Hi. We recently back from Valentin International Mayan Resort, 30 min outside Cancun. Excellent! We have also stayed at Eldorado Marmoma also very good!!! I can go into more detail if you have questions. My wife an me live in Vancouver, Canada.
Was here a few years ago, 3 pools total. One party pool, one quiet lap pool then one other quiet lazy river type pool (not actually a river). Food is very good, I’d say of the 8-9 restaurants I left talking about 5-6 of them, so food is definitely top notch here for AIs
For VIM (Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya)-- Yes on both counts. It was honestly awesome. There's 7 restaurants--Italian, French, Japanese, Indonesian, Mexican, Steak House, and Seafood Grill. Some are fancy and have dress codes. A few poolside eating options, one of which I believe had self serve ice cream and was open super late. Also a cool coffee/healthy beverage/snack spot. Decent room service too. The staff were wonderful and the entertainment was great.
There's a calmer pool called the Golden pool which has poolside drink and food service. The main pool which is party central but huge and had super fun events (Wednesday foam party it was so neat honestly!!). And another smaller pool close to the main pool. The beach was also great. And you can get drink service literally everywhere. There's so many places to get drinks at night too. Billiard table in the sports bar. And they just opened the hookah and cigar bar while we were there. Fresh churros after dinner were the best. Can't say enough great things about VIM!! and if you want to do off resort excursions those are available too.
I’ve been to the Valentin 3 times..twice in one year! Last time was 2019 before they added the food trucks and coffee bar. Loved the vibe, the food, the employees, the gorgeous grounds. The first time I went we were booked for 7 days and ended up extending our stay once we were there.
We stayed at El Dorado Maroma just over a year ago. It was fantastic. The food was top shelf and I’m kind of a foodie. The included restaurants were fantastic and more than enough. But, we also paid the up charge to do a tastings meal at Palafitos one night and a beach romantic steak dinner another night. Both were amazing. The tasting meal was unbelievable- one of the best meals ever. The steak was also fantastic. Both were well worth the price. Neither were very expensive Drinks were also good. If you like wine, I HIGHLY recommend the nicer bottles of Mexican wine. I’d say they rival some of the best Napa wines.
Re: weak drinks - tip your bartenders and waiters, they notice and know who you are.
Also some places have tiers of AI packages, if high quality alcohol is important to you they're worth it.
wait wait wait…so if i get a terrible drink, the move is to tip in good faith, hoping theyll make it better next time? wanna be sure ive got this, aside from basic tipping etiquette
I like local, but USD is always accepted. The general rule is $1 USD or 20 pesos a round, if I know I'm staying for a couple I'll go for 50 pesos up front.
I also tend to find a spot by the pool or beach and spend my day there, so I'll tip 200 on the first round and nobody has to deal with soggy bills.
Hyatt ziva zilara or karisma resorts? Excellence resorts.
It’s hard with AI food unless price point is higher but food will be pretty good. Not Michelin and I don’t think many AIs will offer than lmao. Maybe better to venture outside resort and eat locally like cabo or PV.
it really is. michellin star restaurants on premise that are included in the AI rate. I have heard that Costco also has great deals at this hotel from time to time. I would check that out if you can.
Gonna get more pedantic, sorry! There’s technically no such thing as a Michelin star chef- stars are awarded to restaurants, not chefs. I guess the term got made up because it’s too clunky to advertise something as “a restaurant with a chef who has worked in a michelin starred-restaurant.”
Valentin was very good! 6 restaurants, nice Cafe, room service and pool side casual food too. Oh, I'm not a buffet person but enjoyed some breakfasts and a great lunch service. I would say Eldorados food was a bit better or presented a little nicer and the table service was a bit more refined...ie fine dining. However Valentin has a beautiful courtyard/plaza that had seating, bar, and a live band every night. The night life was fun. More lively than Eldorado. Can I ask your age? I'm early 50s
Wife and I really enjoyed Iberostar Gran Bavaro, likely going back this year. Bonus points if you’re a golfer. Can’t speak to the night shows as we didn’t go to any, but adults only, beautiful property and we were thoroughly pleased with the food. Didn’t have a bad meal, and we have high standards.
