I returned home from Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun in April and plan to return again in November. I have been going to this property in the Riviera Maya twice a year since it opened in August 2008. I have yet to find a more suitable place for adults. If you’re looking for an all-inclusive escape with a beautiful beach, the ability to have steak & shrimp for lunch in your suite or by the pool, then this is the place for you. (more…)

The entrance at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso is grand in everyway and includes an indoor garden that reminds me of the Bellagio in Las Vegas. All the marble and carpeted hallways leading to the rooms are located inside…something that is unique to most if not all the Riviera Maya resorts. All the rooms are Junior Suites and are very nicely done with good quality furnishings and the bathrooms have a separate toilet room, shower and upgraded amenities. (more…)

Riu Palace Riviera Maya is your typical Riu hotel with the dark Spanish accents and traditional Spanish décor. It is a little nicer than the Riu Palace Mexico, since it is newer and a little more updated. The rooms are the typical junior suites with nice bathrooms with double sinks and nicely tiled baths with a shower in the bathtub. They do have rooms that can be locked off at the entrance for families (more…)

I stayed at the Valentin Imperial Maya Resort & Spa in Riviera Maya, Mexico from November 27 through December 4, 2009 and was extremely impressed with this all-inclusive resort. The Valentin Imperial Maya is less than a forty minute ride from the Cancun Airport and the best ease of travel is by using the private car transfers. This resort has an impressive (more…)

The entire Barceló complex located south of town but north of Tulum, is a very large complex that is made up of several Barceló properties. I guess the nice part is there is a lot of variety available. The Barceló Maya Palace Deluxe gives you many a la carte choices to choose from without a limit. The beach at the Barceló Maya Palace (more…)

The beach at the Dreams Tulum Resort & Spa is really, really nice. It has a super kids club, very similar to that of the Dream Puerto Vallarta and the Dreams Cancun. Plus it has the same format with no reservation required at any of their restaurants. The hotel is divided into the Dreams section, (more…)

If you’re looking for a quaint, adult-only, all-inclusive escape, Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun is your calling! I’ve stayed at the Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico several times over the past few years and love it! The property is just a short distance north of the Cancun Airport so you can be at the beach in no time after landing. (more…)

The Westin Resort & Spa Puerto Vallarta is a little piece of heaven on earth. The resort is located in the Marina area of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This area is alive with great restaurants, bars, clubs, and shopping, both high end and souvenirs. There are art galleries and unique jewelry to shop for. (more…)

The ROYAL in Playa del Carmen in Mexico is hopping busy, a real scene. The hotel is smack dab in the middle of town, on a great beach. It is adults only and is the most upscale of the Real Resorts. The rooms are spacious and very ornately decorated (more…)

The Valentin Imperial Maya is an adult’s only property (18 and older) located in Riviera Maya, Mexico. It is situated on a very nice stretch of soft sand beach. It is approximately 20 to 25 min. from the Cancun airport. Check-in went very smoothly. Each building had its own concierge. (more…)

All I can say about the Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is WOW! This is an adult’s only resort with huge character. The grounds are extremely lavish with vegetation everywhere. Here you are amidst vibrant flowers and numerous tropical plants. You will see native wildlife here on this resort property (more…)

The Maroma Resort & Spa is a lovely little hotel! It is part of the Orient Express brand and it is like a mini Royal Hideaway on a much nicer beach and not all inclusive. The resort is small and romantic, and is adults only. The rooms are really like junior suites and have pretty romantic bedding with netting and floral displays on the bed. (more…)

The Iberostar Paraiso Lindo in Riviera Maya is a moderate plus choice for families. The rooms at the resort are adequate. There is a refrigerator stocked with water bottles, cokes and beer in the room as well as a coffee maker with a gallon of bottled water to use in it. (more…)

I have always loved the Royal Hideaway Playacar resort in Riviera Maya and still do. They have made it even better with new restaurants and a really nice dinner/theater. The atmosphere is beautiful and elegant. When you walk in you are greeted with cool towels, champagne, fresh flowers and violin music with sit down private check-in. (more…)

