Breaking News: Mexico has the best resorts in the world!
If we could nominate another wonder of the world, it would be the whole country of Mexico, not just Chichen Itza. And who doesn't love all-inclusive resorts? In Mexico, they are way affordable and at the same time, offer great quality.
Whether you want a relaxing atmosphere or one with a buzzing nightlife, this list has got it all covered. And we've also featured the not-so-great ones to avoid this season to guarantee a pleasant trip.
Join us as we count down: 10 all-inclusive resorts in Mexico that treat travelers like royalty, plus five that have awful reviews.
Let's start off with the resorts people raved about...
15 Hard Rock Hotel, Riviera Maya: Party Fever
Ranked as one of the top resorts in TripAdvisor (awarded the Certificate of Excellence), the Hard Rock Hotel offers a brand new tropical vacation experience: 1,264 rooms, a private beach with snorkeling areas, and the friendliest staff right in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala). Keep in mind that the Hard Rock Hotel is adults only.
14 Grand Hyatt, Playa Del Carmen: Warm Staff, Clean Amenities
Just a stone's throw away from La Quinta Avenida (the tourism epicenter of Mexico) is the Grand Hyatt Playa del Carmen. This resort currently has a 4.6/5 rating on TripAdvisor since it features a wide range of amenities: bicycle stalls, a fitness center, and babysitting services.
13 Playacar Palace All-Inclusive Resort: Great For Weddings
Playacar Palace is ranked #6 out of 250 in Playa Del Carmen with a perfect 5-star rating on TripAdvisor and is convenient and clean with just about everything, and featuring 201 rooms, 3 restaurants, and 4 bars and located just a few minutes away from 5th Avenue, Playacar just blows every other resort in Mexico out of the water.
12 Hyatt Ziva Cancun: Luxury Getaway
Hyatt Ziva Resort is indeed a playful family escape, according to Hyatt.com. This all-inclusive family resort in Cancun stands out for having the most high-end facilities: 3 infinity pools, private piers and loads of fun activities such as aqua cycling and aerobics. You can have them all for the price of one.
11 Hotel Xcaret Mexico: For Adults Only
The Hotel Xcaret at Playa del Carmen caters only to adults, a fun paradise with stunning views of the beach and extravagant nightlife. Access to the Xcaret theme park is included in your fee as well as 6 other regions (Xel-Ha, Xplor, Xplor Fuego, XoximilCo and Xenses) with free round-trip transportation.
10 El Dorado Casitas Royale By Karisma: Best Food Around
If you want the best food in Mexico, look no further. This resort has it all and prides itself on offering international gourmet and fine dining restaurants (try out Fuente's Culinary Theatre or the Seaside Grill). Aside from that, you have your very own suite complete with a private pool, and a daily-stocked minibar.
9 Secrets Vallarta Bay: Family Fun
"Everything is just perfect," wrote one reviewer on TripAdvisor. Secrets Vallarta Bay is more of a cozy and intimate experience for adults only. It's also conveniently located right on the beach of Puerto Vallarta and is only a quick ride from the airport. The resort offers a wide range of amenities such as a spa, bars and restaurants, and a romantic Mimosa breakfast.
8 Live Aqua Beach Resort, Cancun: Festive Mood
Live Aqua Beach in Cancun is a Caribbean dream come true. Fine dining restaurants are lined up across the resort in front of the Caribbean Sea, quite affordable (only $297 a night), directly across La Island Shopping Mall. The harmony of relaxing sounds and picturesque sights will help you unwind. Don't forget to swim in all of the 8 infinity pools across the resort.
7 The Beloved Hotel Playa Mujeres: A Couples' Resort
With 109 rooms, 24-hour room service, a fitness studio, and water activities such as kayaking and snorkeling, the Beloved Hotel in Playa Mujeres is a couples-only escape located far away from the bustling streets. The seaweed on the beach nearby is tolerable and all the amenities make it a perfect honeymoon resort.
6 Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun: All Fun And Games
Another adults-only 5-star resort located in the busy region of Cancun, Secrets Silversands Riviera Cancun features 8 different swimming pools, manicured gardens, chic bars, and 443 suites. There are also lots of fun activities to do like yoga and cooking classes.
And now for the resorts with bad reviews:
5 Catalonia Riviera Maya: Seaweed Infested Beach
The ongoing seaweed infestation seems to hurt tourism in Mexico's beaches and Catalonia is among those that have been hit hard. Trust us, it's not nice swimming around these icky Sargassum Wireweeds. Also stated in TripAdvisor the resort has "nasty rooms and the worst buffets ever" according to one tourist who stayed at Catalonia Riviera Maya.
4 Iberostar Paraiso Del Mar: A Tragic Mishap
Paraiso Del Mar made headlines when a family vacation turned into a tragedy. The mishap could've been prevented if the resort staff took the necessary safety precautions after one Abbey Conner had an incident at the bar, leading to her demise. This is the same reason why ratings plummeted and why many avoid the resort.
3 Allegro Cozumel: Not Worth Your Money
A 1-star rating on TripAdvisor says it all, and the reviewers were even being generous. It's so terrible to the point that you'd feel sorry for the resort management. Nasty food, half-full dirty swimming pools, and disrespectful staff plague this resort.
2 Melia Cozumel All-Inclusive Golf & Beach Resort: Sad Excuse For A Resort
"Stay here because it's cheap, not because it's good," wrote one reviewer on TripAdvisor. Another stated that the hotel smells like a sewer. And the photo above shows the beachfront, it looks so depressing and odd. One of the only good things about this resort is the golf course.
1 BelleVue Beach Paradise: A Mess
Ranked 5 stars out of 10 in Hotels Combined and 2.7 out of 5 in Sunshine UK, BelleVue needs a little makeover but is the lesser evil out of all the bad hotels. Let's just say their service is below average, and dated rooms don't make things any better.