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For years, the golden standard of a proper getaway was simple: pack our suitcases, grab our passports, and head off with my Uncle Nigel to Paloma Club Sultan. We had our planning down to an art form. But as the years rolled on, the resort underwent a dramatic transformation. It rebranded itself as, "Club Marvy", tacked five shiny stars onto its name, and rocketed its prices straight into the stratosphere. It’s a stunning place, no doubt, but my wallet has officially called a truce. It is time for a change of horizon. Maybe, if we aim at a slightly lower price than what is now presented.
In my search for a new holiday haven, I’ve stumbled across a place that should feel like a totally different world, yet promises everything a great holiday should be.
Enter the Riu Cancun.
I’ve never set foot in Mexico before, but just looking at the pictures of this place gets the anticipation building. First off, the location looks unbeatable. It sits right on a stretch of postcard-perfect, blindingly white beach with turquoise water crashing at its feet. Some people might overlook the hotel building itself—it’s a massive, towering monolith—but to me, a huge building just means endless high-rise views of the Caribbean Sea.
The concept here is blissfully straightforward: completely all-inclusive. You just turn up, eat, and drink, just like we did at Club Sultan. The main buffet restaurant looks ridiculously satisfying, bursting with options, and I’m eager to see if the customised, a la carte specialty restaurants are included in the package too, but the crown jewel of the daytime pool scene has to be the swim-up bar. The beauty of it is that you aren’t expected to pull off a 50-metre butterfly stroke just to grab a drink; the water is comfortably shallow, allowing you to lazily wade over, lean against the bar, and order a cold beverage without losing your footing.
Because the resort caters to an older crowd—strictly 18+ for most of the year, and moving to 21+ during the lively spring break season—the atmosphere has a polished, relaxed adult edge. No toddlers splashing soup into the pool here.
When you aren't lounging, the resort seems to have every practical detail covered. There's free Wi-Fi to send photos back home (maybe a cheeky message to the poor souls who couldn't come along), a gift shop for souvenirs, a gym for the ambitious, and an ATM with a currency exchange on-site so you can easily pull out Mexican pesos for tips or trips into town. If you want to elevate the experience, there are plenty of optional extras: you can rent a spot in the outdoor jacuzzi, or book some kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving to explore the ocean reefs. For ultimate relaxation, there’s a full massage spa offering hair and beauty treatments—though after a week of total indulgence, I might not need much help relaxing.
What really seals the deal for me, though, is how the Riu Cancun comes alive after dark.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the outdoor seating areas light up in a warm, vibrant glow, creating the perfect backdrop for evening drinks. There’s a disco on-site if you feel like dancing, but the real star of the show for a late-night nightcap is the sports bar.
Unlike most hotel bars that shutter at midnight, this sports bar is open 24 hours. It’s fully stocked with endless cocktails and cold beer, and it comes equipped with table football and two pool tables. There’s something effortlessly cool about the idea of racking up a game of pool at two in the morning, cocktail in hand, with the tropical sea breeze just outside the door.
Club Marvy might have the five-star price tag nowadays, but Riu Cancun feels like the change I actually needed. It’s fresh, it’s vibrant, and it might just be the start of a whole new holiday tradition.
In my search for a new holiday haven, I’ve stumbled across a place that should feel like a totally different world, yet promises everything a great holiday should be.
Enter the Riu Cancun.
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| A.I. Image |
I’ve never set foot in Mexico before, but just looking at the pictures of this place gets the anticipation building. First off, the location looks unbeatable. It sits right on a stretch of postcard-perfect, blindingly white beach with turquoise water crashing at its feet. Some people might overlook the hotel building itself—it’s a massive, towering monolith—but to me, a huge building just means endless high-rise views of the Caribbean Sea.
The concept here is blissfully straightforward: completely all-inclusive. You just turn up, eat, and drink, just like we did at Club Sultan. The main buffet restaurant looks ridiculously satisfying, bursting with options, and I’m eager to see if the customised, a la carte specialty restaurants are included in the package too, but the crown jewel of the daytime pool scene has to be the swim-up bar. The beauty of it is that you aren’t expected to pull off a 50-metre butterfly stroke just to grab a drink; the water is comfortably shallow, allowing you to lazily wade over, lean against the bar, and order a cold beverage without losing your footing.
Because the resort caters to an older crowd—strictly 18+ for most of the year, and moving to 21+ during the lively spring break season—the atmosphere has a polished, relaxed adult edge. No toddlers splashing soup into the pool here.
When you aren't lounging, the resort seems to have every practical detail covered. There's free Wi-Fi to send photos back home (maybe a cheeky message to the poor souls who couldn't come along), a gift shop for souvenirs, a gym for the ambitious, and an ATM with a currency exchange on-site so you can easily pull out Mexican pesos for tips or trips into town. If you want to elevate the experience, there are plenty of optional extras: you can rent a spot in the outdoor jacuzzi, or book some kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving to explore the ocean reefs. For ultimate relaxation, there’s a full massage spa offering hair and beauty treatments—though after a week of total indulgence, I might not need much help relaxing.
What really seals the deal for me, though, is how the Riu Cancun comes alive after dark.
As the sun dips below the horizon, the outdoor seating areas light up in a warm, vibrant glow, creating the perfect backdrop for evening drinks. There’s a disco on-site if you feel like dancing, but the real star of the show for a late-night nightcap is the sports bar.
Unlike most hotel bars that shutter at midnight, this sports bar is open 24 hours. It’s fully stocked with endless cocktails and cold beer, and it comes equipped with table football and two pool tables. There’s something effortlessly cool about the idea of racking up a game of pool at two in the morning, cocktail in hand, with the tropical sea breeze just outside the door.
Club Marvy might have the five-star price tag nowadays, but Riu Cancun feels like the change I actually needed. It’s fresh, it’s vibrant, and it might just be the start of a whole new holiday tradition.
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