HS Hotsson Smart Acapulco: best service ever!

If there is one great reason to visit the Crowne Plaza it is because the staff is so friendly, so accommodating and so quick to respond to requests! The place is clean....rooms, dining, public areas. The food is delicious. It was my 3rd visit and I hope to be back again.

Hyatt Vivid Playa Del Carmen: Amazing Resort

Everything about The Royal at Playa Del Carmen is absolutely awesome. We enjoyed the food, the facilities, the people are so kind and helpful. We will definitely put this resort on our list of places to return to.

Ocean Maya Royale: Ocean Maya Royale

OMG!!! by far the best trip ever!! We've been to Cancun several times & thought we'd try the Mayan for a change. We were not disappointed to say the least. Our welcoming concierge, Cesare, was very helpful & ever so friendly which made us feel comfortable immediately in our new surroundings. From the helpful, friendly hotel staff, the modern, clean room with a great view, the delicious buffets & Italian restaurant meals, the endless & tireless entertainment people who kept us amused with their  [... read more]parties, music, movies, magic shows, as well as the amazing Mexican & Mayan traditional nights, the awesome bartenders & spanish coffees...wow!! oh, and the weather for our 10 day vacation was the icing to this amazing, amazing trip to OMR!! Thanks to Kim for all her help in getting us to this spectacular resort!! We definitely recommend it & if possible, will definitely be returning to it!!! For Sure!!!

Dreams Huatulco: Beautiful

This was s lovely resort , very clean , wonderful friendly staff I would recommend this resort to anyone, the only suggestion would be to stop people going down st 5 in the morning and putting towels on the lounges, and then coming back hours later . Or perhaps the resort should follow secrets example and out more shade spots on the beach or arround the pools

Holiday Inn Ixtapa: An excellent vacation destination!

Holiday Inn Resort in Ixtapa had everything it promised... Well appointed rooms, great beds, large and delicious variety of foods, excellent beverages, and a very friendly, helpful staff. The natural beauty of the beach and sand was awesome. Across the street we had a good array of shops, restaurants and clubs. The price was right, and we will return. We would recommend the Tower/Ocean view.

Azul Ixtapa Grand Resort: Amazing resort

We just got back from Azul grand resort and let me tell you we had a great time. The rooms were nice and clean and big. (the only thing is that if you go with a buddy there no privacy cause the rooms are like open concept) but it was ok for us cause it was me and our young kids. The food was great and the service was amazing. We did a la carte every day except for the last day we did buffet. The grounds were very nice kept up and there was always some cleaning. The swimming pools were nice and  [... read more]clean and heated too. We go away a lot and I can't remember seen a life guard in every swimming pool which was great cause we had kids. Over all this was a great resort. Worth every penny.

Azul Ixtapa Resort: Excellent Family Resort

This is a great place for kids between 5-12. Excellent kids club and small water park. The food was above average; the oyster bar was our favorite. The cleaning staff, bartenders, waiters were great. Clean, bright and cheery with great weather. I recommend this place as a family destination.

Dreams Huatulco: Outstanding Resort!

This hotel is the perfect size. Not so large that everything is so far away. The restaurants are really good and as a bonus you don't have to reserve. The beach is really nice as well as all of the infinity pools at the resort. Just beautiful. The rooms are a nice size and kept very clean along with turndown service. What I particularly loved is that you can eat breakfast at a lovely restaurant outside overlooking the beach and also eat dinner under the stars! With the weather there always b [... read more]eing perfect you truly want to eat outside and not stuck inside a restaurant like at some resorts. This resort has become our favourite! Why go somewhere else when this one is so good! The people are so friendly and the whole area feels very safe. No question, I would recommend this place to everyone but would also like to keep it a secret so it can stay just the way it is!!

