Hyatt Vivid Grand Island To Become Mondrian Cancun…

Posted on June 18, 2026 by admin

If you read my prior post about Hyatt Vivid Grand Island not being a Hyatt property anymore after Aug. 19, you may want to know who is taking their place as management for the owners of the property.

This resort will now be called Mondrian Cancun. While I haven’t heard of them, they are supposed to be an entry level luxury brand with locations in more trendy areas such as Ibiza, Cannes, South Beach, etc. This is supposed to be their first venture into the all-inclusive market, so we will see how that goes over time. Here’s what will remain and what will change:

Continues as an all-inclusive resort
Becoming family-friendly, not adults-only anymore
Continued access to the beach club on Playa Delfines. It is currently called Ennea but will change its name to Bungalow Beach Club.
Access to the rooftop pool will still be for room upgrade guests. In this case it will be for Mondrian+ bookings which will include butler service, private check-in, “enhanced beverage package” (not sure what that will include though), access to some select restaurants, and preferred seating at the beach club.
Supposed to be more of a focus on entertainment including both day and evening

What do you think? Would you book before knowing anything about the kind of vibe and services this new management intends on implementing? I was thinking of going in September before I heard about the change of management…I think I might still consider it to be a viable option and take a chance. How about you? Let me know in the comments section below.

Another Hyatt Property Soon To Exit The Fold…

Posted on June 16, 2026 by admin

I recently posted that Hyatt Vivid Grand Island was leaving the Hyatt brand August 19, 2026…looks like another current Hyatt branded property will be leaving Hyatt management September 30, 2026.

Breathless Cancun Soul is the next all-inclusive resort that will follow Hyatt Vivid Grand Island in terms of leaving Hyatt management. There is no word yet as to who will take over, but future guests and those thinking of booking this resort should carefully evaluate whether or not it is worth taking a risk to stay here after Sept. until further info can be provided.

So what resort’s next? Can’t call it a mass exodus, but one has to ask what Hyatt has done or proposed to property owners to get them to reconsider staying with Hyatt management. Has Hyatt been reconsidering their contracts and selectively choosing which ones to keep and which to dump from their portfolio? Or has Hyatt’s demands as management become burdensome/unwanted/fiscally unwise to continue as such to owners? Hmm, I’m curious. If anyone knows please let me know…

Wanna Know Where To Have Fun Near Tulum Without Sargassum?

Posted on June 12, 2026 by admin

Here’s an interesting video I found on YouTube by The Rope Monster…as most vacationers and wanna be vacationers to the Riviera Maya know, sargassum has hit hard this season already–and it’s not even August/September when the seaweed blight of the Caribbean is at its peak! This video highlights Caleta Tankah, a combo beach club and cenote experience just north of Tulum. It also offers 25 guest rooms for those who want to extend their stay.

As you will see from the video, what makes this experience special is the smaller swimmable crystal blue water actually fed by a cenote (no sargassum here), and the other amenities you will find at this beach club. No blaring music though, just the wind, water, cenote, and of course a restaurant and bar where you can purchase something to quench your thirst or silence those pangs of hunger

What do you think, would you take the time to make this a day trip? Let me know in the comments section below.

Majestic Mirage–Needs A Few Tweaks To Make It An Awesome Resort For Both Adults and Families–A Resort Review

Posted on June 6, 2026 by admin

Looking at the adults-only section

Majestic Mirage Costa Mujeres was my second resort stay on my most recent Cancun trip in late April/early May 2026 (the first was Riu Ventura–if you want to read that resort review then click this link). When I booked Majestic Mirage several months prior, I wound up building the entire trip around the discounted stay offered on their website for a primo suite located in the adults-only Club section, Mirage Club Plunge Pool Suite Oceanfront that had a rooftop pool. Turns out it was definitely worth the extra planning!

The shuttle ride from Riu Ventura to Majestic Mirage took about 50 min. and that was with construction going on in Cancun’s Hotel Zone due to the almost completed Nichupté Lagoon bridge. Upon arrival I was greeted by staff who gave me a towel to wipe my hands and face, checked my carry-on bag, and led me to the private adults-only Mirage Club Lounge for check-in.

I have to say a few words about the general function and layout of this property before proceeding with my actual resort experience–this is an all-suites resort so there are only two lounge areas where check-in occurs, the Mirage Club (ages 18+), and the Family Club (all ages). There is no basic entry level room since all guests receive access to respective upgraded services and amenities as well as butler service. Yes, you read this right, every travel party gets a personal butler without paying extra for an upgrade. If you are on the beach facing guest room buildings, the adults-only Mirage Club section is on the left (Buildings 3 and 4), while the Family Club section is on the right (Buildings 1 and 2). FYI: Potential guests booking rooms in the adults-only Mirage Club section may wind up in the Family Club section depending on the suite category that is booked.

The middle section of the resort between Mirage Club and Family Club suite buildings acts like a boundary between the two. It was a bit of an annoyance to go from one section to another in the pool areas in part due to the amount of space the Sky Gazebo took up in the resort layout–this causes guests to go out of their way to cross from one side to the other because there are very few existing pathways that do so. During my three night stay there were two evening wedding ceremonies and receptions held at the Sky Gazebo–impossible not to hear reception music even in one’s suite but thankfully the music stopped at 11 p.m. (If you are an early to bed vacationer then this resort may not be a good fit for you).

