If it was a five star hotel it downgraded to a three the transportation was terrible around the resort you had to wait for half hour to be picked up on the little shuttles. The food was mediocre and the beach was terrible. It was dirty. The water was disgusting. The only good thing was certain servers were great.

We recently stayed at this resort and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the staff were all very friendly and the food was consistently good throughout our stay. However, our vacation got off to a rocky start. As soon as we arrived, we were pressured into attending a timeshare presentation, which ended up wasting three hours of our first day. It was not how we wanted to spend our first moments relaxing. The initial room we were given had a noticeable mold issue. We brought this to the staff's attention, and to their credit, they moved us to another room right away, which we appreciated. The resort is surrounded by lots of wild animals, which can add to the atmosphere for some, but might be a downside for others, depending on your comfort level. Overall, while there were some definite positives (especially the food and friendly staff), some unfortunate issues took away from the experience.

I had high expectations for this resort, but unfortunately it was one of the worst resort experiences I’ve had. We arrived after being up since 4:00 AM to catch our flight and reached the resort around 11:00 AM. When we finally got to our room, the lights didn’t work, making the room unusable. On top of that, the patio offered virtually no privacy, as it wasn’t properly separated from the neighboring room. As two young women traveling together, this made us feel very uncomfortable. After reporting the issues, we weren’t moved to a new room until around 5:00–6:00 PM. Instead of enjoying our first day of vacation, we spent hours waiting in the heat for a solution. The replacement room wasn’t much better. The bathroom flooded every time we showered, and the safe malfunctioned and beeped throughout the night. The beach was another huge disappointment. The water was full of seaweed and debris, making it impossible to enjoy or even comfortably swim. We actually had more fun leaving the resort than staying on it. To make matters worse, it was my birthday weekend, and nothing about the stay felt special. We were also unable to book à la carte dinners at reasonable times, even though the restaurants appeared to have plenty of empty tables. The servers were friendly and hardworking, but the overall customer service and management response were extremely slow and disappointing. Between the room issues, lack of urgency, disappointing beach, and poor dining availability, this resort did not provide the relaxing vacation we were looking forward to. I have stayed at many all-inclusive resorts, and this was by far one of the most disappointing. I would not recommend staying here.

Honestly was not all inclusive hotel they preferred dominican people better they get al the right treatment we got bad room because we asked for 2 beds minimum bar only one night was free food wasn’t the best very limited drinks same no pops only Pepsi 7 up

The resort has a beautiful clean and sandy beach. Food was good ( many choices). I truly enjoyed Candita's omelets served with a beautiful smile straight from her heart. Entertainment could be better. I truly advise to buy jewelry at the tables at the airport. The resort stores had them very overpriced.

The room was comfortable and everything we could have wanted. The grounds were well kept and very pretty. The wildlife was not 'wild' but not approachable either. It was nice to sit out on our deck and watch deer, coatis and raccoons walking by foraging. The food was good but the staff were beyond belief exceptional. Virtually everyone employed at the resort is always smiling and helpful; they were a joy to be around. The resort was fantastic but a swim-up bar would have made it perfect! I love how their carts pass by every 10 minutes or so, and you never had to call them and then wait until they got around to fetching you. Would be happy to return! The one downside was the seaweed or sorghum that was rampant and stank up the beach. It is the Mexican government's job to clear it, and they weren't doing their job. According to the Internet, this has become an issue since the summer of 2025.

We had an enjoyable stay overall and felt the resort offered good value for the price, especially during the first week of May when it was very quiet. The food was one of the highlights of our trip, with tasty buffet options, good à la cartes when available, and excellent grilled items. The beach was clean, easy to enjoy, and never too crowded, and we also received excellent service from Yulianna and the bar staff. That said, the resort could use some updates, particularly in the rooms and pool areas, and there were not enough umbrellas for shade at the beach and pool. Since it was low season, some restaurants, activities, and entertainment were limited and communication about cancellations could have been much better (when there were staff meetings being held). The room itself was clean, quiet, and comfortable, with working AC and hot water, so while the resort may not feel luxurious, it was still a pleasant and relaxing stay.

Myself boyfriend daughter and my sister had a wonderful stay staff was perfect food was great only thing we where disappointed with was the beach you could not swim in the ocean as there was so much seaweed the walk to the lagona is about 10 minutes from resort beautiful I would definitely recommend this resort

I travelled with family from may 3 to may10 . We had a great stay. The staff were amazing always there to help. The food was good and the drinks were great. The hotel is older and needs some updating. The beach was terrible you could not swim as there was to much sea weed. There is a luguna a short walk down the beach that you can swim. The is two large pools which are very nice Over all a great stay at the blue bay

My husband and I spent a much needed week of rest at BD. We felt at home as soon as we arrived. The most friendly/ family-like staff, super spacious rooms, food to die for, peaceful atmosphere where resting is easy. The spa area was an unexpected treat (sauna, beautiful steam room, cold plunge pool…), as was the unique cenote which we swam in daily. This resort is a rare gem. Don’t let the fact of next door construction discourage you from going to BD, you only notice it at first, it does not negatively affect the stay in the least. Highly recommended for those who are in need of deep rest, quiet atmosphere, and many special treats.

Unfortunately, this resort was a major disappointment and did not feel close to a 4-star experience. I would rate it closer to a 2.5-star resort at best. The property itself is very dated, and many aspects of the stay felt poorly maintained. One of the biggest issues was the staff experience. Several staff members repeatedly hit on us throughout the trip, even after we politely asked them to stop, which made us feel uncomfortable rather than welcomed. The food quality was below average, and the liquor seemed extremely watered down. Our room key cards also stopped working almost every night, forcing us to constantly return to the front desk for replacements. The beds were very uncomfortable, hard, and you could feel the springs through the mattress. The overall atmosphere also wasn’t enjoyable for us. The resort catered mostly to an older crowd, and during our stay there were multiple loud arguments and fights between guests. Overall, this was not the relaxing vacation experience we expected, especially for the price paid.

The resort was clean. We had great service from the front desk getting us into a room , even though had to be moved 2 times after. The buffet service lacked. We were lucky to be met when we entered and lucky yo have some one return to see if a drink was wanted. The entertainment was very scarce. The seating around the resort was limited and found that people left their towels so no one had access. Many times we had no where to sit.

Overall our trip was good but we won't be back to this resort. We were in the furthest building from everything so it's a 10-20 min walk to the lobby, food, drink and beach. In the hot sun with no place to rest and little shade. The trolley car that makes a loop of the resort is inconsistent. Sometimes it would go by every 20 min and sometimes not at all for an hour. Our room was musty and clung to our clothes. The food was mostly good. The a la carte were excellent but the buffet was so so. Some dishes were great, others were inedible. Same with the drinks. Early in the day the drinks were great. The later it was the worse the drinks were. The bar staff were run off their feet and let syrups run out on the soda gun. The pools have no shade while in the water but do have some shade for loungers. However, the only way to get a lounger is to sneak a towel in the middle of the night on one. Don't worry about the No Reserving Loungers signs because they are just for show. The activities during the day can provide nice bits to your vacation. If you can find where they are. The nightly shows were good or terrible. Mexican night and fire show were excellent. Pop stars and Disney night can be missed. The sand on the beach was fine sugar sand. We didnt go in the ocean because there is currently a bloom of seaweed in the area and there were massive amounts in the water at the shore.

Most of the staff is pretty good but everything else was we’ll be low standard. The food was average, the alcohol was terrible. It is old outdated and in poor shape. You get what you pay for with this resort.

This was a great resort, it was a quiet Zen like setting. We had a wonderful time. Best Food at any resort I’ve been too For me the highlight was the Staff, kind caring very attentive! We loved the walks to the beach and restaurants, although there carts to take you back and forth if needed. Our room was large and very comfortable!

