Excellence Playa Mujeres: The best service . . . . . but not the best beach

We stayed Jan 10 – 17, this was our first time at an Excellence resort, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. As others have mentioned, it really is the staff that makes the difference. We both have special food needs – food restrictions/eating often for medical reasons and serious allergies. From when we arrived we couldn’t have asked for more. Special foods were made for us, extra care taken with preparation, and staff even checked in after we’d ordered food (before they would serve us [... read more]) to make sure that it would be okay – just in case. And on our anniversary we got to enjoy the special dinner – very romantic with candles, rose petals, and excellent service, as usual. We loved the no-reservations, no-limitations policy on the restaurants, and only found we had to wait one night (gave us a chance to go back to the bar). The food was excellent – our favorites were the French and Mediterranean, which we went to twice. For us portion sizes were just right - especially the deserts – as I could indulge without guilt! Breakfast most days was the buffet, and we both enjoyed the wide variety of food on offer. Room service was great – we ordered from it every day (at least once per day), normally late at night. We were always told how soon it would arrive (30 minutes was the longest), and it was always on time, or a bit early, and everything was delicious. Yes, the selection is somewhat limited, but between room service and things already in the room (drink, snacks), there was no way we’d be going hungry. We did change rooms – which was very quick and straightforward. We started off in building 7 – right by the theatre, so it was noisy late at night. We were moved to building 3 – the farthest away from the theatre, which was maybe a five minute walk. Or, on some nights at the bar, a 15 minute stagger . . . . We did a couple activities – a day trip to Isla Mujeres, snorkeling, and playing the drums – but that was it – the rest of the time we just relaxed. Overall we had a great time – the beach was the only thing that wasn’t as good as we’d hoped for - lots of seaweed, red flag every day but one. We know that isn’t something the hotel can control, and they did a pretty good job of clearing the seaweed, but we’re definitely beach people, so it was somewhat disappointing. It would be perfect if we could take this hotel/staff and move it to a better beach. But then we’d never leave . . . . :o)

Selection Riviera Cancun: Just what we were looking for

Stayed a Sensatori Azul in January for 11 nights. The resort is family friendly with something for everyone, never short of activities to do. The grounds are beautiful, clean and the jacuzzi suite was very nice. There are plenty of loungers around the pool and beach, no need for the dreaded towel game. The food is wonderful, with plenty of selections to choose from. The service is top notch. The staff go out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. This is our second Karisma resort and we are l [... read more]ooking forward to a 3rd very soon. Highly recommend this resort for both families and couples.

Live Aqua Cancun: Live Acqua Cancun

It was a gorgeous property and the beaches are amazing but we did the hotel as it said great swimming beaches and for miles and miles and days and days it was all red flagged due to the undertow. The food was amazing the first couple of days and then it all started to test very samey.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: WAS AN OK RESORT

My wife and I we pleased with the Barceló. We don't really do a lot of travelling but found it to be clean and the beach was amazing . The food was just ok and the room was good and always cleaned . Air Transat was awesome

Riu Santa Fe: Amazing resort!!

Rui Santa Fe is a beautiful resort with good food ! The rooms are spacious and clean. We really enjoyed this resort with it beautiful view of the ocean!! The staff was amazing and very attentive. The only downfall is you cannot swim in the ocean but we went on the Lovers End glass bottom boat to Lover beach and you can swim there.

Grand Palladium Riviera Resort And Spa: Awesome resort!

Beautiful and very clean resort. Lots of activities to do on site, delicious food at buffets and a la carte restauraunts... our favorite being the Bamboo. Huge refreshing pools with lots of chairs to choose from. Only downfall are the weeds on the beaches... but doesn't seem to bother others since they are packed with sunkissers.

