Michal Strzembicki

Our stay at Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda was absolutely fantastic and truly memorable. We would especially like to thank Alex and Yulissa for their exceptional help and professionalism. They organized a beautiful private dinner for us with a private Mariachi concert, which was an incredible experience and showed a very high level of care and attention to guests. The food throughout the hotel was delicious, with a wide variety of options. The themed restaurants are on a top world-class level, offering excellent quality and great atmosphere. The service across the entire hotel was friendly, professional, and always helpful. The hotel offers a very rich evening entertainment and animation program, so there is always something enjoyable to do in the evenings. The rooms are very clean, comfortable, and well maintained. Garden-view rooms are a real highlight — they offer beautiful views and the unique opportunity to observe wildlife directly on the hotel grounds. We saw coatis running along the pathways, as well as deer, raccoons, and many other beautiful animals, which made the stay feel very special. Electric golf carts run constantly around the resort, making it easy and convenient to get to restaurants, the beach, and other areas of the hotel. Beautiful hotel, excellent food, and warm, professional service. Highly recommended!

Ken Jackson

Stayed at this hotel Jan 5-12 2026. The grounds of the hotel are well kept, lush vegetation and many animals wandering about. Always staff clearing leaves and debris, you can tell they devout a lot of resources to maintain. Room I had was so-so , cleaned everyday and minibar restocked daily. A bit moldy smelling, but it is in a very humid climate so can be expected. This hotel has been well used and needs major refreshing in the rooms/buildings. The buildings are a bit shabby from the outside as the overhanging dry grass material on top floor was missing or falling down in many places. One working elevator in the building I was in, doors for it were all banged up and the flooring is worn and shabby looking- $50.00 worth of peel and stick tiles would take care of the floor issue. It's on it's last legs with the amount of noise generated going up and down. Had zero issues with food and lot's of choices between reserved restaurants and buffets. The best thing I liked about this hotel was the coffee bar, very new equipment and decor. Staff were so good there and amazing coffee- I'd give it five stars. Overall staff throughout were friendly and accommodating. Not a pool person so only went in a few times, many seemed to enjoy them. Watched staff cleaning quite a bit every morning. The major disappointment I had with this hotel is the beach and lack of shade (at pools as well). There are wooden structures that didn't have any fabric to actually do what they were built for. There are around half a dozen palapas on the beach, that's it. The VIP ( Circle One) area has about a dozen, so I guess if you really want to have that Caribbean vibe when you sit ocean front, pay up. The beach itself has nice sand, but the view of the ocean is horrendous with all the unused old piers and large ugly tube like black stained cement " break walls" that are randomly in the water in front of you. There is also a break wall that is to the right of the resort. With these in place there is no way for natural movement of water in front of the resort. Debris gets stuck in front of the hotels beach because isn't moved along by currents. Brown water and silt was present for my entire week there, hardly ever anyone swimming in it. If you're looking for beautiful blue water and great ocean views the area is famous for, you won't find it here. If you're a pool person, the resort just might do ( if shade situation is taken care of) Would never return to this hotel just because of the beach situation and the lack of shade. Suggest management look at looking after these irritants, buy some umbrellas, put up some more palapas and get rid of the structures in the water.

John Desousa

We are day 5/7 at the Grand Esmeralda. So far our experience has been great. Buffet has quite the variety with lots of freshly cooked food, al a carte restaurants do offer a more premium meal than the buffets, and drinks have been great. Service has been amazing, everyone greets you with a smile. Shoutout to Pedro helping with the entertainment by the pool. Rooms can be a bit of a walk from the pools/beach/restaurants but it’s a nice walk and you get your steps in. We would recommend this resort.