El Dorado Royale: Great resort if you are booked in a Premium junior suite

First of all this is a great resort with great restaurants. But booking a Premium suite gets you VIP treatment. Important if you don't like waiting 35-45 minutes every time you want to eat a meal. When you book a Premium junior juccazzi suite with a swim up pool outside your patio door with two lounge chairs and a deck with two chairs and a table it makes for a fantastic vacation. You are on the ground floor facing the ocean (30 seconds away - but you still need to get up between 6a and 6:30a if [... read more] you want two lounge chairs under a thatched umbrella or hut on the beach). Just put your towells on the chairs, sit down and watch the spectacular sunrise at 7:15am or so. Then go back to the room enjoy the sun on the deck waiting for room service to deliver breakfast. While sitting on the deck enjoy champagne and OJ delivered to you (same guy brings you drinks either to the deck or to the beach all day.) It helps if you bring a wad of $1 dollar bills to hand out as tips. We gave out $2 tips with each delivery. Well worth the expense to not have to chase someone for drinks. Between 2p and 3p the Ice Cream Man brings you ice cream in a cup. It's great. When you arrive go to the conceirge hut just outside your room and book your dinners at the restaurant of you choice. Show up at the time of your reservation, give your room number and you're at your table in 60 seconds. No waiting for Premium guests at dinner time. No reservations for lunch so you're on your own. Food is great at JoJos, sit on swings while having a drink. Rincon Mexicano was disappointing because it is gourmet and not Cdn or American style fast food Mexican. D'Italia Villa was excellent. Cocotal (world wide cuisine) was mixed - my beef was tender but the pork was tough. We were there for a four day weekend so we didn't have time to try La Isla, Kampal, the Santa Fe Grill or the Fuentes where the chef erxplains how they cooked each course. It's a two and a half hour experience. The beach has nice sand and not crowded because there are limited chairs (which is OK because most people were by the many pools or their swim up pools) My wife on the otherhand, disagrees with me. You pay a lot of money to be there and she believes there should be more chairs available for guests who want to be on the beach. That said there is another beach about a five minute walk from our room that looked like it had a lot more chairs than ours. Our travel agent warned us that you really can't go into the water because of the rocks and rough waves. There are large black sand bags (looks like beached whales) and cement blocks to break the surf (looks like the German fortifications at Normandy). After awhile you get used to it and besides, you're lying on the lounge chairs facing the sun with your eyes closed. Our pool was 30 seconds a way ... other pools are minutes away situated around the resort if you want to cool off in the water. In the room it takes getting used to a window wall looking into the bathroom and shower area. We had a frosted glass toilette door, but I heard some had no door or clear gas ... not a great feature of the room. We found our room clean, maid cleaned the room daily. Probably helps that we gave her a $5US tip every day. But resort not very accomadating with late check outs. Our return Air Canada vacation flight to Toronto was at 7pm. But we had to vacate the room at noon. So we stayed at the beach and changed at the spa where you get a locker while you shower. Luggage is picked up at noon. So it is a minor inconvience. But the later flight gave us an extra day in the sun. So five days and four nights made for a great long weekend getaway (Thurs - Mon). Would we go back to the resort. Probably not because we couldn't swim in the ocean. It's a lot of money to be limited to the pool. But if the ocean is not your thing ... I think it is well worth a visit. We had an excellent, romantic long weekend with great service, more drinks than I can remember, great food and a lot of laughs. That is what a vacation is all about.

Bahia Principe Explore Coba: It was okay

Stayed at the coba resort from Feb 15 to 22 check in went okay. Wasn't too long and they offer you a Margarita. Now this resort is very big and confusing. A lot of small buildings. We only figured out the resort by the fifth day. They do offer go carts to shuttle you around every 15 minutes but we usually never took them. The pools are great we usually stayed at the large quite one that is away from the kids park. Food was good as well. Lots of variety. The a la carts are decent nothing amazing. [... read more] The rooms are a good size and clean. Our fridge never worked and we called the front desk and they never fixed it but didn't matter too much to us. The beds are very hard. We were lucky to have a foamy on ours but a couple we were staying with never got one and had a hard time with soar back. Most of the staff are very friendly. The ones at the smaller bars seemed to not want to be there, I am thinking because the tips are lousy. The beach is pretty but no sea life or anything. They have cement wave blockers which don't make the view very nice. My 2 year old daughter did contract hand foot and mouth disease from this resort but apparently it is common for young children. All in all an okay stay but will not be going back to this resort. Would like something smaller and closer to a nicer Beach.

Ocean Maya Royale: Very acceptable, clean resort.

