I Went To A Fancy, All-Inclusive Resort In Mexico, And Here's My Honest Review

No kids, unlimited drinks, and swim-up suites!

For my 30th birthday, I decided to go big and stay at my first-ever all-inclusive resort.

Rebecca Khera

I don't typically stay in big resorts but wanted to do something special for my birthday, so I started to do some research (aka scroll Instagram). And there I found Unico 20°87° in Riviera Maya. 

One look at the photos and I knew it was the perfect spot, so I hit "book." Three months later, I was on a flight to Mexico.

The room rates vary by day; you can get a room from somewhere between $462 and $972 per night. 

I'd recommend booking directly on their site, where the rates are lowest.

Here's a detailed review of what it was like!

Upon arrival, we weren't stuck waiting at a check-in desk! We were instead escorted to a lounge and offered a welcome drink — and like everything else at Unico, it was free, aka included in our all-inclusive room rate.

Rebecca Khera

Honestly, I didn't even have to make it through the check-in process to understand the hype. 

Once we got our drinks, someone came over to confirm our reservations, explain how everything at Unico works, and answer any and all questions.

Then we met our local host (shoutout to Kristel for being amazing), because everyone gets assigned a local host during their stay who can help with pretty much everything. Before we were escorted to our room, Kristel greeted us, gave us the rundown of all the restaurants, and assisted us in making our dinner reservations. Throughout our stay, we were able to text Kristel if we needed anything, whether we had questions about on-site activities or wanted to have something special arranged. 

Probably the most amazing thing about Unico was the absolute serenity! On our walks from the main lobby to the pool area, I heard nothing but birds and ocean waves.

Rebecca Khera

I typically avoid big hotels because they can be noisy and crowded, but Unico was the exact opposite. It was like being in an outdoor spa. 

Now, don't get me wrong, there was definitely some fun happening, but it's all peace and quiet until the afternoon, when people flock to the main pool's swim-up bar and the DJ starts the music. And when evening hits, things calm down again.

As we set out to explore Unico, we got our first glimpse of the beach — and it was truly what I envisioned paradise would look like.

Rebecca Khera

Despite living in Florida for half my life, I've never seen the ocean look this enticing. 

While a lot of beaches in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula have a bit of a seaweed problem as of late, Unico clears all the seaweed off the beach — ensuring you're not walking through piles of it on your way in or, worse, getting slapped in the face with it as you swim.

Rebecca Khera

Also, the evening light made the water look like some ethereal cotton candy. Amazing!

Now let's talk rooms. Because the rooms are definitely what convinced me to book!

Rebecca Khera

I am a total sucker for a swimming pool, but in COVID times, I didn't really like the idea of being in a pool with dozens of other people. I decided to book the swim-up room, which was pretty private. 

What makes Unico's swim-up rooms better than other resorts' is that the rooms are not located on the main pool; instead, each building has a separate pool that is accessible only from those rooms on the ground floor.

I easily spent five hours a day in my swim-up pool, and only ever saw one other couple in the pool. And it seems like an unwritten rule that people don't swim into the territory of other suites, so it was basically a private pool.

The view from our room felt so secluded, which was great for the introvert in me.

Rebecca Khera

The patio was the perfect place to eat our breakfast, either on the couch or in one of the two hammocks. And did I mention that room service is included?

Everything at Unico is so well designed. It truly feels like accessible luxury.

Rebecca Khera

And the mattress is so comfy. I really want to know where I can get one!

And apparently, turndown service is a thing! I had never experienced it before, but I loved it!

Rebecca Khera

In the evening, usually while we were away at dinner, someone would come and "turn down" the room. This typically meant getting the room ready for bed. They'd close the curtains, get the bed ready for sleeping, turn the TV on, lower the lights, leave some chocolates, and, my favorite part, put on the diffuser. 

At check-in they had a curated list of scents to encourage relaxation, and we got to pick which one we liked best. Then each evening, during turndown, they'd add our chosen scent to the diffuser so we'd get back from dinner ready to relax and wind down.

Each day, our local host would send us the listed activities for the day...but there was also plenty to do outside of the list.

Rebecca Khera

When the snorkeling activity filled up, we chose to take the kayaks out into the ocean as a plan B, and honestly, I preferred it to snorkeling — which we did the next day.

Not sure how the water is both so blue AND so clear, but it was a treasure!

Rebecca Khera

It was such a fun way to spend the afternoon without paying any extra for an off-site excursion.

Now, I KNOW you want to know about the food!

Rebecca Khera

There are four concept restaurants that you'll want to make reservations for when you arrive. And there's really something for every palate. There are Mexican, Asian, Italian, and steakhouse concepts, and honestly, they were all delicious.

Then there's a coffee shop/café, poolside dining, and room service. Those three are less impressive, and the flavors are more standard hotel fare.

And in case you're wondering, each restaurant has its own mixology menu, and the cocktails were high quality!

For my birthday, we decided to book an off-site excursion. We did the half-day cenote-and-snorkeling tour, and it was well worth it.

Rebecca Khera

Cenotes are natural sinkholes in the ground filled with water. They are unique to the Yucatan Peninsula, so definitely worth the visit, since when else will you have an opportunity to swim in one? 

Many cenotes look like caves you can swim or snorkel in, but others are more open and look similar to springs or lakes.

The half-day cenote-and-snorkeling tour cost $49 per person, plus a $20 transportation fee. 

When we got back from the cenote, we found that our local host had brought champagne to the room for my birthday!

Later that evening, we took a sunset sail...but honestly, I don't recommend it.

Rebecca Khera

The sunset sail was great for about five minutes. We set sail right as the sun was starting to go down, so we had a few beautiful minutes to enjoy it, but then we had nearly two hours in the dark just sitting there drinking watered-down margaritas. Maybe in the summer when the sun sets later, it's better? But I thought it was way overpriced for what it is. Probably only worth it for people who really want to load up on the free drinks — but considering that alcohol is included at Unico, I wasn't there to drink, but to enjoy being on the water.

The sunset sailing excursion cost $150 USD per person, plus $10 per person for transportation. 

Honestly, just take the free kayaks out at sunset; it'll be nicer.

A fun thing, though, at Unico: Everyone gets a free hat as a gift, and you can get them painted! I got mine to say "30 trips around the sun" to celebrate my 30th, and I love it so much!

Rebecca Khera

I thought the free champagne was the end of Unico celebrating my birthday, but it definitely wasn't! Kristel went above and beyond and had the room decorated while we were on the boat!

Rebecca Khera

I was so surprised when we got back. It was such a fun treat to see all the balloons and the sign, but that avocado piñata was EVERYTHING!!! I wish I could've taken it home with me, but my bags were too full. 😭

For dinner, we went to their Italian concept restaurant, Mi Carisa — and Kristel organized them singing to me and bringing out this celebratory dessert.

Rebecca Khera

I just felt so special. Applebee's could never. 

So here are my overall thoughts about Unico.

Rebecca Khera

Unico is about 95% couples, 5% friends, and I maybe saw one solo traveler while I was there. Most people are on their honeymoons, so it's definitely a more romantic and relaxed place. 

I wouldn't recommend it for groups of friends who really want to party. While they have some fun party-adjacent things like a swim-up bar, a daily DJ, and live music, the vibes were definitely less spring break and more relaxing getaway. 

Rebecca Khera

While Unico isn't at a good price point for everyone, I will say it's worth every penny!

Have you ever been to an all-inclusive resort? What was your favorite thing about it? Share in the comments below. ✈️