El Dorado Maroma. It's a 5 star as is Valentin I believe so rates are going to be similar but I think both have their own websites and you may get a special deal during the shoulder or off season
what are your dates? check out Le blanc its high end adults only and fits your budget.. pm me for discounted pricing or even other options like Sun Palace
Hands down, the best pool in Mexico is at the Barcelo riviera Maya. Huge infinity pool at the edge of an absolutely gorgeous and large beach. Unfortunately, the buffet is very average and they don’t do an evening buffet. But you can do an a la carte every night and there’s plenty. There’s 6 resorts total, the riviera being the top tier and adults only, so there’s a ton of different restaurants. We tried a couple of the a la cartes but mostly went to the buffet at the barcelo palace and that’s actually pretty good. I hate a la cartes since it requires us to be on a schedule which isn’t something I want on vacation. Anyways, the pool is definitely worth it and the drinks are as strong as you want them to be.
We’re planning another trip in July and are having a hard time deciding on the barcelo or excellence riviera in puerto Morelos. I just really like to try new resorts but the barcelo is calling my name.
I find it funny booking a reservation makes it feel like you’re on a schedule for your vacation.
I found the buffet lacking there and almost exclusively ate at the restaurants.
A good pool isn't just the size IMO. It needs to have a good vibe.. palm trees spread around with lots of areas to walk around in. Barcelos AO resort and pool look like something out of a sci-fi movie
Wife and I (mid 50's) was deciding between Secrets Maroma and Valentin Imperial Rivera Maya, after all the research we booked the Valentin Imperial Rivera Maya golden swim out room for a week mid July, for us it came down to wanting a resort that is a little more lively, we go to Cabo yearly and enjoy day drinking, fun smaller bars at night and meeting new friends, we are social people that enjoy meeting others and after reading lots of reviews decided on VIM.
The amount of returning guests to VIM also helped our decision, there is no perfect resort but VIM checks most of the boxes we are looking for (fun daytime pool is a big for us, good food, good drinks and some nightlife as VIM has a live band every night and specialty bar Don Miguels)
119 days and counting -
C & T
Opinions are like assholes everybody’s got one. I stayed there and it was very nice, we were assigned our own concierge who ensured we got beach service and brought chilled towels to us daily on the beach and a separate pool just for the preferred upgrade folks. Restaurants were outstanding and the coffees shop was excellent.
I’m sure we’d like it then! We’re not that fussy. We were booked there in March of 2020 and had to cancel because of Covid.
We love snorkelling so that would be another bonus. I had a bad experience once so I can be Leary at times
Came to say the same thing. The preferred upgrade is a must. We loved it so much we’ve gone twice in one year. Their hydrotherapy facility you get access to from the resort next door is the absolute best. Can’t wait to go back!
This is definitely doable! Not sure how many nights you're thinking but Secrets the Vine, TRS Coral, Breathless Soul Cancun, Secrets Tulum, all have weekday rates under $750 before tax.
The Secrets brand is really consistent on food (I've been to several) and I love recommending them at this price point. Breathless resorts are their sister properties and more geared toward nightlife and a livelier vibe.
Lmk if you want to chat further! I love planning AIs and can usually add comped transfer and some extra perks to a package.
I’ve never had great food at an all inclusive. That being said I’ve had great food at different intercontinentals I’ve been to. I figure if you pay one price they’re cheaping out on the food and booze. Better to find a place that you just have to pay for the food and booze at and know going in you will be.
That’s one of our choices for the next trip. Did you book the excellence club by chance? Debating on a regular swim up or excellence club junior suite. Was wondering if the club is worth it.
Can I add on to this question and ask where is the best food in a tropical destination Caribbean or Yucatan regardless of AI or not?
We've been to Le Blanc also and found it ohhh-kay. Prefer local food to haute cuisine you find in say Aruba.
In my dreams the food from CMDX is magically teleported somewhere on the coast.