Hotel was full capacity! They are not prepared for this it seems. Not enough shade spots and loungers unless you wake up at 5am to reserve a spot you are more than likely not getting one - lots of arguments between guests over chairs it was ridiculous!! Coffee was made by an instant machine just press a button early risers have to go down to the beach bar to get a coffee until the buffet opened at 7am. Overall weather was great and food was good don’t bother with the seafood à la cart not great. We will not return to this hotel

This hotel is very dated and the maintenance is quite poor. However, if you get a good room, they are clean, bed was comfortable enough and basic. When we first arrived, the bathroom had a massive leak. There was a puddle of water on the floor and the phone didn't work and there's no balcony or outdoor space on the second floor.,, so we asked to change rooms. We were given another room that was smaller, on the main floor with a patio,but at least there were no leaks. I asked them for a new coffee maker as the one that was there look like it had been through a fire. The hotel has the most amazing entertainment staff. I've been to many resorts and these people were great and the shows were hilarious. If it wasn't for that, I don't think we would've enjoyed our stay. The main problem is the hotel allows people to reserve chairs the night before they never enforce the rules that say no reserving chairs at the pool and the beach. For some reason, the pool area only has three umbrellas, which is weird because resorts should have umbrellas around all their patio chairs. In my opinion I've never had any different. Lots of sun beds at the beach but again people put their towels the night before and the staff does not remove them as they should so that makes it very frustrating. Everybody at the Resort was talking about it and they were all frustrated so for that reason you might consider whether you want to stay and go through the aggravation every day ...The food is good, but remember this is a three star hotel not a four as it is sometimes stated. You'll never run out of anything to eat. The desserts and ice cream are delicious. The bread is also very good and the pizza you can make your own pasta. They always have some meat or fish being cooked and the à la carte restaurants are good. The week we went, which was April 9-16 2026 it was pouring rain every night, but the first two nights we got there It was so bad that some peoples rooms were flooded. I heard stories of luggage is being soaked in 2 feet of water. Thank goodness there was five hours of sunshine every day. I had an OK time, but I won't go back to this resort ...just too many problems. Maybe if they do an overhaul like they need I would consider in the future.

I have been travelling the Caribbean for 30 years. Blue Bay Villas Dorado is by far the worst resort I have ever stayed in. If it were free I would never stay again. Our room flood completely two nights in a row, 6 inches of water. NO COMPENSATION! Told we can’t help if it t rains. Food was awful, resort is very poorly layer out.

This was a trip for me and my husband, strictly for sunshine and relaxation! It was a great pick for us and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I had been here before, section of rooms by the lobby, this time we were closer to the beach. I do prefer the rooms closer to the beach, big pool and buffet was all nearby. We didn’t spend much time at the evening shows at the Black & White bar but it seemed most people enjoyed them. The food was great, highly recommend the Steakhouse restaurant. It’s a good idea to get the App on your phone work b when you check in. Through the App you can book your own hotel reservations instead of lining up for the concierge. We originally intended to travel to Cuba but that plan didn’t work out, however we were very happy that we booked this instead. The beach was not super spectacular but the water was nice to swim in. The issue with loungers was a problem but we were up and at the beach by 7 and never had any problems to find two together. I highly recommend this resort to people looking for a budget friendly, great value resort!

This resort is truly a hidden gem. Boutique (which yes means smaller) it is is a stunning property, with attentive staff and the food is unbelievable. This is not a 6 restaurant, all you can eat buffet with music pumping all the time, it is not a party spot. It is luxury, caters to you and the staff going out of their way to make your stay everything it can be. The rooms are spacious and sprawling, you have plunge pools and patios to enjoy, walk-in closest and mini fridges stocked each day with drinks, fans and AC were in great working order and the cleaning was always done by early afternoon. The pools (there are 3 there is a hidden one at the spa, make sure you find it), are cleaned, clear and cool. The areas are reset every day, always fresh towels and the bar and staff always ready to support. There are 2 restaurants, which you rotate through each night for dinner. The food is amazing, not overwhelming portions, fresh ingredients and always something new, we never got board of the food - breakfast was our fave! The beach was stunning. Seaweed (when we had it) was cleared each day by the staff. Great couples get away or recharge if you are busy with work!

The rooms are very dated. Our window did not lock and the deadbolt on the door was broken when we arrived. We called and they did come to fix the same day. The first night we arrived, we did not realize we didn't have a bed spread and froze when sleeping. Many of the lounge chairs are ripped or broken. Not enough shade at the beach or pool. Need to get up before 5 am in order to get a spot with shade. The VIP section on the beach was empty every day. This should be opened up for others to use if empty and people could move if any VIP's showed up. Food was not great. Although you could get a fresh omelette every morning and pasta in the evening. Drinks were good - not watered down.

Nice spot. Small resort, everything within a short walk. GREAT food at every meal, including the fried chicken at the beach bar. Rooms are adequate. Pool and beach loungers were scarce and some broken.

firstly, it was seaweed season, so the beaches were practically un-swimmable for the whole week, and smelt terrible. this was also, quite obviously, a very smoke friendly resort, with ash trays on top of every trash bin, and smokers puffing away everywhere. including poolside. i rarely got a hot shower in my room, even the friends that i went with were all complaining about the inconsistent water pressure(if any) and temp of the showers in their rooms as well. the rooms themselves were nice, bedding was very comfortable, but the doors allowed for a lot of noise from the resort to come through, making ear plugs a necessity for a good nights sleep. the buffet food was pretty good, though the steakhouse was disappointing. thankfully, the italian and mexican restaurants were very good. the app kept failing on us and we were not able to book the french restaurant, but we heard great things. the pools were great, the staff was incredibly kind and overall our experience was really good. though, i doubt id ever go back due to the amount of smokers literally everywhere.

This hotel was listed with 4 star reviews. I do not agree. The rooms were dated, buildings falling apart, areas of the resort smelt like sewer, every few hours the bathroom toilets were plugged, toilet paper floating in the pool, very little night entertainment, they didn't rake the seaweed like other resorts, and not enough seating for the amount of guests.

My husband, adult son and I just returned from this resort on Mar 16/26. Overall, we had a very nice week. The good Food and food variety were very good at the buffet. Selections were hot, tasty, and abundant. Although we stayed away from the fresh salad options, the items looked very fresh and clean. The fruit was also fresh, ripe and delicious. We booked both the Italian and Steak House specialty restaurants and both were outstanding with good quality and nice size portions. The Animation team was fantastic. All of them were high energy, friendly, and engaging. The nightly shows were good too, some were hilarious. The staff, in general, was wonderful. The 3 pools were very nicely maintained, and the poolside bars were well-stocked. Need improvement This is an older resort, and it shows in many places. The villas definitely need an upgrade or major overhaul. They are very dated, furniture and doors, shelves are sticky from being painted over and over instead of sanded and properly painted or replaced. Tile grout on floor is cracked or stained and just looks very unattractive. Several guests mentioned plumbing issues, room keys and / or door locks not working. Our bathroom floor wasn't cleaned, swept or washed all week, or maybe even prior to our arrival because there was a crumb or something on the floor behind the door when we got there and it was still there when we left. The bathroom mirror also wasn't cleaned regularly. Unfortunately, for me, these were deal breakers for leaving a tip. I just felt grossed out seeing the same grime and dirt every day. WIFI is hit and miss. In this day and age, reliable and fast WIFI is a non-negotiable at any resort. It was almost nonexistent in the villas further away, and sometimes even in the lobby or pool area. It took me a couple hours to finally complete airline check-in before our flight. I tried in the room and out by the lobby. Very frustrating. It would not be an expensive fix to install extenders by each block of villas. Another problem, which is quite major, is that 95% of the pool longers are in need of repair or replacement. Although the chair frames were good, the fabric itself was ripped and falling apart. When you sit on one of these chairs, you literally get hit on the head because the rip causes the back rest to whip forward. As the week wore on, there were fewer and fewer chairs available, mostly because the broken ones had to be removed as they just didn't work. We spoke to several return guests who mentioned they would not be coming back to this resport. It's a shame because it has great potential but really needs updates. At best, this resort is more a 3 to 3 1/2 star in its current state

The grounds on this resort were impeccable and well maintained. The food was great, minus the seafood ragout. The steak house was superb, filet was cooked perfectly. The service was above board. The variety of the buffets was great! Our ac worked intermittently, but for the most part worked when we needed it to. The rooms and resort is dated, but clean and welcoming. Front desk staff was fantastic. Pool was a perfect temperature. They do what they can regarding the seaweed.

Great fun pool restaurants Food excellent Thankyou Great staff Bus drivers well done Sunwing staff said thankyou for clothing for Mexican male kids and Female donated We enjoy our Sunwing ,and westjet flight s

Overall a nice spot, friendly staff. I was in a villa that was very dated, the stool under the desk was rotten as well as the headboard where it touched the floor. The tile floor had quite a few marks in it, bathroom was recently updated and was very nice. Convenient to the golf course directly across the street!

