Arrival/Check-In: After enduring a long customs line at the airport, I appreciated the friendly and efficient arrival and check-in at The Hard Rock Hotel. The valet assisted me with my bags and helped me out of the car before another host approached to whisk me past the main lobby to a smaller room guarded by velvet ropes, clearly marked the VIP section. Lush velvet furniture adorned the room where my host and personal assistant offered Champagne and provided a run-down of the property. The entire check-in process took about five minutes as the friendly staff took care of my luggage, passport details and guided me through the Rock Royalty package. With two separate properties at my disposal, I was thankful for the overview. Guest Quarters: The attentiveness did not end there. My host escorted me to the room and showed me around, listing everything available to me during my stay. The room was very much in the Hard Rock style, complete with spotlights, dark walls and a silver leather headboard on the king-sized bed, nestled between the balcony and the large tub. The bathroom area — containing a large standing shower with a glass door across from the double sink, large vanity and full-length mirror — served as a dressing room with a spacious closet nearby. Services/Amenities: The Rock Royalty all-inclusive package makes many unique amenities available to guests. There are two room service menus, one for the all-inclusive guests and another for the Rock Royalty package. Both offer full access to the several on-site bars and restaurants, while the Rock Royalty menu adds a few special items such as an aromatherapy pillow and room infusion scents. One amenity I found unique to The Hard Rock Hotel but didn’t take advantage of was the Sound of Your Stay service which delivers a Fender guitar to your room along with headphones and an iPad to play and record music. As for nightlife, the Heaven Bar was VIP, complete with bottle service, swanky décor and an indoor pool area serving as a dance floor. The Heaven side of the hotel offered an active event itinerary for both day and night that did not disappoint. The Experience: Overall, my stay at the Riviera Maya Hard Rock Hotel was relaxing and fun. I especially enjoyed a daytrip to the local cenotes, one of several excursions the hotel arranges for guests. Three days of rain at a resort can make it difficult to come away with a positive experience, but thanks to the all-inclusive package and lively nightlife, the weather didn’t put a damper on my stay. The nightlife and musical theme make The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya unique in the luxury all-inclusive game — a visit I’d recommend for night owls, beach lovers and music enthusiasts.

GT CHECKLIST

[checklist] [item check=yes]Doorman/valet[/item] [item check=yes]Less than 10 minutes for check-in[/item] [item check=yes]Separate tub and shower[/item] [item check=yes]Large vanity[/item] [item]High-quality towels[/item] [item check=yes]Powerful, unattached hair dryer[/item] [item]High-quality bed linens[/item] [item check=yes]Large, flat-screen television[/item] [item]Large desk with convenient outlets[/item] [item check=yes]Large, complimentary laptop safe[/item] [item check=yes]Complimentary in-room WiFi[/item] [item check=yes]Complimentary bottled water[/item] [item check=yes]Stocked minibar[/item] [item check=yes]Ample lighting[/item] [item check=yes]In-room coffeemaker[/item] [item check=yes]Iron and ironing board[/item] [item check=yes]On-site restaurant[/item] [item check=yes]24-hour room service[/item] [item check=yes]24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center[/item] [item check=yes]Turn-down service[/item] [/checklist]

The Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya

Km. 72, Carretera Cancun-Chetumal Puerto Aventuras Mexico 77710 tel 52 984 875 1100 hrhrivieramaya.com