An All-inclusive Review of the Nonalcoholic Experience at Luxury Resorts in Mexico
My first all-inclusive experience was at a resort in Mexico in my twenties. I heavily indulged in cervezas con limon and margaritas with friends… what American college student on spring break wouldn’t? On subsequent trips in my thirties to this style of resort where unlimited alcoholic beverages were at my fingertips, the same all-you-can-drink mentality kicked in. I recall one tequileria experience on night one of a trip with couples that did not end well. Needless to say, now sober since my early forties, all-inclusive leaves room to be redefined.
Recently, I had the opportunity to revisit several all-inclusive resorts in Mexico and assess them in a whole new light – from that of a sober person. A week-long trip with my friend, Amanda, travel agent and founder of Live Well Travel, found us in 11 different properties over seven days. We stayed 1-2 nights at five of the resorts*, then did site visits at the other resorts**, all in the Cancun, Riviera Maya, and Playa del Carmen area.
The Resorts
Royalton CHIC Cancun, Adults Only*
Secrets Moxche Playa del Carmen, Adults Only**
Hilton Playa del Carmen, Adults Only*
Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen**
The Grand at Moon Palace Cancun*
Dreams Vista Cancun Golf & Spa Resort**
Breathless Cancun Soul Resort and Spa, Adults Only*
With eight years of sobriety, I trusted I could decline the drinks being offered at every turn and manage the awkwardness of being surrounded by overindulgence. Honestly, it’s not something I look forward to navigating on vacation, in groups, in spaces that are supposed to be relaxing and celebratory. I’m used to it though… My friend, Amanda, led the way many times with the nonalcoholic (NA) beverage inquiry and communication every time we ordered drinks… and that was a lot of times.
The NA Experience in Mexico
I thought of my newfound friend, Dan, who I’d known for two months. We had swapped sober stories in the sauna and he supported my business venture in the NA space. He and his wife just happened to be on the same flight to Mexico. While waiting to board, he thanked me for the Ritual Zero Proof recommendations and shared he indeed packed these newly discovered nonalcoholic spirits in his checked bag. He was doubtful they’d find any at their resort. Post vacation he reported disappointing NA options at Zoetry of pina colada, mango and strawberry daquiris – versions of a slushy with flavored sugary syrup.
I’d echo his findings. It certainly wasn’t hard to find the slushies that were the NA menu at some resorts. And aligned with America, the resorts we toured reflected the challenges I see in bars, restaurants, social spaces. Briefly, they include: NA offerings not being listed on the website or on a physical menu that’s provided, a mysterious behind-the-scenes making of an NA drink with ingredients unknown to the guest, servers who lack knowledge of NA offerings, leading with the assumption that a person wants an alcoholic drink, and subpar or sugary options standing in for what could be a thoughtfully-crafted NA beverage.
The All-inclusive Welcome Drink
Even more pronounced in the hospitality world and specifically in Mexico as a culture of people who are genuinely welcoming and eager to please, was the welcome drink experience. All-inclusive resorts that assume everyone can or wants to drink alcohol should rethink their offerings. In 2022, it’s essential to note that the preference to not drink alcohol – or at a minimum have an NA alternate upon resort arrival after travel – is growing; and the ceremony and presentation of the alcoholic drinks created to be pleasing and desired feels less than for these travelers, as it did for me.
Over the course of the week, the welcome drink offering left a lot to be desired in many resorts, but I’m happy to report that some did it exceptionally well and with intention! Namely, Le Blanc, Hyatt Zilara, and Dreams Natura. Le Blanc served a refreshing coconut-milk frothy, refreshing beverage in a champagne glass. Hyatt Zilara, a resort opening in December 2022, led with an NA program in their bar called Social: Mixology Lounge, I suspected a result of Hyatt’s (World of Hyatt) commitment to nonalcoholic offerings through their Zero Proof Zero Judgment program. And Dreams Natura’s tea-infused, low sugar offering with a sprig of rosemary and dehydrated apple was delightful and refreshing.
Catering to Guests, Acknowledging NA Preferences
Welcome drinks aside, alcohol was quite prevalent in the expected social spaces of the resorts, but I also happened upon it in the rooms. At Le Blanc, a upper cabinet with four liquors, easily available with a turn of a lever. Champagne in a bucket of ice upon return to our room. Across the board, resorts with the usual fridges stocked with alcohol and snacks. All fine to offer, but it just reaffirmed the importance of allowing guests to blanket select “no alcohol” in their room.