White structure is the Sky Gazebo

Not all resort amenities were placed in their respective areas given the distinction between Club and Family sections–for example, the general resort buffet for all ages was located at the end of the adults-only building section, not the family section. The lobby bar was actually on the ground floor (think Excellence resorts layouts), but the Piano Bar was located on the same upper floor where check-in occurs. Those thinking of booking this resort also need to be aware that none of the restaurants had easily identifiable restaurant names at their entrances, you literally have to either make a good guess or ask any one of the restaurant hostesses where to find the restaurant you are seeking. The app’s resort map at the time of my stay wasn’t really that helpful either. Didn’t make sense to me at all, particularly when resort signage is such an easy fix. Also, in case you were wondering, there is no guest reciprocity with the adjacent sister resort, Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres. The only way Majestic Mirage guests can access Majestic Elegance is if they have a spa reservation since the Mirage doesn’t have its own spa. Majestic Elegance guests cannot access the Mirage property at all.

Piano Bar upstairs in the lobby area

The lobby bar is located downstairs from the actual lobby

Back to my regular review. Oh yes, I was at check-in. The Mirage Club Lounge was separated into three sections–multiple check-in desks in one area with an adjoining wait area with snacks, see-through refrigerator filled with bottled water, wine bottles including sparkling wine, plus I think there were a few beer selections in there, multiple shelves of bottled liquor, Nespresso coffee machines, and hot water for tea choices. There was plenty of seating for guests waiting to check-in, and a larger adjoining seating area for guests just wanting a snack and/or drink during their stay. At the end of check-in I had to wait several more moments until I met my assigned butler, Gustavo, who led a small group of us guests over to various resort amenities of our choosing since our suites were not immediately ready (check-in time is 3 p.m.). FYI: See if you can request Gustavo as your butler; I can’t imagine more attentive and friendly service from such a staff member. He frequently texted me and inquired if I needed anything, sent info on resort activities for the day, and I had an “exit” conversation with him where he genuinely wanted to know how my stay went. Since he gave me such excellent service I gave him an excellent tip at the end of my stay, but it was well deserved.

What’s in the refrigerator in the Mirage Club Lounge?

Liquor choices in the Mirage Club Lounge

Part of the snack selection in the Mirage Club Lounge

Gustavo took me over to the buffet where I had a surprisingly excellent lunch; after eating I spent another hour exploring the resort. Here’s another FYI: before you get into any of the glass-walled lobby elevators, check and see if they are operating properly. I attempted to get an elevator from the ground floor back up to the lobby to access the Mirage Club Lounge and the doors did not close completely. Being of sound mind and body I strong-armed the doors open enough to successfully and calmly exit while making sure no one saw my frantic efforts to get out. I did notify staff but no one immediately put up an “out of order” sign (not sure what the equivalent is in Spanish); I hope no one else had a near panic moment in this elevator. If you decide to book this resort, just make sure you don’t as well.

Gustavo accompanied me to my oceanfront suite with a rooftop pool and gave me a thorough explanation of its amenities. The suite turned out to be as awesome as I had envisioned with 1,000 sq. feet of space, king bed, living room area, Nespresso coffee machine, two mini-bars which included snacks, a wine cooler, two small bottles of liquor, a bottle of sparkling wine, the choice of another full bottle of premium liquor (I chose tequila), a large balcony with a round daybed with 180 degree ocean views, and a separate box for room service which was located next to the main door (a nice way to get dirty room service dishes out of the way–staff periodically checked each box and collected any used dishes and cutlery). Glassware/bar ware was also included along with an ice bucket. Ice machines were located by the elevator on each floor; mine was 30 steps away from my suite so it was easy to keep myself supplied when needed. The suite also included a rooftop area with a sofa and armchairs, a second mini-bar if you wanted to top off your drink or enjoy a snack, and a large daybed which was adjacent to the plunge pool if you wanted to work on your tan. An added bonus to the room was that it was a corner suite–I had an unobstructed view of the resort as well as the beach and ocean, a wonderful suite option with spectacular views. I would definitely book this room category again if I were to return. Truly the only negative that guests may have about the suite would be the lack of bathroom privacy, but since I was traveling solo that issue didn’t matter. The area behind the bed was totally open and exposed the entire bathroom; toilet and shower areas were behind frosted glass doors so there was at least some degree of privacy offered. The soaking tub in the bathroom was completely exposed, however.

This is the view upon entering the suite

Notice how the bathroom area behind the bed is totally exposed to the rest of the room

This is how exposed the bathroom area is to the rest of the room

View from my balcony daybed

Rooftop plunge pool area

The rooftop plunge pool has a built-in ledge for seating–this is the view when seated

In-room liquor supplied. The larger bottle depends on your choice–I chose tequila before knowing there was already a smaller bottle in the room!

