El Dorado Maroma, by Karisma

El Dorado Maroma is a tranquil, adults-only property where couples come to celebrate weddings, honeymoons, and anniversaries. It’s a “would you like a cold towel?”, “can I interest you in a fresh fruit kebab?” kind of place where rest and relaxation is the name of the game. Maroma guests come for sunset dinners and quiet nights, not beach volleyball tournaments or pool aerobics. Most of the people here spend their days lounging around one of the resort’s pools, since the beach is really just a marina with some sand. The mostly white lobby includes a ceiling lined with billowing white fabric and large brown vases that hold brown and white leaves. Framed abstract art hangs on the walls. Outdoors, the grounds are a small tropical paradise complete with coconut trees and vibrant flower bushes. 

About halfway between Cancun and Playa del Carmen, El Dorado Maroma isn’t close to much besides the ocean. Aside from other similar hotels, there’s nothing to really see or do in the immediate area, other than the nearby Dolphin Discovery where visitors can pay to swim with the dolphins. The hotel can easily arrange airport transportation, or excursions to nearby sights like Tulum, which is about an hour-and-a-half drive from the hotel. Cancun International Airport is about 40 minutes away. 

For a small hotel, there is a wide array of room options at El Dorado Maroma. From standard rooms to multiple bedroom suites and small apartments with swim-up terraces. No matter the type, rooms are spacious and nicely equipped with amenities such as iHomes, jetted tubs, and fully loaded mini-fridges. Rooms are cream colored with brightly colored feature walls and fun accent pillows. Dark wood furniture fills the space, along with subtly nautical canvas artwork. Bathrooms are huge, with separate showers and tubs, double sinks, and marble finishes. Some suites even have outdoor showers. Rooms also have plenty of storage thanks to large closets and armoires. 

El Dorado Maroma has several on-site restaurants, a spa, and a modern fitness center. The only problem...most of the hotel’s common spaces lack character or charm. Save for two newer spots -- Lima Limon and Caribbean Grill -- restaurants look and feel exactly the same -- large empty rooms with a bunch of tables. In fact, the Mexican restaurant, Japanese restaurant, and the wine bar are all housed in one large room, with a few dividing walls separating it into several spaces. The lack of charm makes dining here feel a bit like groundhog day. No matter where you dine, you’re likely to get an “I’ve seen this before” sort of feeling. But it’s not just the restaurants that lack ambience, there’s no wow factor in the lobby or sense of relaxation in the spa, because they look and feel like the Italian restaurant you ate dinner in last night. Looks aside, the restaurants’ food is really nothing to write home about either. Meals are decidedly mediocre, but for a hotel that bills itself as a “gourmet all-inclusive,” the food is rather disappointing. The spa offers an array of treatment options, including beachfront massages. The on-site fitness center is small, but modern, with several machines and free weights. 

There are three main pools at El Dorado Maroma, and most remain pretty quiet throughout the day. Many suites feature swim-up terraces that lead to small canal-like pools that connect to the larger main pools. The beach is more like a marina, and not so great for swimming. The beach and other areas of the resort, including pools and restaurants are often closed or sectioned-off to accommodate weddings and parties taking place at the hotel.