My fiancé and I just returned from our first trip to VIM. We were there from September 16th to the 23rd. Overall we had an amazing trip! I’ve written a bit of a long review but I’m hoping it’ll be...
My fiancé and I just returned from our first trip to VIM. We were there from September 16th to the 23rd. Overall we had an amazing trip! I’ve written a bit of a long review but I’m hoping it’ll be informative for anyone looking to book here.
Check in went very smooth. We were dropped off by our airport transport around 6 pm and quickly checked in. I’m not sure if the time we arrived played any role in the speed of check-in but it was really nice after a long day of travel. We were greeted with a cool towel and glass of champagne. Phoebe helped check us in. She was super friendly and made sure we had all the information we needed about the resort.
I wish I could remember the name of the bellhop who took us and our luggage to our room since he was amazing. He took the time to drive us around the resort on the golf cart to give a bit of a tour. After bringing our luggage to our room, he then went around explaining everything about our room to us, including how to use the lights, AC, blue tooth speakers, and that the minibar was included and would be restocked daily.
We had booked the Deluxe Junior Suite. Before we arrived, I had requested a room with a king bed in building 4 or 5, as they looked to be more central based on the resort map. We were given the suite grade we requested with a king bed in building 3. After spending a week there, I feel building 3 is just as good of a location as buildings 4 or 5. There was nowhere we couldn’t comfortably walk to on the resort in a nice amount of time. The resort is quite large and it can take a little bit to learn the layout but the signage is great and any staff we ever asked for directions was very helpful. The only small comment is for whatever reason, we found signage pointing to Taman Sari kind of lacking. It was the restaurant we wanted to go to the first night and we ended up having to ask the plaza bartender for help to find the restaurant.
We also agree the Deluxe Junior Suite was a perfectly good room for us. It is the smallest of the rooms offered but with a bedroom space, sitting area, two balconies, and spacious bathroom, it had everything we needed for our one week stay. I did find it a bit odd there was no fold-out racks for luggage as I sometimes see in other hotels but we made due without. The beds were very comfy, the room was always more than cold enough, and the shower pressure was surprisingly good. The bath tub did take a very long time to fill up so we recommend starting to fill it well before the time you actually want to have a bath.
The housekeeping and turndown service was fantastic. Our room was always kept spotless and anything we used up restocked. The minibar staff even noticed we had ordered more of one of the two beers from room service (based on the empty cans we left in our room) and restocked our bar with more of that beer than the other without us even asking, which was a really nice touch.
I’d also mentioned we were celebrating our engagement when requesting a building number and bed size so our room was decorated with swan towel art and rose petals. Plus we were given a bottle of red wine and chocolate strawberries. All the little details made us feel very special! Ivonne was the one who responded to my original email and I really appreciated her prompt and professional reply.
There is three pools to choose from at VIM. The main pool is so large, it’s almost like three pools by itself. There’s a more shallow section with a sunken, jetted tub. The main area with the first swim up bar where most the pool activities happen. Then a second swim up bar and a more quiet section where you can still hear the activities but not as loudly. We spent most our time in the portion of the main pool near the activities.
At the main pool there is chairs under palm huts which are fully shaded, chairs under wooden slats which are about 80% shaded, and chairs fully in the sun. We never had trouble finding partially shaded chairs in the portion of the pool we liked to sit at and we got to the pool anywhere from 9:30 am to 11 am depending on the day. I’m not sure if this is because we came in the off-season but it was super nice not needing to set an alarm and rush to the pool each morning to guarantee a good seat.
There is a second golden pool which has a much more relaxed vibe. We only spent one lunch there and occasionally would stroll by. It was almost shocking how different the vibe was and I think it would be perfect for someone who just wanted to lay by the pool and not be bothered by noisy activities. The iguanas and lizards can be a bit overly friendly at this pool but only if you have food. From the range of times we strolled by, finding a seat at this pool never seemed to be an issue. There is also the smaller silver pool which seems like it was made for swimming laps. We normally would see a handful of people there but it was normally pretty empty so seats would be guaranteed.
