Editor's note: The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is now called the Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa. The only change to this resort is it's name since it is still owned by the Hyatt brand and did not undergo renovations.

The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun (now called the Dreams Puerto Morelos Resort & Spa) is an all-inclusive resort that opened up in 2021. If you're planning a Mexico trip and looking at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun reviews, I'm here to help. I recently stayed there, and in this Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun review, I'm giving my honest take on this resort.

Where Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Located?
This Hyatt Ziva is located about 20 miles south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos, so a heads up that if it says 'Riviera', it's usually not located in the city or main hotel zone but rather farther out along the cost. My husband and I arrived at night. After taking a turn off the highway, we found ourselves on a rough road leading to the coast where the resort is. Unfortunately, whoever was in charge of maintaining this road didn't prioritize fixing potholes. At one point, we thought we might be stuck after our driver hit a massive pothole. Considering that, it wouldn't surprise me if drivers took turns opting out of rides to and from this resort.

Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun Check-In Process
We finally made it to the Hyatt Ziva, and it's definitely a fancier resort. The lobby area where you're dropped off is upstairs, and then downstairs is where you'll find the amenities and the entrance out to the pool. Check-in was pretty easy, but we did have to wait a bit for the bellhop to bring up our luggage. 

Initially, we were only given one room key because the resort was so busy that they didn't have extras. We had to wait until the next afternoon to get one. If you're staying with another person, it helps to have an extra room key, so I hope the Hyatt Ziva prioritizes ordering more room keys for guests in the future. 

​Pros: What I Liked About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

• Good Food - Overall, I'd say the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun had a solid assortment of foods. You've got lots of different options to choose from, including Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, French, American, and Italian.
• Nice Staff - Mexico is the best when it comes to hospitality, so it was no surprise that the folks working here were lovely. Shout out to Timo, one of the servers by the pool!
• The Rooms - Our room was incredible! It was not only huge, but had a massive bathroom space complete with a jacuzzi and a large balcony that had a sofa on it.
• All-Inclusive - Unlimited food and drinks? Sign me up! I rarely go to all-inclusive resorts anymore, but it was a nice perk not having to reach for my purse every time I wanted to order something.
• The Waterpark - This was one of the unique things about the resort that I really enjoyed. They have an actual waterpark area that includes a play area for young kids as well as four big water slides (though only three were in use when I was there). Best of all? There was hardly any wait, so you could ride them as many times as you'd like. 

Cons: What I Didn't Like About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun

• Guests Hoarding Pool Chairs - This drove me absolutely nuts. As early as 7:00 a.m., people started saving pool chairs. Eventually, we decided if we wanted something halfway decent, we'd have to do the same. But it was so frustrating since we never got a space near an umbrella. 
• Few Umbrellas - Speaking of umbrellas, there's a small handful of them around the pool, and if you want to sit beside one, you'll need to wake up near the crack of dawn. I wondered if the lack of umbrellas was to entice people to pay extra for their cabanas, which you can see in my Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun photos above.
• No Beach - This was one of the most depressing beaches I've ever seen. It's basically a sliver of sand filled with rocks and/or seaweed. Plus, don't expect those turquoise waters here; we didn't see that.
• Poor Entertainment - For a five-star resort, this place didn't have the kind of entertainment I was hoping it would. Sure, they offered karaoke, live bands, and occasional 'shows', but nothing substantial. I've seen other resorts with larger entertainment teams that included dancers who performed in nightly themed shows similar to the type you might see on cruise ships. I don't know if resorts are trying to move away from this or it's just this one. 
• The Location - As I mentioned, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun isn't in Cancun proper, so if you want any type of nightlife, you'll have to Uber or taxi to Cancun or Playa del Carmen. Considering how bored I felt at night, it would have been nice to at least have somewhere to walk around.
• Restaurant wait times - Things were probably more chaotic than usual considering how busy the resort was during this week, but I still didn't think they organized restaurant seating well. Often, there was a long line for the specialty restaurants, and you couldn't make a reservation to help alleviate these issues.

Who Should Stay at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive?

• Families with kids
• Couples who want to just lounge around
• Travelers who like the idea of just spending the week only at the resort 

Who Shouldn't Stay at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun All-Inclusive?

• College and young friend groups who want more of a party vibe
• People who want to be able to explore more on their own

FAQs About the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun
1. What was the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun before?
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is under four years old, but based on my research, it used to be a Secrets resort.

2. How far is Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun from the airport?
The Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is roughly 20 minutes away from the Cancun airport.

3. Does Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun have a lazy river?
No, this Hyatt Ziva resort doesn't have a lazy river. Instead, it has a kids water park and larger water slides for older kids, teens, and adults. 

4. Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun in the hotel zone?
No, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is located about 30 minutes south of Cancun's hotel zone, so it's kind of out in the middle of nowhere. Basically, you need to drive to get anywhere from there. However, there is a Hyatt Ziva in the Cancun hotel zone that my husband and I did check out during our trip. I liked the Hyatt Ziva in the Cancun hotel zone way more since it had the turquoise blue waters and a larger beach.

