Just Back From: Riviera Maya

For this interview, I spoke with my better half, who recently stayed at the Riviera Maya EDITION this past March. He was there for a wedding, spending three nights enjoying the beaches (and even visiting the nearby St. Regis, Etéreo, and Rosewood Mayakoba properties for this piece!) Stay tuned for a more detailed piece on the Etéreo, as I will be heading there soon for a wedding.

How was your arrival?

The arrival was extremely smooth. I landed, and it took 25-30 minutes to get our luggage. I had lined a driver up through the Edition but had to walk a long way to get to our car. Once I reached the pickup area, the driver was easy to spot, and the car was gorgeous. I drove 35 minutes to the hotel. To reach the Edition, you have to go down this long drive–about a mile or two long. The St. Regis and Auberge’s Etéreo are in the same area.

What did you think of the lobby? Was it similar to other Edition properties? I find they often have a lot of lush, green foliage in the lobby and public spaces. 

It seemed they had an unlimited budget for foliage; there were many plants. The lobby is partially outside, so the reception is open-air. There is a beautiful view of the pools and ocean framed by the foliage. There were lush plants everywhere, including those hanging down above your head. 

What was the vibe of the property?

The vibe was hip, very cool and chic. There is music playing everywhere–it's good music, but clearly, they're creating a vibe.

How was the check-in? 

The hotel had officially opened two weeks before we arrived. It was 100% packed, and there was some difficulty getting everyone through check-in. I probably waited thirty minutes before I had to push to get somebody to help me.

What was your room like? 

I got upgraded to a one-bedroom suite on the second floor. It was very large: a 2400-square-foot interior with a 1000-square-foot balcony. It had a full kitchen, dining area, lounge, etc. There was a beautiful bathroom with two massive sinks. 

I would call the decor style ‘Miami.’ The color palette was white: white stone flooring, white drapes, white cushions. Certain features, like the TV frame and the cabinet, were made of a nice dark wood. It was very tastefully done.

The lights and blinds were easy to operate. They were all electric–at the touch of a button, you could turn everything off or open the shears. A lot of the time these new systems make controlling the lights so complicated. That wasn’t the case here.  

There was not an outdoor shower, but it seemed like a number of first-floor units had plunge pools. 

The wedding family stayed in the Sky Rooftop Villa, which is apparently the largest penthouse hotel suite in North America. It was about 20,000 plus square feet and had five bedrooms, as well as a massive rooftop space that could be used to entertain. If you are hosting a wedding or big celebration, it is the suite to have.

How was the service? 

Given that the property had been open for two weeks, it was good. You have to understand that you aren’t in New York, so the service won’t be that fast-paced, but it wasn’t massively slow in any way. A lot of the staff members knew my name. One woman spoke to me at breakfast every day and told me the history of the hotel. Everyone was very nice. 

What were the restaurants like? 

There were three restaurants on the property. I would go to Kitchen for breakfast, which had an indoor and outdoor section. I ate outdoors every day, and it was beautiful–covered and really lush, with lots of flowers and plants. The breakfast menu was fine, not the most exciting I’d ever seen. I actually went over to St. Regis for breakfast one morning, but it was just fine, too. 

SO’OL was their poolside restaurant. I went there once for lunch and dinner. The cuisine was eclectic: Mexican, Italian, French, and American. They served oysters, burrata, and whole fish, which they brought right over to the table. 
KI’IS was the Edition’s high-end restaurant. It served Mexican-inspired cuisine, and Chef Francisco Ruano had received The World’s 50 Best Restaurant accolade. We did not end up eating there.

Was there a bar in the hotel? What about a boutique? 

There was a huge, gorgeous bar off the lobby. It was air-conditioned, with thirty-foot ceilings, and served a wide variety of alcohol. There were no boutiques at the Edition, but the St. Regis did have a few. 

How was the beach? 

The beach isn’t visible from the hotel, as it is set back about 100-200 yards, but you can see the water. You have to walk a very long path to reach it; the path is gorgeous, surrounded by palm trees. Along that path is a pool with a restaurant and bar. The beach was not massive, but the water was warm and swimmable. There were some cabanas on the beach, which I believe they will start charging for. 

Were there any water sports offered?

I didn't see any water sports. If you want to go jet skiing, you must go 15 minutes away. The day we tried to go, the water was too rough. There were no massive waves at the Edition’s beach, so you aren’t going to boogie board or surf.

How were the pools? 

There were two large pools. The hotel resembled a partial ‘U,’ and this first pool was in the middle, beside the lobby. It was a large, nice pool that was quieter than the two. Around it were six or seven cabanas that were literally in the water. You have to walk through a shallow part of the pool to reach them. They have these white curtains–so you can keep the cabana open or closed–lounge chairs, a massive couch, and a table. The cabanas are complimentary and first come, first serve.

The second pool was by the beach and had more energy. It was really nice to be able to go back and forth between the beach and the pool, and the restaurant sits right behind it. 

What kind of guest would you say the Riviera Maya EDITION is a good fit for?

It is more for young adults to adults–guests looking for a real vibe and energy. I wouldn’t recommend it for families with young kids. Neither the rooms nor the hotel itself is really set up for them.

What kind of activities were offered?

The wedding I was there for had arranged our own activities, including an unbelievable beach party. The hotel, however, didn’t offer any activities. There was a nice gym, but there wasn’t paddle, tennis, or golf. We ended up going over to the Rosewood Mayakoba to play golf. 

How was the golf? Was it difficult to arrange?

We just called, and the staff from Rosewood picked us up to bring us to the course. The drive was about fifteen minutes. We rented clubs and had a great round. I would suggest playing between 7 and 10 AM–we played at 1:30, which was very warm. It was not inexpensive to play.

St. Regis

You had breakfast one morning at the St. Regis. What did you think of the property? Did you visit the surrounding hotels as well?

In this one area, you have these three hotels: the Edition, St. Regis, and Etéreo. Then, in an adjacent area, there was the Fairmont, Rosewood, and maybe one or two other hotels.

The architecture of the three hotels—the Edition, St. Regis, and Etéreo—was stunning. The Edition and St. Regis had the same architect, so they were more modern and spread out. I went to the St. Regis in a golf cart for breakfast, which probably took two minutes, and did a full tour. They are all a part of the same ownership group, so I could charge breakfast back to my room. I think the St. Regis had more conference facilities, so I assume they host more corporate events. The pool was very nice, and its beach is right next to that of the Edition.

One night, we ate at Toro, out on the water at the St. Regis. It was really, really good. First, you head into this speakeasy bar; the bartenders mix you a fabulous drink as you wait for your table. Then, you head over to the restaurant—they probably have forty seats available outside and forty inside. The food was excellent, and we shared everything. The pacing was great, the food was great, and the vibe was great.

Etéreo

Etéreo, an Auberge property, was much smaller, with 75 rather than the Edition’s 182 rooms. The resort is supposed to feel ‘one with nature’ – it takes cues from the surrounding landscape, employing materials like tzalam wood and lava stone. Etéreo was less spread out than the other two resorts. Its pool was also less of a ‘Miami scene'; you could call it a bit more intimate. It is quieter and better for couples.

Would you visit any of these properties again?

I love to go to new places, so I don't tend to go back to too many hotels over and over. It was unbelievable for a wedding venue, though–these hotels are perfect for it.