Breathless Cancun Soul
There are two Breathless hotels in Cancun, Mexico one of which is Breathless Cancun Soul. Here are seven things to know about the hotel based on a recent visit.
Upon check-in, the hotel staff handed me a glass of sparkling wine in one hand and the hotel’s policy on drug use in the other, providing me with a clear understanding of the hotel’s atmosphere.
The Breathless Cancun Soul hotel is known for its party atmosphere akin to South Beach or Las Vegas spring break, but with a mostly Gen X clientele. Expect to see guests in string bikinis and high heels roaming around, while dress codes are enforced for restaurant visits. It’s not a quiet environment for reading by the pool, as the xcelerate pool can get boisterous with DJ-led pool parties and bottle service available at an extra cost.
The hotel had a lively atmosphere with vacationers who were drunk yet very social. Throughout the property, loud music could be heard. The hotel seemed to be making an effort to be trendy and cool with its LED-lit, infinity-mirrored elevators and mood-lit rooms. However, it was evident that relaxation was not a top priority for this hotel.
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I stayed at a hotel that had two connecting towers: the skyline tower and the xcelerate tower. I was given a partial ocean view room in the quieter skyline tower. Even though my room was technically on the 12th floor, it was only two levels above the second-floor lobby, which made me feel like the hotel was exaggerating the height of the floors. The rooms at this hotel that are considered basic are called junior suites, and they’re quite roomy at 480 square feet.
The room consisted of a king-size bed, a small living area with a sofa, a high-top bar table, a desk area, and a balcony with furniture. The bathroom was not separated by walls, except for a glass walk-in shower with an electric shade that could be lowered for partial privacy. The bathroom did not have a bathtub, but it had double vanities, built-in speakers, two rainfall showerheads, and a bench in the shower. The toiletries provided were by Gilchrist & Soames but had Breathless branding. Additionally, there was an incense stick available for guests to light, which added to the romantic ambiance.
The new hotel had a comfortable king bed with power outlets and USB ports on both sides. There were built-in reading lights too. The headboard was wave-shaped and had mood lighting for the room with different modes like “party” and “romantic”.
The minibar is complimentary and includes Nespresso machine, different mayan inspired soft drinks, and Corona beer, but it does not have any hard liquor or snacks.
On the property, there were 10 places to eat, consisting of six a la carte restaurants, a buffet, two poolside grills, and a 24-hour coffee shop. All of them were included in the all-inclusive rate, and reservations were not necessary. However, not every dining venue was open every day. Dress codes were enforced and varied from casual (such as shorts, T-shirts, and tennis shoes) to formal (such as long pants, dress shirts, and dress shoes).
The a la carte restaurants served a variety of cuisines, including seafood, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Pan-Asian, French, and Italian. Some guests highly recommended the Kibbeh, the Middle Eastern restaurant, but it was not available during my stay.
The food at the all-inclusive resort was average, except for one unique hibiscus flower tostada. Although the food tasted okay, it wasn’t exceptional. However, the resort seemed to skimp on certain ingredients, a common issue at all-inclusive resorts. For example, the sushi had more rice and vegetables than fillings, it was sometimes challenging to get fresh guacamole, and there were no freshly-made fruit smoothies offered.
I had a very memorable dinner at the rooftop restaurant, Silk City, which had an Asian nightclub ambiance. They had an extensive menu that included gyoza, sushi, Pad Thai, fried rice, and more. The restaurant also had two teppanyaki tables for interactive dining. On the particular night that I dined there, there was a live DJ and dancers who gave the restaurant a trendy Miami ambiance rather than a Mexican beach resort style. Although the sushi was not the best I have ever had, it was still quite enjoyable, despite being a bit light on fish.
Each morning, I liked the breakfast buffet because it offered a wide variety of options, such as made-to-order omelets, French toast, pancakes, and waffles, Mexican dishes, tropical fruits, cold cuts, and other items.
I had alcoholic drinks at the bars from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and at the hotel’s nightclub from 11 p.m. to 3 a.m. The available liquor brands were Belvedere, Absolut, Johnnie Walker Red and Black Label and Jose Cuervo. Some of the cocktails tasted watered down, but I really enjoyed my strawberry daiquiri. It wasn’t too sweet or too sour. Additionally, bottle service was available at the pools and nightclub. Guests staying in xhale-level rooms could access a special lounge with light bites and a bar, but it didn’t seem to have a different selection than the standard bars.
