[Editor’s note: this 5-Diamond Resorts of Mexico post was updated in March of 2024.]
The AAA 5-Diamond Awards are, in most respects, probably the most unique listings on the market for North American motels and resorts. There’s an intensive vetting and inspection course of the properties undergo and a protracted guidelines of facilities that must be in place to qualify. In contrast to a membership group like Main Resorts of the World, this isn’t a paid reservation system for motels. The AAA inspectors are about as neutral as you may get.
When you’ve ever heard the phrase “true 5-star lodge,” the particular person is usually referring how straightforward it’s for a lodge to be categorized as “5-star,” particularly by the native tourism board or lodge affiliation. For these 5-diamond awards, nonetheless, in 2023 there are solely 5 properties making the reduce for all of Canada. There are solely 5 for Hawaii. There are solely 11 for all of the Caribbean, together with simply 2 within the widespread Dominican Republic.
Mexico is a distinct story although relating to 5 diamond resorts, with a number of in every main seashore resort space and a number of other inland, with 33 in all. Every year that quantity goes up, not down: it was 24 the primary time I put up this publish. One did drop off this time for some purpose although: Auberge Resort Esperanza in Los Cabos.
We now have detailed opinions of just about all of the 5-diamond properties in Mexico. We’re undecided how the 2 Grand Luxxe timeshare properties acquired on this motels record since it’s a must to purchase into their fractional possession system until you lease from an “proprietor” or via RCI. however we don’t make the principles. We did keep at their Riviera Maya property as soon as as their visitor and it was fairly good. (We by no means wrote about it although as a result of they refused to offer us any costs!)
We don’t have among the Secrets and techniques chain ones lined as a result of there are extra discerning choices close by not aimed on the mass-market tourism crowd (just like the Belmond Maroma or Waldorf-Astoria Cancun) and the Xcaret Lodge property “with eight theme parks” is aimed extra at serving 1,000 friends (with 700 extra rooms within the works) than pleasing the luxurious journey crowd.
You do have to know that the factors for these rankings relies on an intensive record of required services and facilities, so it’s simpler for an enormous resort to qualify than a $1,000-per-night luxurious boutique lodge the place your service is personalized.
Right here’s who made the present AAA 5 Diamond Checklist for 2024 in Mexico.
Cancun and Riviera Maya 5-Diamond Resorts
Le Blanc Spa Resort
Casa de la Playa
Nizuc Resort and Spa Cancun
Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita Riviera Maya
Fairmont Mayakoba
Grand Luxxe Riviera Maya
Grand Velas Riviera Maya
Rosewood Mayakoba
Banyan Tree Mayakoba
Secrets and techniques Akumal Riviera Maya
Secrets and techniques Maroma Seaside Riviera Cancun
Secrets and techniques Moxche – Playa del Carmen
Unico 20 °N 87 °W Lodge Riviera Maya
Waldorf Astoria Cancun
Lodge Xcaret and Lodge Xcaret Arte
Puerto Vallarta to Punta Mita
Lodge Mousai
Grand Luxxe Riviera Nayarit
Grand Velas Riviera Nayarit
4 Seasons Resort Punta Mita
The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort
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Los Cabos 5-Diamond Resorts
Waldorf Astoria Resort at Pedregal
Grand Velas Los Cabos
Las Ventanas al Paraiso, A Rosewood Resort
Le Blanc Spa Resort Los Cabos
Montage Los Cabos
One&Solely Palmilla
Ritz-Carlton Reserve Zadun Los Cabos
4 Seasons at Costa Palmas (1.5 hours from San Jose del Cabo)
Mexico Metropolis 5-Diamond
4 Seasons Lodge Mexico Metropolis
St. Regis Mexico Metropolis
San Miguel de Allende
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
Modifications for the 5-Diamond Resorts in Mexico
After years of no additions, 5 extra properties acquired the 5-diamond lodge nod for Mexico for 2023 and three extra acquired bumped up for 2024. The brand new ones are all in Quintana Roo: La Casa de la Playa by Xcaret, Impression Moxché by Secrets and techniques, and Waldorf Astoria Cancun (really south of the Cancun airport). Click on these hyperlinks for posts with video excursions.
Typically new properties take some time to make the reduce although: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende and St. Regis Mexico Metropolis had been open for years earlier than they acquired acknowledged. It was a lot faster for these new ones above, perhaps as a result of they got down to verify off all of the AAA five-diamond containers upon opening. For current motels, typically they will drop off the record after which be added again once they make enhancements.
As finest we will inform, just one Mexico property dropped off the record the previous two years. The Ritz-Carlton Cancun grew to become Grand Lodge Cancun by Kempinski. They’ve been enjoying hide-and-seek with the media ever since and visitor experiences say it doesn’t match as much as its previous. That’s apparently what the inspectors thought too.
When you don’t see your favourite luxurious resort on this record, needless to say inclusion is usually a matter of “extra is healthier” relating to facilities. Luxurious properties like Royal Hideaway Playacar may be at an obstacle in comparison with newer openings in the event that they don’t do huge renovations to verify off all the correct amenity containers {that a} new construct will embody from the beginning. They might be excluded for not having a separate bathe and tub, for not having a cellphone within the lavatory, for not offering 24-hour room service, and many others. AAA tends to favor big mass-market resorts greater than boutique motels until they’ve actually crammed in loads of public areas and facilities.
An intimate boutique lodge with superlative service, like Lodge Esencia within the Riviera Maya, is just not going to make the reduce. An enormous conference lodge could although, so long as all of the rooms meet the guidelines necessities and there are many good eating places and bars. See extra explanations at the AAA newsroom website.
See extra opinions of the finest Mexico luxurious motels, together with many smaller boutique properties with private service.
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Article by Timothy
Timothy Scott is the founder and editor of Luxurious Latin America and has been protecting the area as a journey journalist for the reason that mid-2000s. He has visited every nation we cowl a number of instances and relies in a UNESCO World Heritage metropolis in central Mexico, the place he owns a house. See contact info right here.
