Viceroy Riviera Maya, a Luxury Villa Resort — Hotel in Playa del Carmen

Really nice resort with friendly staff. The room was really comfort, we got a Royal Villa type room which had a private pool and both indoor and outdoor shower. The AC allowed the room to stay super cool which was appreciated. They provided anti mosquito products too which was necessary. Every day they cleaned the room and the pool. There was no shortage of bottled water, however we did need to ask everyday for it but delivery was always quick. The mini fridge was full of products but were a bit expensive, we weren't interested in any of them. The pool was nice but we had to ask every night for the temperature to be turned up, it got cold every day and even when the temp was turned up, it never got hot enough.

The resort itself is quiet, it's pretty secluded and the drive in is pretty long. There's also a long walk inside the resort, some of the rooms are much closer to the beach than others. Next door was a larger resort that did get loud late at night with parties but the music would end around 10-11pm which was fine by us. Other neighbors couldn't be heard. Sometimes you'd hear people talking if they walked by but nothing annoying.

Breakfast was the highlight for sure. The food was great at any time of day, but we looked forward to breakfast the most. Everything was fantastic - we highly recommend the Mayan Toast though, it was to die for. So tasty! Staff was always attentive and helpful at all times of the day. They knew our names and would provide anything we needed. Selection of food was good enough for the week long stay we had, I think any longer and we would've gotten a bit bored with the variety. There's almost nothing outside the of the resort, so you're kind of trapped. They do have different food style nights, like one night they had pizza/Italian pasta night. The resort also has a different restaurant that's a bit more fancier upstairs, we went one night and liked it a lot but one night was enough for us there especially at the price. The bar closes just before midnight, but their prices were a bit steep too unless you got the typical Modelo brand beers. They had some interesting local beers, but we're charging something like $14+ USD for each bottle. I was shocked by that. Cocktails were similarly priced to those beers, I preferred those but they weren't anything special. There was a really nice tequila and mezcal tasting event, be sure to call ahead of time to schedule it, but that was worthwhile in my opinion!

Speaking of price, there is a weird mandatory gratuity added. I believe it was something like 16 or 18% added automatically to everything. Even the mini bar in the room. It is NOT included in the listed prices, this makes it very confusing. There was no opt out I was made aware of. And they also ask for additional tip, like at the upstairs restaurant. So that night, I think I paid BOTH the included gratuity PLUS additional gratuity because I hadn't really paid attention. This was weird to me, I was under the impression Mexico doesn't allow this. I was disappointed in this, I like to tip but I don't like to feel forced to tip.

The staff again was great and the beachfront seats were great. The beach isn't private but in March there was hardly anyone there. The seats are reserved for the resort and they were perfect. The staff comes to serve you on the seats too, they were so friendly and willing to serve. Peppe was great. We didn't do all inclusive, so we just ordered drinks directly with him and they charged it to the room every time.

The beach itself was nice, I've seen complaints how rocky it is but we didn't agree. The space in front of the resort has a nice sandy shallow area and they have the beach enclosed by sand bags which made it very calm. Everyday we went out and just lazy relaxed in the water. The resort gives you towels and water shoes too for those that don't like the rocks but seriously, there were hardly any if you stayed in front of the resort. The other resorts had much rockier and inconvenient beaches. Also, you can't go into the other resorts - they were all...

#Background My wife and I went on this trip as our first real getaway from our three young kids. We went for three nights, from Friday to Monday, and this is only our second stay at an all-inclusive resort so we don’t have as many points of comparison as lots of other reviewers.

It’s hard to imagine how the trip could have been better so I think I have to give it an overall 10/10. My wife and I are already itching to go back.

#Arrival / Check-in: 9/10 We arranged for separate transfer and the drive was about 45 minutes from the airport. The last 10 minutes or so are down pretty narrow, bumpy roads which can be a little much but the driver handled it as best he could and eventually the roads gave way to jungle which made the last couple minutes feel particularly exciting.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with cold towels and refreshing horchata-style drinks. Our luggage was whisked away to our room while we got a tour of the grounds that ended at our villa. After getting a walkthrough of the amenities in our room, which included hand-cut soap they make on premises, the host kicked off our stay with a beautiful glass of mezcal with tajin and orange to have alongside.

#Room Quality: 10/10 I felt like an annoying HGTV person searching for a place where I wouldn’t have to compromise: we wanted to be in nature but not rough it at all. These villas really pulled it off. The AC was strong and quick to cool the space. The bathroom was huge and well laid out. The outdoor shower was lovely. The bed was very comfortable and the minibar had perfect snacks for early morning (coffee, fruit, etc.) or late night (alcohol, chips, cookies, etc.)

