The Fives Beach Hotel and Residences Playa Del Carmen: Lovely Resort with Great Service

Very well maintained family resort. Lots of options for all meals and great service. Lots of pools and loungers. Check out the Spa for many free activities. Good fitness facilities and classes. Noisy

Bahia Principe Explore Akumal: Great resort

Found the pictures of the pool very misleading! Instead of one large long pool as we had expected, it was broken up into several separate pools!! The buffet was passable but not great for every meal. The ala carte restaurants were excellent and dispite comments to the contrary we had NO PROBLEM making reservations for them at the customer service desk once we arrived.

Royal Hideaway Playacar: Best beach ever

Yes best beach ever. Lots of chairs and all of them have covers and/or umbrellas. Food was great but making dinner reservations was chaos and terribly unorganized. Concierges were totally useless but wait staff and bartenders were excellent. Rooms were large and well maintained.

Sandos Caracol Nature Resort and Water Park: You don’t even have to leave

This hotel had everything you can ask for. Mayan ruins, water slides, great entertainment, food was delicious and if they ran out, it was replenished immediately. All the staff was there to help and with a smile. Please don’t listen to any negative feedback, I don’t know what they were expecting other than a rolled out red carpet. The only issue I had was the cleaning staff, they could have kicked it up a notch.

Wyndham Alltra Playa del Carmen: Not all it’s cracked up to be

We did enjoy our stay but it was not the same as it was 2 yrs ago The food in the buffet was recycled every single day from dinner to breakfast from breakfast to lunch and lunch to dinner Same crap every day . The only restaurant we went to was Brasso steak house The steak was good but way under cooked and had to send it back As for smokers there is no designated area on the street in front of hotel no chairs or benches and no ashtrays They made us feel like criminals I found the st [... read more]aff was not as welcoming as our previous time except for Lydia at the coffee shop still amazing lady Wait staff was horrible stacks of plates before they would pick it up and we were great tippers , and the beach sucks If you just want to lay on a cot the water was rocky and slimy I would recommend going else where When our flight got delayed they said have a nice day but we have no room for you they need to take a lesson from the staff and cooks at the moon palace where Sunwing sent us because of a 2 day delay , they sure do know how to cook and treat people, the wait staff would bend over backwards for you

Barcelo Maya Palace: Amazing Resort

Absolutely amazing resort . The service was amazing. The la carts were easy to booked . Some of areas were rocky recommend water shoes . The chairs on beach and pool side are hard to find. Only complaint I have.

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Very relaxing holiday!

My longtime friend and I really enjoyed our 9 night stay at Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo in February 2025. Our garden view room was generally comfortable, though the air conditioning did not seem to cool the room sufficiently during the nights. The buildings, grounds and pools were lovely and well maintained. There was a wide variety of architectural styles, making exploring the resort a real design pleasure. We enjoyed being able to swim and dine at three other hotels on the property, whi [... read more]ch is so expansive there is a shuttle service. The French and fine dining restaurants were excellent; however our steak house experience was disappointing. Sorry to say that we were not able to enjoy swimming in the ocean due to rough seas and winds.

Secrets Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: So So Stay at Secrets

This hotel was not as expected from a service or grounds expectation. But the Mexican sun was still enjoyable. The good: - excellent service and higher end drinks at Preferred Club Lounge - pool chairs are very comfortable & towels were great - food at some of the restaurants was excellent (Italian, French, dinner at Rosewater). The Not As Expected: - beach was very short, chair cushions had seen better days, limited shade, lots of sea weed - getting a chair around the pool was nex [... read more]t to impossible unless you wanted to get up at 6am (do not believe otherwise) -service from the start was very uneven, good sometimes, non existent the next (and yes we tipped!) - rooms were showing some wear & daily cleaning was again very uneven (one day they took the tip and walked back out, leaving dirty towels and dishes) - cannot make reservations for dinner, so you could wait up to 1.5 hrs for a table despite being a preferred guest - service in restaurants was again uneven - sometimes you got water, sometimes not, same with timely service and even cutlery - all hit or miss - no main longe area where guests can gather to chat at night on either Secrets or Breathless side It wasn’t a terrible experience, we always found something to eat, and some staff were excellent but overall not the Secrets experience I have had several times in the past.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Great family-friendly resort

We visited this resort with our nearly 1 year old and our 3 year old. We stayed in the Daisi hotel, right near the water park, pool, park and kids corner. This was perfect for us as our baby still takes two naps and our 3 year old also naps once per day. We were able to split up when needed and take turns staying in the room or on the balcony with our sleeping babies. The room itself was pretty outdated, and missing a mechanical inside lock to prevent our son from escaping the room. That was ann [... read more]oying, as we had to put a suitcase in front of the door as an obstacle to at least slow him down. The food at the resort was delicious. We most often frequented the buffet, as our kids were hit or miss when it came to appetite and mood, so the buffet ensured there was always something they liked and we could leave quickly if one of them had enough. The lobby was very nice and was a nice escape from the heat. I pushed my baby around in the stroller in the lobby every day to get her to fall asleep. There were many activities at night for kids, and my son participated nearly every night. The beach was not great, but we spent most of our time at the pool. This is the perfect resort for families with young kids.

Blue Diamond Luxury Boutique Hotel: Nice location, but

The food was great. Everything is à la carte. Only 2 restaurants. We had to call reception to get bathroom amenities. The plunge pool had to be filled daily because the drain was plugged with a rag. We had to ask for it to be filled daily. Beach towels went quickly. The bathrooms at the Aquamarina restaurant need to be updated. Our backyard patio was lovely. The beach did not have enough lounge chairs. The bikes need to be replaced. The resort is tired and needs a do over.

Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort and Spa: Treated like royalty at Royalton Riviera

Loved this resort. Huge property, beautifully manicured grounds. Fabulous buffet and lots of a la carte options too. Several pools to choose from and nice beach for walking. Entertainment team were lively and engaging. We were upgraded to a presidential suite in building 5 - so very nice. No complaints.