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Playa del Carmen, ROO

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Valentin Imperial Maya

4.1 (212 reviews)
PriceyHotels
Open • Open 24 hours

Valentin Imperial Maya Photos

Recommended Reviews - Valentin Imperial Maya

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Dj L.

Beautiful stay at the Valentin Imperial this past weekend. Everything was amazing!! I can't think of anything bad really. The property is expansive and beautiful. So much wildlife, including birds and Coatis. Our room was perfectly clean and we were at the Golden pool swim up room! We opened the back doors and the pool was right there! We could even order drinks and food from the loungers on our patio! Service everywhere was awesome! All of the staff were so nice, friendly and welcoming. Any request was pretty much accommodated. Since this was an all inclusive property, you could walk up to anywhere and order drinks and food! There are so many options, restaurants and bars all over the property. Including a coffee shop! We had hibachi one night which was so fun. All the food we had was good, no complaints. For liquor drinks they do offer premium spirits as well which was nice. We caught a few hockey games in the sports bar which was fun. Cigars and karaoke another night. There was so much to do! This was an all around great experience. We utilized it to the fullest. Eating at multiple restaurants, bars, going to both pools and the beach, and having a massage. The beach was beautiful! They even have drink service out there and shade huts for free. This is definitely the place to book in Playa Del Carmen area!

Menu for spa
Jes O.

This resort was amazing and relaxing. Just the right amount of activities and shows. Very welcoming. Food was amazing ! Resort was kept clean and felt safe. No wild night life. They end the night with a DJ by the main area, so you can't hear it from your room if you're trying to sleep. They shut down the beach at night so that the turtles can come to shore and lay their eggs I would absolutely come back to this resort. As far as drink they have a pretty good selection not all well liquor. They have a good amount of well known names.

Beach
courtney t.

I am currently on my second trip here. I cannot say enough nice things about this place. So reasonably priced, absolutely gorgeous, and the staff is the best I've ever experienced at a resort. Between the jungle and the beach and the pools ... and AYCE .... What more can you want?!? It's seriously breathtakingly beautiful especially at night or in the morning. So much wildlife. The food is overall very good. Loved the hibachi, French and the Thai fusion the most. Oh and I cannot forget the buffalo wings late night room service!!!! 24 hours!! Still obsessed with this place and can't wait to come back again already

Pool
Trent B.

Came here for vacation with some of our friends and family. When we arrived, we were greeted by hosts and hostesses who took us to the front desk. They were very polite and friendly. Checking in was easy and quick, and we were given our room, which was very spacious. It had Bluetooth surround sound in the ceiling and a nice deck where you could sit. The room was very clean, and the bathroom was spacious and also clean, with plenty of towels and condiments. The pools were really awesome. They were always clean, which was a lot better than when we stayed in the Dominican Republic, where the pools were constantly filthy. They had games every hour that you could play while at the pool area, whether it was volleyball tournaments, dancing, or water aerobics. They also had two pool bars and a food truck on site at the pool. Everyone that worked there, from management to the maids and housekeeping, was extraordinarily friendly, and the food at all the restaurants was amazing. They were all good, although we weren't able to get into the steakhouse because it has very limited seating and is extremely hard to get into, which was disappointing. The shops they had were really nice and had a lot of authentic Mexican souvenirs and items for purchase. They had live bands every night, and all the bars were fully stocked at all times. The resort itself was extremely clean. I never saw trash lying around or full trash cans like we did in the Dominican Republic. Overall, it was just a really great experience. We're definitely looking forward to coming here again with our friends another time.

Kelly B.

This resort is beautiful and the staff are all really friendly. The dinner food could be better. The food truck had the best food in all of the resort. Portion sizes are small and dining feels rushed. The people staying above us were so incredibly loud and interrupted our sleep every night multiple times. It was like sliding a chair across the floor for hours and then doing a line dance aggressively. We saw a lot of cute animals and big iguanas. They had shuttles to take people around but no one ever stopped to ask if we needed a ride. The beach was nice. The bar were ok, the drinks all tasted like a weird chemical so I didn't really drink. Although the grounds are stunning, I think they could put a little more effort into their food and restaurants. The buffet was not good, everything was overcooked and hard. The juices also tasted like chemicals. If you are a foodie, you probably will hate the food here.

Churro truck
Pravash M.

Another year, same 5 star experience. Had a few hiccups getting right room at check-in this year but resolved next day. Sitting on the beach all day with your spouse only to move for all-inclusive food/bevs/coffee and wading in the pool is THE LIFE! Can't say enough positive things about the views, staff, eateries, rooms, and overall positive resort vibes (and patented aromas).

