All-Inclusive Resort Life Made Easy

If you were to ask me what my favorite vacation spot has been in all my travels, I would without hesitation tell you a Mexico all-inclusive resort for adults only. Now I am a little biased because I’ve only visited one Mexican resort and that is the El Dorado Seaside Suites located in Quintana Roo, Mexico. However, I have been a guest twice now, so I think the bias is acceptable. Also, I stayed on a different side of the resort and had a slightly different experience between the two visits.

Not much has changed from the last time we visited this resort 2 years ago. The grounds are very well kept. The staff is always so helpful and kind. One thing that was noticeably different this time, is the large amount of seaweed (sargassum) that was on the beach. There was seaweed the last time we visited, but it was easier to manage by the resort staff. Unfortunately, the amount of seaweed this time made it difficult for guests to enjoy themselves. The seaweed is heavier there during the warmer months. Since this was the case we opted to hang around the pools more during our stay. Since the pools are all great, this was an easy compromise.

Room and Amenities

We previously stayed on the Palms side of the resort, which has more of a private and cozy feel. This time we decided to try the other side of the resort. Since we were celebrating our 10-year wedding anniversary, we decided to go a tad on the “grand” side and be a little bougie. We stayed in one of the Oceanfront Swim Up Suites with our balcony facing the Caribbean Ocean. Our room was spacious with tall ceilings and breathtaking views. The bathroom was immaculate and made us feel like royalty. Included in our stay were our own butler and concierge service. They made sure we had soft, clean towels daily, a fully stocked fridge, and fresh fruit each morning. They also took care of our dinner reservations throughout our stay.

Food Array

We were not short on food options during our stay. El Dorado offers cuisine from several places around the globe. I definitely feel the food has improved since the last time David and I visited this resort. We enjoyed breakfast buffets filled with delectable local fruit, customizable omelet choices, and more. Dinner was even more impressive. One night we dined on fajitas, braised pork belly, and a sweet (but not too sweet) chocolate cake.

Another night we enjoyed Italian fare with my favorite thing being the arancini. I liked them so much I ordered them twice. The rice was the perfect consistency and the coating had the right amount of crunch. The arancini laid in a savory marinara sauce with a tiny bit of shaved parmesan. We were also given a pleasant surprise of a decadent chocolate cake with a fun chocolate message “Happy 10-year Anniversary”, equipped with a sparkler.

Due to exhaustion my appetite wasn’t as strong for the night we enjoyed the Asian-inspired cuisine. I started my meal with the ramen. It was probably one of my least favorite dishes on vacation. The noodles seemed a little too thick and were not the right consistency. The broth was nice but not very flavorful. The saving grace for the ramen was the egg. The sweet and sour pork helped to revive the experience. Sometimes you run into overcooked protein when eating this dish. Thankfully, that was not the case. I loved that the pork had the right ratio of breading to meat. The meat was not dry and the sauce was not over the top. This restaurant had my second favorite dessert while at the resort. The “Yuzu” is a tart that looks like the Japanese yuzu fruit. This tart was so cute that I didn’t want to eat it. The mango and passionfruit combination blended so well and thankfully wasn’t too sour but it was the right amount of tang to remind you of the tropics.

There was one restaurant that we did not get the chance to experience and that was the vegan spot. There were also a few isolated dishes that we loved even if the rest of the meal wasn’t super memorable. My favorite dessert was the coconut ice cream. It was so refreshing, creamy, and smooth. There were small pieces of shaved coconut layered into the cold and sweet ice cream. A small cup of this cold treat went a long way on a warm beach day.

The best tacos I’ve ever eaten were at the El Dorado Seaside Suites Resort. The meat (in my case, chicken) was cooked low and slow and served on a grilled, handmade tortilla that’s adorned with finely chopped pickled red onions. The meat was tendered and the tortilla was soft and warm. There was perfection in the simplicity.

Laidback Activities

The last time we visited this all-inclusive resort, I didn’t participate in the activities. Last time, David stopped in the Spanish class, but he was a little too advanced in his Spanish knowledge to get much out of it. This time around we decided to get more involved and interact with other visitors. We didn’t plan anything; we just jumped into activities as they were announced.

It seems impossible to feel more relaxed in a place like El Dorado. However, as soon as you step foot into the Naay Spa you see that a deeper relaxation is possible. We experienced the hydrotherapy treatment, which consisted of time spent opening our pores in the sauna followed by the rush of sitting in the cold room. We followed that up with time spent in the jetted pool that was equipped with three different styles of jetted water spouts with varying pressure. We also got to experience three types of cold tubs (David loved these, me…not so much). We finished our time at the spa with a gentle couples massage. The spa had several packages offered and if massages aren’t your thing, there are additional services available including manicures and pedicures.

Cocktail Mixing Class

What better place to learn how to make an authentic margarita than in Mexico. Our activity director was awesome and made sure the energy stayed high during the class. The cocktail class instructor was one of the many experienced bartenders on the resort. They provided all the ingredients including yummy tequila. One by one we were invited to make our own margarita. I couldn’t wait to create my own libation.

My margarita was created using tamarind juice, tequila, and sugar. The sugar is definitely necessary when using tamarind juice. Tamarind is a tangy fruit that, in my opinion, is quite sour. It is native to India, Africa, and the Middle East but was carried over to Mexico many moons ago. It is often used to make candy. Of course, I adorned the rim of my glass with coarse salt. I almost forgot to mention. Each of us had to do a little “shakey-shakey” to help mix out drinks when we finished making our drinks. It was so much fun. The vibes were intact throughout the entire class.

A lot of times when I hear people talk about going on vacation, I rarely hear them mention visiting an all-inclusive resort. So, I’m sure the question of are all-inclusive resorts worth it is a big one? Again, I am biased. However, I believe the El Dorado Seaside Suites is definitely worth it. The food is great and the service is top-notch. They go above and beyond to make sure all their guests are comfortable. Also, they are working constantly to improve on what they offer.

Have you stayed at an all-inclusive resort? Let me know your favorite part of the experience!