Family vacations have been on hold for quite some time, leaving me anxious to get out and explore. Since I work from home it has become a treat just to run errands, so when the opportunity to visit Cancun, Mexico, came up, I jumped at the chance. However, I seemed to have lost my ability to let go of my working routine — I had forgotten how to play!
Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya hosted my stay to facilitate this review. As always, my opinions are 100% my own.
Luck was on my side because our getaway was to visit the beautiful Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, where they specialize in the art of playing and having the time of your life!
 The Luxurious Lair Suite |
Live Like a Kid
As soon as I pulled up and walked into the resort my inner child was brought to the surface. A SpongeBob SquarePants statue and his golden, larger-than-life pineapple home welcomed me to my stay. The signs above the reception desks even offered a gentle reminder, saying "Let's Play!"
Entering my suite reinforced the feeling, with Nickelodeon characters, colors, and artwork all around, and plenty of room to spread out.
Everything about the accommodations were in perfect balance between comfort and entertainment. The kid in me loved the playful decor that included original Nickelodeon™ art throughout, as well as the added special touches like the well-stocked mini bar filled with goodies for both kids and adults, two smart TVs so everyone could watch their favorite shows, spa-like bathrooms (there were two!) and comfy beds to ensure a good night's rest before we headed off to all the fun activities the resort had to offer.
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My favorite feature is that each room at Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts looks toward an ocean view and includes amenities like 24-hour in-room dining and our own walk-out infinity pool.
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Eat Like a Kid
If you ask a kid if they would like to start with dessert first, my guess is most would jump at the chance. At Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya, getting to eat what you want, when you want is most definitely an option with access to the six Gourmet Inclusive® restaurants — and each one caters to everyone in the family.
My favorites this trip:
Piazza™
The family-style dishes served were the most flavorful, made with fresh ingredients, and presented so beautifully! The restaurant's decor was a combination of old-style Italian bistro with statues of our favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles mixed in! And the pizza... it was "bodacious dude!"
Le Spatula
This dining experience is named in honor of SpongeBob's iconic spatula and showcases splendid food displays that were almost too perfect to eat! Here is where I may have indulged in dessert before the main course and for breakfast. I enjoyed made-to-order crepes topped with fresh fruit, whipped cream, gummy bears, and sprinkles. (I have no regrets!) Don't worry if sugar isn't your thing, the sweets were great, but so were the more traditional meal items!
Good Burger™
Good Burger was another one of my favorite dining experiences. The restaurant was inspired by the movie Good Burger™ and was top on my list of favorites. The onion rings and French fries were exceptionally tasty, but I really enjoyed the burger sliders. They were artfully presented, but so fresh and extremely flavorful. The ice cream truck inside the restaurant was a favorite stop for all guests! I'd go back just for more of that meal!
Bikini Bottom Bar™ and Gourmet Corner
Lunching at Bikini Bottom was a laid-back experience with a relaxing beachside vibe. We munched on the best ever shrimp cocktail and tasty Caribbean ribs, while sipping an "adult" snowcone beverage in a SpongeBob tiki mug.
Yacht Club, World Cuisine
We dressed up in our best resort wear for our fancy dinner at the Yacht Club to enjoy a menu that was inspired by the Chef's travels. This restaurant featured an interactive food display with an open kitchen ambiance and offered cooked-to-order tasty creations. As fancy as this place is, it still caters to the youngsters with a section perfect for kids' tastes. I won't lie — I did try a delicious dessert that I topped myself — with green slime.
 Photo Opp with the Stars!* |
Nick Bistro™
The most unforgettable meal for me was breakfast enjoyed at Nick Bistro. This is where we indulged in Pajama Jam, Character Dining* by dining with the "stars" of the resort, and where I had my most memorable "fan-girl" moments. During breakfast, we were entertained by our favorite Nickelodeon characters like SpongeBob and Patrick, Dora and Boots, PAW Patrol, and Wanda and Cosmo from The Fairly OddParents and finished the experience with autographs and a personal photo opp! My favorite memory was watching children's reactions as their favorite characters stopped by to say hello. The excitement was felt from across the room!
*Certain activities like Personal Slime Time and Pajama Jam Character Dining are optional services and features and not included in your package.
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It's Slime Time!* |
Play Like a Kid
Vacationing at Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya makes it easy to play like a kid, no matter what age you are. I found opportunities for fun around every corner of the resort.
Water Park Fun at Aqua Nick
We found 6 acres of Nickelodeon fun in the Aqua Nick water park. It was a party that never ended with entertainment happening all day long in and around the entire park.
We spent more than one day enjoying these Aqua Nick features:
- PAW Patrol Adventure Bay - a multi-level play structure complete with water slides and interactive features.
- Bikini Bottom Beach - the heart of Aqua Nick, a multi-level water playground with hands-on fun for the whole family. This is the place to experience the joy of being Super Slimed!
- Activity Pool - this is where we started our day with water aerobics and I tried my best to make it to the top of the climbing wall and "walked on water" using the floating pads — so much fun! This wave pool was a great place to cool off.
- Adventure River - We spent plenty of time lazying about on a tube in the wavy lazy river, where waves floated you through a fast-paced lazy river.
- Lazy River - When we needed a break from the waves, we moved our tubes to the Lazy River to float at a more leisurely pace.
- Soak Summit Main Tower - at the top of the tower, you see the most exhilarating views as you are waiting your turn on one of the 7 action-packed and thrilling water slide rides.
 Vacation Like a Kid |
The Fun Doesn't Stop when the Day Does — Entertainment Happens Day and Night!
Performances don't end at the poolside. We found entertainment and various parties every night of our stay.
- Main Stage Entertainment: We were entertained for two nights at the Main Stage.
- Slime Time Live - Where members of the audience were selected to compete on stage in all kinds of Nickelodeon Fun — one of our own members participated and was treated to a pie in the face!
- Tribe Show - An amazing show of a magical mystical and acrobatic journey of a kid who becomes a great Mayan warrior.
- Orange Carpet Experience - We were invited to a VIP Orange Carpet experience where we got to dance and sing with our favorite Nickelodeon characters.
- Glow Party - We ended the last night of our vacation at a glowing dance party with the entertainment staff in the Snick Lounge.
*Certain activities like Personal Slime Time and Pajama Jam Character Dining are optional services and features and not included in your package.
Live Like a Kid at Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya |
This way to the best summer ever!
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya reminded me how important it is to take the time to play with your kids. No matter how busy life gets, find the time to live, eat, and play like a kid. When you have joyful memories to look back on, it makes the adult responsibilities easier to tackle!
Book Your Next Vacation at Nickelodeon™ Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya!
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