The hotel is starting to show signs of neglect. All buildings are in need of new thatched roofs or as a minimum, patches. Many fridges don’t work, fixtures are rusting and showing signs of age, water pressure is poor at best, elevators don’t work and rooms are in need of paint. Our room was not very clean either. The good news is that the beds are comfortable, rooms are spacious, staff are wonderful, and the pool is large enough to hold a lot of guests. The food is good. Entertainment is average. While the beach is nice, there is little to no shade and serious lack of lounge chairs. I have no idea where the photo on the side of this review came from as there are no structures with shade. Overall, this resort is average and will start having return guests in a year or two.

Resort was small but accommodating and relaxing. Clean rooms and good food. Staff was friendly and helpful. It’s not a party place so if that’s your vibe you probably won’t enjoy it. They did have entertainment each evening and activities during the day. Great place if you want to relax. Beach was cleaned every morning of debris. Buffet dinner had a theme each evening. Only one bartender per bar so a bit of a wait at times. Overall had a great vacation!

I stayed at this resort for a week. The property is stunningly beautiful, the food is excellent and the vibe is serene. Unfortunately the infrastructure has been badly neglected. The first few days of our vacation were spent trying to sort out which room they could move us to as the AC wasn’t working in our room. It was 26.5 degrees through the night. The second room they moved us to the AC didn’t work and there was water pouring in through the ceiling. We met some lovely people there all of which shared that either something didn’t work in their room or they’d moved rooms. The room we ended up in had issues with the shower pumping out cold water and the fridge didn’t work. I didn’t even bring this up as it was clear wherever we ended up would have issues. I was just happy to be able to sleep comfortably. It was a bummer as the property is spectacular and the service is phenomenal. The staff were lovely and trying their best to accommodate. We got a compt massage to the hassles. It’s sad as the staff is being asked to provide a 5 star experience without the resources required to do so. The reviews are very mixed on this space and I can confirm the 5 star reviews are from people who ended up in a functional room. If you are going to stay here call ahead and ask which rooms have ductless ACs. The upgraded rooms are the only way to ensure you will have the experience you’re paying for.

If you are a beach person, you will enjoy it here. It's a long beach, not too crowded and great for walking. Water is great for swimming. There is also a beach bar/ restaurant. Lots of chairs available too (reserving a chair is not allowed). The front desk staff seemed helpful, but it took us 5 days to get a working phone and 3 days to get blankets for our beds (cool at night). The rooms are dated, but they are clean. as are the grounds. The food is good, with an excellent variety. Half of the staff are happy and helpful, while the other half wouldn't smile if you paid them. We would rate this as a 4 star resort.

Old resort rooms rundown we were locked out of room for over 4 hrs.when we arrived lock on door would not work had 4 different people come and could not fix lock finally changed lock then waited another 2 hours fer security to come and program the lock asked for different room were told they can’t change room because we didn’t like i we told them it was because the lock was not working we had not even seen the inside of room at this time lots of people complaining about the same problem.we complained to main desk and were told they could not change anything.this was our 3rd.trip to blue bay got worse each trip then we kept getting more hidden taxes will never be back plus never recommend it to anyone. Prob. Never return to Mexico again to many nicer places to see

The hotel itself and area are quite beautiful. However, upon entering our room we were hit with a massive smell of mold and mildew. It was so strong and it was worse when the AC was on (which was always as it was 29 degrees outside) By day 2 We couldn't take the smell any longer as we were feeling sick. When we went to the lobby to ask for a new room we were told we had no choice but stay in that room for the night. We were staying in building 8 which is closest to a water/waste treatment building. You could very clearly smell the treatment plant at the back end of the resort. the next day when we were told our new room number, I was a bit upset that they were keeping us in the same building. They moved us from the ground floor (our room was at the front corner of the building) up to the 3rd floor and in the back corner (nearest possible room to the treatment plant) The room did not smell, however we could not spend time out on the balcony due to the smell from the plant, our room phone was not working and the fridge was so covered in ice that the bottom was full of water. Also there was no coffee for morning. When I asked for the phone and fridge to be fixed, and coffee to be brought to the room, it took 3 days!!!!!!!!! Each bar at the resort only staffed 1 bartender so you were always standing in line for at least 30-40 mins!!!!!!! And the concierge guys were relentless!!!! Every single time we entered the lobby they were on us to upgrade to cirlce one status. No matter how many times or even how polite we were, they NEVER listened. If someone says "No thank you, we are not interested" then leave them be!!!!!! Lastly, I'd like to say that the seating available at the beach and pools was atrocious!! If the resort holds 5000 people, there was only chairs/spots for aprox 1250 people. There were clearly signs posted saying that saving of chairs was not allowed, but almost everyone there was up between 5-6am just to put their towels on chairs to save them. We will never stay at a Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda Resort again!!!!!

The grounds were beautiful, pools were beauftiful, staff was amazing and drinks were good. That being said, rooms are very dated, but were clean. We were on the second level in section 8. The big concern was lack of loungers at pools and beach. There are only 6 palapas at the beach (unless you are a Circle One member). No shade. That was a BIG disappointment.

Blue Bay is an older, but well appointed resort. The grounds are well kept…lots of paved walking paths, lush greenery and beautiful walkway to the beach. Three pools, swim up bar, beach bar, spa and a great entertainment team to keep you active and smiling. Buffet restaurant offered delicious food 3 times a day. If any one went hungry….that’s there own fault. Rooms were clean, made up daily and staff made sure there was water, towels etc. Best part…the entire Blue Bay staff team were very friendly and welcoming.

Rooms smelled too musty Service was not very good À la carte restaurants took over an hour to be served not enough staff to look after all the guests Definitely not enough loungers at the pool and beach area too many people complaining that they don’t have enough loungers and there were even altercations due to not enough loungers I will not be returning to that resort

The food was good, friendly staff. This resort requires more maintenance upkeep. There were not enough pool loungers and people were fighting over them because of this problem. There were no chairs or umbrellas around the pool areas, had to carry own chairs from our room to these areas. Not enough shaded areas around pools. Main check-in, not enough staff present to handle the arriving guests and the process took way too long.

Most Staff were good and very thankful us tourists. Some Staff in Lobby were not that helpful and not always helpful, language could of played part possibly. The Staff that shuttled us around when was good especially Antonio our peep, peep guys we loved. NOT ENOUGH LOUNGERS AT POOL SIDE, along with no shade should be lots of umbrellas available if people needed to get out of sun without leaving the pool area. Also no chairs if you could not get a loungers. Had to carry down our chairs from our balconies to sit on. Nevermind Staff in early morning removed our towels and bag but left lots if others people's (was the first time we were able to get loungers under shade out of 7 to 8 days.) Food was good, room was clean. Beach was not the greatest but we enjoyed being around the pool.

Just returned from 11 days at Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda. Overall it is a good resort - family friendly. Pool was awesome although do prefer a pool that has a deep section as well. Staff friendly and provided great service. On the negative side, if you are used to the beaches in Cuba this one was horrible - full of sargassum which i understand is a problem right now so might improve. Stayed at the pool. Overall cleanliness was good except for the washroom near the pool - need more washrooms. Room was overall nice however the bathrooms need updating as it is impossible to just step into the tub to take a shower - need to sit and swing legs over. Some rooms had showers only so recommend booking one of those. Food was plentiful and good. I was surprised that there was not more variety of fruit. If you are on a budget, I would recommend this resort.

This resort was amazing! The food was incredible, the views were stunning, the staff were very friendly. My only complaint, twice while I was in the shower at 4pm getting ready for dinner, housekeeping came in to clean the room. Meanwhile, I come out in just a towel unknowing that they were there. It’s too late in the day to be cleaning the rooms. Even though that happened, I would definitely return. The place was wonderful.

This the perfect small resort. The grounds are beautiful everything is easily accessible and the staff are very welcoming and friendly. Close to the airport, shopping mall and a beautiful golf course.

Happy that it was adults only. The food was pretty tasty. pleased there was lettuce with every meal. The A/C worked well. Older people don’t sleep, so the loungers on the beach were taken before 7AM. A lot of smokers, and lobster people that didn’t leave the swim up pool bar. Jahovah only knows how many ppl used it as a toilet. I stuck to the beach.

