Iberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Great time

We had a great time at this resort. The pool is huge. During our stay a section of the pool was under repair so one pool bar and the waterfall part were not operating. There was still plenty of pool and another pool bar open. It was a bit of a hike to the one open pool bar and it was March break so the timing wasn’t ideal for repairs. The Beach was great with plenty of chairs for everyone. The grounds are beautifully maintained and massive.Rooms are well kept and staff is generally friendly. T [... read more]hanks Joe the bell boy for all the golf cart rides our son loved it. The food was always fantastic. Buffet was great. We were only able to book one specialty restaurant out of the three we were supposed to get at a time that worked for our toddler. (Before 8:00pm). I recommend making your reservations right away at check in which is a bit of a pain as you have to sit with staff after a long day of travel and they try to sell you on club memberships, day trips and such. Overall a good experience and we had lots of fun.

Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Never board

This resort is a smaller gem attached to 3 other resorts in the Bahia family. It was the most quite and had the best food of all. Furthermore, if one wanted more excitement, they could simply shuttle down to a sister resort and participate in the excitement at no extra cost. All together, the resorts had everything one could ask for.

Allegro Playacar: Poor rating due to poor management

The grounds, rooms were very clean. Food was good. Management needs improvement for front desk. There was a mix up regarding our rooms. You put in a request in for building 57, we could not have them unless we paid for upgrade of 300. We could not afford that.You do not get want you request. The only availability was 38, Michele and Mahlon got the front upper level but we were behind them looking at another building. It was the only one available. We arrived at 11 and they told us our room would [... read more] be available until 3. Come 3 o'clock, they wasn't available. My husband was pretty mad because we were waiting to long.He demanded to go somewhere else but air transit was not there, so we had to wait. It should not take 4 hrs. to get our room. He demaned to see the manager but it was nothing they could do. It was very hot and we were tired. I had a headache and not feeling good. It was 4 o'clock before we received the key. At that time we would take anything. The next they tried to push a membership on us. Not a good thing. We would not go back to that resort. There was a big misunderstanding with us and the rep. for barcello. They told us they would like to talk to us over breakfast but didn't relize they were taking us for ride and wanted to show us the Occeantile Xcarlet. Nice resort but not interested. We misunderstood them on wed., we thought we were having breakfast on the resort. We asked us to take s back, to be with our friends. If they would have left us on the resort, we would have set down and listen. They were very pushy. The maids were good, kept the clean. Pool was clean, beach was good but a lot of seaweed. They cleaning it all the time. Food was good, you did not go hungry. Food available all the time. The location was good, close to playa del carmon. Close to town The bar tenders were good and entertainment.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Family Vacation

Very clean resort with friendly staff. The facility is lovely with lots of pools. Its laid out like a small town. We upgraded to an ocean view room in the Eden section. Nice size room with a generous balcony and charming deck furniture. The beds were very comfortable. Great shower and jetted tub. The food was mediocre for the most part. They did have room service with the exception of breakfast. That was disappointing for us! We would have enjoyed breakfast on the balcony. While the staff was f [... read more]riendly, the service was typically slow. It appears as there was not enough staff to provide efficient service. We've been to many resorts and this was the slowest. The Japanese and steak restaurants were the best. As well as the ice cream shop and the cafe. The beach pizza place was excellent! The buffets were poor. The kids enjoyed the teen club and the bowling alley was very cool. Some little kids came in the teens club and saw some the more grown up video games and my son was concerned about that.The beach was pretty good. The seaweed was minimal . There are some rocks in the swimming area. When the water is calm you can see them easily and avoid them. Otherwise just start swimming! The slides in the kids pool were very slow-kid comment.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Fabulous huge Resort

We have traveled different resorts in the Mayan Riviera over the last 4 years and found this resort to have beautiful manicured grounds along with well maintained buildings / walkways. It is a huge resort and enjoyed all the large promenades which were used for walking pedestrians only and not motorized carts. There are numerous large pools and play pools for children so we never felt crowded. The availability of lounge chairs either around the pools or at the beach never posed an issue. Plent [... read more]y of water sports and daily beach activities. We attended 8 A-La-Cartes during our stay and found the Mexican and Japanese our favorites and also found resort staff were always friendly and courteous and picking up a drink at any of the bars was always quick. The night shows in the theater were OK but the sound system there was terrible. We checked in Feb 28th only to discover an electronic music concert called Deja Voom starting up that Thursday night down at the far end of the resort. That was the beginning of 3 sleepless nights due to the bass sound being so loud along with the partying attendees coming back to their rooms and carrying on until wee hours of the morn. When we booked our resort we didn't have any idea of concerts at the facility so that was quite the surprise. Before ever booking again I would be cautious and review any upcoming concerts venues during our potential stay there. Overall 7 of our 11 days were great!

