Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya

We just had our 8th visit in August and we are going in December for our 9th! VIM does not feel so much like a hotel but more like if you have a wealthy friend with an estate in Mexico and they invite you to an awesome pool party every day!! We previously enjoyed Secrets Montego Bay, Secrets Playa Mujeras Cancun, and the Unico up the road. Those were very nice but Valentin is our favorite for these reasons:

1. Food Allergy Accommodation. Second to none. If you need gluten free options, every single person on staff knows how to accommodate that and the meals never feel compromised. Sometimes when you must order a gluten free meal elsewhere, it can look and feel like a lesser version of what was supposed to be a great dish.
2. Total Immersion. No building is taller than 3 stories, so no matter where you are on the property, you feel like you are in a special place. When you are at the main pool, you do not have a 20-story hotel building in your sightline.

This also allows you to have different experiences throughout your stay. The Golden pool is in its own captive space; the beach has its private spaces; and the main pool feels like you are in the middle of the jungle. 3. The Grounds. Impeccable! Part of my daily routine is to pop in my earbuds and walk 3 miles around the property. You will encounter wildlife just walking up to café Sisal to get a coffee or gelato (Habanero Tamarind FTW!).
4. Staff Retention. They manage their people well and they subsequently deliver excellent service. In Le Marche, Naomei remembers us and always has a special meal ready to accommodate our food restrictions. 5. The Other Guests. This comes down to their marketing. They do not work with external wholesalers and there isn’t a timeshare pitch. That might not sound like a big deal, but it weeds out the type of traveler that is problematic at other resorts. I have not encountered a single jerk in 8 visits.

See you in December

This was our 13th visit, and the best one yet. Virginia at the golden pool gave us the BEST possible customer service there is. She always had a smile on her face and went above and beyond. A very big shout out to the people who cleaned our room each day, turn down service, and the people who restocked the mini fridge. From the moment we arrived we were spoiled. We can’t wait to be back in April for our 14th visit. Viarney was amazing as always at La Hacienda and Ginger. She is clearly one of the reasons why we continue to come back. Thank you for making this such a wonderful vacation.