I spent $1,500 at a wellness resort with ocean views and a personal guide. It’s the only all-inclusive I’d return to.

I paid $1,500 for a three-night stay at Palmaïa, The House of AïA.

For me, traveling is the ultimate act of self-care. So, when I came across a wellness resort called Palmaïa, The House of AïA, on Hotels.com’s Perfect Somewheres list — which highlights some of the top 1% of hotels on the company’s app — I booked a trip.

I’d seen some of my favorite influencers raving about their stays at the all-inclusive resort located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, so I had high hopes for my trip to the wellness spot.

As a Hotels.com Platinum One Key member, I got a 36% discount when I booked my trip and paid about $1,500 for a three-night stay.

Here’s what my experience was like.

The accommodations were more than comfortable.

My king suite had high ceilings, a massive bathroom, and sweeping ocean views.

During my trip, I stayed in a king suite with an ocean view.

I don’t tend to sleep well while traveling, but at Palmaïa, I had no trouble getting seven to eight hours of shuteye. The king-size mattress was perfectly firm, and my room always felt cool.

The high ceilings, chic sitting area, exposed-brick wall, and enormous bathroom with plenty of counter space didn’t hurt, either.

I loved the 24-hour room service and took full advantage of it.

Late-night black-bean enfrijoladas hit the spot after a long day of travel.

When I arrived at the hotel around midnight, I was excited to learn the resort offered 24-hour room service.

Upon checking in, the receptionist took my order, and a piping-hot dish of black-bean enfrijoladas (a type of enchiladas served with a black-bean sauce) arrived just moments after I was escorted to my room.

Around-the-clock room service also came in handy when I was craving a snack or didn’t have time to sit down for breakfast.

The resort’s nomadic guide added a personalized touch to my experience.

My nomadic guide escorted me across the resort when I didn’t know how to get to an activity.

During my stay, I was assigned a nomadic guide — a staff member who acts as a personal concierge. Each morning, my guide messaged me with updates about the day’s scheduled activities and dinner reservations.

They even escorted me from my room to a class when I didn’t know how to get there, replaced my room key when I lost mine, and arranged for a staff member to take me to a convenience store for medicine when I developed a sun rash.

There were tons of food options and nonalcoholic beverages to choose from.

I loved the range of plant-based dishes available at the resort. 

The resort has four main restaurants, all of which I enjoyed dining at. Many of the creative takes on traditional Mexican dishes were flavorful and nutrient-rich — think waffles infused with matcha and plant-based poke bowls with marinated watermelon “tuna.”

Palmaïa offered lots of vegan, gluten-free, and nut-free items. However, as someone who doesn’t have any dietary restrictions, I appreciated that I had the option to add barbacoa to my tacos or real Parmesan to my salads.

I also loved that Palmaïa had unique nonalcoholic drinks with the option to add liquor. The restaurants offered wine and cocktails, but alcohol didn’t seem to be a central part of the resort’s social environment.

The activities were super unique.

The outdoor cacao ceremony was an experience to remember.

All-inclusive resorts typically offer access to fun activities, but Palmaïa’s daily itineraries were truly one-of-a-kind.

I participated in a few activities — including a mindfulness-focused drawing session and a primal-movement class — but my favorite experience was an outdoor cacao ceremony.

This session, inspired by Mayan tradition, involved setting intentions and drinking a ceremonial cacao beverage while listening to live music.

Getting around the grounds was a breeze.

I took full advantage of the on-site bikes.

I’ve been to resorts that are so sprawling it takes 15 minutes or longer to walk from my room to a restaurant. Luckily, this wasn’t the case at Palmaïa — the grounds were super walkable.

Even better, Palmaïa offered complimentary bicycles for guests to use around the property. I used them when I was rushing to scheduled activities or just wanted to feel the breeze on my face.

I never had to fight for a beach or poolside chair.

I relaxed with a book at the pool. 

Palmaïa had no shortage of places to swim or relax with a good book.

There were a few infinity, adults-only, and kid-friendly pools in front of the guest-room buildings. The long stretch of beach in front of the resort also had ample cabanas and lounge chairs.

There were even some cenotes — large natural pools — in a jungle area on the property.

The trip was a tad expensive — but I’d go back in a heartbeat.

I’d definitely return to Palmaïa, The House of AïA.

This trip may have been a splurge, but it was well worth the $1,500. In the past, I’ve often found myself coming home from all-inclusive getaways feeling worse than when I arrived — maybe due to all the food, alcohol, and sedentary time on the beach.

However, between the engaging activities, the nutrient-dense meals, and the attentive staff catering to my every need, Palmaïa left me feeling refreshed, renewed, and invigorated — and (almost) ready to return to real life.