Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya, by Karisma

Margaritaville Island Reserve Riviera Maya is an adults only, all inclusive resort in Puerto Morelos on the Riviera Maya, Mexico. It holds a 4.5 out of 5 rating from 764 ratings on the resort's own site and has 355 suites. The island spirit shows in everything from daily live music to the first beachfront LandShark Brewery, so you arrive to a relaxed, social atmosphere that suits couples and friends travelling together.

Rooms run from premium guest rooms to luxury swim-up suites, so you can choose between garden, ocean or beachfront views. Island Oasis Suite sits on the ground floor with a terrace, hammock and green wall, while Oceanfront Paradise Studio separates the bedroom from a living area with a dining table and swing chair. Several suites have a glassed-in bathroom with a free-standing tub and rain shower, and private pool rooms are also available.

Two pickleball courts host a tournament in the weekly schedule, and ping-pong, cornhole, volleyball and card games fill the quieter hours. Water volleyball and aquafit make use of the pool, while margarita blending and mixology classes come with sampling. Live music plays daily, with DJs, soloists, duos and full bands, and evenings can bring pool parties with local bands or a bonfire. A daily activity programme keeps the days varied.

Three free-form pools anchor the resort, and swim-up suites open straight onto the water, so a morning swim needs no more than a few steps. St. Somewhere Spa covers about 10,000 square feet, with eight treatment rooms, one of them a couples room with a tub, and a full-service beauty salon. Fins Up Fitness Center offers about 2,000 square feet of cardio and strength equipment, plus a terrace overlooking the mangrove forest for stretching and open air classes.

The resort lists four restaurants and four bars, with all meals, snacks and drinks included and room service available around the clock. Frank and Lola's Italian Trattoria serves seafood, pasta, meat and wood-fired pizza at dinner, indoors or out. License to Chill Bar, Wet Feet Bar and Beachside Grill serves salads and burgers beside the sea, with tables standing in shallow water. Salted Rim celebrates tequila, bacanora and mezcal, and LandShark Brewery and Grill pours craft beer brewed on site.

The resort stands on Carretera Tulum-Cancun at kilometre 27.5, in Puerto Morelos, Quintana Roo. The resort does not publish transfer times from the airport, nor does it list nearby towns, beaches or sights, so your travel adviser can confirm transfers and suggest excursions when you book. A resort app lets you contact the concierge, view menus and check activity schedules before and during your stay.