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Beautiful and perfect resort

Everything was amazing, the grounds were beautiful and the pools were salt water so great for the skin! Staff was so friendly and helpful. Food was delicious, I ate wayyy too much! There was tons of activities for me and my kids, plus the shows in the evenings were so much fun!

Bahia Principe Explore Tulum: The right vacation place in the wrong resort

We decided to try the Bahia Principe Tulum after searching the internet for possible vacation spots. Admittedly, our travel was less than pleasant to begin with. Our flight was 3 1/2 hours late in departing, no fault of the resort. However when we finally arrived, the room we had been assigned did not have functioning air conditioning. No offer of an alternate room was made while they tried to repair the problem. When we finally did get functioning air conditioning working, we realized the rea [... read more]son for our poor sleep was not the room temperature but the slab of concrete that was called a mattress. I have had back surgery and a need a much firmer mattress than my honey however what we slept on could have been substituted by the floor tiles without a noticeable difference. Getting home made a big improvement. The main restaurant/ buffet was good, not exceptional. Next, the resort seems to use grey-water (that's water that was formerly in your sink, bathtub and toilet) for irrigating the grass and trees. It doesn't smell very good. In fact, it smelled like we were walking through a septic tank on the way to and from the main buffet restaurant. Believe me, it made both me and my wife to nearly vomit up what we had just eaten at the nearby buffet. I can only assume the signs placed in various locations to keep off the grass were not there to prevent wearing paths in the lawn, more likely it would be a health hazard to have skin contact with the grass. Don't expect to be able to do much of anything interesting in regards to snorkeling on the beach. There is a breakwater set up along the southern edge of the beach which provides some reduced wave action however the water is chest deep at best. No lagoons or bays available. There was paddle boats, para-gliders, hobie cats and wave runners available for some above water action. Of the a la carte restaurants I managed to try 5 of them. I recommend the Tequila (Mexican) and the Brazilian Rodezio as top choices. When getting your drinks at the various bars you may have to specify which liqueur needs to go in the drink otherwise the default seemed to be tequila. It doesn't work in a pina colada. Remember the phrase 'sin tequila' (pronounced seen tequila) meaning without tequila. Additionally, we were approached multiple times throughout our stay to attend the 'time-share' presentation or buy some cheap bracelets or get a massage. It seemed this practice of wandering sales people had the full sanction of the management of the resort. I came south to escape the snow and ice, not to deal with repeated sales offers. As a result of my experiences at this location, I cannot recommend it for future visits. I will be advising my friends and family to other resorts which I have visited.

Dreams Jade Resort and Spa: Now Jade - great ocean views ... great infinity pools

This resort is beautiful with great ocean views. The rooms were large enough and clean. Restaurants and Buffet were above average and room service was prompt and tasty. The resort was on top of the seaweed on a regular basis as needed so the beaches were walkable and swimmable. Being close to Puerto Morelos was great and we walked there regularly in 45 minutes. The entertainment team needs some work and the evening shows were adequate. Good food, good drink, great resort overall. It wa [... read more]s are 2nd time there.

The Fives Downtown Hotel: The very best!

They made my vacation so beautiful. I was initially worried as I was traveling solo, but soon as I got to The Fives, I totally forgot about my worries. They had a staff who's job is literally help you book all activities. Also a great concierge service that just knows Playa Del Carmen so well. Everything was perfect! Especially the hotel's proximity to 5th Avenue and the Beach. I was so lucky and blessed to book The Fives Downtown. Until next time!

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Wonderful vacation spot!

The hotel was amazing! The pools are great and all of the restaurants and buffets are fantastic. The only complaint is that there is hardly any beach, and the ocean swimming is not great because it's all sharp rocks and murky water (at least during our stay). Lot's of fun activities so it's fun for everyone!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Great resort

Rooms were very nice. Pool was huge. The entire resort was very clean. Would have liked more beer in the room. I could never find the beer delivery guy. Would likely recommend this resort to a friend.

