I’d planned to spend three nights here and three at another resort in Riviera Maya. After one night at the other resort, I bailed, begged Atelier to let me return, checked out of resort number 2, and scurried back. One may have shed tears of joy. That to say, I loved my stay here. I have reasons:
It is a big property. It’s three connected buildings, but they’re on the sprawling side (esp. one of them). But, there are lots of restaurants in each of the buildings, several pools, a huge spa, etc. Even though it’s spread out, you’re never far from a pool, bar, and restaurant. Lucky for you, my clients benefit from my having stayed in two rooms in different parts of the resort and so can help place you near what you’re interested in. I also tried most of the restaurants, bars, etc., just for you people. [Seen here: pools, including an Inspira swim-out.]
I’m a pool person, and specifically a quiet pool person: I want to sit by the pool with my earbuds in, my book in one hand and a drink in the other, and be left alone. Atelier has completely separate active and quiet pools (both of which have multiple sections) AND another rooftop pool for their version of ‘preferred club,’ Inspira. Each of them has at least one restaurant and bar poolside.
If you’re a beach person, Atelier sits on an amazing stretch of beach with soft white sand—and is protected by Isla Mujeres from sargassum. There’s some seagrass that washes up, but there’s little of it and it doesn’t make the huge mess and huge stench of sargassum. Beach seating, mostly shaded if you want it to be, offers ‘regular’ and Inspira sections—and two bars nearby (one on the beach). [Seen here: beach.]
The food was consistently the best I’ve had at an all-inclusive resort—and I’ve stayed at some really terrific all-inclusives. The breakfast had just about everything you could dream up to want, and there is pool-side lunching at all three pools. Put on some clothes for Pete’s sake! and hit the Italian place Cilento for a real lunch. They’re open for dinner, as are several other restaurants. Had really good meals at the Asian fusion place, Takeshi, at the Mercado (MX), at Cala Di Luna, home to a new fave dessert—strawberries jubilee, and at Cilento. I didn’t make it to the steakhouse, the other Asian place, or Maria Dolores, an extra charge restaurant that’s reputedly just fantastic. There are two coffee shops and bars everywhere. [I didn’t take enough food pix, but here are a few:]
Did someone say ‘bars’? Surprise: the drinks were also top notch. My favorite was the crème brulêe martini, and I’m not saying how many of them I had. And you can throw a rock and hit a bar here. Which is kind of the point of an all-inclusive. [Seen here, the aforementioned martini, my poolside mudslide, the minibar, and some of the upscale liquor found in one of Atelier’s most upscale rooms.]
Are you getting it yet? Well, I’m not done, sport-o. The rooms give a ‘Mexican urban loft’ vibe—very contemporary, lots of space (esp the bathrooms), and lots of little amenities. I stayed in both regular and ‘Inspira’ (their version of a preferred club). I’ll save which is the better fit for whom for my clients—but I wasn’t complaining about either. [Seen: my room, and several of the Inspira suites with rooftop, terrace, or swim-out pools. It’s a rough life, people.]
There’s other stuff—the service, the spa, the schedule of activities, etc.—but you get the point. Or you’d better.
As usual, one of the trip highlights was an amazing excursion I did with Living Dreams Mexico, this one featuring cenotes and ziplines. I’ve done three excursions now with Living Dreams and highly recommend them. I may do the cenotes excursion again the next time I’m there. [Seen here, three different cenotes, one with a zipline across it from which one can hurl oneself into the water, and also my guide/driver Paco.]
I’m already plotting my return. Maybe you should come along?
