It’s only noon and your butler is already making arrangements for your hydrotherapy ritual at Spa Imagine, tonight’s dinner reservations at Bocado’s Steak House, and later having dessert sent to your room. Sounds like a dream, right?
It is a dream brought to life thanks to Garza Blanca Resort & Spa Cancun, a new high-end resort that opened in the Spring of 2022.
Celebrities are already flocking to the beachfront resort, including Houstonian Simone Biles, Jana Kramer, Floyd Mayweather, Ashanti, Southern Charm’s Madison LeCroy, Naturi Naughton, Tia Booth, and Cassie Randolph, to name a few. (Check out Simone Bile’s girl’s trip to Garza Blanca Cancun for some vaca inspo.)
The luxe beach retreat is located half an hour north of the Cancun airport. Set along a secluded white sandy stretch of Playa Mujeres beach, the luxury resort is the newest addition to TAFER Hotels & Resorts. Guests can choose from all-inclusive options or room-only plans, but no matter what option you choose, each of the 452 rooms come with a private butler.
Your assigned butler will greet you upon arrival –with a drink in hand. And he or she will be available via WhatsApp or another messaging service for pretty much any need or want during your stay. While there are incredible room upgrades available like the four-bedroom penthouse loft, the butler service comes standard with all rooms.
The exquisitely cozy rooms leave no stone unturned, with a strategic desire to make your stay feel like home – if your home had a private terrace and hammocks. With convenient in-room amenities like washer and dryers in select units, some guests may not ever want to leave. The longest guest stay so far has racked up a tab of over four months.
The luxurious Cancun resort extends well beyond the guest rooms, showcasing the finest comforts and luxuries you’d expect on vacation.
The sprawling resort has nine swimming pools and jacuzzis, including the rooftop adult-only pool, surrounded by 360-degree beach views. Boasting a full bar and underwater sound system, guests are treated to LIVE music each afternoon, like a sexy saxophonist playing some of today’s top hits with a unique flair.
Can’t Miss Touches at Garza Blanca Cancun
Enjoy the delectable French toast in the morning, complete with cream cheese in between double stacked pieces of egg-soaked fresh bread alongside freshly squeezed orange juice
If you are traveling with kids, be sure to take advantage of the kid’s club for kids 4-12, where the entire staff is certified and bilingual. Ask about afterhours nanny services, available for an extra charge
If you choose the all-inclusive plan, everything is already included in the price including gratuities
The resort features four gourmet restaurants and two bars, including the Food Truck, a colorful and fun space with a trendy atmosphere that gives diners a front row seat to the stunning sea views
When it comes to hand-crafted cocktails, be sure to try The Garza Blanca, made with mezcal, serrano chili, soursop puree, lime juice and simple syrup
If you’re a picky sleeper, ask your butler for the pillow menu
Enjoy rooftop yoga, kayaking tours, snorkeling or Spanish lessons; all without an extra cost
Don’t forget to snap an obligatory Instagram photo at the main infinity pool’s clear wall-window
If you’re desperate for a quick weekend trip, you can book the 2 hour and 15-minute direct flight from Houston, drive half an hour from the airport and be lounging at the idyllic Riviera Maya resort by lunchtime. Give or take a small line at customs.
Post may contain affiliate links, but all opinions are my own.
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/GarzaBlancaCancun_Review-scaled.jpg25601920Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2024-01-24 12:30:192024-01-24 12:30:19Mexican Caribbean Beaches + Butler Service Only A 2.5-Hour Flight From Houston
Last month we moved to Castle Rock, a Denver suburb. We just built a brand-new house and are busy trying to decorate all 5,500-square-feet (more on that later), but for now, I wanted to share some of the Castle Rock businesses we have visited and loved. I’d love any comments if you have a favorite spot for us to check out. It’s always fun exploring your new neighborhood.
