Banyan Tree Mayakoba

HOTEL & GROUNDS Tucked away in the complex of Mayakoba, Banyan Tree is a sprawling, jungled getaway nestled in beautiful nature that feels like a truly private sanctuary in the Riviera Maya. Mayakoba itself includes an assortment of properties that offer a number of restaurants and activities, but Banyan Tree alone could readily provide plenty to do within their own enclave. The recent renovations and additions at this resort also keeps this property in line with other, newer resorts that have recently been built along the Riviera Maya. Coming up to the property is an awe-inspiring experience with a grand driveway that pulls up to a beautiful, open-air lobby that overlooks the lagoon that winds through the lobby for boat transportation. Unfortunately, at times this area can be full of cars and can take away from the impression it makes by looking more like a parking lot. Like much of this stretch of coastline, the beach contends with seasonal seaweed, erosion, and offshore barriers, so it may not match the classic postcard image of the Caribbean. Fortunately, Banyan Tree's beach clubs make excellent use of the setting with both their beach clubs being fantastic areas to dine and relax by the water. The adults-only Sur Beach Club offers a relaxed yet lively atmosphere, while nearby Sands provides a more refined, family-friendly alternative. After seeing some of the other beach areas at Mayakoba, I can say that the Banyan Tree ranks high among them. ROOM The accommodations offer an exceptional sense of privacy, with spacious standalone villas that feel like secluded retreats. The defining feature is undoubtedly the private pool. Even in the entry-level Bliss Pool Villa, the pool is substantially larger than the plunge pools offered by many comparable luxury resorts and remains one of the largest private pools we've experienced. Our recently renovated villa struck a nice balance between modern updates and the resort's distinctive character. The bedroom and adjoining living area were spacious and thoughtfully laid out. While the dual-vanity portion of the bathroom felt somewhat narrow, the oversized shower, separated toilet, and walk-in closet more than compensated. The size of the closet in particular was generous with plenty of room to hang clothes, lay out items, and good drawer space as well. Our only notable concern involved sleep quality. We found it difficult to cool the room to our preferred sleeping temperature overnight, and the combination of a very firm mattress with exceptionally soft pillows wasn't the most comfortable for us personally. Those preferences will naturally vary from guest to guest, but they made restful sleep a bit more challenging during our stay. Sound insulation could also be improved. The wooden front door appeared to shift with the humidity, occasionally leaving a noticeable gap that allowed outside noise into the villa. During a nighttime thunderstorm, the sound of the rain was surprisingly loud, and the local birdlife provides an enthusiastic wake-up call each morning for light sleepers. SERVICE Service is where Banyan Tree Mayakoba is faulted the most and was the weakest aspect of our stay. For a luxury property, it seemed as though communication constantly broke down between myself and staff and between staff themselves. From the outset, there were signs that information wasn't being effectively shared between departments. For example, despite having coordinated more than $200 worth of in-villa birthday amenities with the resort prior to arrival, we were still asked at check-in whether we were celebrating a special occasion, suggesting that some details hadn't been fully shared across the team. On its own, this would have been a minor oversight, but it foreshadowed a pattern that continued throughout our stay. From that point, there was no other time anyone on property mentioned or asked about special considerations or celebrations. After we checked out, we continued receiving messages about activities taking place later that day, and on several occasions, questions or requests either went unanswered or required additional follow-up from us. When dinner plans had been cancelled by the resort and we asked about alternative dining plans within Mayakoba, we were left unanswered until the next day and still weren't given assistance with arranging an alternative. Rather than feeling seamless, interactions often required us to follow up on requests or reintroduce information that had already been shared, and it was the cumulative effect of these small lapses that diminished our personal overall experience. For a resort of this caliber, that lack of consistency stood out, and the difference became even more apparent whenever we visited neighboring Mayakoba properties. Staff at Rosewood and Alila even as visitors rather than guests consistently demonstrated a higher level of coordination and anticipation, making our interactions feel effortless by comparison. Those experiences highlighted where Banyan Tree's service felt less polished. What made this especially disappointing was that it represented a noticeable change from our previous stay several years ago, when the hospitality had been one of the resort's defining strengths. The accommodations and setting remain exceptional, but the inconsistencies in service ultimately had enough of an impact that we chose to end our stay early and move to another property. Overall, Banyan Tree Mayakoba remains one of the most beautiful resorts in the Riviera Maya, offering exceptionally private villas with outstanding pools in lush surroundings that make it easy to unwind. While our experience was held back by inconsistent service that ultimately had us leave because of it, the resort still has many qualities that make it a compelling choice, particularly for travelers seeking space, privacy, and a tranquil escape. I echo that this is a solid 4-star entry, but service inconsistencies must be addressed for this to be a true 5-star, luxury property.

This place is breathtaking! Perfect for a quiet, relaxing getaway. Our room was wonderful, the grounds are beautiful, the people are welcoming. We booked through the Banyan Tree website and got breakfast included which saved some money. We will definitely go back.

We had a wonderful trip gamaliel was so kind, professional and friendly.. he made our beach experience amazing

My Wife and I had a fantastic honeymoon stay at Banyan Tree and the customer service here has been phenomenal, at every hour of the day the staff here are at your beck and call and will do whatever they can to make your stay better. We have to give a special mention to Gilmer at Cello, the Italian restaurant, who has gone above and beyond to accommodate the menu for my pregnant wife including his limited edition watermelon cake! 10/10 all round, we can’t wait to come back

AMAZING food. Some of the best Thai food I’ve had (and I’ve had a lot). The Wok fried tenderloin prime with basil and chili was particularly delicious. Highly recommend!