VIM has a very long beach. We didn’t spend too much time on it as the main pool was so fun but it was lovely from what we saw of it. The sand was soft, white, and pretty much free of any seaweed. The sand in the swimming area was free of rocks and we never found the waves too bad when we were there. There is also a ton of seating, though you would need to walk a little for the non-prive seating.
One of the best things at VIM is all the entertainment options and the awesome Go Team. There is normally multiple things going on from early in the morning until late at night. We didn’t participate in all of them but sometimes even just watching others, like with pool volleyball or aqua aerobics was fun.
We were lucky enough to show up on Mexican Independence Day so right after dinner, there was a bunch of fun games to play in the plaza. It was a great introduction to VIM. During the week we went on the bike tour with Caesar. He gave a great tour of the resort and even remembered us from the night before at the Mexican games in the plaza. I do recommend considering waiting until your second day for the bike tour, after you've had some time to acclimatize to the heat. The foam party on Sunday is also a ton of fun, even if you’re not a big swimmer like me.
Some of the other standout activities for us were the guacamole lessons and bracelet making. Chef Arnoldo made delicious guacamole during the lessons and just seemed so happy to be cooking that it made the rest of us happy too. I also appreciated they offered a range of spiciness levels for the guacamole so everyone could enjoy it. Jessica led us in bracelet making which was a ton of fun. Based on what other guests said and what we thought as well, it would be great if VIM added some more crafting activities. After the bracelet making, Jessica was always super friendly when she would see us and always made us feel welcome.
Lorenzo with the go team was incredible. He met us early in our trip and came up with a playful nickname for my fiancé which gave us a good laugh. After that, no matter where we were, if he saw us he would call it out to get our attention. It was amazing all the places we ran into him haha. Lorenzo was always so fun to talk to and made us feel like we were among friends. He would also always make sure to ask if we were enjoying everything and I’m sure if we hadn’t been, he would have done whatever he could to have fixed it.
The rest of the go team, including Pepe, Isabella, and Raul were amazing too. Isabella came over just to chat with us in the main pool on our first full day and it made me feel so welcome. After that, she remembered our names every time she saw us. Pepe and Raul were a ton of fun and always full of energy!
There was a range of live music around the pool during the day which was really enjoyable. There was also live music at select restaurants each night, though we never got to see that as we liked to dine early than the musicians started. It would be nice if some musicians would start earlier in the restaurants some nights to give everyone a chance to hear them. In the evenings there was assorted live music in the plaza, followed by a show in the theatre, a live band, and then a DJ. Most nights there was also a fantastic piano player in Don Miguel’s. We didn’t hear much of the live music or live band, as we were busy with other activities, but the bit we did hear was very good.
We did make it to the show every night we were there and I highly recommend anyone else staying at VIM to do the same. The production quality is really impressive with lights and a DJ. The magic show and fire show were two of our favorites. There is also a bar right in the theatre so you can keep watching the show while getting another drink if you need.
We really enjoyed the majority of meals we had. We tried both the buffet and a la carte restaurant Mar Y Tierra for breakfast and both were very good. The buffet can be quite warm if the AC seating is full but the selection was excellent. Mar Y Tierra is all outdoors but we never found it too hot as there was a steady ocean breeze. I liked both breakfast restaurants had a large number of Mexican options which we wouldn’t typically be able to get at home.
For lunch we only ever ate at the the main pool food truck and the golden pool food truck. We had meant to try the other lunch options (including a buffet and a la carte restaurant) but never did as the food trucks had such amazing food and were so convenient when we were already by the pool. Also I’ve seen mixed answers but you can definitely order from the main pool food truck while sitting at the pool, as long as you are not at one of the chairs that are actually in the water. Nachos from both trucks were fantastic.
We ate at each of the dinner restaurants, except the Italian restaurant Olivio, as it was being renovated during our trip. The majority of the food was delicious and the only things we didn’t love were items that just didn’t match our specific tastes. It was nice having an opportunity to try many things we wouldn’t normally think to order at home. We did mostly order seafood, as we can’t get that as much at home, and it was all incredible. Also anytime I ordered the chef’s special from the restaurant, it was really good.
