Palmaia, The House of AiA

Just went on a magical girls trip here. The amenities, room and beach were amazing. We especially loved the service from Danny and Alan. The nachos from the taco truck were unreal. We all received spa treatments that were 10/10. This was just the vacation we needed.

My two best friends and I took our annual spring break trip outside of the US this year and stayed at Palmaia House of Aia for a week in April 2025. We have been to Miraval resort and Canyon Ranch. We look for luxury vacations with a plant based wellness approach including classes on meditation, fitness, yoga, breath work, managing thoughts, etc. We had a terrific experience at Palmaia and debriefed with each other about why it was so wonderful… Here is a long list of positives with some tips for travelers to consider: The setting was gorgeous! Well maintained pathways, landscaping, and lighting. Short access to the beach which was great white sand and gorgeous serene Caribbean Sea. There were enough comfy beach huts on our "adults" end of the resort so we could enjoy time in the shade on the beach each day. The rooms in the "adults only" building we stayed in were well maintained, simple but upscale. Gorgeous views of beach for two of the three of us. (There are rooms on the first floor where you can swim right out of your patio. My friends loved that idea but we agreed we preferred the privacy and quiet of a higher floor. And the great views.) The staff were terrific and gracious. From room cleaning to restaurant services. The nomadic guides (which are basically staff you are assigned to as resources via text) were fun and helpful. VERY smart to connect us with resort staff that could answer questions or help out quickly. For example..."how do I turn the fan off in my room?" "where can we exchange American dollars for pesos?" "can you make us a reservation for dinner?" "when is check out?" Based on our past experiences at Miraval (a few times at Tucson and once at Austin) and Canyon Ranch (once at Tucson) we really enjoyed the activities and classes offered at Palmaia and wished for more. (More classes of similar offerings to choose from plus more about developing personal well-being and a few fitness focused classes would have been nice.) We enjoyed meditation, "thought control," yoga, sound bath, etc. When they were outside, you needed to get shade and put on bug spray if it was after 10 am. We think more classes held near the windy beach in the Gypsy and Ocean tents/platforms would make more sense midday because of the heat. Our spa experience was fabulous! Again, the decor and setting was so serene and felt very true to the Mayan area. We all enjoyed wonderful 90 minute massages after a short authentic experience in a temezcal (sweat lodge) and relaxing time in the cenote at the spa. Arrive about 45 minutes early to enjoy all they have to offer. We highly recommend booking spa massages. Two other important details that mattered was the music selection and decreased use of mobile phones. There was never loud music to tolerate in restaurants or on the beach. (They did have some evening music at the outside bar.) It was so much more relaxing not to be bombarded by music designed to "make us have fun" like in many other resorts. Also, we took our phones with us but used them sparingly which was true for most of the guests we were with. Wellness is much more accessible if we aren't on our phones. After making reservations and before arriving, I had to reach out to the resort a few times (to arrange airport transportation, to schedule massages, general questions). Palmaia was quick to respond in email in English. It is rare to interact with luxury resort services that are so responsive. Perhaps this was just good timing…I had questions and needs and they were not too busy to reply. But as a frequent traveler, it’s rare enough I wanted to point it out. Our native language is English and, unfortunately, we do not speak or write/read in Spanish. Palmaia had staff that could communicate with us very well. We appreciated how easy that made our stay. The food was a mixed experience but overall good. We are plant based eaters and absolutely loved the Charly's vegan taco truck food. The main outdoor restaurant on the beach - Su Casa - was good, especially breakfast. I'm still thrilled that I went down the first morning for some coffee and the self-service table had coffee, soy milk, and agave. So nice to have my favorites actually be the default offering! We didn't discover Plantissa until day 3 and that became our all-time favorite! The indoor setting is lovely, the staff is great, the vegan menu is large and yummy. A couple of the restaurants were poor and we did not return after our first experience. The food at LEK (Mexican contemporary) was very disappointing. The food at Mar de Olivo (Mediterranean) was mediocre. UME (Asian Fusion) restaurant was ok. We might have returned to eat there a second time if we had more evenings at the resort. Two of the three of us drink alcohol and the options throughout the resort were of good quality given that they were part of the “all inclusive” resort fee. The gym was too small and too hot. I was there almost every day and it was always a bit crowded for the space. I appreciated access to towels, water, mats, and dumbbells. There were a few treadmills and maybe a spinning bike (not sure). It had no ceiling fans! And the gym had no windows or doors to open for fresh morning air. (Although there was a wall of glass looking into the jungle.) The air conditioning was never low enough for working out and sweating, especially as the day got later and the outdoor heat more intense. This seems like a missed opportunity for Palmaia. We recommend investing in development of some more fitness focused classes (cardio drumming, HIIT, etc.) and better workout facilities because many of your clientele enjoy working out even on vacation. The gift shop was very nice but quite expensive. Ideally, there would have been some additional modestly priced items and some basic sundries to purchase. We appreciated the mini bar fridge in our rooms. We had some dried fruits snacks that tasted like sugar. Offering more nuts would have been healthier. Perhaps Palmaia could offer a short menu of options so each room could be stocked with the guests’ preferences. Guests might want to know that Palmaia is nestled within another resort. So you get dropped off at the Palmaia lobby and then driven by golf cart through another resort and into Palmaia area. When we arrived at the main lobby, we were offered “adults only building.” It was more money (100 usd per night per room extra) and the offer seemed designed to prompt us to spend more. It was a little strange and offputting. However, we did opt to stay in the “adults only” building and we did not regret it. There are some families and kids throughout the resort but if you aren’t traveling with children, it is highly preferable to stay in a building toward a more secluded end of the resort away from the louder voices and energy kids inevitably bring with them. This offered us more solitude, quiet, and relaxation than if we were staying in a building with families. Overall the brand Palmaia House of Aia has developed feels substantive and highly integral; during our stay in April 2025, the resort really promoted relaxation and well-being. It's a plant based wellness resort and there were lots of details that leant themselves to that feeling. For example, the gorgeous walking pathways had hidden gems like cenotes, a bonsai greenhouse, bikes to ride, beautiful native plants, small cold water plunge pool next to "warm tub" of water, etc. Also, the staff apparel seemed specific and authentic to their brand. Even the simple rustic but classy bracelet we each received and wore daily - with a chip embedded in it to use as a key for room access - was “on brand.” The classes and activities were well thought out, relevant to relaxation and wellness, not trying to sell us products and services. My two friends and I enjoyed our time together tremendously! We left feeling closer to each other and more connected to the values most of us try to foster when on a wellness focused vacation – connection, gratitude, optimism, and love. We will return!

