This five-star resort is reimagining the concept of all-inclusive.
Iwill be the first to admit, I’m a bit of a hotel snob.
When I think of all-inclusives, bland buffets, cringey entertainment, and sunburnt tourists guzzling booze at an inappropriately early hour typically flash through my mind. Then I arrived at Palmaia, The House of Aia, a five-star all-inclusive that flips the script entirely.
Situated on a jungle-fringed stretch of Mexico’s Riviera Maya coastline, where monkeys and iguanas roam alongside hidden cenotes, Palmaia isn’t just a prettier and more luxurious version of your typical all-inclusive – it reimagines the category entirely for a more wellness-oriented, culturally curious traveler.
Instead of plastic wristbands, the resort provides each guest with a wooden-bead bracelet that doubles as a room key. In place of stodgy buffet food and too-sweet daiquiris, its six distinctive dining venues provide nourishing plant-based dishes (the options at Charly’s Vegan Tacos Food Truck are good enough to impress the most ardent carnitas fan). Even the kids’ club, Awen, is special, utilizing the Waldorf education principles to encourage artistic expression, imaginative play, and connection to nature. When I took my daughter, there wasn’t a plastic block in sight.
If you’ve ever returned home from a busy, indulgent trip saying, “I need a vacation to recover from my vacation,” this resort is for you.
What wowed me the most, though, was Palmaia’s daily program of wellness activities and rituals. Every morning, our “Nomadic Guide” sent us a WhatsApp message outlining the activities on offer that day, from yoga classes and cacao ceremonies in the jungle, to watercolor workshops on the beach, and evening sound healing by candlelight. I could cherry-pick the experiences that spoke to me, curating a personalized health retreat that was entirely covered by the nightly fee. (For those who want to go deeper, additional wellness experiences, including the Temescal sweat lodge ritual, Mayan-inspired spa treatments, and one-on-one sessions with the resort’s wellness experts, are available to book at additional cost.)
While the philosophy of Palmaia, The House of Aia, emphasizes healthy living, it’s certainly not restrictive or overly virtuous. The menu lists suggested animal proteins under dishes in case you want to add one. Similarly, while the resort’s mocktail options are creative and delicious, each comes with a recommended spirit for those who, understandably, want a little alcohol on their vacation. Dancing with my husband and daughter at Eolo Beach Bar – mezcal cocktail in hand – while a DJ played vibey dance music was my favorite way to wind down the day.
Between the Michelin-star-worthy yet healthy food, the gorgeous location, our elegant two-bed suite, the unbelievably thoughtful service (staff even decorated and arranged a cake for our daughter’s birthday), and the smorgasbord of mind-body-spirit wellness activities, I felt like a new woman by checkout time.