Hyatt Zilara Riviera Maya: Amazing Resort - we will visit again!!

Secrets Capri was one of the best adult only resorts we have been too. All age groups were represented!! Everything was checked off of our list. The size of the resort was perfect. The food was unbelievable in the restaurants - loved not making reservations. It had beautiful grounds, amazing pools and beaches, staff were so friendly!! The rooms were outstanding and very very clean. The shows and entertainment were plentiful for all ages and just the right length. There was lots to do, if yo [... read more]u wanted to participate. Lots of choice......It will be a place that we will visit again!!

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Beautiful Resort, Mediocre Service

I had my doubts when I booked this vacation. Friends chose the resort based on previous visits. 975 rooms makes for a large and busy resort. My first impression was not one of delight. The lobby is unimpressive and very hot. We were not greeted as we normally are at a 4-5 star resort with a refreshing beverage. We stood in a long and slow line. We arrived well after check-in time of 3PM and yet our room was not ready. The hotel staff did not take our request of 2 rooms being close together. We [... read more] had to request a change. We were placed in the furthest building from the beach. A 15 minute walk away. The grounds were beautiful and well maintained, but on certain days when they watered, the stench was nauseating. When we finally had access to our room, the safe did not work and we had to call to have it repaired. We needed to stay and wait in our room for it to be repaired. Our patio door handle was in pieces on the floor. When we showed it to the repairman he told us to call the front desk. We decide to leave it broken as we didn’t want to waste time waiting around again. The food started off good , but progressively got worse over the course of the week. Breakfast was good. Lunch was decent. Dinner had some questionable meat. The a la cartes had the worst service. You needed to make a reservation the day before. If you didn’t make it before an early breakfast, you were eating at 9PM. We tried the Italian restaurant with a 9 o’clock seating. When we arrived, they weren’t prepared and searched the restaurant to put tables together to seat 7 of us. When we finally sat down, we were greeted with a sour face. No welcome or how do you do. Nothing. He brought us water and literally threw it into my husband’s glass from a distance. Soaking the tablecloth. Took quite a while to take our order. Food was okay. Not worth the wait. My teenage children ordered the pizza which was clearly from a box and the exact same as what they found at the snack bar. The 24 hour snack bar was not always open. We ate at the Mexican a la carte one night. Managed to get a 7:30 reservation. Our server continually mixed up our orders. My brother asked for a Coca Cola and was not brought one until the end of the meal, after repeatedly asking politely. When he finally brought it, he gave it to my husband. We had some really good laughs at the inept service, but it’s not what you expect from a 4-5 star resort. When my husband asked for hot sauce, our server just laughed and walked away. When he came back around my husband asked again and was told the red stuff is the hot sauce to which he replied”no, that’s salsa”. And then he just left again. Bar service was okay as long as you went up to the bar. Poolside service was very slow. Even with a 20USD tip ahead of time. The swing bar down by the beach was definitely the best bar. My teenagers had very poor service and were mostly ignored. They had self serve non-alcoholic drink stands, but didn’t always have cups available. The rooms were kept fairly clean. We always had fresh towels. However, my nephew had been sick in the bathroom. The smell of vomit persisted and was not cleaned off of the toilet. The beach was beautiful. The scenery, breathtaking. Pools were clean. There was a large group of friends and family. 50% ended up quite sick. Vomiting more so than diarrhea which would have been more typical. Many children succumbed to the illness. So we can’t blame it on alcohol in the heat and sun. There were never any chairs available around the pool. You could find chairs on the beach at the far right side. We had a pleasant time, but I would not book at this resort again. If you decide to go, request a building close to the beach. Either building 1 through 5. They have carts to take you to and from the beach area, but it’s hit and miss. When one does drive by, it’s too crowded and doesn’t stop anyway. So to sum it up, the resort is too big, with too many people and the service is not great. This resort is more of a 2-3 star.

Bahia Principe Explore Akumal: Best trip yet

Luxury Bahia Principe Akumal is the best resort we have been to. The place is gorgeous and clean and staff are amazing. We didn’t have to ask for anything, they were asking us. Customer service above and beyond. And yes the food was amazing as well. 1-5 rating a 5+++ And thank you Tanya Smith for helping us with this.

