#TRAVELBYKIWI | FUN AT NOW SAPPHIRE RIVERIA CANCUN RESORT Wednesday 24 June, 2015
So as most of you know I went on my firs international trip to Cancun,Mexico on the behalf of The Travel Divas. The Travel Divas is a travel agency based in Atlanta, in which they book trips and enhance them with experiences. As of this year, I am one of their official travel bloggers and I will be traveling with them on a few press trip this year. Cancun,Mexico was actually my second press trip with them. The first one was in March in Savannah,GA. During this particular trip it was mostly fun, but since I am the blogger ambassador I had to take lots of pictures of the resort, clients and overall experience to do live social media activations for the hashtag #TBB2015. Traveling now is documented via social media now…so making sure to document no only for the blog – but for social channels is imperative not only for the brand…but for the clients and future travel people who are interested in experiencing a Travel Diva’s trip!
The Travel Divas brought me to Cancun,Mexico where myself and the other clients stayed at the beautiful Now Sapphire resort in which you can read my full review of my stay here. In this blog I just wanted to showcase the fun I had on the resort and with the Travel Divas. The Travel Divas had planned activities everyday…and on most of their trips there are custom planned events and activities so there is never any boredom. Not too many travel agencies do that and that’s what makes them stand out.
Welcome Drinks
More Welcoming Drinks
Now Sapphire is an all-inclusive resort…and of course the first thing we were greated with is DRINKS!
These drinks were cute!
There were no shortage of drinks on this resort at all. Anything we want at any given time. Don’t worry…I didn’t over do it. I didn’t have to drive or uber anywhere either ::wink wink::
The Travel Divas are so cute. They gave all of their clients who booked with them on the trip a baggie full of goodies as a welcoming gift! It says Tropical Beach Bash as it was the theme of this trip! I helped passed these out to the clients as this also helped me meet and greet with them to introduce myself and encouraged them to use the social media hashtage #TBB2015.
Inside the bag included with the goodies inside was this custom plasic red cup keepsake…also Travel Diva branded and part of one of our speciality nights. It was supposed to be a Red Cup + Neon Light Party…but it rained. So in the cup you see its Shirley Temple mocktails…because again there were no shortages of drinks on this resort so every now and then I had to get a mocktail!
I couldn’ believe my eyes when I landed on the resort. The resort looks just like the pictures I was obessing over for the last few months. Picture perfect and of course in true blogger/photo obssesed form I took lots of pics!
Enjoying my welcome drink!
I kinda can’t believe I am here!
One of my favorite pictures from the trip. I thought I was pretty festive with my little tropical dress.
I loved taking pictures by the big Gazebo area! The focial point of the resort…I love this place!
Later on that night, Nikka Shae (my travel buddy) + I ate at Lemongrass in which this was like the best place to eat! We over indulged in this Asian cusine and order literally whatever we wanted. It was a lot of sushi, friend rice, soup, etc…on the table…so don’t be fooled by the picture. We ate in abundance!
The next morning we met with the Travel Divas crew for the breakfast of the champions gathering! It was at this cute swing/bar area and it was our first meeting as a group to hang out together.
Loving this bar beach swing! I wanted to swing here all day!
Our breakfast lol! Rainbow shots…I need to learn how to do this!
Rainbow Shots aka Breakfast of Champions
This was The Travel Divas crew. 60+ people book and traveled with us for the Tropical Beach Bash trip. This is most of the people…
More of The Travel Diva clientle. Just FYI…all Travel Diva trips usually sell out and have huge turn outs! Everyone ready to mingle and have some fun in Mexico!
Next Travel Divas experience was volleyball! I told you they were very brandable…even their beach balls are custom made!
It was battle of the sexes on the beach to play volleyball. I did’nt play…I’m not athletic at all…but its always fun to watch how competive people can be especially between the men and women!
At the main pool everyday all day there is something fun going on in he pool. Contest, dancing, singing, zumba and even pool karaoke was taking place here! There was even a swim up pool (I never got a chance to experience though tell you why in a second).
Although there is a main pool…for my experience I was considered a Preferred Lounge client…which meant I had access to the private pool area and I had my own cabana! Love it!
The pool is less crowded and very quite. Nikka bought this cute pool donut fo us to play with in the pool!
I had to take a bite out of the pool donut!
So some of the Travel Divas and I got to participate in some of the resort’s scheduled interactive activities. One of them was wine tasting and I was super excited to do this. I love wine but not even in America have I done an official wine tasting and pairing with food. As you can see in the picture there were food selections such as pretzels, sandwich, cheese and fruit to compare and contrast flavors between wines and the food.