Chef's Table. Sous vide totoaba served with parsnip purée truffled spinach and Prosecco sauce (missing from pic)
Jim S.

When at the Valentine Imperial Riviera Maya, I absolutely recommend the Chef's Table experience at the resort. This one of a kind experience is a must do on your visit. Though it costs extra, it is well worth it. On our recent experience we went into the recently remodeled private dining room which can accommodate up to eight people. Chef Eduardo Sanchez was cooking a well choreographed meal for us assisted by Somal(I hope I got the name correct). This seven course adventure in culinary excellence was even more exquisite with the wine pairing. This was an experience in taste, smell, and sight. The experience started with hot out of the oven bread with fresh butter with fresh salt and pepper sprinkled on top. Warm and comforting it was a great comfort on the table to start. But before we even get to the fabulous food let me talk about the coordinating plating. With porcelain and glass plates from Pordamsa to enhance the plating, each course was a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. First course was a "palate cleanser". carbonara foamed with thin slices of smoked trout delicately placed on top of the luscious mound. With nori seaweed, hazelnut, vanilla and coffee bits sprinkled over the top to enhance the flavor. As recommended, blending of all possible tastes gives the ultimate experience. The delicate smoked trout gave a most wonderful flavor. Second course served on a gorgeous blue plate representing the sea was the blue shrimp soup vide with a green tomato jelly with a touch of olives ginger and citrus and topped with a most perfect spoonful of lemon basil sorbet (slide off the spoon delicately by touching the underside of the spoon to melt it off by chef Eduardo). This plate was a great beginning to the experience with the freshness of the shrimp balancing all flavors together. Who would have thought the sorbet was the perfect balancing agent. And make sure you dig to get all the elements together. The third course was a wonderful surprise. Three way mock fennel and cauliflower risotto. Now, you may think risotto and think pasta, but none here. Thinly sliced fennel with a dusting of fennel and a foamed fennel and cauliflower complimented the delicate course. The flavors blended so perfectly and was a highlight course. The fourth course was a new experience. Foie gras with onion and mixed berry jam. complemented with a creamy basil and match tea and verbena oil sauce with a green leave shaped crunchy top made with the matcha tea and crunchy focaccia bread. I am so used to a pate or parfait foie gras that this was a pleasant surprise. The liver was in three small pieces and the accompanying flavors totally enhance the palate with delicate sweet and savory complimentary tastes. A unique combination that tasted great. The fifth course was a sour vide Toronto's served with a smooth and creamy parsnip purée and a wonderful truffled spinach that was so perfectly truffled it melted with all the elements of this course perfectly. Served with a Prosecco sauce over the fish. As recommended, all elements together brought a melange of flavors that tickled the tongue with delight. The sixth course was by far my favorite - duck matter served with a small serving of creamy truffle gnocchi and apple purée. A dusting of burnt leek added to the flavorings. The highlight to the flavor though was the port wine and foie gras sauce which took two days to make. I must say this is the best duck dish that I have ever tasted - Melt in your mouth duck with all the other flavors blend in your mouth dancing in culinary delight as each flavor floats over the tongue. A must try experience. The final course was a fantastic ending to the evening. A white chocolate covered citrus sorbet made to look like a lemon. Surrounded by crunchy chocolate and just a few peas and pea stalk. Savory sweet and utterly delicious. But then a treat. The chef made an extra treat. A wonderful chocolate truffle and a hand made marshmallow cube with light dusting of lime. Eaten in order it look your palette from a creamy lusciousness to a perfect light lift in flavor. An absolutely perfect end to the night. And I must recommend doing the wine pairing with the meal. Each of the courses were complement with white wine Prosecco or red with the duck. The red was Monsanto Toscana Rosso, a single varietal wine with a light delicate flavor that perfectly complimented the duck. All were excellent selections.

Mexican shrimp dish
John M.

This was my 5th time at this amazing 5 star Adults Only resort located in the Riviera Maya..only 25 minutes from the Cancun Airport. As soon as you arrive,you are greeted by a friendly staff member with a warm towel and a delicious glass of champagne. Checkin is super easy and then you are taken to your room by golf cart. We were lucky to be upgraded to the Premium Level Oceanfront Suite. All rooms are suites and most haven't been renovated recently. Each room has a rain shower,seating area,stocked mini fridge and either a patio or balcony. Most buildings only have 3-4 floors. The resort is quite large and is designed to feel like a Mexican Hacienda nestled amid tropical gardens. You will see many different types of birds as well as flowers. Daytime offers 2 restaurants,a Buffett and a food truck. Nighttime offers 7 ala carte restaurants ( reservations not required) as well as 11 bars and 24 hr room service. Believe me you will not go hungry or thirsty! There are various daytime activities offered at the 2 pools as well as nighttime entertainment . The resort is situated on a half mile white sand beach with a few rocky areas. This resort pays attention to the small details which is why we keep going back. A real gem in The Riviera Maya!