Bryson Worden

This is NOT a 5 Star All Inclusive/Hotel. I'm starting with this up front because I want people to understand there ARE issues with Blue Bay. However, it is a 4 star at most. You can tell this when at the hotel but also with the price paid being the lowest of available options around. The buffet food is decent, the beach is beautiful, and all the bartenders make the drinks very strong (Mucho gracias amigos). The staff in general also do their best to care for guests, but my partner and I did find a lot wasn't explained extremely well such as where food for inclusive guests is ("Festival" isn't on the website at all), amenities availability and times, and overall layout as well. Our room was clean and serviced each day aside from when we indicated such (we slept in one day) and do come multiple times (at least two) to service the rooms. The room we had was a single king size with a coffee maker a TV with basic cable and internet access (through the wifi, this is not advertised as it is VERY slow but can run YouTube) and a safe for storing items in. Several light switches didn't operate anything and one of our faucets had absurdly high pressure. However: the water was warm and cold and all facilities worked as expected. Entertainment is available and is impressive occasionally. We watched the Africa ("afro"), Mexican and Pop show. The Africa show and parts of the pop show were impressive, but we both found the Mexico show confusing and overstimulating at points as well. It also showed footage from places not in Mexico which was strange. But the performers for each show were outstanding and deserve applause. Other entertainment are some fitness and dance classes and a Spanish class, none of which my partner or I participated in. When reviewing Grand Esmeralda my wife and I don't have much to compare it to, hence my feelings of it being at most a 4-star. It was fine for us as a couple who wanted beach, pool and sun, but if families are expecting more from their resort they may be left disappointed. However: we had a wonderful time and would recommend it to couples looking for Mexico vacation on a budget as well.

M F

We love it here! The dining room, housekeeping and lobby staff are always genuinely warm and cheerful. Food is seriously YUMMY — and quite varied EACH DAY and MEAL. I loved their seafood dishes, every single one! You can easily go home chubby, no worries. Drinks are delish! — except the beachside pool bar had a couple of sickly sweet drinks. But the north pool bar was awesome as well as the amazing coffee shop baristas and other drink/snack bars. We had a promo room at the north end of resort — pool atmosphere is calmer and more chill here than at the beachside pool in the south where there are more people. Consistency is BlueBay Esmeralda’s forte — they treat you like royalty every day! Only word of caution is when arriving at Cancun airport DO GO STRAIGHT TO YOUR RESORT SHUTTLE BUS otherwise you will be “caught” by the timeshare sellers who masquerade as “excursion tour operators” just as you exit the airport. We had such an awesome time here and it is a great memory for us already…! Thanks BlueBay.

Nathan La Pointe

We just want to say a huge thank you to the amazing staff at your resort. Gustavo from the wellness program was so kind, patient, and positive we had such a blast participating in the activities. Angel and Rodrigo were incredible bartenders: always quick, efficient, and fun to chat with. They introduced us to so many drink we would otherwise have never known about. We genuinely looked forward to seeing them every day. Miguel, Fernando, and Javier at the Romarley rooftop were an absolute joy friendly, attentive, and always going above and beyond. Leonardo, Fernando, Christian, Esteban, Eudwardo, and Ian at the Romarley Beach House also made our visits so enjoyable, always checking in and accommodating our needs. Joseph especially made our cabana lunch seamless so we didn’t miss a moment of relaxation, which we really appreciated. Cristobal and Giovanni at El Mare consistently delivered excellent service, while Francisco was flexible and attentive to our requests. Alfredo at the spa generously gave a demo massage for my neck and back, we’ll definitely be booking with him next time! The reception team, including Cynthia, Lilia, Alex, and Luigi, were also outstanding. We know we’re likely missing names, as so many staff left a lasting impression on us. Honestly, we had no plans to return to this resort we usually enjoy exploring new destinations, but because of the incredible team and their thoughtful touches, we would absolutely come back. For my girlfriend’s birthday, the staff delivered a cake to our room with a card, and at dinner at El Mare, they brought out a sparkler with dessert. Those moments made the celebration extra special and truly memorable. Thank you again to everyone for making our stay so wonderful, it’s clear that your staff genuinely care about the guest experience, and it really shows.

Chris Beene

Our server in the restaurant we dined for the most part was Fernando. He was excellent in every way, communication, service, dedication to his position. He went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of in every way, every time. I can say the same for the other waiters we had, but when he was working his shift,we asked to be sit at his station because we knew the service was going to be great. The best restaurant we ate at while we were here was the downstairs ground floor restaurant Romarley. The food was always great, better to our dining preference that compares to back home. Overall this was a good resort,we had some problems, but everything was addressed so all is good! Will recommend to anyone if you just want to relax, it doesn't have activities like most, but that's the kind of resort it is, the staff went out of their way to accommodate.

hassan choueib

We stayed at this resort for a week, and the experience was outstanding from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by Diego, who truly made our stay seamless. He ensured that every single request we had was taken care of, and honestly, I can’t say enough good things about him. His level of service, attention to detail, and genuine care went far beyond expectations. Yoe is an incredible soul who consistently went above and beyond in everything she did, always with a smile and great energy. Giovanni was also extremely helpful at La Mare restaurant, where the food deserves a solid 10/10—absolutely exceptional. Overall, the level of service at this resort is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. The food is outstanding, the staff is remarkable, and the beach is one of the nicest I’ve seen. I highly recommend this resort and would not hesitate to return.

