Articles Mentioning Upscale

Grand Wailea

Hands down the most amenity-packed resort on Maui, the upscale, beachfront Grand Wailea – A Waldorf Astoria Resort is a destination all its own. With 780 rooms, two massive pools, four restaurants, frequent fun luaus, and a 50,000-square-foot spa, the Grand Wailea wows with its immense scale. Rooms are beachy and modern, and well-equipped with furnished terraces, bathtubs, and separate showers. Numerous suite and villa options are available, and those in Napua Club rooms get extra perks. The property attracts all kinds of travelers, and guests can expect nonstop crowds at any time of year. While the resort is certainly upscale, it’s not as luxurious as its neighbors, the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea and the Fairmont Kea Lani, Maui. Additionally, the hefty daily resort fees and fees for mandatory valet parking and kids’ club access add to the already pricey nightly rates.

Hard Rock Hotel Cancun

The upscale, 601-room Hard Rock Hotel Cancun is a large family-friendly, all-inclusive resort along a beautiful beach in the Hotel Zone, with tons of features for all types of travelers. A gorgeous infinity pool with ocean views and two popular swim-up bars, a great spa, and daybeds along the beach provide relaxation opportunities, while daytime activities, live nightly shows, and a kids’ club offer entertainment. Multiple well-regarded restaurants serve Mexican, Asian, Italian, and international buffet fare, while seven bars serve top-shelf liquor. All of the spacious, contemporary rooms have attractive decor, open bathrooms with double jetted tubs, furnished balconies with ocean or lagoon views, and flat-screen TVs. It’s a solid choice for couples and groups, but families should note that it can get rowdy at times, especially in the swim-up bar areas. Additionally, past guests have complained of maintenance issues and a lack of loungers by the pool. For a more low-key kid-friendly resort, consider Panama Jack Resort Cancun.

French Leave Resort

The upscale French Leave Resort is a secluded, romantic property comprising a collection of 20 villas studding gorgeous, green grounds that overlook Governor’s Harbour. The cottage-like villas feature beach-chic decor and are well-equipped with amenities like iPads, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs, plus most have full kitchens and living rooms. All open onto lovely private decks. Villas also come with golf carts. The hotel has a lovely infinity-edge pool for all guests to use, with gorgeous views over the bay and poolside drinks and dining service. 1648 restaurant serves all three meals and has an outdoor terrace with striking views. Another highlight here is the stunning stretch of beach, plus the hotel has its own marina. Travelers wanting a luxury resort in a more convenient location should consider The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas.

Paradisus Cancun

Made up of five interconnected pyramids, the 525-room Paradisus Cancun is an upscale, all-inclusive mega-resort geared toward families, offering a stellar setting along a beautiful stretch of beach in the Hotel Zone. The well-equipped rooms are spacious and have furnished balconies with sea or lagoon views, free minibars, and free Wi-Fi, but decor is a bit outdated. While breakfast can get busy, there’s no shortage of restaurants and bars to choose from and the huge freeform pool with a swim-up bar never feels too crowded. The impressive Yhi Spa, large fitness center, and nine-hole golf course are also notable features here, as is a kids’ club with supervised activities. Family Concierge services include extra in-room perks and family-friendly activities. Despite the property’s size, its interior tropical gardens also provide a lush, even secluded ambience. Prices are competitive for this level of luxury, but couples may want to splurge for the adults-only Royal Service at Paradisus Cancun, or consider the adults-only, and sometimes slightly pricier, Live Aqua Cancun.

Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino

The giant Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino offers a ton of features for kids (wave pool, streaming lazy river pool, shark reef aquarium) and adults (lively bars, world-class restaurants, a large spa), but the constant crowds, long lines, and occasional airport noise can make it a slightly less attractive upscale option. Additionally, it’s on the far southern end of the Strip, meaning many sights require a drive. All of the hotel’s 3,209 rooms underwent renovations in 2015 and 2016, resulting in some of the most visually appealing accommodations in Vegas (which is saying a lot). The spacious rooms have flat-screen TVs, minibars, and bathrooms with separate tubs and showers. It’s worth comparing rates with the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino, which provides similar amenities, including a ton of excellent entertainment and a popular pool party.

