Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Incredible! True 5 Star Vacation

My husband and I stayed at the Akumal Beach and Wellness Resort March 1 - 8, 2017. This was our sixth visit to the Riviera Maya area, third specifically to the Akumal area. On our very first trip to the area some ten years ago we discovered Akumal Beach, the Lol Ha and the turtles. Whenever we visited the area after that, we always made the effort to cab it to Akumal Beach for at least a few hours. During those visits we walked by what was then Akumal Beach Resort always wondering what it  [... read more]would be like to stay there. Over the years we tried and tried to book it without success. Then a few years ago it underwent a major transformation and became the Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort. I watched and watched last fall and finally was able to book it through Tanya at Trip Central for 2017. My biggest fear with this resort was that my expectations were so high, I was either going to love it or be colossally disappointed. Well, I am happy to report it lived up to every one of my expectations. We have stayed at quite a few places in Mexico that consider themselves 5 star, but the Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort is the only one that actually reaches that level for us. No comparison between them, not even close. From start to finish it is an experience. I can't put my finger on the feeling exactly, the best I can do is to say you just feel like you belong there. We arrived around 2:30pm and had a short wait for our room. We listened to the Fidelity representative for about 30 minutes before our room was ready. No big deal. He did his job, gave us some useful information and knew we weren't interested. Never bothered us again. We were in 3109, it was fantastic. We could lay in bed and still see a perfect ocean view. All the rooms have a jacuzzi tub on the balcony. Very nice in the evening to sit outside in your tub with a drink listening to the ocean and soaking in the moment. It really is as nice as it sounds. We tried room service one night after a visit to Ek Balam earlier in the day. Room service, jacuzzi, a few drinks, listening to the ocean and watching the stars, perfect end to a perfect day. The room service was excellent, took less than 30 minutes and was delicious. Your room beer is Heineken or Dos Equis. FYI, you can also get Dos Equis amber on tap at the bars. Our first day we had 2 Heineken in the fridge and our safe was showing a low battery warning. We went to the front desk to tell them about the safe and I asked if it was possible to have a few more beer (we both drink it) and for them to be Dos Equis. She sent us back to our room to wait for the safe service. He was there before we were! He would not touch the safe without one of us watching him. While he was there our phone rang, it was the front desk letting us know someone would be by to look after our fridge requests. I was still on the phone when the knock came at the door for the fridge person. That's service! For the rest of the week he paid attention to what we were using and filled it accordingly. Great attention to detail. The point with this is, if you want something don't just expect them to know. Tell them politely and be appreciative. I loved the towel art in our room and the treats. Our room was cleaned and kept well stocked with honey and oatmeal soap, shampoo, body wash, towels, facecloths...you get the idea. There is also a reusable bag as well as robes and slippers. Should it rain, you will find an umbrella in your closet where the iron and ironing board is. The bed and pillows were really nice. More comfortable than at home actually! Lots of water pressure in the shower and a huge dressing area. We travel as a couple so the open concept doesn't bother us but if you were a group of friends it might be awkward. Just open a closet door and use that as a barrier if needed. They are certainly big enough. Lots of space in the closets to put your things. The safe is quite big. Held all of our gear with lots of space to spare. No tacky plastic resort bracelets here. Just a hand woven bracelet that you could wear anywhere. You could even take it off if heading to Playa or other shopping area so your resort isn't easily identifiable. The buffet and snack bar had plenty of choices even for someone like me who is incredibly fussy. I loved the ice cream. We also did the Rodizio twice. Really good both times. We tried to do the Gourmet unfortunately we picked a very busy night so ended up not going. The bars and pop-up bars are great. Never a challenge to find a place for a drink. I tried lots of different fruity ones...all yummy! Beach service and pool service also great. There is a spa, gym, yoga hut, massage and a whole slew of beauty and wellness services available. The beach is fantastic. They are constantly raking up the seaweed. It is the ocean so you can't stop it but they do a great job at managing it. People do save chairs and I did see stuff being removed by staff, which I thought was fantastic. I will say that most of the saved chairs were used. I didn't really notice that chairs were vacant for an excessive amount of time. There were busy times and not busy times. We always managed to find two. Funny thing was the towels, we bring our own so we didn't care, but people got really greedy with them. One person needs three towels? No, no they don't. I like the no towel cards here, hopefully these people don't ruin it for everyone. We did decide one day to use resort towels. We just went to the front desk to get them as the table near us was empty. Wasn't a big a deal. The evening entertainment we saw was fun. Lots of dancing, laughing and smiling. Sellers were there for a few hours one night. Not aggressive or pushy at all. There is a main pool in front of building 2 and infinity pools in front of 1, 3 and 4 if pools are your thing. We only went into a pool once, the one in front of our building, and had it all to ourselves. The beach is really what you're here for. To me, what makes this place a true standout is the staff. You are made to feel welcome the second you get out of your transfer (we used Canada Transfers). A friendly greeting from Luis was the prefect start to our vacation and a warm heartfelt handshake goodbye from Luis was the perfect way to end it. In between that time we met too many staff members who were just incredible to list them all. You might have had a morning where coffee was a little slow, but once you told them it didn't happen again. They want you to have a good experience and it shows. It is up to you to speak up politely when you need or want something. This is not an adults only resort so yes there are kids behaving like kids. They have every right to enjoy their stay as much as we do. Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort is friendly for all types of travelers. If you want adults only, book adults only. I have so much more I could say but I think you get that we really liked...no loved...this resort and it's staff. I always say that maybe we will go back to a place again not this time, I know we will be back. We did a few off resort activities which I will review separately. One of them was arranged for us by Tim at the Akumal Tours and Excursion desk at the resort. I highly recommend checking with them if you are looking for something to do. We wanted a half day ATV and no one was offering it. Tim got us in last minute on one which included Akumal Monkey Sanctuary, ATV driving and a cenote. Really happy with that! A couple little tips I would have would be, remember to treat people as you yourself expect to be treated. If you want to be treated kindly, you have to treat people kindly and with respect. A smile, 'Please, and 'Thank You' go a long way. The staff is here to help make your vacation as special as it can be, but it is up to you to make it everything it can be. Don't look for or dwell on the small things. Find your own solutions to make it work, don't wait for someone to do it for you. Lastly, live in the moment because before you know it that moment is over.