Samantha Guillory

The hotel is beautiful, the restaurants serve delicious food, I especially loved the Ro Marley one. Coffee and pan and water readily available. The aesthetic is gorgeous, especially the pools and design….the ocean views on one side and city and tree line views on the other side. The service was impeccable. Shout out to Candido! Alejandra as well. Diego. Yoe! Really everyone here was amazing and treated us so kindly and well and made us feel welcome.

Raza Farooqi

- Rooms were okay our tub on the balcony the drain was stuck open and wouldn’t close. Super clean though. They start playing music at 7:30 AM which was kind of annoying if you have a pool view room. - we put the do not disturb sign on our door and they still came in and cleaned it…. - the beach is amazing water is gorgeous no sargassum either And both the pools they have are amazing. - the food was hit or miss. The breakfast was horrendous, room service food was horrendous, however the dine in food was good but really small portions. - the front desk staff speaks poor English other then the ambassadors so it’s kind of a pain. - we sat through their hour long cheesy presentation for the free stuff it’s worth it. It comes with a romantics dinner which was good, a free snorkeling adventure which was fun we saw some turtles and rays an abundance of fish. It also came with a free 25minute massage. If you want to go on excursions I would avoid the over priced ones from the resort they must get a commission from it skip the middle man and walk the main strip and ask one of the tour companies way cheaper and better experience. The town of Peurto Morelos everyone is super nice and it’s really safe get off the resort and have some fun.

Tania Tiller

This was our second stay at this resort, and it was even better than the first. We absolutely love the service and extra attention that comes with the Privilege level and wouldn’t stay here without it. Our butler, Sebastian, was excellent—he checked in with us regularly and was always happy to make dinner reservations whenever we asked. The app also made booking reservations incredibly easy. Jose, Javier, and Enrique, the Privilege pool concierges, were amazing: friendly, attentive, and helpful every single day. Riccardo, our pool waiter, was also fantastic. Overall, the entire staff was incredibly warm and welcoming, always greeting us with a smile. We were also happy to see there are still quite a few cats around the resort—they’re clearly well cared for by the staff, and we always make sure to bring cat treats with us. We’re pool people, so we didn’t spend much time at the beach but the staff did a great job keeping the sargassum cleaned up. Highly recommend this resort, and we will absolutely be back!

Dawnie Brasko

We had an absolutely amazing time at this beautiful resort. We’ve travelled in Mexico a lot and this resort is top tier for many reasons. The food is amazing, the restaurants definitely 5 stars! It is very clean and a great atmosphere throughout. But the best thing was all the staff, just so nice and always there. Our butler Brandon was amazing and so helpful, and Gustavos (bartender) and Joelle (bartender) were both so friendly and so incredible and attentive and kind and always remembered. Eduardo (privilege lounge) so fun and kind. And Rafaela (housekeeper) was the most kind sweet lady who did an incredible job and went out of her way to make our stay special. Again, of all the resorts we have been to the staff were the best here, and we would come back anytime and hope to in the future! Just want to thank all staff for making our vacation amazing.

Betty Orellana Murcia

What a beautiful location, not too big of a resort, not too small either! The food is very good and the resort is impeccable... spotless every where we turn. The El Beso section is great, not a party pool at all... good energy, different classes and activities throughout the day. Elizabeth is a beautiful lady inside and out always so cheerful and helpful! Her lovely energy is such a special treat each day at the pool side. She was always so ready to help if any issue arose... her exercise classes leave you feeling energized and ready to enjoy your Caribbean vacation! The servers are always so cheerful and eager to help with grabbing drinks or cleaning up... We really enjoyed meeting Jorge at a few different locations he was always happy to explain what dishes were and always prompt service! Frankie at the Lobby bar for pre-dinner cocktails or after dinner cappuccino... he was always so friendly and gave services with a smile. If your looking for a party resort... this is not your place... but if your looking for a beautiful Holiday of relaxation and civilized atmosphere this is absolutely amazing... for me and my 10 day stay this was truly a gem!

