Grand Sunset Princess: The Grand Sunset Princess - Excellent

The place is beautiful and kept up really well. All of the staff was very good too - very pleasant, polite, happy to be working there, and very attentive to their guests' positive experience. There are pools all around the hotel so you could find a place to settle either for quiet or for fun depending on what you were in the mood for! The bartenders were good but very busy! When things get too busy in some of those bars, they should open up a 'beer only' line to get many people through f [... read more]aster, and then concentrate on the mixed drinks for everyone else. The food was also excellent - always a variety of food to choose from. Be sure to go to each of the themed restaurants during your stay, we did and were not disappointed. Even the hamburger and hot dog stands by the pool cooked up a quick lunch which was delicious mid-day. The rooms are great too - very clean and neat with plenty of room to relax. There are lots of chairs at the beach too so were enjoyed a few days in the sun. I'd highly recommend this hotel for an all-inclusive experience!

Iberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Great getaway

Excellent resort. Clean, great service, beach and pool areas were perfect. Not to far from the airport. Food was very good. Came home relaxed. Evening entertainment was good, but not great. Not enough for 18 to 21 year olds.

Villas Vallarta by Canto del Sol: Good value, location and great staff!

We really had a good time at the resort. The location is close to downtown PV, so we were able to walk, bus or taxi and explore. We took some small bus trips to Sayulita and Punta de Mita as well. The food was ok, with some great fish and shrimp tacos, but wasn't amazing. Lots of fresh fruit and veg and fish if you are trying to eat healthily. We liked the size of the resort, not too big, but areas to explore. The staff went above and beyond to make sure we were happy, and they were always polit [... read more]e and helpful.

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Horrible Accomodations Your question or comment Nine members of my family checked into the Ocean Riviera Paradise hotel in Playa del Carmen on February 18, 2017. We were made to wait 4 hours for our rooms. The building we were in, Daisy, is only half finished and the construction saws, tile saws , hammering and pounding started at 8:00 AM and ended at 6:00 PM or later. This isn't a case of construction in a nearby building, this is construction in the same building, separated from all our rooms by 10 feet. The noise was relentless and the smell of paint and plaster was pervasive and constant. Several evenings we had to seek refuge on balconies to escape the noxious odors. I have numerous videos and pictures . My adult children were constantly being woken up each morning as construction resumed. This isn't a matter of complaining of a little inconvenience. This resort is not ready for guests. It is a disgrace that the management was not sensitive to our problem. We pleaded with all levels of management and guest services at this hotel to move us anywhere and they refused. We tried you airtransat rep, Mauricio Jimenez, and he told us that the management is difficult and unlikely to help us. He also said he would file a report. Air Transat contacted a colleague of mine a week before they came to this resort in January and suggested to them to that they might want to change plans because of the construction. Which they did. I did not know they were booked into the same hotel. I have booked air transat hilidays for decades. Why were we not afforded the same courtesy ? I have appended 3 photos below but it is the videos which also include the construction noise which makes the case for this hotel's abuse of some guests. Please direct a browser to my video entitled Ocean Riviera Paradise 18/2/2017 , on YouTube

Your question or comment Nine members of my family checked into the Ocean Riviera Paradise hotel in Playa del Carmen on February 18, 2017. We were made to wait 4 hours for our rooms. The building we were in, Daisy, is only half finished and the construction saws, tile saws , hammering and pounding started at 8:00 AM and ended at 6:00 PM or later. This isn't a case of construction in a nearby building, this is construction in the same building, separated from all our rooms by 10 feet. The noise w [... read more]as relentless and the smell of paint and plaster was pervasive and constant. Several evenings we had to seek refuge on balconies to escape the noxious odors. I have numerous videos and pictures . My adult children were constantly being woken up each morning as construction resumed. This isn't a matter of complaining of a little inconvenience. This resort is not ready for guests. It is a disgrace that the management was not sensitive to our problem. We pleaded with all levels of management and guest services at this hotel to move us anywhere and they refused. We tried you airtransat rep, Mauricio Jimenez, and he told us that the management is difficult and unlikely to help us. He also said he would file a report. Air Transat contacted a colleague of mine a week before they came to this resort in January and suggested to them to that they might want to change plans because of the construction. Which they did. I did not know they were booked into the same hotel. I have booked air transat hilidays for decades. Why were we not afforded the same courtesy ? it is the videos which also include the construction noise which makes the case for this hotel's abuse of some guests. Please direct a browser to my video entitled Ocean Riviera Paradise 18/2/2017 , on YouTube

