From a brand-new resort in the Riviera Maya to an adults-only property in Cancun, we break down three resorts in Mexico that offer their own take on the all-inclusive experience.
At the Hotel Xcaret Mexico, located 15 minutes away from Playa del Carmen in the heart of the Riviera Maya, guests can enjoy an all-inclusive experience elevated by exclusive nature-driven adventures and tours, signature health and wellness experiences, and luxury accommodations with curated amenities.
The hotel’s signature “ALL-FUN INCLUSIVE” concept includes food and beverage, shuttle to and from the airport, full access to Xcaret’s five nearby nature parks — Xel-Há, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, Xoximilco and Xenses — transportation between the parks, and access to Xcaret’s Xenotes adventure tour and Xichen archaeological tour. Also included is access to the fitness centers; kayak, paddle board and snorkel rentals; yoga and meditation classes; and Wi-Fi.
The hotel, which opened in December 2017, has 900 suites across several buildings called “Casas,” each one representing a natural element that is important to Mayan culture. The most luxurious accommodation can be found in the adults-only Casa Fuego building, and that is the Master Suite Ocean Front.
This 2,476-square-foot suite has ocean views, luxury in-room amenities, direct access to the Casa’s pool, and several exclusive perks, including complimentary butler service, massages and body wrap treatments, access to a rooftop with a private pool and complimentary 60-minute babysitting service.
For those traveling with family or large groups, we recommend the Master Suite Family Premier, located in Casa Tierra, designed to meet the needs of larger parties. The suite, which can fit up to five guests, has oceanfront views and personalized services, taking care of all age groups and their necessities, including a kid’s backpack, babysitting services, a dining table and living room for eight, and access to the Xiquillos Kids Club and Xiipal Teens Club.
Guests can also opt for connecting rooms, offering more space for groups while allowing them to stick together. Rocío Lopez (rlopezg@hotelxcaret.com), sales manager for the U.S. and Canada, can assist with unique requests or answer questions about accommodations and experiences.
As for dining, Hotel Xcaret Mexico has 10 culinary spots dishing out a combination of Mexican and internationally influenced cuisine. At the hotel’s signature restaurant, Ha’, run by Michelin-starred chef Carlos Gaytán, guests can savor contemporary Mexican cuisine paired with Mexican wine in a formal setting as they marvel at the space’s unique design that showcases a water vortex, arcing spouts that line the entryway to the dining room and other flowing water fixtures.
Tip: Ha’ is the most popular restaurant at the hotel, so reservations need to be made months in advance. To book reservations, contact the chief concierge Francisco Ugalde (fugalde@hotelxcaret.com).
For a more laid-back culinary experience, guests can head outside to Las Playas, an outdoor eatery on the sand that serves up a fusion of dishes inspired by flavors from the Mediterranean, Caribbean and India.
Note: Hotel Xcaret Mexico’s 10 restaurants range from casual to upscale, so the dress code varies. Some restaurants, such as Ha’ and Teatro del Rio, require formal attire; this generally means long pants and a button-down shirt for men, and a summer cocktail dress for women. Other restaurants, such as Xin Gao and Las Cuevas, are more casual, meaning they will allow men in shorts and a polo shirt (but no flip flops). The swim up bars, La Trajinera and Las Playas, allow guests in their bathing suits or bathing suits and a cover up.
After dinner, guests can check out one of Hotel Xcaret Mexico’s eight bars found throughout the property. Each bar has an ever-changing cocktail menu that is revised as the seasons change. The hotel makes an effort to use local ingredients; as soon as one ingredient is no longer in season, the menu is revised.
For guests looking to explore the surrounding area, customized excursions with Chief Concierge Ugalde can be organized. The concierge desk can arrange golf trips to the nearby Mayakoba golf course; private yacht, catamaran and sailboat rides; and private fishing expeditions. The concierge can even handle reservations for any restaurant in the area.
Guests can also take the short trip to one of Xcaret’s five eco-friendly theme parks where they can enjoy nature tours, water rides, biking and walking trails, live shows and high-octane rides, such as zip lining, underground river raft rides and high-speed water slides, among many others. Each park has its own theme and unique activities to experience. We’re told visitors enjoy the unlimited access to Xcaret’s five parks, letting them experience something new each day.
Hotel Xcaret Mexico's Muluk Spa has 15 cabins nestled in natural rock.