The title says it all. Our room 8211 was old and decrepit. Maid service was good. Initially we had no hot water, but that was remedied a day or two later. The toilet was broken and kept running after being flushed. I reported it to the front desk but nothing was done about it. The mini bar contained only water and one beer and two bottles of pop. That's it. The beach was very nice, however beach chairs were scarce as were the chairs by the pool most of which were broken. The pool was dirty and the deck tiles were loose and/or broken. There were no servers to take drink orders so if you wanted something we got in line and were served eventually. Food at the main buffet was mediocre at best no matter the theme. We skipped the a la carte restaurants after some people became ill after eating at the Chinese restaurant. The lady who made breakfast omelettes was excellent as was the pasta chef at lunch or dinner. Most people I spoke with were less than satisfied with Villas Doradas. Not going back.

The grounds were beautiful. Well kept. Thank you very much. Grounds people you work hard. Rooms are very dated. Had to have a fridge replaced as the other fridge was overheated. Thank you Carlos for your quick response.. Most staff were very friendly. Housekeeping staff and staff providers was good. The spa pool was lovely. Was calming. No blaring music. Much appreciated!!!!? Some staff speak quite loud which is unnecessary. Main pool area music extremely extremely loud, high base, booming. Spoke to front staff and pool staff about the volume of music. Nothing really changed. Would not return due to this!!! Especially in the evenings after a long day. Beach was lovely and the staff were good. Dining room staff was generally good. Staff work hard.

The rooms, although dated, grounds and beach are well maintained. Entertainment was fun and engaging. The a la carte Chinese and Italian were amazing. The only draw back was the amount of cigarette and cigar smoking and the smell of sewage at certain times of the day.

This hotel is a 3 star at best. After check in the time was around 10pm and there was absolutely nothing to eat. We were tired and hungry but when trying to ask no staff could speak English. When we got to our room (7106) the smell hit us like a ton of bricks. The smell of rotten cabbage and sewage was horrible. Not only the smell but we were missing a hairdryer, hangers, clean sheets and an extra cot that was ordered months in advance. I called the front desk right away and and was told we could move if we wanted to pay for an upgrade. I was not paying more to a hotel that was not willing to help in the first place. The room was also VERY outdated and full of mold. All the nobs on the closet doors fell off and same with the shower handle that was never fixed. Food was the typical 3 star resort food. Nothing 5 star about it! Chairs- If you want one get up very early to reserve one. I traveled with my mom who has mobility issues and there were times we couldn't enjoy the beach or pool because there was nowhere to sit. She also has a hard time with the loungers and there are no chairs. We ended up renting a mobility scooter so she could sit. I wouldn't go back and there are a ton of other places that are amazing for the same price.

Small group winter get away in a Very clean resort, a little classic but well maintained and a great deal at this price point. One of the easiest check-in/checkouts ever. Food was great, drinks were plentiful and staff everywhere were just so nice and skilled. This is one of the best beaches we have seen. So clean and easy to get in and out.

The hotel needs updating but we are not in our room very much so didn't bother me but not what you expect at 5star. That being said the food was fantastic 5star drinks were always flowing even when you didn't order it waiter saw you were almost empty and would bring you a fresh one the beach was nice and cleaned all day long. Anyone hoping for night life this is not the resort for you as there is none. The people are all so friendly always with a smile and said hello. Not sure I would recommend this resort unless you are going to relax. Although I would love to go back my husband thinks it's a little too quiet but overall one fantastic vacation.

this resort is very dated and in bad need of a lot of Repair. The beds were super hard. They had three pools at the resort and only one umbrella. The tiles around the pools were all loose the lounge chairs at the pool majority were ripped and stained. We were out of hot water for two days others were out for more than seven the staff, for the exception of two did not seem to want to be there would never speak They ran out of white wine on two days that I know of at the buffet. There was one toaster for the whole resort. It seems like this place is going down. I definitely would not recommend it. Other others that we talk to were the same very disappointed.

Good hotel staff very nice and helpful front desk good but dont take the time to explain things eg if your key stops working you have to have both keys changed at the same time or your roomates wont work ours had to be chamged three times rooms in the 2100 building are very noisy at might right across from the entertainment area if you like to stay up late youll be fine if not bring earplugs food is good plenty to choose from you wont go hungry for the price it is a good hotel finding chairs and tables outside can be trying as some guest put towels on beach chairs and pool chaisr for the entire day and only use one set but that happens at most all inclusives had a nice time a few extra charges for some meals and premium drinks like baileys 400 dollars a drink oh and my freinds said the wine is not good all in all I would give this hotel a 8/ 10 rating

We really enjoyed Blue Bay. Our room on the main floor was clean and comfortable. The grounds are very well maintained. The beach was great. The coffee, drinks and food were abundant and good. All staff were really nice and friendly. Liliana and her front desk team and the guest services ladies were absolutely fantastic. Carlos, Pablo and the ladies at the Black and White Bar were also fabulous. The bar by the entertainment area did not serve wine….having to walk 50 ft to another bar was not a problem, so no complaints here. The housekeeping staff had a supply room by our room so we met each morning, they were extremely friendly and attended to our every request. It is easy to see why so many of the guests return every year. We will!

Great location Close to ocean, food average, rooms terrible, old run down and nothing worked. 2 little beers and 2 cokes in fridge, you had to pay if you wanted anymore. Spoke with front desk about plugged toilets, no water for 2 days, radio did not work, ceiling fan broke, needed to replace door key 3 times. Cleaning staff great Hard to find a place to sit at beach not enough chairs and NO umbrellas Smoking EVERYWHERE, except . A nice little pool in the spa area, with quiet music and no smoking Would not recommend this resort

The Blue-Bay Grand Esmeralda Resort (all-inclusive resort or room daily) is a large size property near Playa del Carmen, an hour south of Cancun city or 40 minutes from the airport, unless there’s a detour. We recommend this resort which offers many usual “all-inc” amenities for moderate cost. We're satisfied with clean sheets, good food, convenience and value. One of many Mayan Mex-Carib resorts, facilities include private beach, 3 large swimming pools, 6 restaurants, numerous sports facilities and Miniclub for little ones, as well as complete services making your stay a pretty decent vaca. The buffet restaurant is white-tablecloth elegant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with excellent variety; we enjoyed all our meals there. Soup lovers like me appreciate cream soups of mushroom, spinach, carrots, tomato, potato, all which were nicely flavoured. Fish soup too. Desserts were delicious, daily variegated. Service for beverages was prompt and courteous. Five a-la-carte dinner restaurants offer excellent choices provided your selections are thoughtful. Reserve easily on the app. Examples: in the Steak restaurant, we liked filet-mignon, in the French restaurant, we liked something, in the seafood restaurant we liked the braised salmon steak; in the Italian we liked everything, especially the stuffed veal with prosciutto and cheese (Valdostana style); and the Mexican restaurant was passable. The Black & White bar scene in the hotel is happy, always active and intellectual (...just kidding!). And there's live music to compete with revelers' loudness. The Theatre Shows were serendipitously excellent, offering nightly different, entertaining shows: magic, mariachi, Mexican folklore, Disney, Broadway, Fire Show on the Beach, and more. After the show, there's live latin or other music for listening or dancing. It’s fun to watch fun dancing, and to join in if one likes to dance. We do! My vacation advice: don't retire to your room if you're not yet gently full, sloshed and tired. Three fresh pools are available. The usual pool-side lounge chair hide & seek situation prevails. Now don’t gird your bikini in a knot; same at many economy resorts. If you're challenged by walking, know there are long walks to get around and down to the beach. There are electric cart shuttles, if you can catch. The landscaping is beautiful and well groomed. Also, wildlife, by which I mean French Canadians and … coatis, agouti, iguanas, lizards, many kinds of birds, and (wait for it...) cats and dogs. Finally, regarding staff invitations to a “presentation”. Yes, annoying, distracting and time consuming when your time in the sun is limited. Calm..., don’t gird your bikini in a knot, just say politely no! Me, I’m empathetic, because resort workers are just trying to make a living by upselling you to their “club,” offering $50 per person gifts. I know people who have participated and survived and even purchased. Buy your friends $100 of gifts. Take it easy on your vacation.