As long as we’re discussing room categories let me just mention something about the swim-up suites at Majestic Mirage. If you follow my blog at all you know I am a great fan of swim-ups and book them whenever possible. Even though I didn’t book a swim-up suite here, I was curious as to the location and privacy limitations of this suite category. Here’s the 411 since some past guests have complained on social media that they didn’t get the suite they booked:

Both Mirage Club and Family Club sections have swim-up suites.
As far as I am aware, children of all ages are allowed to stay in swim-up suites at Majestic Mirage in the Family Club section (many resorts have an age limit of 12 to stay in swim-up suite rooms).
While vacationers can only book oceanfront swim-ups via the adults-only Mirage Club section, there were oceanfront swim-up suites on both the family and the adults-only sides of the resort. That means that some guests who book oceanfront swim-ups will wind up on the family-friendly side. Can’t say I didn’t warn you.
Only the oceanfront swim-ups have direct pool access from their terrace–direct pool access typically means walking down some steps from one’s terrace into a swim-up pool. All non-oceanfront swim-ups either have a grassy area to walk across in order to enter the pool or a small plunge pool as a substitute.
The Family Club section’s only swim-up suite category is Family Club Swim-Up Suite that has “direct pool access”. Family Club swim-ups are located in two sections–adjacent to the resort interior’s lengthy family pool and inside the water park. Swim-ups at the water park don’t offer one lengthy pool that all swim-up rooms typically have access to; instead, each swim-up room has its own small plunge pool that overlooks the water park area with a locked gate that allows guests to directly access water park amenities from their balcony. This would be a great location for families with children old enough to handle water park amenities–they can enter and exit their balcony at will in between bouts of water park fun! But this swim-up suite location doesn’t have its own listing…if you want to be in this part of the resort, make your request known as to suite location when you book, there is usually a section for special requests if you book online or if you use a travel agent they will be happy to make your request for you.

Oceanfront swim-up suite on the adults-only side of the resort

These are standard swim-up suites, notice the grassy area to traverse before entering the pool. I imagine the cabanas on this side of the pool are for swim-up guests.

Let’s talk more about the pools…Majestic resorts, at least the ones in Mexico, have surprised guests with unusual pool designs and atypical pool features. Majestic Elegance has its infinity edge facing the resort’s interior rather than oceanfront; Majestic Mirage has no main pool. Instead, there were two very lengthy stretches of pools that lay adjacent to both Buildings 2 (family) and 3 (adults-only) in the interior resort section. There were several pool sections on each side, some were interconnected and some required getting out of the water to walk a short distance to another. There were two swim-up bars in both the adults-only and family pool sections and a walk-up bar behind each swim-up bar. Cabanas and loungers were placed on both sides of the pools; swim-up rooms appear to have their own cabanas and loungers at poolside’s edge, while anyone can use the cabanas on the other side of the pools. There are shade umbrellas but these get taken after the cabanas are gone so best get to the pool fairly early to make your choice. Poolside cabanas are complimentary and first come first served. Pool towels were a scarce commodity in both adults-only and family pool areas. I typically found pool towels for the adults-only sections in the walk-up bar facing the beach; I never did find where the towels were on the family side. While I spent most of my pool time in the adults-only section, I did enjoy the pool foam party located by the primary swim-up bar in the family section. Granted it wasn’t as boisterous and wild as adults-only pool foam parties can be, but it was acceptably fun and appropriate for children. Pool time at the adults-only area included morning pool volleyball in the section nearest to the beach, while the second swim-up bar located half-way to the lobby area had various games like darts available for use. The primary stand up bar area on the family side always had boxes of games set out along with Cornhole and Connect 4.

Complimentary poolside cabanas

In-pool Jacuzzis available

Primary swim-up bar on the family-friendly side, this is where the pool foam party is located

Darts available at the secondary swim-up bar area in the adults-only pool section

Now let’s talk about the beach. This was an absolutely stunning area of beach with white sand, aquamarine colored ocean water, mostly mild wave action, and the beach was walkable for lengthy stretches in each direction. Beach loungers were divided into family (north side) and adults-only sections (south side), and guests seemed to abide by that rule. Since there were no loungers or Bali beds available when I went looking for one on the adults-only side, I was lucky enough to find one on the family side. There was a beach bar on the family side and that was fortunate because the loungers and shade palapas on the family side were so tightly placed together it was impossible for wait staff to attend to anyone except guests on the exterior of beach lounger sections. I believe that a majority of Bali beds/cabanas are complimentary so there’s no need for a reservation (you will have to get up early to claim one on this beach). Upgraded beach lounging opportunities do exist, it’s called the “Oasis Experience” which consists of a “nested cabana” (these are easy to identify) and adjacent small table and chairs with a shade umbrella. If you are interested in this extra amenity, there are several packages to purchase including breakfast only, all day from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. with restaurant food and drinks brought to you, and all day with extras like 50 min. body massages. If you have an extra $600-$800 USD you might want to think about it.

Beach bar in the Family Club beach section

Lots of beach loungers

This resort has a beautiful beach

Speaking of food and beach bars, let’s talk about the food and drinks at this resort. Buffet food was very good overall, but I couldn’t find my morning chilaquiles (tsk, tsk), so instead I just put some more than excellent chicken tinga over some chips and added some toppings to make up for their “mistake”. I had that every morning and I still miss it–looks like I will have to find a good chicken tinga recipe to make at home. I found morning buffet wait service to be lacking–I was halfway done with my food before any server came around to take any drink orders (I always have my a.m. hot tea just like most people have their coffee) and when it came it was tepid at best and I was already finished with breakfast. Just be sure to bring something to drink to the table just in case you don’t get on-time service–there were plenty of fresh juices from which to choose.

