- Sen. Ted Cruz visited a Ritz-Carlton hotel amid the Texas storm last week.
- The five-star resort has 9 dining options and a panoramic ocean-front view.
- Amid backlash, Cruz stayed at the hotel for one night before returning home.
- Visit the Business section of Insider for more stories.
Last week, Texas Senator Ted Cruz left behind frigid Texas temperatures to visit the luxurious Ritz-Carlton in Cancun.
Cruz’s decision to fly to Cancun, while millions of Texas residents battled severe winter storms, power outages, and water shortages, sparked intense backlash.
The senator also invited several people outside of the family to the hotel, which the Cruz family has reportedly visited “many times” in the past, according to leaked text messages from the senator’s wife, Heidi Cruz.
Cancun has become a popular destination during the pandemic. Expedia’s 2021 Travel Trends Report lists Cancun as the No. 1 destination for US travelers.
Here’s what you need to know about the luxury Cancun resort Cruz frequents:
Accommodations at the five-star luxury hotel start at over $300
The Mexican resort has a sweeping ocean view. All the rooms at the hotel look out on the Caribbean sea and feature private balconies and terraces.
The luxury resort also has one of the largest hotel beach fronts in Cancun - 1,200 feet of prime beach real estate.
Forbes' Travel Guide ranks the Ritz-Carlton as one of the top luxury hotels in Cancun.
—The Ritz-Carlton (@RitzCarlton) January 25, 2021
The hotel has over nine dining options
The Ritz-Carlton can house over 360 guests and features two award-winning restaurants - Fantino and The Club Grill.
Guests can visit Fantino, an upscale Mediterranean restaurant decorated with Old World-style elegance, or enjoy live jazz music at The Club Grill.
Hotel visitors can also participate in a private dining experience from their balcony with the hotel's 24-hour dining services or try the resort's expansive tequila menu at D-Lounge, which is home to over 100 different tequila options.
The Ritz-Carlton also has interactive meal services. The Culinary Center has an oceanfront kitchen where award-winning chefs prepare a custom meal, teaching the guests throughout the process.
—The Ritz-Carlton (@RitzCarlton) January 25, 2021
The resort has one of the top spas in Cancun
While visitors can enjoy private beach cabanas and lounges off the ocean, the hotel features a wide variety of other aquatic amenities, including two swimming pools and a whirlpool that looks out on the ocean.
The Ritz-Carlton has one of the area's best spas, according to Forbes. The 5,500-square-foot spa focuses on Mayan-inspired healing practices.
Additionally, guests looking to relax in their rooms can enjoy 400-count Egyptian cotton sheets, large marble bathrooms with a separate shower and bathtub, as well as bi-daily cleaning services.
Cruz, who said he planned to work in Cancun, would have likely used the resort's full service Business Center and childcare options.
—The Ritz-Carlton (@RitzCarlton) January 25, 2021
Cruz cut his stay at the Ritz-Carlton short after a picture of the senator at the airport went viral.
He decided to only stay at the hotel for one night after multiple state residents expressed outrage at his decision to leave Texas in the middle of a deep freeze that left many Texans without electricity, heat, or fresh water.
Cruz later apologized for the trip as protestors called for his resignation.
"It was obviously a mistake and in hindsight I wouldn't have done it," Cruz said.
Upon his return, Cruz was seen helping serve meals to first responders - a move that defied CDC guidelines, requiring individuals to quarantine for at least a week after traveling.
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