5. Does the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun have a waterpark?
Yes! This was actually one of my favorite features of this resort. They have a smaller waterpark for young kids and then bigger waterslides for older kids, teens, and adults. The waterpark wasn't busy either, even while the resort itself was full of people, so there's no long lines to use the water slides.

6. Is the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun adults only?
Nope, the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun all-inclusive resort is for people of all ages. There were plenty of kids there during our stay. 

7. Is there a difference between Hyatt Ziva Cancun and Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun?
Yes, they are two different hotels. The Hyatt Ziva Cancun is located in Cancun's hotel zone, whereas the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun is located roughly 20-30 minutes south of Cancun in Puerto Morelos.

8. Is the beach swimmable at the Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun?
While there aren't any rules that you can't swim at the beach here, the water at the shore had a lot of seaweed that made it not ideal for easily getting in the water. Plus, the ocean here isn't that bright blue you might associate with this region, so keep that in mind.


Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.

If you’re like me and on the fence about the idea of camping at Yosemite, another option is to stay at a hotel or motel in a town near the park entrance you’re closest to. For those coming from Los Angeles and other areas of Southern California, that would be Yosemite’s south entrance. 

The town of Oakhurst, California is about a 30-minute drive from the south entrance. My husband and I stayed at the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite, and in this review, I’ll discuss our experience there and share my thoughts on whether I’d recommend it as a place to stay during your Yosemite trip.

Where Is the Oakhurst Inn?
The Oakhurst Inn is located off Road 41 in Oakhurst, California. If you’re coming from LA, it’s about a 4-hour drive. The Oakhurst Inn is a motel-style property.

Oakhurst Inn Check-In Process
The check-in process here was quick and easy. I just had to show them an ID and pay a $100 incidentals deposit, which is returned after your stay. We were given two keys for our room, and they even provided a welcome goody bag with a thank-you card, snacks, and juice boxes. That was a nice touch!

How Far is the Oakhurst Inn from Yosemite?
The Oakhurst Inn is a 30-minute drive to Yosemite’s south entrance. Getting there is very easy, too. It’s just a straight shot on Road 41 until you reach the park entrance. A heads up, though, that the road to the park entrance has a lot of twists and turns, so if you can, I’d avoid driving at night.

How Much Does It Cost to Stay at the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite?
We stayed at the Oakhurst Inn for two nights in mid-May (Thursday to Saturday), and the total cost was $350, including taxes and fees. Believe it or not, this was one of the more affordable options, but we also booked our trip at the last minute. We stayed there the week before Memorial Day Weekend, so I imagine prices will be higher during the busy summer season.

Pros: What I Liked About the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite

• Location - I liked that it wasn’t too far from the park entrance, and there were more options for food and shops to explore. For example, on our last night, we went to dinner at the Oakhurst Grille across the street. 
• Free breakfast and parking - As a motel-style property, the Oakhurst Inn has parking spaces throughout its property, so you can park right in front of your room. They also offer free breakfast. Our first morning, they had pre-made veggie and cheese omelets, sausages, bagels, cereal, fruit, juice, and coffee. The second morning, the omelets were swapped out for scrambled eggs. 
• Pool - While it was too cold for us to go swimming, they do have a pool there that I imagine is pretty popular during hot summer days.
• Pet-friendly - For those who plan to bring their pets along, the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite is a pet-friendly hotel.

Would I Recommend the Oakhurst Inn at Yosemite?
Yes, I would recommend the Oakhurst Inn if you’re visiting Yosemite National Park. I didn’t have any complaints during my stay. The staff was friendly, and the property was quiet. Plus, the extra perks like the location, free breakfast, pool, and being pet-friendly make this a great choice. It’s a 2-star motel, so don’t come here expecting luxury, but I think you get a lot of bang for your buck. My only regret was that I didn’t book earlier because the price was more expensive than I would have liked to pay for a motel. 

FAQs About Hotels Near Yosemite

Where should I stay if I'm going to Yosemite?
If you're coming from Southern California, I recommend staying at the Oakhurst Inn, which is only a 30-minute drive from the park's south entrance. 

What is the best town to stay in outside of Yosemite National Park?
The best town to stay in outside of Yosemite National Park depends on the area you're coming from. We drove up from LA and had a great experience staying in Oakhurst, a town near Yosemite's south entrance.

Is it better to stay in Yosemite or outside?
This is entirely dependent on your preferences, your budget, and what's available. For some people, they love the convenience of camping in the park, while others prefer the comfort of a hotel. Keep in mind that while Yosemite has hotel lodging inside the park, rooms can cost upwards of $200 or more per night outside of the busy summer season. 

Visiting Yosemite Soon? Find out my top tips for visiting Yosemite for the first time.

