Overall, we had a very good stay at UNICO 20°87° and I think it offers great value for money, especially compared with some of the much more expensive luxury all-inclusives in Riviera Maya.
The good
Service was probably the highlight. With maybe two exceptions during our entire week, the staff was excellent across the board. Our Local Host, Axel, was particularly great, and housekeeping, concierge, front desk and restaurant staff were consistently friendly and helpful.
The rooms were also excellent: spacious, spotless and comfortable, with a well-stocked minibar, Nespresso machine, pillow menu and turndown service every evening. We were celebrating a birthday and they surprised us with balloons and a piñata, which was a great touch.
Dinner at the specialty restaurants was generally very good and well executed. Drinks were also good and slightly above what I would expect from the average all-inclusive.
The not-so-good
Food during the day was easily the biggest weakness. For a resort that emphasizes gastronomy, breakfast, lunch and room service ranged from mediocre to okay, with fairly limited options. Nothing was terrible, but it simply didn’t feel much better than a typical all-inclusive.
It was also common for two dinner restaurants to be closed on the same night, sometimes leaving reservations only around 9:30 PM. We were told August is their lower “Bronze” season, but lower occupancy shouldn’t mean fewer options for guests. The staff always tried to help, but this is an operational issue the hotel should address.
The pools were more than enough during our lower-occupancy stay, although the water was extremely warm for my taste, especially with outside temperatures around 91°F/33°C.
The beach isn’t one of the hotel’s strengths either, but that’s mostly geography. This stretch of Riviera Maya is rockier and simply doesn’t have the area’s best beaches. If a spectacular beach is a priority, I would look elsewhere.
Atmosphere and extras
The hotel is very relaxed and definitely not party-oriented. There are activities during the day and a small nightclub, but by around 11 PM the resort becomes very quiet. We enjoyed that, but it’s worth knowing before booking.
The spa was pleasant but fairly standard for an upscale resort. Both check-in and check-out were smooth.
We also attended the Legendary Vacation Club presentation and ended up trying an entry-level membership. It’s far too early to know whether it was a good purchase, and I don’t think it’s necessarily for everyone. The benefits made sense for the way we travel on paper, so we’ll see how much value we actually get from it. I can say that the presentation itself was much more relaxed and less aggressive than similar ones we’ve attended elsewhere.
Overall
We left with a positive impression. Excellent service, great rooms, thoughtful details and good specialty restaurants, but the daytime food experience is a significant weakness given how the resort positions itself.
I probably wouldn’t return to this specific property because we enjoy trying different resorts, but I would definitely try another UNICO.
For me, the key is price. At a good rate, UNICO 20°87° is excellent value for money and I would recommend it. If the price gets close to the truly top-tier resorts in Riviera Maya, I would spend the difference and choose one of those instead.
My rating: 3.8/5.