We stayed at the Ocean Maya Royale for a week in February 2017, to celebrate my 50th birthday. It was a very pleasant week, with only a few minor issues. Our overall summary would be this: it was very acceptable and one of the more affordable adults-only resorts in the Mayan Riviera, but nothing special enough to make us want to return for another visit, when there are so many other all-inclusive resorts to investigate. The GOOD: this resort is very clean, and the grounds are well-maintained [... read more], and quite beautiful. We enjoyed seeing lots of animals and birds: coatis, deer, and iguanas mainly. They are not a problem (just please do not feed them) We found the FOOD in the restaurants very acceptable. Nice serving sizes that look too small for North Americans, but actually do fill you up. Picky eaters will always be picky eaters. We tried all of the restos, and thought they were mostly very good. The buffet was available for all 3 meals, and had an impressive assortment of foods. The 4 a la carte restos were all very acceptable. The teppanyaki show at Yookoso was very entertaining, and there was lots of food, although it was all seasoned the same way, so it was a little repetitive. We thought the Mexican “El Charro” was very good, and the Italian “La Dolce Vita” too. Probably because this resort is only about 10 years old, the climate control works very well. It was a treat to find that the air conditioning inside the buildings wasn’t set so low that you were freezing cold. It was just comfortable, and a nice break from the outside heat/humidity. The Mexican and Italian restos are al fresco, so no air conditioning at all… but good breezes off the water! Another nice surprise was that clothes and towels in your room would actually be mostly dry by morning! The entertainment was enjoyable, and some of the shows were surprisingly good. Remember that this is not Vegas… these are young, local dancers and performers who work hard to put on entertaining shows. The resort staff were generally very friendly, helpful, and hard working. Lots of activities around the party pool area if you wish. Unfortunately, guests do go down to the pools/beach to reserve most of the chairs early in the morning, but we were usually able to find a little space to sit after breakfast. IMPORTANT TO NOTE: We booked through Sunquest, and the airport rep gave us a package with our local Sunquest agent’s name and the time we should meet with her to arrange return shuttle to the airport, and it had some coupons for booking daytrips, etc. The airport rep warned us that the resort staff might ask for that package then just try to get you to book extra things through them! When the resort “concierge” checks you in, they will tell you that you must book a private “breakfast orientation” for the next morning to learn about the resort. Be wary of this “orientation”. You might get some resort information, but it is actually a time share talk, and they are very high-pressure. We declined the breakfast meeting, and she kept pushing, but we wouldn’t budge. After that, this concierge was suddenly much less friendly, and although she had earlier promised that they would do something special for my birthday, nothing happened on the day! Very petty. Hubby did ask at the front desk, and they did a little something the next day, so that kind of made up for it. So the moral is: if you want anything special, don’t assume that it will happen with one request…. Follow up a couple of times! This is a fairly small property, only 320 rooms, and there are no shuttles/carts to drive you around. Thank goodness we brought a rented wheelchair from home for my husband who walks with a cane due to M.S. There were several other guests with wheelchairs too. Because of the chair, we were given a bigger room, which was very helpful. The staff were generally very kind and helpful in assisting us. But be warned, there is no elevator to get to the main lobby building where the buffet and 2 of the a la carte restos are located!! There are ramps everywhere, but the main one up to the lobby level is fairly steep. There is a good handrail with the stairs, so hubby was able to work his way up the stairs, while I rolled the empty chair up the ramps… I definitely would have worked up a sweat pushing it up with him in it!! Oddly, the party pool and the quiet pool are right next to each other, and right at the beach. So if you are looking for absolute peace and quiet on the beach or at the pool, you won’t find it, but it is somewhat quieter at the far end of the pool/beach. If you enjoy a nice beach and swimming in the ocean, this resort might not be for you. As you can see in the pictures, there is a boardwalk along most of the beach, with just a small area off to the side with direct sandy access to the water. That area is quite crowded with beach chairs, and only a few umbrellas, but the water looks nice (although some people do complain about seaweed… this IS the ocean, folks). The “beach” area enclosed by the boardwalk is really weird… it feels like a huge concrete slab with about 4 inches of fine sand on top. Very firm. In summary: this is a very acceptable resort, especially if you are easy-going, just want to relax, have some fun, and enjoy different kinds of foods. (i.e.: not a picky eater). We probably won’t return, but we would be ok with recommending it to friends who were looking for a somewhat budget-conscious holiday and who aren’t too uptight!

Bahia Principe Explore Tulum: Beautiful and clean

We as a group of 14 with ages ranging from 12 years to 71 years of age, there were something for everyone. The wait staff and custodians were more than friendly and helpful in every aspect of the resort, unfortunately that did not happen at the reception desks, we Felt they were disrespectful and quite rude with the simple task of even checking in. Other than that it was a fantastic vacation and we would return to that resort again on another vacation.

Secrets Huatulco: Amazing vacation

Sent from my iPad On Feb 25, 2017, at 3:27 PM, Donald Philion wrote: Hi Laura, Sorry for the delay, as you can imagine we have been crazy busy since returning. Let me start by saying you did it again, you knocked it out of the park! Even though we were leary about flying Air Canada, it was a great experience. FYI sunwing was delayed four hours to Jamaica on our departure day. From the moment the plane stopped and we got off, we went through immigration, got our luggage, got on the bu [... read more]s and were at the resort in one hour and a half, record time. Service at the resort is exceptional, we experienced it first hand when after the first day we realized we were in a accommodation room for handicaps. We asked to be moved and they took care of it, without a question. The food was great, no reservations required and no waiting at all, and the resort was full. There was an additional cost of $100.00 for Lobster if you wanted it, ( a little disappointing). We also tried room service a few times. We ordered from the room service menu and even ordered other items not listed and there was no problem. They said thirty minutes, we didn't think it would happen but it did each and every time within thirty minutes. They have a hidden cubby door in the cupboard so the waiter can actually put your order into your room without entering the room, which is great if you don't want to be disturbed. As for the pool area there was a lot of room available even after 7am, we didn't worry about getting a good spot, there were plenty available at each pool. The ocean was amazing, they actually built three palappa's during the night while we were there. The resort felt very safe, we even went out daily for a walk or run, the nearest neighbour was 2 km away in either direction. We took a morning ride to the shopping town of La Crucicitta, which was also a very pleasant experience. The highlight of our trip was our massage at the spa. They put us through a hydro therapy circuit pool, (amazing), followed by a eighty minute hot stone massage. The whole experience lasted three hours. Laura, we just want to say thank you again for making our vacation a special one and one that we won't soon forget. We will definitely be returning to that resort.