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Fantastic Family Resort

This is a fantastic family resort. Friendly staff clean facilities, amazing food. There is so much to do on the resort that everyday there is something new to discover. Definitely reccomend for any family.

Royal Hideaway Playacar: Spectacular resort and service

We loved the property, the service, the staff, the food.....all of it! It was so well maintained, staff always cleaning the property. We actually had no idea it was one of the Leading Hotels in the World, and were very pleasantly surprised. It was a perfect vacation, and we intend to come back soon! Thank you so very much.

Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: Great for families but with caveats!

Family of 5. Teen, tween and child. Flew Sunwing, stayed for a week. I'll start with the caveats: At the airport, make sure you sit right at the front of the bus. If you're not, check-in will take a long while and you may not get the room you requested. For us it was great since we were first on the bus and first to check in. Others weren't so lucky. Caveat: Don't lose your bracelet. It contains a chip to unlock the door to your room. 100US to replace. Caveat: Like most all inclusive re [... read more]sorts, they'll ask you to join a Sunwing rep for a presentation regarding "joining" the club. First off, the tactics used to entice you to the presentation are misleading. Second, unless you're ready to throw down thousands of dollars to join a quasi "timeshare", don't waste your 90 minutes. Caveat: Reserving pool loungers. The resort claims not to allow this. Far from it! We had to "reserve" our chairs as early as 7am to beat the madness of everyone else reserving loungers. Worst part is some people would reserve loungers and show up for 10 minutes only to disappear for the rest of the day. Staff not much help here. Caveat: If you're a beach person DO NOT COME TO THIS HOTEL unless you're prepared to swim with seaweed. The Sand itself is beautiful until you approach the water. Apparently they hired a company to clean the seaweed on the beach and you can see the little tractor cleaning up everyday however it's been an ongoing issue for years now. The water is murky and brown unless you get lucky with a day without wind which is rare. Caveat: Reserving restaurants... Forget about it unless you're diamond club or from hideaway resort. If not, you need to show up at 6pm (there's usually a lineup) to get a table for any time before 8pm. Guaranteed frustrations there. That goes for all restaurants except for Zen where you can reserve but you have to show up around 230pm to wait in line until they start reserving at 3pm for either 630pm, 8pm or 930 pm. Crazy system! Caveat: The wait staff makes an average of 150 dollars a month so they depend on tips. If you don't tip, you don't get served. Simple... Btw if you like coffee, imo Mexican coffee is not that good. Stick to the cappuccino. Ok now the good stuff Restaurants! Steak House by far the best. Steaks cooked perfectly, and very flavorful. The entire menu was delicious. Italian, Indian, sports base triedand Caribbean are good. Once you get into the restaurants you'll definitely enjoy and service is great as well. Zen is Japanese Teppanyaki and is fantastic. Great food, great entertainment. A definite must. Buffet is buffet. Different varieties, good service but pretty repetitive. Pools are great. Kids pool is fantastic with a whole bunch of things for children. Activities in all pools are great as well. Grounds are very well kept and the hotel and rooms are newer and well maintained. Kids club was great for our youngest for couple hours a day. Kept him well entertained. Take lots of sunscreen please!!!!!! Sun is very hot and we've seen our share of "tomatoes". Overall, this is a good very large family hotel. You'll definitely enjoy! We've been to both Royaltons in Jamaica and Punta Cana. I would rank this in the middle of the group.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Beautiful Resort

The sprawling resort grounds are meticulously maintained. Staff are friendly and go out of their way to be helpful. The food at the buffet was good and plentiful and the a la carte restaurants were top notch. The only negative was the beach. It was rocky and full of seaweed. We didn't swim in the ocean once. We spent plenty of time at the resort's numerous pools.

Bahia Principe Explore Akumal: Awesome resort!

This resort is a foodie’s paradise! The resort was clean and the staff were eager to please. They made my stay very comfortable. The special touch in my room to help me celebrate my birthday was very touching! I felt safe Had a great time and would dedenitly go back!

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Amazing resort

Beautiful grounds, stunning beach, excellent food and the service was stellar. Rooms were very comfortable and well situated with the pools and beach close by. The quality of the food as well as the abundant choice of restaurants and buffets along with the 24 hour cafes and ice cream and crepe place just added to the amazing experience.Amazing holiday and would definitely go back to this wonderful resort, Iberostar Paraiso Lindo.