When I visited La Casa de La Playa, a luxury resort in Xcaret, Mexico, I was fully focused on soaking up all thing wellness.
To me, that meant massages and hydrotherapy at the spa, vitamin D at the pools, fresh ingredients at their restaurants — even a little tequila, sometimes cited by docs and dietitians as the “healthiest” alcohol.
And I got all that. But the best wellness perk was something that, as far as I’m concerned, should come standard in every hotel. Unfortunately, this is the first one I’ve ever been to that had it.
The chocolate
The perk? The hotel’s “chocolatería,” a 24-hour all-you-can eat free chocolate “store” with yummy confections made in-house by chocolatier Mao Montiel. Seriously — why doesn’t every hotel have this?
There were over a dozen varieties (not to mention ice cream and churros), so it’s almost obligatory to stop by every day to try everything — and take little baggies to go.
And I stand by this being a “wellness” amenity, besides for the obvious reason that it brings joy — so much joy. Most of the chocolate they had was of the dark variety, which has a bunch of health benefits.
For one, it’s rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are important for fighting oxidative stress in the body, meaning they can help slower aging, lower bad cholesterol, and even reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.
The flavanols in dark chocolate can also protect skin against sun damage, a bonus when you’re spending long days out by the pool at a resort.
So I pose the question to other hotels: Don’t you care about yours guests’ health? Why don’t you have a chocolatería?
The spa
All that being said, the chocolate wasn’t the most decadent thing at the hotel. That would be the Muluk Spa, where guests have unlimited access to hydrotherapy and can book treatments at an extra cost.
This was truly something special. First, an hour going through the hydrotherapy circuit, which included a lengthy pool overlooking the ocean with jets and waterfalls. The circuit also has a cold room and sauna — the latter with major benefits for heart health, longevity, brain function, sleep and immunity.
Next were the treatments. Though the most important part of a massage is that it actually feels good — the pressure is right, they focus on the areas of the body that need the most work — the best experiences leave you feeling pampered from start to finish.
And this was pampering — incredibly luxurious surroundings, a view of the ocean, healthy light bights and drinks waiting in the treatment room. I closed my eyes to circle through the aromatherapy options and pick my favorite before laying back for a back-to-back massage and facial.
Two hours later, I briefly considered refusing to leave — but I was too zen to put up much of a fight.
The room
There was plenty more wellness to experience back in the room, including a deck with a private pool, a hammock and an enormous volcanic stone bathtub with a gorgeous ocean view.
In fact, it was kind of hard to go out, even to hang out at the rooftop or infinity pools or walk down on the beach.
Everything I needed was right there, from sunscreen and aloe to snacks and a stocked fridge to a live glowing jellyfish tank (OK, I guess I didn’t need a jellyfish tank — though our concept of “need” does change a bit on vacation).
The snacks were yummy, local — and also fairly healthy, like sunflower seeds (healthy fats, vitamin E and flavonoids) and crispy amaranth chips (protein, antioxidants, vitamin C).
That’s not even including the little treats left in the room every night, including caramels, mezcal and elote liqueur.
And if I needed anything else? A team of butlers could be summoned on WhatsApp to arrange it. As someone who doesn’t have her own butler (I know, how do I live?), I must say, it’s a huge boon to well-being to not have to worry about a thing. The IRS should consider making them FSA eligible.
The food
One cannot survive on room snacks and goody bags from the chocolateria alone, and that’s where the restaurants come in.
Xal serves up an extravagant tasting menu for dinner with lobster, suckling pig cannelloni and huitlacoche — AKA corn smut, which is actually safe to eat. In fact, it’s considered a “superfood” that’s more nutrient-dense than regular corn.
But for the less adventurous, their brunch includes the prettiest fruit-topped pancakes I’ve ever seen.
There are also Lumbre and Centli, which offer up cuisine from the north and south of Mexico, respectively. On alternating nights, they take the meal outside for a beach barbecue.
And if you’re looking to eat by the pool, there’s the fully female-staffed Tuch de Luna, where every dish (including the Mexican Caesar salad) is a work of art.
There’s plenty of booze to be had, too: In addition to more traditional bars, there’s La Bodega, which has an extensive selection of tequilas and mezcals, and a wine cellar where guests can drop by at any time to pick out a bottle or two. (For the record, even if tequila is considered the healthiest spirit, red wine usually beats all alcohol when it comes to health benefits — though white wine and champagne may be good for your heart in moderation, too.)
With rooms starting at $1,950 a night for a wellness suite with a beach view (and $4,225 a night for an ocean view presidential suite), it’s certainly a splurge — but you can’t beat if if you’re looking to unwind.
The whole place is so relaxing, it’ll feel like you didn’t just sit on the tarmac at Newark for four hours before takeoff (true story).
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to lobby The Post to open an in-office chocolatería as a new company wellness initiative.