Coatis
Chloe K.

We visited the Valentín Imperial resort for our honeymoon and it did not disappoint! There were so many things to do on the resort. 3 pools, 2 swim up bars, so many different themed restaurants with GREAT food, spa, workout classes, beach access, & more! We are excited to come back someday! The staff were very kind and friendly. Rooms and resort were very clean and kept in working condition!

Pico de gallo class
Deb W.

We returned for our 9th visit at the VIM, need I say more!!!! We absolutely love VIM! All of the staff is amazing, love the "GO" team, Lorenzo is absolutely amazing with everything he does and has become a very good friend of ours. Daniel did a wonderful job at the Pico de Gallo class by the pool and the rest of the "GO" team were just so friendly and made each day so much fun!!!! Always very friendly and courteous!!! We love all of the food we enjoyed there! Love the Italian, Asian, beachfront restaurant, etc etc! We also enjoy the burgers and nachose from the food truck by the pool! The bartenders work very hard at the swim up bars and are always so very nice!!! We can't say enough! This is our home away from home and can't wait to return!!!!

Alison N.

Absolutely amazing stay! Accommodations were beautiful and centrally located to the pool and restaurants. The amenities were incredible! Seven restaurants, 11 bars, 2 food trucks. Pool side, beach front or within the resort, each one was more beautiful than the next. We loved the main pool with 2 swim up bars. The Don Miguel and their variety of drinks were the best! Beaches were pristine and the nightlife was fun and inviting. Highly recommend this resort! Overall- A Food- B Drinks- A+ Accommodations- A Activities- A+

Mom having too much fun before the Mexico show
Lauren R.

Wow! This place is incredible! I've been to many resorts in Mexico, but this one is the best I have experienced. The food, the vibe, not over crowded, relaxing but wild if you wanted it to be. The pool has floats available to enjoy and they always had something going on. Fire show and Michael Jackson show were big highlights for us! I went with my Mom on a Mother Daughter trip and it was a blast. We took the shuttle from the hotel for $18 to shop in Playa and it was so worth it. Highly recommend doing that if you are looking for gifts for you or others. Overall, I will be back! Had a wonderful time.

Beach view from cabana

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all the restaurants are closed and don't have openings. They can't make a reservation. Terrible management .

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Review Highlights - Valentin Imperial Maya

“The swim up bars at the main pool are great and the entertainment throughout the day there is so fun.”

Mentioned in 19 reviews

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JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar - Mezcal

JOIA Paraíso by Iberostar

(84 reviews)

$$$

Location,well maintained property,delicious food . Two outsides pools,one indoor pool…read more The entertainment team was awesome

This was my first ever all inclusive resort experience. I can honestly say I feel like my life has…read morebeen changed for the better after this vacation. We ventured here with my partner and his family for his 40th birthday celebration, and the entire week didn't disappoint. First, the staff is incredibly kind and hospitable. Each morning you are greeted with smiles and they always make themselves available or attentive to your needs. I barely could open a door during the entirety of my stay. A major shout out to the entertainment team, specifically Bidi Bidi Bum Bum (her nickname), who kept us relaxed and busy during the week. Bidi is incredible. Next, the overall hotel esthetic is quite nice. It certainly has its own unique design decisions, but the accommodations in your room are amazing. Each suite has its own mini fridge stocked with beer and wine that they will refill each day. Every room has a coffee machine and a large bathroom as well. They have three pools, one of which is indoor and the other is a quiet bool. The main pool has a massive bar where cocktails are poured every day from 9 - 7. Not only that, the five restaurants and the buffet have so much food I think I could not eat for a whole week after the large amounts of steak and seafood I ingested. Overall, the price and experience are definitely worth it. I highly recommend this hotel if you're looking for an adults only, vibrant food and drink experience.

Grand Luxxe Residence Club - This was delicious, I can't remember the name. First meal at the resort in Salum.