Jason Legacy

We had a wonderful 9 days at this resort. This isnour second time to this resort. We opted for the Pivilege experience which was worth the small upcharge. It allowed us to book the restaurants all on the first day for the rest of our stay. The staff were great with several stand outs. Butler Luis helped with everything we needed and booked everything. Elizabeth as the auquafit instructor and coordinator for the cocktails, cevice, ceramic painting etc was a joy and she definitely has the perfect personality for that role. Eber and Freddy at the El Beso restaurant and of course Angel at the privilege restaurant we're fantastic. Alfredo with the massage appointments as well as the poolside 10 min massage was awesome and much needed. We did the free shopping tour to Playa Del Carmen (would not necessarily recommend it). The beach was nice and sandy with some small rocks, but we had several windy days that blew the saragasum onto the shore. The resort did their best to clean it up, but it is just something to deal with for this time of year. We were ok, since we mostly stayed at the pool.

Tanya Dixon

Best Butler Luis- was kind, respectful, attentive and always followed through on tasks for us and made sure we were so well looked after. Staff in privilege lounge amazing! All working very hard to please and pleasant at all times. Jesus privilege bartender amazing and did great tastings at Elbeso. Elizabeth, Javier, Richardo always working hard at the elbeso to look after us and make sure we had towels, activities and drinks!!! Privilege lounge Emanuel, Angel chef Antonio thank you all for a wonderful experience!! Privilege dinner sooo wonderful. Thank you Angel, Jaime, Yasmin, Vitalino, Antonia and Soocorro for wonderful wonderful food and evening 10/10.

rachel sutton

I have been to this property 18 times and for years avoided the Mexico Lindo restaurant. Now I know that I have been missing out! The atmosphere is my favorite on the entire property, absolutely beautiful! Javier Muñoz is the manager and he has prepared his staff with excellence! Linsey the hostess was kind, professional, and a true delight. Best Mango margaritas and sueros made by the bartender! And our server Salvador and Miguel were on point with the absolute best service! I plan to come here again before we depart because it was a wonderful evening!! Here is a pic of Salvador and Miguel with my beautiful friends.

Eric DeVries

Ivan Uh and Carmen Ramirez were amazing servers for all our breakfasts. We came with a family of 4 (1 yr old, 4 yr old) and they both were attentive and friendly. They were interested in our kids names and what food they liked…and most importantly were interested in providing us parents with sufficient caffeine. Wonderful people and would recommend in a second

andrea uda

We were at maya beach buffet and had Guillermo Hernandez who was the best service you could ask for. So friendly, super quick. The food was delicious and we had such a great week. Was happy to see Guillermos face welcoming us as we entered for breakfast and lunch! Highly recommend you find Guillermo and sit in his sections everyday!! Amazing 10/10

Lisa Cohen

The service in the buffet by our server Selene Zurita was amazing. She went above and beyond every morning. She was patient and kind in helping me practice my Spanish. She was by far the best resort employee we encountered. The resort overall is very well kept and we love the grounds. We did notice that there seem to be staffing shortages at the pool and pool buffet. While the room was a little dated the beds and pillows were very comfortable.

Andre Bishko

This is the second time we have vacationed at the Barcelo Maya Grand Resort and have enjoyed our time hete every day. We have just finished our dinner at the oriental buffet which was delicious. Many thanks to our hosts Guadalupe Martin and Rodolfo Hau gor friendly, professional service

Garrett D' Angelo

We had an awesome experience at Tokyo Teppanyaki. The food was amazing and the service matched it start to finish. Our servers, Nancy and Carla, were friendly, attentive, and made sure everything ran smoothly the whole time. Our chef, Laura Solis, did a fantastic job. She’s newer to teppanyaki, but you honestly wouldn’t know it, she was confident, engaging, and the food came out cooked perfectly. Great flavors, great presentation, and a fun experience overall. Definitely a place we’d come back to and recommend to others.

Ryan Cassidy

We went to the mall bar and angel, valerio, and gloria were keeping us well hydrated and were very attentive! Talked with them about where we are from and had “almost” a whole conversation in spanish since my spanish is not the best but we managed and they all spoke very good english and were very easy to understand. They all were excellent bartenders! At the buffet Caribe, Manuel was fantastic with keeping our tequila flowing and enjoyed conversations in spanish with him. He was very pleasant and took wonderful care of us! We hope to see him again before we leave. We hung out at the pool bar by the Captain Morgan Buffet and Angel took very good care of us everyday that we were there! He refilled our drinks and always checked on us when we got “thirsty”! He talked with us and we got to know him very well!

