You guys. I have been to my share of all-inclusive resorts. I used to be a wedding photographer (seems like a lifetime ago!) and about a third of the weddings I photographed were outside of the United States- mostly in Mexico and the Dominican Republic. That being said, I have been to A LOT of all-inclusive resorts. Some were amazing, while others… not so much.
The Villa del Palmar Cancun luckily falls into the former category and I’m breaking everything down below to hopefully help you if you’re thinking about a trip to the Cancun area anytime soon!
GETTING TO THE VILLA DEL PALMAR RESORT:
The Villa del Palmar Cancun is located in the Playa Mujeres area of Cancun, about a 30 minute car ride from the Cancun airport. Playa Mujeres is a quieter section of Cancun and away from the main action of the hotel zone, so keep that in mind if you prefer that vibe. The resort itself is also located directly across from Isla Mujeres and the ferry to take you there is right next door, so exploring Isla Mujeres is easy and makes for a fun day trip.
THE GROUNDS:
The tone of the trip was set as soon as we walked into the hotel lobby and we were greeted with its intoxicating smell and a fruity welcome drink. Great way to start our stay!
Getting around the resort is a breeze. To me, the resort is a great size and I imagine it’s size would also be great for older guests or families with small children. It’s not so big and expansive that you need golf carts to get around, yet it feels spacious and there’s plenty to explore.
The grounds are PRISTINE. Seriously y’all, they’re perfect. Every bush, plant, flower, and blade of grass is in tip-top shape. Because we are early risers, we often saw gardeners cutting grass to perfection with scissors or moving pebbles into perfectly formed shapes. I appreciate the attention to detail!
POOLS AND BEACH:
If you’re a pool person, the Villa del Palmar’s got you covered. There are multiple pools to use, depending on your pool style. We generally gravitate to whatever pool is closest to the beach, so we stuck to the main pool. But there is also a smaller, sleek adults-only pool, a pool geared towards kids, and another large pool with a cool bridge structure that I imagine kids would also love. The main pool has a huge hot tub area (with firepit!) attached and also has the closest proximity to the beach, restrooms, bars, and restaurants.
THE SERVICE:
This is another area where the Villa del Palmar Cancun excels. Whether you want to lounge by the pool or the beach, someone is ready to take care of you. I have to give some love to my favorite servers by the pool and beach (shout out to Benjamin and Merily, among others). They are constantly moving and making sure that your drinks are full, that the towels are stocked, and that you are fully satisfied. The service in the restaurants is impeccable as well.
THE FOOD:
I like to think I can make due with a not-so-great room or subpar amenities, as long as there’s a beautiful beach and/or pool and most properties seem to at least have that going for them. But the food… THE FOOD. To me, food is critical! Who wants to spend a week surviving on popcorn from the beach bar (I’ve done this) or leave the resort to get McDonalds (I’ve also done this) across the street? I think it’s fair to say that many people don’t have high expectations of food at all-inclusive resorts, but the Villa del Palmar really delivers! The food is probably the best I’ve had at ANY all-inclusive resort.
Caprichos: This is the main buffet and it’s awesome. It’s spacious and right on the beach, so the morning view for breakfast is perfection. Eggs made to order, omelet and smoothie stations, bacon(!!!), waffles, fresh fruit, breads, pastries and local Mexican dishes… seriously do yourself a favor and get a big omelet and the green juice. It’s a perfect start to the day!
Bite Bar: The Bite Bar is located right by the main pool and you can sit in the open air atmosphere and enjoy the views of the pool and the ocean. Or if you’re like us and don’t want to leave your lounge chair, the servers will also bring you a menu to order from here. They have great quesadillas, ceviches, paninis, pizza and burgers. And if you know me, you know that chips and salsa are pretty much my love language. So I had them daily, obviously.
La Casona STK: At heart, I’m a meat and potatoes kind of girl so this spot is right up my alley and one of my favorites. La Casona STK is a steakhouse with an intimate atmosphere. I got the filet and it was perfect.
Davino’s: This restaurant is one of my favorites. I love fish and Italian and Davino’s has plenty of both. I had the Chef’s special a few times (which was generally some sort of fish, but with different sides and sauces each time). One night we couldn’t decide between several dishes, so they let us try them all! Win-win!
Zama: The resort describes this restaurant as “Modern Mexican” and I’d say that’s about right. It sits right in the heart of the resort, in a super cool palapa. It’s open for lunch and dinner and you can sit indoors or out. The cocktails here are great! They even wheeled out a cart one night at dinner and made me some sort of drink that was on fire. Nothing like watching a little fire performance and being rewarded with a tasty drink at the end. Otherwise, get yourself a margarita or one of their other delicious cocktails!
Hiroshi: We didn’t eat get to eat here the last time, but if you like sushi this is your place! It’s located just by the main lobby and there’s also Japanese beer and cocktails.
If you’re looking for a great place to rest and relax in the Caribbean sunshine, I highly recommend the Villa del Palmar Cancun!
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