I was pleased to find out that the hotel offered 24-hour room service, which didn’t incur any additional charges. After placing my order for french fries through the hotel’s mobile app, I received it in about 45 minutes.
At the resort, there were three main pools: a large energy pool on the ground floor, a xcelerate rooftop party pool, and a xhale rooftop infinity pool. Although the xhale pool was technically reserved for xhale-level guests, I found that anyone could enter. All of the pools were very warm, which could be liked by some but not by others. However, no matter the time of day, there were always lounge chairs available. Additionally, cabanas could be rented at the xcelerate pool.
Although guests could use an extra pool located at the spa, it wasn’t very relaxing since there wasn’t enough sunlight and the loud bass music from other pools could still be heard. On the other hand, the hotel’s beach was open to the public, but it was well-maintained and not overcrowded with seaweed. Hotel guests could make use of chairs, cabanas, and enjoy free activities such as beach volleyball, kayaking, and catamaran rides.
There were various forms of entertainment available throughout the day, regardless of the time. These included pool parties led by DJs, evening parties on the xhale rooftop, evening shows, beach volleyball tournaments, and bingo. Additionally, there was a nightclub where you could dance all night if you still had energy. I went to the nightclub for research purposes one night, but I didn’t stay very long because the crowd was mostly older than me.
The hotel’s gym is small, but it has all the necessary equipment. It is open 24 hours a day, and there are yoga, Zumba, and water aerobics classes available during the day.
A double-occupancy room at this all-inclusive resort will cost around $400 to $450 per night, which is similar to the prices of other similar hotels nearby. It’s not the cheapest option, but also not the most expensive. You can upgrade to an “Xhale-level” room for an extra $175 per night, which will give you access to an exclusive lounge, upgraded minibar, and rooftop pool.
The Breathless Cancun Soul resort caters to partygoers, specifically those celebrating a birthday or bachelorette party. The resort offers constant entertainment, comfortable rooms, good food and unlimited drinks. However, if you’re seeking a quiet atmosphere or wish to experience traditional Mexican culture, it’s best to find accommodations elsewhere.
Other Similar Resorts in Cancun:
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🏨 Hotels: I have found that Expedia and Booking.com consistently have the best deals on hotels and resorts in Mexico. If you prefer to stay at a vacation rental, check VRBO that is usually cheaper than AirBnB’s added fees!
✈️ Flights: To find the best flight deals to Mexico, I always use Kayak. Remember to subscribe to their price alerts for the travel dates you want. Another great alternative for flight deals is Expedia.
🚗 Rental Cars: I always use and highly recommend Discover Cars because it allows me to compare several car rental companies and view ratings on various factors such as overall value, pick-up procedure, agent efficiency, car condition, and total time taken.
🚙 Cancun Airport Transportation: For the fastest and easiest way to travel, I suggest arranging a private transfer with Cancun Airport Transportation. Honestly, no better way to travel from the airport to your hotel or resort.
🤿 Tours & Activities: For tours and activities in Mexico, I highly recommend using either Viator or GetYourGuide. These websites offer a full refund if you cancel your booking 24 hours before the start of the tour, and they also provide excellent customer service in case of any issues.
🚨 Travel Insurance: I always suggest purchasing travel insurance as a precaution before traveling, especially after a recent accident in a taxi in Mexico. For short trips, I recommend Travel Insurance Master, whereas for digital nomads, Safety Wing is a better option.
📷 Best Camera for your trip: I always carry with me a GoPro, It’s light, compact, takes great video and pictures, and most importantly, it’s waterproof! You just can’t go wrong with one. If you are interested in higher quality video and photography, I always carry with me on my trips and highly recommend the Sony A7IV which I think is the best travel DSLR Camera out there.
☀️ Biodegradable Sunscreen: Remember to include a good sunscreen to protect yourself from the summer sun. I always use and suggest Sun Bum Sunscreen, which is vegan, reef-friendly, and cruelty-free.
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