I’ve stayed at some great resorts in my day, but Grand Velas Riviera Maya remains one of the most beautiful all-inclusives I’ve ever seen. From the world-renowned spa (voted by Forbes as one of the 30 most luxurious spas in the world), to its acclaimed dining at Cocina de Autor, this resort epitomizes what a luxury vacation should be.
If you’ve ever been to the family-friendly Generations Riviera Maya or seen pics of that resort, the adults-only El Dorado Seaside Suites infinity section will look awfully familiar. Each floor in the infinity section has its own pool which traverses part of the floor (you can swim along its length and make friends as you go), while the bottom or ground floor of the infinity section gives you access to the entire main pool and swim-up bar. The room you book depends on what you prefer–the Oceanfront POOL Swim-Up Suites access the main pool, the Oceanfront Swim-Up Suites (non-main pool access) are on lower and mid-floors and some will give you stellar ocean views, while upper floor rooms in the infinity section are reserved mostly for rooms in the Oceanfront Honeymoon Suites category. Even if you’re not a Honeymooner, you can still book the room category but you will pay more for the extra amenities and fantastic views. If you’re not a Honeymooner, I would book that category for an anniversary or if you want to impress someone very special.
For those adults looking for a more high energy all-inclusive resort in the Riviera Maya, check out Breathless Riviera Cancun. It’s located about 15 min. south of the Cancun airport and consists of three resort sections–the Xcelerate “Party Zone”, Allure, and the more quiet Xhale section with upgraded amenities including its own pool and restaurant, Kibbeh. Breathless resorts are part of the AMResorts family (Secrets, Dreams, Now, and Sunscape resorts) which means a more upscale resort experience.
Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres is a brand new resort which just opened north of Cancun. It recently changed its name from Majestic Elegance Playa Mujeres to Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres. I recently posted a video of a swim-up room; here’s a video of the public spaces in order to give everyone a look at its general architecture and design.
I found this short but sweet video of public areas and water sports available at this Club Med. It also gives more of an idea how the resort is situated amidst water. Enjoy!
Once upon a time (actually, it was around 1996) there was a family who took an adventurous trip to Mexico (it was Ixtapa–semi-adventurous). While the dad chose the resort with price in mind, the rest of the family were whooping it up at all the activities available including trapeze and sailing lessons. And the resort was beachfront, a big plus for everyone. That family was mine and the resort in question was Club Med Ixtapa. That was my first introduction to Club Med (I believe Club Med was the very first all-inclusive brand) and what a pleasant surprise it was.
If you are familiar with the Majestic brand or have stayed at their all-inclusive resorts in the DR (Dominican Republic), you know that this name is synonymous with attentiveness to customer needs (an average of 1.5 staff members p/room), 5-star resort amenities, exclusive areas for adults with an upgrade, and the pinnacle of guest vacation requests–not having to make dinner reservations at a la carte restaurants.
View of the resort from the beach
The Palace Resorts brand has been around for quite some time and has always been synonymous with attentive guest service and good food. Families looking for a great resort close to the action of Cancun should check out Beach Palace, part of the Palace Resorts chain of properties–check the website for “Kids Stay Free” promotions . Palace Resorts still offers “resort credits” towards specific items such as tours, spa treatments, golf, and private dinners on the beach. Guests receive $1500 worth of such credits by staying 5-8 nights; longer stays results in additional credits being awarded. (Be aware that guests who use their credits will be charged a 16% service fee towards the item–for example, if a private dinner is typically $100 and a guest chooses to use their credits to “pay” for this amenity, the guest would be charged 16% of the total amount of the service).
Do you have a large family, or like to travel together with other families, neighbors, or friends? Then let Karisma’s Generations Riviera Maya resort make your vacation a special one with its “all suite, all oceanfront, all gourmet” all-inclusive concept.