mexico – Destination E

This past December, a fellow travel advisor and I went on a self-organized FAM Trip to the Riviera Maya area in Mexico. FAM is short for Familiarization Trip. FAMs were created for travel advisors to get firsthand experience of a destination, learn more about the resorts, and form great partnerships with resort staff leaders and travel companies. Of course, nothing beats knowing which resort fits our clients best and what will make their vacation experience even better. We visited sixteen resorts altogether. Here is a list of four resorts in Riviera Maya that you should consider for your next vacation or event.

Family Vacation

Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts- Riviera Maya

1. Both the design and layout of the resort are excellent. Kids will be excited at every turn, and adults will experience nostalgic feelings. My favorite restaurant was Good Burger. All they were missing were a pop-up appearance from Kenan & Kel.

2. Kids will have so much to choose from, including Aqua Nick-a themed water park with over twenty slides, a lazy river, Paw Patrol Adventure Bay, and Bikini Bottom Beach, to name a few. And yes, you can get SLIMED. In addition, kids can look forward to character experiences, Club Nick, dance parties, an immersive theater experience, and more.

Travel With Destination E: Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts-Riviera Maya

Destination Wedding

Dreams Riviera Cancun (Family Friendly)

1. There are six beautiful location options for a wedding and reception. The resort staff were busy; we saw events being set up in different areas around the resort. However, this did not interfere with the guests’ vacation experience, and everyone looked to be having a fun time at the pool.

2. We had to give the chef our compliments for the lunch he prepared for us. Everything was delicious, especially the fried buffalo chicken wings.

Travel With Destination E: Dreams Riviera Cancun

Group Getaway

Hotel Xcaret Arte (Mexican Art Stays in You-All-Fun Inclusive-Adults Only)

1. Xcaret Arte was stunning and luxurious; every turn took my breath away. I loved the design and layout of the rooms, restaurants, spa, the different lobbies, the beach, and pools. They set the bar high.

2. No need to book any outside excursions. You have access to art classes throughout the resort and access to their eight theme parks (Xplor Fuego looks so much fun), and you can book Xcaret Xailing– a ferry to Isla Mujeres. And don’t forget to visit Muluk Spa, where you can pick fragrances and oils for your spa treatment.

Travel With Destination E: Xcaret Arte

Baecation

Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancun

1. The hospitality we received at Live Aqua Cancun was outstanding. The food and drinks were tasty, including my surprise Caramel Frappuccino; they have a Starbucks on the premises. Plus, their pools and beach are both fantastic.

2. Live Aqua is in the hotel zone, so you have easy access to other restaurants, nightlife, and shopping in the area.

Travel With Destination E: Live Aqua Cancun

Honorable Mention

Dreams Natura Spa

The Dreams® Spa by Pevonia goes up there as one of the best spas I have visited. It feels like you are inside a beautiful cenote. I booked the Tension Relief Massage, which was terrific. I also enjoyed the hydrotherapy circuit, sauna, steam room, therapeutic showers, and Revive Juice Bar.

If you are looking to visit the Riviera Maya area in Mexico, I am sure there is a resort for you that will meet all your vacation needs and styles. During this trip, I stayed at three resorts and visited sixteen, so I’m sure I can help you select the right one.

Pssst….I can’t give away all my favorites in this article; I’m keeping some just for you. Feel free to schedule a complimentary consult anytime: Click Here

*We hope you like the places we listed. Just so you know, Destination E may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.*

This was my first vacation since I became a travel agent and boy was I ready to go somewhere. I have been wanting to check out a RIU resort and was excited to visit one of their new all-inclusive adult-only resorts RIU Baja California in Cabo San Lucas. I think Cabo has been on most girls travel list since the days of MTV’s Laguna Beach.

The RIU brand is known for having a party-like atmosphere. We certainly got that vibe from the moment we checked in. They offered us a welcome drink and every room has a liquor dispenser. They will restock it every day if needed (more José Cuervo, please!). During our stay, their events included a white pool party, a pink pool party and a neon pool party. Of course, you don’t have to dress in those colors, but it makes for a cool pic if you and your squad match the theme. Baja’s guests also have access to the 2 neighboring resorts and their amenities. We checked out their discotheque and water park, which was a lot of fun.

Now let’s talk about the food. This resort had one buffet where you could eat breakfast and lunch. They also had lunch options at the grill by the pool and a 24-hour snack bar by the lobby. For dinner, they had multiple specialty restaurants to choose from including Fusion, Japanese, Indian, a Steakhouse, and Italian. The buffet was so/so, I tried to stick with options that were made to order such as an omelet, waffles/pancakes, a steak off the grill, pasta or stir fry. We tried a new restaurant each night and my favorite was the Italian restaurant. For starters, I had calamari and fried mozzarella. For dinner I had lamb chops with potatoes and asparagus. I also enjoyed the Fusion restaurant; the lobster risotto was pretty tasty.

Now for the nightlife. Cabo’s downtown area is where you can find most of the nightclubs. There was no cover charge. The entrances of the clubs are semi-outside so you can hear what type of music is being played before you go inside. My friends and I are fans of most music but mainly Hip-Hop/R&B so we would listen to see what song was playing before deciding which club to try out next. We visited El Squid Roe (they loved us there/you are allowed to dance on top of tables), Mandala, La Vaquita and Crush Nightspot. Crush is a Hip Hop club and they have a upstairs balcony where you can dance outside and people watch.

So, if you are ever in Cabo, certainly check out the RIU Baja California. I give the resort a 4 out of 5 stars rating. Check out the downtown area if you are in the mood for nightlife. And of course, if you ever need help planning your next vacation, I’m here!

*We hope you like the places we listed. Just so you know, Destination E may collect a small commission from the links on this page if you decide to book a stay.*

Tag: mexico

Let’s Take A Trip To Cabo