Family Travel Archives - Queen Bee Latina

Hidden Travel Gem- Marival Distinct Luxury Resort in Riviera Nayarit

Last month I embarked on an adventure to the Riviera Nayarit, Mexico to explore Marival Distinct Luxury Resort in Nuevo Vallarta. I also toured their new sister property Marival Armony in Punta De Mita.

This mini paradise is an easy three hour flight out of Los Angeles, California. This all-inclusive luxury resort is located on the beach of Nuevo Vallarta, in the Riviera Nayarit. It is just a 15 minute car ride from the Puerto Vallarta International Airport.

I have visited Nuevo Vallarta a few times before, but every time I go I discover something new. There is just so much to see and do!

Disclosure: Thank you ConnectHer Media for curating this amazing trip, and Marival Distinct for hosting me at your incredible resort. All opinions are my own.

There is a very special place in my heart for Mexico. My parents immigrated to the United States over 5o years ago from Zacatecas Mexico. I feel a deep connection with this beautiful country, and the people. It saddens me that my parents had to leave.

The gracious staff immediately greeted me with a wet towel and a delicious craft drink. The lobby was both sophisticated and comfortable.

This chic and unique resort is secluded and is in its own little paradise.

Video tour of the 2 bedroom residence at Marival Distinct in Riviera Nayarit. Full of luxury and comfort, the 1 to 4 bedrooms residences range from 1,410 sq. ft. to 2,798 sq. ft.

Check out my suite in this video!

The incredible staff ensured that I felt welcomed and right at home. They greeted me with this little spread when I checked into my room. SWEET!

I felt so relaxed and maybe even a little mom guilt for leaving the kids behind. But I have realized that sometimes I need a little me time to disconnect and recharge…

The room was spacious and very elegant. It was the perfect home away from home.

The two bedroom residence is ideal for a family. The suite is modern and elegant. It had two bathrooms, fully-equipped kitchen, dining room, entertainment room, large balcony and terrace.

Marival Distinct Luxury Residences has many type of accommodations including luxurious residences, penthouses and villas.

Gourmet Food in a Luxury Resort

The dinning options at Marival Distinct are five star restaurants and are part of the all inclusive program. You can enjoy another 6 restaurants and 7 bars at Marival Emotions Resort & Suites, another resort. It is only two minutes away!

At Lemmon Grass (photo above), Chef Alfredo prepares something different every night for his guests, and he only uses fresh local ingredients. This is the perfect place if you have and adventurous palate…

The sunset from Insú Sky Rooftop Bar was just spectacular. It offers a minimalist global gourmet cuisine, craft drinks, and an unbelievable infinity pool. Ahhh take me back!

Marival Armony Resorts and Suites

On day three, we headed to Marival Armony Luxury Resort in Punta De Mita. This sister resort is a harmonious blend between the amenities and the kindness of nature…

It has comfortable rooms and suites, 281 meters (922 feet long) beachfront, five pools (one of them is an infinity pool), and five Jacuzzis, specialty restaurants, beautiful gardens, privileged views of the mountains and the bay, unique spa experiences, and of course, the personalized service is exceptional.

This gorgeous new resort is now taking reservations.

The suites are very different from Marival Distinct, but also just as lovely.

Photo Credit To Photographer Amanda San Martin

I loved exploring this property and I found many breathless views. I often stopped on my path to just take it all in.

At Marival Armony’s Teens Club, teenagers will find a pool table, Ping-Pong table and video games. Age 13 years of age and up have fun spot and interact with other teens. The facilities are open daily from 10:00 am to 10:30 pm.

I kept thinking about my kids, and how much I knew they would enjoy this resort.

It was so nice to sip on a Piña Colada, and look at the ocean from this private cabana…

These incredible resorts are one of a kind. Both resorts surpassed my overall expectations and I will definitely return to this magical place with my family.

Where’s your next travel destination? Marival Luxury Resorts are a MUST on your bucket-list!

