ALL-INCLUSIVE MEXICO DESTINATIONS
Life’s a breeze
Fancy a five-star all-inclusive escape without the millionaire’s price tag? Flora Ioannou tests out three Riviera Maya resorts at different price points
@floraioan N
othing beats a Mexican welcome, a kiss on both
cheeks and a warm hug, just what’s needed after a 10-hour flight – plus maybe a shot of tequila and a sangrita chaser. I hate flying, but the thought
of turquoise sea, white sands and the hot sun of Mexico’s Caribbean coast is enough to make me step on board an aircraft to the Riviera Maya. Stretching from Puerto Morelos
to Punta Allen, the 125 miles of palm-fringed coastline is home to some of Mexico’s finest beaches. As well as the views, it has amazing marine life and is great for scuba diving and snorkelling, has caves for exploring, cenotes
(bodies of fresh water) said to help with healing and fertility, historical sites to visit and a mixed cuisine catering for every taste. The all-inclusive resorts also
cater for everyone, so we tested out three five-star resorts on the Riviera Maya – one to suit every wallet – to find out exactly what comes with the price tag.
◗ SAVE: RIU PLAYACAR Located in Playa del Carmen on a complex shared with four other Riu resorts, this hotel underwent a $32 million renovation last year, giving it a clean, calm and modern feel. There are no doors to the lobby, so it opens out onto a path leading right down to the
Caribbean Sea. All 396 rooms, four bars and four restaurants – The Palms, Jade, Traviata and Turquesa – were given a makeover during the renovation. Add to these a pool bar, and this hotel has great food and drink on tap 24 hours a day. Even the gardens
were totally redesigned, creating three large pools, as well as a children’s pool with slides. The hotel also has a great kids’ club, RiuLand, with a full programme of children’s entertainment and activities for five to 14-year-olds. And for the big kids, there is
17 November 2016
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