Grand Luxxe Residence Club

(54 reviews)

$$$$

Vidanta World is an expansive resort experience -- nothing my husband and I have ever seen before…read more Like any vacation, there were definite pros and cons. Pros Staff: The staff was kind, hardworking, and really knowledgeable about the resort and nearby cities. I want to shout out Fabian Eustaquio, the first friendly face we met during check-in. He gave us great recommendations, drove us several times, and was just an overall pleasant person to see throughout our trip. Another great experience was with Lydia, who kept our room clean, refreshed, and feeling taken care of. Room: We stayed in the Grand Luxxe Jungle in a very spacious 1-bedroom with two bathrooms, overlooking the literal jungle. Once we checked in, we were greeted by a whole family of animals heading somewhere (lol). The blend of wildlife, nature, and human design is impressive, and I have to applaud what seems like a nice marriage between the two. Food: There are so many options. We didn't make it to every restaurant, but none of the spots we tried disappointed. We kept going back to Salum -- the tacos, cheeseburgers, and guacamole were favorites. Other delicious picks were Burger Custom Made (get the grouper ceviche -- you will thank me) and Havana Moon. Cons Not all-inclusive: You pay for everything. This is not an all-inclusive resort, and they prefer you charge everything to your room. It gets tricky because you really don't know how much you're spending unless you keep track yourself. We did the timeshare/owner presentation and got 10% off our entire bill, which helped. We also left the resort a few days for excursions and local activities. Timeshare presentation: It is NOT 60 minutes. It is the entire day, and it is exhausting. Marríame did a fantastic job, and she recommended amazing local activities. She also put us onto Key Lime Pie Oreos (omg so good). But besides the 10% discount, they weren't selling anything different from what we've seen before. The offer didn't match what we were told, and people online weren't speaking highly of their customer service or some of their products. Size of the resort: This place is huge -- you can get easily lost. Definitely download the app. We had to request our car 30 minutes before, and our transport from the room to the central lobby was about 20 minutes. We stayed in one of the Jungle buildings, which seemed far away from everything. The hustle: Everyone we met on and off the property expected a tip. It got annoying. I understand the hustle, and you gotta do what you gotta do, but geez. The company should pay their staff better or distribute gratuities more clearly. We enjoyed the resort and the very kind staff, but it's an expensive vacation -- and not one we'd want to return to.

We stayed for a week as guests of a family friend. The…read morejunior villa was more than enjoyable space for me and my husband and we could've easily had another couple stay in the living room / pullout bed. The room was well equipped with toiletries , refrigerator, and microwave. Good ideas to bring your own Nespresso tablets. We used the Vidanta app and walked almost everywhere. We booked 2 excursions before the vacation and they met us in central lobby, which was a shuttle ride away. We went to Joya, I would recommend doing seats only and having dinner at Nektar beforehand because that place was delicious. Loved the Beach Club - free cabana, happy hour special. The best mimosas I've ever had. Platinum guest gets access at 930am.

Iberostar Waves Paraíso Beach

Iberostar Waves Paraíso Beach

(92 reviews)

$$$

My first-time experience staying at the all-inclusive Iberostar Cancun was absolutely amazing! We…read morewent during the off-season when the sargassum was high, so we couldn't enjoy the beach, but the huge pools and incredible scenery more than made up for it. The highlight of our stay was the staff's attention to detail. I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease, along with an egg allergy, lactose intolerance, and minor intolerances (turkey, kiwi, banana). They are incredibly aware of cross-contamination for an all-inclusive. A chef safely prepared my meals from scratch in a dedicated kitchen to keep me safe. I requested breakfast a day in advance, and they offered safe, delicious suggestions. I highly recommend this resort to anyone with Celiac or food allergies--they take your well-being seriously and truly make you feel seen and heard. The food and overall vibes were fantastic. The daily buffet had a different theme every night (Asian, Italian, Seafood, etc.), so we never ate the same thing twice. Breakfast was excellent, especially the huge platters of tropical fruit. We also loved the specialty restaurants (Italian, Hibachi, Brazilian meats). When they found out it was my birthday, they went above and beyond with a surprise bottle of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries! The property itself is massive and gorgeous with multiple themed hotels; we even toured and ate at two. There are tons of photo ops, an amazing spa, and a central mini-outlet area for souvenirs. They even have a sweet shop with crepes, ice cream, and cookies fully included in the package! Customer service was phenomenal across the board--from the front desk to the cleaning crew, waiters, and chefs. Words cannot fully describe how great my stay was. I am already planning to come back for my birthday next year (during the right beach season next time!). I can't wait! ¡Mi primera experiencia hospedándome en el resort con todo incluido Iberostar Cancún fue absolutamente increíble! Fuimos durante la temporada baja cuando el sargazo estaba alto, así que no pudimos disfrutar de la playa, pero las enormes piscinas y los increíbles paisajes lo compensaron con creces. Lo mejor de nuestra estadía fue la atención al detalle del personal. Recientemente me diagnosticaron enfermedad celíaca, junto con alergia al huevo, intolerancia a la lactosa y otras intolerancias menores (pavo, kiwi, plátano). Son increíblemente conscientes de la contaminación cruzada para ser un todo incluido. Un chef preparaba mis comidas desde cero de forma segura en una cocina dedicada. Pedía el desayuno con un día de anticipación y me daban excelentes opciones. Recomiendo encarecidamente este lugar a cualquier persona con celiaquía o alergias: se toman muy en serio tu bienestar y realmente te hacen sentir escuchado. La comida y el ambiente en general fueron fantásticos. El buffet diario tenía un tema diferente cada noche (asiática, italiana, mariscos, etc.), así que nunca comimos lo mismo dos veces. El desayuno fue excelente, especialmente las bandejas de frutas tropicales. Nos encantaron los restaurantes de especialidades (italiana, hibachi, carnes brasileñas). Cuando se enteraron de que era mi cumpleaños, me sorprendieron con una botella de champán y fresas cubiertas de chocolate. ¡Un detalle muy especial! La propiedad en sí es enorme y hermosa, con varios hoteles temáticos; incluso visitamos y comimos en dos. Hay muchísimas oportunidades para tomar fotos, un spa increíble, y un área de mini tiendas para recuerdos. ¡Incluso tienen una tienda de dulces con crepas, helados y galletas totalmente incluida en el paquete! El servicio al cliente fue fenomenal en todos los aspectos: recepción, conserje, limpieza, meseros y chefs. Las palabras no describen lo maravillosa que fue mi estadía. Ya estoy planeando regresar para mi cumpleaños el próximo año (¡esta vez asegurándome de reservar en la temporada de playa correcta!). ¡No puedo esperar!