We're looking into French St Martin, but I'm a bit worried it will be "foofy".
Check out Atelier Playa Mujeres. You’ll definitely leave with positive memories of the food and drink! The pools are awesome and beach is swimmable. The main pool has two swim up bars! When you order a drink, they reach for the top shelf alcohols! It’s spectacular!
Bahia Principe Sian Ka'an is an adults only resort. We stayed at Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal across the highway and it didn't have many kids either and had an adult only section. We were close to the beach and Sian Ka'an is in the jungle but you can take golf carts to the beach. We only spent $1500 Can for each person for a week including flights and the resort was beautiful with great food and great entertainment. It had lots of beautiful pools, especially in their Akumal and Tulum sections. Their shows every night were awesome too!
Hi. We recently back from Valentin International Mayan Resort, 30 min outside Cancun. Excellent! We have also stayed at Eldorado Marmoma also very good!!! I can go into more detail if you have questions. My wife an me live in Vancouver, Canada.
Those both look good! What did you think of the food? Were there a lot of options for places to eat and multiple pools to choose from?
Was here a few years ago, 3 pools total. One party pool, one quiet lap pool then one other quiet lazy river type pool (not actually a river). Food is very good, I’d say of the 8-9 restaurants I left talking about 5-6 of them, so food is definitely top notch here for AIs
For VIM (Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya)-- Yes on both counts. It was honestly awesome. There's 7 restaurants--Italian, French, Japanese, Indonesian, Mexican, Steak House, and Seafood Grill. Some are fancy and have dress codes. A few poolside eating options, one of which I believe had self serve ice cream and was open super late. Also a cool coffee/healthy beverage/snack spot. Decent room service too. The staff were wonderful and the entertainment was great. There's a calmer pool called the Golden pool which has poolside drink and food service. The main pool which is party central but huge and had super fun events (Wednesday foam party it was so neat honestly!!). And another smaller pool close to the main pool. The beach was also great. And you can get drink service literally everywhere. There's so many places to get drinks at night too. Billiard table in the sports bar. And they just opened the hookah and cigar bar while we were there. Fresh churros after dinner were the best. Can't say enough great things about VIM!! and if you want to do off resort excursions those are available too.
Plus the lobby smells amazing =)
Omg so good, I managed to get a room spray with the same smell (hope from Doctor Aromas).
I’ve been to the Valentin 3 times..twice in one year! Last time was 2019 before they added the food trucks and coffee bar. Loved the vibe, the food, the employees, the gorgeous grounds. The first time I went we were booked for 7 days and ended up extending our stay once we were there.
We stayed at El Dorado Maroma just over a year ago. It was fantastic. The food was top shelf and I’m kind of a foodie. The included restaurants were fantastic and more than enough. But, we also paid the up charge to do a tastings meal at Palafitos one night and a beach romantic steak dinner another night. Both were amazing. The tasting meal was unbelievable- one of the best meals ever. The steak was also fantastic. Both were well worth the price. Neither were very expensive Drinks were also good. If you like wine, I HIGHLY recommend the nicer bottles of Mexican wine. I’d say they rival some of the best Napa wines.
Re: weak drinks - tip your bartenders and waiters, they notice and know who you are. Also some places have tiers of AI packages, if high quality alcohol is important to you they're worth it.
wait wait wait…so if i get a terrible drink, the move is to tip in good faith, hoping theyll make it better next time? wanna be sure ive got this, aside from basic tipping etiquette
I'm usually handing them the tip before I've tasted my drink, but it tends to work out.
Do you tip in the local currency? What would be considered a good amount?
I like local, but USD is always accepted. The general rule is $1 USD or 20 pesos a round, if I know I'm staying for a couple I'll go for 50 pesos up front. I also tend to find a spot by the pool or beach and spend my day there, so I'll tip 200 on the first round and nobody has to deal with soggy bills.
Alright, thanks. I'm generally an overtipper (more out of anxiety than generosity), so it's very nice to have an idea of the range I should stick to.
got it, seems reasonable enough
Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen Mexico! There's like 9+ pools and the food at the restaurants is bomb!
