I Stayed There: Atelier Playa Mujeres

Travel insights from Dr. Terika L. Haynes, CEO and Founder, Dynamite Travel

Dr. Terika L. Haynes Published August 31, 2023

The Vibe

As soon as you arrive you are immediately greeted with a cool towel and a glass of champagne. The initial vibe is contemporary luxury. As you further explore the hotel, you’ll find hints of beautiful Mexican art and decor throughout the property. There are lots of stone and wood handmade craftsmanship in the rooms and public spaces. All of the staff work above and beyond to ensure that you are pleased which aligns with their Motto “Handcrafted Hospitality.” The scene is energetic but not noisy. All of the guests seem to have the same feeling of admiration for how beautiful the property is. The target audience would be mid to upper luxury travelers between the ages of 25 and 65; however, I think anyone who appreciates true luxury vacation experiences and fine dining would be a good candidate for a stay at this property.

balcony view at hotel — *Photo by Dr. Terika L. Haynes*

How I Felt

Impressed. For a property of its size, the service level felt like one of a luxury boutique resort. I was amazed at how attentive all of the staff were and also how clean the property was throughout.

The Digs

I stayed in the INSPIRA Rooftop Suite which is a treat for anyone who adores a luxurious room. The bathroom has a large soaking tub and a massive shower along with two sinks. There is a spacious living area and a minibar stocked with drinks. There is also a wine cooler and a cart filled with all the snacks you could ever dream of along with premium bottles of liquor. The cart can be customized to your liking upon request. The King bed had very comfortable premium linens, and the view from my room on the first floor was a perfect view of the ocean. In the middle of the room, there are sexy spiral stairs that take you up to the rooftop area. There is another half bathroom upstairs, which I thought was super convenient so that you wouldn’t have to walk all the way downstairs from the rooftop to use the bathroom. The rooftop area included two lounge chairs and a huge Bali bed for relaxing. There is an outdoor shower surrounded by artsy Mexican tile. My favorite part of the rooftop was the private plunge pool which gave me excellent views of the golf course and the ocean.

spiral staircase in a room — *Photo by Dr. Terika L. Haynes*

The Agenda

I did my body a favor and went to the NUUP Spa to have a Mexican Massage treatment. The spa experience was outstanding from start to finish. My spa treatment was so good that I went back again the next day for another spa treatment (Better Together Treatment). I also visited a number of the swimming pools as well as INSPIRA guest pools. I specifically enjoyed my time at the INSPIRA El Cielo pool as the infinity pool gave great views of the ocean and the resort. The aguachile served at that pool was amazing! I also spent time at the beach and loved that the sand was gorgeous and very soft. The ocean breeze felt perfect from my cabana.

The Eats

I did room service several times (breakfast and dinner), and it was great. I found the room service menu to be more expansive than most resorts. I visited Cala Di Luna, Cilento and El Suspiro restaurants. I also visited the Mercado buffet. I couldn’t leave without experiencing the award-winning Maria Dolores restaurant by Chef Edgar Nunez. This is a must do experience for foodies as you are taken on a culinary journey throughout the dining experience. I visited Cafecito for morning coffee and light bites. Bar De La Calle was a treat as the bartenders do not use any bar menus and create handcrafted cocktails on the whim using only their skills and intuition. It was by far the best bar on the property.

chef stirring food in a pan — *Photo by Dr. Terika L. Haynes*

Why I Would Go Back

The service definitely is a reason that I return to Atelier Playa Mujeres. Even though the resort has over 600 rooms, I often felt like I was the only person on property because of the service I received. None of the staff ever appeared too busy to serve. The dining experiences were elevated from what you experience at your typical all-inclusive resort. Each restaurant had at least one item on the menu that was prepared tableside which added a personalized level of service to the dining experience which I really enjoyed. The room was also a highlight of my trip, and I would go back to experience the INSPIRA Rooftop Suite again.

About the Author

Dr. Terika L. Haynes is the CEO and Founder of Dynamite Travel, an award-winning, five-star rated, luxury travel and media consultancy that has been providing travel planning service excellence to clients for 15 years. Dr. Haynes, a savvy business professional, sought out to create a company that would not only assist clients with curating customized vacations, but would also assist clients with creating unforgettable travel experiences.

Breaking glass ceilings and creating unique opportunities is a specialty of Dr. Haynes. She is the recent recipient of the 2023 ASTA Travel Advisor of the Year Award. In addition to superb travel planning execution, Dr. Haynes has utilized the opportunity to engage the masses of travel enthusiasts by extending her services as a travel expert and contributing to notable media outlets. As such, her knowledge and expertise have been featured in leading media publications such as: Travel+Leisure, The Washington Post, USA Today, TripSavvy, Fodor’s, BRIDES, CNN, Real Simple, BBC, Reader’s Digest, Travel Noire and more.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a strong passion for Dr. Haynes Under her leadership, Dynamite Travel is certified by the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and U.S. Black Chamber of Commerce (USBC). Dr. Haynes serves as a Board Member and Treasurer of the Central Florida chapter of the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA). Additionally, she is a member of IGLTA, The Pride Chamber (Central Florida’s local LGBT Chamber of Commerce), the ForbesBLK community.