Desire Riviera Maya Pearl Resort - All-Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

3081 reviews

• 

  Blown away!

  This was our first time going to a lifestyle resort. The wife was nervous (so was husband!). However, from the second we walked in to our last moments on the property, the staff was incredible and set our minds at ease. The food was surprisingly delicious and so varied! Much of it was delicately prepared and did not have that *all inclusive* feel to it. We never had to wait in any lines for food, which was a huge plus. We never got bored with the food or had a bad dish. The restaurants switch over mid-week, so the variety keeps adding. We did have one boring-ish meal, but everything else was so good there just had to be one. No matter what we had, where we ate, the service was wonderful. The drinks were decent. Of course, they are serving in volume, so you get what you get. We never felt cheaped on. The service, again, was great. Being spoiled Californians, we do have to say that the wine left a lot to be desired. Bring your own, if wine is at all important to you. Our room was perfect for our first trip. We had an ocean view, which also gave us a view of the pool and the Jacuzzi. (Let's just say, what a view.) The bed was comfortable, but not luxurious. The bathroom is on the quaint side, even with the tropical feel. The doors didn't quite work right (and there are three doors to the bathroom - main, toilet, and shower). One complaint was the AC unit, which WORKED, but it was angled above the bed so that the air hit our faces in an uncomfortable way - which sounds like a weird complaint, but it kept husband sleeping light and SNORING. The room was on the fifth floor, and there are no elevators - so that's a lot of steps. We enjoyed it, but if you have mobility issues, ask for a first floor room. We absolutely loved the bracelets! They work as the room key, and they mean you never have to keep a room key on you. Of course, this is handy if you aren't wearing clothes - but it just spoils you not having to reach into a pocket or a purse to fish out a key (or forget it in the room (and don't lose your bracelet, because replacement was $100!)). But enough about the room, because we were barely there. The pool was beautiful, and the chairs were great. Again, service is key here, as the towel staff reserves your chairs for you. Get in early (though it was not as bad as were led to believe), because they do fill up. Once you are in your poolside chair, you can order drinks or food from the servers walking around and taking care of guests. Regardless of what you were wearing (or not), all staff were incredibly professional and gracious. One of the best parts about the pool (and everywhere, really) was the music. We're in our forties, and we are not exactly party people, but the music was perfect no matter where we were. The lobby had chic covers of our favorite tunes, the pool and disco had great party music, and the restaurants each had their own vibes. There was even live music during the theme nights, and the performers had everyone dancing. We had a great time at the theme parties. If we had one regret, it would be that we were not prepared enough. Dress up if you can! Shout out to the lobby coffee servers! Having good - genuinely good - coffee available 24/7 was amazing. We had a wonderful couples massage. The spa was magical. We also had the photo shoot, which was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us. Grounds were constantly maintained, and it showed. They were beautiful. Everywhere we went, staff were saying hello making us feel welcome - including the playmakers. One big drawback was the beach. The beach at this resort has been eroded quite a bit. To make matters worse, there was a huge, stinky seaweed problem. It was seaweed season, and this year apparently is worse than any other year, but yikes that smell. Even so, it did not ruin our trip. If you are sensitive to smells, beware and plan accordingly. We had a wonderful time, and we can't wait to go back.

  Aug 21, 2025
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  Fun and Sexy Vacation!

  This was our 6th visit to Pearl and we planned our 7th trip before we left. The staff at the resort are top tier! From check in to check out, you will encounter some of the best people. The staff truly treat you like family. They work very hard to make your visit amazing. It really has been difficult to see staff leave and not be able to say goodbye. Some of our favorite staff are: Peter, Mauri - bartenders Orlando - server at Pearl Miguel, Antonio, Victor - pool guys Gabriel, Rebeca - spa Servando, Yolanda - pool server Deyvison- waiter at Aphrodite Ediberto - waiter at Aphrodite Irving, Hector, Erick - butlers Javier - gardener Candice, Kia, Abbie - Playmakers Our favorite Playmaker, Bella, switched over to Desire Riviera Maya during our 5th trip. She is absolutely amazing and missed very much at Pearl! I would love to give 5 stars, but the food options (or lack there of) make that difficult for me. The food is mediocre for me. The breakfast and lunch buffets are ok, but just that…ok. Our butler worked with the Chef at Suki to make a special entree for me and it was amazing - so much so that I had it twice while we were there! I do wish they had more vegetarian meals without the plant based “meat” option. If you are looking for a fun and sexy vacation with your significant other, look no further!

  Aug 04, 2025
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  What a Blast

  The staff was outstanding. So nice and friendly. I can't say enough of good things about them all. We met a lot of great people. And had a blast. The rooms were clean and roomy. The bathrooms were clean and well maintain. Our hot tub was just amazing to sit in and face the ocean. Can't wait to go back.

  Jul 23, 2025
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  The best vacation ever

  Great place, great service, the best place. You must go in the mood of feeling free to get the best experience. You can enjoy delightful time in couple but try to make new friends. It really is a whole new addicting experience.

  Jul 22, 2025
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  This was our first trip to Desire Pearl after several trips to Desire RM and we are now Pearl people. The resort itself is small and intimate enough to easily move around without feeling crowded. We appreciated the dinner reservation system they have in place with a provided calender of what each restaurant was serving each night. It allowed us to plan out our dining options for the entire stay within a day of our arrival. The food was delicious and fresh. We love the quiet section of the pool that allows you to enjoy the water while still relaxing. If you've never been to a Desire resort, you need to know that the staff makes the resort. You'll want for nothing and they are incredibly genuine. Every single staff member was amazing, but we do have some people that just stood out to us. The waitstaff at Aphrodite: Carmen, Sebastian, Rey, Mildredt, Oliver, Maylani, Manuela, Chef Ruben, and Onell were fantastic at every meal we had. At the Pearl restaurant/Mansion restaurant: Orlando, Roberto, Gilberto, and Jesus made every dining experience special. At Suki, we really appreciated Memo's wonderful hospitality. At Allure Spa: Claudia gave a wonderful pedicure while Elodie and Selene gave the most relaxing massages. Our butlers, Carlos and Amir went above and beyond more times than we can count. Our absolute favorites of the trip were Victor and Antonio at the pool. Gracious and welcoming doesn't do them justice. Every single day, no matter how busy they were, they made sure that we had a bed or chairs in the best possible spot. They made our trip! We can't wait to come home to our home away from home next year.

  Jul 21, 2025