Celebrating a milestone birthday with 12 people calls for a place that can please a wide range of tastes and personalities, while blending festivities, comfort and flawless logistics. For this special occasion, we chose Breathless Riviera Cancun, an adults-only resort that promised a dynamic, vibrant and epicurean atmosphere. Back home, did the all-inclusive resort keep its promise?
To help you decide whether this hotel is the right choice for your next vacation, here is an honest and transparent review of our stay, built around what we loved, liked, liked less and hated, not to mention our best tips to make the most of your experience.
What we loved
Mexican cuisine
All-inclusive dining can sometimes be uneven or lower in quality, with quantity coming before quality, but not at Breathless Riviera Cancun! Our taste buds were won over from start to finish. Our culinary experience began at the “Spoon” buffet, which serves flawless food with a range of local specialties (special mention for the chilaquiles, tacos and nachos) and international dishes (poke bowl bar, wood-fired pizza, a selection of pastries, an ice cream machine, grilled dishes made to order and more).
Then “The Strip Grill” steakhouse served us perfectly cooked meats in a relaxed, open-air setting right by the pool. The teppanyaki experience at “Silk City”, the pan-Asian restaurant, is a must: funny, interactive and delicious, it’s the ideal group dinner. Note that the restaurant also offers a South Asian menu and sushi at its regular tables, which we unfortunately didn’t have time to try. As for “Coquette”, the French restaurant, while it wasn’t exactly among our favourites, its traditional onion soup is still a must-try!
The big winner? The Mexican restaurant “Picante” was an absolute favourite for the whole group, so tasty and authentic that we went twice during our short stay! We were treated to delicious margaritas followed by a few (!) rounds of tequila shots. Don’t miss the quesabirrias and, for dessert, the churros with coconut ice cream. Delectable!
And even between meals, there’s plenty of variety: the buffet, the “Bites” à la carte restaurant, the Xcelerate pool snack bar, pizza baked in an oven right on the beach, or even 24/7 room service... You end up eating out of indulgence rather than hunger!
The team
The hotel staff bring remarkable energy to the experience. The pool concierge makes every day easier: whether it’s bringing fresh towels, refreshing your cocktails, bringing snacks or adjusting your umbrella as the sun moves, you have practically nothing to do. The entertainment team shines with its constant, upbeat presence. We had fun with them around the pools during the day, then met up with them again at the theme nights and in the nightclub, ending the evening on the dance floor. The bartenders go all out to mix your cocktail quickly and precisely. And finally, the chief concierge handled every detail for our group with exemplary care, especially the group dinner reservations and our special requests in the rooms.
The Nook Café, open 24/7
This coffee corner, open 24 hours a day, quickly became everyone’s favourite meeting spot. A good artisanal latte before breakfast, an ice-cold iced tea to rehydrate in late morning, a refreshing gelato break in the afternoon, a few indulgent pastries or a quick sandwich before catching the shuttle back to the airport... It’s the little extra that makes all the difference day to day.
The pools
The resort is built around two distinct pool areas, each with its own pool bar. The Energy pool (freshly renovated) has a very pleasant atmosphere that builds through the day: music in the morning, a few tournaments and sports activities, entertainment throughout the day, ending with high-energy games in the afternoon. It also has a large heated hot tub, a big plus on days when the Mexican sun is a little more discreet.
On the other side, the Xcelerate pool is simply spectacular and very “Instagrammable”, lined with palm trees and with a breathtaking view of the sea. From Monday to Thursday, the mood is set by soft lounge music in the morning and a DJ in the afternoon. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, it’s time for the famous theme pool parties: be there by noon so you don’t miss a thing!
What we liked
Varied activities all day long
It’s impossible to get bored at Breathless Riviera Cancun. Between salsa lessons, the sunset painting workshop, guacamole-making classes, volleyball, kayaking or aqua spinning, the schedule is full, varied and well thought out. We especially enjoyed morning yoga on the beach and the tequila tasting. Some of the more popular activities have limited spots, which you have to sign up for in the hotel’s mobile app.
Theme nights
White party, Mexican night with a big outdoor buffet, neon night... Guests play along, and the atmosphere is always there.
Spectacular shows
The evening line-up holds some lovely surprises. The Queen tribute show is outstanding, the magic show is both impressive and very funny, not to mention the Britney Spears performance, which is particularly well done.
The nightclub
A really great atmosphere, led by different DJs. The real highlight at the end of the night? The taco stand set up right at the club exit to satisfy late-night cravings! One very small drawback: after several nights in a row, the music selection gets a little repetitive.
What we liked less
The beach
Let’s be honest: Breathless Riviera Cancun isn’t a destination for people who love swimming in the sea. In October, the water was a brownish to reddish colour. For our entire stay, nobody went swimming. If your idea of the perfect vacation means long hours swimming in a turquoise sea, you’ll be better off looking at another resort.
Slightly inconsistent bars
We noticed small differences in how the cocktails were made depending on where we ordered them. The drinks served at the Xcelerate pool seemed better quality and better balanced than those at the Energy pool, which didn’t have quite the same liquor brands or ingredients. Don’t miss the cucumber margarita at the Xcelerate pool bar.
What we hated
Honestly? Not much
Apart from the beach, which doesn’t live up to a Caribbean postcard, the resort keeps its promises with flying colours, for anyone looking for a vibrant atmosphere and hospitality worthy of Mexico’s best hotels.
Tips for your stay
Choose your room section based on how you sleep
Opt for a room in the Xcelerate section if you want to be at the heart of the action during the day. The music, which can be very, very loud, plays only between noon and 5 p.m. In the evening, the noise moves instead to the main section (the Allure section), near the nightclub, the theatre and the Wink bar, where most of the events and theme parties take place. In the Allure section, remember to pack earplugs if you’re a light sleeper... and otherwise, you’ll be especially happy on silent disco night!
Include a weekend in your stay
Ideally, choose a stay that includes the weekend, from Thursday to Sunday. Weekdays (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) are noticeably quieter and less busy.
Tell your travel advisor about special occasions
Whether you’re celebrating a milestone birthday or a honeymoon (or even a divorce!), mention it when you book. That way, special touches can be arranged in advance with the concierge team, who are used to welcoming groups for every kind of occasion.
Manage your expectations about the sea
Relax, knowing that your vacation will revolve around the resort’s superb pools, with no disappointment about the beach.