Temptation Cancun Resort

The 430-room, upscale Temptation Cancun Resort is an adults-only, all-inclusive, topless-optional resort that caters to 21 and over, uninhibited guests. There is never a dull moment at this beachfront property, which features activity-packed swimming pools, theme nights, and risqué live shows. Fun-seeking travelers will find a range of entertainment, six bars, and quality dining options that range from Asian to Mexican. Renovations completed in 2017 gave the resort a colorful, modern design with a futuristic feel. Sleek rooms have balconies, free Wi-Fi, and minibars, but some bathrooms are small. Guests staying in the newer Tower building get access to the rooftop pool and bar, SKY 3.5. The beach area is small compared to other resorts, but shaded sunbeds offer a quiet spot to relax. On the downside, some guests have complained of noise reaching rooms, hot tubs closing too early, and dress codes at the restaurants. For a completely clothing-optional resort, consider Desire Riviera Maya Resort, but be aware that it’s for couples only.

The Mirage Hotel & Casino

An elder statesman among the Strip’s mega-resorts, the upscale, 3,044-room Mirage Hotel and Casino relies less on thematics and a booze-fueled party scene for its appeal — opting instead to emphasize comfortable (if small and a bit worn) rooms, an enormous pool, diverse dining options, and plenty of entertainment. Attractions, from a giant volcano with a nightly fire-and-water show to a Dolphin Habitat, are aimed at a multigenerational clientele. Contemporary rooms are starting to show their age a bit, but the spacious, multi-bedroom villas are a decadent choice for those who want to splurge, with backyard pools and lots of modern amenities. For nicer and larger rooms, guests might want to consider The Venetian Resort, which is suitable for both couples and families.

MGM Grand Hotel and Casino

When it comes to the 5,044-room, upscale MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, “grand” is the operative word. One of the biggest hotels (by room count) in Las Vegas also has many of the best restaurants in town, a massive casino, an enormous and fun pool complex, and a huge range of on-site entertainment options. This place is so big and diverse that everyone — yes, everyone — can find what they want, even if the service is unexceptional. All that said, this is a solid candidate for those looking to find all the extravagance and variety of Vegas — including comfortable rooms with king beds, minibars, and Carrera marble bathrooms — under one roof. On the downside, note that rooms lack coffeemakers and there’s a hefty daily resort fee (covering Wi-Fi and fitness center access) – though both are typical for Vegas. It’s worth comparing rates at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, which offers a similar everything-but-the-kitchen-sink experience, though some travelers may find its location less desirable.

MOXY NYC Downtown

Located in Lower Manhattan, in the heart of the Financial District, this outpost of the Marriott-owned MOXY brand opened its doors in 2018. The upper-middle-range property is chock-full of hip, millennial-focused features that create a buzzy vibe. Cool common areas include a basketball court that doubles as an event space, a 24-hour fitness center, and a 5,000-square-foot co-working space-slash-lounge. The latter features a lively bar, arcade games, skee-ball, shuffleboard, and more bait to attract young travelers. The 298 rooms are compact, but clean, and efficiently use the space with foldaway furniture and tech-savvy features like flat-screen TVs and automated light control. Some units add floor-to-ceiling windows that display views of Downtown Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. However, there’s no full restaurant or spa. For a more upscale experience, travelers may want to consider The Beekman, a Thompson Hotel, which offers more amenities for similar or lower rates.

Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa

The 620-room Dreams Punta Cana Resort & Spa is an upscale all-inclusive property suitable for both couples and families looking for a relaxed beachfront getaway. It sits on a beautiful white-sand beach a 20-minute drive from touristy Bavaro, and about double that from the airport. A long list of features here includes a huge freeform outdoor pool, free non-motorized water sports, tons of daytime activities, a full-service spa, and nightly entertainment, plus a quality kids’ club with a mini water park. Dreams’ Unlimited Luxury all-inclusive experience means guests eat free at both a la carte and buffet restaurants, and receive top-shelf liquor at several bars. Rooms are contemporary and have outdoor spaces, free minibars, and free Wi-Fi, but they’re showing wear and few have direct ocean views. Overall, better values can be found at all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana; families should consider Majestic Colonial Punta Cana, while couples may prefer the boutique Zoetry Agua Punta Cana.