I recently took a trip to Cozumel to do some diving and vacationing. Our group, mixed couples and singles, stayed at the all inclusive Cozumel Palace and had a wonderful time. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted at the front door with a cool beverage; our experience at the resort was close to flawless! The food, service and (more…)

The Riu Palace Riviera Maya is like staying at a Spanish palace on a gorgeous beach! Most of the rooms have a beautiful view of the stunning landscaped grounds, with Spanish style fountains! The rooms closest to the beach offer ocean views. (more…)

The Mandarin Oriental in Riviera Maya is uber-deluxe in every way. The property is built with the clean lines of a Mandarin Hotel and was made to blend in with the surroundings really well. It is a serene and lovely property. (more…)

I stayed at the Zoetry Casa del Mar Los Cabos on May 24 - 27, 2010. It was a very relaxing stay. The rooms were beautiful and the service was excellent. The food is very healthy and tastes great. The resort also has yoga, walks, and other fitness programs and the spa was everything and more. After your stay at this resort you can really come back home ready to (more…)

The Rosewood Mayakoba in Riviera Maya was one of my favorites. Every room is a suite with a living room, huge bathroom with large round tiled tub for 2, and a glass walled shower with a back door leading to an outdoor shower. There is also a patio with a private plunge pool, in every room category. Some of the suites, called lagoon suites, are located directly (more…)

Grand Velas All Suites & SPA Resort in Riviera Maya is truly for those discerning travelers that love the all inclusive resort option but are never happy with the selection of food. Gran Velas has it all…3 to 1 ratio in service and all Gourmet Food. Not only was the food the most fantastic that I have ever had at an (more…)

The Fairmont Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya is a large sprawling complex that meanders through the jungle of Mayakoba. The rooms are very lovely; done in earth tones with great bedding and very modern fixtures, like flat screen TV’s, large baths with separate showers, and 2 sinks. There is a nice health club, a lovely spa and kids club. (more…)

I spent a wonderful 5 nights at the Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun resort in Riviera Maya, Mexico. This resort is one of the most modern resorts I have ever stayed at. This is a great resort for the younger couples who love more pools than you can count. (more…)

My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Excellence Riviera Cancun in January–and had to stay an additional 2 nights due to a snowstorm in Philadelphia. This hotel is fabulous and runs like a well-oiled machine. (more…)

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun is a beautiful resort on a magnificent beach in Riviera Maya, Mexico. For those beach lovers wanting the cornstarch white sand and the blue water experience along with an upscale, adults-only resort, this is the place! (more…)

I recently stayed at the adults-only El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya, Mexico for 3 nights. I had previously toured the property during a travel agent familiarization trip and knew that I would have to return soon to get the full experience. In fact, I was so impressed with the (more…)

Having just returned from a week-long cruise, where Puerto Vallarta was an important port, due to the fact that we didn’t have to be back to the ship until 9:30 p.m., seven of us spent the whole day and part of the evening at Villa La Estancia Beach Resort & Spa in Riviera Nayarit. It was (more…)

Each time I visit Cabo San Lucas, I bask in the glorious surroundings of the Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Resort & Spa - an Adults only, Zen-inspired resort which offers the ultimate relaxation and rejuvenation experience for its guests. This jewel of a property sits amidst the hills overlooking exquisite beaches and breathtaking vistas of the ocean. It’s the perfect place for a (more…)

Dreams Riviera Cancun in Riviera Maya is a brand new all-inclusive resort for families. It is a large resort that it is spread out so that you do not feel crowded. The decor is more South Pacific than Mexican, but it is done in a very upscale manner. (more…)

Zoëtry Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya is the ultimate destination for a laid-back, romantic vacation. The service is unbelievable; they even set up your chair at the pool area or on the beach - lining the beach chair with a fresh towel, relocating umbrellas as needed to provide shade for guests, and then find out what your drink of choice is. They remember your (more…)

I had the opportunity to stay at the Valentin Imperial Maya in Riviera Maya, twice in the last two years. It is a beautiful resort offering excellent gourmet dining in all of the restaurants. You don’t need a reservation for dinner, but if the resort is busy, so you may have to wait to be seated. (more…)