It was a short stay of 3 days. The employees were great and they were always very helpful in terms…read moreof providing information and super friendly. The activities were decent and the bedrooms were nice. Some things that my family didn't like about was the food. It didn't seem fresh and it was worrisome to eat as raw fish or milk or yogurt wasn't cold. We were also very excited with the selection of restaurants but all the food wasn't good and the wait for food was too long especially in the 90 degree heat with no air con. As well, we got coax into attending a 90 mins tour from Iberostar which was fine and willing to a point until the tour got very hostile from the tour guide who was quite rude. They were quite unclear of what was intended in the tour and when the 90 mins begun as it took way over 90 mins which was a waste of our vacation time. They will take you to breakfast and make a sales pitch but the hour it takes for that doesn't count towards the 90 mins. I think that was the worst part of this experience for us as we felt like we would have been verbally attacked by this tour guide and we didn't feel comfortable to stay. We consistently asked him to let us leave but he wouldn't. They didn't take a no from us and it seemed like they were trying to force us to say yes to whatever they were selling.

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun - Lobby interior

Secrets Maroma Beach Riviera Cancun

(211 reviews)

We had a wonderful time at this resort! I loved every single minute we were here!…read more Beautiful grounds and a wonderful place on earth to be. As long as you are behind the gates that is.... Outside of the gates is a whole different story. It's pretty intense out there with the police being fully militarized. They have machine guns mounted to trucks they stand on and ride around just for the presence, there are tons of people wanting to take advantage of dumb Americans at every turn. Watch yourself if you travel alone in Cozumel. It's designed solely to attract tourists. That draws out some colorful personalities in my experience. Traveled with ease from the oh so lovely Cancun International Airport. Interesting spot to say the least. We were warned not to communicate or accept anything from anyone except our driver. We arrive to the hotel really excited, somewhat cautious, and ready to have some fun. We were greeted at the front door and we handled a little paperwork, and then we were taken to our room by a wonderfully helpful chap. He showed us around the room, gave us a quick run down of the grounds, described the amenities, food situation, and some other pleasantries. He talked about the dining situation and gave us a map tour so we're would know how to navigate the grounds. They have a cool locker system in each room. The service folks just leave your anything in the locker and you don't have to interact with them at all. They just let you know it is there. Nice feature. The grounds themselves are absolutely gorgeous! It is so well kept, the attention to every detail goes so far beyond a normal resort. They comb the beach every morning. I kid you not. They seriously rake the entire shoreline before dawn. They also run a tractor to clear the seaweed from the beach. Insane dedication to making your stay great. The restaurant situation is so fucking rad. They have just about any food you might want covered between the what seemed like a dozen restaurants at the resort. I ate and ate and ate and ate.... I ate between meals, I ate between those meal and snack times. We had so much food!! Every dinner was 5-8 courses. I'm positive I could stay right here forever and never leave. Food heaven!! Spa is great too! It's a lovely relaxing oasis of self care. That's another review, but it's great. Don't take my word for it. Go for yourself! Cold plunges are good for the soul! They have shows every night in the theater and there was some sort of event being held every night in the common area. Some were private, others public. They construct stages, eating areas, weddings, happy hours with bands, and even corporate conferences. It's pretty wild the amount to building and tearing things down the do here. We rented a cabana bed one day and at the end of the day the built and transformed the beach into an elaborate engagement spot with candles everywhere, flowers, and a table for two. Very nice touch! All in all a fantastic experience. My only gripe was that the room smelled of mildew and/or too music moisture. C said something about it when we got there but it wasn't that noticeable to me. When I got home and unpacked my suitcase is when it hit me. There were clothes that I did not wear, just sat in the drawers and repacked, they all had to be washed as they smelled terrible after being packed and transported back home. I would come back monthly if possible. Nice place. '26 - 74