This was our wine instructor and I learned a lot! He explained in detailed the difference between red wine and white wine. How you can tell if the wine has aged, how to smell it for richness and more. He explained the best way for everyone to be educated by food is through you tastebuds. They change and with wine you can taste the difference almost immediately with the different wine with food pairing. I promise you, drinking white wine and red wine and eating the exact same food gave a completely different flavor. I was shocked! Some of the food I liked better paired with the white over the red and vice versa…so thats why they say certain foods go better with different wines.
The next activity the Travel Divas + I did was the sushi making class! I love sushi and anyoen who knows me know this is one of my favorite appetizers so to learn to actually make this made me extremely happy. I know it’s kind of an oxymoron to eat make sushi in Mexico…but hey I didn’t care. Plus the guac class was on the day we left so….sushi making class it was!
The items we used to make the sushi (two different versions).
My concentration was serious! I really wanted to learn!
Look I did this! I rolled this myself!
My california roll presentation!
I love sushi and now I can make them!
Of course I got in the actual beach! The water was warm and beautiful!
Enjoying the water waves!
I am really a beach girl…I need to live by a beach!
Fish Spa Treatment – not available in the U.S.A.
So on the last two days I will tell you it rained on our trip. It rained all day (a little sad) but nonetheless Nikka + I wanted to make the best of our situation and try out The Fish Spa. It’s infamously known by lots of celebrities where these little fishes eat off the dead skin and callouses off your feet. A really fancy pedicure…and this isn’t in the USA at all. So we had to try it. I was so scared but hey YOU ONLY LIVE ONE (Y.O.L.O). I sucked it up and did it…it was an experience I can say I’ve done!
So to prep for the fish Spa Treatment, you get your feet cleaned and scrubed by a professional. He put some scrub product on the base of my feet, for that is the food the little fishies will eat from. Weird but it’s how they get the callouses off!
Nikka + I really wanted to do this…
Ummm…those are little fishies at my feet!
Yup my feet are really in there…yolo…
I’m so scary!
Yeah I was low key freaking out. I will tell you it didnt hurt at all…it tickled a lot! So they are eating off the scrub that is on the bottom of my heels. They eat away at the dead skin…again doesnt hurt at all. But when you look down and see all of them swarming by your feet it can be a little weird lol.
In the hypnotheraphy spa pool
Sauna session…wasn’t in there too long! Hot!
Our last meal was Hibatchi! Now this was a very popular spot as it was the only resturant that needed reservations…and I had to book this 2 days in advance just to experience this. Yes Asian hibatchi in Mexico…I love it and the chef put on a great show.
the famous hibatchi rice heart
Our hibatchi crew – made new friends!
Me + Staff memeber Vincente. He was one of the best servers on the resort!
I said this in my last post, but the customer service on this resort was amazing! I felt so loved and at home on this resort…mainly because the staff members were really attententive and pleasant. Many remembered my name and where I was from. They cracked jokes and kept me smiling. Even in this picture above, Vincente, one of the servers kept bringing Nikka + I drinks on our last day and it was kind of rainy…and he kept us company and help really good converasations with us. So although they were servers and staff member…I promise I felt like I made friends with some of the nicest people I have ever met…and I am not exaggerating. The people of Mexico seem like really down to earth people with big hearts! I am returning with for that alone.
It rained this day when I wore this crochet mesh cover up. Can you tell? Sorry I wasn’t going to let a little rain let me get the last of the photo ops I needed on the resort. It had such pretty vintage aztech and Mexican architecture…I had to take some snaps!
LOVING MEXICO!
Overall I loved my stay at Now Sapphire Cancun Riveria Maya Resort & Spa! Will I return? Of course. The staff was amazing and I really felt like I was in the land of paradise. The next time I return I have to do more pool activities (it rain our last two days) and I have to do the swim bar. I was really looking forward to going inside the pool and swimming up to my drink…as if there weren’t enough drink locations on the premises!
I want to thank The Travel Divas again for inviting me on this international trip! It was my first and definitely not my last, and thank you for making this a memorable and exquisite experience for me! The Travel Divas definitely didnt just make this a trip…it was a fun interactive experience and I am glad that there is a travel agency that goes above and beyond to make sure people have fun! I know the other clients of the trip enjoyed themselves as well! Next trip will be to Essence Festival in New Orleans so stay tuned for that post!
This trip to Now Sapphire Riviera Maya Cancun was sponsored by The Travel Divas as I am the official blogger brand ambassador for the agency. All opinions and statements are my own.