Sam R

Have been to this resort many times over the past couple decades, as it has grown. The resort is a good size and I still love going there. The location is great and while the beaches are a little rocky, the swimming is amazing. Lots of options for pools, buffets and restaurants. There are extra activities (scuba, go-karts, waterpark w/surfing, spa), these are extra costs, and I haven't used them yet... The reason I didn't give it a 5 star is that this time around we couldn't get the bed configuration that we requested (even after I called the hotel before arriving to confirm). They said none were available, and didn't try to help or offer to change after a room with the requested bed configuration became available - first time for everything. Family of 3, all taking turns trying to figure out the best sleeping arrangement to reduce back pain Next time I will keep calling the front desk, as my back pain increased over the course of our trip and it's taken a week after getting home for it to subside. (Again, first time for everything as I never had this issue before). Our room was clean, the housekeeping did a great job, but in need of some maintenance. It was an older room that had been renovated, and still nice - just some wear & tear. 😉 The buffet restaurant staff were mostly friendly, but some struggled a bit with service - not very friendly, forgot drinks that were ordered, or just served water and walked away for a long period of time, until we were ready to leave. They are obviously working hard most of the time, and dealing with the different needs of the other tables, but it was a noticeable change from the last time we were there (the year earlier). The a la carte restaurants were okay. They are a nice option from the buffet. I really enjoyed the food and service at the Capri and La Fuente, but the others were average. May have been just an off night at the others? Will try again, as we have had some great experiences in the past in some of the others. So, with that said, 4 stars instead of 5. We'll try again and see if it's 5 star worthy.

Elizabeth Reese

⸻ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 – Outstanding Experience at Captain Morgan Grill (Barceló Maya) We had an amazing dining experience at Captain Morgan Grill! Our server, Carlos Martinez, provided exceptional service—attentive, friendly, and genuinely personal. He introduced himself right away and even asked for our names, which made the experience feel welcoming and memorable. The supervisor, Ana, also deserves recognition. She clearly runs the team with care and professionalism. Her warm and friendly demeanor contributes greatly to the wonderful atmosphere. Overall, terrific service and a fantastic visit. We will definitely be back for trip #9!!

Nicole Noland

Gladys was amazing 🤩🤩🤩 being my first time in Mexico and this bar / awesome place with bowling and games and food and actually good drinks not like at the hotels these drinks are the drinks you want to come get. She made us feel like we come here all the time just kept the drinks coming and her energy is unlatched. If your looking for a place to chill watch a game on the big screen theaters style or bowl or get a bite or your looking for better drinks then the waters down dinks at the hotel this is the place and Gladys is the girl to make it feel like you belong 100% ... I will remember this for a life time. 25 stars!!!!

Nickolas Eversdyk

Grill Palmeras, located at the Barceló Maya Tropical resort in the Riviera Maya (near Puerto Aventuras, Quintana Roo, Mexico), is a fantastic casual grill spot right by the pool and beach area. This open-air restaurant specializes in barbecue and buffet-style lunches, offering grilled meats, fresh sandwiches, salads, and a variety of sides with that classic smoky flavor you crave while lounging in paradise. The setting is unbeatable—Caribbean Sea views, tropical vibes, and easy access without leaving the resort pool zone. It’s perfect for a relaxed midday meal, whether you’re grabbing a quick bite between swims or enjoying a full buffet spread. What really elevates the experience is the outstanding service from the team. Teresa Chable stands out as an incredibly positive, hardworking server who brings such warmth and energy to every table. She makes you feel genuinely welcomed and goes above and beyond to ensure everything is just right—her enthusiasm turns a simple lunch into a highlight of the day. Aureliano Chan is another gem at the grill; his awesome attitude and attentive service make you feel right at home. He’s quick, friendly, and always on top of things, contributing to that improved food quality and overall great vibe that keeps visitors coming back. And shoutout to Maria Choe for her part in the team—her contributions help keep the operation smooth and welcoming, adding to the friendly, efficient atmosphere that makes Grill Palmeras a go-to spot. The food is solid: generous portions of grilled goodies, tasty buffet options, and fresh flavors that hit the spot in the Mexican heat. It’s not overly fancy, but that’s the charm—reliable, delicious, and fun in a beachside setting. If you’re staying at or visiting the Barceló Maya resorts, I highly recommend stopping by Grill Palmeras for lunch. The combination of great grilled food, prime location, and exceptional staff like Teresa, Aureliano, and Maria makes it a winner. Definitely worth it—5 stars for the service alone!

