The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences Playa Del Carmen: Family Vacation Azul Fives

The Hotel was beautiful. We stayed in a one bedroom Jacuzzi suite and there was lots of room for all four of us to stay. The restaurants were beautiful and the food was great. As a family we enjoyed everything from the smoothie bar, to the pools, beautiful beach, and rainforest walk way. The staff was friendly and helpful. We truly appreciated the staff at the beach front as they took the time to get to know us and make an effort to get my young daughters 'drink orders' correct ;) We found [... read more] the concierge at the beach very accommodating and would help us book one of the 'beds' on the beach when prestige members were not using them. The overall experience was relaxed and comfortable. We went on one trip off the resort and really appreciated the efforts Air Transat puts into helping families plan a day trip; everything went smoothly. The only complaint I have is of the room cleaners; they did not speak any English so it was hard to make requests (ex. inquire times when they would need access to the rooms, or to replace dirty glasses). However, we did not spend a great deal of time in the room, so it did not adversely impact our time at all!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: What a blast!

My family and I had so much fun. My 5 year old loved the kids club and the water parks. My wife and I loved the beach and the grounds around the resort. The staff was absolutely wonderful and treated us like royalty.

Ocean Coral Riviera Cancun: Beautiful Resort!!

Everything about this resort was beautiful! From the beach to the room! The food was some of the best I've ever had while vacationing. The buffet is themed every night so you never get sick of eating the same thing. I loved the fact that you only had to book one of the restaurants and that you could attend any one of them any night of the week that you wanted without a reservation!! Route 66 was amount our favourite. Our travel agent told us that the beach was one of the nicest along the Riveri [... read more]a and she sure wasn'the wrong. We are beach people, so this was great! There was no bar on the beach but servers do come to take your drink order and the bars aren't too far. Everything was in walking distance. We stayed in the 1800s and I suggest that location because it was central to everything! We had a junior suite which was beautiful and came with a bottle of wine upon arrival as well as matching robes and slippers. The staff is absolutely amazing and this is one of the best resorts for the customer service aspect. We were treated like Queens the entire week!! Cano, Juan-Carol's, Suzana, Oscar and Salvatore were some of the best workers!! Cano goes above and beyond to make sure your dining experiences are great. The pools are great as well, only one has a swim up bar! Large and beautiful pools with many chairs but you honestly have to save your pool chairs at 6am as well as the ones on the beach. The spa is great if you have a chance to check it out! Overall a great stay and will definitely be back!!!!!!

Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Six Visits Prove Sian K'an Is A Charm

This was our 6th trip to Luxury Bahia Principe Sian Ka'an. After trying numerous other resorts on the Mayan Riviera, other parts of Mexico and the Caribbean, we continue to return here. The food is excellent, the accommodation is great - particularly the two story suites with the hot tub on the roof, and the service is excellent. We prefer the fact that it is not on the beach, and are not bothered by the tram ride required to access the water. This resort is peaceful, modern and just perfect for [... read more] us.

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Good resort

Lots of great things about this resort: * Grounds are beautiful * Rooms were very nice * Beach/Pools were nice Checkin is painful - took over an hour and the process seemed to be disorganized Room cleaning dropped off (towels etc. missed on several days) Service with meals was hit and miss for breakfast only Would consider implementing a rule on towel "ownership" on chairs, often they were towelled but not occupied for hours therefore limiting other chair occupancy. Nice spot but wo [... read more]uld have paid a couple hundred more to get more consistent service

Riu Tequila: Worth Repeating

We loved the Mexican hacienda ambiance of this resort and found it to be kept very clean and well organized. The staff was very friendly and helpful. There was a great variety of food, very tasty and we didn't have any trace of illness, which we were wary of from previous bad experience in Mexico. If you want a Mayan moment, make memories here!

Ocean Coral Riviera Cancun: Amazing Vacation!

My girlfriend and I stayed at this resort this last week and it was absolutely amazing! The resort was beautiful and clean and not overly huge so nothing was too far. The beach was gorgeous, the rooms were spacious and modern. The food was fantastic and different everyday, the service was outstanding and we even tried out the Spa which was a must to complete a perfect week. A special thanks to Cano, Juan Carlos, Suzanna, Salvatore, Oscar, Miguel, Mateo and others. Will definitely be back.

Ocean Coral Riviera Cancun: Honest cab driver.

I recently spent a week at this lovely resort. We took a cab into the nearest town and I accidentally left my wallet in the cab. The hotel had a record of which cab we had taken so they called the driver. He had my wallet and returned it to me with money and credit cards in tact. I could hardly believe my good fortune. Thanks so much for the honest people we dealt with.

