Review of Viceroy Mayakoba, Riveria Maya, Mexico

I always disclose I am a travel agent. The first three nights were booked with a slightly discounted rate; the fourth night was at rack rate. Note we were booked for 3 nights and enjoyed the resort so much we stayed an extra night; something we have never done!

Summation: If you desire serenity, privacy, discretion, laid-back relaxing under-stated luxury the Viceroy is perfect for you. With just 41 units each with private plunge pool, luxury appointments throughout and exemplary professional service coupled with excellent dining options a must visit. However if your desires are more oriented to partying, non-stop entertainment, crowds, a swim-up bar and so forth, you will be sorely disappointed. In summation a hint of the discreet Caribbean of yesteryear on the Riveria Maya. Full review follows:

Transportation/Arrival: The Viceroy does offer chauffer drive transport from the Cancun Airport for I believe approx. $300 RT. We chose to use Canada Transfers, which was the perfect option. Courteous & professional. For two of us RT private van was approx. $100 US.

Arrival at The Viceroy is deceptive in a good way. One turns off the main highway and heads towards the water. The road basically becomes a private driveway for a few of the adjacent properties. All of a sudden there is a Viceroy sign. Proceed and there is an open-air lobby of sorts yet no check-in desk or other amenities, basically an open-air loggia built within the jungle foliage.

Bell staff is at the ready and check-in is in person as a representative meets you in the circular lobby. After signing some paperwork and given the requisite cold wash cloth while the bell staff takes your luggage you are given a tour of the grounds on the way to your accommodations. You are shown the spa facilities (more details later) along the way. Basically one path from the entry way all he way to the beach with cabanas along the way discreetly tucked within the dense jungle and various water features. This is NOT your mega-resort, the complete opposite.

Room: We were in Room 11, which is their Deluxe (lowest level of room designation). Trust me; do not be fooled by designations; by far one of the most enchanting, luxury appointed accommodations I have experienced throughout in my years of travel.

Directly off the main-path is a walkway to the room with a unique Do Not Disturb signal i.e. a rope. Once at the unit your own private covered patio with ceiling fan and a kidney-shaped pool greet you. Surrounded by dense foliage and bamboo fencing privacy is assured from peering eyes and neighboring units. There is a small table, two chairs, a two-person lounger and a hammock.

The units have a style I would suggest is more Bali with massive sliding glass doors providing entry to the unit (lockable with an electronic sensor). All windows have custom shutters that when closed are blackout. The main room upon entry is pure opulence with a king bed, a sitting area with table and two chairs, and a large chair/ottoman.

There is a mini-bar well stocked, flat-screen television and DVD player (movies available at reception), Bose Wave Radio with Bluetooth connectivity and dual carafe’s of water by the bed. High ceilings make the 900 SF seem even larger.

The large bathroom offers ample closet/drawer space (and a safe), dual vanity w/ upscale refillable amenities (eco-oriented), a large shower stall with rain-head shower as well as access a decadent outdoor shower. Of note the higher room categories have large soaker tubs in addition to their showers. If I may add, during orientation of our room we were also provided with a selection of hand-made soaps (also available at the spa).

Common Grounds/Beach: Further down the path is the main beach area. There is a large pool with a connected jetted pool, ample loungers and bins with towels and sun hats available for use.

Beach: The beach is expansive and inviting. Some have mentioned seaweed, this is occurring throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Some was present however was consistently removed from the beach area. Along the beach loungers, day beds and all spacious including options for direct and partial sun to all shade. Waiter service is available on the beach.

While the beach is not private the resort staff monitors it. To the north are a few smaller properties. To the south is a larger resort however their impact on the Viceroy Beach is limited i.e. the beach volleyball and so forth is towards their southern border not impacting The Viceroy.

Dining: There are two dining venues, the more casual Coral Grill and La Marea. Food service is available at The Coral Grill throughout the day. An open-air dining option with full-bar service. Casual due to location between the pool and the beach, attire is on the casual side. La Marea is more formal; open-air on the 2nd level of a structure. There is no dress code yet by default more towards collared shirts open for dinner.

The food preparation, quality and presentation are akin to a 5-star resort. Diverse menus, exemplary service and quality that is truly superior. If looking for the buffet concept or all you can eat, not the resort to choose. If you desire truly superior meals with authentic, fresh farm to table Mexican inspired, you will be in heaven. No matter the meal the food was delicious.

As mentioned La Marea is more formal. We had dinner one night there. Truly upscale i.e. beautiful setting, formal service starting w/ an amuse bouche and so forth. For nightly dining may be a bit excessive however for a treat well worth it.

Concerning dining prices not inexpensive yet on par with the orientation and status of the resort. For two of us per day with tax and service (adds 34%) our dining ran about $100-$125/day. No different from a Rosewood or Fairmont. Again the food was superior quality on par with deluxe restaurants.

Spa: There is a spa on-site with separate men’s and women’s facilities. Full menu of spa service is available and one can use the spa facilities and steam room sans service. Individual lockers and full amenities are provided including a safe, slippers, robe and so on.

Workout: There is a decent sized workout facility with multiple cardio machines, free weights, yoga mats and so forth. Of course can easily supplement with walks on the beach.

Overall an excellent resort on the Riveria Maya with a more upscale Caribbean feel versus what is usually developed on the Riveria Maya. This is not derogatory instead it is an orientation observation. As the majority of resorts in the area are oriented towards higher-density, mixed-use i.e. ownership/transient guests and food offerings oriented to satisfy the larger numbers of guests the Viceroy is a refreshing alternative.

Perfect for romance, honeymoon, quiet, laid-back. As mentioned we stayed an additional night something we have never done prior, quite the endorsement.