding Relaxation Under the Banyan Tree

It’s been three days since my return from Mexico and neither a hurricane named Sandy nor three excited children counting the days till Halloween (stuck inside, nonetheless) could create a rise in my blood pressure. I’m still on “Banyan Tree time.”

Last week, I traveled with three, life-long friends to The Banyan Tree resort on the Riviera Maya. An easy non-stop flight and another 30 minute ride to the resort landed us in the middle of relaxation paradise.

I knew the minute we arrived, we were someplace special. Perhaps it was the open air lobby where we were greeted with a traditional bracelet made of berries and flowers.  No check in desk - just a glass of traditional Mayan juice on a comfortable sofa. Or perhaps it was the sincere welcome we received from every staff member we encountered. But I think my “ahhhhh” moment was seeing the large banyan tree rising up from the lagoon. A symbol that I would quickly associate with peacefulness.

The Banyan Tree resort is part of a large, gated complex called Mayakoba on the Riviera Maya just south of Cancun. There are two other luxury resorts within this area that guests can visit for lunch or dinner via a complimentary car service or boat ride.

Since the eco-friendly Mayakoba complex is set among 1,600 acres of mangroves, guests are transported everywhere they want to go via golf carts. A quick call to reception and a smiling employee is at your villa gate before you even exit the door. And speaking of villas, pictures can not do it justice. The entire resort consists of individual villas that while attached, are completely private. We chose to stay in a 2 bedroom sunrise lagoon villa. At over 5,500 square feet, this villa was not only huge but uber-luxurious as well. The almost full-size infinity pool was attached to a jacuzzi and the open-air lounging area was very conducive to great pool-side conversations. The master bedroom’s bathroom was larger than any bedroom in our current house and had an adjoining open air bathroom that was fit for the Gods. And what could be better than opening glass doors at the foot of the bed only to step directly into the pool. 

But by day two, we were feeling the need to explore. And explore we did, even if it was only within the Mayakoba complex during the day. While the beach club pool was small, the swim up bar was perfect for four friends. And taking the boat around the mangroves to view the wildlife as well as seeing the other two resorts was well-worth the sacrifice of an hour or two in the sun. And a quick 10 minute cab-ride into Playa del Carmen was an added bonus. We were pleasantly surprised by the local feeling of the pedestrian-only main street packed with great restaurants, bars and local merchandise.

But we couldn’t help like feeling we were one of only a few at the resort. We deducted that it was due to traveling in low season but learned that the resort was in fact, almost full. Because the villas are so private and provided such amazing amenities, many guests chose to stay at their villa during the day. 

I can’t write about the Banyan Tree and not exhale deeply while writing about their world-renowned spa.  I typically don’t opt for spa treatments while on vacation as I always feel like I can book something similar at home. But when I learned The Banyan Tree trains all of their masseuses in Thailand, it was only fitting to try out the Thai Classic massage. 90 minutes later I had to tell my brain, to tell my body, that at some point, I needed to get off the massage bed. And speaking of unique, the spa offers a Rainforest experience where you walk thru nine different therapy experiences only to end up in a neon vitality pool. Very cool and very original. (If you go, it’s ok to chuckle when you get to the station where you feel like you are a giant snow cone.)

But even with the amazing villa, the unique spa, and the natural beauty of the resort, the one thing that trumped them all was the staff that went above and beyond to make our stay one we won’t forget. Everyone always had a smile and anticipated your needs before you even thought about them. Even after recounting funny things that happened while there, my friends and I kept coming back to the warm embrace we felt from all those that we encountered.

If you are looking for a social beach scene in Mexico, this is not the place for you. Due to environmental conservation, the majority of the villas are built far from the ocean and require you to take either a golf cart or a boat to reach the sand. And you won’t find loud music and social guests at either the pool bars or restaurants. Rather, this is a sanctuary for those wanting a unique experience that combines luxury, relaxation, superior service and the utmost in privacy.

I brought back a keychain with the Banyan Tree symbol embossed on one side. Somehow I think this symbol will become my peaceful moment when I find I’m in need of one. A blink of an eye and I’m on “Banyan Tree time.”

Villas start at $550/night during low season. http://www.banyantree.com/en/mayakoba/

Danielle Meeker is a Travel Consultant with Liadis Travel, Ltd. in Newtown Square, PA and a Haddonfield resident. Danielle@Liadis.com.