Sunscape Dorado Pacifico: Relaxing Stay at Sunscape Dorado in Ixtapa

We just arrived back from a week stay at Sunscape Dorado. We upgraded to Sunclub, which I recommend, and had a king bed ocean view room. Our room was clean, spacious and had an amazing view. Staff are fantastic at this resort - very friendly and hard working. Food was good, we were always able to find something suitable for us and our tween child. Loved the restaurant near the swim up bar and the Sun Club restaurant for lunch. We didn’t try the Italian restaurant, as it was adults only, but wish [... read more]ed for another option, as sometimes the only other dinner option was the buffet/Mexican. Lounger saving is a problem - people would put towels on them really early and then not use them for hours later (or not at all). I think if they are empty for an hour, staff should remove them. We did the snorkeling excursion to Ixtapa Island, which was wonderful. We loved seeing the variety of fish in the coral reef. You can swim in front of the resort, but you have to time it pretty carefully, so you don’t get knocked out by the large waves. My husband and I both learned our lesson on that the first day! Overall I recommend this resort and I would return to it one day.

Grand Palladium Select Costa Mujeres: Great holiday

After a not very welcoming reception experience, the rest of our stay was truly enjoyable. The people working on resort were very helpful and friendly, appreciated a tip but did not seem to base their work upon this. The beach is beautiful - fine white sand, long and felt very safe to go for a good walk. The water is warm. Lots of loungers and umbrellas at the beach and pools. No crazy games reserving chairs, which was a relief. The resort itself is large, but if you don’t feel like walking [... read more] all of it there are frequent golf carts offering rides. Entertainment each night with a variety of options. They have invested in the quality of entertainment, stage, etc. Room was large, clean and comfortable. Restaurants were great - main buffet is huge, clean and offers great variety. Lunch at the beach buffet never disappointed. Loads of choice, fresh fish to order and a lovely venue. A la cart places were all well done. .

The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences Playa Del Carmen: Excellent resort!

We had a fantastic week at Fives! We went years ago when it was run by Karisma and loved the food, but the food is actually far better now! The rooms are large and comfortable, and there are a number of pools to hang out at. The staff was also excellent, all very friendly and willing to do anything they can to help out. We would happily go back any time!

El Cid Resort Castilla: Pickleball crazy’s

Jan 17 2025 Very clean well maintained beachfront hotel. We were greeted with a pre tax of $15 us per day which was $4487.7 pesos for 14 day stay. Water bottles were for sale in rooms as well as coffee. Get over it. Coffee was available at 0630 from main buffet , bring your favourite coffee mug. Water refill stations everywhere and ice at bars or buffet. 4 of 5 alacarts open unlimited booking we went 10 of 14 days , best dining we’ve had in 20 trips. The pretax was to cover Pickleball Tennis a [... read more]nd wifi. Best courts in area. We played at daybreak 0700 till club showed 0900 every day , then returned 1500 till security kicked us off 1730 all included . Were told the cost was $200 pesos per hour ea Beach can be walked for miles at low tide , Malcom walk is a mile south Lots of shops and restaurants Enjoyed the pool games and activities Did the math and this all inclusive was worth the $

Planet Hollywood Adult Scene Cancun by Royalton: Amazing resort!

We really enjoyed our stay at the Planet Hollywood. Resort was very clean, friendly and professional staff, amazing food at the restaurants! Beautiful beach with white sand and clear/blue water. However, our room was very humid. Bedsheets felt damp. Otherwise, great experience! We’ll definitely return.

Barcelo Maya Palace: Barcelo Palace Riviera Maya Grand Resort

The hotel was great. Clean, beautiful grounds, the rooms were spacious and clean. Staff was friendly and attentive. Will absolutely recommend this hotel and will be back! We had a wedding at the palace and everything worked out. Was a bit annoying that with our party size of 13 people, restaurants did not have us sit together… we were always separated

Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: Best Family Vacation!!!!

This resort far exceeded our expectations!!! We were a group of 8 ranging in age from 8-68 and the resort had something for everyone! The resort was gorgeous, well maintained, had tons of activities and the food was awesome! The buffet had almost every food imaginable. We definitely did not go hungry! Some reviewers have complained about the resort being outdated. There are some areas that are currently under renovation (Feb 2025) but it did not impact our stay at all. Overall, the property [... read more] is gorgeous! Our only word of caution is the pressure to attend a 90 minute presentation about the Royalton membership program. It’s NOT 90 minutes and unless you are interested in a membership program, don’t waste your time like we did. A special shout out to Erick who helped make our stay so enjoyable. The sea turtle and cenote tour we booked through the resort was also incredible. Overall, we LOVED this resort and would highly recommend it. We would go back in a heartbeat!

