Review: Meliá Cozumel, an All Inclusive Resort, Mexico

Cozumel is a beautiful island with almost twenty all-inclusive resorts. As travel writers, we have received many review requests from these types of properties, but we have always shied away from them. Usually we were too busy city-hopping throughout our visit. However since this time we both needed to chill, we decided to plunge into the fully catered experience and just stay on Cozumel. We selected Meliá Cozumel due to the large beachfront. I have previously visited the island with my NY scuba club several times back in the late nineties. So I was fine with vegetating. NOTE: For SEO purposes the accent in Meliá had to be taken out in the headlines.

Melia Cozumel Mexico

Plus my husband and I both wanted some “us” time. Well we got it. Meliá Cozumel is situated right on the beach. In fact I could see the beach from bed in our sprawling suite. We had such a romantic time. It is amazing when you take time to “step away from work” how things change in your relationship. We were both kinder to each other, and really stopped to listen and engage with one another. Of course the room and cleaning service helped us both feel completely taken care of as well. The bed was super comfortable, and this allowed me to sleep a lot later than usual. We were incredibly happy with our room and outdoor jacuzzi. There was a giant dining room with a kitchen. Needless to say we never even used it.

Meliá Hotels International S.A. is one of the largest hospitality companies on the globe. It was founded in Spain back in 1952 and has hundreds of properties in over forty countries. Each is quite different catering to the needs of various types of travelers. While the resort at Meliá Cozumel feels quite luxurious, you can step it up by upgrading to the Level. This allows access to private areas, as well as other amenities, and personalized attention.

In addition to nonstop all-you-can-eat breakfast lunch and dinner in the main dining room (Mosaico) there are also other restaurants at Meliá. Each specialize in specific cuisine. We dined at all of them. See more below and visit our Instagram @EatTravelGo to see the extensive coverage. ETG tip: Make reservations for each restaurant as soon as you arrive –  they get booked up. 

The Beach & Pools at Melia Cozumel Mexico 

I spent quite a bit of time at the adults only pool right above the beachfront. This had a bar accessible from the pool. Now that’s my kind of bar. El Isleño Swim Up Bar became quite popular in mid afternoon. You could literally sit on a stool and have your butt under water, while sipping a delicious cocktail or wine. Then you could move down to the beach cabanas and order drinks from El Embarcadero Beach Bar. Plus remember it’s all inclusive. Also at lunch in the main dining room, I would ask for a “wine to go.” Then I could enjoy it in my room or to sip while watching the sunset. This was just what I needed. 

While my husband and I did some scuba diving with Scuba Life, I really relaxed. Even he was shocked. We did visit some other beaches and also did some snorkeling. *See the link below for the Best Beaches in Cozumel. However he would be heading out to another scuba morning the following day, and would say, “so are you going to visit the town, and do some shopping?” and I’d say “no, just gonna hang by the beach and the pool after breakfast.” Seriously, he was stunned. 

The Cuisine at Melia Cozumel Mexico

Three meals a day were provided by Mosaico, but the other onsite restaurants were also impressive. While my husband enjoyed The Bistro (the Sea Bass was fabulous), we both loved The Fish House which was a charming upscale restaurant. The service was fabulous and so was the meal. I had a lot of fun practicing my Spanish with two of the servers there. The Fish House specializes in fish, which is always my preferred menu item. My favorite was the coconut shrimp as well as the Mahi Mahi caribeño (Caribbean Mahi Mahi). I also fell in love with the Filete de pescado con sala de Langosta (Fish fillet with lobster sauce).

Additionally, Molé was a fantastic restaurant. I really liked the vibe and the tacos. We both really liked the Enmoladas de pollo (Chicken turnovers with mole sauce). I wanted to try the signature dish of the region. Cochinita Pibil (annatto-braised pork) is a staple in the Yucatán region. This was exquisite. We also liked the Sirloin Steak and the Barbacoa Beef. 

All Inclusive Resorts

All in all I would say, all inclusive resorts are best if you want to truly relax. On other trips, we visited several of the ruins and preferred to be out there trying new restaurants in the various towns that we visited. However, I really needed a break from work this time. Furthermore staying at Meliá Cozumel was a perfect situation. Vegetating by the pool, enjoying a cocktail at the in-pool bar, and sleeping late were all exceptional indulgences. Also it was fantastic to have access to the beach, and the terrific nonstop meal service. 

So Meliá Cozumel is the place for you if you truly want to unplug –  book a week or two. Meliá Cozumel, Av. Rafael E. Melgar, Zona Hotelera Norte, 77600 Cozumel, Quintana Roo, Mexico; https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/mexico/cozumel

Read my article Best Beaches in Cozumel. Also if you are stopping at Playa del Carmen, I have written quite a lot about the area, so visit our Mexico Page for even more articles.