Riu Palace Cabo San Lucas: Simply grand

This resort was top notch very clean and amazing food. staff were for the most part friendly and efficient Loved not having to make reservations for the a la carte. The coffee bar was situated in a great location. The pools and beach area were not too crowded and the grounds were very well kept---beautiful. I would visit again.

Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach: Beautiful resort

Really nice looking resort, pools were great lazy river was awesome. Great service from all staff especially the entertainment staff. Rooms were very nice and pretty clean overall. Food could have been a little better.

Dreams Sapphire Resort and Spa: Amazing Review

Hotel,grounds,food,drinks and staff all great. Hotel and resort very clean highly recommended. I think this is a great deal for the money. Beaches are very nice some seaweed but cleaned up daily. Plenty of towels no deposit necessary

Grand Sunset Princess: Very nice resort

My wife and I spent 5 days here in March, 2017. We thought that the grounds and rooms were very nice, pools, beach, all the infrastructure was impeccable. The only negative comment we have, is that the food at the a la carte restaurants was disappointing. It wasn't bad, but we expected slightly more - flavour, selection, etc. The buffets were excellent. The staff were very friendly and accommodating.

Barcelo Maya Palace: Barcelo Palace is now a Kids resort

We have been at this resort 3rd time and I have seen a definitive downturn. Poor service at the front desk. They need training. Also they insist in taking a credit card for incidentals. Be aware! If there are wongful charges no one will help you! AC DID NO WORKED FOR A FULL DAY! They stopped electricity for a half day. People working there are nice. I recommend the beach resort instead and the Maya mall.

Occidental Costa Cancun: Quaint and lovely!

The resort was quite small but what it lacked in size was made up for by the hospitable staff and amazing food. The evening entertainment was ok but lacked variety and with the resort not offering a disco or evening music it made for somewhat boring nights. Unless we had a late dinner ate in of the three amazing restaurants or buffet. There was good for everyone's tastes and we always had full bellies! There was one large pool, a small beach area but there was never any issue finding a place  [... read more]at either. It was nice to get away and be social with the other vacationers. I'm not sure we will return based on our love of dancing and music. But, overall the experience was great and relaxing.