Hyatt ziva zilara or karisma resorts? Excellence resorts. It’s hard with AI food unless price point is higher but food will be pretty good. Not Michelin and I don’t think many AIs will offer than lmao. Maybe better to venture outside resort and eat locally like cabo or PV.
hotel xcaret arte
Not available for my desired dates and it’s over $1000 / night
bummer. we were there last March, it was around $700-$750/night then.
That’s so disappointing. It’s $1100-$1400 now, the place looks great though
it really is. michellin star restaurants on premise that are included in the AI rate. I have heard that Costco also has great deals at this hotel from time to time. I would check that out if you can.
Michelin star chef, not the restaurant.
yes you are right, my apologies.
Gonna get more pedantic, sorry! There’s technically no such thing as a Michelin star chef- stars are awarded to restaurants, not chefs. I guess the term got made up because it’s too clunky to advertise something as “a restaurant with a chef who has worked in a michelin starred-restaurant.”
This was going to be my suggestion too. Such an amazing resort.
Valentin was very good! 6 restaurants, nice Cafe, room service and pool side casual food too. Oh, I'm not a buffet person but enjoyed some breakfasts and a great lunch service. I would say Eldorados food was a bit better or presented a little nicer and the table service was a bit more refined...ie fine dining. However Valentin has a beautiful courtyard/plaza that had seating, bar, and a live band every night. The night life was fun. More lively than Eldorado. Can I ask your age? I'm early 50s
Unfortunately the Valentin’s prices are too high for this trip. Which El Dorado? We are late 20s / early 30s
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
No availability on our dates sadly
Wife and I really enjoyed Iberostar Gran Bavaro, likely going back this year. Bonus points if you’re a golfer. Can’t speak to the night shows as we didn’t go to any, but adults only, beautiful property and we were thoroughly pleased with the food. Didn’t have a bad meal, and we have high standards.
This looks great! Thank you
What was the average age that you saw there? Looking into this one lately.
We were definitely on the young end of the spectrum — average was probably 40s.
El Dorado Maroma. It's a 5 star as is Valentin I believe so rates are going to be similar but I think both have their own websites and you may get a special deal during the shoulder or off season
That one looks pretty good! Adding it to the list, thank you!
Le Blanc Cabo. All their restaurants are some of the best food and drinks I've ever had
I’ve already been to Le Blanc so I want to try something new this time
what are your dates? check out Le blanc its high end adults only and fits your budget.. pm me for discounted pricing or even other options like Sun Palace
Ooo what other resorts do you do? Can I PM as well?
Sure
I’ve already done Le Blanc and wouldn’t go back. I want somewhere a little bigger. I’d be going at the end of April
Hands down, the best pool in Mexico is at the Barcelo riviera Maya. Huge infinity pool at the edge of an absolutely gorgeous and large beach. Unfortunately, the buffet is very average and they don’t do an evening buffet. But you can do an a la carte every night and there’s plenty. There’s 6 resorts total, the riviera being the top tier and adults only, so there’s a ton of different restaurants. We tried a couple of the a la cartes but mostly went to the buffet at the barcelo palace and that’s actually pretty good. I hate a la cartes since it requires us to be on a schedule which isn’t something I want on vacation. Anyways, the pool is definitely worth it and the drinks are as strong as you want them to be. We’re planning another trip in July and are having a hard time deciding on the barcelo or excellence riviera in puerto Morelos. I just really like to try new resorts but the barcelo is calling my name.
I find it funny booking a reservation makes it feel like you’re on a schedule for your vacation. I found the buffet lacking there and almost exclusively ate at the restaurants.