updated January 2024
5 Top Favorite Castle Rock Businesses
Shred415 – I am obsessed with my new gym and gym family at Shred415. Obviously with COVID going on, we resorted to at-home workouts which have been great, but being back in a high-intensity gym with some awesome men and women has felt great. I am sore most of the time, but I love that. If you live in Castle Rock and want to try a FREE class with me (or you can go without me and still get a free one so don’t worry and it’s totally cool if we’ve never met before), just call or text the studio at 303.353.4718 and mention my name. The classes are high intensity interval training with four 15 minute increments alternating between the treadmill (you can run or walk) and weights/abs on the floor. It’s super fun and after 60-minutes, boom, you’re done! This Castle Rock gym also offers FREE outdoor classes, so check their schedule and jump into one of those for a good sweat sesh without paying a dime. Mention my name and get a FREE WEEK.
Skin Refined Day Spa in Castle Rock – I have been going to Becky at Skin Refined in Castle Rock for the best facials of my life. I have lived in Colorado for more than three years now (wow, time flies), and I still get most of my beauty-related services back in Houston, but I promise you will never find a better facial than Becky at Skin Refined, just outside downtown Castle Rock. She’s located in a tiny med spa with other service providers, but her facials are equal parts relaxing (OMG the facial massages!) and good for my skin. Go see her to get your Castle Rock facial and mention me (Jayme) for 20% off your first service. She is also one of my digital marketing clients, so I run her social media, be sure to follow her!
Great Divide Brewery & Roadhouse – If you know Jason (my now-husband) and I, we love good drinks and good food, so we loved checking out this brand-new bar and restaurant in Castle Rock last week. It’s an 8,000-square-foot brewery and taproom (215 Wilcox St., Castle Rock, CO 80104) offering elevated comfort food for lunch, dinner and brunch every day, including decadent burgers, fresh entrée salads, innovative pizzas, succulent steaks, memorable desserts (like their mouth-watering peach cobbler). Not only was the food great, but the service was awesome, and it was so nice “getting out” a bit, while still social distancing. We even saw deer outside off the patio, which is still something I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to. They offer beer flights with five beers for $10, which is a great way to sample some of their beer, and their fried chicken is delicious and gluten-free (which I don’t care about the last part, but I know many of you do). Would definitely recommend this place and we’ll be regulars here. Updated: they do bottomless mimosas every day of the week, which I love. However, they won’t make them in front of you or do “little” OJ, they are all premade, so it’s kind of hard to get down too many. Perhaps that is a good thing.
Stumpy’s Pizza – This was actually the first meal we ate in our new home (delivery is only $1), and we’ve already ordered it twice since then. Yes, the pizza is great and there are many options to choose from, but their fried chicken sandwich with pickles is crave-worthy. They offer authentic NY-style pizza and have been serving the Castle Rock area for 15 years, so they kind of know what they are doing. Definitely our favorite Castle Rock pizza place so far.
Crush Wine Bar – Y’all know I love my wine, and this place is less than 5 minutes from us. They are open Monday – Saturday (closed Sunday) from 3p – close (which I have no what time that is because I am usually in bed by 9p), but it has such a fun vibe and a great place to meet up with friends. They offer 50 wines by the glass, and each glass comes out with a printed card to remind you what you’re drinking, which is good for wine drinkers like me who love a wine and then forget what it was. They also have small plates, but I haven’t tried those yet. Can’t wait to go back here.
Updates and other Castle Rock businesses I love:
The Donut House — they have the BEST glazed donuts ever. I have to point out, I hate when businesses charge the customer a credit card fee (I am a small business too, so I know those costs add up) and this place actually adds a 4% credit card fee. But I can’t lie – the donuts are SO WORTH IT.
Lost Coffee— super cute coffee shop with a lot of space to work and the iced latte may be my favorite in Castle Rock! On a nice beautiful Colorado day, take advantage of their outside seating. Right next door is The Cake Company and the actual best place for birthday cakes in Castle Rock! We have ordered my birthday cake here the last three years and it never disappoints. You can also walk in for delicious cupcakes pretty much anytime.
