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.

Grand Park Royal Cozumel: Great Resort

This was a great resort. The service was fantastic. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. The food was flavourful and delicious. The infinity pools were beautiful. The beach itself was small but the snorkelling was great. The beach fills up quickly due to it's small size and there are often cruise ship passengers that can pay to use the resort when the ship is docked for the day. There is not too much nightlife on the resort but the entertainment staff try hard and do provide some fun great show [... read more]s like the Mayan dance which was incredible. There is sometimes live music by the lobby throughout the week. Señor Frogs is a quick taxi ride away if you are looking for more nighttime fun (which it is!). Catching the ferry to the Playa del Carmen is also near by and I highly recommend if you are looking for more shopping, restaurants and a change in scenery. Also the public beach there is beautiful.

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

Grand Sirenis Matlali Hills: Quiet resort with lots of potential

Not quite a 5 star but definitely a 4. The food was ok, small selection at the buffet, a la cartes were better. Japanese a la carte was our least favourite and the Italian was the best. Pool bar and room service was excellent. We were surprised with an upgrade to a villa with a private pool which was the best surprise ever. We spent 90% of our time here and it wasn't beautifully peaceful and private. Rooms and hotel were fairly clean however hatch roofing in villa was not properly sealed as  [... read more]we could see outside which is what I believe allowed in geckos and other bugs. For a 5 star I expect zero bugs. We walked to the beach from the hotel one day in about 35 minutes, it was a nice walk through the town. This resort is about 30 mins from puerto Vallarta in good traffic, which is further out then we would normally stay but worth the experience. Majority of the hotel staff as phenomenal including Pablo in conceierge and Victor in management, they made our vacation. Overall I feel like this hotel could potentially be a 5 star with a few tweaks but a solid 4 is what it currently is.

Grand Oasis Sens: Grand Oasis Sens

This is a beautiful hotel but needs improvements every where. It is a little dated. They were working on improvements while we were there. This hotel is lacking staff. The staff that was there were very accomadating and very friendly. The food was awesome but had great difficulty booking for the specialty restaurants. If you are disabled in any way, this is not the hotel for you. Too many stairs. We had a few issues with our room but was fixed immediately. I would highly recommend the o [... read more]cean view from floor 6 and up. If you are looking for a good deal, this is a good place for the buck. I would rate it 3.75-4 star. Dianne

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!

Riu Santa Fe: First visit was a Charm

* - the arrival and check in procedure was very efficient * - the area at check in was very clean and well decorated * - All employees we encountered were very friendly and professional * - garden and walkways were very clean * - the room was very clean and well organized * - Pool and bar areas very well maintained on the negative side * - the keys to our room were not programmed to open the door * - Then when we got into the room we discovered we did not have an Ocean view room t [... read more]hat we PAID extra for! I went back to the front desk to complain and the front desk was able to move us on the next day. ALSO the front desk advised me that they do not charge extra for Ocean View rooms. So way did we get charged EXTRA. 3 of 7 nights there were certain restaurants that were closed

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!

Grand Oasis Cancun: Good

Let me start by saying that you will be little bit disappointed at first but once you have explored the resort you will like it. We with two couples spent one week of holidays from 18 Jan to 25th, rooms are little worn out and old, long lineup at the buffet, this can be solved by just putting one more staff for omelette in the mornings, now the good news, love the beach, pools, food, entertainment, gerdens, guest of all ages, lots of young people, go with positive attitude, you will like it for  [... read more]what we paid.

Holiday Inn Resort Los Cabos: I thought it would be better

the grounds were awesome, the people were terrific, the food was ok. We were told 2 years ago that there was going to be, more choices for restaurants. If I had known there wasn't any changes I would have gone somewhere else. we love Cabo but unfortunately we wont go back to Holiday Inn. The main pool was hit and miss on warm or cold, the aduite pool was hot and the "kids pool" was freezing, so over all disappointed

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.

Riu Emerald Bay: Very clean!!

For the most part this resort was good. The cleanliness was exceptional! The pool areas were kept clean and there was always someone cleaning the public restrooms. We were a little disappointed with the restaurants as all were buffet, we were hoping for table service at the reservation ones. Breakfast was the best part of the day. Entertainment could use some refreshing. Besides the usual pool activities and night show there was nothing else. If you want a relaxing vacation this is your pl [... read more]ace!!

El Cozumeleno Beach: Over all great spot

Overall rooms and lobby area need updated Art work. Rooms need updated top blanket. Lobby internet is weak. Lobby could use better lighting or raised ceiling if possible. Clean pools and grounds

Fiesta Americana Riviera Nayarit: Really nice vacation but Air Transit really sucks

Dreams Villamagna in Nuevo Vallarta was a great resort. While getting on in age the food was extremely good and the staff awesome. The service and atmosphere was positive and friendly. The rooms were clean and very comfortable. Sunquest did a great job too however Air Transit has proven once again their ability to ruin your vacation. Last time we fly via Air Transit we swore we would never use them as our flight carrier. Well being a family vacation with people coming from different location [... read more]s we ended on Air Transit. what a mistake! First off they sub out the flight to a second class carrier called Flair Air. We paid for a direct flight 5 hours to our destination however after getting on board we are told that they have to go to Vancouver to get fuel. Really? We are at an international airport with other planes leaving direct on 4 hour flights so now why do we end up on a 7.5 hour flight having a stop over in Vancouver. Cause fuel must be cheaper there and what does Flair Air care or Air Transit. Horrible air line and never again.

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.

Grand Palladium Vallarta: Great Family Resort

We stayed at the Grand Palladium from Jan 21-28. Overall we really liked this resort. Pros: - People of Palladium keep you very entertained whether it's at the beach, pool or theatre. - the kids club was great. They have a great guide that lays out what the children do daily and they have things for the kids to get involved in at night. My daughter loved the "Mini Shows". - loved the beach. The water is very pretty and if you walk further down the beach there are surfers and pebbly beach [... read more]es. - the bell boys always went above and beyond. Always smiling and willing to help out with whatever you need. - buffet food had a lot of variety. - loved the Bamboo and Mexican restaurants. - absolutely loved that it was outside of Puerto Vallarta. There are so many cute smaller towns around to check out. - pools and kids watersliding - awesome! The kids didn't want to leave the pool because of the slides. We never got to hang at the adult pool but it looked really nice and a more quiet place to hangout. Cons: - rooms are not that nice. For a family of 4, we had 2 double beds. Beds were super uncomfortable. They are getting a little run down but honestly we didn't hang in the room that much so it really wasn't an issue. - reservations at the restaurants were non-existent or at least it was for us. Heard you could download an app for reservations but it wouldn't work for me, always saying they were fully booked. In saying that though, we did get to go 4 times. What we found was because we had the kids we had to eat earlier so we would go between 5:30 - 6 and always get in. - service at the main buffet was very hit or miss. One day it would be amazing and the next we barely got a drink to go with our food and plates would be piling up on the table. Last note: There are so many comments about the resort being hilly and spread out. It definitely is but they do have ramps for wheelchairs access. The resort has a lot to offer that is why it is spread out. It was nice to walk and get some exercise.