Slides, slime and smiles: A family-friendly stay at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya
Editor's Note
- Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya is a Nickelodeon-themed all-inclusive resort near Cancun.
- Your stay at this beachfront resort includes daily access to the on-site water park, activities, entertainment and several dining options.
- You will pay a premium for the immersive theming and included experiences, but it's well worth it if it's within your budget.
I was raised on Nickelodeon. I often dreamed of being slimed or visiting SpongeBob SquarePants' pineapple-shaped home under the sea. As a parent, Nickelodeon is still a huge part of my day-to-day life, and I've had my eye on Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya since it opened in 2021.
After a recent visit with my family, I can say Mexico's first Nickelodeon-themed all-inclusive resort nailed the fun, frivolity and nostalgia I love about the brand without sacrificing the upscale all-inclusive experience the resort promises.
And, yes, I did get slimed. More than once.
Here's everything you need to know about Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya.
What is Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya?
As the name suggests, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya is a Nickelodeon-themed all-inclusive resort just outside Cancun, Mexico. The resort is clearly geared toward families, but during our visit, I felt it was reaching out to my particular demographic — elder millennials with young kids.
The shows and characters represented ranged from those that were popular when I was a child, like "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" and "Rugrats," to the shows my own children gravitate toward, such as "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Paw Patrol."
The resort has three main areas: the main lobby, the beachfront building where the guest suites are located and the Aqua Nick water park. The lobby and water park are close enough to walk between, but you must take a shuttle to reach your suite. Each area has several dining locations and activities.
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When we arrived, my husband and I were greeted with agua fresca and my kids received green slime smoothies (that were delicious, by the way). Slime is the name of the game at this resort — it's in the decor, the drinks and, of course, the actual slime.
Though it is the first in Mexico, this resort is the second Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts location. The first opened in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic in 2016 (you can read TPG's review from 2019 here). Karisma Hotels, the brand that runs both locations, operates other beach resort brands, too, including several Margaritaville and Azul properties.
How to book Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya
It's easiest to book your stay at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya directly through the hotel's website. It has a page with special offers to help you save money on your stay. If you have a trusted travel agent, they may also be able to assist you with your booking to ensure you get the best price and any add-ons you may be interested in, like spa services or character meals.
If you have an eligible Capital One card, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya is bookable through the Capital One travel portal. The pricing is similar to what you would find by booking directly, but you can earn up to 10 miles per dollar spent if you book using cash (based on which card you use) or use Captial One miles to reserve your stay.
The cost of your all-inclusive stay at Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya covers:
- Dining
- Drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic)
- Access to the Aqua Nick water park
- Access to the Club Nick kids club
- Daily character meet-and-greets and activities
- Baby care items
- Nightly entertainment
- Airport transportation
- Fitness center access and classes
- Taxes and gratuities
The all-inclusive price structure means the cost of your stay can vary greatly based on the number of people in your party. For example, a standard swim-up king suite for two adults and one child in May 2024 would cost roughly $1,200 per night during the resort's 30% off Summer of SpongeBob promotion. A family such as mine with two adults and three children in the same room type would cost $1,702 per night.
Whether that number seems high to you depends on your typical vacation budget. There is a lot of food and fun built into that cost, and my family didn't spend a dime during our stay outside of a few souvenirs at the gift shop and an additional housekeeping gratuity. The number may give some travelers sticker shock, but the number you are looking at is essentially your all-in vacation cost for food, activities and accommodations.
If you are in the market for a budget-friendly vacation, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Punta Cana's pricing may be more your speed. Similar accommodations for a family of five in May 2024 were under $1,000 per night.
Every suite has an ocean view and a plunge pool
One of the things I was most excited about after planning this trip was that each of the hotel's 280 suites faces the ocean and has a balcony with a plunge pool. My kids were almost as excited as I was. Each plunge pool extends the length of three guest rooms, and my kids were actually hoping our neighbors would jump in to play at some point, but we never crossed paths. If you were traveling with a large group and had connecting groups, this setup would be ideal.
Walking a few steps to the balcony to see the sunrise or listen to the ocean at night was a highlight for sure, and my kids started every morning and ended every evening in the plunge pool. Don't expect the water to be too warm because the balcony above yours shades the pools, but the temperature wasn't cool enough to deter us from spending a lot of time there.
The balcony also had comfortable seating where I could read my book and drink a Diet Coke from the minibar while the kids played. There was a drying rack that folded out from the wall as well, which was convenient for wet towels.
Inside, our 581-square-foot room was equally impressive. The entire room was immaculately themed to various Nickelodeon shows without feeling childish. The room was bright and playful with a mix of obvious character integrations like SpongeBob artwork hanging above the bed and more subtle nods like a decorative pillow covered in pineapples.