#Property: 10/10 The grounds and properties truly made it feel like being one with nature. The winding paths through beautiful palm trees and small creeks were serene and added to the small, private vibes (which we were explicitly seeking).

The combination pool, restaurant, and beachfront area was beautiful and kept us wanting to take pictures the whole time we were there.

The gym was small but had pretty much everything you need to get in a good workout while traveling. It was better equipped than plenty of nice hotel gyms I’ve used before.

#Service: 10/10 Every single person we interacted with on the staff was kind, generous, and genuine. They managed to find the perfect balance of attentiveness without being overbearing. I think they somehow had a sixth sense for knowing when we wanted drinks or food, and magically someone would appear.

The staff on the beach was always willing to move umbrellas around to keep us in the shade and someone would even occasionally come around offering to clean our sunglasses. Truthfully that felt a little crazy to me, but damn if it didn’t feel luxurious.

I tried my best to speak Spanish as much as I could and I appreciated the staff being willing to give it a shot before jumping into english!

#Cleanliness: 10/10 Housekeeping was quick and effective. They came once a day, typically in the morning, to clean, restock, and tidy the villa. The villa always felt completely clean - even the outdoor shower - which is the dream combination of nature meets luxury.

#Food: 10/10 The food was shockingly good. I’m not sure my wife or I had a bad bite the entire time we were there. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all excellent. We were initially worried that the limited restaurant options (one open for breakfast and lunch and two open for dinner) would be an issue but at least for our length of trip there was plenty of variety on the menu to enjoy. I could imagine it getting a little old if you stayed closer to a week.

They even had a special Yucatan-inspired menu with a guest chef one night we were there which included an awesome wine pairing. She came the day before and actually cooked a lot of the food in an underground pit fire which made the property smell incredible (but made us hungry!).

I thought we were in for “resort good” but the food was...

My partner and I just got back from the Viceroy (April 2022) and it was pretty amazing. Our Premium Villa was unreal. Very upscale and roomy like the pictures reveal. Our room had a stand alone tub which was gigantic and relaxing after a day in the sun. But the outdoor rain shower is like no other. The water pressure was powerful and it was like showering in nature. That was our favorite part aside from the very comfortable king bed. Also, having the private patio with a hammock was a bonus. The rooms (all of them) are top notch and we are incredibly picky when it comes to accommodations. One downside to the rooms is you can music in the distance from the neighboring resorts, but they are well aware of that and provide you with ear plugs should you decide to go to sleep before 10:30 when the music stops. Definitely not a deal breaker considering how awesome the Viceroy is.

The beach: If you are craving a true beach/sand/ocean experience, this might not be the place considering all of the beaches in this region of Mexico have a lot of seaweed on shore. This resort was not immune to that and it was also a little rocky, BUT the pool makes up for it and so does the servers at the pool. They are catering to your every need non-stop. The pool area is chill, quiet, and super relaxing and the food is delicious. We are also "foodies" who like a good eating experience and this place certainly delivers. One downside is that you often need your phone for the QR menu codes so if you're truly trying to disconnect from electronics, that makes it harder. But they also have their own iPads to display the menu as well so that was helpful.

The Spa: One of our best spa experiences on vacation ever. And I do mean "experience." It's not just get a massage and that's it. They have rituals, and a scent kitchen for your herbs, and you basically have the privacy of the entire "indoor" portion of the spa before and after your appointment. And excellent massage therapists.

Food/Drink: We loved the Coral Restaurant for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They had food theme nights which gave a variety to the menu and they changed the outdoor ambiance with each night. The staff works non-stop at this place to create a great experience for everyone. We love a great "craft" cocktail and that's one area that could use some attention. Great classics (Margarita, etc), but would love to see some more creativity in a quality craft cocktail. Regardless, we still loved it all.

The resort: Everyone on the staff was very friendly and each staff member wore masks at all times if that's a concern for anyone. The winding pathways through the resort made you feel like you were in the middle of the jungle and if you were lucky enough, you caught a glimpse of the native nasaus, lizards, spider monkeys, and an abundance of beautiful birds. Also, as a gay couple, we found it welcoming to find that we were not alone! In fact, there were a handful of LGBTQ couples at this resort and we can see why. They are accepting to all and it's private and quiet.

We are already planning our next trip back! We...