The room we were in was moldy smelling we did tell them but they didn’t care. No service around the pool at all. Would if been nice to have that at least and of course the chair game ever day, being a family resort you would think that the shows would be around 7took 3 days to get extra blanket I wouldn’t go there again

The room we were in was moldy smelling we did tell them but they didn’t care. No service around the pool at all. Would if been nice to have that at least and of course the chair game ever day, being a family resort you would think that the shows would be around 7took 3 days to get extra blanket I wouldn’t go there again

The food was good service also but we didn't had ice cream nore guacamole. The interning was good drink and special café was cool. I woul recommend d this resort to everyone. Beach its wasn't cuba but nice and the lagoon wish is 10 min walk it amazing . Loves my experience ❤️

We stayed for a week Feb 5th to 12. This is my second stay at the resort and I come because of the people. The resort staff are outstanding from the trolley drivers consideration to everyone's needs to the restaurant staff they are working hard but still approach with a smile and kind word The rooms are getting outdated it they are clean we needed some towels and within 10 minutes they were at the door We always had a full minibar and 3 bottles of water The other thing which was important to me as I have mobility issues there is a elevator in each building The food is good variety but if your picky it may challenge you There are 3 restaurants open for breakfast when we were there when I was there a little off season only 2 were open There is a coffee shop that is included that make great coffee and various drinks much like Starbucks Speciality restaurants are excellent there is a ap so you can sign up for your convenience just go to the concierge they will str you up Entertainment varies throughout the week There is a central bar in the evening with entertainment in the theatre right there The beach is smaller and there is during peak season loungers are required to be claimed early in the morning this in all resorts I have experienced There is the beach with a large pool where activities are all day long a restaurant for breakfast andunch A smaller Pool is at building 7 and is quieter you will have to put at 6 am to get a chair There is shuttles that run all day long as it is a big resort If you like walking you will definitely get your steps in As well a well appointed gym is available and the spa is in the same building I love this place but I am not high maintenance and what's important to me might not be for you I enjoy happy helpful friendly staff which with.a smile you will find here Oh yes don't forget to tip they work really hard

Rooms were not great, toilet ran the entire time we were there.Al a carte restaurants were great, Buffett was just ok. Bar service was very good, entertainment was good but the Black and White was very loud. Staff were friendly and most went the extra mile.

Awesome resort, perfect size and very clean. The staff was absolutely amazing and accommodating, and the amenities were never lacking, as can sometimes be the case at smaller resorts, but not here!! The buffet offered a wide selection, with themed dinners each night, and as a picky eater myself I never went without and was always satisfied and full. Excellent and safe location (being within a larger gated resort community) and close to the airport and historical Puerto Plata. Less than a 2 minute walk from the mall, which had very cheap souvenirs. The shows were fantastic, and there was usually something to watch on stage as well as in the lobby. The 24 hour snack bar was very convenient and tasty. Shoutout to Caesar and his excursion company, who got us a great deal for a city tour, you can find him on the beach! It’s always best to support local companies when on vacation. I would definitely come back to this resort again!

It's warm in the sun, but for cheap. Resort is dated and rooms are musky, there are no umbrellas around the pools so be up at 7 am to save your pool spot under a cabana. Staff friendly, rooms are clean, food is good. Positive is its warmer than at home.

We had our flights cancelled by west jet because of plane issues and made us not make connection. There were no other flights for a week. West jet cancelled our flights telling us to contact tripcentral for refund. They did not refund us on hotels and we were unable to get refunded or stay in the hotels. Still fighting WestJet for refund. Tough when everything is online and told to submit it online. Only giving the one star because we never got to go see it. It won’t let me it put any

The hotel and grounds were immaculate, staff were friendly, food was good and lots of selection of drinks. The beach was disappointing, almost impossible to get a chair unless you were willing to pay for an upgrade, and a long walk to get there.

Just returned from a week at this resort. It is a boutique hotel so do your research if it’s for you. Not a party place. Nice entertainment/music while dining only. If you have mobility issues this would be challenging . Here’s the pros and cons Pros - food is outstanding, only two restaurants but there’s a new menu every evening in one and they add daily specials to the other so loads of choices. Also have a snack bar for casual bite by the water. Two beautiful pools with lots of comfy chairs and choices . Very large clean comfortable rooms, quick golf cart service if you don’t want to walk to the beach. Top shelf alcohol and great service at bar and restaurant. Staff are exceptional . Lush tropical property to walk through, resort never felt busy except when a wedding came in, Cons - it needs some maintenance and repair, tiles broken, light fixtures need replacing , outlets not working, boards need replacing, These are minor things and no safety issues so don’t let this hold you back from going. It’s not a 5 star for these reasons but it’s definitely 4.5

Just returned from a week at this resort. It is a boutique hotel so do your research if it’s for you. Not a party place. Nice entertainment/music while dining only. If you have mobility issues this would be challenging . Here’s the pros and cons Pros - food is outstanding, only two restaurants but there’s a new menu every evening in one and they add daily specials to the other so loads of choices. Also have a snack bar for casual bite by the water. Two beautiful pools with lots of comfy chairs and choices . Very large clean comfortable rooms, quick golf cart service if you don’t want to walk to the beach. Top shelf alcohol and great service at bar and restaurant. Staff are exceptional . Lush tropical property to walk through, resort never felt busy except when a wedding came in, Cons - it needs some maintenance and repair, tiles broken, light fixtures need replacing , outlets not working, boards need replacing, These are minor things and no safety issues so don’t let this hold you back from going. It’s not a 5 star for these reasons but it’s definitely 4.5

The resort was fine. The grounds were beautiful. Our room was perfectly fine. Shower was good no mould as stated by other reviewers. Because the resort is a family resort I understand that they have to accommodate for kids eating, however, most of the food was not appealing to us. The fruit was adequate however, most of the time it was not ripe enough to eat, the food at the buffets was hardly ever hot. There were such a shortage of beach, loungers that people had to put their towels on the sand. We enjoyed ourselves, but we would not return to the same resort.. also it was frustrating to find out so many people paid so much less for their trip and had much better rooms closer to the beach. We paid the most of anyone we spoke to and our room was the furthest away.

