Thirty of our Macaroni KID publishers celebrated the Summer of SpongeBob with a trip to the family-friendly Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya in Mexico for our annual summer getaway. The resort opened last August, though our publishers got a sneak peek of the construction site on a hard hat tour back in 2019.
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It was amazing to have a chance to stay at the finished all-inclusive resort. Our days there were filled with sun, fun, and a ton of laughs. Plus, the resort amenities and staff? Unsurpassed. They made this kid-friendly resort a 5-star experience we won't forget!
Macaroni KID publishers were hosted at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya for purposes of a review.
Want to go? Here are five things your family will love at the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya:
1. A private infinity pool and two bathrooms ... in every room!
You know how you usually have to pay for upgrades or be crammed into a room together?
Not at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya!
Every room — every single one — comes with two full bathrooms, a balcony and your own private infinity pool. Yes. Your very own pool:
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The pool was out-of-this-world amazing, but it was the bathrooms our publishers — all moms — couldn't stop talking about.
"No more waiting for someone to get out of the shower so the kids can go to the bathroom in the morning," wrote an exultant Macaroni KID Fayetteville, Ark., Publisher Kara Ault.
We were also all impressed that the resort is stocked with cribs, changing tables, monitors, bottle sterilizers and warmers, and even step stools.
Talk about family-friendly.
Want to see more of the rooms? Here's a quick tour of the room Macaroni KID Wilkes Barre, Pa., publisher Amber Nevin stayed in:
2. Amazing drinks and all that delicious food
All-inclusive resorts sometimes mean the food and drinks are just ... unmemorable.
That's certainly not the case here! This resort has six creatively-themed restaurants (Do you get the Le Spatula reference?) and three bars and includes the Karisma Gourmet Inclusive Experience for all guests. That means dishes and drinks at every restaurant and every meal are inventive, created with locally-sourced food, and ... delicious!
For the kids: Green pancakes with Froot Loops, donut walls, and amazing burgers with green buns! You won't hear a peep of complaint, even from the pickiest eaters.
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And for those of us with a tad more sophisticated palate? Minty mojitos, beef carpaccio, Caprese salad, lobster omelets, and soooo much more. Plus: Room service, available 24/7, is included for every guest.
We did say the height in luxury, right?
And did we mention ... the drinks?!? The fruit drinks at the resort were seriously out of this world.
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Save Big This Summer!
Get 40% off your stay plus $400 in resort credits now at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya!
3. Aqua Nick
This resort has an amazing series of pools throughout ... but Nickelodeon didn't stop there! They built a 6-acre water park called Aqua Nick that has enough fun to keep all ages entertained — from Paw Patrol Adventure Bay for the little ones to a 60-foot slide that begins with a free-fall drop for those who like living life a little on the edge. There are 20+ water slides, a splash pad, a rock climbing wall, a relaxing Lazy River ... your family will be back for a second day!
Check out this video of Aqua Nick from Macaroni KID West Chester, Pa., publisher Jen Anderson:
4. Characters, entertainment ... and a club JUST for kids!
We were starry-eyed from celebrity encounters throughout our stay, from SpongeBob and friends to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! You'll find pic opportunities galore with these great characters when staying here — and you won't be able to resist squealing like a kid everytime you see them! Want more? Sign up for Pajama Jam for a memorable breakfast with your favorite characters!
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As moms ourselves, we were also quite taken with the just-for-kids Club Nick. Their amazing staff entertains kids ages 4 to 12 while the adults get to have some alone time. (It's the perfect time for a visit to the amazing onsite spa, a favorite of our publishers!)
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The nightly entertainment for families also left us breathless with wonder at one moment ... and the next? We were laughing until we cried at guests getting pied in the face at Slime Time Live!
Want late-night fun? The resort delivers there too.
"One of my favorite spots was Snick Lounge where they have a wall of old-school TVs each playing a different Nickelodeon show for you to enjoy while playing pool, arcades, air hockey, dancing, enjoying cocktails, or just hamming it up on the big orange couch taking pictures," wrote Macaroni KID Cedar Rapids, Iowa, publisher Charlotte Linde.
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A 5-star review from Macaroni KID Elberton, Ga., publisher Amy PerezVelasco:
... The trip was jam-packed with a surprising (and satisfying) combination of two contrasting elements: five-star luxury + silly and messy fun. I'm talking about extravagant comfort mixed with gooey green slime, world-class dining featuring ice cream for breakfast, oversized works of art with neon colors, and high-energy entertainment with an unexpected twist.
...There's no denying that this resort is a premium, five-star getaway and they totally elevated the Nickelodeon brand to a whole new level. As an adult fan, I appreciate the nod to classic 90s shows and obscure references to delight my sense of nostalgia. Ahh, to be a kid again...
It's wild, crazy, fancy, and fun.... from top to Bikini Bottom! And I can't wait to go back!
5. The SLIME!
Green SLIME goes with Nickelodeon like peanut butter goes with jelly. There are plenty of opportunities to get doused with the green stuff at the resort — from daily slime opportunities at Aqua Nick to private SLIME times. You might even find yourself unexpectedly slimed at Slime Time Live! Talk about a memory your family won't forget — we know our publishers never will!
Ready to get your SLIME on at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya? Book your stay now and SAVE!
Get 40% off your stay plus $400 in resort credits now at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya!
Special thanks to our publishers who shared their photos and experiences of their time at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya. And a huge thank you to Alliance Connection for planning our 2022 Macaroni KID getaway. We appreciate the partnership and friendship your team has so warmly offered our company and publishers over the years.