Celebrated my 25th wedding anniversary and had an amazing time. Once arriving at the resort we were…read moregreeted with drinks, bags were placed on golf carts, and we checked in at the preferred club desk. We were provided details of the resort and the name of our concierge. This resort is a must. You will enjoy the food, drinks, pools, service and everything the resort has to offer. We were there the middle of August and there was a little sargassum but still able to enjoy the beach. Also, our 5 night stay came with a free vow renewal on the beach

The Grand Mayan - Room

The Grand Mayan

(163 reviews)

We love The Grand Mayan at Vidanta Riviera Maya! The plunge pool on our patio was fabulous. The…read morerestaurant options and outstanding food are one of the many reasons to keep coming back, with Havana Moon, Balche and Cafe Del Lago being our casual favorites. Balche also services the mail pool area with drinks and eats. The entire staff is always friendly and ready to help. The Cirque Du Soleil show, Joya, is wonderful. We recently enjoyed it with dinner, which was a delicious fantasy come to life. Jungala has Latin America's longest lazy river and we had the best day there. It was such a convenience to charge our drinks and food to our room when we landed at the swimup bar. We really enjoyed the Infinity Pool, exclusively for GM members. The Jade Boutique has most everything you might need, from groceries to souvenirs. Be sure to check out the Monoi Coconut Fig lotion sold at Jade. It's the intoxicating lotion samples provided in the suite during your stay to help you relive the memories of your trip. We visited in early May. There were no crowds and the weather was great! We will return soon!

The Grand Mayan needs a refresh. The property is located in Vidanta Resort. It looks as if it…read morehasn't been updated since it was built. The furniture is outdated, the plunge pool doesn't hold water. The kitchen was not equipped with basic items. There was one knife for cutting large items, no steak knives, no cutting board, no tupperware or containers for storage. The transportation around the property is clunky, Disneyland type trams. Give yourself an extra 25 minutes to go anywhere. Some of the resturants are ok, however Salum is your best option. It's appears to be the newest. If going to Vidanta, stay in the Vidanta proprty.

Iberostar Selection Paraíso Maya Suites

Iberostar Selection Paraíso Maya Suites

(98 reviews)

TL:DR - Had a great time at the Maya resort. Service was superb, food was decent but a bit lacking…read morein the sit-down experiences in regards to food quality. Pools were refreshing and beach/pool bar service was great. Wish the entertainment were more Mexico/culture themed vs circus or Addams family, etc. Price gouging onsite was excessive. The rest of the story -- This was our second time ever going to Mexico and the first time to this area/region. On our first trip, we stayed on a much smaller resort, so this was quite a switch, because the Iberostar Paraiso Maya + adjoining resorts is HUGE. Although there were trams, we opted to walk most places and we averaged 18k-20k steps/day. The service was absolutely tremendous. Everyone seemed to go out of their way to make our stay enjoyable... just the little things... nearly every worker would say hi/hola as we passed in the hallways... from the landscapers and housekeepers to the concierge staff. The meals were on point. I will say that, overall, we preferred the buffets options vs the sit-down options. We did 4 sit-down meals during our stay -- L'Etoile (French - first come, first served), La Marina (Seafood - first come, first served), Olivetti (Italian - reservations required), La Geisha (hibachi Japanese - reservations required). Of those, I would say La Geisha was our favorite. The other options were good, but overall fell a bit short. The steaks were often undercooked related to request -- Ie: we would order as medium-well, but steak would be cooked as Rare to Medium rare at best. The rooms (Maya Junior Suite) were great and stayed very cool during the day with 2 ceiling fans and A/C. The pools were great and bar service was on point. The beach was overtaken by sargassum during our stay, but staff worked hard to try to clean it up, but it was just coming in such great quantities to stay ahead of. Nonetheless, the beach was fun to sit at and relax. Only 2 criticisms to address -- 1) the entertainment was sometimes lacking for cultural appeal. There was entertainment every night in the main theater, but of the 5 nights we were there, only one was more of a cultural experience. The others were a Circus-theme, Addams Groove Experience. Those ones were, at best, ok. But we did thoroughly enjoy the Mexico-themed performance. 2) The price-gouging in the onsite shops is extreme. A few examples : $45+ usd for a bottle of regular-sized, Banana Boat sunscreen spray. $50+ usd for a cheapo, waterproof phone pouch, $30+ usd for pepto-bismol. I understand that resorts will scale up their pricing for the convenience, but that level of price gouging for simple items seemed excessive.

