All-Inclusive Trip Report – The Finest Playa Mujeres – Mexico

We recently spent a few days in paradise at The Finest Playa Mujeres and we couldn’t have been happier with our stay.  Let me say this first:  I am a foodie, I love a craft cocktail, I’ve been to probably 100 beaches in the Caribbean, and I do love a luxury resort. That being said, my expectations were somewhere between “meh” and “cool” when I heard my husband had been invited for an awards trip to this unfamiliar all-inclusive resort north of the Cancun hotel zone.  Couple my lack of enthusiasm with recent travel warnings regarding Mexico, I found myself in a first-time scenario:  at trip I kind of didn’t want to take!

(Did I just say that?)

Well, thank goodness we went because were were so pleasantly surprised and we had a GREAT time at The Finest!  Let me break it down for you:

Restaurants – There were so many restaurants to choose from, we could not try them all.  Our favorites included:

Brass Steakhouse – One of the fine dining restaurants on property, brass was a wonderful experience with sommelier presented wine pairings and expertly prepared steaks.  We went with the recommendations of our server and we were not disappointed with the options he presented, especially the Argentinean “Barbacue” steak!

Dukes’s Lobster and Seafood – We ate several meals here mostly because breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served with an ocean view!  We really enjoyed every meal, but the seafood dishes like lobster risotto, and the ahi tuna were stand-outs in my mind.

Las Dunas Beach House – This beach-front palapa delighted us every single day with its assortment of lunch items.  Wood-fired pizzas, quesadillas and grilled fare were the standbys with a sprawling buffet that changed every day.  Fresh made salsa and guacamole served up with homemade chips fresh from the fryer were my daily go-to and we loved the Mexican-Caribbean fusion seafood buffet as well! AHEM…good thing I dieted before I got here!

The resort also has an Italian restaurant, Japanese Steakhouse, Gourmet Mexican Restaurant (ask for the roasted pig) Tapas Bar, Juice Bar, Sports Bar, Food Truck, and Coffee and Dessert Shop (making excellent mudslides all day long!) Several nights of the week they have a themed dinner buffet complete with lavish decorations and entertainment.  The word Buffet just doesn’t do it justice…be sure to check these out…you can’t miss the staff working all day to set up these extraordinary presentations!

Entertainment – There was no lack of entertainment during the day or night.  Cooking lessons, tequila tastings, bingo, pool-side trivia and exercise classes were all there for the taking (or not) and at night, shows from fire-twirling acrobats to Michael Jackson impersonators delighted audiences. There are plenty of touring options, including a quick ferry ride over to Isla Mujeres, historical tours like Chichen Itza and Tulum, or a visit to downtown or the shopping district.

The Resort – The grounds of the property were clean and beautifully landscaped.  The rooms were chic and modern, with rain shower and hot tubs and the ground floor rooms had plunge pools with hammocks.  There were 2 pools separated by a swim-up pool bar, one for families and one for adults.  The adult pool was festive and lively thanks to the friendly activities director who would pop in to offer up fun contests, swimming competitions and general drinking-themed shenanigans!

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The Staff – The staff of the resort is what surprised me the most during our stay.  The entire staff at The Finest exceeded our expectations at every turn. From the bartenders to the groundskeepers, every single person you passed by greeted you with a warm “Hola” and they always went out of their way to ensure our needs were met.  The waiters and bartenders were warm and friendly and the spunky Activities Director, Isobel, entertained us daily at the pool. In my mind this is one of the best parts of The Finest Isla Mujeres, something that sets it apart from other all-inclusive resorts.

If you’re looking for a family-friendly all-inclusive you’ve hit the jackpot with The Finest Playa Mujeres.  Even though we were enjoying a much needed break from our kids, we were not bothered one little bit by the family nature of this resort.  The separate pools and designated areas for families struck the perfect balance for couples and families alike.  This all-inclusive resort in Mexico gets our vote for a great family vacation or romantic escape.  Cheers!