Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya

From the moment we arrived at the Hyatt Zilara, we were impressed. The resort is absolutely stunning, with a beautiful open-concept design and a breathtaking view of the beach. We were greeted with a hibiscus cinnamon drink that was SO good. My husband immediately fell in love with it!

We stayed in a Club Level room, so our check-in was in the VIP Club area. Check-in was easy, quick, and seamless.

As is typical at many resorts, shortly after checking in, we were invited to attend a vacation club presentation at one of the fancier sister resorts. They offer all kinds of incentives and freebies in exchange for your time. We decided to do the tour, and honestly, it was pleasant. My only complaint is that it took about four hours out of our day, which is a pretty big chunk of vacation time. However, we did receive a complimentary spa day and an upgraded poolside cabana for our time, so I'm not mad about it!

The Service Was Exceptional

Our Club Level room came with butler service, and Salvador was absolutely amazing! He was incredibly attentive and went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed.

He sent us the daily agenda, helped us keep track of all the resort activities, and communicated with our room attendant, Jery, to make sure our mini-fridge was stocked with exactly what we wanted each day. He also helped us book our dinners every night. Even on his day off, Salvador made sure we were taken care of and left us in good hands. That level of service really stood out to us.

We also had a swim-out room, and Martin, our poolside waiter, was fantastic. He would come all the way down to our swim-out to take our drink orders. Eventually, he knew our exact order and would simply start bringing our drinks without us even having to ask. That's the kind of service that makes a vacation feel special!

The Spa Experience

The spa was beautiful. I've experienced spas at other all-inclusive resorts, and usually, when you do the water experience, they basically leave you to figure everything out on your own. That was not the case here. The staff was very involved and actually walked us through each step of the process. They didn't just tell us what to do—they explained why each step was beneficial and how it helped the body relax and recover. I really appreciated the educational aspect of the experience. It made the spa visit feel much more intentional.

Our Cabana Day

On our last day, we enjoyed a cabana. We initially started at the beach cabana, but the seaweed was pretty bad that day, so we asked if we could move to the poolside instead. Salvador and Carlos worked some magic and made it happen for us! Our waiter that day was Pablo, and he kept the mimosas flowing. My glass was never empty! He also suggested a much better champagne and I appreciated the recommendation!

The Food

We really enjoyed the restaurants at the resort. We also ran into Ricardo several times between breakfast and lunch. He and my husband hit it off immediately and joked around like they had been friends forever. Before we left, Ricardo brought us a special dessert and wished us a safe trip home. Those little personal touches really made an impression on us.

My only complaint about the restaurants is that they were sometimes difficult to find. A restaurant might be one thing during the day and have a completely different setup or name at night, which could get confusing. Thankfully, Salvador was great about helping us keep track of what was what.

Entertainment

The entertainment was probably the weakest part of the resort for us. However, the resort was very empty while we were there, so I'm sure that played a big role. They had activities planned, but participation was pretty low. My favorite activity was the water aerobics, which was really more like water Zumba, and it was actually so much fun to watch! We did take a sailboat out and go to a natural spring cenote. That was nice and it was a perfect sailing day. I love that I could see Cozumel across the way and after about 4pm you catch all the cruise ships leaving port.

And Then There Were the Coatis... (my husband calls them racoon dogs, lol)

The resort warns you about the wildlife and tells you to be careful because some of the animals can actually get into the rooms. We didn't really believe them until we woke up to a coati in the room knocking things over. They really can open the doors and get inside! We laugh about it now, but in that moment, I was scared for my life! So when the resort tells you to watch out for the wildlife, believe them!

Overall, we had an amazing stay at the Hyatt Zilara. The resort itself is beautiful, but what really made the experience exceptional was the staff. No matter where we went or who we interacted with, the service was outstanding.

From Salvador and Jerry taking care of our room, to Marin and Pablo taking care of us by the pool, to Ricardo becoming my husband's new best friend over breakfast and lunch, the staff consistently made us feel welcomed and valued.

There were a few things that could have been better, the four-hour vacation club presentation, the confusing restaurant setup, and the entertainment, but none of those things overshadowed the overall experience.

We would absolutely return. The combination of the beautiful resort, incredible service, relaxing spa experience, great food, and all the little personal touches made this a vacation we won't forget.

Beautiful hotel, very friendly staff! You get water amenities in your stay that include snorkeling, paddle boards, and a sail boat ride. We did a boat ride with Miguel and he was outstanding!! He was very friendly and knowledgeable! We loved the ride and will do more with him before we leave!