Bahia Principe Explore Akumal: Exceptional!

Stunning hotel with great beachfront for swimming. Lots of wildlife to see snorkelling off the beach. Very good buffet and excellent restaurants. Access to great outings. Exception and kind service. Lots to do! Highly recommend.

Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Never Disappoints

We are in our 60s, and have visited Sian Ka’an about 18 times. We keep returning primarily because of the quiet atmosphere, and the amazing staff. It is a bit dated and in need of refreshing, no question. But it is good value.

Iberostar Waves Paraiso Beach: Very nice resort but large. Great beach, good food but….

We just got back from a week at this resort (Feb 4th - 11th, 2025) and really enjoyed our stay there. We’ve been to all inclusive in Mexico at least 20 times but this one stood out for us - we really enjoyed it. BUT: Two things turned us off somewhat. The area around the pool was pretty noisy with loud music and games the entire day. Secondly, to get a lounge chair on the beach requires you to get out there before 8 am else you’re out of luck. The beach I would give a 4.5/5, the pool 3/5.  [... read more]Our room was a little dated but acceptable. Bed was quite comfortable. Very good selection at the buffets.

Catalonia Playa Maroma: Laid back, amazing beach and jungle wildlife

The Catalonia Playa Maroma is a lovely resort, if your priority is a stunning white sand beach and a laid back vibe, additionally you have to enjoy wildlife. I have travelled extensively to AIs in Dominican Republic, Mayan Riviera & Cancun area over the past 20 years. My favourite resort chain has been the Finest / Excellence chain (depending if we travel with children or as a couple). While the Catalonia is not in the same caliber of resort as the Excellence there are many highlights that make [... read more] the Catalonia Playa Maroma a place I will travel back to again and again, this being our second year at this resort. Dates: Jan 31-Feb 7, 2025. 4 adults: 52, 50, 72, & 18 . 2 rooms: 1x Privilege superior room in building 5, and 1x Privilege romance room in building 2. This resort is for you if the following are a priority for you: 1) Price - you truly are getting a great resort for a reasonable price. The same week at the Excellence was going to be double the cost. 2) Beach - Playa Maroma is the most beautiful beach we have come across in this area of Mexico. I am picky about beaches, and most in the area have left me disappointed... but not Playa Maroma. The sand is soft and white, the swimming area is free from rocks and weeds. Note: the sargassum is impossible to escape anywhere in the Caribbean, it totally depends on ocean currents & winds etc... there is no way to control this. This year when we visited (Jan 31-Feb 7, 2025) the ocean was red flagged, and the waves were very aggressive. But with a bit of caution we were all able to enjoy jumping in the waves and bobbing around in the ocean. 3) No chair game at the beach - at least on the beach there are more than enough loungers in the shade / sun to go around. This makes it un necessary to be at the beach by 8am. We would wander down after breakfast around 10am and always find 4x chairs together in the shade without issue. There are 'beds' and hammocks that are sometimes all being used, but often only for an hour or so... so you can also get a turn using these amenities. The pool is another story, there are limited spots around the pool...but I would never go to this resort if I was into the pool scene. 4) laid back vibe - The a la carte restaurants are easy to book via the app/website each day, and we also had access to the Privilege restaurant for dinners and a sit down breakfast. What I like about this resort is that while you 'dress up' for dinner it does not need to be fancy. I find when staying at the Excellence or Finest, I bring way too many evening clothes, shoes, accessories, makeup, hair dryer etc... The whole vibe at the Catalonia Maroma is a little less 'fancy' which makes bringing less with you easier. A simple sun dress and sandals for women and a pair of long pants for men keeps the vacation vibes casual and laid back. 5) Wildlife - This resort with it's jungle environment and grounds has had the best land wildlife and vegetation of any resort we have visited in the area. This year I found the coati situation better under control, they had security guards keeping the coati (mostly) off the beach and away from the food truck areas. We saw Coati, Mexican grey fox, peccary's, racoons, agouti, spider monkey (not wild), chachalaca, green parrot and dozens of species of shore birds. If you like wildlife and jungle (without the bugs) this resort offers a very manicured jungle experience on your patio and around the resort. Some negatives depending on your priorities: 1) pool is very small and therefore very busy, and full of children. It is difficult to find a lounger or sun bed near the pool. But, we were able to enjoy a swim at the pool everyday, and it did not interfere with our enjoyment of the resort. But if a great pool scene is what you are going for, I have seen better at other resorts. And if a quiet pool experience is what you prefer, this is not the resort for you. The activities team does a great job in the afternoon hyping up the crowd for water activities and fun, if that is what you and your kids enjoy, but be aware there is only 1 pool with different 'sections' (e.g. shallow for babies, pool bar area and a deep section for swimming / activities etc...) 2) Rooms - are a bit dated and worn out but the sheets and towels are clean and the housekeeping staff keep the rooms clean and well stocked. The air conditioning in both rooms was great and there was minimal damp smell. We did have an issue with our toilet leaking, but it was fixed after a few days, so overall a non issue. Last year we had a room with 2x queen beds and had 2x adults and 1x 17 year old - which felt very crowded, so this year we opted to have 2 rooms. 3) Gym is small - if you like to go to the gym on vacation this may not be the resort for you. It is crowded in the morning and late afternoon/evening and there is very little equipment. 4) on site shopping - is limited, but if you need something that you forgot, e.g. bandaids, sunscreen, advil, a swim coverup or sun hat... you can find something on site that will work 5) limited evening entertainment - just be aware evening activities don't start until 9:30pm and while they do their best to encourage dancing, participation and fun, it is typical resort entertainment. I usually like to be in bed early so it doesn't really impact me. 6) no comfortable seating - there are very few comfortable chairs on the resort. My favourite chairs were in the Beloved restaurant and the hammock at the beach. Least favourite chairs - any chair in the lobby, the concrete 'couches' with thin pillows scattered, the bar seating ... all of it was so painful. The really bad: WestJet tours - despite us checking in on the app with the local tour agent to verify that we would be taking the shuttle from the resort back to the airport, it never came. We were in the lobby waiting for the shuttle at 3:30pm, the shuttle was supposed to arrive at 4:35pm so we were an hour early and we waited until 5:30pm when I got so panicked that we ordered our own shuttle mini bus to drive us to the airport. I have never had this before when visiting any resort. I am beyond angry with Westjet for abandoning us, and we could have missed our flight because of this. Note: this has nothing to do with the resort ! But I am including it here so folks are aware that it can happen. at least 4 other people on our flight were also forgotten by their return shuttle ... which leads me to believe it is a systemic problem with Westjet's local shuttle service provider.

