Breathless Riviera Cancun Review
The Breathless Riviera Cancun was an interesting stay, to say the least. A new brand to Hyatt, acquired in one of Hyatt's many brand purchases over the last five years, I was curious what this “party” adults-only all-inclusive was all about. I will cover the cost, location, room, activities and share my overall thoughts in this Breathless Rivera Cancun review.
Location
The Breathless Riviera Cancun is located in between Cancún International Airport and Playa del Carmen, near the town of Puerto Morelos. There are several other resorts on this stretch of ocean, including a Secrets Resort that Breathless shares its amenities with (but not the other way around). It's about a 25 minute drive to the airport, the majority of the time spent traversing the roughly paved roads through the mangroves off the main highway.
Breathless Riviera Cancun Review: Typical Booking Cost
The Breathless Riviera Cancun is an all-inclusive resort, so standard rates include two adults. Additional adults cost extra, either using cash or points. Rates can be incredibly reasonable, under $300 per night. Otherwise, as a Category C resort, rooms cost:
- 21,000 World of Hyatt points (off-peak)
- 25,000 World of Hyatt points (standard)
- 29,000 World of Hyatt points (peak).
Keep in mind, the resort has the Xhale Club, which is an additional cost but comes with extra perks. Globalists like myself receive Xhale Club access complimentary.
Check In
Upon arrival at the resort, I was greeted with cool towels and immediately escorted to the Xhale Club for check in once my name was checked on a list. Keep in mind, there's a Secrets resort here as well, which used to be a part of Breathless. That side of the resort isn't accessible to Breathless guests, but Secrets guests can use the facilities and restaurants on the Breathless side of the resort.
In the Xhale Club, I was provided a welcome margarita and checked in quickly. My room was ready, so I was escorted to the oceanview junior suite by one of the club attendants.
Breathless Riviera Cancun Review: Rooms
Entering the Breathless room I was assigned, you can tell this resort caters to a different clientele than most Hyatts. To the right was the bathroom, which was open to the rest of the room. Immediately noticeable was the shower, which had a small see-through curtain separating it from the main bedroom. If you're sharing a room during your visit, you better make sure you're comfortable with that person!
To the left as you enter was a magic box for food delivery, as well as the room's mini bar, stocked with beers, waters, and soft drinks. Since it's an all-inclusive resort, everything inside the mini bar was included in the stay. Above that, a coffee station with Nespresso-branded pods provided the caffeination to keep up with the rest of the resort guests.
In the main bedroom, a flatscreen television mounted on the wall overlooked the king sized bed. A small indoor seating area was next to the bedroom with couch and table. On the balcony, three chairs and a table overlooked the resort's pool and beach.
While nothing overtly wrong with the room, this was the oldest-feeling room of the three resorts I visited on this trip. Everything was in great shape, but the design felt like something from the early 2000s, or a very dated W Hotel, if that makes sense.
Property & Amenities
If you are an introvert, the Breathless brand is not for you. People come to this resort to party, and have long before Hyatt owned it. On the weekends, a massive pool party takes one of the pools, complete with DJ, that provides a very adult atmosphere.
Besides the pool parties, there are exercise classes poolside every day. There's nightly entertainment in the resort's theater. The spa features a hydrotherapy circuit (included for Xhale guests once per stay). And of course, various beach and pool games are available for unscheduled activities.
Pools & Beaches
The resort features two main pools. The aforementioned party pool, with swim up bar and DJ booth, and a larger activities pool on the other side of the resort, also complete with swim-up bar. This pool features one side exclusive to Xhale members, so it's easier to find a poolside lounger.
There's also a giant whirlpool located next to the party pool, which seemed pretty unique. Otherwise, the resort sits on a decent stretch of white sand. However, seaweed seemed to be an issue during my July visit. There were beach chairs and palapas set up for relaxation, and a sand volleyball court that always had players.
Dining
The resort is an all-inclusive, with several dining option available for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There's a main buffet that is even open until 3 AM some nights to serve the nightclub crowd.
For sit-down dining, dinner has a few choices: Pan-Asian, French, Italian, Mexican, and steakhouse restaurants. I found that dinner was a bit chaotic during my visit, so make reservations on the app in advance to avoid the rush. Near the pools, several restaurants serve up quesadillas, pizzas, and burgers.
There's also room service available, free of charge. Overall, I found the food to be good, but not extraordinary at Breathless.
Elite Perks & Status Recognition
As a Globalist, I received several perks at Breathless that made my stay better. For one, I received an upgrade to the Xhale Club, which gave me access to the club itself, but also a free hydrotheraphy session in the resort's spa. This was a relaxing perk that I absolutely love taking advantage of when available. I also received a view upgrade at check in, and was offered 4 PM late check out, but couldn't take advantage.
Breathless Riviera Cancun Review: ToP Thoughts
Overall, I liked my time at Breathless for what it was. Relaxing, it was not, as there was loud music throughout the resort late into the evening. However, that's the crowd that the resort is trying to attract. Hopefully, by reading this review, you can assign yourself into a category for or against staying at the resort. Just know, Breathless is treated as a separate brand in Hyatt's Brand Explorer program, so you might be tempted to stay at least a night on your next Mexican vacation. Let me know your thoughts on Breathless Riviera Cancun, or Breathless hotels in general, over in the ToP Facebook Group.
