- Mexico Holidays
- Playa del Carmen
- Viceroy Riviera Maya
Viceroy Riviera Maya Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya is ideally located 7 miles/10 kilometers North of Playa Del Carmen and 40 miles/60 kilometers South of Cancun Featuring 7 miles of white sand beach. Private transportation available to and from the Cancun International Airport.Hidden in a small village of Playa Xcalacoco just outside Playa del Carmen along the pearlescent sands of the Riviera Maya Viceroy Riviera Maya is a seaside refuge extending deep into the primitive Mayan tropical forest The 41-villa property and its stunning spa present the epitome of Mayan Riviera beach unpretentious luxury exuding the ambience of an exclusive private Playa del Carmen villa or opulent residential compound Temazcal -a beach-side Mayan-style sauna- incorporates massage- chants and prayers to cleanse holistically the body- spirit and mind - a Tropical Butler delivers iced face towels poolside - bed linens are changed several times a day - and a Dine Anywhere Anytime policy invites guests to feel perfectly at home in these luxury Playa del Carmen villas dining or imbibing poolside on the beach or even aboard the resort charter boat
Pamper yourself with a visit to the spa, which offers massages, body treatments and facials. You're sure to appreciate the recreational amenities, including a health club, an outdoor pool and a hot tub. This hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet access, concierge services and gift shops/newsstands.
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
We had the pleasure of staying at Viceroy Riviera Maya for 10 nights at the beginning of this month, and overall, it was a very enjoyable and memorable experience.
Our private driver was already waiting for us when we arrived at the airport, which made our arrival very smooth and stress-free. The welcome at the hotel was excellent. Our luggage was immediately taken care of, so we did not have to worry about carrying anything ourselves, and we were offered a lovely welcome drink. Alberto then accompanied us to our room and showed us everything we needed to know. We were also immediately introduced to a taste of Mexican culture with a shot of mezcal, a traditional Mexican spirit, which was a very nice touch.
The room itself was beautiful and equipped with everything you could need. The breakfast was also of very high quality and extremely enjoyable, especially because of the à la carte menu. The staff are initially somewhat reserved and extremely polite, so they do not tend to start conversations themselves. Personally, we would have enjoyed a little more interaction from the staff, although of course this is a matter of personal preference.
The service throughout our stay was excellent whenever we needed something. My partner unfortunately suffered from a large number of mosquito bites. Alberto immediately knew what was needed and arranged for medication to be ordered from a pharmacy. When it was not delivered in time, he personally went to the pharmacy to collect it for us. This was exceptional service and something you certainly do not find everywhere. The hotel also treated the garden and surrounding area against insects.
Later, I also started suffering from mosquito bites despite constantly using DEET. At that point, the hotel proactively arranged for a mosquito net to be installed, which was greatly appreciated. We only wish we had been informed earlier that this was an option.
The drinks at the bar were excellent, and we would especially like to give a shout-out to Oscar and Francisco. They were both incredibly friendly, enjoyable to talk to, and very hardworking. They really contributed to our experience at the hotel. Another nice touch was that the pool could be heated immediately upon request, which made it very comfortable to use whenever we wanted.
Areas for improvement
There are, however, several points that we feel the hotel could improve:
Housekeeping: Although the room was cleaned well overall, we expected a higher standard for a hotel of this level. Some areas were barely touched, including significant amounts of dust around and underneath lampshades and under the sofa. The outdoor area around our room was not always cleaned thoroughly, and the bathroom sink was also occasionally overlooked. On the positive side, housekeeping came twice a day, and we received an impressive amount of towels — six towels per service, which is something we had never experienced at another hotel.
Wooden platform: The wooden platform around our room, where the sun loungers were located, had several holes in the wood and some loose boards. These could potentially cause a serious injury if someone stepped into one of the holes or on an unstable board with their feet or toes. Because of these safety concerns, we decided not to use the area.
Renovation: The hotel is starting to show its age in certain areas, and we feel that some parts of the property are due for renovation.