For a truly luxurious experience, guests can indulge in a range of spa treatments at Hotel Xcaret Mexico’s Muluk Spa. It’s equipped with 15 cabins and has curated wellness treatments that combine ancient traditions with modern methods to create a holistic relaxation experience unique to the hotel. Named after the ancient Mayan calendar sign associated with water, Muluk Spa’s facilities include massage cabins nestled in stone caves of natural rock, sauna and steam rooms, a Jacuzzi, and hot- and cold-water tubs. The most requested treatment is the Mayan Journey, which is inspired by ancient traditions and uses regional products such as honey, cocoa, cinnamon and clay to moisturize, nourish and replenish the body. The spa menu also includes deep tissue, hot stone and sports massages; manicures and pedicures; and a variety of Ayurvedic treatments, such as the Vishesh Massage that, through vigorous rhythmic motions, is supposed to improve muscle recovery and blood flow.
To book spa services, contact Silvia Luevano (sluevano@hotelxcaret.com), guest services manager; or contact the spa directly through Jesus Segundo (jsegundo@hotelxcaret.com), the spa manager.
After the spa, guests can continue to pamper themselves and explore the easily accessible shopping options in the area. One of the most popular ones is La Isla Shopping Mall, located in Cancun about an hour away from the hotel.
However, at Hotel Xcaret Mexico, guests don’t even need to leave the hotel to go on a shopping spree, as it can arrange for stores such as Louis Vuitton, Prada, Ferragamo and Tiffany’s to bring a selection of items to the hotel for the guests to pick.
Note: The Cancun International Airport is recommended both for arrival and departure. It is 40 miles away from the hotel, which is equivalent to a 45-minute car ride. Airport transfers are complimentary to all hotel guests.
Paradisus Los Cabos
On the beaches of San José del Cabo overlooking the Sea of Cortés, travelers can find the recently renovated Paradisus Los Cabos resort. The 18-acre resort, which was just accepted into The Leading Hotels of the World, offers an all-inclusive experience that combines its luxury accommodations with gourmet food and beverage. Additionally, at its Family Concierge or Royal Service room categories, guests receive extra included amenities, such as private concierges; family-friendly features like welcome / kids kits filled with basic necessities, complimentary bedtime milk and cookie turndown services; and in-suite offerings, including robes and slippers.
We hear that the most popular accommodation at the resort is the Royal Service Ocean View Suite, which has 435 square feet of space, a private terrace, ocean views and a private butler.
Paradisus Los Cabos' Royal Service Swim Up Suites are spread over 435 square feet of space.
Good to know: For the most luxurious stay at Paradisus Los Cabos, pick the Royal Service Swim Up Suites. These suites provide access to private facilities such as the quiet Royal Service swimming pool, the exclusive La Palapa restaurant and the Royal Service Lounge. They also have a luxurious bathroom decorated in marble with a rain shower; plush towels, bathrobes and slippers; and a collection of bathroom amenities by Thierry Mugler.
Tip: If families stay in the Family Concierge Suites, they can take advantage of a number of exclusive kid-friendly amenities. At the exclusive Mini Club, available for children ages four to 12, guests can enjoy activities like face painting, treasure hunts, “Mini Olympics” and Piñatas. Additional Family Concierge services include access to a children’s library; kid-size bathroom kits with soaps, a toothbrush, shower gel, mosquito repellant and towels; and a PS2, Xbox 360 or Wii available in-room upon request (24-hour limit).
For wellness-seekers, Paradisus’ YHI Spa has a bevy of treatments, including body wraps, facials, skin treatments and specialty massages like the prenatal massage, sports massage and hot stone massage. The spa has many facilities, including a beauty salon, wet areas, dressing rooms, sauna, leisure pool and fitness center.
Tip: We hear that the 80-minute YHI Signature Massage is the standout treatment at Paradisus Los Cabos.
Want more than one treatment? Take advantage of the spa’s specialty packages, including the “Baja Sur,” which provides exfoliation and body wrap treatments, a massage and an express pedicure.
Note: The resort recommends that treatments be booked at least 24 hours in advance. Contact Angelica Guzman (spa.paradisus.loscabos@melia.com), the spa receptionist, to book treatments.
If guests instead want an active experience, chief concierge Rafael Dominguez (rafael.dominguez@melia.com; 011-52-624-144-2202) can book a wide range of excursions around Los Cabos. Guests can take a private helicopter tour around Cabo San Lucas and San José del Cabo; enjoy a private luxury wine experience in Valle de Guadalupe, Mexico’s wine country; take a private tour of Espiritu Santo Island and more.
Paradisus Los Cabos is home to seven restaurants and seven bars, including the Gastro Bar, run by Martín Berasategui, a renowned Basque chef who has been awarded eight Michelin stars in his career.
Paradisus Los Cabos’ La Palapa Restaurant (here) overlooks the Sea of Cortés and serves international gourmet cuisine.
