Fodor's Expert Review Hotel Esencia

Situated on 50 acres of jungle, this sprawling estate—once the home of an Italian duchess—has been converted into one of the Riviera Maya's most luxurious hotels. Nestled within the gardens are two-story cottages featuring private pools, enormous living rooms, wooden pavilions with outdoor dining areas, and high-tech entertainment rooms; villa rooms, tastefully decorated with hardwood furnishings and white linens, include a surplus of amenities like a Sub-Zero bottle refrigerator (stocked), and a satellite TV. Not a single detail has been overlooked, so expect everything from double rain-shower heads and Molton Brown bath products to 600-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets. The service is exceptional, as is the food.