So far those are my favorite Castle Rock small businesses. I’d love to know others we need to check out and am looking forward to learning our new neighborhood and meeting a lot of amazing people (except for Karens – not interested in any of that, haha!).
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If you’ve been wanting to experience Grand Lake, CO, check out our brand new Grand Lake cabin, for rent on airbnb.
More About Our Grand Lake Cabin For Rent:
We are proud owners of a 1000 sq. ft. brand new, modern, bright and airy cabin in Grand Lake, CO, which is about a two-hour drive from Denver. The original cabin burned down in 2020 in one of the largest wildfires in Colorado history, and now it is finished being rebuilt from scratch (July 2022) and ready to run as one of the hottest Grand Lake airbnbs for rent. Our Grand Lake cabin is a two-bedroom, 1 bathroom cabin, and both bedrooms are nearly identical with king size beds plus two twin mattresses for kids or other guests, as well as a queen blowup mattress.
The Grand Lake cabin has 360 degree views of the Kawuneeche Valley and Rocky Mountain National Park, and you’ll be able to see abundant wildlife grazing the meadow, with moose and elk visiting almost daily. You can snowmobile/ATV from the cabin to the trails in less than 10 min, which was a huge reason we bought this Grand Lake cabin as my husband is an avid snowmobiler.
The location of this Grand Lake airbnb is unbeatable! The cabin is located on a quiet, private dead end road which borders
Our Grand Lake cabin has two rooms, each with a king size bed and luxurious bedding
Rocky Mountain National Park. You can hike into RMNP straight from the cabin or drive less than 1 mile to the entrance. As of now, we are the closest Grand Lake rental to the park entrance and also adjacent to thousands of acres of national forest land and a short drive to the three lakes. And not only is it the perfect home base for all your outdoor activities, the cabin is less than 5 minutes from downtown Grand Lake with plenty of restaurants and shopping. The cabin has plenty of parking, including space for trailers for all your toys.
Guests always comment and leave 5-star reviews, noting the wildlife they see directly from the cabin windows and oftentimes right in our front yard. Guests also love our luxurious bedding (shown on the right), which can be shopped here.
*Please note that our Grand Lake community is in the process of rebuilding, so although the area is still quiet and peaceful, you may hear or see occasional construction or neighbors camping on neighboring properties.
Grand Lake Cabin – Things To Do In Grand Lake, CO
It depends on what time of the year you visit Grand Lake, but there is always something to do. For updated info on what to do in Grand Lake, visit the Grand Lake county website. The town of Grand Lake does an amazing job of putting on fun events like silly dress up contests and well attended parades, so don’t miss out if you’re visiting during one of their events.
When you book our cabin in Grand Lake, we will email you a welcome pack filled with info on things to do and see in Grand Lake, but below is a much more in-depth list to help you plan your trip.
Things To Do In The Summer In Grand Lake
Grand Lake Golf Course is less than 10 minutes from our Grand Lake airbnb, and you can’t beat summertime Colorado golf. Grand Lake’s beautifully maintained course designed by Dick Phelps with rolling fairways and subtle greens surrounded by lodge pole pines, aspens and colorful native flora, offers a world class setting with panoramic views of snow capped mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park. Moose, elk, deer, fox, chipmunks and squirrels are often spectators during a round and add to a memorable, unique mountain golf experience. The Grand Lake Golf Course is kind of surreal, because after the fire in 2020 all the trees burned down. It’s still a stunning course, but you’ll see all the burn and even chimneys off in the distance from people who lost everything.
The quaint town of Grand Lake is also a great spot, with tons of food and people watching. No matter the weather, ice cream is always a good idea in Grand Lake.
Fat Bikes are another fun way to take on the snow in Grand Lake, and there are plenty of rental places offering Fat Bikes in Grand Lake.
Hiking in Grand Lake is one of my favorite summer activities in Grand Lake. According to alltrails, there are 63 scenic trails and hikes in Grand Lake, so you’ve got plenty to choose from. Click the link for full details on hiking in Grand Lake, but let me remind you that you are in the mountains. I personally don’t hike without bear spray, but to each their own.
