All posts filed under: Lifestyle

Tipping in Mexico is customary in most circumstances that you would tip in the U.S. or Canada.  Bear in mind that most people working in the service industry in Mexico earn very humble wages and the tips they earn make up the majority of their income.  If you receive good service, show your appreciation by rewarding it with a tip and a heartfelt “gracias!”  Above all else, a tip should correspond with the quality of service you have received and the amount is at your discretion.   What currency do you use for tipping? While the U.S. dollar is widely accepted in most tourist destinations and gladly accepted for tips, bear in mind you will likely receive a poor exchange rate at most businesses, so always keep pesos on hand.  During your trip, remember that it is a good idea to hang onto smaller bills and 10 pesos coins so you are ready to tip.  Change can be hard to obtain when you need it, so use larger bills when you purchase anything.   Here …

As a Garza Blanca Residence Club member, staying healthy during your vacation is easier than ever. The resort’s management and staff know how important it can be to maintain a healthy lifestyle while visiting a foreign land, so your team have set up a myriad of activities, services and amenities to ensure you get the most out of your vacation.   Health-Focused Activities You can enjoy plenty of activities to get your heart pumping and body moving with varying levels of difficulty, designed to both entertain and help you maintain a well-balanced fitness routine. As part of your Residence Club experience, you can enjoy beach volleyball, yoga, kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding and more, or simply visit your brand new gym with Technogym equipment and Troy dumbbells for a full workout. Tennis, squash and basketball fans should check out the newly completed outdoor play and fitness area or ask the concierge about organizing private classes with our pro tennis coach. You’ll also have the opportunity to head out on walking and hiking tours that will get …

Did you know that as a Garza Blanca Residence Club Member, you have access to scores of inspirational activities, such as Kundalini Yoga? The resort, which prides itself on inspiring the art of living, offers special Kundalini Yoga sessions, led by our expert yoga instructor Prócoro Hernández, that take place at three of the resort’s most coveted locations: by the river, on the beach or on the mountain deck. Join Prócoro as he guides you on a spiritual journey towards heightened human awareness and creative potential. This universal practice can be enjoyed by everyone and is one of the most meditative forms of yoga around. Kundalini yoga utilizes a series of breathing techniques, mantras, physical exercises and meditation with the aim of gaining greater individual understanding of oneself and of the world around. With Procoro as your guide, you’ll be transported to a place of pure relaxation and sublime inner reflection. Experience the beauty and serenity of Garza Blanca Preserve while participating in one of the peaceful and calming Kundalini Yoga sessions. Whether looking out …

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, it is time to start planning a special day dedicated to showing Mom just how much you care. Here in Puerto Vallarta, there is an endless list of indulgent activities to pamper, spoil and smother your mother with love. If you are treating mom to a vacation at Garza Blanca Residence Club this year, follow this foolproof itinerary to show the moms in your life just how special they really are, or keep it in mind for future years and make an advanced reservation. Breakfast in Bed Treat your mom to a delicious breakfast in bed prepared by the whole family or order room service and let the professional chefs at your resort do the cooking, while you wait on her hand and foot. Mexican breakfasts at Garza Blanca include mouth watering fruit platters, ingredient rich omelets and scrumptious traditional style “chilaquiles” that are to die for. Serve up a flavorful breakfast that she’ll spend the whole year wishing she could duplicate. Shopping for that Special Gift Head …

While it might seem that the Mexican and Irish communities have very little in common, it is certain that their love for celebrations unite the two in more ways than one could imagine.  This March 17th, as people around the world celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, the inhabitants of Puerto Vallarta and their visitors will be raising a toast to their Irish friends at various locations throughout the city. Here are some of the celebrations you won’t want to miss: Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at Garza Blanca Preserve Garza Blanca Residence Club members staying at the resort for St. Patrick’s Day can enjoy a special celebration to be held at Blanca Blue restaurant. A themed menu will be served including Irish stew, pork glazed in Guinness and Guinness pudding with whiskey cream, as well as lots of green colored treats and Irish music. The Marigalante Pirate Ship Tour Head out into a fantasy world, where Pirates, acrobatics and fireworks take center stage. The Marigalante Pirate Ship tour sets sail in the morning, for a more family-oriented …

