Valentin Imperial Maya

Been about 10 years since we last visited. This resort stands out head and shoulders above others we have stayed at over the years. Although pricy but not extreme, this resort is truly a 5 star by comparison. Grounds are well groomed, cart paths kept clean & trimmed, rooms well cared for and cleaned well each day (twice daily when requested), fridge well stocked, buffets and restaurants have excellent variety for all pallets, entertainment of all types during the day, nightly entertainment well done. My only frustration is having to utilize a phone to access all information - maps, menus, entertainment schedules etc. Not only do I find this a personal inconvenience of having to carry a phone everywhere, but it gives everyone a reason to have their nose stuck in the phone all day rather than personally socializing with other guests. It seems to be the way of all resorts now, but takes away from personal contacts which for us has always been a valuable part of the vacation experience.

Lots of wildlife on the resort which was lovely. For all inclusive the quality of food was high. For us, we wouldn’t return as there was only a very small section of sea you could actually swim in, which was quite a long walk from where the beach was accessed. If sea swimming is a must do on a Carribean holiday, as it is for me, this isn’t the resort for you. Drinks also very weak in the majority of bars, although you could ask for more alcohol to be added. I presume this was intentional to ensure people didn’t get too drunk in the sun, but you would hope that people paying the high price of the resort wouldn’t need to be monitored like that :-). It meant I didn’t drink many cocktails as I don’t want that much sugar intake. The wine included also not great quality, and to upgrade to anything decent was way overpriced.

We upgraded from the basic room to a “golden” suite for $250 usd for 5 days total. I have never upgraded rooms before, but gave it a shot as it was low cost. I could have done without the upgrade, but it was a good value. Service at the resort varied, the check in and check out process was flawless, at restaurants or coffee shops they often seemed short staffed but were overwhelmingly friendly. Pool entertainment at the main pool was constant and typically high quality. In particular I was a big fan of pool volleyball. If you are into quietly lounging pool side there is a separate pool called the golden pool. The resort is in a great state of cleanliness and repair, leaves and branches as well as trash are almost never seen. My biggest complaints are: 1. It was very difficult to get water stocked in the room. Housekeeping would seldom stock our room with water, we would have to make multiple calls to room service a day just to maintain a sufficient supply of water. It is worth noting, bottled water is also available at most restaurants and the gym. So this was a minor inconvenience. 2. Restaurants would close on a rotational basis which I was told depended on the occupancy of the resort. If it was low, there were fewer restaurants open. Last night for instance, there were only 3 restaurants open for the entire resort. Additionally, I detested the dress code. Having to wear long pants as a male when the humidity is 85% was truly miserable. I understand the need to maintain a level of decorum, but it led to some uncomfortable evenings for me.

I had a fantastic experience! Beautiful resort. The main pool is super fun and exciting and the golden pool is very quiet and calm. So you get both experiences.

This was our fourth trip to the Valentin, the first since 2022. In the last four years, the resort has improved from a great resort to a truly excellent resort. We stayed in the new Dunas suites, and they are amazing. Being able to read or drink coffee on a patio overlooking the Gulf, or swim in a private swimming pools with views of the beach, is second to none. The updated restaurants show that ownership is spending what is necessary to keep this resort among the best. And the food has gotten even better in the last four years. I really encourage everyone to try the Chef's Table at L'Olivo. It was an incredible culinary experience, worth every penny. And the food--especially the risotto--was unbelievable. I'd like to thank Ivonne Pina for her help getting reservations for the Chef Table and romantic beach dinner. She was fantastic and always responded to emails quickly. I would also like to thank Virginia at the Golden Pool who remembered our names every day and drink preferences, and was simply a delight to get to know and talk to.