Danye DRK

Absolutely perfect stay at Barceló Hotel! Impeccable cleanliness, outstanding service, and staff who truly take care of every detail from start to finish. The rooms were spotless, cleaned down to the smallest corners. I was quite anxious before arriving, especially about insects, but I was completely reassured, housekeeping is extremely thorough, and you can actually see the staff cleaning everything with great care. Everything is designed for guest comfort, even the minibar in the room is adjusted to our preferences. That level of personalized attention really makes a difference. For excursions, the organization was excellent: always the last to be picked up and the first to be dropped off, a real plus. The hotel itself is beautiful, with several swimming pools surrounded by palm trees, creating a truly paradisiacal setting. The service is flawless, whether at the buffet or from the waitstaff: always smiling, attentive, and very efficient. Special mention for the freshness and quality of the food, we tried everything without any concern and never got sick. I highly recommend Barceló Hotel without hesitation.

Estevan Gonzales

OK for my own this restaurant with a five stars restaurant will win with. It was amazing. It had good quality food and different items to pick and then the rooms. I guess they were kinda OK cause the thing for the hot water didn’t work but one day after they fix it, the rooms was a four out of 10. Everything else was OK, you should go to this hotel. It’s one of the best hotels and it has a beautiful beach right next to the hotel. With a

Keri Mucicko

Our family of 4 enjoyed a week’s vacation along with 4 other families. Check in was fairly smooth, we had to wait for our rooms as our flight arrived earlier than check in - but they allowed us to go and eat and enjoy the amenities until we could get room keys. The resort has beautiful landscaping, great food, and excellent entertainment. The grounds were immaculately maintained. Every single staff member that we interacted with was pleasant. Our favourite servers were Isreal and Julio - they really went the extra mile to make our dinners so enjoyable. We stayed at Tropical, the poolside entertainment by Alex, Arie, Lise, and more, really kept the energy up along the pools edge. This made for excellent days in the sunshine with lots of laughs! We have absolutely no complaints, the complex has everything you need. We would definitely return to this resort and look into more Barceló resorts as they maintain impeccable standards. Thanks for a great vacation!!

Albert & Andrea Van Benthem

First time coming to the Barcelo Tropical. What a beautiful resort! The beaches, restaurants, staff have all been exceptional! For lunch we enjoyed going to the Grande Palmeras on the beach. We received great service and a great selection of food at the buffet! Burgers are amazing! Citlaly Arriaga is a great hostess at this location. We definitely recommend checking out this resort.

Jean Lyttle

We came to celebrate my cousin renewing her wedding vows (she got married here too) we have had a fabulous time, there is nothing I could say negative about this place, the food has been amazing ( there is buffet, as well as alacarte restaurants) the staff all go beyond to make sure your experience is the best. It is an all inclusive hotel, but the level of the food drink and service is amazing. There is entertainment at the pools and theatre is just fun. And Joy, who did the entertainment at our pool, was jut that..:..: a joy, full of energy and fun. My cousins wedding planner was wonderful too, we had such a special day. We will definitely be coming back again . Thank you to all that makes this place so special ❤️

Columbus

Got back from 2 weeks at this amazing resort. We were put off by some negative ones before we went and we are so glad we did go. Check in was smooth with a welcome drink took about 10 mins before the shuttle took us to our room. Great service from the shuttles all holiday. The room was stunning, so clean and the bath was so good. The bathroom was a little dated in places but this didn’t bother us, couple new tiles and a bit of paint and it would be perfect. We had a pool view in block 29. The food was incredible, both buffets, snack bars, themed restaurants and the Black Sheep. Very tasty food managed to get into 4 restaurants no problem, Carnal, Butchers, the Mediterranean and the Italian. All lovely food with a great service. All the pools were really nice, we stayed around the Prana pool most as it was outside our room but we did a day at the Aura, and a couple day at the quiet pool too. Really good laugh around the party pools and the entertainment was top notch. The beach was also really nice we did a couple days here and often came for lunch at the BBQ which was incredible. The bars again really good drinks and a great service. All of the bars were brilliant, the lobby cocktail bars and the rooftop was our favourite. Evening entertainment was good and the waiter service was top notch. We seen all sorts of wildlife which was amazing, Monkeys, Coatis, Racoon’s, and many reptiles and birds aswell as fish in the sea. Amazing to see so many different ones. Overall we had a great time here and would 100% return, met some great people from all over the world, up there with one of the best places we’ve been. Staff couldn’t do enough for you, the whole grounds were spotless and it looked stunning at night. Also the sunbed situation. We were getting up and getting a bed everyday between 9-10 no problem at all. We even got up later one day as we went to Coco Bongo the night before and managed to get one at 11am no problem. Don’t let any bad reviews put you off, I get some people’s experience may be different to others but ours was an amazing stay.