Bahia Principe Explore Tulum: Fabulous

Had no concerns! Very clean, food was great! Travelled with a mixed age group (12-71) and all were happy throughout stay. Beach walking, swimming, snorkelling were fun. Poolside was enjoyable! So many different areas to just sit and relax!

Royal Suites Punta Mita: Great time !

We have been to quite a few all inclusive resorts but by far the staff at the Royal Suites, and the Grand Palladium in general, were absolutely the best ! Genuinely happy and no request too small. The lobby bar bartender, Luciano, was awesome. The grounds were very well kept, rooms large and clean. All amenities available and water sports equipment in good condition. Again, staff always available and happy to help or provide instructions. Very safe area - even taking the local bus into Bucari [... read more]as we never felt uncomfortable. All tours were excellent and transportation organized and efficient. The only things we felt could be improved or needing to be considered were the noisy carts early in the morning rattling down the ribbed concrete - they started as early as 4:30 - and even with the balcony door closed they could be heard. Also, at some times there was a nasty odour in the air - not sure if it was a septic issue or just stagnant water around. Seemed to be more on the suites side. And, we were very disappointed with the wine. Even the wines on the additional charge menu were very poor selections. Perhaps a good wine sommelier should be consulted. Other than that, we fully enjoyed our time at the Royal Suites Punta de Mita !

Grand Palladium Vallarta: grand palladium Feb 6 /15 2017

The hotel was fantastic . The food, the rooms every thing was as a 5 star hotel should be. The ala carte were fantastic, enjoyed the steak house the most. The only small complaint were the amount of stairs .If your a senior or have any mobility issues then stay else were. I lost count of the times helping people with baby buggies . There are no elevators the resort is about 50 min from Vallarta with little or no buses .

HS Hotsson Smart Acapulco: Great value

Resort was a great value for the money! The rooms, lobby, pool and restaurants are clean and well maintained. Unfortunately the open air restaurant was closed for renovations. The service around the pool and in the restaurants is great!! It does get busier on the weekends because locals come for weekend getaways. The only negative thing about this hotel is that the streets around the hotel are busy and dirty, but if you are looking for a great value for your money this is the place to go.

Barcelo Maya Colonial: Large but great with lobby issues

The hotel is a very large complex with lots of space and very large pool areas. There is a beautiful beach with nice sand areas in the water. Food is absolutely fantastic at the a la carte restaurants and very very good at the buffets. The service at all the restaurants and all the bars was just fantastic. It's always nice to have conversation along with good service. On the negative side. The main lobby service was very bad. No answers to any questions. No king bed and no help in getting one. [... read more] No peso exchange available so bring tipping size notes with you. We were locked out of our room and found a line of people at the lobby with the same issue. We were all told we all must have got our cards wet or oil on them. Unless oil dripped through the safe in our room the second card was shot too. The rooms at the Colonial are a bit tired. We had the classic stuff in the room. Patio door wouldn't lock properly, shower head was half shot, a couple light were broke one hanging out of the wall as just a wire and a light bulb. Overall the resort is very very nice but if you are the type that requires a luxury hotel room?Maybe this is not the place for you. If you enjoy food and the beach with a little Captain Morgan Spiced Rum tossed in and can look past the rest? You will enjoy. Check the concert listing on the resort as the shows will affect the resort very much. Quiet big place unless there is a big show that weekend.

Occidental at Xcaret Destination: Beautiful Resort

This hotel was truly everything it promised it would be and then some. We had an amazing time and the staff and the hospitality were top notch... :) The resort itself was absolutely stunning. The food was delicious... the service was above and beyond..Loved it and can't wait to return...

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Fantastic Resort

This was the first time my husband and I went to Mexico, and it was amazing. Blue Bay was a beautiful resort and the staff was so friendly and happy all the time. The management staff in the restaurants were always making sure everything was fine for the people and you could see the great repore they had with their staff. The staff was always around making sure the people had everything they needed, but they never made you feel overwhelmed they were great. I am so greatful to have experience [... read more]d Mexico for the first time at Blue Bay. Thank you, Marilia Frampton