MAYAN RIVIERA ALL INCLUSIVE
What "exactly" does All Inclusive mean?
All Inclusive refers to the hotel-plan that is presently in use by the majority of large Mayan Riviera 4-5 star
hotels and resorts. It is based on the early Club-Med concept but taken to new heights.
In essence an All Inclusive plan covers all your food, beverages and towel needs.
The following is what is generally included in the All Inclusive plan:
all you can eat at the buffet(s) [breakfast, lunch, dinner]
all you can eat at any and all snack-bars
meals at the specialty restaurants
all beverages* at the buffets, hotel bars and entertainment facilities
beach towels
free use of snorkel gear
free use of kayak
free use of training gym
free use of beach chairs
access to children's clubs
scuba lesson
activities   See "Activities" below.
tips/gratuities
air conditioning
balcony
cable/satellite TV
connected rooms
purified water system
room service
shower/tub
telephone
clothing hangers
Cribs AND Extra Beds Available
*pop, juice, milk, slushies, water, beer, mixed drinks, coffee, espresso, tea, wine
The following is sometimes included in the All Inclusive plan:
room safe
mini-bar
dinner companion
free day tour to local attraction
"top-shelf" spirits
free use of bicycle [usually one hour per day]
free Internet
hammock on balcony
The following is not generally included in the All Inclusive plan and must be paid for as an extra:
room safe
airport transfer
vintage wine and "top-shelf" spirits
scuba diving
baby sitting*
sail boats
motorized sea-crafts
laundry
Internet
*Kids Clubs are free while they are open.
Most hotels have more than one specialty restaurant for you to dine in as part of your All Inclusive plan;
however some hotels also have a "special" specialty restaurant which cost extra if you wish to eat there.
Most specialty restaurants also sell expensive wines if you are not satisfied with the house brands. You can
also take your own bottle in with you if you desire.
Some hotels do stock top-shelf spirits but may keep them under the counter and only disperse a
specific brand if you ask for it. Quite often a good bartender will order a brand you request if they do not
have it.
We do not know why room safes are not a standard include. Our experience has been that hotels that use "key"
safes charge for the use of the room safe while hotels that use the "key-pad" safe offer them at no-charge.
Some hotels charge outrageous prices for Internet access. If your hotel does, use it sparingly and do your e-mail from an Internet café in Playa del Carmen where the rates are reasonable.
ACTIVITIES
Hotels on the Mayan Riviera are highly competitive, thus they are all trying to outdo each other when it comes to providing amenities to their guests. Believe it or not, most 5 star hotels carry almost every activity/amenity listed below.
Physical Activities
- Tennis
- Basketball Hoop/Court
- Soccer Pitch
- Beach Soccer
- Miniature Golf
- Driving Range
- Lawn Bowling
- Horseshoe Pit
- Ping-pong Tables
- Pool Tables
- Jogging Paths [usually with distance markers]
- Spa [weight-room/exercise room]
- Beach Volleyball
- Bicycle Tours
- Racquetball
- Squash
Light Activities
- Spanish Classes
- Dance Lessons
- Mexican Cooking
- Ceramic Painting
- Towel Sculpturing
- Bingo
- Movie Theater
- Arcade Games
- Library
- Sauna
- Picture Takers [take your picture with classical Mayans, birds, iguanas]
- Pool Games [each hotel has their own]
- Competition for "Mr. Hotel"
- Best Cannonball Splash
- Beauty Contest [for guys dressed as girls]
- Stupid Olympics
- Scavenger Hunts
- Singing Contest
Water Activities
- Jacuzzi
- Kayaks
- Paddleboats
- Hobie Cats
- Catamarans
- Snorkeling
- Introductory SCUBA Lesson [in dive pool]
- Water Aerobics [in pool]
- Water Polo [in pool]
- Water Basketball [in pool]
- Pool Volleyball
- Sailing
- Wind Surfing
- Canoeing
Motorized Water Sports
- Parasailing
- Jet Skiing
- Banana Boat Rides
- Water Skiing
All 4-5 star resorts have an Animation staff. This is what they call the group of people who provide daily entertainment for the guests. Many of these staff members provide the evening entertainment as well.
Some hotels have names for their Animation staff like the Iberostar "Star Friends". They have uniforms and there are usually lots of them.
The Animation staff includes people from all over the world so you can always find one from your country. They are a friendly bunch and easily approachable, remember, its their job to make you happy and keep you entertained.
Note: Without a doubt the best Animation crews are in Cuba. Some hotels have over 50 Animation staff who can sing dance, juggle, do magic and a host of other entertaining feats. When Fidel dies and his brother is overthrown these Cubans will no doubt "arrive" on the Mexican hotel scene. The present Mexican Animations crews are good but when the Cubans arrive the Riviera will have entertainment second to none.
MINI-BAR
Most 4-5 star hotels have small fridges in the room. These are called the mini-bar. Some hotels stock the min-bar with pop, beer, potato chips and chocolate bars. These items are usually complimentary under the All Inclusive plan and you can have the fridge restocked every day and even ask for specific items.
BEACH TOWELS
The way the beach towel system works is that you are given a towel-card [at check-in] which you take to the
towel-stand [usually located near the main swimming pool] and hand it in for a towel. You may exchange your
towel as many times as you wish. When you no longer require a towel you trade your towel in for a towel-card.
At check-out you hand in your towel-card. If you loose your towel-card you must pay [usually $20.00 USD].
ROOM SAFES
We think it is ridiculous to charge extra for hotel room safes, but most hotels do. You pay up-front for X number of days. So when you check in you pay for your room safe then.
If you are checking in with a busload of people you may want to skip that procedure until you get to your room. You can get a room safe at any time during your stay.
There are all kinds of room safe models. Some use a key, some have a key and lock. Some safes use a key-pad and some use the room access card. If you loose a safe key, lock or card you must pay an additional penalty [$20-$25.00].
All the safes we have encountered have been easy to operate and we have never heard of a person being ripped off from a safe being cracked.
MAYAN RIVIERA ALL INCLUSIVE HOTELS
Generally it is 4 and 5 star hotels [and Grand Tourism] that offer All Inclusive plans.
MAYAN RIVIERA HOTELS
For current Mayan Riviera - Riviera Maya hotel and resort information including rates, availability and secure on-line reservations please see:
Mayan Riviera Hotels & Resorts
Cancun Airport to Hotel Shuttle see:
Transfer Information
Answers for many of your questions may possibly be found here:
Mayan Riviera Vacation Info Mayan Riviera F.A.Q. Things To Do
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