Have you ever stay on an all-inclusive resort or booked with a great travel agency recently?
About the Blogger - Kiwi the Beauty
Kiwi is the free spirited blogger and content creator of KiwiTheBeauty.com. As a digital influencer, she produces creative inspiration around beauty, lifestyle, media and travel leisure. Her life mantra is to make manifesting fun! When she’s not blogging, she is eating trendy hipster food, carrying crystals, making it rain at her local farmer's market and binge brunching.
Follow her on her blog and social media at kiwithebeauty.com + @kiwithebeauty
I love a tropical vacation. We are thinking of taking one next year. Just haven’t yet decided where to go…. but this place looks fantastic. I am going to keep it in mind as well as Kiwi.
You just did me in with this post. I am wrapping up and getting on a plane! OMG, the pool alone looks fabulous! And your pictures were too good, I want to go there now!
What an amazing adventure! I love the look of all those fancy loking drinks! lol Not to mention all the beautiful photos. The Hibachi night would definitely be one of my favorites! I’m not sure I would have been brave enough to endure the FISH spa! lol
You look like a model! And that festive dress is amazing. It’s even better than those festive drinks, although they’re so cute.
I’ve never been to Cancun! I hope I get there.
I am literally drooling over this post…I haven’t been to Cancun in ages! How fun! The drinks looked amazing, and I love bar with the swings (my favorite cupcake shop has them, too). I think I would be too nervous to try the fish foot treatment…but I could be swayed after some cocktails!
What a fun time you had and I really enjoyed all of your photos. I go to Atlanta several times a year, my son went to college there. I want to travel to Cancun one day.
I don’t know about those fishies eating my feet they will eat it up because my feet stay off the chain lol. I love it! You all look fab and those drinks and the colors yes my kind of party
Oh wow, you definitely had a blast. I’ve only seen Cancun in photos, but I would love to be able to visit it one day. The fish spa sounds very interesting, I’m not sure though if I’m up for it.
Oh my gosh, you are so lucky to be able to embark on this amazing trip!! It looks like it was a blast, and I agree, the photos of these types of resorts don’t lie. I wish I had Travel Divas where I am…
What an amazing adventure!
Your pictures are amazing… Looks like you had a wonderful time.
I love fish but I don’t know if I could handle them by my feet.
What a fun trip! I LOVE your photos. The feet-eating-fish, though. That’s a bit much for me! You are a brave, brave soul! And now I want to go to Mexico…
it seems you had an awesome time!! I am loving all the photos you shared! Hehe. The fish thing, seems a bit weird but i would totally try it! Haha. Now… The sushi, jealous! I love sushi and totally been craving some and you just made it worse!! Haha
What an amazing trip! I would love to visit there someday. It looks like so much fun. I loved that swing bar I could sit there all day and I don’t even drink! I pinned this so that I could come back to it. I need a great vacation!
I am so jealous of you. right now. I want to go on a vacation desperately sometime soon… and far away from home. This is such a beautiful and seemingly relaxing vacation spot you are sharing with us.
The welcoming drinks look so refreshing – I love the starfruit accent on the blue-green ones. I love all of the personal touches of the Travel Divas – what a fun-looking event to attend. The beach bar swings look awesome! My sweetie would probably spend all of his time in the water…we love exploring places with easy access to water and beaches.
Now Sapphire looks like an amazing resort to visit! I’ve never vacationed in Mexico but it always looks so wonderful when I see friends go. I’ll have to suggest this hotel to my husband the next time we start making vacation plans!
This looks gorgeous! I haven’t been to Cancun in YEARS! I love all inclusive resorts! I live in Atlanta, so I will have to check this travel agency out!
Looks like you had the time of your life. I’m a sushi girl, I would love to learn to make it myself. The swing at the bar would have been my spot, how cool is that. I need to travel outside of the US.
Wow! The resort is beautifully Kiwi! I can tell from the pictures that you had an amazing time. I absolutely love sushi and your sushi rolls look really yummy!
When I say I loooooove this post I mean it! You just made me feel like I was there and had the best time ever. Awesome photos. You really captured what that place was all about.
We haven’t ever stayed on a all-inclusive resort but I have definitely heard that is the way to go. Looks like you had a great time and that dress is super cute.
The drinks look adorable and the food looks delicious! I haven’t been to Cancun yet, but it looks really nice. I’m glad you had a ton of fun with the travel agency!