Hotel Emporio Ixtapa: Hotel Emporio

This is a nice small resort. We were there the last week of Jan 2015. The rooms are small but clean. It can be noisy from the parties across the street if you are on the mountain view side. So bring ear plugs or invest another $25 a night for ocean view rooms. The service is good at the bars and buffet but if you want a wake up call to go fishing ,forget it.. Also they do not exchange money at the desk , but the banks are just across the street. The food does need improvement , as you get the sa [... read more]me muck every day. The beach barbecue is good though and you get 2 every week included in your all inclusive. We went to dinner across the street as there are lots of good places to eat there, The beach is very nice and the pool is nice to but you have to watch out for the T shirt police as your not allowed to wear them in the pool.

Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Great upgrades - resort is changing

Akumal Beach Resort - now Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness has undergone a tremendous change - most great, a few not so much. Rooms have undergone a needed refresh and my family particularly enjoyed the mini-bar (though limited) and the jacuzzi. WiFi in the rooms is an added bonus. Room service is available which we did not use once. 24 hour snack bar is great and the new restaurant offerings are nice, though we only went to the steak house (Brazillian). New sushi bar and additional bar is great. B [... read more]ar service at the beach is also new and excellent and helpful! Bali beds at the pool are ridiculous though and now there is only room for 20+ people around the pool - has changed the vibe. The additional palapas on the beach are nice, though now are claimed by 8 in the morning! New wellness centre is beautiful. The future will depend on how the new Secrets Resort opening next door will impact the use and traffic on the beach. Potential noise issues as well for those in Block 1. Block 4 is the quietest and where we were located which we loved. We miss the beach bar, which was demolished in the upgrade and sale of part of the property to Secrets. Best beach anywhere! We will go back for sure!

Grand Decameron Los Cabos: Wonderful Trip

We traveled the end of January 2015, It was a trip I took with my 19 year old son. The Resort was small but thats what we liked about it. Even though there is only one buffet and one a la carte, they variety of food was good. We did not get sick of eating the same thing everyday. The a la carte is the snack bar during the afternoon and they do make the best beef burrito, I had it 4 times for lunch. The staff were very friendly and helpful, always a smile and a hola. Rooms were very clean, The on [... read more]ly draw back is I was there with my son and the shower/bathroom door is semi frosted glass so privacy was a little hard for us, it would be fine with a spouse though. The location is great, right across the street from the Mega store (similar to Walmart, everything you need there), and to catch the bus to go up to the markets up town was $1.00 for a 5 m-10 min bus ride. We felt very safe in town, and the "hassling" at the market was very minimal. (that was quite the opposite at Cabo San Lucas). I won a massage at the spa and felt like a queen, they certainly went out of their way to make my experience a memorable one. They had activities panned every day, stretching on the beach at 9am was one of my favourites as on a couple of occasions I saw the whale breaching in the ocean. The beach is more like small gravel than sand (but kept quite clean) and there is no swimming as the undertow is bad, but because the pools were so nice we did not miss that at all. I have been to Mexico a few times and I honestly have to say this was one of my favourite trips.

Riu Santa Fe: still the best

this is a great resort the staff are the best .the only thing we found this time after 7 previous was the food at the beach sure went downhill breakfast or lunch a great disappoint. but the rest is ex. great value.EX PLACE.

El Dorado Seaside Palms: Paradise!

We returned January 30th, 2015 from this beautiful adults only resort. We had a wonderful time! The service and the people who work at this resort are wonderful! The food was great and the grounds are lush and well maintained. We had a swim up room with a Jacuzzi. When we arrived, the beach was covered in seaweed and we were disappointed, but within a day the whole area was cleaned up and the beach was actually wonderful! Many people were swimming in the crystal clear water , and little fish wer [... read more]e swimming around our legs. The resort is pretty low key, no music playing on the beach, the main pool is small and very little activity there. The nightly entertainment is not great, when compared to large resorts, but we were not interested in that anyway. Anything you desired, you just had to ask and it was granted with a "my pleasure". Service on the beach was constant. 24 hour room service arrived within 20 minutes and was delicious, we ordered nachos and pizza in the late afternoon a couple of times, and had a wonderful breakfast as well. My friend and I also enjoyed a sky massage on the beach which was fabulous! We have been to three Sandals resorts and the service and amenities at this resort were just as good or better in our opinion.

