Hotel Review: El Dorado Seaside Suites
Every so often I find a new gem of a hotel to love and this is it in the all-inclusive category.
Hotel: El Dorado Seaside Suites by Karisma
Location: Riviera Maya, Mexico
Time of Visit: July 2018
Overview: Having visited the Cancun hotel zone many years ago I much prefer the Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen area. It's a more peaceful zone with lots of upscale all-inclusive properties such as the Grand Velas, Banyan Tree Mayakoba, and more. Additionally, many of the attractions such as Tulum, Xcaret, and Dolphinaris are all nearby. The child in me loves Xcaret!
What I Loved: The swim out pools on your balcony were the best. They offer a peaceful oasis for swimming and a great view to watch the morning sun. If you want something a bit more lively choose a room that has a swim-up pool on the main level in the Infinity section. These pools are attached to the main activity pool, placing you right in the center of the action.
You won't find the balcony swim out pools in the Palms section but many do offer the swim-up pool attached to a lazy river. The Palms section is also just as nice and has a walkable and more swimmable beach.
Thinking about spending the day at the beach? Be sure to grab yourself a Bali bed and reserve it before breakfast. Don't forget to bring an empty beach bag to hold your bed so no one thinks it's empty.
Accommodations: Very spacious rooms indeed. You won't feel cramped if you have 3 people in the room. Each room comes with a whirlpool bathtub in the bathroom.
In room whirlpool
Food: The buffets better known as the Gourmet Inclusive Experience were worth it. There was a variety of options every day. If you want something other than the buffet try one of their a la carte restaurants. Although get there before 7 pm as it can be a wait of 40 minutes or more for one of those restaurants. If you are looking to dine at 8 pm or later choose one of the buffets instead.
Appetizer from Mia Casa- an Italian a la carte restaurant
Fun Fact: The produce is fresh because it's grown in the company's greenhouse year-round.
Spa: The resort has a very relaxing spa called the Naay Spa where you can go through the water therapy. This was a series of body mud, followed by hot and cold steams before reaching the main pool, and lastly the hot, warm and cold baths. Your spa butler will explain the purpose of each station and guide you along in the session. You should factor in an hour before your massage in order to properly enjoy the water therapy.
Note: There are 2 spas one in the Infinity section with no water therapy and one at the main building with the water therapy- go for the water therapy!
Things to Know: Leave the AC on in your room, no matter how cold it is especially if you're in the Infinity section. If you don't the humidity will build up and cause you to have a very slippery floor. Secondly, this hotel is an all-inclusive adults-only hotel, making it a great hotel for couples looking to rekindle their romance. Lastly, the walls are thin, I could the conversations in the next room.
One thing to note is that while on this trip, all the beaches were filled with a quite invasive weed called Sargassum; read all about it here.
Needless to say all the hotels in the area tried to keep up with it but it seemed determined to take over all the beaches. This did not dampen the fun at the resort as there was the pool and of course my favorite hide out space on my balcony pool. I still had a fabulous time!
Sister Resorts: This resort is part of the overall Karisma Hotel brand with several locations around the world including Croatia, Jamaica and Dominican Republic just to name a few. I visited its other Mexico resorts such as the Casitas Royale, the Eldorado Maroma Suites and the Azul Properties in the surrounding area. The one thing that each property had in common was their proximity to the beach. Unlike other behemoth properties, you don't have to walk far to get to the beach from your room.
Still, each had its own nuances. For instance, the Maroma Suites has the Palofitos, which are the overwater bungalows. I originally thought the water below them was deep but it isn't and allows for a soak in the crystal blue waters and to view the small fish that wade in the water. Meanwhile, a stay at the Casitas will allow you access to 3 resorts, Generations Riviera Maya and El Dorado Royale and so on.
There's so much more to say about these resorts but it's best to experience them yourself.
Looking for more of our first-hand reviews check out the following posts!
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Until next time, keep traveling!
KJ