Viceroy Riviera Maya

My wife and I usually go to the various El Dorado resorts in Riviera Maya and have a perfect vacation every time. She wanted to try this resort after seeing they hand craft soaps on site, we later found out they no longer do this (bummer). The resort is very small and cozy with a super thick jungle vibe which is cool. Our original villa (#21) near the spa didn't have hardly any sun at our plunge pool so we asked to move the first day. Waking up the next morning there were two very large (dead) cockroaches in the room and one very large (not dead) spider which we had to chase down and kill (EEK!). The manager had showed us an upgraded room right off the pool area with a little back entrance (#54) and had great sun in the plunge pool area in the afternoon. We took the upgrade and were off. The creepy critters didn't seem to be an problem in this one until the last three nights. I huge wolf spider in the bathroom we had to wrangle, and I was so freaked out I rolled up a towel and put in at the entry door. The next morning when I removed the towel...another huge spider, very fast and jumping that we had to kill. NOW I'M FREAKED OUT!!! I do not like spiders and have not even seen one in Mexico our previous 17 trips. I went and complained to the manager in charge and she sent people to spray the room. Cool, no more incidents the last night. I would suggest they spray more often being such a jungle heavy resort! Also, seems like the two villas we were in could use some upgrades to the fit & finish as they are looking a bit old. The pool...strangely too hot! Weird, every resort we've been to the pool is always a bit chilly until you get used to it. This one was hot even when it was 89 degrees outside, not refreshing at all. I asked one of the pool butlers and he said the pool heater doesn't work so it's not heated. It's a little strange...The pool never seems to close which is a bummer, most resorts don't allow you to continue hanging out in the pool after 5-6pm. There were several nights during diner that people were still in the pool being drunk and obnoxious while we were having dinner at the Coral restaurant and it was not great. The staff were keeping an eye on them but didn't seem to ask them to stop. Our outdoor plunge pool area was never cleaned until the last day after I complained about it, why?? We had great housekeeping service but the mini bar was not stocked everyday also (again, I had to complain about this?). I went to the pool bar most nights to get the refreshments we wanted for the night, as we had purchased the all inclusive package (also very pricey) so this wasn't a huge deal, but still. The beach/restaurant staff is phenomenal! Pepe, William and Juan at the pool/beach area take such great care of you! The bartenders were all great, and every waiter we had was great (especially Andreas)! The food was mostly very good. Some of the dinners were not our favorites, but breakfast and lunch were always good. The Mexican street food night was very average, but the surf and turf night was amazing! The beach...not very good. I'm glad they give you water shoes because you'll need them. We had stayed at the Fives twice before so we would walk over there and swim a couple times during our stay. Also, would walk down to the Grand Villas and Mayakoba beach (about 1-2 miles down the beach) to swim because their beach is amazing! We went to the gym most mornings which is small but adequate. It has all the tools you need to get in a workout while you are there and the room is completely surrounded by glass panels at the highest point of the resort, so you feel like you are working outside in the jungle! Overall, it's a nice intimate resort, but very pricey and we will not be returning.

This was our second visit to the Viceroy and it didn’t disappoint. From the moment we arrived to the day we left it was simply wonderful. The whole Viceroy team offer stand out customer service and demonstrate care in everything they do creating a truly first class experience for all customers. The food and wine offer is of the utmost quality, matched to the standard and quality of what is a superb beachfront resort. We look forward to our next visit ❤️

The hotel itself is beautiful and sophisticated, with every amenity one could need for a comfortable stay. The staff are warm and accommodating, adding to the welcoming atmosphere. Be aware that the drive up is on an unpaved road with quite a few potholes, so plan accordingly. It does not have the large touristic vibe of the other hotels on the beach in this area. The dining experience was great—food was delicious and thoughtfully prepared, though on the pricier side. One thing to note is that this hotel seems to be a popular spot for honeymooners, which adds a romantic vibe to the ambiance. My only real critique is the cost of in-room extras. For instance, a medium-sized bottle of Fiji water was priced at $18, and each Nespresso pod came in at $4, which felt excessive. Overall, this is a lovely place to stay with exceptional service, but be prepared for premium pricing on in-room items.