Sun Palace Hotel: Worth Going!!!

Very clean, friendly staff and GREAT beach!! Loved how small the resort was - we didn't feel overwhelmed with too many choices. Our view from our room was just beautiful. The amenties in our room were great as well!

Moon Palace Cancun: very nice

Well kept grounds with excellent service all round. We went down for a family wedding, everything went smooth! Love the Pub!! The beach food was very good, pizza, burgers, hot dogs, philly cheese steak, fish tacos etc. The fries were good as well......Brazillian....delicious! We loved the fact that you dont book restaraunts just walk up, get your beeper and go for drinks, wait for the lights! Perfect, we never had luck booking ala carts at other resorts. The pools were a bit chilly, but they imp [... read more]roved during the week. Would go back for sure!

Iberostar Waves Cozumel: Great Vacation!

First of all I must thank Jenn Black from Trip Central for all her help!! She was bang on! This was a beautiful resort. Very helpful and pleasant staff, food was very good! The pool, beach area, grounds were just amazing! Too bad it couldn't be a non smoking resort! We will be back!! Oh and we got engaged while we were there!! SUPER VACATION!!

Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: beach not the best

Very nice resort lots of repair to be done have to be caution walking on resort site.lots of construction man every day at lest 30 to 40 man.problems with sea weeds at beach.food very good nice rooms would go back

Temptation Resort & Spa: amazing place to party

The grounds are kept very clean. The staff was so nice always helping. The pools were beautiful, the beach was ok. The food was good. A lot of different food to chose from. The bartenders are awesome.

Grand Sunset Princess: Nice Resort

Clean resort, rooms were good, bed was a little hard, always had to ask for wash cloths. We had some trouble at first as we travelled with other couples and they had seperated our rooms and no help till we got a lovely young lady on the 2nd day at the main desk and she got us a room very close to our friends. Food was okay but not over the top, nice selection at the buffet and most waiters were pleasant, our breakfast and lunch waiter, Samuel at the Rivieria Snack, was quite pleasant. Overall go [... read more]od weather, good holiday

Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya: Outstanding!

This was a great resort. We travelled with 2 children. The staff was friendly and helpful and could not do enough. Our only complaint would be that the mattresses in the room were terrible. We made the best of it everything else made up for it.

Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Beautiful Resort with Amazing Service

This resort has beautiful spacious clean rooms with excellent beds and amazing views from each balcony. The food is wonderful and the service excellent. The evening entertainment is just okay and the beach disappointing (too much coral and seaweed).

Grand Park Royal Cozumel: Take the good with the bad!

The Good, *Hotel and grounds are well kept, truly beautiful. *Staff make the stay at this resort. The food was excellent, the fish was delicious. Try the Coconut Crusted Grouper in the Mexicana Restaurant . *My husbands luggage did not make it and the staff directed us where to go to purchase him personal items and clothes for the week. What a Memorable trip! * Rented a van with other couples, visited the East side of the island for the second time, a must to see. Coconuts restaurant elevated ab [... read more]ove the Ocean, great views, beautiful beaches and local vendors. The Bad, *Rooms were comfortable, though requested a King size bed and was told they were only for the Royal Vacation Group. Ended up with 2 doubles for the first time at any resort, we have stayed in. They were as hard as rock and I have read this in reviews prior to our stay. Caused sore backs! * Requested an Ocean View at booking and was told that there were none available when we arrived. * Royal Vacation Group, aggressive. Sat through a long session of about 2.5 hours and told it would only be 1.5. * If you have a late flight, Nolitours/Airtransat told us there would be a complimentary room to freshen up for us and the front desk said no to other guests, though we were fortunate to have made friends during the week, that took care of us and our luggage until we departed to airport. * Ale carts booked the same day, line ups long, though I was always, one of the first in line and waited a good hour to book.