Don’t miss RMNP! Along with great hikes in Grand Lake, there are also great scenic drives. Our Grand Lake cabin is located on the edge of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), which is one of the most stunning places to visit in all of Colorado. Note: you will need a timed entry pass to enter the park, but you do not need one to get to the cabin! I recommend making park reservations as early as you can, but it’s usually open and FREE if you are before a certain time or after 2p. If you are an active military personnel or a veteran (like my husband), you get a FREE PARK PASS. Don’t miss this amazing perk to those who have served our country.
We get a referral fee if you use our link and we will split that money with you (it ranges from $300 – $1000 at any given time plus you get $48 once you sign up). Sign up to become an airbnb host and use our link, then email us and we’ll split it with you 50/50!
A Few Grand Lake Hikes To Check Out From GoGrandLake:
East Inlet to Adams Falls: This iconic Grand Lake hike is part of Rocky Mountain National Park and is accessed from the East Inlet Trail Head, which is outside the drive in entrance to the park. Head into Town on Portal Avenue and stay left at the fork in the road, which will lead you to the parking area. Adams Falls is only 1/3 of a mile from the trail head, but don’t miss the fantastic view of the meadow located about 1 mile from the Falls! In my opinion, this is one of the easiest and kid-friendly hikes in Grand Lake and has a beautiful waterfall at the end (pending weather in the summer).
Colorado River Trail: The Colorado River Trail Head is a hub for many of the north western trails in Rocky
North Inlet Trail Hike, Grand Lake
Mountain National Park. Hikers can choose to head to Lulu City, a once hopeful mining town, or climb higher into the Never Summer Mountain Range to the Grand Ditch. In the snowy months, Trail Ridge Road closes just after this trail head, leaving it open for year round recreation.
North Inlet Trail: This is a great hike, and here is a video from May 2023 enjoying a beautiful day in Grand Lake. Although Grand Lake is super pet friendly, many of the hikes (including this one) are inside the park, so dogs are not allowed.
Click on the GoGrandLake link above for more info on hiking in Grand Lake, CO.
Grand Lake Lodge is a restaurant/bar about a mile away. It has great views, we love the red wine on tap, and on certain nights during the summer they have LIVE music, which is always fun.
Fishing in Grand Lake is another fun thing to do with the whole family and a unique way to spend time outdoors. Click the link above for Grand Lake fishing info, but remember that everyone over the age of 16 must have a Colorado fishing license. Don’t get caught without one! Currently we do not have fishing equipment at our Grand Lake cabin, so be sure to contact a local fishing shop our guide to get set up for a day of fishing.
Grand Lake, CO
There are plenty of places to rent kayaks and paddle boards in Grand Lake. Grand Lake is known as Three Lakes, made up by Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake. It is one of the most picturesque towns in Colorado during the summer months, so take advantage of being out on the water, but remember that water stays cold (less than 60 degrees in the summer!).
Don’t forget in the summer, one of the best parts of a Grand Lake vacation is that you can drive through RMNP (reservations usually required) and go over to Estes Park. We aren’t super familiar with Estes Park, but check them out for food and hiking recommendations. The park is only open to pass through during summer months.
Things To Do In The Winter In Grand Lake –
Snowmobiling in Grand Lake, CO is some of the best you’ll see (pending a snowfall, of course). This is one of the main reasons we bought this particular cabin in Grand Lake, because you can hit the trails directly from our cabin’s driveway, and in the winter we have guests bring their trailers as we have plenty of room for parking. The link above has trail maps and tips for snowmobiling in Grand Lake, so be sure to check that out.
Here is a list of snowmobile rentals and outfitters in Grand Lake:
Grand Lake is about a 45-minute drive to the popular Winter Park Resort, which you actually pass on the way to the cabin. A less populated local spot to ski is Ski Granby Ranch, about 25 minutes from our Grand Lake cabin, so you definitely have options. You can also rent ski gear if you need it.