El Dorado Seaside Suites: Great accommodations

Accommodations - spacious, well appointed rooms. Beds were very comfortable. Swimmable balconies were a fun surprise. Dining - lots of options with good assortment. Food quality good but would not classify this as gourmet. Pool - immaculate with a well stocked swim up bar. Grounds - well kept, lush and very attractive Beaches - well kept but limited swimming due to rocks and coral. Sandy beach was quite a distance away. Would recommend that the hotel provide direct shuttle to the bea [... read more]ch. Advertising - a bit misleading as it appeared that services were all at the El Dorado. some where only available at the sister property, Sensimar. Activities - need more water sports on site, e,g. Hobie Cats, kayaks, jet skis, etc. Service - Beach Butler provided excellent service as did the beach bar maids. Rooms were cleaned well but supplies not always refilled. EACH employee, no matter what their status greeted us with a genuine smile. Great customer service training. We felt most welcome.

Samba Vallarta: Lovely

At first, when we arrived in the middle of the night and the room was a bit "rustic" and the safe didn't work, I was nervous about how our week would go. But the light of day brought a lovely, smaller resort with nice people, gardens, pool, food, drinks and most of all, beach--right on the "swimmable" ocean! Not a 5 star resort, but very relaxing.

Grand Marival Emotions Resort and Suites: Trouble in Paradise

Trip central was very helpful We missed our flight arrived at the airport 40 minutes before the flight took off due to a 7 car accident on a bridge we had to cross but Transat would not take us. We purchased a one way ticket from another airline for the next morning as we would have to wait three days for Transat and we were going to attend a 65th Birthday had to spend a night in hotel close to airport as we live to far from town to take a chance. As soon as we arrived we were pressured re [... read more]garding time share presentation and finally agreed when they guaranteed it wood only take a hour 3 hours later and we were still saying NO the third person we had to talk to said that we were wasting everyone's time The resort was quite nice but it was very prominent that you received better everything if you were a member. Housekeeping was sub-standard for us but the other people we met there (members) said theirs was good. Staff was very friendly no matter what wrist band you wore

El Cid Resort Castilla: Amazing Staff, Amazing Resort, Amazing Rooms, Amazing beach.

The Hotel was very clean, the pools were clean and amazing,3 pool areas. The beach was clean and nice white sand, the water was clean and warm and nice to play in. The staff was very polite and friendly. The a la carte restaurants were very good. Great location. Rooms were clean, showers were very powerful and nice. Overall a A++

Grand Sirenis Mayan Beach: Great resort!!

Pools were great! Lazy river fun. Lots of places to eat and food was good. You could always find something you like. Isaac the consierge in our building was amazing!! Very helpful. All staff was great!! Would go back.

Occidental Cozumel: Excellent

Great resort Great staff We found the staff to be very friendly and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this resort to anyone traveling to Cozemel . The pool and beach area were very good with lots of events every day.

El Cid Resort Castilla: Good Quality AI Resort in Mazatlan

Labelled as a 5-star resort, I can only conclude they come to this rating when compared to OTHER resorts in the area. When put up against high end resorts in other Mexican destinations, my opinion is that this resort is, at most, 3 to 4 stars. Regardless, The El Cid Castilla is a very comfortable stay, and the amenities are quality and the employees are top-notch! I was visiting on a standard all-inclusive package. This resort offers several levels of all-inclusive, some higher and some lower.  [... read more]My package was in the mid-range. Lots of restaurant options. I preferred the Mexican and Italian restaurants best. During the day, there are lots of beverage facilities. But by 6pm, the only bar left open is in the lobby. It's large and has a dance floor, lots of TVs and nightly music. I spent most days on the beach, under a palapa. The beach was combed nightly and the sand was clean. The downside of lounging on the beach is that I had to get up at 6am each morning to "reserve" a sunbed, using a t-shirt and a towel clip. If I didn't, then I would not find a seat anywhere outside until close to sundown. Even though there are signs everywhere stating that reserving seats is prohibited, everyone does it. The bar staff were very attentive to the beach crowd and readily available to keep the guests "watered". The guest room was standard, with popcorn walls and very solid mattresses. But the A/C worked REALLY well, as did the very spacious shower. Good water pressure and no lack of hot water, when needed. Housekeeping forgot hand towels and face cloths a couple of times (no big deal). The bottled water and coffee packets supplied in the room had to be paid for if used. I always brought up the complimentary bottled water from the bar each day. And coffee is available in the breakfast rooms, so I didn't need it in the room anyway. Room service was an extra charge as well. The concierge staff in the lobby were very friendly, assisting me in making dinner reservations and giving me tips for my week long visit. Francisco and Polina were especially helpful. They had answers for all my questions. I had issues with a taxi driver one night when I decided to go into town, so be absolutely sure what the price is before getting in - and if you think about making any changes to the originally planned route, be sure to check the price again first. Don't let the driver bully you. If you're at a restaurant or hotel, go get a manager to help. Everyone seems to know what the taxi drivers are about. The El Cid resort is close to outside restaurants, bars, and shops, if you feel like getting out. And the neighbourhood is very friendly and comfortable to walk around. I had an excellent time in Mazatlan and would love to come back again!