We enjoyed snacks from Café Sisal during the day. Having the opportunity to grab a variety of iced coffees anytime we wanted was a great treat. The ice cream and baked goods from the café was also delicious. One night we got back late from our excursion and actually ate at Café Sisal for dinner. While not as fancy as the main restaurants, the sandwiches they offer are still very good. Churros from the cart outside the plaza either before or after the show were also a yummy treat.
While at VIM, we drank at every bar at least once and most bars multiple times. Overall we really enjoyed the drinks we had and enjoyed the wide range that was available. Even when we didn't know what we wanted, we could ask the bartenders for "something frozen" or "something orange" and they would come up with a tasty creation. All the different kinds of shots they'll pour are also very fun. The only drink I found a bit too sweet was the Strawberry Daiquiri but everything else was great. It could have just been an off-week but we did find the swim up bar in the main pool, closer to the ocean had a unpleasant smell so we avoided it during our stay. Don Miguel's, the sports bar, and the martini bars had the best drinks and I highly recommend trying all three bars out. It would be nice if the sports bar and Don Miguel's offered a couple more food options to have while enjoying your drinks. We tried the drink of the day at each restaurant we went to and really enjoyed them all.
The service at VIM is outstanding! All the staff were always so friendly, accommodating, and kind. Drink and food service is offered around both the main pool and golden pool. It could at times be a little slow but that's understandable with the size of the pool. If we ever wanted something to drink faster, the swim up bars were very quick. Alberto around the main pool introduced himself on one of the first mornings we were there and said he would take care of anything we needed and was true to his word. The pool waitstaff also always carried cold water bottles in their aprons which I really appreciated.
Service at the café and all the restaurants was just as good. The café was super quick every time we went there. The waiters at the restaurants all gave such excellent service, it was hard at times to remember that not all of them were the elegant options. They would often bring me a stool or coat rack for my hat and purse, always pulled out the chairs for us, and were constantly filling up our waters. Yoris at La Hacinenda was especially great and made us feel very well taken care of. Jorge at La Alasace really elevated the elegant environment with his incredibly attentive and high-class service. It is going to be hard to go to restaurants at home after experiencing such incredible care from all of the staff at VIM.
The grounds are gorgeous. The long main driveway and grand lobby really make a great first impression. The rest of the resort is just as well taken care of. I like that the architecture and furnishings have a more traditional Mexican style than some of the more modern resorts. Outside, the resort feels just like being in a jungle. The staff do an amazing job keeping the grounds clean and groomed, while still maintaining the jungle feel. I always seems to see someone sweeping, raking, or trimming plants. The resort is especially beautiful to walk around at night with speakers hidden around the paths and pretty light fixtures. We’d often take a leisurely walk around the resort before dinner to enjoy the ambiance.
The jungle environment also means there is tons of opportunities to see native wildlife. This might not be for everyone but we loved it. There are little groups of coatis (furry, raccoon-like creatures) that roam around and are so cute to watch. There’s also a large number of lizards and iguanas in all sizes. They can be a little intimidating at first but seem to just want to sunbathe in peace. They can be a little overly friendly at the golden pool if you order food but all it took was waving our sandal at them to scare them away. We also saw swarms of angel fish in the ocean and bats flying about at night. Surprisingly, the bugs were not bad at all. I only got about 4 mosquito bites which is very good for me since I didn’t use any bug spray and normally mosquitos love me.
I did unfortunately get sick the Thursday night of our stay. I'm not sure what caused it but based on the timing, I'm almost thinking it was something I ate during the excursion we went on Wednesday. While I was sick, the cold water in our room stopped working around 3 am in the morning. Had I not been sick, we would have never noticed but it was unfortunate timing. I felt better by Friday morning and have not started feeling unwell again which makes me think even more the excursion was likely to blame and not VIM.
Overall, we had an incredible stay and are already thinking of coming back. I like trying new places but the next time we come to Mexico, it’s going to be hard to go anywhere else. The main things that set VIM apart for us are the incredible staff, the jungle atmosphere with all the animals, and the inclusion of Café Sisal.
View full review
Based on 18064 traveller reviews
89% of travellers recommended this hotel
13712
2955
863
302
232
Sep 25 2023
.ImageUrl)
