Margaritaville Island Reserve Resorts are a group of hotels in the Caribbean themed to Jimmy Buffet. I had the opportunity to stay at Margaritaville Island Reserva Cap Cana in early September with a group of other travel agents.
First off, I am not a huge Jimmy Buffet fan. I only know his one big song. Heading to the resort, I was unsure what a Jimmy Buffet themed resort would mean. Overall, here, it means laid back luxury. The resort caters to Americans who like the standards executed at a high level of quality. Also, this resort has a fun and friendly vibe. We were always socializing and hanging out with other guests at the pool and at the lounges in the evening. The resort had a fun and friendly vibe, but given the price point, you won't have to worry about a crazy party crowd. Margaritaville's are mostly adult only (the sister property, Margaritaville Island Resort Cap Cana Wave is family friendly). If you are traveling with kids, Nickelodeon Resorts in Cap Cana and Riviera Maya are awesome destinations.
Brewery
One of the coolest parts about this resort is the Land Shark Brewery. We were lucky enough to get a tour given by the brew master himself. This brewery supplies some of the beer to the Land Shark Grill right next door. When the bartender pulls you a landshark, he is pulling it directly from the brewery! I am not usually a beer drinker, but I converted for the night!
Food
There are several different restaurants on property ranging from casual buffet style to a fine dining steakhouse. I was impressed with how well the staff was able to work with people with allergies. On our first day, I saw a few people talking to the head cheff about their particular dining restrictions. There restrictions were accomodated throughout our stay.
During lunch time, there was a grill set up by the pool. Our group opted for floating tacos an floating margaritas in the pool. Overall, I would say the resort excels in classic food done well. Across all of the restaurants, the atmosphere is beautiful, comfortable and inviting.
Spa
The spa is amazing and my favorite part of the resort. I was not able to spend nearly enough time here. I did have one of the best massages ever. Even without a treatment, the spa is a great place to spend a few hours enjoying the hydrotherapy, steam and sauna.
Pool
The pool is the heart of the resort during the day. We spent all day in the pool and the bartenders would create drinks for us. There are organized pool games that are fun even if you are not participating. The pool is a great place to hang out, meet other travelers and have fun. While we are talking water, the beach is beautiful.
Live Music
This is another place where Margaritaville shines. The live music is phenomenal. The musicians are talented. Every night, the band was playing in the lounge. You could sit close to the band to really enjoy the music or further back to enjoy the laid back atmosphere and share your day's adventures with other guests.
Overall
I loved my time here. It is a really fun resort for those of us who have grown up a little and value our comfort. So we can still enjoy beer and cocktails, but we have moved from Bud to micro brews. We still love going out, listening to live music and meeting new people, but at the end of the night, we want to return to a really nice hotel room. And yes, we still like burgers, but we want great burgers. These resorts capture high end luxury and fun. You do not have to be a Jimmy Buffet fan to appreciate the laid back luxury of this resort!