Ocean Riviera Paradise: Fantastic resort - Wonderful Memories created

An truly amazing vacation experience !! - The hotel is a fairly new resort and we arrived anticipating a few things may still need last minute refinement. While there were few minor and I mean minor issues nothing that spoiled our vacation. Resort staff went out of the way to make us feel comfortable, always friendly,very courteous and went that extra step to make us feel special. Our suite was nice, king bed spacious and very clean - housekeeping was efficient, at time a little to efficie [... read more]nt as they were knocking the bedroom door early to get started. The casino wasn't yet open, (opening soon) but this didn't bother us there was so much more to do. The bowling alley was a nice touch and we made friends with the manager there who again made our bowling experiences fun. Entertainment staff were first class, daily activities poolside and the beach were fun to take part in and we experienced our first pool foam arty - great fun and with laughs. Evening entertainment shows with venues within the large seated indoor Theater and outside Plaza were top rate with professional entertainers, musicians, acrobatics, dancers, vocal artists to name but a few of the many we enjoyed. Outdoor pools were clean, well maintained and an abundance fresh clean towels always available. The beach was amazing, soft white sand and many walks were enjoyed along its shore length. Dining, without doubt an important part of any vacation - 'amazing' is all I can say. The many a la carte restaurants offered varied and quality cuisine. The Blue Moon for romantic dinning was our favorite with the Italian and steak house restaurants close runners up. It was evident that the chef's at each location took great pride in what offered and how it was presented. Mike's coffee shop and the ice cream parlor were side by side and once again much enjoyed by us. Dinning at the Ocean Riviera was definitely 'TOP SHELF ' Trolley transportation through the resort was constantly running and though not far to walk from beach to lobby it was very welcome on occasions. One part of the resort we didn't find until our last day was the indoor pool / hot tub area located within the spa facility .. do check it out, it looked relaxing and fun. We will next time - for us there will definitely be a next time and without reservation we would comfortably recommend this resort to anyone . .... do go and enjoy, we did very much so !

Grand Sunset Princess: It our third time

And has not dissapointed us. VALUE is what we talk about. Qualily/Price is outstanding. The beach, the service, the restaurants the drinks....... The weather, 7 days consecutive sun!! I would go back again!! Strongly recommended.

Bahia Principe Explore Tulum: Amazing resort!

Beautiful white sandy beach, lots of variety for dining, rooms were clean, friendly and engaging staff wherever we went...good value for the travel dollar ...only drawback is the long drive from the airport (over 90mins) ... Also thanks to Rachel for all her help with our booking!

Catalonia Royal Tulum: Excellent small, all-inclusive!