We will definitely be back. This was one of the best vacations that I have ever had. Thank you to Esteban and Dariana for being amazing nomadic guides. Thank you to Fernando (mi vida, mi amor!), Enrique, Miguel, Abraham, Louis, and Andres for keeping me fed with snacks and cool with a drink in my hand. Reyes, thank you for the excellent tacos. Angel, thank you for leading yoga. We can’t wait to see you all next time.

Solo trip. Excellent & tenative staff. Amstar transportation on point. Food delicious and multiple choices for various diets (great juice & mocktail options). Plethora of activities aside from the beach, walking, and spa. Clean! Filtered water! Loved dancing on the beach with great music. Definitely a check mark off my bucket list! Thank you everyone who made my time there memorable!

Second Visit to House of AiA – A Mixed Experience This was my second time visiting House of AiA, and while the property still offers some wonderful elements, there were notable areas where the experience fell short compared to my first stay. What I Loved: • The property grounds remain stunning—peaceful and well-maintained. • The unlimited coconut water is a refreshing and appreciated touch. • Yoga classes and sound baths were excellent and deeply restorative. • Special shoutouts to Enrique (server at Eolo) and the main guy running the taco truck—both went above and beyond and were standout staff members! Areas That Need Improvement: 1. Massage & Spa Services: Disappointing experience. I specifically requested a massage therapist more than 24 hours in advance (twice) and was told upon arrival that the request hadn’t been communicated. They eventually found the chat confirming my request but still made no attempt to make it right. My massage started 20 minutes late with the wrong therapist, and my wife’s was delayed by 45 minutes. No compensation or apology was offered, and the expected 20% discount (per their >24-hour policy) was denied. I also wasn’t offered access to any amenities like the plunge cenote or showers beforehand. 2. Plunge Pools: These used to be heated—they’re not anymore. One of them was visibly dirty, which was off-putting. 3. Declining Food Quality: While the presentation remains strong, the taste and freshness have gone downhill since last year. Plantissa was the standout dining option; the rest fell short. The pizza and guac were great—everything else, unfortunately, I’d skip. 4. Beach/Pool Service Decline: They’ve removed previously available amenities like sunscreen and water by the pool and beach. There’s also no staff readily available for towel setup or drink service—you have to flag someone down or press a button on your lounger. 5. Butler Service via WhatsApp: This remains a strong point—attentive and helpful throughout the stay. 6. Order Shaming & Dress Code Confusion: Some servers questioned guests for ordering multiple items at dinner, which felt uncomfortable. Also, Plantissa’s dress code feels inconsistent—yoga attire is allowed, but a woman in a sports bra was asked to leave and return with a shirt. It’s a yoga retreat—this policy felt unnecessarily rigid. 7. Chips & Guac: The guac is great. The chips? Stale every time. 8. Room Key Bracelets: Love the concept, but this year the quality was poor. Ours fell apart within 24 hours, and we saw the same thing happen to several other guests. 9. For the pricing you pay. the mattresses should be comfier along with more pillows and comforters. Also, the room uses mini splits. 10. The Pools are NOT heated. They have awesome pool setup, but NO ONE are in the pools. because they are COLD! HEAT THE POOL. Therefore people would enjoy that! ⸻ Overall, House of AiA still has a lot of potential, but compared to my previous visit, the service quality, food standards, and guest experience have noticeably declined. I hope they take this feedback seriously, because this place has the foundation to be truly amazing again.