We all know how it goes... what makes the kids happy isn't always fun for the adults. As parents, we go to these places with the expectation that they probably won't be much fun for us, but it will be worth it because the kids are going to love it. We know the memories we make with our kids will make the crowds worthwhile and watching their faces light up over their favorite characters will surpass our displeasure of the overwhelming atmosphere.
I was hosted for the purposes of this review, but as always, all opinions are my own.
There are several resorts and theme parks geared toward children and centered around characters from popular movies and TV shows. When I was invited to experience Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya I wasn't sure what to expect from a place built to delight children. I had no idea how much it was also built to delight the grownups! Here are my top 5 things adults should know about Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya.
Food
Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya is an all-inclusive resort. In my previous experience, all-inclusive often meant there would be plenty of food and drink to be found, but none of it particularly exciting or delicious. However, I was in for a treat because this resort features the renowned Gourmet Inclusive® Experience by Karisma, known for the best in food, service, and hospitality.
We enjoyed gorgeous, inspired meals at each of the 6 on-site restaurants. Some meals were à la carte, while others were served in elaborate and impressive food displays. They even offer 24-hour in-room dining!
Comfort
There are 280 suites at Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, and each one of them includes 2 full bathrooms! Imagine that — it was built with real families in mind! Not only is there plenty of bathroom space, but each room has its own pool on the balcony as well. Plus there are plenty of chairs around the larger pools, and of course all over Aqua Nick — the 6-acre on-site waterpark.
It also caught my eye that in the restaurants offering vast food displays, the areas meant for kids were lower so when they’re picking out what food they want, they can actually see it and reach it! It seems so obvious (like 2 bathrooms for families), but it’s one of those things a lot of resorts just don’t think about.
Layout
I expected that this resort would be one giant sprawling facility with the waterpark on one end and guest rooms on the other, and all the restaurants and entertainment in the middle. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya is actually several buildings, spread out in the middle of a beautiful nature preserve and easily accessible by the constantly circulating shuttles.
Not only did I appreciate the tranquility of the tropical surroundings, but I was glad for the privacy and quiet that came with having our rooms removed from the waterpark and nightly entertainment venues.
Entertainment
It’s been a long time since I was a kid. And even my children are well past the cartoon years, so I thought I wouldn’t necessarily “know” the Nickelodeon characters or “get” some of the entertainment. But I was so wrong, and had an absolute blast with the character breakfast, the open-air pop-up performances at Plaza Orange, the “slimings” at Aqua Nick, the glow party, and the hilarious game shows on the Main Stage. I especially loved the vibe at the Snick Lounge, a 90s-inspired family-friendly game room, sports lounge, and live music venue.
Adults
Clearly Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya is built with children in mind. But they do a seriously impressive job of making it enjoyable for parents too!
- Along the lines of the food being way better than the chicken fingers I expected, so were the 3 bars — they served a wide variety of the “good stuff,” and stocked our in-room fridge with it too.
- They also offer parents a built-in break with Club Nick, a supervised place for kids ages 4-12 to play and explore while their grown-ups have some time to themselves.
- Náay Spa is a great place for adults to go while the kids play at Club Nick! They offer everything from couples massages to facials to pedicures.
- Even the decor throughout the resort is far more “grown up” than I expected. There are certainly recognizable, signature Nickelodeon elements everywhere, but on the whole, the place is absolutely beautiful!
One last thing I want to mention... every single employee that I thanked at Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya responded by saying “my pleasure.” It’s not just a fancy way of saying “you’re welcome.” They clearly stress the importance of serving each meal, each drink, each poolside towel with a truly genuine kind of hospitality. A canned “you’re welcome” would do fine, but I noticed all those “my pleasures,” and they really did go a long way.
Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya got it all just right, and you and your family are going to love it as much as I did.