This was an over Christmas trip… this was one of the cheapest late booking places available that we could afford when we discovered we didn’t have to work over Christmas. Kids are older, we didn’t have to wait for Santa before travelling. After reading reviews, I had low expectations. But after 2 years of not travelling and cancelled trips due to family situations and work…. we just needed to get away. Both kids had been to the DR before…. my wife and I had been to Haiti… we sort of knew what we were getting into. We just wanted a beach. Flew AirTransat and will say they’ve up’d their game a bit. Good flight, nice people. Getting luggage was a bit dicey in the POP airport. Thanks to trackers in all the bags we rounded them up. A booth outside had airtransat on it, the gent there directed us to the bus. A ‘porter’ suddenly showed up and grabbed our bag. Seems ok until he holds it hostage for $5 US lol. The gent at the desk arranged that one so know they are in cahoots. If you don’t want it, just get directions and shoo the rest away. Was too tired after being up at 1am for the flight to care. The shuttle bus was a large tour bus. We were missing a person so we waited an extra 45 min in aircon. Good thing about the Blue Bay Villas…. you are the first stop and of course close to the airport, a mini mall (which sells all the stuff they sell on the beach plus coke - important info to know, snacks and fairly cheap booze… with a sports bar set up for Canadians… they posted the Canadians and Leafs Schedule), tennis and walking paths which appeared fairly safe even at dark. Check-in was made simple. Hand your passport, sign in, get a wrist band, a refreshing cool drink and another porter to your room. Now you’re down $25 in tips lol. We booked a superior room. In honesty I was immediately disappointed. Cheap looking furniture, no carpet as seen in the pictures, slightly moldy bathroom, No working lock on door, safe locked and no way in, bad lighting from ceiling fan that didn’t work. Room was very cool though. We checked out the kids room… much better in appearance with a lock, better lighting and working fan. My son did say “This is much nicer than the last place i stayed”. Stepping back, those were MY initial impressions…. the sheets were clean (well, not the warm blanket in the closet with the big stain), the bed hard but nice enough, fridge with some presidente, water and ….pepsi. (Why was everything pepsi and even worse… diet lol. Now you understand the coke comment from before. Rum and diet pepsi… tastes like a Dr.pepper knockoff). Bedside table held our stuff, just needed outlets. If i had a c-pap or something i would’ve been in trouble without an adapter. Nice decor on the bed and room. Guess what… By the end of the week I was sitting on the balcony enjoying the room, the birds and the noise from the resort next door…. just learned to not use the room coffee maker…. has not been cleaned for a while. Just go to the bar for the coffee machine. Oh and the shower is a tinkle of water. You’re in there for a bit longer getting the soap off. Potable water in the sink… remember that brushing your teeth. Food - I think if you complain about it your expectations were waaaay too high. The food was perfect! Omelette bar in the morning, extra things I wouldn’t normally eat, lots of fruit and juices, coffee, breads and oatmeal/cereals. Lunch we usually ate at the beach bar for a snack still being full from breaky but the Main buffet was loaded for lunch while the beach bar had hot dogs, burgers, rice/beans and the best coated fried chicken I’ve had since KFC changed their recipe. Dinner/Supper in the buffet always had a theme and a special meat and food items. The a-la-cart three restaurants… everyone raved about the Italian restaurant as you waited in the line starting at 9am to book. We honestly liked the Asian best, italian then Seafood. Nothing wrong with the Seafood but the selection was a bit thin. But they did offer Chicken! The resort… well kept. They painted all the paths (which are quite narrow and hard to pass some ignorant folk who walk side by side), kept the grounds clean, some broken and loose tiles. Three pools - one with morning exercise and afternoon festivities which are loud; second pool right beside with afternoon volleyball and loud. Third pool near the gym and spa… small, peaceful and quiet. The bars kept the drinks flowing. The Gym….. well never mind. They have a bike, elliptical, weight bench and weights up to 50lbs. oh… and a scale so you can scare yourself after each meal. More than two people… just wait your turn. For the weights… not the scale. The beach. Had a chair everyday. The cabana folk were up way too early for me to want to grab one. In the summer the water is clear, on our trip, sand was murking it up. couldn’t snorkel there. But…. it was sooo warm and wonderful. I hate the ocean. I scuba and that’s it. This, this was awesome just to float and enjoy the tranquility of no jelly fish, sea snakes or something else nibbling my toes. Hate to say i enjoyed it but i did! Activity wise on the beach…. Felix is the man. He makes it flow down there and kept us entertained. He is a great guy and if we ever go back I’m bringing him the biggest tip of anyone. He deserves it for the work he does and the effort he puts into it! You can kayak, sail on the small catamaran, volleyball… get sunny. If it wasn’t for the land sharks walking around selling the wares (same ones in the mall), massages, hair braiding, ‘Today only buy one cigar, nothing for free…’ and Mamawanna Mamawanna… it would be the perfect time at the beach. At night always a show. They put a lot of effort into it. Only prob is if you’re exhausted, it goes until around 2300 so can be loud in your room. The Christmas Eve buffet was fantastic. A roast beast (piggy) was being sliced up, amazing foods and treats and the decor was from a nutcrackers nightmare. They did good! If you are looking for an adult only resort, feel safe at this one. Many people expressed their surprise at the quality of the facility. There is some shady stuff in the background. Won’t get into it, Don’t look for trouble. But do tip. We didn’t do a great job but every meal 2-5$ plus a 20$ for the a-la-cart. The omelette bar always got at least a $1 per plate. And every time we filled our yetis at the bar, we tipped $1/drink. Others did more, some did nothing. Once you learn the wages, you will want to tip more! They have some amazing people working there. Take the time to talk and get to learn about them… you’ll have friends for life! You could have the best resort but if the people don’t match, it’s not the same. Blue Bay has some good ones who will make you laugh as they enjoy life! There are better resorts in the DR. I’m confident they are also more $$. I do honestly believe we got our moneys worth. But don’t drink the offered wine, buy the better bottle. Try a glass of each red and white. You’ll understand… but don’t look it up online. Sometimes leaving the wizard behind the curtain is best.

This hotel was not at all what I expected. I chose an adult resort because I wanted peace and a little maturity, but that was not at all what I experienced. The most irksome issue was the smoking (both cigarettes and cigars), which people partook in recklessly and ubiquitously- perhaps because it was an adult resort and they felt it fine to inundate adults with second-hand smoke. We would be in the dining room and smell cigar smoke (there was a gentleman who sold cigars right outside the dining hall and constantly smoked his product- advertising it, perhaps?) as well as cigarette smoke. As a result of the unceasing second-hand smoke, I could not participate in any of the entertainment events as the smoke chased me away. When I finally complained on the last night as I wanted to catch at least one show before leaving, I was told that there were non-smoking areas. When I asked where these areas were, they said "any indoor space." I replied that it was a resort and that there weren't any real indoor spaces except the bedrooms. The dining hall, though roofed, was an open area. I felt very limited in what I could do and enjoy and opted just for walking on the beach, which was nice but not worth the price I paid for this trip.

Staff very friendly at all times. A bit of a walk to other areas of the resort , but a cart service is available. Food was ok at the buffets , always found something to eat . A l carted was ok. Could use more seating along walkways as sone areas far to walk. Sad thing is the snack shacks were not open . On our side of the resort so we always had to go to the other buffet

The beach was very nice with almost white sand, seaweed like always but was cleaned as needed. Surprisingly the food was good and top notch service from young Maria, and the restaurant really good specially the Italian and the steak house, the bar service was very good and the coffee house was excellent, hats off to the guys who worked there. The front desk guys could not change rooms from first floor (noisy ) to higher floors. The room on first floor needs some upgrades like new mirrors and a fresh paint. There’s a 5-10 walk to the beach from the room which was fine for us, no shuttle taken.

Very nice pools and all the staff in the bars and restaurants were friendly and great to talk to. The room we had was showing its age, for sure. We got sick at the end, possibly from the clogged filter in the air conditioning, maybe there was mould in there? The Black & White bar and the Swing Bar were lots of fun, and the nighttime shows were very good. The food in the main restaurant was pretty good - we were impressed, as there was quite a variety over the time we were there. The Special restaurants were also good. As with most All-Inclusive places, there was a shortage of chairs at the pools, and no one followed the "do not reserve chairs" rule. They eventually brought out a few more chairs.

I would rate this place seven out of 10 we didn’t mind the walking at all. we found there was a lot of rude people people butting into lines where you get food and at the bar, they need to start doing something about this. There was a lot of fighting and arguments going on.In our room and around some of the buildings there is a foul odour, no hot water and some of the dated items in the room,

Staff provided great service! Resort is quite run down though. There was no hot water at all, just luke warm for showers. Be prepared for a lot of walking! The snack bar by the quiet pool was closed so it was quite far just to go get a snack. Probably wouldn’t return due to the amount of walking and the overall condition of the resort. We were told it is going through an ownership change so it may improve in the future.

The hotel is old and outdated Room was clean maid was very thankful for tips .In 12 nights we had two warm showers . Common complaint for all buildings . Lack of chairs around the pool and at the ocean . The buffet was good . The restaurants excellent .The staff work very hard at the restaurants . Lack of staff at the white and black bar common for twenty people lined up for drinks in the evening . ,The west Jet rep. Was excellent . The pools excellent .Ocean from ok

Hotel Staff were very friendly and accommodating, dated needs some tlc but otherwise we had a wonderful time. Lots of wildlife and good food. Beach is taken care of and the entertainment was very good.