Guest suites sleep up to five people, with either one king bed, a Murphy bed and a sofa bed or two queen beds and a sofa bed. Across from the sofa bed is a separate seating area with a small dining table. Each room also has two TVs, but because of their proximity, it was too distracting to watch two different shows. We just turned them both to the same channel so everyone could get in their own bed and still watch TV.
Each room has a fully stocked minibar with soda, water, milk, beer, chips and chocolate bars. Housekeeping didn't refill the minibar or Nespresso coffee pods for the espresso machine that lived above the minibar automatically, but we could call and request any items we needed to be replaced. Housekeeping did come twice a day — once for a full cleaning and again in the evening for a turndown service.
In the hallway leading from the front door to the main living and sleeping area, there were multiple closets with space for storing your belongings. We also found an iron, an umbrella, robes and extra bedding.
Each guest suite also has two full bathrooms, which is a huge perk when you have two adults and three kids trying to get ready simultaneously. There was an en suite bathroom with a toilet, a tub, a shower and a double vanity, plus a secondary bathroom with a toilet, a shower and a single vanity. Refillable bath products were included in both showers, along with refillable hand soap and lotion at the sinks. My favorite touch was the green slime sticker on the new toilet paper rolls.
Delicious food at the hotel and the water park
Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya has several dining options spread across the resort. Here's a bit more about the ones we tried during our stay. We were pleased with all the dining options, so I would recommend trying as many as you can.
Piazza
Piazza is a "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"-themed restaurant in the main lobby building. It's also the only restaurant that requires a reservation (other than specialty dining experiences like a character breakfast or private meal on the beach).
The menu had salads, flatbreads and pasta, but it mostly featured the Turtles' favorite food: pizza. Our server brought bread with olive oil and balsamic for dipping when we were seated, and I ordered the Casey Jones pizza with serrano ham, pears, mozzarella, baby spinach and tomatoes. The pizza was delicious and the right size to share if you weren't too hungry.
Le Spatula
Le Spatula is the primary breakfast spot, also located in the main lobby building. The name and theming come from SpongeBob's iconic spatula. This was one of the largest breakfast buffets I've ever encountered at an all-inclusive resort, with what felt like endless options. My kids could have waffles and bacon while I had a Spanish omelet, chia pudding and chicken broth. When my kids ordered chocolate milk, it was presented with whipped cream and sprinkles on top, and the espresso my husband and I each had perked us up for a day at the water park.
The restaurant was huge, but because it was the only breakfast buffet, we usually had to wait 10 or 15 minutes for a table. We didn't mind, though, because the hotel's two resident cats posted up outside the restaurant each morning, and my kids were happy to spend a few minutes petting the cats while we waited (the cats seemed happy about it, too).
Nick Bistro
Nick Bistro is a buffet located at the Aqua Nick water park. It is open daily for lunch, though this is also where they hold the character breakfast (for an additional cost) on select mornings. The food here was plentiful and varied. My kids used the provided bread, sliced meats and cheeses to make sandwiches, while my husband and I gravitated more to the seafood, plantains, guacamole and fresh fruits and vegetables.
There is also a large display with candy, desserts and a soft serve machine. During our time at the water park, we could pop in here for the kids to grab a treat as well.
Good Burger
Good Burger is open for dinner, but the retro Volkswagen van that serves ice cream and milkshakes opens at 3:30 p.m. so you can grab an afternoon treat before dinnertime. This restaurant is in the beachfront building where the guest suites are located, so it was easy to pop downstairs for our dinner here.
To start, they brought each of us a plate with a hamburger drawn in ketchup. Shortly after, a basket of fries and onion rings appeared at our table. I wanted to sample as many burgers as I could, so I went with the chef's choice slider sampler. The burgers were good, but they also didn't taste that different from one another, so I would recommend just choosing your favorite burger and ordering that.
If you grew up watching Nickelodeon, the Good Burger theming from "All That" will have you feeling nostalgic. Memorable quotes from the show were used as artwork throughout the restaurant, making for a lot of fun photo moments.
Bikini Bottom Bar
The Bikini Bottom Bar is also conveniently located in the guest suite building. This SpongeBob-themed lounge serves many purposes throughout the day. It is open for coffee every morning, breakfast most days of the week, lunch every afternoon and stays open daily until 11 p.m. Needless to say, we paid this lounge many a visit.
We mostly stopped in for our morning coffee or cocktails and mocktails, but we did have lunch here one afternoon. The kids had spaghetti (their favorite kids menu item at the resort), and my husband and I tried the tacos. I had octopus tacos, and they were fresh and flavorful.
This is also where we discovered our favorite cocktail of the weekend: a Spicy Mezcalita. This drink is essentially a margarita made with mezcal instead of tequila, with a few jalapeno slices stirred in and a Tajin rim. Take my word for it, and give this drink a try.
