Effortless Luxury in the Riviera Maya

Raise your hand if you spent your teen years watching MTV's Spring Break? If your first impression of Cancun includes pop stars and throngs of inebriated college kids, you aren't alone.

Keep your t-shirts on, because the areas surrounding the resort town of Cancun offer an entirely different experience from the cheap all inclusives frequented by college students. If that's what you're looking for, you'll certainly find them (and I can help you pick a good one! They exist, promise!). But if you're looking for an elevated experience that reaches beyond the typical beach vacation to become a cultural immersion and culinary adventure, you're in for a treat.

Family-friendly perfection

Forty-five minutes from the CUN airport and general buzz of the hotel zone lies Mayakoba, a gated community with resorts and residences built to impress. I spent two nights at the best one, and a perennial client favorite, the Rosewood Mayakoba, in January 2024. My first feeling upon entering the Mayakoba complex was "Oh, why did I fly all the way to Costa Rica for the jungle?" Mayakoba is built on the impressively beautiful mangroves of the Riviera Maya, the area south of Cancun but north of Tulum. You drive (or bike, or golf cart) on stone paths that look carved out of the jungle floor until you arrive at the lobby of the Rosewood. The understated elegance of the architecture melts into the surroundings. They really achieved a design that highlights, rather than overshadows, the natural elements. Rosewood hotels are known for their goal to ground you in a sense of place (versus, say, offering a familiar color scheme across the brand no matter where you are), and Mayakoba achieves that and more.

After your greeting and beautiful welcome drink, you're escorted to your boat transfer to your suite.

Am I in the Amazon?! Surely this is not Cancun.

And I do mean suite. No two queen standard rooms at this hotel. Our entry level room was almost 800 square feet inside, with an additional 1000 sq ft of outdoor space, including a plunge pool that was heated to a balmy 95 degrees. We were in Mexico the week that even Louisiana was chilly, so it was about 70 degrees and drizzling when we arrived. Our butler (yes, all suites get butlers you can whatsapp for just about anything, including "how do I turn off this light?!" which may or may not be a real question I sent at 11pm) prepared a beautiful welcome drink (no mezcal for me, still delicious).

We enjoyed the warm pool and then took the 10-minute walk to the beachfront restaurant, Aqui me Quedo, for their Thursday night Mexican Grill. Each year Rosewood Mayakoba puts on a wonderful program called Yo Amo Mexico and invites chefs and artisans from all over the country to share experiences culinary and otherwise with the guests. In addition to the normal array of grilled and roasted choices, our dinner featured several stations by chefs of Mexican heritage with renowned restaurants in Paris and California.

We ate here for breakfast next morning and it was... well, Matt called it "whatever the opposite of the quesadilla I make in the microwave would be" (translation: delicious and amazing), and I could've eaten the sour orange sauce on my French toast with a spoon.

Then Matt had what he called "the best spa experience of my life" while I toured the resort and had lunch with the management team and two lovely fellow travel advisors.

We toured a magnificent 3 bedroom cenote villa, casa los osos, and it's really difficult to describe the serenity of this gorgeous space. You'll need a golf cart or bike ride to the beach, but honestly, I'd be hard pressed to leave the villa itself. If I had a week here, I could put a major dent in my TBR pile and Vitamin D deficiency.

We also toured the spa, and I can definitely see why Matt loved it. I want to come back when I have time to do the temazcal ritual or cenote-side yoga or the hydrotherapy circuit.

The gym was large, with several Pelotons, and the menu of experiences and classes is vast. You won't get bored here if you're into wellness.

Your kiddos will also not get bored, because this is the most luxurious family resort in the Riviera Maya and is perfect for families who value kid-friendly over kid-forward. Think "designated family pool with fantastic pool service" vs. "rooms themed to Jonny's favorite cartoon" (which I also love, but this is not that).

Two large family pools and one beautiful adults-only pool are wonderful for a dip if you can drag yourself from the white sand beach and crystal clear water (forgive my photos; we had unseasonably bad weather!).

That night, we had dinner next door at Banyan Tree Mayakoba, which was a beautiful resort that also conveyed a sense of place, but that place was not Mexico. Still beautiful, just not immersed in the surroundings like Rosewood. Dinner was meh.

Before we hopped over to the most amazing adults-only all inclusive in Mexico (honeymooners, if Bora Bora is too far, this is your spot), we met the tejon/Mexican badger/coati, who wanted the rest of Matt's huevos rancheros. Don't blame him.

Things I love about this resort:

Stellar service, impeccable accommodations, excellent food, sense of cultural immersion, spa offerings, receptive and skilled management, calm beach.

Things I'd change:

I wish the sargassum barriers weren't needed, because they're not beautiful, but the beach was beautifully clean. I also wish the larger resort area allowed guest-driven golf carts; I totally get why they don't, but I am one of those "don't bother the butler" people, so I never used the cart.

Pro tips:

Book a beachfront suite, and book early. Only 17 of these available and they go fast. Otherwise, plan on a beautiful, serene walk, bike ride or golf cart through the mangroves to the oceanfront.

Also, book with a Rosewood Elite agency, like Deb Summers Travel Design, an affiliate of Montecito Village Travel. Rosewood Elite is an invitation-only program for luxury travel specialists dedicated to going above and beyond traditional levels of service. The program provides special recognition and benefits at all Rosewood hotels and resorts worldwide. By booking with an Elite agent, you'll receive access to Elite-exclusive promotions, daily breakfast for 2 people per bedroom, complimentary upgrades and VIP status at the resort.

best time to go:

Weather is best November - May. Seaweed is usually lowest November-February, but the sargassum seems to creep earlier every year. Best pricing will be September and October, when school is in but so is hurricane season. Early December is a sweet spot for pricing; they often have complimentary nights this time of year.