This is a phenomenal all-inclusive hotel. (Note: I tend to avoid all-inclusive resorts and prefer smaller, more intimate vacations. I loved this place.) The grounds are stunning - built among mangroves the greenery around the resort is unique. The beautifully maintained greenery provides privacy to the rooms' balconies and close encounters with the locals (beautiful tropical jays, iguanas, coatis, a great blue heron, etc.). The rooms are more than adequate. While you are not getting full 5 st [... read more]ar luxury - the clean, large rooms offer an excellent bathroom/shower, comfortable bed (if a little soft), a fairly private balcony, enough towels, a safe, etc. The beach is stunning. Better than any of the three other beaches we visited in the area - it was virtually private. There is a couple other very small beach front restaurant, beach clubs whose clients did not venture over to the resort portion. The beach was stunning - the sand was softest we found in the area. Only on one day (the first) was there a significant amount of seaweed that was washed up on the shore but the hotel staff worked hard to shovel it all up and bury it in the beach nearby. The beach had a fairly strong breeze that did result in some rough waves - nothing that you couldn't swim in - but also a nice cooling air that made sitting on the beach even more pleasurable. We also loved the free juice bar on the beach - with many types of fruit, ginger, greens, etc - so delicious! The indoor gym is great. (Although I had injured myself before the trip and could not take advantage of the well-equipped workout machines in a glass front building overlooking the pool.) The third party car rental people out front were great. You pay a little more to have the convenience of renting from the lobby (as opposed to having to go to Tulum to rent) but the service was excellent. The car is on-site and we had one car have some issues and they drove right out to us (1/2 hour away in downtown Tulum) immediately to provide us with a replacement vehicle. The staff were so friendly and helpful. Often bringing a second drink without even asking, saying 'hello' every time you pass them, changing the room early in the day, etc. Aside from the general buffet, there are 6 restaurants from which to choose for dinner. Unlike other resorts, there is no need to make reservations - which is a nice luxury of being able to decide each evening if you are in the mood for a grill, Asian, Italian, tapas, Mexican, etc. Being a small resort, wait times for the restaurants are not unreasonable and one has the option to have drinks at one of the nearby bars while waiting. The ambiance at the restaurants is excellent. The outdoor tapas restaurant is set on the edge of a natural cenote and it is lit with small lights - by far the most romantic, prettiest option. While most of the food at the resort was "okay" - i.e., more than acceptable for an all-inclusive but middling by most other standards. Ambiance and service aside, the tapas was quite mediocre (at best). The other dinner spaces were also nice - only the Italian restaurant seemed oddly placed in the main buffet room and only separated by an 8 foot temporary wedding hall dividing wall. Expecting decent Italian food from an Italian based company - I was disappointed. The risotto was not risotto but overcooked rice in a chicken stock. One day the Spanish head chef made paella on the beach for a lunch - it was again, an overcooked rice dish with questionable seafood (mussels that weren't open and lobster that was quite off colour). If you pay a little extra you get access to a privilege area. The real perk to this is the access to B'loved - the beach side restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and drinks all day. While our dinner there was poor (both of our fish dishes were overcooked and dry to the point of being barely edible) - we enjoyed all of our breakfasts, lunches, and cocktails. In all, regarding the food, it was acceptably decent and did not detract meaningfully from an other excellent resort. They try hard with different restaurants have exclusive drink lists (martinis at the tapas, gin&tonics at B'loved, etc.). Note for dinner, they have some 'cirque du soleil' type show on a few nights a week - on those nights the loud music is a little disturbing for the adjacent, out door, open concept Tapas restaurant - you may choose your dining nights for Tapas based on their show schedule. Finally, this resort is small. It is rare to find an all-inclusive which does not feel like a cruise ship. The adults only aspect makes for such a quiet, but friendly, and not over-sedate resort. There is a nice lively vibe without the loudness of a spring break resort. There was always free lounge chairs by the beautiful, warm, clean pool and beach. The hot tub is also clean and popular and overlooks the beach. I would highly recommend this hotel even for those who often avoid all-inclusives. This has all the amenities without the oversized pandemonium.

Ocean Coral Riviera Cancun: This was our 2nd visit to this resort. Love it!

Love that the resort is so close to the airport. Awesome resort, rooms clean. Staff were always very friendly. Beautiful pool area. Could choose more active vs. quiet surroundings. Could walk for miles on the beautiful beach. Continually working to keep weeds cleaned up. Ocean swimming great. Food was wonderful. No complaints all week from a group of 9!

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Great Trip

Had a wonderful time at the resort from Feb 17-23. The service, food and accommodations were excellent. Would definitively go back in the future. Weather was great but there are some rocks near the shore.

Riu Santa Fe: Amazing resort

Good food, very clean. Beautiful view from our ocean view room. Will repeat visit this hotel. A little loud in the wee hours of the morning but other then that it was a great experience. Taxi cabs to town were there within minutes.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Barcelo Maya Colonial Beach

Barcelo is an amazing resort, beautifully kept, rooms were spacious and very up-to-date. Lots to do, food was excellent. Staff and all their services were absolutely superb. Would definitely go again and would recommend to everyone!

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Blue Bay Did Not Disappoint!

My family and I traveled from Halifax to Blue Bay February 15th and stayed for a fantastic 7 day visit. We met up with some family who flew in to join us. This is a wonderful resort and we certainly would return. The food and the people were fantastic. Beach walks and pool time ... what's not to love. The only tip/recommendation I have is that you stay on a middle floor. Not the top and not the bottom. I find this with many resorts and a simple move to the middle floor solves the musty sm [... read more]ell issues. Have fun & enjoy!