Prices: The prices for drinks, food and minibar items were extremely high. We expected higher prices at a resort of this standard, but some prices felt excessive even considering the level of the hotel. We barely used the minibar because of this. For example, a bottle of Evian water costs $13.
Staff consistency: There were moments at the bar when Oscar and Francisco were working extremely hard while some of the other staff appeared to be doing very little. Personally, I found this disappointing, especially when seeing how hard the other employees were working.
Despite these points, we had a wonderful stay at Viceroy Riviera Maya. The location, atmosphere, food, service and especially the friendliness and dedication of certain members of staff made our stay very special. Alberto, Oscar and Francisco in particular made a very positive impression on us. With some investment in renovation, better attention to maintenance and housekeeping, and more consistency among the staff, we believe the hotel could offer an even better experience.
When we booked the trip we weren’t familiar with the Viceroy brand. When we left after 5 nights in paradise we are raving about Viceroy to anyone who will listen. Our villa was spectacular, the service was amazing, our every need was handled sometimes before we even knew what we needed. And the food left us blown away at every meal. Chef Alejandro and his team were absolutely amazing and we loved everything we ate. The entire staff at the hotel went above and beyond to ensure you had an amazing vacation. We can’t thank them all enough. We are already planning our next trip back.
We spent a few nights at the Viceroy Riviera Maya and it was the most relaxed I have been in a long time. The resort sits back in the jungle outside Playa del Carmen and feels completely secluded.
Our villa had a private pool, and we saw wildlife right outside it on the first day. I appreciated that the resort works with the jungle instead of clearing it out. You get luxury without losing the sense that you are somewhere wild.
Being adults only and small helps too. There were stretches where it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.
We also did the temazcal and the couples spa treatment. Both were amazing, and the temazcal was real and spiritual rather than a watered down version for tourists.
The staff made the stay what it was. Pepe, Fernando, Mario and Paulina were attentive and genuinely friendly, but they also knew when to give us space. We never had to ask for anything twice.
My only regret is that we did not book more nights. We will be back.
We had such a lovely stay at Viceroy Riviera Maya for our babymoon and were very happy with a laid-back, relaxing trip. The service is truly 10/10 — the staff, from Pepe to Rodrigo to Carla and others -- makes this resort special. Everyone was incredibly warm, attentive, and welcoming, going the extra mile every day to make sure I was comfortable and looked after.
The food was also impeccable. Every bite was delicious, and I highly recommend booking a room rate that includes breakfast — it is absolutely worth it, especially with the option to enjoy breakfast in your room.
A few things to know: the resort is fully immersed in the jungle* which is beautiful but means you will encounter small animals. If that makes you uncomfortable, this probably isn't the hotel for you. The grounds are also a bit older and aren't quite as polished as some newer luxury resorts. That said, the facilities themselves, especially the pool and beach areas, are absolutely immaculate. Some rooms have been updated more than others, but all are lovely, comfortable, and thoughtfully designed.
Overall, Viceroy Riviera Maya was exactly what we wanted for our babymoon — beautiful, peaceful, incredibly well-serviced, and wonderfully low-key. We would happily return!
This is one of the nicest resorts that we have ever visited. We visited in early August for our 31st anniversary. From start to finish, we felt spoiled by the staff and the accommodations. The private villa with private pool was amazing. We loved getting up for an early morning swim. The outdoor shower was a plus too. We loved the jungle feel of the villa, which was spacious and stocked with anything you would need.
We did not leave the property, because we were there to truly relax and spend time together. Because we were there during "low" season, we felt extra spoiled. One day we had the large resort pool to ourselves! Pepe and Eddie took care of anything we needed. The breakfast each morning was yummy. We also enjoyed the little treats that Pepe would bring us from the kitchen while we were relaxing by the pool/beach.
We don't usually like to go back to the same places. We like to try new locations/hotels, but honestly...we can't wait to go back! Thank you to the staff for making our getaway as perfect as we hoped it would be!