If you are looking for a fun day trip from Puerto Vallarta, you should head over to my friend’s amazing blog below!

MyTravellingCircus.com and check out her article 6 Reasons Sayulita, Mexico, Makes a Great Family Vacation

Beaches Resort’s Incredible Accommodations for Children With Special Needs

As a mother of a severely handicapped child, it can be extremely difficult for me to find resorts that accommodate to her disabilities.

Many resorts, hotels and restaurants don’t offer wheelchair accessible options. To my pleasant surprise, I learned Turks and Caicos Beaches Resort provides full wheelchair accessibility. As a matter of fact, they make it one of their commitments as a resort. I have spent countless hours schlepping my daughters wheelchair through sand and dirt, in hopes that she too could enjoy beautiful views, and exciting experiences with us. At Beaches Resorts, wheelchair users are accommodated with ramps and lifts situated throughout the grounds.

Disclosure: Thank you Beaches Resort for hosting my family. All opinions are my own.

Accommodations for guests with mobility restrictions include wider clearance on doorways, bathroom rails, lowered light switches & faucets, bathroom benches and more. These little luxuries make my world as a mother, so much easier. I regret now not taking my daughter with us, as I know she would’ve had the time of her life. It’s often risky to take my daughter anywhere we don’t know well, as we feel staff etc. can be very anxious in situations they aren’t too familiar with. The staff at Beaches Resorts however, are highly experienced and are always willing to let out a helping hand.

Sadly, my son ran a fever on the first day we arrived at the Turks and Caicos Beaches Resort. He couldn’t hold anything down, and laid sluggishly on his bed.

After being provided medicine by the resort clinic (yes, there is a physician on staff 24 hours), we constantly debated what to give him to eat. Mac and Cheese? Too heavy for his stomach. Steak and Mash? Even heavier! Our waitress approached us with the friendliest smile, offering us the daily (delicious) Indian food options. We told him about our son, and how we feared to give him anything. The cook came out to talk to us and listened empathetically, and assured us that he had the perfect meal for him. We waited a few minutes, as he approached us with most appetizing and healing fresh chicken soup.

My husband and I thanked the cook a million times, while trying to give him a tip for his selfless act. He simply said, “There is no need for tips, I hope your son feels better soon.” Let me repeat, the staff at Beaches Resorts are like no other. They truly make you feel at home, and always greet you with the warmest attitude. Which makes me believe whole- heartedly, my daughter can one day experience the delightful people of Turks and Caicos like we have. One last thing, did I mention my son was better seemingly overnight? That soup was magical; but so is Beaches resort.

Thank you Beaches Resort for your incredible hospitality! This trip will down in our family memory book forever… Book your stay at Beaches Turks and Caicos today!

The Perfect Family “Daycation” in Marina Del Rey California

Seize the day! Sun, sand, and family fun…

Last week, we explored a SoCal travel gem in Marina Del Rey, California. We didn’t have to travel far for this fabulous mini getaway! In fact, it was only an hour drive out of OC for the perfect family “daycation.”

This adorable and colorful beach town combines a picture perfect marina, excellent waterfront restaurants, and numerous summer activities.

It was so nice to just get a away, disconnect, and feel like we are somewhere abroad…

Disclosure : A special thanks to Marina Del Rey CVB for hosting our wonderful family daycation. All opinions are my own.

We started our day at 7:15 a.m. at dock 52, for some sport fishing with Spitfire Sportsfishing! (it was easy to find parking in the early am).

We told the staff we were newbies at fishing, and were extremely patient and helpful with hooking our bait and casting our lines.