In assessing what the resorts are providing in terms of catering to their guests, I noticed multi-lingual menus, vegetarian options, allergy-friendly options, a menu of scented bath salts, aromatherapy pillows, and hair straightening irons… in many cases guests could order and customize their every experience via the resort’s app. In the absence of nonalcoholic preferences, I’m assuming several forces are at work. Those who prefer not to drink or those in recovery are:
1. not booking vacations in Mexico, at all-inclusive resorts
2. booking vacations in Mexico, but aren’t asking about any particular resort’s nonalcoholic-friendliness and details prior to booking or while visiting
3. drinking water, club soda, soda, slushies and/or not asking for elevated nonalcoholic options
The NA Misses
The resorts we toured during our stay in Mexico were luxury, high-end properties. In general, guests at these resorts are not as likely to overindulge than the resorts that attracted the spring break crowd. However, the resorts that are adults-only push a heavier alcohol agenda (or cater to what the majority of their guests ask for). For example, The Royalton CHIC Cancun dismissed our request several times to make me a nonalcoholic drink while other guests were offered an alcoholic drink upon arrival to the VIP rooftop happy hour reception. And none of the resorts that offered an alcoholic welcome drink followed up with a nonalcoholic option other than bottled water.
When attempting to find out what NA drinks were available in various scenarios at the resorts, language sometimes presented a barrier. Demonstrating once again why an NA-forward approach with printed NA Menus, information on the website, staff training on the offerings, is welcome for non-drinkers. Because my traveling companion chose an alcoholic drink on occasion, we’d go back and forth communicating that to our server. A few times I was concerned they dropped the alcoholic and nonalcoholic mojitos in front of the wrong person! I’m happy to report zero mix-ups – which can be detrimental to someone in recovery – occurred during the trip.
As far as beverage menus go, I noted that Le Blanc’s poolside cocktail menu of fifteen alcoholic cocktails and zero nonalcoholic cocktails was printed in English and Spanish side-by-side (Photo #7). This exists because it’s in the server and resort’s best and most efficient interest to offer this. Next step: giving 3-4 nonalcoholic cocktail options real estate on that menu! I will add that after some conversation with the wait staff I could usually order something lower in sugar and more elevated, however, sometimes I lacked the energy to have that dialogue and stuck with water, or my current “last resort,” club soda with pineapple juice and a twist of lime.
The NA Highlights
I was pleasantly surprised many times over during the week and these moments carried me through the less-than-optimal all-inclusive experiences. Here are some of the highlights:
1. Hyatt Ziva’s nonalcoholic beverages and menu (five alcoholic, two nonalcoholic (the Nino Santo and Quetzalcoatl) at Habaneros Ceviches and Taco Bar by the ocean) Photo #2 below
2. Hyatt Zilara’s nonalcoholic welcome drink and nonalcoholic bar, Social (a tea-infused cocktail with orange) Photo #3 #4 below
3. Hilton, Playa del Carmen’s poolside low-sugar watermelon and fruit infused beverages
4. Le Blanc’s Yama, a Japanese restaurant, with two fantastic nonalcoholic cocktails (Green Sunset, Citrus Umami) on a menu with five alcoholic, two nonalcoholic options, the NA lead in “enjoy our favorite non-alcoholic drinks”; their nonalcoholic coconut frothy welcome drink; and their alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks at Cavo, their bar/lounge. Photo #6 (Cavo) and #9 (at concierge with coffee)
5. Secrets Moxche’s lemon, chia, mint, and apple infused water Photo #5
6. Dreams Vista Cancun’s bar presentation of glass bottles, no labels! Beautifully welcoming without centralizing alcohol! Photo #8
7. Dreams Natura’s welcome drink with tea, rosemary, and apple Photo #9
After a week in Mexico, I returned home grateful for the clarity of being alcohol-free and the rewarding and essential getaway it provided. Gratitude to my friend Amanda for our time together, our ground transport and guide Bob Pejic of Land Savvy, and the incredibly welcoming and knowledgeable resort tours by our guides. Shout out to the leadership and forward-thinkers involved in the beverage programs at these resorts who are making small to significant changes that are making a difference for those who choose to vacation and not drink.
On a personal note, with the rise of nonalcoholic options and an understanding of the sober lifestyle, this trip helped me redefine the all-inclusive experience. I look forward to a return to Mexico in future years to see how nonalcoholic inclusivity has progressed. Salud!!
