Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya, by Karisma - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

1108 reviews

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  Margaritaville Island Reserve: Exceptional service, stunning accommodations, and a few bumps along the way.

  Just returned from Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Cancun and had a fabulous time! Here are some pros and cons of our trip: PROS Service: The service at Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya was impeccable from start to finish. Every staff member went above and beyond to ensure our stay was unforgettable. The waitstaff was outstanding, housekeeping was meticulous, and the bartenders were skilled and friendly. The level of care and attention to detail was unmatched, and the staff truly prioritized creating an exceptional guest experience. Butlers: As members, we had the luxury of butler service, and Mariel and Enrique were phenomenal. They assisted with restaurant reservations, reminded us of daily events, refilled ice buckets, ensured our room was spotless, and provided turndown service. The highlight was returning from dinner one night to find a beautifully drawn bath complete with bubbles, bath salts, and flowers—such an amazing touch! They were instrumental in making our vacation top-notch. Accommodations: We stayed in a swim-up suite, and it was impeccable. The resort’s relatively new construction was evident, and the room exuded a stylish island vibe. The bathroom featured an all-in-one bathtub and rainfall shower, which I loved so much I’m planning to replicate it at home! Entertainment: While entertainment was available in the evenings, the overall vibe of the resort was relaxing. Most guests seemed to turn in early, which added to the peaceful atmosphere. I enjoyed the laid-back pace and appreciated the quiet environment. Brewery: One unique feature of the resort is its on-site working brewery located in the Landshark restaurant. We toured the brewing facility with Diego, the brewmaster, who was fantastic. He walked us through the brewing process and let us sample the beers on tap—all of which were excellent! CONS Beach: Unfortunately, there’s no true beach at this resort. While it seems a beach was originally planned, hurricanes appear to have eroded most of it. You can access the ocean at your own risk, but the area is rocky, and there’s very little walkable space depending on the tides. If you plan to venture out, bring water shoes for safety. New Year’s Eve Event: The purpose of our trip was to celebrate New Year’s Eve and enjoy the special event planned by the resort. Given the cost of the room, we assumed the NYE celebration was included. However, the sommelier informed us it required a $100 per person reservation, which could be credited toward a bottle of liquor. As members, we already receive bottles of liquor and wine as part of our perks, so we declined. His response was dismissive, suggesting we "might as well go back to our rooms" if we didn’t purchase the reservation. We ended up finding a side table just outside the event area and enjoyed the evening there. Ironically, we noticed several empty tables throughout the night, as many guests without reservations were rudely turned away. By 11:00 PM, they started letting people sit without charge—after making a big deal earlier. While we made the best of it and had a good time, the experience left a sour taste. The sommelier seemed more focused on upselling than enhancing the guest experience, which was disappointing. JWB Steakhouse: This was the only negative experience we had with the resort’s restaurants. Upon sitting down, the sommelier immediately presented a wine list with additional costs. When we declined, he slammed the menu and walked away without a word. The "butcher" then tried to sell us $100 steaks, which we also declined. After that, service declined sharply. We waited over 90 minutes for our food, and when the steaks arrived, one was overcooked and the other was nearly raw. Both were so tough we couldn’t eat them. We ended up canceling our second reservation at this restaurant due to the poor quality of both the food and service.

  Jan 07, 2025
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  Just Awful

  Very unfortunate as there is NO beach at this"beachfront" resort. When we arrived they said they had had a recent hurricane which washed away the beach (total lie). The water was also brown with seaweed so you couldn't even swim. We decided to go into Puerto Morelos since we had been told it was nearby. Well, it wasn't. So we were basically stuck on the gated resort property. The room was very nice and the grounds were spotless. Food was only ok with not a lot of options. I'd say the worst part was the incessant loud thumping music which played everywhere from morning until night. There was no where to escape. The staff was very friendly but they didnt know anything and couldn't answer even basic questions. The "points" that they give you are basically worthless as they are only good for things already included. STAY AWAY from this place, there are surely better options.

  Jan 07, 2025
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  Best Trip Ever

  The entertainment team made the trip so fun always good energy and bringing up the vibes. Never a dull moment with them. Drinks and food was always good as well. Would definitely come back again in the near future. Perfect spot to come on during vacation.

  Jan 07, 2025
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  Who’s seen White Lotus?

  Starting with the pros: employees are outstanding and keep the property immaculate. The rooms are spacious and comfortable. The restaurants were great and the pools are really nice. The major con is that there is NO Beach. By that, I mean there is NO beach. Clearly, at one time there was a beach, and now there is not. This didn’t happen overnight, and failure to disclose/edit this on the website and/or communicate it during booking is inexcusable, negligent and false advertisement. Because the resort is so remote, we took a 10-15 minute cab to Puerto Morales public beach ($38 one way) which was an expensive reprieve from the repetitive playlists and constant, thumping music blaring through every resort speaker. The next day, out of desperation, we were able to navigate a relatively treacherous route to neighboring hotels with at least some beach - which required agility to climb over slippery rocks, seaweed, fallen debris and garbage. Once free, we walked the beach for several miles. The only other place to walk is on the one way gravel road. When we checked in we received 17,000 “points” without any explanation of their “value.” We learned you can use them for soda and bottled water (both of which are included in the all inclusive), chips and a sad assortment of candy. Needless to say, we left thousands of points richer than when we arrived. You would never know you’re in Mexico, but for the amazing employees. The only wildlife is a sweet black cat that roams the resort. So truly, if you’re looking for a homogenous, American, adult waterpark with constant, insufferable “entertainment,” this is a good option - though I’m not sure why one would go all the way to Mexico for the experience…

  Jan 06, 2025
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  Best Vacation

  It truly is an amazing place to relax and enjoy amazing food. We were here from December 19 to January 5. We had two amazing butlers Isaac and Armando they went over and above what we could’ve expected always so helpful so friendly and always open to communication thanks for everything really really appreciate everything you guys us. We’re writing I also would like to do a shout out to the entertainment team Angel, Angelo, Regina, Alex, Maria, Mextui and Ozzy. Also a special shout out to Bryan and Frank Lola‘s. He was the best waiter you could ever ask for . Alain at the salted Ribar and Luis great bartenders. Just want to give a special shout to Baldo Landshark always great to deal with. Jorge and Jose at the buffet fantastic. All of the staff at JWB excellent service some of the best food we’ve ever had on any resort keep up the great work we can’t wait to come back.

  Jan 05, 2025