Fodor's Expert Review Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya is a luxury all-inclusive resort located in the northern edge of Puerto Aventuras. The place has lots of amenities and activities for children, teens and adults alike, everything with an intense vibe full of energy just like a hotel for rock stars should be. Half of the property is family-friendly, and the other half called Heaven at Hard Rock is adults-only.

YOU SHOULD KNOW The beach is artificial and set in front of a rocky lagoon, which takes away part of the allure of a beach resort.

room

In-room jetted tubs is the signature touch in all the suites at Hard Rock Riviera Maya. The design is modern and impressive, with the Heaven rooms pushing the boundaries into eccentric territory. All rooms include a hammock, and balcony or terrace, with of them also featuring an outdoor whirlpool tub and outstanding ocean views.

For the real Hard Rock experience, you have to book the Bret Michaels Rock Star Suite extending over 9,000 square feet. Feel like a true rock star at this outrageously lavish suite filled with a couple of cocktail bars, outdoor wood fire, and plenty of electric guitars. It’s like living in a nightclub, neon lights included.

bathroom

The bathrooms are stylish and spacious, and they all feature showers, as the bathtub is already inside the room. The sink designs are varied and modern, they include vanity mirrors and aromatherapy sets. All bathrooms are equipped with their own brand of toiletries Rock Spa. The Bret Michaels Suite includes a 5-person shower with one-way mirror because, of course, why not?

lobby

Hotels like this are made to impress and lobbies are the first opportunity to do it, and the lobby at Hard Rock Riviera Maya doesn’t disappoint. During the day, a set of floor-to-ceiling blinded windows let in plenty of sun rays into a wide and modern courtyard like area, while in the night a large collection of hanging lamps lit the lobby in colorful ways. The Heaven section lobby is more serious and luxurious, with a few shops and restaurants in the surroundings. Of course, rock star memorabilia fills both lobbies.

pool

There is the main Float pool which features swim-up bar, water slide semi-submerged loungers and a couple of Jacuzzis. Then there is the kids’ pool and a Splash Park. The family-friendly section also includes a Scuba pool. At Heaven’s section, you get a Dive pool, a semi-Olympic pool, and a rhythm pool. All this, without even mentioning the lagoon which feels like a salt-water pool.

spa

The Rock Spa, with 75 treatment rooms, takes the rock theme to a different level with the introduction of its Rhythm & Motion music-centered therapies. They use amplified vibrations during massage therapy to enhance the healing power of the treatment. For more traditional treatments you can always book a Temazcal session or a hydrotherapy room.

gym

The Body Rock Fitness Center is a large, modern and stylish gym with all you need to work out while on vacations. But there is also a Yoga Temple, for those that approach fitness from a more spiritual side, and you still have a climbing wall and a jogging trail.

dining

With a total of 10 restaurants between both hotels, gastronomic diversity is all but guaranteed. You can choose from Asian, Mexican, Brazilian, or International cuisines, plus a pizzeria on the family-friendly section, or French, Italian and Latin American dishes plus a steakhouse at the adults-only part of this huge resort. Needless to say, they all create its own vibe with outstanding design and upscale service.

drinking

Each section has its own swim-up bar. The Sun Bar is the lobby bar of the family-friendly section. At Heaven, you’ll also find a Martini Beach Bar and the Club Heaven & Heaven Lounge with live DJs every night. And no, we are not counting the multiple bars of the Bret Michaels suite.