Backed by a mangrove preserve and fronting a long stretch of coral sand beach (approximately half a mile), this solid deluxe Riviera Maya entrant competes mano a mano with the Sandos hotels. This is Melia's liveliest offerings in the Yucatan, surpassing its urbane sibling up in Cancun. This all-inclusive operation is a veritable playland for both children and adults, and management challenges guests to take advantage of the extensive facilities during their stay. This is a step above the Riu operations south of Cancun.
The designers may have attempted to model the hotel after a Mayan village, but they failed. Modern Mexico City condominiums, is more like it. No shrinking violet, this huge resort comprises 14 three-story bungalows, four huge oceans of chlorine, six restaurants, four bars and a spa, all overseen by a small army of staffers. The big open-air lobby under a thatched roof reaches for elegance with its marble floor and carved furnishings, and it has a long reception counter to take care of all the comings and goings.
The restaurants here span the usual all-inclusive spectrum,
but the quality is noticeably higher. Selections include a Japanese outlet with an impressive sushi bar and dramatic teppanyaki cookery set up at four different stations. The main buffet restaurant Caribbean Market Place serves all meals, with the many buffet stations taking up an entire room. (The surgical gloves and hairnets of the servers put guests worrying about Montezuma's revenge at ease.) The Tequila Grill is another all-day restaurant for Mexican fare. Capri offers Mediterranean buffets at lunch and dinner, and guests compete for dinner reservations at L'Hermitage for French fare. The poolside grill and snack bar does a brisk business with those not wanting to leave the pool area. Pool and beach bars dispense drinks, and the Fun Pub provides a DJ, dance floor and karaoke. A band often plays in the lobby bar, and an entertainment staff cycles through more than 30 different theme shows.
A children's pool, a huge activities pool, a wading pool and a fourth pool the size of a small lake ensure plenty of aquatic fun. Shade also abounds, but guests need to get up with the sun to reserve a shady spot for lounging. The beach is long and sandy, and is considered one of the better strands hereabouts. It is well-equipped 
with shade parasols and chaise longues. The spa offers two whirlpools, massage rooms, a sauna and Turkish baths, and the gym supplies six aerobics stations and a cross-trainer machine. Two tennis courts and watersports round out the recreational amenities. There are two children's clubs—one for children two months to four years and another for children up to age 12—and both are included in the rates. There are four meeting rooms, the largest capable of hosting up to 960 people.
The majority of the spacious accommodations consist of junior suites measuring more than 500 sq ft. These large units are handsomely decorated in a blend of Colonial and classic contemporary style with dark hard-wood furnishings atop marble floors. Stylized arches separate the living areas from the sitting areas, where sofas beds and paired armchairs share a pedestal table and a furnished balcony or terrace beyond. Bug screens on the balconies would be a nice touch, especially when the air conditioning is off and the ceiling fan is running. All rooms come with air conditioning and ceiling fans. Older TVs, phones with data ports, safes, complimentary minibars, coffeemakers, irons, and double or king beds are standard. The baths provide bidets 
and hair dryers, as well as tub and shower combinations. The 96 superior units provide whirlpool tubs on the balconies. The 100 Royal Suites have private check-in and checkout and come with access to a private lounge next to the Fun Pub. They offer butler service, free Internet access, a pillow menu, sparkling wine on arrival and private transportation to the airport. Keep in mind that although the hotel claims all rooms Wi-Fi, only units in buildings 1 to 5 get adequate service.
Room service runs round the clock. The hotel is generally adapted for guests with disabilities, and four suites are specifically customized.
This is one of the best of the big all-inclusive operations, proving unpretentious straightforward service and a wealth of facilities. This hotel's scale and design beat out the cumbersome new Puerto Juarez, Grand Riviera Princess and Grand Sunset Princess. The newer Grand Oasis Riviera Maya may be fancier, but this is a better overall choice.