NYX Hotel Cancun: amazing resort

Had another great week at NYX resort as we were there 5 years ago. Its a small quaint resort with a beautiful beach, 3 great restaurants and super friendly and helpful staff ... a special shout out to Maike at the front desk who went above and beyond to make our stay super memorable.

Flamingo Vallarta: Great location

We booked 2 weeks at the Flamingo Vallarta, the service and staff were all excellent. We plan on going back next year.We chose the all inclusive , the breakfast and lunches were very good. We ate out most nights to try the local restaurants around the marina.

Las Brisas Huatulco: We Love Las Brisas!

Our very first trip was 9 years ago to Las Brisas, Huatulco. All we've talked about was going back and finally we did just that and took 3 others with us. Our Superior Room was identical to what it was 9 years ago - very comfortable - amazing bed and pillows! We enjoyed the buffet's superb offerings daily. The A La Carte's that we went to were also fabulous: Solarium Steakhouse was great, the service was the highlight thanks to Wahn and Antonio! The beaches at Las Brisa's are beautiful - the san [... read more]d is darker and more granular than the Mayan Riviera side. Swimming was wonderful - you can walk over to the coral reef and see fish and urchins too! We enjoy walking so getting around the resort was not difficult for us, but keep in mind it is a large resort with a lot of hills!! We simply love the simplicity of Las Brisas Huatulco. It's natural, authentic, cultural, gorgeous, and the customer service is top notch!

Occidental Tucancun: Good resort

Hotel is old and dated but was clean. The beach was great, the 3 pools well maintained. The service is good. The food was good but small buffet and limited selection. The 3 a la carte restaurant was good. I would rate overall 7 out 10.