Overall Verdict: Wouldn't Return or Recommend (Unless on a Tight Budget for Basic Amenities) ​Date of Stay: (support 27- October 4 2025) Travelers: Family Prior Resort Experience: Dreams, Emotions, Royalton, Riu (Varies) ​We booked BlueBay Grand Esmeralda when it was advertised as a 5-star resort, only to see it drop to a 4-star before our trip. As seasoned all-inclusive travelers accustomed to the standards of chains like Dreams and Royalton, we should have heeded this warning. If you are used to a premium experience, this resort will likely disappoint. ​Star Rating & Value: This resort felt like an outdated 3-star property. We paid a premium price and received basic amenities and services more aligned with a budget vacation. While we had an amazing week away (because it's Mexico!), the resort itself was a poor value. ​Accommodation & Room Issues (Building 7 & 4): Our initial room in Building 7 (which is extremely far from the main pool and beach) was dated. The mini-fridge and ceiling fan were non-functional, and the air conditioning was weak. We had a serious issue in the adjoining room when the fan blade detached and struck our son (age 17) in the head. We waited two hours for maintenance before being offered a new room. ​We were moved to Building 4, which offered a fantastic location near the pool and beach, but the rooms were in the same dated condition. We had to cycle through three mini-fridges before one worked, and our patio light was never fixed. While tolerable, these issues speak to a lack of proper maintenance. ​Food & Beverage: The food experience felt like a blast from the past—the kind of standard offered in Mexico 25 years ago. ​Buffet: Blah and repetitive. Options for a nice, cooked-to-order lunch or breakfast outside of the main buffet were non-existent (buffet-only). We rarely saw fruit and only saw ice cream twice. ​A La Cartes: We tried the Italian, French, Mexican, Steakhouse, and Seafood restaurants. They were all just 'okay'—nothing memorable. ​Snack/Room Service: Room service has a $7 fee. The 24-hour Black and White restaurant offered only hot dogs and hamburgers sitting in a warmer. ​Drinks: The bar service is strictly non-premium. The drinks are weak and forgettable. ​Resort Layout & Transportation: The resort is massive and spread out. Buildings 6, 7, and 8 are so far from the main hub that it feels like a different resort. You are constantly waiting for a golf cart (which can take 20+ minutes) or enduring a long, hot walk where the mosquitos are relentless. ​Staff & Service (The Highlight): The staff truly are the resort's saving grace. The people are amazing, friendly, and work incredibly hard despite being visibly short-staffed in the restaurants. Cassey at the pool is full of energy and lovely. The gentleman at the VIP front desk (sorry, forgot his name!) went above and beyond to assist us. The employees are top-notch. ​Grounds & Wildlife: The grounds and wildlife are awesome. We enjoyed seeing deer, a small crocodile, a variety of birds, coatis, and fireflies in the evening. Cats, dogs and did i mention mosquitoes. ​Tips for Future BlueBay Grand Esmeralda Guests (The "Basic" Traveler) ​Restaurant Reservations: Download the BlueBay app and book your entire week of a la carte dinners immediately upon arrival. ​Room Location: The resort will try to place you in buildings 6, 7, or 8 and pitch a paid upgrade for a better location the next morning. Decline and insist on a room in Building 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 upon check-in. ​Drink Service: Tip your pool server, and you will see her more often. Leave a note for your maid specifying what drinks you want restocked in the room (the maid is not the one who stocks the drinks). ​Beach Walk: Walk down the beach toward the "Mexico" sign for a photo op. The walk in the other direction leads to a swampy, unappealing lagoon area. ​Coffee: The coffee house (near the Black and White/Gym) is not open early, but it’s a good spot for a mid-day or evening coffee. ​Locals: The resort is open to locals, and the ratio of tourists to locals felt about 50/50. They tend to dominate certain areas, but we didn't mind. ​Packing Essentials: Bring lots of bug block and sun block! They are ridiculously expensive on-site. ​Room Amenities: The room has a blow dryer and iron, but no hair conditioner. Rooms do come with umbrellas—take them to the pool for extra shade. ​Pool Chairs: Plenty of pool chairs available throughout the day—no issue finding one. ​Walmart: Avoid the Walmart in Playa Del Carmen—prices are inflated. ​In summary, this resort is only suitable if you are paying rock-bottom prices ($1000 or less) and are content with basic accommodations, repetitive food, and non-premium drinks. If you're used to a 4.5-5 star experience, look elsewhere. All in all we had a great week away, but wouldn't return unless we were given circle one treatment. They get better everything ha ha

Overall our stay was amazing could’ve been better. The staff the cleaning people were amazing but the people at the front desk need a little bit more communication I know how to deal with the customers. The beach restaurant was amazing. The bar at the beach was amazing.

This hotel needs to be refurbished but despite that we had a fabulous time Our room was spotless with 3 large bottles if water per day We were in building 7 garden view with its own pool for this area As usual not enough chairs and it was off season Staff were fantastic restaurants were good and festival buffet had a great variety all good The only night was the Asian night which was horrible for me anyways Shopping limited and they need more trolleys as it's quite the hike to beach We paid a reasonable cost for this hotel but wouldn't pay much more for the week Can't say enough good things about all the staff Tip them they work hard for us

Having stayed at Blue Bay's resort in Mexico and at both VH Gran Ventana and Viva Heavens, this is a tired resort. Stayed in the 8000 building block in late May, being the shoulder season, it was very quiet; about less than 100 guests, thus not all the facilities wasn't available. Besides the above average service as disclosed on previous reviews, allow me to go over the small cons: 1) from the previous reviews, the lauded Asian restaurant was closed for renovations, but the food was available once a la carte and once at the buffet. 2) that in mind, besides your room, there's no air conditioning, except for the Italian restaurant. 3) showed up for the scheduled bicycle tour and asking 2 staff what happened, left after an hour. 4) difficult to get toiletries, shower gel. 5) service at reception for both checking in and especially checking out was with poor attitudes and frowns.

Took 2 hours to check in at which time our room wasn't ready so we had to return to the line at 3pm. Buffet wasn't great. Long walk from our room to the main pool/beach. Long lines at bars and slow service, we would wait up to 15 minutes sometimes. Beach is awful, small,smelly and full of seaweed. Chairs are a huge issue. When all reviews are about the lack of chairs, why don't you buy more chairs??? Spend extra money and go somewhere else!

We all got a very severe Gastro virus from this resort. I have submitted a claim for you to help us with. The staff were not helpful and we all ended up admitted to the hospital in Mexico except for Diane. It was the worst trip of our entire lives. We are still recovering and thank God we made it back home.

We all got a very severe Gastro virus from this resort. I have submitted a claim for you to help us with. The staff were not helpful and we all ended up admitted to the hospital in Mexico except for Diane. It was the worst trip of our entire lives. We are still recovering and thank God we made it back home.

The BlueBay Villas Dorada is smaller resort with a great set-up. It is easy to find your way around. The food is great with so many options and varieties each day. The staff is friendly and fun. The Entertainment crew were the highlight of our two week stay, getting to see them for games on the beach in the morning and games at the pool each afternoon. Then the evening shows were always so much fun and entertaining. Sure, the resort could use some updates, which they are in the process of doing. If your room has a problem and you let them know, it gets fix quickly. I have been twice already with plans to go back :)

This is the best place that I have visited, food galore Everything was perfect, the restaurants very good You could never ask for better service, and the people are so friendly and loving They make you feel at home The servers do everything they can to make sure you don’t miss anything They brought water and pop and beer every day Changed the towels and cleaning every day A place to take walks and it always seemed that there was never a crowd anywhere but the hotel was booked I recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to relax and enjoy your food

This is the best place that I have visited, food galore Everything was perfect, the restaurants very good You could never ask for better service, and the people are so friendly and loving They make you feel at home The servers do everything they can to make sure you don’t miss anything They brought water and pop and beer every day Changed the towels and cleaning every day A place to take walks and it always seemed that there was never a crowd anywhere but the hotel was booked I recommend this hotel to anyone who wants to relax and enjoy your food

Let me first say, our travel agent is and always will be our go to person. This resort was our choice. There were six of us, hoping to visit this resort thinking.. WOW, it is going to be the awsome. Friends, family, new friends added a positive to our trip. Arriving April 12th, we moved rice. First room AC was not working. Second room..after complaining of the toilet leaking at the water shutoff valve..wrnhad lakes every day. Talked to the same people from the front desk, maintenence (who laughed at us) God forbid a woman knows about plumbing. Saturday to Thursday we put up with a room soaked with water. It was Thursday afternoon we were moved to our third room. Food..average, drinks..plenty to forget about the rooms. Staff, depends where you were in the resort and what color braclet you wore. Be your own judge.We will never go back. I rate this resort a 2

We wanted something low-key and relaxing, and Blue Bay was just that. From the very accomodating staff, to the delicious and varied food, and clean grounds, we could not have asked for more. Even though it rained most of the time we were there, we made the most of our weather app and made do with what sunshine we did have. Our last full day there the sun did not disappoint, and we were able to spend most of the day at the beach. Majority of the people were older couples, and no rowdy large groups. The a la cart food was delicious and varied, but we even found the buffet to be fresh and varied too. If you are looking for a place to relax and unwind, stay here! And if you have any issues, the staff at Blue Bay will go out of their way to make sure you are happy! We will definitely go back to this resort!