Another popular Colorado winter sport is snowshoeing and cross country skiing. You can get tons of great information and rentals at the Grand Lake Nordic Center.
Favorite Food and Restaurants in Grand Lake
Keep in mind that Grand Lake is a mountain town. What does that mean? It means on a random Monday the restaurants could be closed and many of the restaurants and bars close for the winter, so be sure to double check before you head out.
We LOVE the vibe at One Love, where you’ll find Caribbean food and almost too-strong margaritas haha. Also ask for their off-menu deconstructed sushi petals (if you like a kick of spice!).
Sagebrush BBQ & Grill is another favorite local spot and almost ALWAYS open. They have a great bar scene, and it’s probably the most kid friendly restaurant in Grand Lake. If you like wine like me, get a bottle of wine for better options, and cork it to bring back to our Grand Lake cabin!
Huntington House Tavern, which is only open in the summer has great food and cocktails too. It’s located inside Grand Lake Lodge, and is one of the pricier restaurants in Grand Lake.
Charlie’s Mexican is another spot that is almost always open and great for quick and reliable Mexican food and great margaritas and don’t miss their weekend karaoke!
Wild Bear Tavern is also a great spot and we love their to-go pizza, only about 4 minutes from our Grand Lake cabin. I don’t believe they serve dinner until 5p, but it’s worth checking out.
For coffee, be sure to check out Sagebrush’s new coffee stand and Jump Start coffee at the end of downtown. There are a few others in town, but these two are always open and always open early! There is a new coffee stand in town that doesn’t open until 10a and only in the summer.
While we are obsessed with supporting the local Grand Lake economy and local businesses, we always recommend our guests to do their main grocery shopping before they get to Grand Lake. We have some great local markets, but it’s a mountain town so your selection won’t be huge, and the same goes for beer and liquor.
Wheelchair Accessible Ideas In Grand Lake
We had a guest request for this, and crowdsourced a few ideas below (note: we haven’t done any of these, but some lovely Grand Lake locals chimed in for some helpful tips!):
Point Park has a short path that should be wheelchair accessible
Coyote Valley Trail in RMNP is considered a wheelchair accessible trail
We will be adding to this list of things to see and do in Grand Lake, CO so if you have tips to add or a local business we can help support, leave a comment or email me at jayme @ theblondeside.com.
Returning guests can email us directly for a discounted rate: jayme @ theblondeside.com.
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By: Jayme Lamm
Can’t Miss Touches at Garza Blanca Cancun
Last month we moved to Castle Rock, a Denver suburb. We just built a brand-new house and are busy trying to decorate all 5,500-square-feet (more on that later), but for now, I wanted to share some of the Castle Rock businesses we have visited and loved. I’d love any comments if you have a favorite spot for us to check out. It’s always fun exploring your new neighborhood.
only was the food great, but the service was awesome, and it was so nice “getting out” a bit, while still social distancing. We even saw deer outside off the patio, which is still something I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to. They offer beer flights with five beers for $10, which is a great way to sample some of their beer, and their fried chicken is delicious and gluten-free (which I don’t care about the last part, but I know many of you do). Would definitely recommend this place and we’ll be regulars here. Updated: they do bottomless mimosas every day of the week, which I love. However, they won’t make them in front of you or do “little” OJ, they are all premade, so it’s kind of hard to get down too many. Perhaps that is a good thing.
If you’ve been wanting to experience Grand Lake, CO, check out our brand new 
summertime Colorado golf. Grand Lake’s beautifully maintained course designed by Dick Phelps with rolling fairways and subtle greens surrounded by lodge pole pines, aspens and colorful native flora, offers a world class setting with panoramic views of snow capped mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park. Moose, elk, deer, fox, chipmunks and squirrels are often spectators during a round and add to a memorable, unique mountain golf experience. The Grand Lake Golf Course is kind of surreal, because after the fire in 2020 all the trees burned down. It’s still a stunning course, but you’ll see all the burn and even chimneys off in the distance from people who lost everything.
the weather, ice cream is always a good idea in Grand Lake.