[…] with you as to where I’ve been. This year with the Travel Divas I’ve been to Savannah, Cancun, Louisiana (2x), New York with upcoming post on Las Vegas, Jamaica, and an 8 day cruise with […]
Inside the bag included with the goodies inside was this custom plasic red cup keepsake…also Travel Diva branded and part of one of our speciality nights. It was supposed to be a Red Cup + Neon Light Party…but it rained. So in the cup you see its Shirley Temple mocktails…because again there were no shortages of drinks on this resort so every now and then I had to get a mocktail!
Of course I got in the actual beach! The water was warm and beautiful!
So to prep for the fish Spa Treatment, you get your feet cleaned and scrubed by a professional. He put some scrub product on the base of my feet, for that is the food the little fishies will eat from. Weird but it’s how they get the callouses off!
It rained this day when I wore this crochet mesh cover up. Can you tell? Sorry I wasn’t going to let a little rain let me get the last of the photo ops I needed on the resort. It had such pretty vintage aztech and Mexican architecture…I had to take some snaps!
What an amazing experience you had. I have always wanted to go to Cancun – love ALL your pictures.
It looks like you had a great time. I would have sushi every day. I need to take a vacation.
Wow looks like you had quite an adventure… not sure I would have the nerve for the The Fish Spa but I might do it if a friend agreed to try it also 🙂
I love a tropical vacation. We are thinking of taking one next year. Just haven’t yet decided where to go…. but this place looks fantastic. I am going to keep it in mind as well as Kiwi.
Cancun is such a gorgeous place. We’ve been there a couple of times, and I’m always trying to find ways for us to get back.
Wow resort kept sounding better and better as I read through your post. My daughter would have been pumped to make that sushi.
You just did me in with this post. I am wrapping up and getting on a plane! OMG, the pool alone looks fabulous! And your pictures were too good, I want to go there now!
You have one of my bucket list items… pedicure with fish! And that water is so blue, they aptly named the resort.
What a beautiful resort with stunning accommodations. The swings at the beach bar would be right up my alley if I could manage to leave the cabana.
I love the pictures of your event. You look cute in that dress. Those drinks look really good too.
Great pics, Kiwi! Looks like it was an awesome experience. I would of been freaking out about those fish too….I don’t like fish, girl! Lol
I’ve never been to Cancun – it looks so beautiful. Nothing says beach or resort vacay to me than a big fruity cocktail!
Wow that is a cool event. Spectacular place to visit.
That looks like an awesome time. I now need a vacation after looking at all of those terrific pictures, LOL.
What an amazing adventure! I love the look of all those fancy loking drinks! lol Not to mention all the beautiful photos. The Hibachi night would definitely be one of my favorites! I’m not sure I would have been brave enough to endure the FISH spa! lol
This looks like wicked fun! Glad you see you had a great time. Looks like an amazing resort to stay at ! I hope to head to Cancun one day!
I was following along on Instagram for your trip and its great to read the final write up. Sounds like you had a trip of a lifetime!
I’ve never been to Cancun, but I think I need to add it to my bucket list after reading your post! I think I’ll skip the fishy pedicure though! 😉
You look like a model! And that festive dress is amazing. It’s even better than those festive drinks, although they’re so cute.
I’ve never been to Cancun! I hope I get there.
It looks just gorgeous! That water is so blue! I haven’t been to Cancun in so long, but you’re having me miss it like crazy.
I’ve never been to Mexico (unless you count Tijuana), but this resort sounds absolutely amazing!
Oh my take me away – I would love this trip. Everything looks so nice – relaxing & fun.
I am literally drooling over this post…I haven’t been to Cancun in ages! How fun! The drinks looked amazing, and I love bar with the swings (my favorite cupcake shop has them, too). I think I would be too nervous to try the fish foot treatment…but I could be swayed after some cocktails!
Cancun is definitely a great place for your first international trip, I would say! It sounds like you had such a wonderful time at Now Sapphire!
What a fun time you had and I really enjoyed all of your photos. I go to Atlanta several times a year, my son went to college there. I want to travel to Cancun one day.
I don’t know about those fishies eating my feet they will eat it up because my feet stay off the chain lol. I love it! You all look fab and those drinks and the colors yes my kind of party
Oh wow, you definitely had a blast. I’ve only seen Cancun in photos, but I would love to be able to visit it one day. The fish spa sounds very interesting, I’m not sure though if I’m up for it.
Oh my gosh, you are so lucky to be able to embark on this amazing trip!! It looks like it was a blast, and I agree, the photos of these types of resorts don’t lie. I wish I had Travel Divas where I am…
I love your posts- you always look like you are having so much fun! My son would have loved the sushi!
