Daily Pampering: Luxury Avenue in Cancun changes travel shopping completely

What do you do when your wallet starts to itch? If you’re sunning yourself in Cancun, Mexico, have a car take you from your resort to the new Luxury Avenue. This new travel retail destination has brought together in one place such stores as Mont Blanc, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Ferragamo and Zegna — creating a shopping experience reminiscent of South Beach or Cannes. Luxury Avenue is within striking distance of the area’s top hotels, including Gran Caribe Real, Ritz-Carlton and Le Meridien Cancun.

When you need a break from toting your bags around — or if you want to fuel up for a run through Luxury Avenue — stop by the Luxury Bar and Café on the mezzanine level; it’s open from noon to 9 PM. There’s always Veuve Clicquot on ice, but you can sip a great red instead, if that’s how you prefer to unwind. Sit back in a bright pink loveseat — courtesy of Veuve — and chill like the flute in your fingers. If you’re intent on working in the midst of this decadence, at least you’ll be able to hit the free high-speed internet access.

Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Champagne and rub-down in Jackson Hole

Before you skip this as “just another travel deal” – as I almost did – consider the combination of mountain air, spa treatments and the taste of champagne. The “Ultimate Chill” package from Hotel Terra Jackson Hole includes all this within a LEED-certified eco-boutique, so you don’t need to feel guilty while enjoying this touch of pleasure.

Get your weary arms, legs and back rubbed back to normal (or better) at the Chill spa, and treat your skin to an organic sugarcane and green tea scrub and a cucumber mint body masque. If you can find a better way to spend an hour and a half, I envy your creativity. Wash down the experience with a split of Veuve Cliquot, and step outside to enjoy the clear Wyoming air.

The catch? You have to go between May 22, 2009 and the last day of September. Pull the trigger, and you’re looking at two nights for $688, sleeping in an all natural Terra Bed.

You can enjoy Jackson Hole if you’re not a hiker or a climber. If you’re traveling with an “outdoor type,” you’ll have a way to spend some time on what you enjoy. Sip that Veuve while your better half is trudging along the trails.

[Photo by Cameron R Neilson]