By far the best resort I have ever been to! It's like six resorts in one. So many great food…read moreoptions including hibachi and Italian. A coffee shop open any hour you need it. And gelato!!!! The Lobby Bar was fun and bartenders were great. Entertainment was fun although short. Our room was comfy and perfect size. Bed was probably the most comfortable I've ever slept on in a hotel Highly recommend this resort!!

Mayan Palace - Double bed room

Mayan Palace

(128 reviews)

$$$

We are Vidanta members and this is our first time staying at the Vidanta resort in Riveria Maya…read more Vidanta is not an all inclusive resort, just so you know. It works well for us since we don't drink alcohol and one of us is Vegetarian. Their main pool is huge and clean. But it's not heated so RM won't be our February destination in the future. There are a lot of wild life and nature on this property, which we love. I would give 5 stars for this Vidanta Rivera Maya Resort. The 4 stars review is for the Mayan Palace where we are staying. Our room at the Mayan Palace is just like a regular hotel room. There are two of us and we are married, but they gave us a two full size beds so that was disappointing. They said they don't have any King size bed in the studio of this hotel. Hmm... I believe the Mayan Palace hotel is the original hotel in the Vidanta RM resort, so it's kinda old and the room smell a little moldy. Our bathroom light flickers for a bit before it stays on. Our beds were super soft (well used) and the pillows were super hard so we had trouble sleeping the first night. We asked the concierge to replace the mattresses and pillow the following morning. Surprisingly, they replaced one of the mattresses and two pillows. So kudos to concierge! Overall, Mayan Palace is not for us. We'll be staying at the Grand Bliss next week so stay tune for my review on the Grand Bliss.

ITS A TOURIST TRAP!…read more ACCOMODATION: Mayan Palace building 3 has a broken mirror in the elevator, chipping paint in the hallways, and construction noise waking us up at 9am daily. In our room, the TV, lamp, and fan were broken. Bathroom has no vent or window. The room was spacious and clean. ELECTRICITY: With no notice, our power went out for 6 hours while we were in the middle of cooking breakfast, because they were doing maintenance on the elevator. Our metal countertop became electrified if there was water on it. We literally got shocked multiple times a day. Maintenance couldn't figure out/fix the problem. ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE: Took 1.5 hours to check in. Upon check out there are lots of hidden fees & taxes, which we were able to negotiate off. We were promised the shuttle to & from the airport would be paid for. On the last night learned we had to pay our own shuttle back to the airport, $15/person. They make it difficult to leave (20 minute shuttle to the entrance lobby, then 1/2 mile walk to the main road for a normal priced taxi). Or you can pay double for their taxis. FOOD: Food & drinks are as expensive as airports in the USA. Tastes pretty good, not worth the prices. No free water or coffee in the lobby, or in your room. WATER: Drinking water is not provided. You have to buy jugs of over priced drinking water at the main store & haul it yourself back to your room. THE POSSITIVE: the grounds are beautiful and the nature is lovely. The staff are friendly... Honestly so friendly it feels fake. I liked the beach, ocean, pools, and wildlife. If you don't want to leave the tourist trap and you're happy to pay a fortune for subpar services, this is the place for you. I will never be back.

Grand Bliss - Poolside cabana

Grand Bliss

(27 reviews)

We love this resort! We stayed in a 2 bedroom suite with 2 boys and had so much room. There are 2…read morepull out couches in the living room so you could easily sleep 4 more. Both bathrooms had a jacuzzi which was fun. We brought some staples and supplemented the first night with basics from jade the on site store. You could easily cook in your room with basics from Jade-they even had frozen chicken strips and frozen steak filets. The prices were really high for snacks but other stuff was reasonable. We did go into town for dinner and bought everything from Soriana. We did breakfast and lunch in the room (or packed sandwiches and fruit for the pool). We were on the first floor which gave us a terrific view of wildlife from terrace. We did eat in Salum 2 times and it was delicious and so beautiful and relaxing in the evening. I don't understand the negative reviews. This resort is beautiful and so clean and taken care of. Every person we met was ready to help us in anyway possible and tolerated our attempts at Spanish. I highly recommend coming to feel fully relaxed and away from your normal busy life. Tips: if you want to swim in ocean bring water shoes it is rocky. Bring goggles or snorkel gear there are cool fish to view in ocean. Be prepared to walk and enjoy the stunning grounds. You can bring in your own food to pools except beach club so if you are on a budget do that. Happy hour drinks are great and boys loved a daily pina colada. You can do laundry for $6 a load-they provide detergent. Bring reusable water bottles to fill in room.

