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- I visited Atelier Playa Mujeres on a girls’ trip to celebrate turning 40 with my best friends.
- My half of a four-night stay in a junior suite with ocean views came to about $337 a night.
- The stay included tasty food, access to great pools, and other perks. It was an excellent value.
At the end of January, my best friends and I headed to Mexico for a girls’ trip to celebrate turning 40.
We all flew from the United States into Cancún and headed about 50 minutes north to Atelier Playa Mujeres, which drew us in with its adults-only, all-inclusive experience and spa.
I split a junior suite ocean-view double room with one other person for four nights and spent $1,349 for my half, or about $337 a night.
Here’s what my trip was like.
The lobby set the tone for our trip with floor-to-ceiling windows, rich greenery, and a central bar.
Upon arriving at Atelier Playa Mujeres, I entered a circular driveway, where I was greeted with a cool towel and luggage service.
At reception, I was given my room key — a braided bracelet, which I appreciated as I often lose key cards. I was also handed a glass of bubbly, the first of many adult beverages to come.
The lobby looked incredible and was filled with light (from its floor-to-ceiling windows) and people milling about its large bar.
The resort initially felt massive but was easy to navigate, thanks to great signage.
While heading to my room, I passed El Cafecito, a coffee shop offering drinks, pastries, and ice cream.
I also passed Bar de la Calle, which would become our go-to for pre-dinner cocktails. There were lots of signs around the property which made it tough to get lost.
My room was easy to find.
The resort has nearly 600 suites but never felt overcrowded during our stay. I easily found my room, 2518, down a long hallway of suites.
My junior suite was spacious, with sleek wooden decor.
The two queen beds were super comfortable, and our room also had a small couch and table. I loved the sleek wood decor and simple accents.
Our complimentary minibar included snacks like M&Ms and Kit-Kats, drinks, and two bottles of wine.
The bathroom looked elegant, too.
Our bathroom featured a double sink, a free-standing tub, a walk-in rain shower, and Molton Brown toiletries.
Plus, our suite had stunning views of the ocean and lush greenery surrounding us.
We spent most of our time at the main pool.
We spent most days lounging on Bali beds by the 14,000-square-foot main pool with swim-up bars and restaurants.
The Bali beds, which felt like cozy cabanas, were the perfect spot to hang. Our poolside servers were exceptional and always kept the drinks and food coming.
Just off the pool area, the beach had more lounge chairs and thatched umbrellas. The property also has a relaxation pool with its own restaurant, Limón y Sal, and a more laid-back atmosphere.
Dining options were plentiful, with 13 restaurants on the property.
The property had many restaurants for us to try. We booked dinners through the resort’s app, enjoying Japanese at Takeshi, Mediterranean at Cala Di Luna, steak at Los Abrazos, and Italian at Cilento.
Cala Di Luna was a group favorite, but overall, the food quality exceeded my expectations for an all-inclusive resort.
At night, we got drinks and enjoyed some entertainment on the property.
Evening entertainment included shows and access to a nightly club.
Many of the shows felt cruise-ship-esque — one even consisted of a contortionist twisting to music — and the silent disco was a highlight of our trip.
The gym area was impressive, too.
The gym featured state-of-the-art equipment, from Technogym devices to weights.
During our stay, there was also someone offering quick massages in a chair outside the gym — a nice reward for getting our workouts in on vacation.
Across from the gym is Alba, a café serving juices and smoothies to order. We had some of the best salads there for lunch.
The three-level spa was the largest I’ve seen.
The property’s NUUP spa is about 38,750 square feet and has three floors. I’ve never seen a spa so large.
Our group of six booked 80-minute massages there for $250 each, and the staff was able to accommodate us all at once. The experience began with a hydrotherapy circuit: steam room with a body scrub, cold shower, sauna, and jacuzzi.
After our massages, we relaxed in a hydrotherapy pool with targeted water massages for different body areas.
In my opinion, you won’t easily find a luxury experience for this cost elsewhere.
Finding such a great all-inclusive resort that cost me under $400 a night was a win.
Although I split the cost of my room with one other person to get this lower rate, I still think Atelier Playa Mujeres is an excellent value.
The service was excellent, the facilities beautiful, and the food impressive. Plus, the child-free atmosphere made for the perfect girls’ trip.
