An Encore worth bragging about
Steve Wynn is a name that is synonymous with luxury and opulence. On December 22, 2008, Steve Wynn unveiled Encore, the newest resort in his collection, which yet again reinforced the stereotype that he is the king of grandeur.
Located next door to his flagship property, Wynn Las Vegas, Encore is a distinct destination with its own selection of accommodations, dining, casino, and leisure activities. Central to Encore’s fanciful and intimate environments are sunlit corridors with flowering atria and sprawling pools visible throughout the property. Natural light floods the resort to reveal gardens, vibrant butterflies and signature mosaics.
Every room at the Encore is a suite, with a separate living and sleeping area. The resort’s rooms are divided into two collections, the Resort Suites and the Tower Suites. The Tower Suites are separated by a separate entrance and private check-in area. Although the common areas of the Resort Suites are gorgeous and the service exceptional, the Tower Suites are a step up. While checking into a Tower Suite you are met with a warm towel and fresh water…and within seconds you are whisked away to your room in a private elevator lined in silk and accented by hand painted butterflies. Even though the Tower Suites’ most basic room is the same as the ones in the Resort wing, the Tower Suites feature opulent 2,261 square foot multi room suites as well, that include lavish touches like a dedicated massage room.
The magnificence does not end at the rooms…if it did, then this would obviously not be a Wynn Resort…the restaurants of the Encore set a new level of fine dining in Las Vegas. The first night I dined at Sinatra, whose head chef is Theo Schoenegger, from the Patina Group. When Sinatra’s family decided to open a restaurant in Las Vegas, it made sense that they teamed up with his old friend Steve Wynn. The timing was perfect as the family was looking to start the new venture around the same time that Wynn was opening his new opus. At first I found a restaurant named after a celebrity a bit kitschy, but again Wynn used his powers to take an idea that could easily be cheesy and make it elegant.
When you arrive at the restaurant Sinatra’s actual Oscar, Emmy and Grammy greet you, in addition to other memorabilia from the family’s collection. His timeless music fills the elegant dining room and his Italian roots are an underlying theme in the menu. Schoenegger’s relationships with California farmers allow him to bring the area’s seasonal and greenmarket ingredients to his restaurant at Encore. A cozy outdoor patio allows guests to dine al fresco, creating the feel of an intimate dinner party in a Tuscan garden.
The second night I dined at Switch, the Encore’s answer to a steakhouse. Helmed by Marc Poivedin, the former Executive Chef at Le Cirque at Bellagio. Poivedin brings a refreshing French twist to this steakhouse, which makes it the perfect place to bring a group that may not all be steak lovers. I highly recommend splurging for the tasting menu, as this is where you get a full perspective of Poidevin’s talents. Highlights that evening were the citrus smoked swordfish carpaccio and the Kobe beef strip steak.
But the restaurant was not called Switch because of the food; it is the décor that landed the restaurant its name. Every 20 minutes the restaurant completely redecorates itself…I know that does not make sense and when the waiter explained it to me…I did not get it either. While dining, the music suddenly raised and the walls started to disappear, which gave way to another completely different décor. There are other surprises in store, but I will let you go and find out for yourself…www.encorelasvegas.com
Read MoreA hurricane deal
The island of Aruba, located outside of the hurricane belt, is a worry-free fall travel destination in the Caribbean. In honor of this, the Westin in Aruba is offering the “Hurricane Free” escape, starting at $199 per room, per night, gives guests a $74 credit per room (74 being the minimum wind speed of a Category 1 hurricane) if it rains more than three hours on any day of their trip. The “Hurricane Free” package is valid through Nov. 30, 2009, the official end of hurricane season (elsewhere in the Caribbean). www.westinaruba.com
Read MoreLocal Love and Thalasso Therapy
Today I had the chance to tour some residential neighborhoods, just five minutes away from the strip of high-rise hotels that dot the shore. Though less than five miles from the coast, these homes are nestled in winding, hillside streets, lush with flora brought on by the rainy season. Quiet, peaceful, and far different from the typical expectations of life in a resort town, Ixtapa has bike paths, well-paved roads, gorgeous views of the ocean and mountains, a crocodile estuary and ecological reserve, Parque Aztlan.
By lunchtime, clouds were threatening to put a damper on the afternoon, but after about 2 hours, and some heavy rain, the sun was peeking through again. I had a light lunch of ceviche while I waited for the storm to pass and then headed to test the waters at Loma La Mer, a luxury boutique hotel that has the only open-air Thalasso spa in all of Mexico.
Thalasso, from the Greek word thalassa, refers to the ancient therapeutic use of seawater. Loma La Mer has a pool filled with the stuff, and is set up with individual hydro-tubs and forceful jet streams aimed right at your most tense areas for an effective hydro massage. The hotel has only 16 luxurious suites that overlook gardens, waterfalls, an adjacent golf course and nature reserve. A gorgeous spa and restaurant make this property one of the most impressive in all of Ixtapa. It will open to the public as of November 1, 2009. For more information about Loma Del Mar visit www.lomadelmar.com.
~Vanessa Torres, reporting live from Ixtapa
Read MoreA Day of Local Flavor
What a day! I am a hot, sweaty and tired mess, but the hours spent wandering the quaint streets of Zihuatanejo have left me certain that I’ve gotten a true taste of this fisherman’s village that dates back to the 13th century.
Lunch at Restaurantes Mexicanos Any (formerly Tamales y Atoles Any) allowed me to sample some of the region’s oldest and most labor-intensive dishes, like Posole, Mole, and Tamales. After a few bites of Any’s green Posole, served traditionally with oregano, chile, lime, onion, radish, avocado and queso fresco, you will pledge to return, just as soon as you are finished digesting your current meal. Fresh horchata and jamaica help squelch the oppressive heat, and in no time I was reaching the bottom of my bowl.
After gorging myself, I was happy to hit to the streets in search of some local color and a little tourista shopping, only to find most shops closed for afternoon siesta (typically, shops will close around 1pm and re-open at 4pm). I bargained with some of the few open vendors before pausing to enjoy a refreshing iced coffee on the beach next to the fishing boats that had pulled in for the day.
Once the caffeine kicked in, I headed to Arte Nativo on El Paseo del Pescador, an artist’s co-op run by local hero Alfredo Tapio. His shop serves to teach and encourage young artists and promote works that portray the traditional coastal lifestyle of Zihuatanejo’s citizens. Many of his students often go on to teach art in other communities without access to art schools or supplies. (For more information, go to: www.galeriartenativo.com)
I returned to the hotel just in time to catch the seasonal release of baby sea turtles into the Pacific ocean. In an attempt to better their chances of survival, the hotel collects the newborns who often become an easy meal for local birds and fish. After 2 – 3 weeks in captivity, the babies are slightly stronger and more equipped to handle the 20 foot journey. The exercise happens at dusk and excited hotel guests line the shore and cheer on the turtles as they lay them gently in the sand. The little tortugas instictively head towards the lapping waves and the aquatic lives they were meant to lead.
After three days in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, I can totally relate.
~Vanessa Torres, reporting live from Ixtapa
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