Belmond Maroma Resort & Spa

I'll admit we had some concerns traveling to Mexico during hurricane season and after recent travel advisories due to crime or tainted alcohol. We had zero issues. Cancun airport was super clean and easy. Transport to Belmond was waiting for us. The resort itself is tucked away in an old coconut plantation. Checking in for our entire group was easy. We had a large group which apparently made up about 60percent capacity of the 64 rooms to give you an idea of size. The rooms are great. Not modern , no TVs... but AC was cold, they were clean, beds are comfy and the bathrooms are cool. The decor of the resort exterior is mayan inspired ... and the walk ways feel like your in the jungle. The spa was incredible.... Fabiola and Sarah are both great there. Freddy (the main bar's namesake who has been there 20 years, Manuel, and Sergio are incredibly friendly Bartenders. Incredible storytellers about the resort and area as well. Drinks were strong..... and great. Food is amazing..... do not miss out on the handmade tortilla quesadillas made by Mattea(sp?)..... complimentary every morning. We had a little seaweed due to so many recent hurricanes but they do a great job taking it up all day long. Weather was incredible. There's gotta be at least 5 staff members for every 1 guest here. All three pools are clean. Be sure to check out the rooftop for sunsets... great spot for champagne. The sunrises are gorgeous here as well at about 6:30am. Don't be cheap.... tip the staff well as it's a small place and a dollar to them probably means more to them than it does to you if you're vacationing there.

My daughter and I returned to Maroma for a second time and cannot wait to go back. Every staff member made us feel like we were a part of their family and we had a delightful time. We have traveled many places and for us Maroma is truly one-of-a-kind.

This Resort was truly amazing. It is remote, very very relaxing. The service was excellent. Everyone had a great attitude with any request. Many times we felt we were the only one there. The beach was nice.

I decided to visit the Belmond Maroma in Riviera Maya following a thoroughly relaxing and luxurious stay at the Belmond La Samana in Saint Martin the year prior. The Belmond Maroma met, and exceeded, all of my expectations for a luxury vacation destination. I arrived at the Belmond in late August - rainy season - with my mother and 16 year old daughter. We had arranged for transportation from the airport through the resort (about $140 each way), which was prompt and efficient. We were met by a pleasant driver in an SUV equipped with bottled water, cold towels and charging cables for our phones. These gestures were most appreciated after a 4 hour flight. When we arrived at the Belmond (which is located at the end of a remote drive through jungle terrain), we were warmly greeted by Rafael and offered a choice of complimentary beverages native to the area - delicious. We were quickly shown to our room - the ocean view master suite. The room was cozy and comfortable, as well as a mere stone's throw from the beach. Since the weather was bad and I had time to kill, I asked to see the oceanfront master suite. Rafael granted my request, and showed us a beautiful room complete with a plunge pool and gym, hammock, two sinks, jacuzzi bath, indoor/outdoor shower, large sitting area, a balcony providing an unobstructed view of the ocean, as well as an observation tower. Of course, I immediately requested a room upgrade, which was graciously and expeditously accommodated by Rafael. Once we settled into our room - which in my opinion, was nothing short of spectacular - we explored the grounds. The Belmond is set on the Riviera Maya next to two other hotels, but is a private oasis. In addition to boasting a beautiful and secluded beachfront property, it has several restaurants (El Sol and El Restaurante), a health club, spa and three pools (one is adults only). The grounds are well manicured and lush with vegetation and animal life (the resort even has its own parrot!). Each night, the staff lights the main walkway with hundreds of candles that transforms the property into an evening paradise. With only 63 rooms (not filled to capacity since it was off season), we rarely saw any other guests and felt as though we had the entire resort to ourselves. The staff at the Belmond is amongst the friendliest and most professional I have ever encountered (and I have traveled quite a bit). Every single person, including Rafael, Luis (who runs food and beverage), Jose & Ricardo (in water sports) and JC (one of our morning waiters), made us feel special. We were greeted with a friendly "ola" from every single staff person on the premises. The warmth and friendliness of the Belmond staff truly made us feel at home. Every meal that we had at the Belmond was superb. Since we didn't leave the resort (there is no need to), we enjoyed about 15 meals here. Each meal was delicious, prepared with fresh and local ingredients and served by a top-notch waitstaff. We ordered room service one evening, which arrived promptly and was also delicious. As a general comment, I thought our meals were reasonably priced (and we had breakfast included in our resort package). A few additional comments -- I highly recommend taking advantage of the water sports offered at the Belmond. We took out kayaks (complimentary) and had a blast. We also went snorkeling, which was well worth the $80 fee for two people, and had a private sailing lesson ($60). I also recommend using the fitness center, which is well anointed and immaculate, and has a good amount of equipment (weights, machines etc). I did not have the opportunity to use the spa, but I went inside and it is beautiful. Based upon our spectacular experience at the Belmond Maroma, we already booked our room for next summer and are counting down the days until we return.

We stayed here in July--our third trip to his resort. Two weeks in Mexico: the first week was at Nizuc Resort in Cancun, and the second at Maroma. Overall, it was a lovely stay. Our room, #66 was breathtaking. The most amazing view from our balcony, the dome brick ceiling in the bedroom, the plunge pool, hammock, glorious bathroom and our very own mini gym (wow...how will I ever recover from this luxurious amenity in future vacations??? I mean---who has their own workout room? wow. ). The service here is always perfect---exceptional but not intrusive. But...I have to admit. The breakfast and dinner service was sub par compared to previous visits. Beach service improved and was spectacular. But the standout in service goes to Raf. I don't know what his title is....day manager? He was kind, interesting, helpful---truly catered to our needs/wants. I loved having conversations with him and knew that any time we had a question or concern---he was our go to guy. This resort is incredibly lucky to have him. Oh...and Johny at the beach was the hardest working server I've ever seen. One drawback this time around---and it's important---the food. Breakfasts weren't as good as I remembered. While lunches were fantastic, dinners were not good at all. Twice we had seafood that tasted spoiled/off---to the point where we just couldn't eat it. No one even questioned it when they picked up our plates that were still loaded with food. We gave up and went into PDC a couple times for dinner (Catch and Harry's--both were fantastic). The other drawback this trip: the beach. One of the main reasons why people choose Maroma is the stunning beach. And while I understand they are at the mercy of nature....it was incredibly disappointing to see and smell the seaweed (or whatever) in thicks chunks on the entire beach every day. And to have to pull it out of your swimsuits and hair. And oh....the stench. It's just dumb luck. We could have chosen a different week and the beach would have been pristine. But it was a huge letdown. My husband said he's had his fill of this place. But I have not. I love this special resort and I promise we will be back!