While I had reserved a king bed for the week, getting 2 doubles and just pushing them together must…read morebe something people do regularly because the maids made up the bed for us that way every night after we did it. Room itself was very nice but when staying at a Time Share and not having a kitchenette at least was disappointing. Shower pressure gets 2 out of 10, while there is a soaker tub that looks like it's meant for 2, it's really not. Also, the AC worked at night but I think they turn it off during the day. The biggest let down was exchanging for Mexican $ while there. My experience was bad enough. If your money from other countries isn't PRISTINE, they will not exchange it. I had one $20 with a piece missing smaller than 1/2 a grain of rice and they wouldn't take it. I also had 5 or 6 bills that had a minuscule out of ink on the edge of a bill and it wasn't until the manager could sense my frustration that he stepped in and did exchange those bills for me. Do look up exchange rates before coming to Mexico, I saw the rates anywhere from $15-20 Mexican to American. The airport was the lowest and some retail shops were the best. THE ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE exchange came when my SO tried to get pesos for $400 American. He his $200 under his keyboard and then came back to her and said "here's your $3200 for your $200." She had handed him 4 $100 bills and tried to give her change for just 2 it wasn't until she called him on it and lifted up his keyboard that he said "oh, not sure how that happened". We filed a report with management and left it at that. They may have sent a fruit bowl and chocolate strawberries to apologize but that was not sufficient seeing that Management never even apologized to us. That's all we wanted. They have central parking and a team service here because it's 5 hotels in one resort. Advantages and disadvantages to both but the tram drivers and bellmen were the stars of the shows here. My SO broke her ankle halfway thru our trip and they lent us a wheelchair and they have a special tram to haul them around. The VALET service sucked! While being told to call ahead so they were there when the tram brought is good in theory, we still waited upwards of 30 minutes longer than they said it would take. Not once was our car ready when they said it would be. Also, having the car just sit in the hot sun when not in use makes it very uncomfortable during the summer when you get in. If you're going to the beach club you can't bring food or drink and their prices are very steep. Pro level cheat is to bring a Hydroflask filled with whatever adult beverage you want for the day and just get your water from them. Also, if you want a Cabana at the club and aren't Platinum, go to the reservation booth there at 11am and let them know you'd like to wait for an unclaimed Cabana at noon. Also, the sand on the beach is nice and you can lay there but the shore at the waters edge in all rocks for quite a way and makes it very difficult to enjoy the ocean waters. Overall, this place has some great qualities but I think coming here for just a meal will be the way to go when I come back at Christmas time.

Catalonia Playa Maroma - Buffet, pajaro

Catalonia Playa Maroma

(43 reviews)

$$

We had our wedding at this amazing resort and I couldn't be more happy with how everything turned…read moreout. From the moment we walked in to check in, to the moment we checked out, the staff was fantastic. They are the nicest and most accommodating staff ever and that's what drew us to the resort in the first place. I'm also so impressed with how clean everything was. This resort is unique in the sense that there was also wildlife living on the property and despite the number of Coati, raccoons, boars, and other animals, the resort was nearly spotless! The restaurants were also clean and had really delicious food. Big shout out to Karen Baez, Erika Varela, and Alejandra Arceo for helping us finalize the details of our wedding. All three ladies were so great to work with and so accommodating with everything. They were all very communicative, thorough, and helpful to make the planning so easy. There was no pressure or stress at all, even in the day of the wedding. Overall, I would recommend anyone to work with the Hotel Catalonia staff for a wedding or even just to stay for leisure. All the guests for the wedding were so happy with the stay at the resort and cannot wait to come back. I'm grateful for the staff to make this the most unforgettable experience. This truly was a dream wedding!

Big and spacious hotel. Everything that you need is on site. The staff is extremely friendly and…read morewilling to accommodate all of your needs. Special shout out to Citali, Laura, and Yazmin for all that they did to make our stay special. They constantly checked with us to make sure everything was perfect. Buffet food was good. Better than many I've had. Beloved and The Grill had very good food. The Gold member room was nice and updated. Just minor overlooked details here and there. The spa was great. The staff there are very nice. The facilties are clean and functional. Just beware of the coatis everywhere. Don't leave your food unguarded outside or you won't have any. The beach is nice. Wide with trees and soft sand. The perfect place to relax.

Valentin Imperial Maya - hotels - Updated October 2026

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