For a VIP experience, dine at La Palapa, which is exclusive to Royal Service guests who can enjoy international gourmet cuisine while taking in views of the Sea of Cortés. Guests craving authentic Mexican food can head to Mole, which serves a blend of traditional and contemporary flavors. At Mole, guests start off their culinary experience with special made-to-order quesadillas.
Tip: If guests want to try something other than traditional Mexican cuisine, they should head over to Bana. This contemporary Asian restaurant specializes in Japanese fusion cuisine with items like sushi served in Western and Eastern style, as well as Teppanyaki.
Haven Riviera Cancun
Beginning this fall, travelers to Cancun can experience another luxury resort with the opening of the adults-only Haven Riviera Cancun. The resort, located 15 minutes south of Cancun International Airport in Puerto Morelos, will open on October 8 and present an all-inclusive experience catered to adults and romance travelers.
We’re told that the standout accommodation will be the oceanfront Serenity Club Presidential Suite, with more than 2,400 square feet of space. Guests in the Presidential Suite will enjoy over-the-top luxury, including the service of a personal chef, a fully stocked in-suite wine cellar, as well as a butler to pop open each selection or prepare pre-dinner cocktails at the fully equipped oceanfront terrace bar. The suite also has an in-suite gym and space for private in-room lessons, such as yoga. For those more into fun than health, the suite also provides a billiard table overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
All of Haven’s Serenity Club suites, including the Presidential Suite, will come with perks like private check-in, beachfront accommodations, butler service and access to the exclusive Serenity Club Lounge, serving premium wines, spirits and various finger food presentations throughout the day.
Note: The resort recommends booking stays at least 90 days in advance. Luis Dieppa (luis.dieppa@hipotels.com), the director of leisure sales, is available to answer questions on bookings.
Wellness travelers will surely check out MySenses Spa, a 15,700-square-foot sanctuary that will come with a variety of treatments and services incorporating Mayan healing philosophies. Nine treatment rooms will be available, each with their own treatments and facilities.
For example, the Luxury Spa Party Suite will include an exfoliation, wrap and reflexology massage station; facial and scalp massage station; make up and hair care station; manicure and pedicure station; a sit-down area with healthy food and beverage options; and an indoor terrace area for rest and relaxation with massage tables and shiatsu chairs.
Haven Riviera Cancun, an oceanfront, adults-only, all-inclusive resort located in Puerto Morelos, is set to open in October. Shown here is one of it's three pools.
Spa guests will be able to explore a boutique filled with premium luxury beauty products for face, body and hair care. Haven Riviera Cancun will also have a beauty salon that includes two pedicure stations, two manicure stations, two hair care stations, one hair wash station and one barber station.
To complete the wellness experience, there will be a fitness center stocked with cardio equipment, a free weight area and kinesis Pilates.
Haven Riviera’s location in Puerto Morelos will allow guests the luxury of exploring a variety of off-property activities in the area. We’re told that popular activities will include diving or snorkeling in Isla Mujeres and Cozumel Island, exploring downtown Cancun’s nightlife scene, taking a trip to the famous Mayan ruin of Chichen Itza, and traveling to one of Xcaret’s five theme parks located 75 minutes from the resort.
Tip: Haven’s concierge will be able to organize transportation for guests to all of these destinations through. Guests can also stay close to the resort and enjoy its three pools, Jacuzzi, multi-use tennis courts and nearby golf courses.
Haven Riviera Cancun will open with a number of distinct restaurants and bars, including two swim-up bars. Guests can choose from Flavours, that will serve international cuisine in a casual setting; Satsu, an Asian Fusion restaurant offering sushi and sashimi prepared fresh, Robata Grill, offering charcoal-grilled small plates and traditional Teppanyaki stations; Agua Bendita, a Mexican steakhouse; Olios, a Mediterranean fine-dining experience serving authentic Southern European cuisine; and Vora Mar, where Mediterranean meets Baja California for a unique dining experience.
Good to know: We’re told that the best seat in the resort will be the oceanfront terrace of Vora Mar where you’ll be able to see sunrises as well as the Cancun skyline to the north.
Haven Riviera Cancun will have various bars and lounges strictly reserved for guests or those who purchase a day pass. According to the resort, Moon’s Cabaret will be the hub of nightly entertainment, comprising a Las Vegas-style club, featuring stage shows, comedians, live bands, DJs, performance art and magicians. We’re told that this will be the best place for post-dinner cocktails, mingling with other guests and dancing the night away.
For a more casual beach vibe, guests can head to Vistas, a swim-up bar at the resort’s Mediterranean-style beach entrance circle pool. Guests at the bar can choose from swim-up seating or shaded outdoor seating to enjoy the refreshing drinks, beer and wine.
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