If you’re going to be at the resort on a Friday, don’t miss the Mexican Fiesta night held in the main courtyard on the family side (it starts at 7 p.m. but go early to get a seat facing the gazebo to see the performances). Patron margaritas handed to you at the margarita stand, various Mexican dishes were served buffet style including warm churros, live music and Mexican troupe showcasing early Mayan dances and traditions. So worthwhile to attend.

A literal hallway of food at Mexican Fiesta night

The main courtyard with live music at Mexican Fiesta night

Mayan show at Mexican Fiesta night

At the Italian a la carte, La Rinascita, I had a waiter who obviously has been practicing his craft for many years. He monitored my dining pace with quiet precision bringing various courses with very little wait in between. He even fixed a slightly wobbly table without my asking. On a side note, while the food was very good, well prepared, and professionally served, I was placed on a dais in the center of the restaurant where I was the only person being served (I went early to dinner that evening). One of the most difficult things I’ve had to manage as a solo female vacationer has been dining alone at dinner. Seated on a raised platform all by myself in the middle of the restaurant was one of the most daunting restaurant experiences I’ve had while traveling. Since I now refuse to just look at my phone while dining by myself it was difficult not to notice others’ glances, but I managed to shrug off my discomfort and enjoyed my meal. I would definitely recommend this a la carte restaurant, maybe skip the dais.

One restaurant I would avoid for now is the beachfront restaurant Seaside. I ate there for dinner one night and regretted every moment from the time I was seated until I left. Terrible service, no waiter even approached my table for 15 min. to serve water. Then they served the main course before the appetizer. I loved the shrimp dish but no shrimp is worth that kind of atrocious wait service, lol. I advised Gustavo before I left that they needed to retrain those specific restaurant waiters, so hopefully he passed along that information. Avoid for now.

If you are looking for something to do at this resort don’t miss the sports bar. A really great place to spend some time and have some fun. There is a bowling alley, pool table, foosball table, even a card table, plus you can order food as well as watch your favorite sports games on multiple large screens. There is an open-air theater which was located along the same hallway as the sports bar, I didn’t see any shows besides the performances at the Mexican Fiesta, however, so I can’t comment on show quality.

Don’t miss the water park no matter what age you are. There were actually three entrances and two sections–if you have little ones take the ramp on the right, it will lead you to the water fun for toddlers and young children. The ramp on the left will lead you to the major attractions including a lazy river (which includes its own swim-up bar and several hidden Jacuzzi sections), intermediate waterslides, and the advanced waterslide section. There were only adults using the intermediate and advanced waterslides when I visited this resort amenity. There were plenty of loungers with shade umbrellas and a food/BBQ area where you can order lunch or a snack–it was located between the two water park sections. If you ever find yourself in the back of the resort between Majestic Elegance and Majestic Mirage, there was a second general entrance which I found by accident on a self-led walking tour of the property (I was trying to snoop).

Advanced waterslides

Water park swim-up bar

Waterslides for toddlers and younger children

Lazy river at the water park

There was a coffee shop at the resort just off of the main courtyard, and right next to it was a chapel. I don’t believe they offer general Catholic services on Sunday, it is just used for actual wedding ceremonies. It was a lovely spot, especially with the sunlight filtering in at the time I visited.

I think that’s enough choices for coffee drinks…

How about a snack at the coffee shop?

Lovely chapel

Regular gym attendees can rejoice because while this resort doesn’t have an onsite spa it does have a small upstairs gym. I had to ask where it was located and when I was told it was upstairs I was faced with (gasp) taking the elevator up to the lobby level. Not from those dastardly glass wall elevators though, but it did cause me a thoughtful moment to carefully consider my plan of action should I get stuck in another elevator. Everything turned out OK; the elevator up to the gym was located in an alcove across from the sports bar.

Unfortunately this resort does not offer pickleball courts, just tennis courts and a basketball court.

I know I have reported some negatives about my stay here, but as my blog article title states there are some tweaks to be made before this becomes an awesome resort. At the time of my visit it was very good overall and provided me with a very pleasant vacation experience. For those vacationers, adults-only or families, who want a more luxury resort experience that right now is still affordable (the resort is still advertising sales in order to attract new guests to a new property), don’t hesitate to book Majestic Mirage Costa Mujeres.

The comments in this review are those of the author/reviewer. This trip was paid for in its entirety by the author; at no time were any monies or services exchanged for this review.

Location: 45 min. north of the Cancun airport

Telephone: Toll free USA and Canada 1-888-477-7227

email: callcenter@majestic-resorts.com

Hyatt Vivid Grand Island To Exit Hyatt Management…

Posted on June 5, 2026 by admin

Now this is something that wasn’t on many individual’s radar…as of Aug. 19, 2026, Hyatt Vivid Grand Island will no longer be affiliated with Hyatt’s management or brand name. I believe that Grupo Murano is the actual owner of the property and either has had a falling out with Hyatt or thinks they can get a better management deal with another company.

Probably best for vacationers to avoid future bookings at this resort for now until the dust has settled…

It’s Only Been A Month…Time To Book Another Cancun Trip!