Catalonia Yucatan: Great Resort!

This resort was very nice!. The grounds and public areas were beautifully maintained and well kept. The rooms were spacious and had very nice balconies. Dining was also very good with lots of variety, good food and service. There were also some very good shows put on each night. The people at the resort were all very friendly and accommodating. Great vacation resort!

Barcelo Maya Beach Resort: Great resort

Large updated resort with lots to do. Multiple large pools. Awesome sandy beach. Lots of chairs and trees for shade. Exceptional service in restaurants with multiple options, both casual and formal. Most enjoyable resort. Staff very friendly and professional.

Dreams Sands Cancun Resort and Spa: great spot for a vacation

the staff and service were great at the dreams sands resort and the food was terrific but we didn't get the room we requested the first night and had to spend a good part of the next day getting that fixed and the room we were moved to was quite dated and this seemed to be so with most of the rooms ,maid service was slow and most times something was forgotten and we had to call to have it made right,all in all it is a pretty good hotel not a four and a half star like advertised but the location  [... read more]is good and the beach and swimming were fantastic ,we would go back if the price was right as we have stayed at more modern places for around the same amount of money.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Thoroughly Enjoyable

Although not brand new this hotel is maintained to excellent standards. They are constantly doing repairs, painting, decorating etc. On the way to breakfast on our second morning there was a lady standing outside the buffet holding a clipboard. She asked us if our room was satisfactory or if we had any issues. We told her the bathroom vanity mirror was damaged and one of the door hinges was broken on the fridge/coffee maker cabinet. ( My wife was concerned we would get blamed for the damage.  [... read more]) When we returned to our room after eating our breakfast the mirror had already been replaced and the door hinge was fixed. I was impressed!! There was a great variety of food and it was delicious. Nice selection of a la cart restaurants.My favorite was the Seafood restaurant while my wife loved the Mexican one! Beach was beautiful and lots of lounge chairs. We never had to run out in the morning to put a towel on the chair for later. Pools were plentiful and kept very clean. We are already talking about returning next year, but for 2 weeks instead of one.

Las Brisas Huatulco: Couldn't be better!

What's not to like? Three separate and different beaches, 3 pools and beautifully maintained grounds. Twelve quality tennis courts, squash and pickle ball courts and a fully equipped modern gym. Modern room, balcony with ocean view, flat TV and wifi in the room. Nice buffet restaurant and 5 nice a la cartes. 10 straight days of sunshine and 31 degrees. The resort is built on the side of a cliff so there is no end of stairs. There are a number of golf cart style buggies to transport guests a [... read more]round and they are frequent. Still, this is not a place for people with mobility issues. Tourist mix was 45% Canadian, 45% Mexican nationals and 10% other. We truly enjoyed it and will be back.

Sandos Caracol Nature Resort and Water Park: Sandos Caracol Eco Resort Spa

The Hotel was Fantastic for the whole family espescially the kids, with all the animals or Flora nad Fauna throughout the whole resort. We always travel as a large family group yearly. The age range this year was from 5 to 90 years old. The children had a ball running and becoming very independent here. For the Seniors however, although the resort is beautiful, it can be quit hard to navigate for them. It is very dark at night and uneven walks, so this limited them as to where and when they wo [... read more]uld go out even to eat The distance and then no elevators was an obsticle for them sometimes, so we had to work really hard to get 1 ground floor level for the one couple or they would have been room bound much of the time. ( I had originally requested for all 4 of our rooms to be together and ground floor which did not happen, and for 30,000 dollars should have!!!!) The one thing that saved this group was to get a wheel chair from the resort. Please understand this resort is great, but you need to be a little more forthcmoing on how the elderly will have a tuffer time with mobility here. The Staff here are wonderful and kind and helpful, which it seems a lot of other people take advantage of this and was hard to ignore. Please be kind to them and other visitors. Oh and the beach is VERY rocky and hard to enter the water. There are much nicer beaches around.

Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Peaceful, Tranquil, Beautiful

Loved this resort. Food was great, lots of selection. Service was very good, no complaints. Loved the pools and golf course was perfect. Lots of choice of amenities between all 4 resorts and convenient shuttles made it easy to see everything. Good choice of entertainment at each resort. Very nice beach. I would definitely go back.

El Dorado Seaside Suites: Slice of heaven!

What a wonderful vacation we had at El Dorado seaside resort. From the moment we arrived till we left, we felt well taken care of. Staff were always happy to answer any questions we had but were never pushy to sell extra services. Rooms were spacious, clean and well stocked with a beautiful Jacuzzi in each washroom. The view from every room is lovely, looking directly out to the beach and waterfront. The food was excellent with a wide choice of restaurants both a la carte and buffet style t [... read more]o choose from and evenings offered a range of entertainment to enjoy. We thoroughly enjoyed our trip and would certainly consider returning to the El Dorado.

Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya: A piece of paradise

This was an amazing resort. From the grand entrance way to the property, the pool area, restaurants, rooms and down to the beach, everything was fantastic. Walkways through out the resort where scenic and well manicure for an easy morning or late evening stroll. Entertainment was great and the staff very friendly. We will definitely return to this resort for another vacation. Recommend 100%.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: What a great experience!

We stayed at the resort in early March with another couple (4 in total). Both of us stayed in the Eden Rooms, closer to the beach, but farther from most of the complex. This was no problem at all! The walk was as short or as a blissfully long as you wanted it to be. Take a trolly if you need to get somewhere fast, or wander and check out iguanas, talk to friendly folks or peak around at the gorgeous design of this hotel. At the beach there is a restaurant/bar so if you are really getting hungry  [... read more]you can just head there. The rooms themselves are beautiful, clean and modern with great views on any side. Great staff keep things clean daily and are constantly around if you need anything at all. The walk in showers are amazing. The food is what really shines here for us. Seriously, the Blue Moon Restaurant was better than most places up here in Winnipeg, with classic French service preformed by gracious waiters, it was fantastic. The buffet rocked for every meal and the 'cafeteria' is on the the most pretty rooms I've ever sat in. There are more a la cartes here than you can eat at in one week, crazy! There are lots of choices for things to do during the day: pool, beach, tennis, basketball, kayaks, volleyball, pingpong, bowling, pool games...so much! The sports and entertainment staff does a great job keeping you moving. The check in was easy, and yes there are some folks trying to get you into a timeshare but if its not your deal, just say no gracias and they won't bug ya. All in all, a great experience. We would totally recommend this well run, beautifully designed resort to anyone. Young, old, single, couple or family, there is simply something for everyone.

Secrets Huatulco: The best of Mexico

This an all adult resort which is something we wanted. The hotel was very clean and staff as friendly as it gets. There are no wrist bands to deal with, no restaurant booking lines, no towel cards to lose, just a great relaxing stay. Rooms are all ocean view stocked with lots of goodies. The food was great, with 7 restaurants to choose from and a buffet. Breakfast can be had in the buffet or the more relaxed atmosphere of the Mexican restaurant. The grill at the pools has great wings, ribs , fri [... read more]es , hamburgers and daily specials. There are plenty of drinks of course, but you can also get the high end alcohol at no extra cost (just ask for it). Great free room service in a timely fashion. This our third time at this resort and we highly recommend it.

El Cid Resort Castilla: TERRIFIC VACATION

So glad we chose Mazatlan as well the El Cid Castilla. The resort was with in walking distance to stores, restaurants , and nightlife . We were all inclusive but being able to go off the resort and feel safe try some restaurants was a bonus . The resort was clean the rooms were nice , staff spoke very good english and were extremely helpful with reservation or just information. We took our own excursions , and toured the Marina , as well as downtown the cathedral market.Food was good variety,  [... read more]and the shows were on while the buffet dinner was taking place a nice touch. Argentina restaurant was really good . The only complaint and for me personally the beds were too hard and the flight times were awful. Sherrie

Riu Emerald Bay: 8th time

we love emerald bay the staff are super.food is good beach is great.roons are realy clean.what more could you ask for other than a different air line SUNWING SUCKS the airport is small to start with but you get your Mexican tourist card once insideanother great mess its funny cabos,viartta every one but Mazatlan fill them out on the plane