On the Riviera Maya, The Joy of the Swim-Up Suite

By Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon
CJ Travel Editor

The appeal of swim-up suites ­– hotel rooms that open directly onto a private plunge or shared serpentine pool – is undeniable. Across the Caribbean, resorts with these room categories report that they’re consistently sold out, despite their premium price. And clearly guests love the water’s-edge cloisters, where they can literally roll straight out of bed and into the pool.

Many rave about the convenience of being able to bask in the sun even before breakfast is served. And most will cite the convenience of never really having to leave their room (or at least stray too far from it) to enjoy some pool time.

But there’s another advantage to these suites that’s often overlooked, one which we discovered during our recent stay at Barcelo Maya Caribe, a beachfront all-inclusive near Puerto Aventuras on the Riviera Maya of Mexico, where its swim-up suites are (unsurprisingly) in high demand.

The advantage is that swim-up suites offer the perfect (and private) way to end a full Caribbean day. How delightful to return to your roost, satisfied from a delicious dinner, and then be able to enjoy a soothing night swim under a tropical sky. If you’re lucky, your pool (like ours) will also have aqua loungers, offering semi-submerged relaxation and the perfect position for studious star-gazing.

And, if you’re luckier still, the patio of your suite (also like ours) will have a soaking tub.

So whenever you have a chance to book a swim-up suite, we recommend you do, but only as long as you remember this: Rolling out of bed and into the pool is an undeniably good thing. But emerging from the pool and then rolling pleasantly relaxed and droopy-eyed into bed is even better.