Here are some helpful tips if you plan on fishing with Spitfire Sportsfishing:

A California fishing license is required. (it can be purchased on the boat)
You can bring your own ice chest to pack your “catch of the day”
Pack your own food and drinks
Pack jackets- it can get really cold in the marina
Carry cash on hand. No credit cards or debit cards are accepted for the excursion
Delicious & fresh food is available on boat (cash only)
Fishing equipment included in price of excursion
Fish can be cut and cleaned for $1 dollar a fish

About Spitfire Sportfishing

Conveniently located in Marina Del Rey, CA. The 65’ x22 ft. United States Coast Guard inspected Vessel Spitfire runs daily, year round out of Marina Del Rey Sportfishing . Built in the mid 1990’s the Spitfire is a fast ,modern, roomy fishing vessel with state of the art fish finding electronics and large bait capacity. The grade A galley seats 25 comfortably and serves hot and cold meals as well as ice cold beer and soda.

Within minutes of arriving at our ocean destination, we felt our lines tug. My son’s smile was ear to ear when he caught his very first fish. “Look mom, I did it!” ~ Simply priceless.

The ocean breeze and the crisp air was refreshing. Oh and the views were simply stunning!

It was so nice to see my girls disconnect from their devices, laugh, and just spend time as a family.

Check her out! In no time, we were catching 2-3 fish at a time…

By the end of our fishing tour, we caught about 50+ fish! Never in our wildest dreams, did we think we could catch so many. It was a wonderful bonding experience and we can’t wait to do it again!

Next… After our fishing trip, we decided to eat brunch at Beachside.

To our bellies delight, Beachside offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options. It was difficult to decide on breakfast or lunch, because everything on the menu sounded so good. So we ordered both!

We sat in front of the marina, and enjoyed the sensational view. We could see families on the sand playing and laughing. The sea breeze kissed our cheeks. It was sooo nice!

These Crab Cakes Benedict (above) were covered in a rich cream sauce. They sat on garden fresh arugula.

About Beachside

Located on waterfront in Marina del Rey, the newly redesigned Beachside Restaurant & Bar offers fresh California cuisine and innovative creations for a savory menu in an unparalleled beachfront setting. Executive Chef Victor Morales takes Marina del Rey seafood restaurant to the next level by creating decadent and thought-provoking dishes, using only the best seasonal ingredients available, providing a truly unique culinary experience for patrons to dive into.

My Tori daughter devoured her Lobster Pasta within minutes. The al dente pasta was prepared in a rich sauce, and was delectably garnished with lobster tails, and fresh peas.

The crispy chicken and waffles was insane delcious! The bread was toasted to perfection, and melted in my mouth. The fried chicken absorbed the sweet syrup perfectly.

Last, we hit “Mother’s” Beach for a stand-up paddleboard experience with Pro SUP
Shop, located in the rental truck at the far end of the Jamaica Bay Inn parking lot.

Our friendly guide, showed us the beauty of Marina Del Rey, giving us a personal tour of the scenic views. Sea lions greeted us with their presence, and gondolas past us by. A very in love elderly couple held hands and greeted us as we paddled by. It was just beautiful.

About Pro SUP Shop

The calm flat water of Mother’s Beach, Marina Del Rey is the best place in the Los Angeles area to learn the sport of Stand Up Paddle Boarding and kayaking, Pro SUP Shop’s professional ASI & WPA Certified Instructors will help guide you into the fastest growing water sport in the world! Everyone sent out at Pro SUP Shop receives a lesson of instruction and safety procedures.

Pro SUP Shop is located in the Jamaica Bay Inn parking lot right on the enclosed waveless beach for hassle free stand up paddle board and kayak rentals. We’ll have your board or kayak on the beach and ready to go in just minutes.

4175 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292
1-310-989-4350; https://www.prosupshop.com

Marina Del Rey is a SoCal hidden gem, and our summer “daycation” was perfect. Our family will forever cherish this day in our hearts.

Marina Del Rey–Where living in the moment means paddleboarding to breakfast. Seizing the day can be a mid-morning sailing lesson, parasailing over the marina, or cycling to Venice Beach. Embracing an evening is toasting the sunset and dancing under the star-kissed sky on a harbor cruise. It’s all here … What will your Marina adventure be?