First time at a Rosewood property and I left very impressed with this Mayakoba resort. Truly a…read moregreat place for relaxation and for recharging your batteries. It felt private, secluded and quiet.
We booked a Rooftop Ocean View Suite, but were delighted to get upgraded to the Two Bedroom villa. A bump from 966 to 1562 square feet of space (not including the extra outside space). The welcome drinks, popsicles (for the kids) and guacamole were great and of course the dramatic boat ride to your suite is one of a kind.
The suites at Rosewood Mayakoba are amazing. Even the small suites are spacious (I think their smallest room is 788 sqft). Our suite had plentiful outdoor space, its own dock to the lagoon, a private plunge pool and also a large rooftop terrace. Truly too much space for our family of four (2 adults, 2 kids), but we happily enjoyed it.
Service was stellar, which I expected at a high-end hotel. My most recent vacations have been to the Caribbean, so the combination of Mexican hospitality along with the Rosewood service really made for a nice stay. Our butler stayed in contact with us via Whatsapp, but we really didn't have many requests except for booking dinner reservations and ordering more cow's milk to the room for our baby.
Our kids had their own monogrammed pillowcases, that we took home. The turn-down service also left small wooden figurines (indigenous) which was a nice touch for the kids. There's definitely an extra attention to detail that's on another level from other hotels. We were able to get a bike with training wheels and also a trailer for the kids to go on short bike rides with.
The kids club was very good. Lots of planned activities throughout the day and an air conditioned indoor play area. Our daughter was 3, so one of us was with her, but I think kids 4 and older can stay alone. The staff was consistent and got to know our daughters pretty quickly. There are excursions within the property like the bat cave and boat rides which is nice (instead of just staying indoors doing arts and crafts).
The family pool was just okay. There's a small shallow part for toddler to play in and also a bigger deeper pool. It's well kept, but I can see how some might say it's time for a renovation (which I believe they are doing). There isn't a very good gradual entry point in the bigger pool, so I would say it's not the most kid friendly for small children (no problem for bigger kids), since there's one step and then it drops off to 4 feet.
The beach also is undergoing a lot of erosion along with the sargassum. It's narrow and slightly rocky, so I feel like if you plan on playing in the sand or spend a lot of time in the water, there might be better options. However, it's still quite scenic and perfectly fine for lounging in the recliner.
Food was very good (especially breakfast at Casa del Lago), but is pricey like everyone mentions. La Fondita, the tostada restaurant in El Pueblito, is one of the better and more low-key options at Rosewood. There is a consistent kids menu at all the restaurants at Rosewood. We did not get a chance to check out the restaurants at the other hotels.
TL;DR - Luxurious and family friendly resort that shines with their accommodations and service. It's relaxing, but quiet and a bit sleepy (might be too quiet for some people). Food is good, but pricey. Kids club is great, but the pool is just okay without easy entry or waterslides. Beach is not best for extended playtime in sand or water. Even so, I still loved it and would definitely return.