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.
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​If you’re looking to save money while traveling abroad, hostels are a great way to go. In this review of the St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona Hostel, I’ll share my honest experience and opinions about this hostel to help you decide if this sounds like a place you’d want to stay at during your Barcelona trip.
​
How Much Does It Cost To Say At St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona?
Specific rates will vary depending on when you travel and the type of room you reserve. Generally, you can expect lower prices in less-busy travel seasons and rooms with more people in them. Conversely, you can expect to pay more for booking a single or private room. The cheapest rooms will be the 12-person dormitory-style room.

For reference, I stayed in Barcelona in April around Easter and in a 12-person dormitory female room. My 3-night stay totaled about 197 euros, with my nightly rates ranging from 62 to 70 euros. However, I stayed at this hostel again the night before my flight home, and the rate for that night was just 29 euros. 

What Is There To Do At St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona?
Like most hostels, St. Christopher’s has tours of the city, pub crawls, and nightly events. They also have a rather large bar and social area where people can drink, mingle, and watch sports. 

Is St. Christopher's Barcelona a party hostel?
Compared to other hostels I've stayed it, this felt like more of a party hostel. They had a great bar area full of people hanging out, which is great for socializing with new people, and they advertised lots of nightly outings. Depending on your vibe, you may or may not like this. For what it's worth, as someone who wasn't out partying all night, I didn't mind this hostel one bit. It wasn't a situation where I couldn't sleep because people were partying and being loud. 

Where is St. Christopher's Inn Barcelona?
 St. Christopher's Inn Barcelona is located at Bergara, 3, Eixample, 08001 Barcelona, Spain. 
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How far is St Christopher's to Barcelona center?
St. Christopher's is centrally located, so you're right in the heart of the city! You can easily walk to popular spots like shopping on La Rambla, the Gothic Quarter, Barceloneta Beach, and Sagrada Familia. It's also just around the corner from the bus stop to get to and from Barcelona Airport. 

Pros: What I Liked About St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona

• The Location - St. Christopher’s Inn is located in the heart of Barcelona in the Las Ramblas neighborhood, so you have easy access to lots of shopping and restaurants. You can also easily walk to other parts of town, including Barceloneta Beach and the Gothic Quarter. I didn’t use the bus once during my Barcelona trip.
• Easy Airport Access - When you arrive at Barcelona Airport, you can take the A1 bus and get off at the Placa Catalunya bus stop. From there, the hostel is about a 5-minute walk away. I booked my reservation through Hostelworld, and after booking, they send you directions on how to get to the hostel. This also made it easy to get back to the airport since I could get back on the A1 to return to the airport.
• Safe Location - As someone who lives in Los Angeles, I would say I have a skewed perception of safety since LA can feel really unsafe at times. However, I felt totally safe in Barcelona, including the area where the hostel is. 
• Privacy Curtains - My hostel room included privacy curtains for each bed, which was nice and also helped block out lights if you were trying to sleep.

Cons: What I Didn’t Like About St. Christopher’s Inn Barcelona

• Party Hostel - This isn’t inherently bad, but if you’re not into partying and staying out super late, you might not like the idea of roommates getting back in the middle of the night, sometimes rather loudly too.
• Tiny Bathrooms - I can only speak for the 12-person dorm rooms, but considering we had the most people, you’d think we’d have slightly bigger bathroom spaces. Nope, not at all. There were two showers, one toilet, and a single sink and mirror area, which meant if you were trying to get ready at the same time as someone else, it could be a challenge. 
• Timed Showers - The showers at this hostel were timed; you’d press a button, the water ran for 30 seconds, and then you’d have to press it again to get the water back on. The reason behind this is a noble one since they say it’s for conservation. That being said, I didn’t necessarily feel like it shortened my showers, but just made it more frustrating when the water kept turning off. Not the worst thing in the world, but still something to note.

FAQs About Hostels in Barcelona
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1.) What's the best hostel in Barcelona?
The best hostel in Barcelona is going to be what fits with your travel style and interests. Every hostel has its pros and cons. If you're into more of a social scene and want to stay in a vibrant, central location with easy airport transfer access, I would definitely recommend St. Christopher's Inn. 

2.) How much is a hostel in Barcelona per night?
The cost of a hostel in Barcelona will depend on several factors, including the type of room you choose, the time of year, and of course, the hostel itself. From my experience, hostel rates in Barcelona can range from as low as 29 euros per night all the way up to 70 euros per night for a dormitory-style room with 12 people.

3.) Are hostels in Barcelona safe?
Yes, in general hostels in Barcelona are safe. Before booking a stay, though, I recommend making sure the hostel has secured access for both the hostel building and the bedrooms. You should also research the area in which you're staying, and of course, exercise standard safe travel precautions, especially if you're traveling solo. However, I felt incredibly safe at St. Christopher's Inn, even when I had to catch a ride to the airport at 4:00 a.m. 

Transparency Disclosure — The opinions on this website are independent and based on my own personal experiences. I may receive a referral fee for stays booked through the links on this site.