Posted on June 2, 2026 by admin

That’s right, it’s only been a month since I returned from my last Cancun trip and it’s definitely time to book my next solo adventure.

No kidding, I’ve been contemplating the resorts I want to stay at during my next Cancun vacay. My job is a high stress position and I need to take a mental break every 4 mos. or so or else I get a bit snippy and that’s not good for anyone. So right now I’m looking at September….the peak of hurricane season but according to the present climate forecast this has a high probability of being a Super El Niño season (80%-90%) which means less tropical storms and hurricanes in the Atlantic and a higher probability of tropical storms and hurricanes in the Pacific Ocean area–for those of you planning on vacationing in Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Huatulco, Ixtapa, Mazátlan, and Acapulco (does anyone even vacation there anymore??) you may want to rethink your vacation plans this summer and early fall.

So here are my initial choices…let me know in the comments below what you think.

Two basic choices which can be intermingled depending on my mood and budget:

Garza Blanca and Hotel Mousai Cancun. Garza Blanca is family-friendly and Mousai is adults-only with awesome balconies. These sister resorts are right next to one another, so I can just take my backpack and carry-on and walk next door to resort #2; booking either one or the other allows access to the family-friendly initial Tafer resort, Villa del Palmar Cancun. That means stay at one play at two when staying at Garza Blanca, or stay at one play at three if staying at Hotel Mousai. This last Cancun trip staying only three nights at each resort felt a bit rushed so I would do four nights at two resorts. FYI: Did you know that Garza Blanca and Villa del Palmar have some suites that have an in-room washer and dryer? Perfect for families with kids. Vacationers need to be aware that these Tafer properties are all-inclusive optional resorts, so the initial rates you see will be for a European Meal Plan.
Hyatt Vivid Grand Island and Paradisus La Perla Reserve Upgrade. Kind of like comparing apples and oranges–a more boisterous resort atmosphere with one of the largest rooftop pools in Cancun (Hyatt) that also happens to be non-beachfront but with access to its own beach club, and a more luxurious beachfront sedate resort with swim-out suites that connect to the main pool. The best of both worlds. Both of these are also adults-only.

Seriously, I want to go to all of them but I’m not independently wealthy so I have to work within a budget (tears shed).

Below are several resort videos you can watch if you desire; let me know what your choices would be!

Hyatt Vivid Resorts New Extra Charge…

Posted on May 31, 2026 by admin

When I was perusing Instagram the other day I read on Memories and Mojitos’ page that Hyatt Vivid resorts will be charging $10 USD for every room service delivery starting June 1, 2026. That’s p/order, not p/person.

I hope Hyatt has not become another cash grabbing company, but with all the resorts they’ve been adding lately to their all-inclusive portfolio they have to pay the bill somehow…

Waldorf Astoria and Conrad Tulum Resorts Offering An Optional All-Inclusive Plan…

Posted on May 29, 2026 by admin

I just posted the other day about how Conrad Tulum was extending their optional all-inclusive meal plan until the end of 2027…looks like their “sister” resort, Waldorf Astoria Riviera Maya, is now implementing its own optional plan and continuing it for the same amount of time. Since both are owned and operated by Hilton, it looks like the initial experiment with this option was so successful at the Conrad that they decided to expand it to other luxury resorts within that particular portfolio. It just shows how all-inclusive resorts have really changed their reputation over the years to be an extremely viable and desirable vacation choice for all income categories.

Here’s what you will get with this resort’s all-inclusive plan:

Access to pools and beach areas
Open bar access from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Mini-bar access
Gym access
Room service 24/7
Breakfast at Chaya restaurant
Lunch at Chaya or pool bar
Light bites and snacks at pool bar or Peacock Alley
Dinner at Chaya, JA’O, or Malpeque
Access to non-motorized water sports equipment
Gratuities included

There is supposedly no minimum stay and bookings through the end of 2027 will be accepted.

What do you think? Will more luxury brands be expanding to the all-inclusive plan option?

Conrad Tulum Extends Their All-Inclusive Meal Plan Through 2027…

Posted on May 26, 2026 by admin

I guess Conrad Tulum Riviera Maya has discovered that their all-inclusive plan is more popular than they thought it would be for guests and has now extended the offer through 2027.

I posted about this on Feb. 15, 2026 when I first found out that they even offered an all-inclusive option, and at that time they were only going to extend it until the end of 2026. (If you want to read my prior article, just click here). Of course there are limitations which is common for any all-inclusive plan, especially for all-inclusive optional meal plans at more luxury oriented resorts. Check out what the resort offers by clicking on this link…

So, would you take advantage of this optional meal plan at this Conrad resort? Let me know in the comments section below…

Riu Ventura–Latest Addition To Best Swim-Out Suites, And With A Great Beach (A Resort Review)

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Riu Ventura Resort View From The 6th Floor Adults-Only Pool Area

Within the past year I have been horribly neglectful about posting my Cancun vacation adventures (Mea Culpa), but there are only so many hours in a day to spend between a 9-5 job, personal responsibilities, and turning a hobby mindset into a serious business venture (yeah, I am talking about my all-inclusive resort book). Since the latter is now more under control, I have some time to make up for my “vacationing but not posting” attitude. Let me start with the most recent Cancun vacay and work my way backwards to January 2025 when I stopped posting about my resort stays.

