My Honest Review of Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya
(Mexico Adults-Only All-Inclusive)I spent a long weekend at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Ma...
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Frank & Lola's Italian Trattoria
Our first dinner was here. We shared multiple appetizers, and the pizza ended up being the biggest surprise — really good brick-oven crust. I ordered the mushroom ravioli and we shared several desserts. They had tiramisu, which is one of my favorites.The Boathouse (Buffet)
I ate breakfast here twice. There’s a good variety and friendly service, plus cooked-to-order options. I tried cactus for the first time and really enjoyed the fresh fruit you don’t often get in the U.S. One morning I had guacamole and chips with my coffee and fruit — the perfect breakfast.LandShark Brewery & Grill
This has a lively sports-bar vibe with TVs and music. I ordered grilled fish with risotto, and the key lime pie was one of the best I’ve ever eaten. Our group shared appetizers and enjoyed the whole meal. There was a football game on that night, so the atmosphere matched what you’d expect at a sports bar. This is also where you’ll find live music in the evenings, and it stays open until 1 a.m.Joe Merchant’s Coffee & Provisions
I stopped here multiple times a day — iced lattes, iced mochas, and little desserts. This is also where you pick up your minibar items using your points. Honest review: the coffee wasn’t as good as my local place at home, but it didn’t stop me from going back multiple times a day. I preferred the iced lattes over the mochas-the lattes had a stronger espresso flavor. The hot cappuccinos were good too. I normally add vanilla or hazelnut flavor to my drinks.JWB Steakhouse
My Sunday dinner was a tender, flavorful steak, a salad with really fresh greens, and crème brûlée for dessert — all excellent.Quiet Pools
This was my personal favorite. Peaceful, relaxing, and even though it’s near the more lively pool, the music didn’t bother me. There’s also a shallow pool with loungers in the water, which is perfect on hot sunny days. This is the perfect spot to read a book, nap, or chat with a friendOceanfront Pool
More energy here — music, activities, and during my trip, a foam party. I’d never seen one before, and watching the bubbles float across the pool was really fun. The group in the pool looked like they were having the best time.Floating Taco Bar
Such a fun experience! Some call it the floating taco bar, others may refer to it as the avocado boat. A big tray of 48 tacos floated across the quiet pool to us while we had lunch in the water. There were four kinds — tacos al pastor were my favorite, closely followed by the fish tacos, but honestly, I liked ALL of them.Silent Disco
One of the entertainment options the weekend I visited. Everyone wears headphones and chooses between two live DJ channels. These are always fun — whether you dance or just people-watch.Salted Rim Margarita Bar
This is the main bar in the lobby. We spent time here after dinner at the steakhouse. There was live saxophone music and plenty of people around, but it didn’t feel loud or rowdy. I had a tropical mocktail with freeze-dried pineapple — so good.
Hello my fellow travelers, I am Vicki, your dedicated planner and personal travel consultant. I have been inspired by the magic of visiting new places of interest, overlooked corners of cities to be explored, or the quiet charm of small towns with hidden secrets to be found. My passion for trip planning began years ago when we had two sons who decided to room together and attend college in Laie, Hawaii. So, of course our family had to plan a visit. I loved the challenge of planning an exciting trip on a limited budget. And even with a limited budget, we still created cherished memories! ... Read More >>>
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1/29(Mexico Adults-Only All-Inclusive)I spent a long weekend at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Ma...
(Mexico Adults-Only All-Inclusive)
I spent a long weekend at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya, and I wanted to share my experience so you can decide if it might be a good fit for your next adults-only Mexico trip.
Arrival & First Impressions
I arrived on a Friday afternoon with really no idea what to expect. As soon as I stepped out of the car, someone helped with my luggage and guided me to the front desk. While I was checking in, they offered me a margarita popsicle — very fitting for “Margaritaville.”
My room wasn’t ready yet (I arrived early and didn’t expect it to be), so my friend and I went to grab tacos at the poolside restaurant. Our server offered us dessert and brought out fruit tarts. It's not a dessert I would typically order but they were really good and I’m glad he offered.
By the time we finished eating, my room was ready. A staff member walked me there, pointed out a few locations along the way, and showed me how some things in the room worked — like the lightswitches that show a red/green “service or no service” light outside the door. My luggage arrived shortly after. It was a super easy check-in overall.
My Room
My room was on the 5th floor with a balcony overlooking the pool area and the ocean. It felt fresh, spacious, and comfortable. Inside the room I had:
Frank & Lola's Italian Trattoria
The Boathouse (Buffet)
LandShark Brewery & Grill
Joe Merchant’s Coffee & Provisions
JWB Steakhouse
Quiet Pools
Oceanfront Pool
Floating Taco Bar
Silent Disco
Salted Rim Margarita Bar
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