I deducted 2 stars from being 5-star perfection for the following reasons:
- Lobby staff was rude when upon arrival I politely asked if there were any available rooms facing the pool/fountains.
- No welcome drink upon arrival.
The lobby staff steranly reminded me of my "garden-view" booking. They definitely had pool/fountain view rooms available, but they just prefer to leave them empty instead of upgrading their guests (especially return customers). Even more surprising was the fact that we did not get a welcome drink. I have received welcome drinks in hotels of much lower class than this one (very surprising).
Generally speaking, Riviera Maya Mexico is not the same post-pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the quality of service at all hotels was much higher and staff were more accommodating.
This hotel is nice but not worth the extra money when you can stay at their sister-locations (Tequila) right next door for a lower price. The food, drinks, and beach are the same, so the only reason why you would stay at this hotel is if you want the following perks:
-standard hot tub in room
-glamour of "palace" decor
-beach-side drink service from wait staff that come to your lounge
Otherwise, it was a good stay.