In my latest Cancun adventure I wanted to focus on multiple new resorts (those that had opened within the last 4-5 months), and chose Riu Ventura, Majestic Mirage Costa Mujeres, and Ocean Allure Costa Mujeres. I traveled solo and spent three nights at each resort, so I got a chance to fully focus on the properties and amenities offered–I’m not a fan of evening resort entertainment unless it’s a great speakeasy nightclub or a Rock Show in the theater, plus I’m not into spa treatments so those topics aren’t typically included in any write-up details. Just a heads up in case you are looking for specifics about those types of vacation experiences. In this review, however, I did attend one evening theater performance which is discussed towards the end of this blog post.

My first stop was Riu Ventura, a family-friendly resort which opened its doors Dec. 6, 2025. Check-in was at 3 p.m. (pretty strictly enforced) and check-out was at 12 p.m. This resort was located on famous Playa Delfines which is one of the most popular beach areas in Cancun’s Hotel Zone. It was a lengthy travel day and I arrived at the resort around 6 p.m. after a 15-20 min. shuttle ride north of the Cancun airport. FYI: For those who check luggage, please be aware that some baggage claim waits at the Cancun airport can now be as long as an hour, especially at Terminal 3. Also, please be aware that Riu has a policy that states that guests arriving after 6 p.m. need to contact the resort in advance in order to let them know your approximate arrival time or else they are free to give your room to someone else. This is a very different policy than most other all-inclusive resorts in that you usually have until midnight to check-in without any sort of negative repercussion.

General check-in desks; the “red carpet” is for Riu Class members.

Check-in with Brandon was quick and efficient while I enjoyed a refreshing drink minus the alcohol. I was made aware that my room category, Double With Swim-Up and Frontal Sea View, had two potential locations–true oceanfront or the swim-ups located below the rooftop pool which is actually set back quite a bit from the ocean. Brandon assured me I had the better location (maybe because I am a Riu Class member and booked directly with the resort?) and I finished check-in with more details about resort specifics. I approached a bellman to get my carry-on and show me my room, but this was when my first resort snafu occurred–an assurance of a five minute wait turned into 15 and by then I just wanted to settle down in my room and unpack so I got my bag and asked staff to point me in the general direction of how to get there. Not a huge deal; the resort is compact enough you won’t get lost even with 705 guest rooms.

Riu has offered other swim-up rooms at other resort locations, but I thought their latest swim-up rendition at this resort was ideal–plenty of interior space, not located on ground level which made for stellar ocean views, it had the requisite in-room liquor cabinet, a large bathroom, and a balcony with a true swim-up feature of walking directly into a swim-up pool from the balcony. The balcony itself offered two full loungers along with a table and chairs plus a shade umbrella. The oceanfront swim-up pool traversed the entire resort section, and while you could swim from one end to the other guests mostly just stayed by their own balcony area. FYI: While it doesn’t look like it from one’s balcony, there is the possibility of other guests using the narrow walkway which exists between the swim-up pool edge and the plexiglass–entrances/exits can be found outside of the balcony areas from the general hallway. Not the greatest for privacy, but there are few swim-ups at any resort that guarantee privacy. Just a few notes on negatives concerning this room category (besides the one already mentioned concerning the possibility of being placed in the rooftop pool section instead of oceanfront): This room category only offers double beds, but you can easily request housekeeping to push them together and make up the bed as one large one–just tip them and everybody is happy. (My bed was already made up as one large bed so I didn’t make any special request). Also, while the bathroom had its own door for privacy, there was a rather large window with a “leaf” design by the shower which did allow for some vague shadows to be present while bathing–a minor potential peek-a-boo situation but it may be important for some guests sharing space such as two friends traveling together or family members all staying in the same room (room sofas can turn into sofa beds). Would I book the same room category? Definitely. It’s now in my roster of better swim-up rooms at Cancun resorts.

Now let’s talk about the beach. Playa Delfines is a large stretch of beach generally known to be between Km. 17-20 in Cancun’s Hotel Zone facing the Caribbean Sea. It’s known for its white sand, postcard perfect look and views, the famous Cancun sign, and ease of access for guests and locals alike. Eastern-facing resort beach areas in the Hotel Zone are generally known for strong surf, potential rip currents, and many red-flag days (dangerous swimming conditions)–beautiful but potentially deadly. This resort’s beach area was no exception. During my beach day, there were yellow flags present, but the next day when I was walking the beach there were red flags. The surf was rough enough to make ocean entry and exit a bit wobbly, but at least I didn’t get tumbled and there were no signs of any rip currents nearby. Lengthy beach walks in this area were possible in both directions.

Yellow flag beach day…some sargassum was present but not enough to keep people out of the water.

There were quite a few beach loungers available along with some shade umbrellas but very little natural shade. Beach wait staff were very rare–the only time you were likely to see beach wait staff was if they were bringing trays of prepared drinks, but this is not unusual for a non-Palace Riu property. Riu Palace resorts are where you will experience regular pool and beach wait staff, but not at this resort since it is not a Riu Palace property. Since drink ordering was not readily available at this beach area, bringing insulated tumblers/mugs from home may be a good idea so that drinks can be easily brought to the beach.