Pool, beach and water park areas
There was no shortage of swimming opportunities at this resort. In addition to our plunge pool, there were two large beachfront pools on the first floor of the building. The pools run the length of the building, each with a swim-up bar.
If you have a room on the first floor, you have a small shallow area with in-water loungers and swim-up access to your room rather than the small plunge pools available on the higher floors. There was ample seating, and most chairs had umbrellas and tables. There was also a shallow baby pool for young swimmers.
Walking back and forth between the beach and the pool was easy. There aren't many chairs on the beach, but there are a few, and it's not like you get to sit down often when you travel with kids anyway. Towels were provided, and a server often made the rounds taking drink orders.
The beach here is best for wading in the surf, going for a walk or playing in the sand. There is currently an artificial reef in place to slow beach erosion and bolster the health of the natural reef, which is part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world.
In my opinion, the artificial reef was not a deterrent or an eyesore. Rather, I appreciate the dedication to conservation and hope it makes an impact on the beach and its ecosystem.
It really wouldn't matter how nice the beach was; our kids begged to return to the water park again and again. This 6-acre water park has something for everyone. There are two lazy rivers (one fast and one slow), a slide tower with raft and body slides, an activity pool and two water play areas for kids.
The main play area was a multilevel playground called Bikini Bottom Beach. There were several slides and interactive areas, and the kids spent hours in this area alone.
There was also a play area for younger children themed to Adventure Bay from "Paw Patrol." I was impressed that the slides were essentially miniature versions of some of the big-kid slides, and there was also a large but shallow swimming pool.
What I was most excited about at the water park was the daily group Super Sliming on Bikini Bottom Beach. You can browse the hotel's app or speak with a staff member to check the exact time, but every afternoon around 1:30 p.m., the activity staff members gathered everyone around the giant Nickelodeon blimp for a group sliming. Personally, I have dreamed of being slimed since I was a child watching "You Can't Do That On Television," and I will admit that I teared up a bit when my dream finally came true.
If you are concerned about the slime staining your clothes, there is no need to worry. It washes right out as soon as you get back in the water.
If a group sliming isn't an intimate enough experience for you, you can reserve a private slime experience for your family for $85. The Aqua Nick team really made this moment special for every family who had signed up. They take photos and videos with your phone so you can relive the experience — they even interview you before and after you get slimed. Getting slimed with my family was a core memory for me, and I truly think it is a must-do activity if you visit this resort.
Day-to-night activities and super helpful staff
Though we spent most of our time at the water park, there were activities all day — and all night — long. Download the Karisma app before your visit because this is where you'll find the schedule of activities each day (as well as restaurant hours and menus). There were daily opportunities for beach volleyball, giant Jenga, pool games and so much more.
There are character meet-and-greets in all three areas of the resort, but I had my heart set on meeting SpongeBob. He seems to be the most popular, though, so if you, too, are keen on interacting with SpongeBob, arrive 15 to 20 minutes before the start time and get in line. The staff members really shined here as well. Though they had to move through the line quickly, they took photos and videos with our phones and perfectly captured the moment.
Kids can also visit the Club Nick kids club by the water park. There are areas for free play, like slides, a ball pit, toys and video game consoles, but the space also hosts crafts and activities throughout the day. Our kids stopped by to make tie-dye T-shirts that were the color of green slime, of course.
In the main lobby, there is a Snick lounge that was definitely also geared toward the parents. Though there were green slime drinks and video games for the kids, the decor was pure '90s nostalgia. There was artwork themed to Snick (short for Saturday Night Nickelodeon) shows like "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" and "Ren and Stimpy." Upstairs, I got to have my "Clarissa Explains It All" moment on the Big Orange Couch.
You can stop in to hang out here anytime, but there is entertainment, like musicians and magicians, in the evening.
The primary nighttime entertainment spot is held at the Main Stage near the water park. The theme of each night's show is different, and once a week, they hold an interactive game show called Slime Time Live, where contestants can get slimed on stage.
During our visit, we saw Show Mexicano, a look at the history of Mexico through music and dance. Other nights featured performances from acrobats, magicians and more.
Accessibility
From what I observed during my visit, the resort is very wheelchair friendly. There were wheelchair-accessible guest rooms, ramps that led to the beach and pool areas, elevators in each building and floating wheelchairs for the lazy river.
The resort is also certified in the Autism Double-Checked program. Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya employs specialty concierges who can help with specific needs and provide information on crowds, safety, quiet areas and more.
Checking out
As someone who grew up in the '80s and '90s and is now an unashamed lover of theme parks and themed experiences, Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya spoke to the deepest parts of my soul.
Even if it doesn't quite touch you in the same way, if you have children, it is a solid all-inclusive vacation option with good value and very helpful staff. The water park was one of the best I've visited, the food was delicious, the rooms were clean and spacious, and I finally realized my lifelong dream of being slimed. What more can you ask for in a hotel?
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
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- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.