My husband and I have visited Mexico every year since we started dating. The first trip was for a wedding, but we’ve been back like clockwork ever since (excluding the first two years of the pandemic). We usually do a lot research to find the right resort, always keeping a few things in mind: modern aesthetics, swim-up pools, and most importantly, ALL-INCLUSIVE! That’s why for our 2022 trip, we booked a stay at Unico 20°87° in Riviera Maya.
I’ve been eyeing this luxury, all-inclusive resort for a few years now.
I wanted to give an honest review about our stay for others who are considering this all-inclusive, luxury hotel in Riviera Maya, near Tulum. This review breaks down costs, amenities, and activities, and includes a few of my best travel tips.
Where We Stayed
Getting to Riviera Maya
Unico 20°87° is located in Riviera Maya along the Caribbean coastline in the Yucatán Peninsula, about an hour away from the Cancun Airport. We decided to book a shuttle van transfer through the hotel and it was EXPENSIVE. Although I did like that it was private (no one else in the van with us), it was $316 roundtrip. Unfortunately, all the options for other services (and the reviews) weren’t good enough to book somewhere else.
The Resort
This hotel is definitely Instagram-worthy! It’s decked out with lustrous plants at every turn, soaked in warm colors, and elevated with modern touches in the rooms and common areas. We stayed in the Alcoba Swim-Up Pool ─ King Bedroom, which was beautiful and comfy! The entire property is a great option for those who want the earthy vibe of nearby Tulum while keeping the luxuries of a full-service resort.
The staff was very prompt and attentive. They were helpful and had an answer for every question. For even more service and help navigating the area, the hotel assigns each guest a local host that will book your dinner reservations, spa, and any anther activities you’re interested in. Ours got my complimentary beach hat (more on that in the amenities section below) painted at the last minute before we left for our flight!
We tipped almost everyone – bellboys, servers, room service, and our local host – but I didn’t see everyone doing it. If you don’t usually tip bellboys and other support staff, I would say bring cash dollars to at least tip the waiters and waitresses.
Be sure to watch my Unico 20°87 ° vacation vlog on YouTube and check out some of my other international travel guides!
One other thing to note: Despite the support of the staff, you’ll need to bring a smart phone with you pretty much everywhere, as almost all of the menus and hotel information have to be accessed through QR codes.
Amenities, food, & drinks
I live for a good amenity, especially on vacation! Unfortunately, we weren’t given all the details about available amenities during check-in. However, I was familiar with Unico’s offerings from my TripAdvisor research, so I knew to ask questions and look for the amenities offerings card in the room. Some of the amenities we took advantage of include:
- Two complimentary beach hats that you can have painted and customized with whatever text or design you want.
- An in-room aromatherapy menu. Upon request, they’ll set up a diffuser with your preferred scent.
- Mixology drinks. The hotel brings the ingredients to your room and you mix the drink yourself!
The only thing we didn’t utilize is the pillow menu.
The drinks were incredible! Artesian cocktails are available until 11 p.m. in all the common areas, restaurants, and room service!
The food is à la carte (thankfully, because I can’t stand buffets) with all the yummy options you can imagine. We had steaks, pasta, traditional Mexican food, and even Crème brûlée! I will note, the hotel was packed and there were very long wait times for walk-in dinner and breakfast.
Activities in nearby Tulum
This trip was all about relaxation, so we didn’t bother with water sports or other activities. All we had on the agenda was sleeping and eating! On the third day, we decided to leave the hotel and visit Tulum. The local host provided by Unico scheduled a reservation and taxi for us. Although the ride was fairly nice, it was pricey! We were charged $53 USD each way from Unico to Tulum (cash only).
In Tulum, we visited Taboo Beach Club for lunch and hookah. To sit on the beach area instead of the covered restaurant, there is a $112 USD fee per person. Half of the cost can be used as a food and drink credit. The drinks are yummy (but not very strong) and we really enjoyed the food (mussels, burger, and Branzino fillet). They offer bottle service that starts around (I believe) $300 USD with higher end bottles like Don Julio 1942 going for $900 USD. The hookah was around $90 USD.
Overall, we really enjoyed this trip and spending some quality time together. I can’t wait until our next baecation. We’re hoping to take a nice trip on our anniversary to somewhere tropical. Fingers crossed for Saint Kitts and Nevis or Antigua!I hope this post helps if you’re considering booking a trip at Unico 20°87° in Riviera Maya.
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