The resort itself is outdated in a whole. Electrical outlets are sketchy and loose and not fitting correctly. The staff seemed unhappy in their jobs. No smiles most of the time. The time share people were hounds and were not happy if you didn't go to their 2 hour session. Most of the staff while working were on their phones if they were not helping? someone. The food was the same for breakfast and lunch but some foods were changed for dinner. Dinner buffet you seemed rushed to hurry and eat. You leave your table to get 2nds and come back with your table already cleared. I found the staff very unaccomidating. No willingness to make a person feel welcome at all. Would not go back and will not recommend this resort

This hotel was everything my wife, 3 year old, 1 year old and myself wanted for our first family all inclusive. The staff were very welcoming and friendly and always quick to help. There were plenty of tasty food options. Both pools were beautifully done and we loved the beach. The rooms were clean and all of the public bathrooms as well. The coffee shop and soft serve ice cream were a big win for us! We hope to return soon. This was a 12 out of 10 experience at the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda for our family!

Pay the extra money for the room upgrade. Nice rooms down on the ocean front. Food was decent, but didn’t seem to change from day to day. Staff is friendly. Especially the ladies serving around the pool. The more you tip the better service you will receive.

Travelled March 25-April 8 2025 Gardenview Dbl Room #6 Bldg Check in - no information package on resort, map of resort, restaurant information. Bell boy asked if we’d like to carry our own luggage (2 large suitcases) to our building instead of driving us. Not impressed. Checkout - had prearranged a pickup to help with our luggage to the lobby. We ended up taking our own luggage anyways. PROS - clean room -large shower, double sinks, hair dryer, makeup mirror -comfortable beds clean sheets -towels are more greyish than white (if that’s what you like) and not soft -patio balcony - average size -wifi spotty at times in room and throughout resort -housekeeping staff kept our room clean -liked the smaller quieter pool close by buildings 6,7 & 8 (snack bar closed down) - bar by small pool (hit & miss with cocktail knowledge) -pool by beach large & clean - restaurant close by -Festival Buffett - great cappuccinos , Mimosas **Highly Recommended these staff who were excellent in service and just wonderful people! *Festival Buffett -Miguel Benjamin, Lidia, Fernando *Ala Cart Seafood Restaurant- Benjamin *The Coffee House - great coffees, soft ice cream - excellent service all the time *The Black & White Bar - bartenders knew their cocktails. The shows here were basic, need to fix stage area. -Grounds - were well maintained CONS ~Room, deadbolt once locked , you had a hard time unlocking it! -ceiling fan didn’t work-no button on the wall to make it go on/off -AC next to none -limited plug ins for electronic devices -all rooms are the same - we checked them all and are in need of major updating done -pillows need replaced as ours were musty smelling -no snack bar or pool service at smaller pool - small pool area had approximately 25 Sun loungers 4 shaded areas only -staff shortage in Festival buffet, seemed overwhelmed in evening service at times -food was average in Buffett with long lineup for omelettes every morning as there was only 1 person cooking (felt sorry for her) -hard to book an ala cart on their Bluebay App, you could only book 12 hrs in advance -again hit & miss on cocktails…margaritas were served with Mescal, not Tequila (prefer flavour of Tequila) other drinks were messed up depending on who was bartending -the “welcome breakfast” is a a timeshare spiel! (Been to a couple at different resorts) learned to not go unless you want to! Ala Carts - Cuore di Rossi Italian Ala cart their salmon dish/spinach ravioli was delicious - Don ISI Steakhouse Ala cart - disappointed in the steaks. They were not grilled, no seasoning on steaks. - Jaal-Ha seafood Ala cart - very good food here Overall, I would not book this hotel or recommend to anyone until major renovations have been done!

In all of our years visiting resorts in the Mayan Riviera, this is hands-down our favourite. Is it showing it's age a bit - yes. BUT...we found absolutely nothing to complain about. The grounds are spectacular, our patio junior suite was perfect. The plunge pool was cleaned and filled every day and it was extremely private. The hotel staff was super friendly, courteous and helpful. And...i don't know where they stole their chef from - but the food was INCREDIBLE. We couldn't be happier with the Blue Diamond luxury boutique and we're already looking forward to a return trip.

Staff were alright ... so make you feel very uncomfortable and rude. Beach was a mess. Did travel to the lagoon very nice watch for rocks. 2 people ended up very sick from the food. Ended up with a bill for 100 American because someone got sick in our room from food poisoning and got a little bit of voimit on the sheets which is absolutely ridiculous ? it was the size of a quarter. Resort is very nice. And drinks very good. Night life is good till about 1am. I wouldn't return. Was scared to eat or drink to much. Cause of the charge on the second day. Heard lots of stories while on vacation and many not so good. Also think our daughter got a concussion from the sunwing drivers on our way to resort from not slowing down for speed bumps and holes in the road got to the resort and her forehead was all cut up from cracking her head on the bus so many times. Thats also could have help with her being sick the first night along with the food.

I loved the quaintness of this hotel. Small number of rooms, great beach, beautiful infinity pool looking out into the ocean and outstanding service by staff. Very surprised at the great quality of food...not always so in my other all inclusive. Would definitely return.

Rooms were a big disappointment. Standard rooms are well below standard. I suspect this is because they want your upgrade dollars. The upgraded room ($’s) were better though the bathrooms are tiny and badly maintained. Both sink and especially the shower did not drain. Nice if you want water puddling around your feet…eew! Front desk people are sullen and uninviting. Food was great. The staff at the buffet were inviting, smiling and courteous (Special mention to Anelyina & Antonio who were especially attentive and helpful) Nice pools though not enough umbrellas for shade. Grounds were immaculately maintained. Entertainment was ok. Beach area is nice. A la carte were ok.

Spent 7 days here and I would for sure go back. Staff were great, did their very best to accommodate my mobility issues. Rooms were dated but clean and extremely comfortable. Guest Services Yuliana was a sweetheart and was there to help with whatever we needed, pool was clean,drinks were yummy, try the Superman it was my favourite drink, the VIP salesmen were not pushy, say no and they left you alone. Buffet had such a variety of food, no way you would go hungry ! Beach was small but also very clean. Vendors were a pain, just say NO loudly lol. Entertainment was the usual, karaoke was really enjoyable.

My wife and I had a nice 7 day vacation and really enjoyed ourselves. Rooms are old and would need better upkeep but they were cleaned everyday and ultimately we weren't there to stay in our room. The grounds were for the most part well maintained. The pool and surrounding area would need need some additional TLC with loose and missing tiles here and there. The staff was great, the food was good and the beach was beautiful.

Blue Bay Doradas in Puerto Plata D.R. is a lovely, small resort that still has 3 pools, entertainment every night and a beautiful large well kept beach. It is an older resort but very well maintained. The grounds are groomed and are very attractive. Our room was kept very clean and when they changed the sheets they changed the mattress cover too! No problem getting towels, face cloths etc and plumbing worked fine. Lots of hot water and good water pressure. The food was over cooked most times and after a few days it all tasted the same. They did get 2 new chefs in there for 2 days near the end of our vacation and boy what an improvement! So the only thing not up to par was the food. Specialty restaurants were better. But only 3 of them. We were there for 14 days and I was bored. Ten days and I was ready for home. The Playa Dorada mall is only a five minute, safe walk but very lacking and run down after covid. If you are looking for a quiet vacation this is the place. People were all very friendly and mostly Canadians. You can book excursions right at the resort. Our flight was with Air Transat and very good other than my video player didn't work so they gave me extra snacks etc on the trip down. Bus rides were good to and from the resort. Good vacation and glad to be home again.

The hotel was ok, a lot bigger than I anticipated. Lack of lounge chairs at both pools Food was decent and no issues with booking a la cartes Didn’t get to experience beach as well as the red flag was up the entire time and we were not allowed to go in.

Recently spent 10 days at this resort Our original room was upon the third floor, which was hard for us to get to. They changed it for us right away. We had a beautiful room on the first floor with a nice little patio. The staff was wonderful everybody so happy so much fun pools were great. Food was great. I would have no trouble recommending this resort to anyone.