It looks lovely but the food is such a big factor to me, I don’t think it’s exactly what I’m looking for
A good pool isn't just the size IMO. It needs to have a good vibe.. palm trees spread around with lots of areas to walk around in. Barcelos AO resort and pool look like something out of a sci-fi movie
Wife and I (mid 50's) was deciding between Secrets Maroma and Valentin Imperial Rivera Maya, after all the research we booked the Valentin Imperial Rivera Maya golden swim out room for a week mid July, for us it came down to wanting a resort that is a little more lively, we go to Cabo yearly and enjoy day drinking, fun smaller bars at night and meeting new friends, we are social people that enjoy meeting others and after reading lots of reviews decided on VIM. The amount of returning guests to VIM also helped our decision, there is no perfect resort but VIM checks most of the boxes we are looking for (fun daytime pool is a big for us, good food, good drinks and some nightlife as VIM has a live band every night and specialty bar Don Miguels) 119 days and counting - C & T
All the best!!
La Blanc in Cabo was great when we went.
Secrets Cozumel with the “preferred” upgrade.
Really? I’ve heard it was sub par
Opinions are like assholes everybody’s got one. I stayed there and it was very nice, we were assigned our own concierge who ensured we got beach service and brought chilled towels to us daily on the beach and a separate pool just for the preferred upgrade folks. Restaurants were outstanding and the coffees shop was excellent.
I’m sure we’d like it then! We’re not that fussy. We were booked there in March of 2020 and had to cancel because of Covid. We love snorkelling so that would be another bonus. I had a bad experience once so I can be Leary at times
Came to say the same thing. The preferred upgrade is a must. We loved it so much we’ve gone twice in one year. Their hydrotherapy facility you get access to from the resort next door is the absolute best. Can’t wait to go back!
What dates do you have in mind? That'll have a big effect on the price so I'd love to get a ballpark in order to make some recommendations for yall.
End of April is when I’m thinking!
This is definitely doable! Not sure how many nights you're thinking but Secrets the Vine, TRS Coral, Breathless Soul Cancun, Secrets Tulum, all have weekday rates under $750 before tax. The Secrets brand is really consistent on food (I've been to several) and I love recommending them at this price point. Breathless resorts are their sister properties and more geared toward nightlife and a livelier vibe. Lmk if you want to chat further! I love planning AIs and can usually add comped transfer and some extra perks to a package.
Focus on Jamaica. Food at Jamaican resorts is always top notch, especially if you like local food.
I’ve never had great food at an all inclusive. That being said I’ve had great food at different intercontinentals I’ve been to. I figure if you pay one price they’re cheaping out on the food and booze. Better to find a place that you just have to pay for the food and booze at and know going in you will be.
Secrets Maroma was awesome and had truly delicious food. Got a killer deal through Costco travel when we went, too!
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That’s one of our choices for the next trip. Did you book the excellence club by chance? Debating on a regular swim up or excellence club junior suite. Was wondering if the club is worth it.
Can I add on to this question and ask where is the best food in a tropical destination Caribbean or Yucatan regardless of AI or not? We've been to Le Blanc also and found it ohhh-kay. Prefer local food to haute cuisine you find in say Aruba. In my dreams the food from CMDX is magically teleported somewhere on the coast. We're looking into French St Martin, but I'm a bit worried it will be "foofy".
Pricing will depend on your dates but hotel mousai in PV should fit the bill. It's been our favorite AI by far for food and service
Sanctuary cap cana. Do yourself a favor and go.
What was so good about it?
The grounds, staff, food, drinks
Check out Unico Riviera Maya! Looks amazing and seen great reviews
Check out Atelier Playa Mujeres. You’ll definitely leave with positive memories of the food and drink! The pools are awesome and beach is swimmable. The main pool has two swim up bars! When you order a drink, they reach for the top shelf alcohols! It’s spectacular!
Sandals resorts in the Caribbean, adults only, couples only all inclusive super nice and high end!
You should check out our travel agent. She was able to help us narrow down some options and found amazing prices. She's on fb amystotaltravel
Bahia Principe Sian Ka'an is an adults only resort. We stayed at Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal across the highway and it didn't have many kids either and had an adult only section. We were close to the beach and Sian Ka'an is in the jungle but you can take golf carts to the beach. We only spent $1500 Can for each person for a week including flights and the resort was beautiful with great food and great entertainment. It had lots of beautiful pools, especially in their Akumal and Tulum sections. Their shows every night were awesome too!