Dreams Sapphire Resort and Spa: Dreams Sapphire - January 202

Stayed at this resort for 11 nights in January 2025. We stayed at the Building #8. The room was clean and well equipped. There is no elevator but it was not an issue for accessing a room on the top (third) floor. Our balcony was facing a next resort's maintenance yard, so we did experience constant noise from coming trucks, staff and delivery. The resort grounds are lovely and well maintained. The beach is as clean as possible as they try their best to remove seaweeds. There are plenty of comfor [... read more]table palapas and majority of beach chairs have matrasses. Taking a fresh beach towel is not an issue and this hotel does not have a card system for towels exchange. Rooms are cleaned and stocked very well. Water pressure in the shower is good. There are several a la cart restaurants with NO RESERVATIONS policy. We managed to get into a French restaurant. While slow (the dinner took about 1.5 hours), the atmosphere at the restaurant and menu was enjoyable. We tried to get to other restaurants three times with no luck (the wait time varies between 40 min - 1h45min) and did not have any luck. People complained about this inconvenience and we also found it challenging not being able to plan the evening because of undetermined dinner time. The World Café (buffet restaurant) was good. Special notice for hostess who were very friendly and responsive. Food was flavorful with lots of options. Grilled options were our typical choice. Interesting selection of infused waters. Service was good. A couple BBQ/Mexican style dinners were interesting but a little awkward as we felt like wedding guests at the "other party" table. Drinks were good, both cocktails and mocktails. A coffee shop and gelato places were great. We enjoyed shows, especially the fire one. Singers in the lobby was very professional and set the special vacation mood. The Indigo/privilege part of the resort is great. The rooms are new and a balcony view is great. We did not find too much difference in the room décor. Overall, I'd give 4+ out of 5 for this resort.

Barcelo Huatulco: Bad Experience

Let’s start with the positive Great Beach, rooms are clean. The rest is all negative the food was terrible. Drinks were awful unable to get any premium drinks unless you pay for the premium package. Not enough sun beds! If you get to the pool or beach around 8:00am you can forget getting any lounger as they are all reserved. Buffet was absolutely awful always out of ketchup plus long line ups for food. Almost impossible to get a bottle of water. Used the gym asked for a bottle as you only get 2  [... read more]bottles in your room was met with a really rude person with attitude, wanting us to drink from dispensers that have been sitting out in 30 degree weather. NO THANK YOU!! Since when is water bottles not included this is a disgrace Barcelo should be embarrassed and ashamed

Barcelo Huatulco: Did not meet expectations

The beach, ocean, and weather were great! The sand was coarse and difficult to walk along because of the steep slope but it was a beautiful cove. The rooms were nice, beds and pillows were comfortable, the shower was always hot, and housekeeping did a good job. BUT had to wake up at 6:30am each day just to get a chair under the shade on the beach. Not enough shade or chairs near the pool or the beach, it was an absolute headache. I preferred bottled water because I was pregnant while travelin [... read more]g and basically had to beg for more bottles. Tired to get some at the gym and at the bars but only got dirty looks and apparently no one speaks English when you need something there. The buffet was terrible our first night (it was Mexican night) and we went to bed hungry. Breakfast and lunch buffets were hit and miss, sometimes good but never consistent and always seemed like they were running out of food and options. The restaurants had good service and better food but we ended up going across the street for dinner at the restaurant because the dinner buffets were never great. Booked a boat ride around lunch at the water activities center and when we showed up at 4pm, the employee actually said he didn’t feel like going out, and that it was too much work to set up the boats. Two days before it was too busy, the day before it was too windy. This was our last full day there and we left disappointed.

Bahia Principe Explore Akumal: Amazing, beautiful resort.

We stayed at the Bahía Príncipe Akumal, adult only resort and cannot say enough about it. The rooms were beautiful, so spacious and clean. The grounds were beautifully kept, we had our own pool, restaurant and beach with lots of chairs available. The drinks were yummy, the food delicious and the people so friendly and helpful. We do not have one bad thing to say about this property and we will definitely be going back. Thank you for a wonderful vacation.

Canto Del Sol: Nice Resort

The hotel and ground are very clean staff are amazing. Definitely would go back to this resort. Close to alot different restaurants and shops. If you want to walk to the Malecon is approximately 25 min or hope on the bus for 10 pesos