This is the oceanfront section of the resort. My swim-up suite was on the far right, it was the second from the end. When these palms mature they will provide much in the way of natural shade for the beach area.

Pool lovers will appreciate Riu Ventura for the water fun options it provides. There were a total of five pools to enjoy–three oceanfront pools including the activities pool, the “quiet” pool, and the pool with the only swim-up bar on the property, while the remaining pools included the adults-only 6th floor rooftop pool and the separate pool with dedicated water volleyball fun in the middle of the property. Pool time during my stay typically revolved around claiming my lounger by the activities pool (I loved their music playlists with a mixture of American and Spanish music) and time spent in the pool with the swim-up bar since it had up close and personal oceanfront views. I did spend a brief amount of time at the rooftop pool but it wasn’t my vibe–great resort and ocean views and its own bar but way too quiet, plus I didn’t enjoy the piped-in musical selections. The rooftop pool had its own elevator which was located in the lobby by the front entrance; you can also reach the pool from the 6th floor if your room is nearby.

The elevator that will take you up to the 6th floor rooftop pool; it is located in the lobby area.

Rooftop pool located on the 6th floor

Swim-up bar pool

Having lunch at my lounger by the activities pool

As for the “quiet” pool located on the north end of the property, be aware that it isn’t as quiet as one would think given its name due to the adjacent Ennea Beach Club. This beach club is affiliated with Hyatt Vivid Grand Island resort, a different adults-only property located off the Hotel Zone but they also sell day passes to non-resort guests. The DJ at Ennea Beach Club starts at 10 a.m. and continues until late afternoon, so the sound can be heard at the quiet pool area but it’s not blaring or obnoxious.

All pool areas included loungers with either shade umbrellas or shade canopies–overhead canopy material can be manually opened or closed depending on the amount of shade desired for guests using loungers in these sections.

Families with young children will enjoy the children’s water park located within the central open section of the resort which gives it easy access to all guests. This water park included a pirate ship with waterslides and separate splash pad area. Families should take note that this water park is more appropriate for children ages 3-8.

Back of the pirate ship at the children’s water park area

Front of the pirate ship at the children’s water park

Splash pad area of the children’s water park

Vacationers not familiar with actual Riu resort stays typically pan the food at Riu resorts. I have stayed at many Riu resorts in this part of Mexico and I find Riu food to vary from being quite good to quite bad in a few select locations (don’t eat at the sports bar at Riu Caribe unless you are starving). Actually, their overall food quality has improved across the board over the years since I’ve started booking vacations with the Riu brand. I look at it this way; since I’m knowingly booking a resort which has discounted pricing for being a three or four star property, why would I expect five star food, amenities, and service? I’m always pleasantly surprised at the quality of vacation I receive at a Riu resort for the money I’ve paid and look forward to visiting again. Now that I’ve finished my unpaid Riu advertisement, on with the food review at Riu Ventura. Let me preface the review by stating their dining policy: The only reservation you have to make for a la carte dining is at the steakhouse–I can only surmise this change in reservation policy from no reservations necessary to now requiring reservations for one restaurant is due to the fact that this a la carte serves lobster as well as steak, so it’s incredibly popular. Even with not having to make reservations at the other a la carte dinner restaurants, it was decidedly difficult to get into other a la cartes after 7 p.m. Naively I thought I could walk into the Italian restaurant around 8:30 p.m. (the crowds typically thin by that time for dinner at all-inclusive resorts) but was told that the wait list was so long that they weren’t taking any more names. And so on for the remaining a la cartes…the lesson here is if you go to this Riu resort and want to eat dinner at an a la carte restaurant other than the steakhouse you must be resigned to the fact that you must show up for dinner by 6:30 p.m. or you will be eating dinner at the buffet. And now for the actual food review.

Buffet: Smaller than I expected for having a 705 guest room capacity. This led to less overall variety and fewer “amuse-bouche” options than I’ve seen at other Riu resorts. However, there were still several live cooking stations available and a decent selection from which to choose in overall food categories (Mexican, Asian, Italian counters); guests were leaving there with ice cream cones in hand as well. FYI: I don’t know if it was only me, but the layout of the buffet was a bit “off” leaving it difficult to easily identify the entrance/exit. There were indoor and outdoor areas plus indoor seating extensions so I had to think about how to get out of there after I finished eating depending on where I wound up sitting. (No, it’s not a result of alcohol, I had the same experience at breakfast).
Asian a la carte (Kaori): The Asian a la carte restaurant at many Riu resorts is an all-buffet kind of dinner. That said, there were plenty of options from which to choose and all were excellent, including the sushi.
Sports Bar: There was a different set-up at this resort in comparison to other Riu properties in that you could order via the menu if you sat on the left hand side in the sports bar–at other Riu resorts it’s only help yourself. I’m not sure what time food orders begin to be taken since the times listed on the resort pamphlet given at check-in stated “24 hrs.”. Yes, the sports bar is open 24/7 but they don’t list the actual time you can access food via the menu. The refrigerated case in the back also held no food when I visited around 10 a.m., so I’m not sure what the times were for food access. This setup was definitely different than what I’m used to at a Riu resort.
Pepe’s: Pepe’s is a poolside luncheon or late afternoon food option. This one offered the usual–hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, and chicken options. Fixings and sauces were separate. There was also the possibility of nachos, but I typically don’t do nachos at a Riu resort because of the fake cheese sauce.
Tiki Tako: Tiki Tako is located at the northern end of Pepe’s; don’t miss their tacos, freshly made and delicious. I had some of the best tacos I’ve eaten in a long time–and that’s saying something since I live in the San Diego area where there is no shortage of Mexican food. I brought my tacos back to my lounger and didn’t receive any flack, so while you cannot order food from your poolside lounger you can eat at your lounger.