February is known as the month of love, the window to spring, with Valentine’s Day taking center stage for lovebirds and couples.  While many associate the holiday with romantic dinners, heart-shaped candy and bouquets of red roses,  there are many things about the Valentine’s Day that the average person doesn’t know. Here is a list of 14 things you probably didn’t know about the most romantic day of the year. 1.- The holiday can be traced back to the Roman fertility festival, Lupercalia, where young men would draw the name of a woman who would become their sexual companion for the year. 2.- The British started the practice of sending cards in the 17th Century, but it wasn’t until the 1840s that cards were being mass produced for the holiday. 3.- Alexander Graham Bell applied for a patent for the first telephone on Valentine’s Day in 1876. 4.- In 1822, Richard Cadbury, used the world’s first heart shaped box to package his company’s delicious chocolates so he could sell them on Valentine’s Day. 5.- Many …

As the bitter cold sets in and the bone-cracking chills of winter become unbearable, it’s only natural to long for the warmth and comfort of a tropical vacation. This winter, people from all over the world will be packing their bags and heading to the sun-filled skies and calid  nights of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; and you could be one of those lucky visitors making use of your Garza Blanca Residence Club membership! In addition to the obvious appeal of life in paradise, here are three reasons you should be glad that Puerto Vallarta is your home away from home.   1 –  A tropical vacation can improve your health The health benefits from an optimum dosage of Vitamin D are undeniable. While most would agree that overexposure to the sun’s rays can be harmful, there are still a myriad of health benefits to be acquired from a little time spent in the sun. Researchers argue that from a lack of this essential vitamin, we are more susceptible to illnesses, bone decay and high blood pressure. …

Garza Blanca Residence Club hails the holiday season in style with an elegant host of activities and special menus for club members who have chosen to spend Christmas and New Year in their home away from home. Enjoying the Holidays at Garza Blanca is always a treat, but this year will be even more special. Take a look at what you can expect when you stay at Garza Blanca during the festive season so you can start planning what elegant clothes to bring. Perhaps something black or white for the New Year’s Party at the Panoramic Pool or maybe something 60s or 70s style for our Flower Power Party on the beach. Take a look at the program below so you can make your reservations as soon as you arrive or beforehand through your concierge service: DECEMBER 24 Spirit of Christmas Gourmet buffet at Blanca Blue Restaurant 7:00pm – 11:00pm with live music Optional Christmas Menu at BocaDos STK & Hiroshi at Hotel Mousai   DECEMBER 25 Santa’s Brunch at Blanca Blue Restaurant 8:00am – 2:00pm …

One of the most cherished celebrations in the United States is on our doorstep; yet how much do you actually know about Thanksgiving. Here are 10 facts you might not know about Thanksgiving in the US. Canada and the United States do not celebrate Thanksgiving on the same date. Thanksgiving in Canada falls on the second Monday of October while in the US it is the fourth Thursday in November. The origins of Thanksgiving in the United States is attributed to the feast shared by the Plymouth Pilgrim settlers with the Wampanoag Indians, which is considered by most to be the first Thanksgiving dinner, However, the exact date of the meal is unknown and is supposed to have happened between September 20 and November 9, 1621. It is believed that the first Thanksgiving celebrated by the Plymouth Pilgrims lasted three days. 4 . Alongside 52 Pilgrims, approximately 50 Native Americans attended the first Thanksgiving feast. On October 3, 1863 Abraham Lincoln made the Thanksgiving Proclamation to grant the fourth Thursday in November a national holiday, although …

Despite being constantly bombarded by new health and beauty fads intended to keep us looking more youthful, more beautiful and healthier, one such luxury that has not gone out of fashion since as far back as the time of the Egyptians is the spa. The very name “spa” is indicative of its healing potential, being that S.P.A. is an acronym of the latin name Salus Per Aquam which means in a literal sense, “health by water.” Thanks to the healing properties of spas and the general sense of wellbeing and relaxation you enjoy, spa vacations are becoming evermore popular. At Garza Blanca Residence Club, you can use your membership to take advantage of the luxury spa facilities at both Garza Blanca Preserve as well as Villa del Palmar Cancun to indulge in divine pampering, being able to pre-pay with your club points for some services. Take a look below at what to expect at each spa. Spa Imagine at Garza Blanca Residence Club The sparkling sci-fi elegance of Spa Imagine is soon to replace Hamara …