What an amazing adventure!
Your pictures are amazing… Looks like you had a wonderful time.
I love fish but I don’t know if I could handle them by my feet.
What a fun trip! I LOVE your photos. The feet-eating-fish, though. That’s a bit much for me! You are a brave, brave soul! And now I want to go to Mexico…
Aww, it look s like you had a great time! What an awesome roll you did too. I’m impressed.
I love all inclusive hotels. I stayed at the fontainebleau in miami a few years back. It was the best time ever.
I have never traveled like this before, no. It looks like a great get away though! Love all of the photos and glad you had fun!
What an Amazing Opportunity .. I would love to go to Mexico. That Fish Spa looks quite intriguing
Im loving that sushi making class! that looks like so much fun! What an awesome time!!!
I am obsessed with those rainbow shots and those swings from the bar! That looks like the kind of place to hang out all day!
Aren’t travel press trips A-MAZ-ING! I’ve bee on a couple as well and wish to do more in the future. So glad you had a great time
You look like you had a fantastic time. That bar swing is cute but I wonder how many times I would fall off it LOL – great pics and review.
it seems you had an awesome time!! I am loving all the photos you shared! Hehe. The fish thing, seems a bit weird but i would totally try it! Haha. Now… The sushi, jealous! I love sushi and totally been craving some and you just made it worse!! Haha
I can see you had a blast! Good for you. I don’t think your hair could be any cuter. I love it!
What an amazing trip! I would love to visit there someday. It looks like so much fun. I loved that swing bar I could sit there all day and I don’t even drink! I pinned this so that I could come back to it. I need a great vacation!
The swings look like so much fun! The drinks are so pretty too! What a great time!
You looks amazing! What a fun trip! The drinks look great too!
I am so jealous of you. right now. I want to go on a vacation desperately sometime soon… and far away from home. This is such a beautiful and seemingly relaxing vacation spot you are sharing with us.
Sapphire sounds like a really nice all-inclusive resort. I think all-inclusive is the only way to go. The drinks look so refreshing!
The welcoming drinks look so refreshing – I love the starfruit accent on the blue-green ones. I love all of the personal touches of the Travel Divas – what a fun-looking event to attend. The beach bar swings look awesome! My sweetie would probably spend all of his time in the water…we love exploring places with easy access to water and beaches.
Now Sapphire looks like an amazing resort to visit! I’ve never vacationed in Mexico but it always looks so wonderful when I see friends go. I’ll have to suggest this hotel to my husband the next time we start making vacation plans!
It looks like the most amazing experience! I’ve been curious about the fish thing 🙂 and you are rockin’ that sundress and the bikini!
I have to admit I am a little jealous! It looks like you had a fun, and very relaxing time away. I need to learn to make sushi!
This looks gorgeous! I haven’t been to Cancun in YEARS! I love all inclusive resorts! I live in Atlanta, so I will have to check this travel agency out!
Sounds like you had a great time . I especially like the fish spa treatment I would be scare but it work good. lol
Congrats! Glad you had fun! The swag bag stuff, the food, the cocktails and especially the spa looks incredible! And the sushi class-fun!
This is a real accessible location for me! Plus, it looks like a fun choice. Thank you sharing.
Your pictures look great! Glad you had a fantastic time. I’m in Cali so I need to get to Cancun one day soon!
Wow Kiwi looks like ya’ll had a blast! We’ve never stayed at a resort. Hoping to do so soon.
Oh my! Girl, you look like you had an awesome time! I’m so jelly! I don’t know if I could do this fish though.
Looks like you had the time of your life. I’m a sushi girl, I would love to learn to make it myself. The swing at the bar would have been my spot, how cool is that. I need to travel outside of the US.
Wow! The resort is beautifully Kiwi! I can tell from the pictures that you had an amazing time. I absolutely love sushi and your sushi rolls look really yummy!
OMG this looks and sounds so amazing!! I need a a vacation like this!!
When I say I loooooove this post I mean it! You just made me feel like I was there and had the best time ever. Awesome photos. You really captured what that place was all about.
This place looks and sounds amazing. I’m loving the swings at the bar! The Travel Divas did a great job putting this together.
We haven’t ever stayed on a all-inclusive resort but I have definitely heard that is the way to go. Looks like you had a great time and that dress is super cute.
The drinks look adorable and the food looks delicious! I haven’t been to Cancun yet, but it looks really nice. I’m glad you had a ton of fun with the travel agency!