Dinner at the Asian restaurant

Be aware that since this is a non-Palace property there is no room service. Best to bring along some snacks from home just in case you are too busy enjoying your room to venture out to the sports bar or the outdoor eating area for lunch options.

Interested in the bars at this resort? If you are looking to partake in more “fancy drinks”, always go to the lobby bar for those. I enjoy a chocolate martini prior to dinner while on vacation and without fail the lobby bar at almost every resort I’ve ever stayed at has stirred up some great ones; of course there are exceptions, and that was the Monkey Bar at SLS Playa Mujeres, probably the best chocolate martini I’ve ever had was made there. But I digress. Most people get drunk at the swim-up bar, so nothing fancy there, the bartenders don’t have time to make fancy drinks first of all, just make sure that there is more than one bartender at this resort’s swim-up bar before deciding to sit at a bar seat and place your order. I waited 15 min. on one occasion and gave up–luckily at most Riu swim-up bars there is a regular bar on the other side (true for this resort as well) and that’s where I went to get my drink order filled on that occasion. I didn’t order any drinks while at the 6th floor pool’s bar, but I imagine this bar could get busy in the afternoons. When I have a swim-up room I always like to end my afternoons with a drink while enjoying the swim-up pool, and Riu’s in-room liquor cabinet at this resort makes that possible with rum, tequila, gin, and vodka options. Riu currently has a contract with Pepsi, so that’s what’s in your minibar. In case you want to find an ice machine to help you out with in-room drinking, there is only one located in the area by where the rooftop pool would be on floors 1,3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13.

In-room liquor options

Room mini-bar offerings

While there is an outdoor theater located past the Sports Bar which holds live performances every evening, I only made it to the Michael Jackson show. Be aware that immediately prior to shows there is usually some live music on a different stage directly behind where you would sit to watch the show. For guests to view this entertainment they had to turn their chairs completely around, not exactly convenient especially since not all seated guests turned their chairs around as well which led to awkward moments. I have stayed at different Riu’s where secondary live music stages were located in adjacent spaces but not directly opposite the main stage–I would consider this to be a big miss for the resort in terms of an enjoyable evening entertainment venue.

Theater bar

Michael Jackson show in the theater

By contrast, Riu Ventura adult guests are invited to multiple fun Riu theme parties held at Riu Caribe. The resort provided face painting in the lobby prior to the event along with complimentary transportation to/from Riu Caribe; admission to theme parties was also complimentary. Here’s the schedule: White Party–held every Wednesday evening from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Pink Party–held every Friday afternoon from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Neon Party–held every Saturday evening from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. I’ve been to all these parties when I stayed at Riu Caribe (resort review to come), and in my personal opinion the Pink Party is the one not to miss.

On a final note concerning my resort experiences, be aware that morning check-out may be located at an entirely different desk area than check-in; look for the sign “Check-Out” in the area to the right of check-in. Kind of confusing and different; I mentioned it so that you wouldn’t waste time standing in the wrong line like I did.

Here are a few other amenities Riu Ventura offers its guests; since I did not participate or take advantage of these offerings I cannot directly comment on them, but I do know the resort does provide them:

Pickleball fans be aware that Riu Ventura has two such courts which are supposed to be located off of the lobby area. (Even the provided resort map did not list the courts, however, but prior guests in their reviews have actually played on them so they must exist). Just ask lobby staff where you can find them; if you can bring your own equipment that would be a plus because they apparently don’t have much equipment for loaning to guests.
There is a small spa and gym onsite. While guests are supposed to have free access to the hydrotherapy area within the spa as long as you make a reservation, I have never taken advantage of that option but perhaps you can check it out for me and let me know if that is still available for guests.
There is a Dr. office onsite which is located past the money exchange desk off of the lobby area.

One thing I did notice about this resort is that it’s not directly located on Blvd. Kukulcán; however, it’s just a short distance from the main boulevard and is an easy walk from this resort. Kukulcan Plaza Mall was right across the street from Riu Ventura if you want to mix your resort stay with some more serious shopping. The more popular mall of La Isla would be a bus ride north; catch the bus on the main roadway of Blvd. Kukulcán which is just a short walk to the other side of Kukulcan Plaza Mall. Tell the bus driver you want to get off at La Isla Mall; bus fare is still 12 pesos p/person one way as far as I know; if you don’t have pesos just give the driver $1 USD, but don’t expect any change.

Would I return to Riu Ventura? If I wanted a cheaper swim-up room option I certainly would. That to me was the main attraction to this new Riu resort (besides the beautiful ocean views, of course!). The busy a la carte dinner arrangement would have me thinking seriously about a return stay, however.