This mid-range all-inclusive is a winner for both couples and families alike
As a heavy Saturday snowstorm blankets the yard, I am putting off shoveling by dreaming about Mexico. Mrs. AK and I are just days away from our annual parents-only trip to Playa del Carmen. This will be my fourth trip to Mexico in 13 months – three to PDC and one for work to Mexico City and Queretaro.
Five years ago, one of our friends got married at Playa Mujeres -- just northwest of Cancun. The bride’s guests included our crew of high school and college friends who have been buddies since the late 1990s. Pretty much everyone is married with kids now, and for most this was the first trip without kids in years.
Maybe it was the extra margaritas, but when one of our friends suggested “we should do this every year,” everyone committed to it and now we are days away from our fourth annual winter escape to Cancun.
Why Cancun & Playa Del Carmen? Convenience.
At a flight time of 3 hours and 45 minutes, Cancun is one of the most convenient tropical destinations from the Midwest. The weather is also consistently good, especially for those of us craving warmth and sun in the coldest, gloomiest months of the winter.
This year, we'll be visiting Ocean Riviera Paradise, a fairly new resort in Riviera Maya and approximately 35 minutes from the Cancun International Airport.
Why the same resort? Consistent high quality.
This will be the third time we've visited Ocean Riviera Paradise in as many years.
Well, we first visited within a month of their grand opening in 2017. We were immediately impressed by the gorgeous resort--from the entryway to the restaurants to the feature bars and beautiful beach. However, some facilities were not yet open. The check-in took way too long and check out was excruciatingly slow. Needless to say, the resort's staff was still working out some kinks.
We rolled the dice again in 2018 -- this time with the kiddos in tow for a Spring Break trip. The resort had definitely hit its stride -- the food was better, the service improved and the activities for families proved to be a hit with all of us. So when our adults-only trip popped up again, we pulled the trigger for the third time. The cost is reasonable, the flight selection is convenient, and it's a property we know and like.
So what makes the Ocean Riviera Paradise a win for us?
Since this is a fairly new resort, the design is fresh and contemporary. The entry lobby and bar area welcomes you with expansive views of the resort's main square and is lit with an assortment of beautiful light fixtures with a touch of Venetian whimsy.
The bar itself is a grand full circle with just about anything you could want from draft beer to champagne to 1,001 cocktails. Grab a drink here first, then wander from the lobby bar onto a walkway that feels like a trendy, spa-like street. You'll pass restaurants, the fitness center and spa, bowling alley, ice cream parlor, coffee shop, casino, and other boutiques as you make your way to your room. Numerous pools dot the property -- all accessible via the main walkway -- and finally, you'll dead end at the beach.
We love that the resort is all inward facing and open. No endless hallways or wandering through dim buildings. You're outside enjoying the lovely weather and sunshine.
For Families
If you're traveling with your kiddos, the Daisy section will be a fan favorite. It is specifically designed for families with spacious rooms, a kids club, huge pool with three-story water jungle gym, water slide and a small playground. The Daisy pool is actually two pools separated by a small bridge. The section with the water feature is about 18 inches deep. The other side is about 3 feet deep for older kids and a swim up bar with kiddie cocktails and regular versions for mom and dad. The Daisy section also has its own snack bar featuring Mexican snacks (tacos and nachos) and basic kiddie foods (hot dogs, chicken fingers).
Do the kids need a break from mom and dad? Then drop them at the Daisy Club, the kids' club and family area. Drop-off daycare is free for kiddos age four and up, younger ones are welcome but you have to pay an hourly rate. There are also push cars or strollers available to borrow to help navigate longer walks for younger visitors. For older kiddos, there's a teen club featuring foosball, video games, X-box/Playstation/Nintento Wii and other activities geared towards a tween/teen crowd. Each evening, the staff also has family-friendly activities on the main plaza outside the lobby to entertain guests of all ages. We found this to be a great way to kill time while waiting for a dinner reservation or to burn off some extra energy post-meal.
Plus, you can take the kids bowling just about anytime between noon and midnight.
For Adults
If you're traveling without kids, there's an adults-only section of the resort, or you can upgrade to the Privilege section, which offers a private dining area, upgraded alcohol and a special section on the beach.
Craft-beer fans aren't stuck with just Dos XX. Several restaurants and the piano bar feature Mexican craft beers that you'll never find in the US.
Speaking of the piano bar, this cozy space just off the main lobby is a great spot for a date-night feel during your stay with their own list of creative cocktails, selection of cigars and rotating series of piano hermanos who run the mood from romantic to raucous depending on the crowd.
Once you are ready to dance, the disco (next to the bowling area) is bumping every night of the week but is also a good spot to watch a game with multiple feeds of American sports channels.
All-in-All
For us, the price, location, and resort are right for our needs. It has its hiccups like any other all-inclusive resort we've visited, but for the most part, we've been very satisfied with our visits.
We've taken scuba and snorkel trips right from the beach, danced at a foam party in one of the pools, bowled a few frames after dinner, relaxed under a palapa with a drink in hand, and enjoyed tennis matches and massages. All in all, the trips have not disappointed and the staff has always been accommodating and friendly.
Highlights:
Dinner and drinks in the Privilege restaurant
Snorkel and scuba trips from the beach
Massage at the Despacio Spa
Beach-side brick oven pizza cafe
Japanese restaurant fun
Mom vs. kiddos tennis match
Areas of improvement:
Steak house and Mexican restaurants were a bit disappointing
Check in and check out seemed needlessly time consuming
At time, more staff are needed at the beach and pool
Pool bar closes at 5 pm
Mini-bar was not consistently refilled
Adults cannot accompany children on the water slides -- which is difficult when you have young children that need assistance
Comments