I just returned from escorting a group to the Riu Cancun which is centrally located along the hotel strip in Cancun. The hotel is also conveniently located across the street from a major shopping mall, Plaza Caracol. This group has been traveling to this resort for the last 6 years.  The staff as the Riu Cancun resort is (more…)

While visiting Playa del Carmen I stayed at the Valentin Imperial Maya. This beautiful resort is adults only and located just 25 minutes from the Cancun airport. The hotel’s beach is located on amazingly blue waters and is kept in pristine condition. The food and themed restaurants (more…)

The Camino Real in Oaxaca was originally built as the Santa Catalina de Siena Convent. This property is one of the colonial treasures of the historic city of Oaxaca. Each of the hotel’s 91 rooms and suites share a view either to the gardens or of the picturesque street scene. Guests pass through high-ceilinged passageways and ornate doorways, alongside frescoes, fountains and colorful gardens. (more…)

I stayed at the Barcelo Maya Tropical & Colonial Beach in January 2010 for 7 nights. This resort is approximately 1 hour on a non stop transfer from the airport. I found the resort to be quite large, with 3 basic sections comprising of the Barcelo Maya Beach and Caribe section, Barcelo Maya Tropical & Colonial Beach section and the Barcelo Maya Palace section. (more…)

From the moment we walked onto the property, we knew the service levels at the Azul Sensatori Hotel in Riviera Maya was going to be outstanding. The warm welcome, followed by champagne was well received by my small group. The Azul Sensatori Hotel is very easy to find your way around and the grounds are lovely. There are several pool areas and we never had a problem getting chairs, both in the sun and in the shade. (more…)

We escorted a large group of 130 people to the Riu Palace Pacifico in Riviera Nayarit on January 3-10, 2010 and the group said this was the best trip ever. The staff could not have been more attentive to everyone at the resort. I watched in amazement every day as the servers at the restaurants, the activities staff by the pool and in the theatre, the front desk personnel and of course the housekeeping staff keeps the resort looking immaculate. (more…)

I stayed at the Excellence Playa Mujeres in August 2009 and loved this property. As a honeymoon and romance travel specialist, I found that this is a fantastic adults-only property for my clients! (more…)

One of the joys of the El Dorado Royale in Riviera Maya is the proximity of the accommodations to the ocean line. Outstandingly close and beautiful with fantastic views of the blue Caribbean ocean. Fun nightly towel arrangements that would make any guest “fly” to their room to see their well anticipated surprise. (more…)

My recent trip to Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun resort was for a short 2 night stay while working in the Riviera Maya area just south of Cancun. I upgraded to the private black car transfer and would highly recommend this to all clients. This new luxury hotel (7 buildings/3 stories high) is practically in a secluded area, located on a nice quiet beach, about 20 minutes from both the Cancun Airport and Playa del Carmen. (more…)

The El Dorado Royale continues to be my favorite adults-only, gourmet, all-inclusive properties in the Riviera Maya, Mexico. Suffice it to say the ‘gourmet’ concept permeates beyond the cuisine to every aspect of the vacation experience from check-in to check-out and everything in between. (more…)

As a Master Specialist I had the pleasure of staying 4 nights at Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun resort in Riviera Maya. This resort has 433 suites that include queen or king-size beds, Jacuzzi bath tubs, bathrobes and slippers, lots of cabinet/closet space, TV, mini-bars with sodas, bottled water and beer that are replenished daily. In the room is a sofa and chairs the sliding glass-door leads to a terrace with a Jacuzzi, lounge bed, table and chairs. My room had an (more…)

The Iberostar Tucan & Quetzal Hotel in Riviera Maya is a great resort for destination weddings. The resort is in a great location and the beach is one of the best on the Playacar strip. The wedding department at this hotel is very easy to work with once you have the wedding date established. For those who are planning to invite families with children, the Iberostar Tucan & Quetzal hotel is (more…)

Back in July I stayed at the Secret Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun and it was a pleasant surprise. The Resort is large and has all of the pluses. Secrets Maroma Beach has several restaurants to choose from, all with very good food and excellent service. There are also several bars located on the property and many evening entertainment choices to choose from. (more…)

