The sprawling Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is any holiday maker and music lover’s paradise.
This massive resort located about an hour’s drive from Cancun airport is still making a noise amongst all inclusive hotel fans 12 years since it opened, and it’s easy to see why.
Music (of course) and some very friendly staff greet you and take your luggage as you jump out the van and head for the check in desk. We were here to experience Club Heaven – the adult only offering from the hotel, but the main lobby – Hacienda Azul is family friendly and overwhelming in size. Everywhere you look there is rock and pop star memorabilia – guitars, outfits, accessories… There’s actually a tour you can take to get the full low down on all of the incredible pieces housed at the resort.
Weary from our day long journey, we were grateful to have the cute golf style buggies take us to our room, winding through the perfectly manicured gardens flanked by palm trees and beautiful flowers.
Club Heaven is actually only a short walk away and here, it’s all adult only. There are three excellent restaurants here – Wai with its delicious Thai menu and wok show station whipping up fresh noodles, Umo (Mexican) and Faro which is an all-day dining option serving up all kinds of international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Our open plan room featuring a wall divider between the bathroom and bedroom sections included a spa bath tub in the main room, extra large bed (which was sooooo comfortable), plenty of wardrobe space, TV, cosy robes and slippers and complimentary bathroom products, but what gives these rooms their real wow factor is the outside terrace complete with hammock, table and chairs and swim up pool access. The heat in Mexico can get intense and being able to throw ourselves in the cool water at any time definitely was ‘heaven’. The loungers are actually positioned in the water so you can dip your toes in, while enjoying a drink and reading a book – really, I don’t think there’s a better feeling!
The main pool area is very lively (possibly down to the combination of it being an adult only zone coupled with free bars and music playing out of the speakers all day). It’s a super sociable area but because it’s so big, it never feels crowded.
Venture past the pool and towards the sea and that’s where you’ll find all of Hard Rock Riviera Maya’s caletas dotted right along the coastline as far as the resort goes. These ‘caletas’ are man-made coves or inlets – separate smaller beaches sectioned off from the sea, giving the impression of a real beach experience without the ferociousness and steep cliff drops of Maya’s Caribbean ocean, while the water can be monitored and treated in each individual ‘bay’.
Eden is the newest beach cove offering with luxury cabanas which can be rented for an additional cost in this small and private area of the resort. Further along, is the private beach and natural sea cove where you can snorkel and paddle board, and if you follow the windy paths right along, you’ll reach the Azul and Roja areas – both of which are family friendly, populated with expansive pool areas, bridges, fountains, walkways, water activities, pop up food stations and multiple restaurants.
For kids, there is just so much to do. Imagine your eight year old self with access to bowling alleys, laser quest, escapalogy rooms, an entire water park, trampolines, wall climbing… the list goes on! The restaurants too cater for the whole family, some which are themed – but all which offer a high quality all-inclusive experience.
Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya has a unique music initiative for the real die-hard music fans among its guests. There’s several options available like hiring a real Fender guitar to take back to the room if you fancy unleashing your inner rock star. Or if vinyl’s more your thing, you can request a turntable from the main reception desk and they’ll set it up in your room for true party vibes. Want a curated soundtrack of your holiday? No problem, Hard Rock have a selection of playlists for your phone at the touch of a button.
Now let’s talk about the food. There are more than 15 restaurants dotted around the resort, many with unique offerings. Beautifully and individually designed, we headed to Faro for buffet style breakfasts and lunches and always requested a table outside overlooking the sparkling Caribbean sea. What a treat it was to devour everything from tacos stuffed with meat and fish each morning, through to granolas, yoghurts, fresh fruit juices, cooked sausages and eggs.. I mean the choices are endless. At lunch we’d usually go for sushi, pizza, pasta or more tacos (I couldn’t get enough of their guacamole!), all washed down with glasses of juicy red wine followed by cakes and pastries.
On our first night, we tried UMO – known for its fire and smoke play. Mexican Yucatan cuisine included barbacoa tacos, marinated pork shank pibil, corn broth seafood, tortillas and aguachile, all washed down with some excellent cocktails.
WAI meanwhile is Heaven’s Thai inspired restaurant. We loved the dark moody setting and the pre-bar, but the real standout were the handmade noodles which you can see being prepared. From pad Thai to panang curry and spicy tom yam soup, there’s a huge selection.
Beautiful Petit Couchon is another must visit. This pretty French eaterie with rustic interiors and the biggest cheese crust souffle I’ve ever seen was probably our favourite. Wine of course, is included, but each restaurant also has its own wine list should you prefer something a little more refined.
You could stay at least two weeks at Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya and still not get to sample all of the beaches, restaurants or activities. With a full wellness programme including a fully equipped gym, spa and massage treatments, live music shows, this really is all inclusive luxury on a gigantic scale. Whether you’re visiting with the whole family or there for a romantic getaway, you’ll be able to curate the perfect holiday. Book here.
