Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya

Taylor Veran

I recently stayed at Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya and while there were many things I absolutely loved about this resort, there were a few experiences that left me a bit disappointed. First, the good—this resort is stunning. The food was consistently delicious, the atmosphere was beautiful and relaxing, and the staff truly went above and beyond to make our stay enjoyable. Their positive attitudes and attentiveness really stood out. I also loved seeing the wild animals roaming freely around the property—it added a fun and unique touch to the whole experience. However, I found the dress code to be overly strict and, at times, unreasonable. I was turned away from the hibachi restaurant for wearing a long white dress that had small slits on the sides. I was asked to go get a sweater to cover up, which made me 15 minutes late to dinner. I also witnessed a well-dressed man turned away from the Italian restaurant simply because he wasn’t wearing a collared shirt. In a resort that’s supposed to be relaxing and accommodating, these kinds of rules felt unnecessarily rigid and honestly a bit off-putting. Another thing that surprised me was the resort’s refusal to acknowledge my friend’s birthday the way we requested. We asked to have a fun “Dirty 30” birthday shoutout, but were told they couldn’t say that. It felt a bit too preppy and overly reserved for an adults-only resort. On top of that, another guest actually complained about us swearing casually among friends, which added to the sense that this place might not be the best fit for a younger, more easygoing crowd. Overall, it’s a beautiful and high-quality resort with lots to love, but just know that the vibe is very buttoned-up. If you’re looking for somewhere laid-back and a bit more fun or free-spirited, this might not be the place. That said, the service, food, and scenery are top-notch.

Holly Hall

My husband and I stayed here in mid-March and absolutely loved our stay! We had an oceanfront room that was gorgeous and the view of blue water and palms were breathtaking. Lots of wildlife (iguanas and coatis) and birds that were new to us, which were fun to spot. We went to every restaurant and enjoyed all of our dinners so much- a nice variety of food and it's cool how each restaurant has a different theme. The lunch buffet was also delicious with a great variety of foods. The nightlife was fun, especially the magic show, which honestly blew us away! The grounds are like a fairytale jungle and it was so much fun to explore it all our first day. Their landscaping crew must be top-notch. The activities director is extremely good at his job- full of energy and excitement every time we saw him. All of the staff were so nice to us and very helpful. The pool area always had a seat in the front with a gorgeous view. We sat there most days and then went to the pool in late afternoon and were always able to find a chair. We also loved how it never felt overly crowded. We cannot wait to return!!!

Leonard Mallett

My family and I have vacationed in the Cancun and Playa del Carmen areas for over 20 years. This resort is among the most beautiful and lush with tropical plants. It features beautiful landscaping and architecture and extremely large and well maintained pools. The staff was helpful, friendly and hard working. The people are what we love most about Mexico. The room was good, lots of storage. Nice hot showers, cute patio etc. The pool’s entertainment staff was exceptional. The food was good. I would rate it an 8 out of 10. Also I would prefer a restaurant reservation system verses the “get there early or wait” system. Also, as others have mentioned the drinks are really weak. An improvement I would suggest is the addition of a real workout facility. Their gym was close to the worst I’ve seen at a resort. Lastly, and I’m not sure what the management can do about this, but there is a culture of hoarding pool loungers and mats by entitled guests. As others have mentioned, you can’t find a lounger after 6:00 am. I witnessed guests with a lounger in the shade, another in the pool and a pool mat tucked under their pool lounger, and no one using any of them for hours. Their greed darkens the experience.

Hannah A

Spent a week here with my husband and 20+ of his friends for a wedding. We worked with a travel agent so I can’t speak to the booking process. Arrival and check-in was smooth. We were welcomed with a drink, checked in, and en route to our room within 20 minutes. Our room was nice and simple. We requested more water right away and it showed up before we had unpacked. Biggest pool I’ve ever seen! We enjoyed watching and participating in the pool activities. Isabelle, Carlos, and Israel kept the energy up! They offered pretty much every drink you can think of at the pool. The staff (Edgar and Angel) were so sweet and attentive. We always came in large groups and they quickly accommodated us.

Ranks Reviews

Hands down—our favorite resort in all of Mexico. The Valentin Imperial is the perfect mix of luxury, fun, and "wait… is that Michael Jackson by the pool?" (Spoiler: it was. Sort of. You’ll see.) From the moment we stepped onto the grounds, it felt like we’d wandered into a five-star jungle paradise. The landscaping? Breathtaking. Lush, green, and filled with little paths that make you feel like you’re exploring a tropical fairytale—with room service. The rooms? Impeccable. Stocked with tasty snacks and everything you need to live your best robe-and-slippers life. And let’s talk about those pool foam parties—they’re legendary. Combine that with the beach bar and swings and suddenly you’re wondering if this is real life or just a very well-planned dream. The staff? Next level. They bent over backward to make our stay perfect—literally. We forgot something right before an excursion and they zoomed us back to our room in a golf cart like it was a high-speed mission. James Bond, but make it tropical. If you’re looking for a place where you can relax, party, explore, and meet iconic impersonators, the Valentin Imperial has it all. We’ll be back again... and again... and probably again.