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When my sister suggested the Nickelodeon Hotels & Resorts Riviera Maya for a family trip to Mexico, I knew I had to join to keep my fun aunt status (also, I was heavily pressured by my nieces and nephews.) While I enjoy all types of travel, my family loves a good all-inclusive, and the idea of spending a week at a resort is the perfect way for them to unwind — and my nieces & nephews all love the water.
We loved this stay and were so pleasantly surprised by every aspect of this resort: the rooms, the food, the amenities. I really could not recommend this enough for a family trip — if your kids love water and you want a Disney or Universal-like experience without the stress, the lines…. and most importantly, with unlimited drinks for the parents — this is it. Unlike Disney, there’s no real planning needed other than booking. The hotel handles transport, water park access is included, and you can do everything on your own schedule. But you still get tons of character visits, nightly entertainment, paid upgraded experiences — and so much slime.
I visited with my sister, her husband, my niece (3) and nephews (3 and 9), plus my parents — three generations, two toddlers, a tween, and the best family vacation we’ve had. Here’s everything you need to know!
Jump To:
- Location & Getting There
- Resort Layout
- The Rooms
- Amenities & Activities
- Paid Upgrades
- Dining & Drinks
- When to Visit
- Cost
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
Location & Getting There
The Nickelodeon Resort is located in Riviera Maya, Mexico — about 1 to 2 hours from Cancun International Airport depending on traffic. The resort offers hotel transport directly from the airport, which we recommend booking in advance to keep things seamless (especially traveling with little kids). Check the resort website for current transport options and pricing.
Resort Layout
One thing to know before you arrive: the resort is split into two main areas. The main hotel lobby, check-in, water park, main stage, and indoor kids’ play area are set a bit inland — about a 20-minute walk or a short shuttle ride from the oceanside building where the rooms, swim-up bars, and main pool are.
This sounds like it could be inconvenient, but in practice it was totally fine. Shuttles run regularly — we never waited more than 10 minutes — and personally I enjoyed the walk. The key thing is that both areas have their own restaurants and bars, so you don’t need to trek back and forth just to eat or grab a drink.
The Rooms
The rooms are so perfect for families — and one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Even the most basic room category is a swim-up suite with either a king bed or two queen beds plus a pullout couch/sitting area. Every floor of the oceanside building has its own swim-up pool, with the ground floor opening directly out to the main pool.
We were on the fourth floor with stunning oceanfront views, large decks, and swim-up pools that were perfect for hanging while the kids were napping or for a chill afternoon after a morning at the water park.
The highlight we didn’t even realize we’d have until we arrived: 2 full bathrooms per room. An absolute game changer when you’re traveling with multiple kids and multiple adults. Highly recommend looking for rooms with this layout — it made mornings so much smoother.
Rooms also come with a fully stocked mini fridge — water, sodas, juice, beers — restocked daily. A small thing that makes a big difference. I’ve stayed at resorts in Mexico where getting drinkable bottled water is such a task.
Amenities & Activities
This is an all-inclusive resort, so most things are included with your room — food & drinks, the water park, the entertainment. Here’s what you’ll be spending your days doing:
Aqua Nick Water Park
The main attraction — and the reason you’d pick Nickelodeon over any other all-inclusive. The water park is massive and has activities for all ages. We spent 7 days here and no one got bored. Highlights:
- 2 lazy rivers — one chill, one faster. We spent SO much time in the lazy river, so fun for all the kids!
- Main SpongeBob adventure park — both the 3-year-olds and the 9-year-old loved this section, and there’s a daily slime drop at noon with a full show and a massive slime bucket that drenches everyone nearby
- Paw Patrol section with slides sized for little ones
- Activity pool with a rock wall, wave pool, and adventure course
- Teen/Adult Slides – there were 4 big slides for older kids (and adults like me) or for thrill seeking younger kids that meet the height requirements
- Plenty of seating and shady spots throughout
Food and drinks are included in the park with your hotel wristband (non-guests pay separately). There are 4 Aqua Bites food stands — one pizza, one burgers, one poke bowls — plus Nick Bistro, the large buffet attached to the water park. You will not go hungry out there.
Character Meet & Greets
Characters roam all areas of the resort throughout the entire day — SpongeBob, Paw Patrol, Dora, and more. This isn’t a once-a-day photo op with a 45-minute queue. They show up constantly and spontaneously, and the resort app lets you see the full character schedule so you never miss your kids’ favorites. We spent so much time seeing all the characters — the 3-year-olds were obsessed.
Main Pool, Beach & Swim-Up Bars
At the oceanside building there’s a large main pool with two swim-up bars: Cosmo’s and Wanda’s — loved the 90s Nick throwback on those names. There’s also a small beach. We didn’t spend a ton of time at the beach since the kids were firmly committed to the water park, but it was pretty and the sunsets were gorgeous.
