I came home feeling peaceful and content after spending a week at the all-inclusive resort PALMAÏA The House of AIA.

I went in with no expectations because my friend had discovered the House of Aïa—a wellness resort located in Playa del Carmen—online and made the booking because we both desperately needed a getaway to recharge. We were ready to go anywhere we could unplug from work, and in the end, we stumbled upon a blessing that transformed us.

All I knew about the resort before our arrival was that all the restaurants were plant-based, we would have a view of the ocean from our suite, and we would have access to yoga classes included in a program called the ‘Architects of Life.’ So let’s say the website did not do it justice, and if I had visited the Instagram account, I might have refrained from booking because it made the resort seem like a place to see and be seen.

A SERENE ARRIVAL WITH TOP-RATED HOSPITALITY

Since we booked a one-week stay, the resort included a comfortable SUV pickup for us to and from the airport, which was amazing because that alone would have cost another $150 each way if we had booked our transport separately. On our comfortable ride to the resort, we managed to sneak in another hour-long, air-conditioned nap after our flight from Toronto to Cancun.

The driver dropped us off at the lobby, where we sipped on our healthy welcome drinks and, to my horror, I discovered that during my relaxing nap, I somehow managed to lose my phone on the SUV ride from the airport. Instead of allowing the event to impact the beginning of what I hoped to be a supremely relaxing trip, I took it as a sign that maybe I really needed to stay away from my phone. So, we left the issue of my lost phone in the hands of the concierge to contact the driver and see if we could recover my phone.

We hopped on a golf cart, and another staff member drove us to our building, where we settled into our Ocean Suite, which was fragrant with the scents of the jungle. It was already dark when we arrived, but a sharp and white slice of the moon was framed neatly by the expansive balcony window. We had arrived.

The team was unbelievably fast in locating my phone and had a staff member waiting for me with my phone at our dinner reservation not more than thirty minutes after we checked in. Now that is top-rate hospitality.

ENJOY PLANT-BASED WELLNESS CUISINE OPTIONS 24/7

There are four restaurants, a food truck, and three wet bars on-site at Palmaïa House of AIA, which covers a range of delectable plant-based cuisines and flavours.

Our favourite restaurant was LEK, which serves Mexican Regional cuisine. Our server recommended the Rainbow Mushroom Stew, which we were skeptical about when it first arrived at our table, given its plain plating, but the flavours were truly finger-licking good.

Lunch and dinner at Su Casa were a great way to dine in nature. A seat on the patio allows one to gaze at the ocean's stunning, sparkling blue gradient and bask in the refreshing breeze. Enjoy pizzas from the wood-brick oven, hearty salads, flavourful shish kebabs, and matcha waffles with fresh fruit.

For those looking to grab a quick meal after basking in the sunshine on the beach, stop by the El Caminante Food Truck for juicy tacos, grilled corn, and other casual Mexican fares.

Ume serves up Asian flavours, with its crispy and crunchy ‘Jingle Baos,’ sushi and noodle soups. Mar de Olivo offers Mediterranean flavours in an elevated dining environment just outside the entrance of Palmaïa.

The restaurants are open for dinner, while Plantissa and Su Casa are open for breakfast and lunch. Plantissa became our regular lunchtime destination for energizing smoothies and tasty plant-based wraps after our morning wellness classes. For those who prefer an adults-only dining environment, the resort has one restaurant dedicated to adults-only dining each evening.

Enjoy a drink or two by the bonfire at the EOLO Beach Bar with DJ music every evening from 5-10 PM. For us, it was the perfect interlude after our daily classes and before dinner.

One day during our stay, heavy rains led most of us to stay indoors, but of course, we had in-suite dining to ensure we were still well-fed and dry!

OCEANFRONT TANNING, SPA TREATMENTS AND ON-SITE DAYCARE TO GIVE YOU AMPLE TIME FOR R&R

There are many opportunities to rest. Our favourite pastimes are sitting on the balcony listening to the sound of the waves and reading on the beach by the ocean in a cabana while sipping on a fresh coconut.

We also heard amazing things about the spa from new friends we made during our stay. Note that the spa treatments are not included in the all-inclusive package. However, from what we heard from several of our friends who did indulge in a spa treatment, the price tag is well worth it.

Parents who brought their children also had a chance to rest and enjoy the classes each day because the resort provides on-site daycare from 10 AM to 7 PM in a brightly-lit building with toys, arts and crafts to keep children entertained for hours.

DAILY WELLNESS CLASSES TO RELAX AND REJUVENATE

At the end of each day, our assigned Nomadic Guides shared the next day’s class schedule with us so we could plan our day.

The classes were the most pleasant surprise for me, as I was expecting a full schedule of just yoga classes. Instead, I was able to explore classes in a new realm, including sound baths, mantra-chanting rituals, and even studying ancient medicine. Through these lessons, I healed my mind and physical body. The instructors corrected and improved my breath work. Did you know that most of our daily anxiety comes from breathing incorrectly and insufficiently? When we are anxious, we forget to breathe, and I don't need to tell you how important breathing is to our lives. Improving my breathing has led to a noticeable difference in my everyday weeks after my stay.

As for other activities outside of the daily sessions, whether walking on the beach, frolicking in the waves, or just sitting by the pool bar, there are plenty of options to keep you entertained. You can also explore on bikes around the resort.

A LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT TO MY WELLBEING AFTER A WEEK-LONG STAY

I left a different person. The universe sends us signs, and nothing is random. Unfortunately, when we aren’t ready to acknowledge or see the signs, our minds and heart will ignore them. This trip happened at the right place and time and at a phase during my life when I was ready to make some critical decisions about my life moving forward. It was precisely the medicine I needed.

I observed that new arrivals at the resort appeared a bit weary and skeptical of what a wellness resort could do for them (just like I was when I first arrived for my first 'wellness resort experience'). However, after a few days, we see genuine smiles and a more relaxed composure.

Whatever reason you may have to visit a wellness resort, I believe a stay at Palmaïa, the House of AIA, can provide much-needed respite for your soul to heal or, at the very least, for you to gently reset your mind and body. If you’re planning a getaway to Palmaïa The House of Aïa, check room and date availability here.

Photography by Florence Leung