Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya

Erick was fantastic at the boathouse

From the moment we arrived at Margaritaville Riviera Maya, we were met with nothing but smiles, warmth and genuinely friendly faces. We’ve had an absolutely incredible stay and, honestly, it’s the staff who have made this holiday so memorable.

Our swim-up suite was gorgeous. The air conditioning was outstanding (which was very welcome!), the shower had fantastic pressure and the room had everything we could have wanted. The minibar was kept stocked with water, and the points system was such a great touch. Being able to use the points at the coffee shop for beers, crisps, chocolates and all sorts of other treats was brilliant.

The food has been exceptional throughout our stay. The buffet had an amazing choice every day and, importantly, changed things up enough that it never felt repetitive. But the real surprise were Frankie & Lola’s and JWB Steakhouse. Both were genuinely fantastic. The quality of the food, service and atmosphere was incredible, and it still feels slightly ridiculous that restaurants of that standard are included in an all-inclusive!

Around the pool, we were never without a drink for long. The staff were constantly checking in, incredibly attentive without ever being intrusive, and always seemed to do it with a smile.

But above everything else, the staff are what make this resort special. We tried our best to get everyone’s names who went above and beyond, but there are so many people who deserve recognition that it would be impossible to mention everyone. Every single person we interacted with contributed to making this holiday what it was.

At JWB Steakhouse, we were looked after by Israel and Angel on both of our visits. They were hilarious, welcoming and brilliant at what they do. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and they along with the whole team worked incredibly hard to make every part of the evening feel special.

Christian, the sommelier, was fantastic. He was incredibly knowledgeable but also funny and approachable, and his wine tasting was one of the highlights of our stay. He made learning about the wines genuinely enjoyable.

At Frankie & Lola’s, Gerrardo was an absolute character. He was one of the funniest and most personable servers we met, and his attention throughout the evening really made our experience. We also spent far too much time watching Eddy, the pizza chef, work his magic! He was kind enough to make us a small pizza and bring it over to us, something we hadn't even asked for, but were absolutely delighted by. And it was genuinely fantastic pizza!

The mixology class with Eduardo was another highlight. He was brilliant fun, incredibly friendly, and his cocktails were consistently excellent

The breakfast and lunch restaurant team also deserve a huge thank you. We saw many of the same faces every day and it was lovely getting to know them throughout the week. Anthony, Erick, Jonathan, Jose, Noel, Gabino, Rogelio and Humberto, thank you all so much. You work incredibly hard and your friendliness every morning and lunchtime never went unnoticed.

And then there are two people who deserve a special mention.

Marco from the Parrots team was absolutely phenomenal. We genuinely don’t know how he kept going! He seemed to be everywhere, moving from one activity and event straight into the next, keeping everyone entertained throughout the day. He is hilarious, warm, energetic and clearly puts an enormous amount into what he does. He is exactly the sort of person who gives a resort its personality and makes Margaritaville feel different from anywhere else.

And finally, Edgardo. We got to know him really well during our stay and he was simply outstanding. Nothing was ever an inconvenience, he was incredibly attentive, and he has such a great way with people. He is exceptionally good at his job and genuinely became one of the people we’ll remember most from this holiday.

We came to Margaritaville for a holiday, but what we’ll take away from it most is the people. The rooms, pools, food and facilities are all fantastic, but it’s the people who make this place what it is.

To every member of staff — including those whose names we didn’t manage to get thank you. You work incredibly hard, you make people feel welcome, and you’ve given us a holiday we won’t forget.