- Mexico Holidays
- Playa del Carmen
- Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya
View 68 Photos
Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya
Mexico, North America
Playa del Carmen
Set amid lavish gardens on a half-mile-long stretch of white sand beach named Playa Del Secreto (The Secret Beach), this magnificent award-winning resort boasts one of the largest swimming pools in México. The location is ideal as one can easily reach Cancun and the world famous Mayan archaeological sites. Facilities include a lobby with a 24-hour reception, currency exchange, lift, hairdressing salon, a theatre and a games room, a café, bar and seven a la carte restaurants, conference facilities and Internet access, room and laundry services.
Facilities
- Tennis
- Billiards
- Volleyball
- Beauty salon*
- Spa treatments
- Massage*
- Entertainment programme for adults
- Children playground
- Sun loungers
- Outdoor freshwater pool
- Please note some facilities may incur an additional fee
Due to the surrounding area and the number of steps around the hotel, it may not be suitable for those with mobility difficulties.
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.5 Excellent19,985 reviews
Excellent
77%
Very Good
15%
Average
5%
Poor
2%
Terrible
1%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Below Par
I’ve been to over a dozen all inclusive resorts in the Cancun area and the Valentin Imperial has been one of my worst stays. The staff service overall is friendly in the restaurants, which is why this review got two stars.
The food is not good. The breakfast buffet is the only option that isn’t below subpar. I understand all-inclusive aren’t typically know for food, but the quality has been below the standard of the other resorts. French and Mexican restaurants are also ok-ish. Everything else was crappy. Room service was by far the worst.
Reservations are super unorganized with some restaurant staff saying we need reservations and other staff saying we don’t. Our group of six tried dinner with and without reservations and were met with a lot of push back about our group in both situations. Also the restaurant operating schedule does not have their better restaurants open in the beginning of the week so beware.
Drinks are syrupy and meh. House wines are not great either if you are a fan of wine.
They do not do food service at the beach which is ridiculous. First time at an all inclusive where they will not feed you beach side. We bought a premium cabana package assuming food could be delivered. You can only order food by the pool, walk to a food truck by the pool and walk it back to your beach cabana, or eat inside a restaurant.
Spa is TINY and offering massages, facials, and steam room and sauna that can probably fit six people comfortably. Locker room is squished and there is one toilet that is separated by a small glass where everyone can see and here you make a dump. The amenities need work. No spa jacuzzi, lounge pools, manicures/pedicures, or other standard attractions you see at an all inclusive spa. I started my period on this trip and the spa did not even have feminine care products stocked in the locker room. The massage was good. I had Gaby and she was kind and attentive.
The room is ok. The fridges are stocked daily for drinks and nespresso pods, which is nice. They lack in-room snack, only giving you a bag or two of potato chips. Room service is efficient.
There is no way factor. I will not be back. If you are recommend to stay here by your travel agent, it’s only because they are getting a good kick back. I recommend using Costco Travel's and reading the reviews there to make better decisions on quality Mexico resort stays.
Nice resort but service lacking
Really cool resort with tons of wildlife. Food was decent. Our biggest knock was the service. We’ve been to many all inclusives and the workers here just weren’t very friendly. One at the swim up bar told us we could only have one straw a day. Then when we were asking about the different shots he could make, he offered a menu…this was actually a QR code and we were in a swim up pool so of course we didn’t have a phone. Other than that everything was really nice. Checkout was way too early as well, usually the 5 stars are more accommodating
Excellent Resort
Excellent resort! The staff goes above and beyond to make you feel at home and part of their family. Loved having a bunch of options for food throughout the day. Didn’t have to be preferred to have choices. Food was tasty no matter where you went. The Golden Pool was great for relaxing and unwinding, while the main pool provided a more entertaining atmosphere.
Excellent Resort
From the time you check in to the time to check out the service is excellent. There are numerous dinning options, evening bars, and activities. You can lounge at 3 different pools, get served lunch at the pools, or spend time on the beach. There are activities for those who want to participate. And for those who don’t you just relax and get waited on. We are planning to come back in 2 years. 5 stars!
My Home Away From Home
Rooms: beautiful Cleanliness: excellent Atmosphere: breath-taking Noise level: peaceful Service: top notch Amenities: awesome entertainment group and activities Value: beyond anything I can imagine Location: experience wildlife and beautiful gardens and plantation
This is the first time I have ever been to Valentin. You are welcomed by the friendly and engaging staff. When you walk into the lobby, it feels like you are in the most beautiful church. When you get a chance, go out and take a look at the portraits of the Archangels. If you are a church goer, they have a small chapel in the hotel where they do 8:30 am mass. The action happens at the main pool and the theater. If you want some peace and quiet, I would recommend the Golden Pool. The main pool is awesome! What makes it awesome is the entertainment group that sets up the activities. If it wasn't for them, I probably never would have had joined in the activities. The entertainment group consists of awesome Pablo, sweet Nora, party boy Carlos, awesome Israel and adorable Sairy. For them, I give them 5 stars for their energy and being engaging with the guests. They really are awesome people. The rooms in this hotel are beautiful and spotless. I stayed in building six on the second floor. Also, keep an eye out for Kevin. He is a iguana on the grounds and he is a legend! For lunch, I always went to Mar y Tierra. Their lunch menu is absolutely delicious. I recommend getting the fish fingers and the beef kabob. My family and I went there for dinner and I recommend getting the octopus. It was my first time trying it too. The Japanese restaurant, Ginger, was the hibachi restaurant i ever had in the resort! I recommend getting the miso soup and ordering the shrimp and squid. The French restaurant, L'Alsace was very elegant! It is not your typical French restaurant. I recommend getting the Ratatouille and the Cornish Hen and for dessert the chocolate mousse. The Italian restaurant, L'Olivo, was absolutely beyond anything I can expect for Italian food. I recommend getting their tomato soup and the linguini bolognese and for dessert the almond apple pie. The Mexican Restaurant, La Hacienda, was amazing. The food was authentic Mexican, nothing you would see in the States. I recommend getting the Cochinita pibil. After dinner, I always go to the theater for the shows. The best show throughout my stay was the Magic Show. My second favorite was the Burlesque Show. The third favorite was the Elvis Show. The other shows were also awesome as well. For breakfast, I always to the buffet and pick what I want. The cook makes delicious omelets! All in all, I can say that the Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya was beyond anything that I can imagine. To me, it felt like home. In fact, this is my home away from home! I will be returning there soon!
Review by kristenlee95 Melbourne, Florida
Your holiday to Mexico is just a phone call away
Call our Travel Specialists today on 01732 809 181
