Buckle up because here comes a deep dive into my stay at Atelier Playa Mujeres! Overall it is very clear that the staff want to ensure from the moment you step on the property, that this is truly a luxury experience. My stay was for myself and a friend in the “Inspira Suites” for three nights.
Let’s start off with the “good/meets expectations”. Atelier will comp transfers to and from the airport with a minimum stay- my stay fell below the minimum so it would’ve come at an extra cost. Nice to offer, but there are other options that are cheaper. I would also put the steakhouse in this category- definitely a good meal but it’s not anything to write home about. Finally, the beach access is as expected. The cabanas and chairs are often reserved early by guests- so definitely recommend beating the rush to get the space you want. Otherwise it is private access and had a swim area marked and monitored by a lifeguard. Supposedly there is a section for Inspira Suites guests, but I didn’t see that being enforced.
Moving on to the “great” category, starting with the options for dining. Every restaurant we stayed at had vegan/vegetarian options. What’s more, every restaurant had some kind of non-alcoholic specialty drink. The variety of dining kept us from being bored with meal options! The best meals we had were at the Mediterranean restaurants- specially the shrimp dishes. The coffee served in all locations was spectacular. As an avid coffee drinker I was impressed! Finally, the cleanliness of the overall facility exceeded similar places I’ve stayed. The floors are clean, a pleasant smell lingers through common areas, and frequently staff are ensuring sand and dirt are clear from the common areas.
Finally, the “exceeds expectations” category. As stated previously, we elected a swim out Inspira Suite. This came with personal butler service. Our particular butlers (shout out to Oswaldo and Luis!!) found every chance to make our stay exceptional. They reached out BEFORE we even arrived to ensure our room was stocked exactly as needed, but the best part was how personalized they made our stay when we came back to our rooms decorated for our birthday! Housekeeping was amazing with their timing to come by during dinner, and kept the room clean and tidy without feeling invasive. Finally, the activities staff lead some great activities- highly recommend the guac class, bike tour, and zoomba. The activities team (Ethan, Ernesto, Johnathan, Andrea, and Ramon) brought such great energy and excitement to each event.
If I had to offer one critique (and this feels picky to even note), I would say that there is an assumption that guests are familiar with the “norms” of all-inclusive resorts. For example, checking in was a tad confusing because we arrived with several other guests and had to wait. While waiting we weren’t sure if we could go by the bar and ask for a drink, water or snacks (we were brought a glass of champagne!). In addition, it wasn’t clear when dining if we just “walked out” when you’re done (you do) versus waiting to sign a receipt. Finally, it wasn’t clear what the expectation was for gratuity. I still am not clear if it was included in the room rate. We chose to offer gratuity to the butlers, house keeping, and small tips to bartenders and food staff, but I didn’t notice other guests doing the same.
Overall Atelier is a great example of “you get what you pay for”. While a pricier option in the region, you get service to match. Great option for folks looking for a getaway from the real world.