The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences Playa Del Carmen: Amazing wedding

We just got back a week ago from Azul Fives and had a wonderful time. Our wedding was perfect- the staff were so attentive and amazingly friendly. My only complaint was our room. We booked an essence sky suite- check in was supossed to be at 3pm- we were with a group of 25 and almost half of us had to wait until 5pm for our room. As for our room- it was nice and clean but we were looking directly at a huge air conditioning system and there wasn't much privacy. I asked for a room change and they  [... read more]accommodated the next day- but again we had to wait until 5:30 pm for our room- our new room was nice had better views but had a terrible sky patio- literally a table with 8 chairs a rusty BBQ, a tub which didn't even function and a ripped chair. We were really lot pleased since we where there for our wedding. Everything else was great! Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Excellent Holiday

This was our 9th visit to this complex and our 3rd family trip there were 14 of us this time. We had a very good time and found hotel staff to be very friendly and helpful. Room was good and as requested got a handy cap room which was very nice. Service every where was excellent, beach is awesome, and service by staff at pool was above average

Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya: Great Resort for School-Aged Kids

Wow, service! The staff make this place. Carolina and the crew at the kids club were so much fun - they made crafts, had dance-offs, played games, dress-up…they were so kind and welcoming. Heaven is gorgeous, natural and lush feeling (small beach), and Hacienta is a perfect blend of rock, turquoise water, beautiful hedges and palm trees. We were at the Hacienta (family) side. The beach is small on this side compared to some other locations but it is deep (4 comfortable rows of loungers) and ne [... read more]ver felt crowded (about 300 m long) - always plenty of chairs & umbrellas. There are also smaller alcoves and lots of nooks and crannies to sit by the beach or pool - the design is lovely if you don't like to be with hordes of people. The sand is like powder with some small shells hosting tiny hermit crabs along the water edge near the chapel which make for loads of fun for kids. In the water, you'll find fish both small and big enough to eat - no snorkel required to see them…sort of like a live aquarium. It's a great place to introduce kids to snorkelling. A good place for kids to swim - it is shallow for a ways out and even on very windy days the waves didn't make the lagoon unsafe to swim in. The artificial-isa reef (actually looks pretty real) helps keep the big waves of the Mayan ocean away from the beach swim area. The resort rooms are nice, a high end resort (clean, nice). You can fit a cot between the two double beds (they are doubles, not queens). The rooms were quiet, good AC, and the hammock on the balcony is fun. We stayed in building 5 near the water - beautiful ocean view. The restaurants offer a large variety of food, nice fresh salads and fruits, to hunks of meat and fried foods. Good fresh and flavourable food for a high-end resort, but not the level of Karisma. There is ALWAYS food available. The coffee shop in the main lobby and the wood oven pizza pool side are great. Only one restaurant actually serves you at your table (Frida) so expect a lot of buffet trips with your kids. The waterslide is super fun and the river-like layout of the pool means there are lots of different pool areas - many for the kids, including a large kid pool and areas in the main pool shallow enough for kids. The pool foam party is loads of fun - and the kids really enjoyed the fireshow/beach party (both happen on Thursdays). Most of all, the people who work at the Hard Rock are so very friendly and helpful! Compared to other resort experiences all the little things were cared for - politeness/kindness/helpful, water in the room, fresh towels in room and poolside, pool and beach drink service to your chair, front desk help - everywhere you get North American standards for top customer service - not like most all-inclusives. There is music playing most of the time but it is Top 40 stuff so its appealing to the masses. Not a huge party place so great for kids. Room keys are your brackets (incl. the kids) - bonus for convenience. No pool towel key nonsense ether. FYI - My kids are 7 and 4.

Grand Riviera Princess: Beautiful resort

Rooms were big.Service was excellent.The grounds were beautiful and very clean.A lot of walking but exercise will never hurt anyone.Food was alright and the drinks were great.the beach was nice and there was many pools and many different places to eat. The Staff you couldn't ask for better service.

Selection Riviera Cancun: First time at Azul Sensatori, won't be the last!