The Excellence Playa Mujeres resort in Cancun is a beautiful property. Well thought out and designed, it’s not too large that it takes a half an hour to walk to the beach, but not too small that it doesn’t have enough choices in dining and activities. The property is laid out with many clusters of gathering opportunities. You can choose from secluded palapas, hammocks hanging over the pool, pool side terrace lounges or beach chairs. There is the meandering “river” pool which flows under two of the beach side restaurants and is complete with a pool bar. There is also a spa pool which is not to be missed. (more…)

I recently visited Dream Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa. This Puerto Vallarta property is located very close to town, but far enough away to still have a secluded feeling. The resort sits up against the mountains which gives you a great, spectacular view of the ocean and part of the town. All of the rooms are oceanfront and offer great views of the surrounding area. (more…)

I had the pleasure of staying at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Paraiso in Riviera Maya for four nights. Staying at the Iberostar Grand made it possible for me to say that I have stayed now in all of the Iberostar properties in the Riviera Maya. We were staying at the Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar when the IBerostar Grand was going up. The concierge arranged for my husband and I to do a walk thru before it was completed. So when the opportunity to stay here came up, I jumped on it. (more…)

When you think of all-inclusive resorts, what is your first impression? Cafeteria food and watered down drinks? Expensive spa treatments? El Dorado Royale in the Riviera Maya certainly breaks away from those impressions of an all-inclusive resort. (more…)

My husband and I took our two boys, ages 11 & 9, for a 4 night getaway to Iberostar Paraiso Lindo in Riviera Maya. We wished we could have stayed longer! The resort was beyond our expectations! Everything is granite, travertine or tile and impeccably clean… even the public restrooms! The room was of standard size, we were lucky to get an oversized balcony too. Each day we came back to another new ” (more…)

First I have to say that I love the Riviera Maya area and this resort is one of the reasons. I have been fortunate to have stayed at the El Dorado Royale several times. And I will be returning to the area again soon. (more…)

In my 23 trips to Mexico including 8 to Cancun, I found the Riu Cancun to be my favorite resort. Cancun and the Mayan Riviera are my favorite destinations in the world. You’ve got the Caribbean water and white sand beaches plus the cultural highlights of the Mayan Ruins. (more…)

The Royal in Cancun, conveniently located in the heart of Cancun’s hotel Zone and just steps away from world- class shopping and exciting nightlife. The only beachfront Swim- up suites in town are (more…)

I just returned from visiting several hotels in Riviera Maya, Mexico. One of the hotels I stayed at is the Maroma Resort and Spa. This property is rated 4.5 star but really could be a (more…)

I like to stay at the Dreams Cancun Resort & Spa. I have previously stayed here before when it was known as the Camino Real. This property has one of the best beach spots in Cancun. The water is much (more…)

The Gran Porto Real Playa del Carmen and THE ROYAL in Playa del Carmen are all inclusive resorts that are owned and operated by the Real group in Mexico. They are across the street from each (more…)

I spent a couple of days in May in Riviera Maya at the Secrets Capri Riviera Cancun and the Royal Hideaway. Here is a brief description of my experience: (more…)

From the moment your go through the front gate all that you can say is WOW! You know that you are somewhere truly special when the bellman greats you with a cold towel and a glass of champagne. (more…)

I recently had the chance to take my husband, my 2 teenagers and my sister who was visiting me from Greece, to the Iberostar Quetzal & Tucan Hotel. I had stayed at the same hotel but on the Tucan side about 3 years ago and I chose to take my sister there for a few reasons. (more…)

 Not all resorts are created equally! I just returned from a wonderful 4 night stay at Excellence Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa. This elegant, luxury all adult, all inclusive resort, just minutes from the Cancun Airport is a little slice of heaven. (more…)

After attending a GOGO presentation of the “Valentin Imperial Maya Resort & Spa“, I decided to take my vacation with my spouse to this adults-only, all-inclusive property. (more…)

The Royal in Playa del Carmen is in my opinion the most well rounded, adults-only resort I have been to.  That is a pretty bold statement considering as I write this I have been to 20.  What makes it well rounded is its class and location. (more…)