Words by Jody Miller
The dazzling turquoise water, non-stop nightlife, and designer shopping are all familiar facets of a Cancun vacation. With daily, direct flights from London, Cancún remains an accessible getaway for holiday-goers of all interests, even for those who don’t fancy the party scene.
For those who take relaxation seriously, Playa Mujeres is Cancún’s secluded gated enclave of serenity away from the bustle of the hotel zone. Just 35 minutes north of Cancún International Airport, Playa Mujeres sits directly across from the quaint island of Isla Mujeres (an essential day trip) with calmer water than Cancún’s other beaches. Flanked by sugar white sand, a golf course and a marina, Playa Mujeres features eight luxury all-inclusive resorts, including the four award-winning hotels that comprise the Excellence Collection.
These four properties, which includes the lushly romantic couples-only Beloved, the sumptuous adults-only Excellence and Excellence Coral Beach, and family-friendly Finest, have topped TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice and Best of the Best lists, Conde Nast Traveller’s Choice list, and have been given honourable mentions in Forbes and US News and World Report. The resorts are noted for their superior service and commitment to sustainability. While Beloved and Excellence exude more glamour, Finest offers a more affordable family option without sacrificing luxury amenities and top-notch service.
Hotel
Most family all-inclusive resorts can be placed in two camps; the first camp accepts, or at least tolerates, children on the premises, though activities may be limited or available for an extra fee. The second camp can border on gimmicky – with adults tagging along for the proverbial ride, with few precious few adults-only spaces. In some instances (based on experience), even bars are crawling with little ones at all hours of the night.
Finest features a total of over 2,500 square metres of playground space and sports facilities, all of which are tucked away from the hotel’s main thoroughfares. This non-intrusiveness even extends to the all ages pool, which despite being attached to the adults-only pool, never feels over-crowded or unruly.
Highlights of the activities for kids includes pavilions separated by age group, dedicated kids’ pools, including one with a Mayan pyramid and water playground, food and beverage stations, an outdoor theatre, mini-spa, a rock climbing wall, tennis and multi-sport courts, zip line, and a teen lounge. There is also a day-care centre in the main lobby for the kiddos so adults can enjoy breakfast or dinner on their own.
For those travelling with infants, there’s a resting area and many in-room amenities are available upon request that make holidays with little ones comfortable and convenient. These include a bottle steriliser, electric kettle, bottle warmer, baby monitor, high chair, baby’s bathtub, cot, and natural home-made purees.
Room
All rooms at Finest are a minimum of a junior suite with a sofa bed, furnished balcony with day bed and hot tub, walk-in rain shower, and more. As of this writing, the rooms are undergoing a refresh, which includes updated furnishing and fixtures, with many of the suites already completed. The colour scheme is light, airy, and minimalist, with a nod to mid-century functionality.
Above the standard junior suite are junior suites with private pool, rooftop suites with a plunge pool, family suites, and swim-out suites. If you wish to treat yourself and your family to a little extra (and why shouldn’t you?), then opt for the Finest Club or Excellence Club. These suites give you some extra room to stretch, premium liquor brands in the mini-bar, access to additional dining and bar options, more pools, separated beach area with loungers and beach beds, a complimentary hydrotherapy session at ONE Spa, plus a dedicated lounge for check-in and concierge desk. The difference between the two is Excellence Club is for adults only.
Regardless of the room type, however, all suites feature luxury hotel amenities such as robes and slippers, L’Occitane or Bulgari bath products, stocked mini-bars, in-room safe, steamer, and turn-down service.
Food and drink
Unlimited food and drink are a big draw for all-inclusive resorts, and luckily for everyone, the quality has increased massively over the years, both in terms of quality and variety. With 14 dining options and 16 bars, every palate can find something to savour. One of the coolest features is that guests are not limited to the buffet or snack grill for breakfast and lunch. On any given day, there are at least three options for breakfast and lunch, plus 24 hour room service and an all-day food truck.
Standout choices are Le Petit Plaisir (order the rib-eye) for elegant French-inspired dining and Insieme for an al fresco Italian lunch or dinner. For Excellence Club guests, Dummo and Surf and Turf are superb, while Finest Club guests can enjoy a more private breakfast at Gusto. For beach-side lunches, Las Dunas Beach House is your best bet, while Sweet Corner is everyone’s go-to for speciality coffee, pastries, ice cream, and grab’n’go sandwiches, which are perfect to pack along for an off-property excursion. In addition, there’s a weekly Mexican-themed fiesta dinner with just about everything you can think of on the menu. All dining outlets feature vegetarian and plant-based menu items.
Whether you’re eating, lounging at the pool, or soaking up the sun on the spectacular beach, a drink in hand is a requirement at any all-inclusive. From the circular Golden Bar that dominates the downstairs lobby, to the dual swim-up bars, there’s no shortage of places to grab a cold one wherever you happen to be. There’s a sports bar with big screen TVs that also serves dinner, beach-side beverage service, a non-alcohol juice bar, a night-club with a piano and stage, plus more bars with lounge areas scattered around the property.
Spa and wellness
With a total of 10 swimming pools, plus the kid’s pools, water flows throughout the hotel. The main pools, which consist of an all-ages and adults only pools, feature swim-up bars, views of the ocean and daily activities. Here is where water volley ball, water aerobics, and occasional afternoon live music jams take place. Other pools meander through the property, many connected to ground-floor rooms via en-suite private pools and there’s an abundance of loungers and umbrellas.
The light and bright ONE Spa features a multi-faceted hydrotherapy circuit that includes four speciality showers, a temperature contrast walk, and bubble massage lounger, A light scalp massage on a heated bed is the finishing touch as you complete your water journey. In addition to the standard treatment cabins, there’s a treatment room for kids and teens to receive a little pampering. In addition to the well-equipped gym, there’s yoga and work-out classes scheduled daily.
To do
Speaking of schedules, if you can pull yourself away from the beach, you’ll discover a full calendar of on-site activities. These range from dance and fitness classes, to cooking and craft workshops, to horseback riding, bike rides, archery, pickleball and poker. Evening entertainment includes DJ parties, karaoke and live music.
If you have an itch to get off property and explore, down-town Cancún is an inexpensive taxi or Uber ride away. If a more remote white sand beach piques your curiosity, Playa Mujeres is about twenty minutes from Isla Blanca, which, despite its name, is not an island. It’s a peninsula at Cancún’s northernmost tip and features a pristine beach that’s known for kite-surfing and the most beautiful and calm water in the region.
Factbox
Address: Calle Vialidad Paseo Mujeres Supermanzana 3 Manzana 1 Lote 10, Zona continental, 77400 Cancún, Q.R., Mexico
Phone: +52 998 872 8180
Email: [email protected]
Website: finestresorts.com
Images courtesy of Finest Playa Mujeres