After having just spent a wonderful week at Azul Sensatori we would like to share our own experiences with this awesome resort. We aren't overly experienced with resorts and weren't sure what to expect but for a first time all-inclusive vacation we were definitely impressed and came back feeling rejuvenated, refreshed and very happy with our choice. Right from the start we were glad that we booked with Sunwing as they took care of the little details like a shuttle service to and from the ai [... read more]rport which was greatly appreciated. The resort is a short 20 minute drive from the airport and was filled with just the people staying at Sensatori, both ways. Once at the hotel we were greeted with a welcome glass of champagne at check in and with luggage service to our room taken care of we took the opportunity to excitedly check out our accommodations. We had booked a room in the adult section and had asked for a higher floor before arrival which we received with no issues. From the plentiful amenities inside the room to a welcome bottle of champagne in the room to the view we were blown away right from the start! While not technically ocean view, every room in the adult section does face the ocean but is set back from the beach area and there are palm trees that partially block a full view. Our recommendation is to get a higher floor room and you will have some fantastic views above the tree line. As for noise, we found with the sliding door closed we did not hear any background noise or music from the pool. Staff: The staff at Sensatori are nothing short of exceptional and we can’t say enough about them. From start to finish we were always treated with the kindest respect and gratitude from everyone with a few minor but not life altering exceptions. We are not high maintenance people and know that everything doesn’t go perfectly while on vacation and realize it is not the end of the world when something happens. The way we look at it is that you are on vacation after all so don’t sweat the small things. Our room was always kept immaculate by the cleaning staff and we were treated to a new towel creation each day upon returning from the pool or beach. Tipping is not required at the resort and we were never felt obliged to do so by anyone although we did tip on quite a few occasions which always seemed to be received with genuine appreciation. Even without tipping if you treat the staff with respect and are not a wanker to them you will receive the best service ever. A special thanks to Alex, Angel and Enrique at Spoon who remembered that we enjoy a Mimosa from time to time and would suggest it without having to ask. They were all extremely pleasant and welcomed us with a big smile each morning for breakfast. Food/Restaurants: There is something for everyone here and no one should ever go hungry during their stay. All of the restaurants were as described, although we did find out our second day that they had changed their reservation policy a little in that you now need a reservation at all of the restaurants except Spoon. This is also where your personal concierge is one of your best friends in that they will book dinner reservations for you most of the time. Making a reservation at La Chique took a mere 15 minutes and was a great addition to our taste buds. We would definitely recommend taking the opportunity for the free tasting menu provided as an extra perk by booking through Sunwing. Excursions: Originally we planned on booking our excursions before travel but we are glad we waited as they have many great deals and price discounts once you are at the resort. The ladies at Nexus Tours were extremely accommodating and even despite a hiccup in our plans we were able to rearrange our excursion plans with no issue. We definitely recommend checking out the snorkeling excursion through the Original Snorkel Adventure which is located just a short 5 minute walk down the beach. Another perk through Sunwing was the free shopping trip to Playa Del Carmen which we took advantage of as well. We found the resort to be centrally located to the more popular excursions so the bus transfers were not bad at all time wise. Beach: We had read so many differing opinions regarding the beach that worried us as to what to expect but here is our take - While it may not be the most gloriously over-hyped beach on the Mayan Riviera, if you are looking for a place to relax and just take it easy this beach will definitely fit the bill! It is still a powdery sand beach just like the others and yes, bring some water shoes if you venture out in the water as it is a little rocky but most of the time it is clear a few feet out and we never encountered any major problems with seaweed as they work extremely hard to keep the beach clear and enjoyable. There are plenty of lounge chairs and cabanas but as with the cabanas by the pools you should probably be there early in the morning to reserve them as they are occupied quite quickly. If you don't mind hanging out in a lounge chair for part of your relax time at the beach or pool you can keep an eye out and usually score a much more comfortable cabana around mid afternoon. One suggestion that we would make to Azul Sensatori is that it would be nice if there was some way to split the cabana times into morning and afternoon reservations so that more people could enjoy them. There is also a very nice beach barbeque lunch buffet and bar with waiter service to add to the relaxation experience. Security: Again may have been a slight concern for us but we were given a lock for our in room safe at check in and never felt uncomfortable leaving some things out in the open. We had left a tip for the cleaning staff for the first few days but it was never touched so we ended up having to personally give it to the cleaning staff. If you want to be extra cautious it should be a no brainer to use a suitcase lock for both the flight and luggage transfers to and from the airport and even in the room for extra security. Sales presentation: Yes, there was some push for buying into their Prestige Club vacations which we found both good and bad. On the day we met with our concierge Rosi we were moved from our spot at the adult pool to the prestige pool with personal Butler service as well as a few other perks. As nice as this was we soon found ourselves back at the adult pool as there seemed to be a lack of atmosphere at the prestige pool and we really found it wasn't for us. They do ask you to attend a 90 minute to two hour sales presentation in exchange for discounts and vouchers for the resorts activities but you are under no obligation to neither attend the sales presentation nor accept the temporary upgrades. The sales pitch was a little pushy at times and we found ourselves a little uncomfortable seeing the upgraded areas with the intent of being sold on them. It was an experience that we will likely turn down in the future. Overall, despite a few hiccups we were treated like royalty all week and would definitely return to Sensatori in the future as the experience has left us both with life long memories.

Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: Good but not great!

Good food (avoid opa & italiam resto they are sub par), good entertainment, nice resort, nice beach, poor service, avoid the nexus tours desk at the beach especially. I wont be returning to any royalton hotels after finding out they are owned by the infamous sub par sunwing airlines.

Bahia Principe Explore Akumal: Absolutely amazing 💟💟

I cannot put into words how amazing this resort was. From the rooms to the food to the cleaness of the rooms and grounds and everything in between.It was all totally amazing. Definitely my first choice of our future vacation. Loves it !!!

Grand Sunset Princess: Great Resort

Would of liked a king or queen bed in the room. Ala cartes ok- Miso and La Hacienda being the best. Staff very friendly and helpful. Nice to have 3 places you could go for breakfast and lunch and if you wanted to stay in your bathing suit they had food at most pools and at the beach which was great. Sunwing an hour late leaving and returning which needs to be improved on.

Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Highly recommended

Our group of eight family members recently stayed at the Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort for eight days. Overall, our experience was very positive. The rooms, staff, activities, food and evening entertainment were all very good to excellent - great value for the money. Our Trip Central agent, Jennifer Collard, who was fantastic, arranged for rooms for all of us in building 1, which was perfect for us. Collectively, we participated in the spin, yoga and aqua zumba classes, and did paddleboar [... read more]ding and a lot of snorkelling; it was wonderful to be able to snorkel right off the beach and see turtles, rays, squid and a wide variety of fish. We also did several side trips, and being able to catch the coletivo buses right outside the property was great - we were able to get to the Tulum ruins before it got crowded, and the bus fare ($3 per person each way) was very reasonable. I only have two minor complaints. The transfer from the airport to the hotel took about double the time that the staff on the bus told us - almost two hours. When there was a significant delay in entering one of the hotels where passengers were being dropped off, there was no explanation or apology. For the trip back to the airport, we booked a private transfer, which was well worth the money - we had an extra hour and a half at the hotel, so we were able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast, and had a much more pleasant ride. The other concern was about the specialty restaurants. Our group came from three widely separated locations, so it is very rare that we are able to spend time together. We were told that it was not possible to reserve a table for our group, and that we could only come to one of the restaurants at 6:00 (the opening time) to see if we could be seated together. At the Mexican restaurant, we arrived before 6:00, only to find that two other large groups had been given an advance reservation, and despite having plenty of empty tables, the staff refused to put them together for us. Worse than that, the staff at the French restaurant told us to come back in ten minutes, so that they could put together tables for us. We came back less than ten minutes later to find that they had put another group of eight where they were going to seat us. When we expressed disappointment with what they had done, they just shrugged, and as with the other restaurant, refused to put together tables for us. In both cases, we said that we would be fine with using just two tables for our group (which would not have reduced the capacity of the restaurant). We did not let these experiences negatively impact what was an overall very good impression of the resort.

Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Wonderful resort and agent!

Our agent Tina scibetta-Moore recommended the Akumel Bay Beach and Wellness resort and it was amazing on every level! Perfect location, gorgeous surroundings and wonderful ammenities. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay. My only complaint was the inability to make reservations at the restaurants as the wait times tended to be long.

Bahia Principe Explore Coba: Great time

Stayed at BP Coba Jan 21-28 2017,we had a great time.The resort is massive but quite easy to get around with the trolley system.The grounds are very well kept,rooms were excellent,selection of drinks were fantastic ,buffet food average(turn up the warmers,some food cold,replemish the food quicker)Ala cartes were awesome.Staff, amazing.Some parts of the beach were very nice some not so nice.Entertainment was good with a good variety,lobby shuts down at 11pm,we didn't mind but my sure some people  [... read more]did.BP priviledge club sales people are way to agressive.Long travel day to get to the resort with a 2 hour bus ride from the airport,but soon forgotten next day when you are poolside with a drink.

Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: We love it!

This is the 3rd or 4th time we have stayed at Sian Ka'an and we look forward to returning in the future. The resort is smaller than some of the larger resorts and much more quaint. The staff is excellent and responsive. Because you have access to the other 3 sister resorts, you have tremendous variety for restaurants, pools and beach areas.