Nightly Entertainment — Main Stage
Every night at the Main Stage (located next to the water park) the resort puts on a different show. We saw Slime Time Live, the Orange Carpet Event, and a game show-style show. These are long days with little kids but the kids absolutely loved it — Slime Time Live was a standout favorite. The adults may have been more exhausted than the kids (or at least I was)
Club Nick
If the kids need a break from the water and sun — or the weather doesn’t cooperate — Club Nick is an indoor play area with slides, a ball pit, arts and crafts, and more. It’s included and a great option for keeping the little ones entertained without being outside.
Paid Upgrades
Most things are included, but there are some add-ons worth knowing about. We usually skip the extras but we made some exceptions here:
Family Slime Experience
We had to do this. Your whole group gets slimed in the slime machine — they make a whole event of it, it felt like a can’t-miss, and at $70 per family it’s genuinely worth every dollar.
Character Breakfast
A ticketed breakfast where the Nickelodeon characters come to your table. My sister took the kids and they absolutely loved it. That said — this one is pricey. My parents and I skipped it because the cost for adults felt steep. Check the resort website for current pricing before you book, and decide whether it makes sense for your group.
Spa
Náay Spa offers soothing treatments inspired by Mayan principles — traditional Mayan design, balancing earth, wind, fire, and water in its therapeutic approach. Treatments are available for both adults and children, which is a nice touch for a family resort. Pricing isn’t listed online so check with the resort directly when you arrive or before you book.
Dining & Drinks
The Nickelodeon Resort is gourmet all-inclusive — food and drinks are included across most venues. There are so many options, split across the two resort areas. Here are our favorites (starred) and what you should know about each. All inclusive food is never the greatest IMO and I had low expectations for a kids themed one, but we all had really positive things to say about the food.
Oceanside (hotel rooms area):
Good Burger ⭐
Yes, the actual Good Burger from Nickelodeon — and it delivered. Burgers, fries, and ice cream sundaes that are almost too over-the-top to eat. A great casual option, especially when you don’t want to leave the pool area.
Bikini Bottom Bar ⭐
Such a vibe. SpongeBob-themed bar with taquitos, snacks, and drinks — and the spicy cucumber margaritas were amazing. A great mid-afternoon spot between water park sessions.
Cosmo’s & Wanda’s Swim-Up Bars ⭐
Two swim-up bars right at the main pool — named after the Fairly OddParents characters, which is a very fun 90s Nick touch. The perfect spot to post up with a drink while the kids splash around.
Leaf Lounge Coffee Bar ⭐
Located on the 6th floor, open from 7am–11:30am. This is a rooftop coffee bar with views over the resort — we loved the coffees and the views. Quiet, breezy, the perfect way to start the day before the chaos begins.
Yacht Club
A nautical-themed buffet restaurant —this one was not our overall fave, except my 9 year old nephew who loved the seafood options
Sky Lounge
An adults-only bar on the 5th floor — confirm current hours on the resort website, but when we visited it was open evenings. A nice option when you want a drink without the full family energy. Although admittedly, we were pretty worn out most days and too tired for this.
Main Hotel / Aqua Nick Area:
Piazza ⭐
Our absolute favorite. Italian-inspired dining with gorgeous, open-air vibes — think pretty lights, good pizza, and a Ninja Turtles theme that the kids (and adults) fully appreciated. This was our go-to dinner spot.
Snick Lounge ⭐
Kid friendly bar and lounge with slime martinis (alchohol free) — yes, count us in. Green, glowing, and a fantastic photo moment. A great spot to unwind at the end of a big day. They had some live performances AFTER the main stage, if you have the energy
Le Spatula ⭐
The main buffet located in the hotel lobby area — and a resort staple. My 9-year-old nephew could not get enough of the crepes, cinnamon buns, and pancakes. It’s a wide spread and a reliable option for feeding a group with different preferences.
Room Service
24-hour room service is available and included. For the nights you just want to eat on your deck in peace — incredibly useful.
When to Visit Riviera Maya
Riviera Maya has warm weather year-round, but the best time to visit is November through April during the dry season. You’ll get the most sunshine, lower humidity, and the least chance of rain. Peak season runs from December through March — the weather is gorgeous but rates are higher and the resort will be busier.
We went in February and it was perfect — warm, sunny, not unbearably hot, and the water park was very manageable. Summer months (June–October) bring higher humidity, more heat, and the risk of tropical storms, though you’ll find lower prices.
Nickelodeon Resort Riviera Maya Cost
We paid approximately $8,000 total for 7 nights for a family of 4 — all-inclusive, so food, drinks, the water park, and entertainment are all in. Flights are not included. It is not a budget all-inclusive, but for what you get — the level of kid-specific entertainment, the quality of the dining options, and the sheer amount your family can do without paying extra — it genuinely delivers, and in my experience, it’s still cheaper than Disney