Sarah C

Lovely big rooms with huge bed. Communal areas always very clean. Food in the buffet really nice but it is usually very noisy. Service in the restaurants great and the food in the individual restaurants was excellent. Slight issue with the replenishing of tea, coffee, washing of cups in our room which was an ongoing issue and a bit of a pain. Consierge on our room block very helpful and friendly. Take small peso notes $20/25 to give as tips. Bring your own straws as they don't offer them. An hour's drive by coach from the airport.

Tracy Nix

We just got back from a 4 night, 5 day stay at Grand Sirenis. For context, we were 2 families: 10 people in total including 4 adults and 6 teenagers. The "PROs": the resort is very pretty. There is a lot of vegetation separating the numerous amenities which makes such a large property feel smaller and more boutique. There are 3 different pools, each with different offerings whether you want quiet/relaxing, adult party atmosphere or kid fun, you could find what you want. We spent our time on the beach which was very picturesque. We did not have trouble finding chairs as people are always moving around and must bring their towels with them whenever they go (more on this later). The spa and hydrotherapy were wonderful. The rooms were not brand new, but they are clean, spacious and easily accommodated up to 4 people. Most of the staff was friendly. The "CONs": Our #1 issue was with the restaurant reservation process. You cannot make your restaurant reservations in advance, they tell you that your concierge will help you when you arrive. We followed their process and immediately found our concierge within 1 hour of arriving to make our reservations, since we are a party of 10 people. Our concierge said that our party size was too big for us to eat at any of the a la carte restaurants, so he kept booking us at the buffets. This was very upsetting because when we booked this trip we assumed we could eat at the various restaurants (Italian, Mediterranean, Steakhouse, etc.). We were also told that some restaurants couldn't accommodate parties over 6 people (which wasn't true since we witnessed plenty of tables where 8, 10, 12 people were seated). We spent HOURS arguing with different staffers when we could have been enjoying our vacation. Ultimately, we ended up eating at 3 of the a la carte restaurants (all with reservations after 9pm) and to be honest, the food itself was just OK. It's fine for an all inclusive, but it's not the reason to pick this resort. The other time waster is the towel system. You get beach towel cards for each person in your party. You give your card to the towel stand and they give you a towel, then you have to return it to get your card back. If you don't return the towel, you cannot get a new towel that day. And if you don't return your towel by the time the stand closes, you have to take your used towel to your room and then bring it back to the stand in the morning. Lots of towel tracking and towel discussions in a party with 6 teenagers, as you can imagine. But, speaking of the teens, they all had an absolute blast. They loved the resort, the spa, the beach, the amenities, the food, everything. So, I guess it depends on your perspective!

Sara Brown

Its so beautiful here. The service is amazing. The food better than any hotel resort I've ever been to. However, every day at about 1pm, the techno music starts and it doesn't stop! The bass is so loud it permeates the entire resort, even the "quiet" areas. I can hear it from our room! There is so much beautiful nature here too. I enjoy the music they play in the morning. More low key, classical guitar stuff. Everything else is amazing.

Doug Robinson

We did a lot of research and decided to visit for the first time the Royal Hideaway Playacar and weren’t disappointed!! We were there between Dec 10th to 17th and have to say it was one of the best overall reports we’ve been to. The hotel was beautifully maintained, the staff were amazing, friendly and extremely helpful, the food was top notch and was the perfect size. 2 awesome pools over looking the most beautiful stretch of beach, it never felt crowded and because it was more of a boutique style resort everything was a quick 2 minute walk. One of the reasons we chose the Royal Hideaway Playacar was because it was an adults only resort! Met lots of new friends and can’t say enough about our concierge “Alberto”… he was the best! Always asking if we needed anything, or if something could be better! We plan on going again next year and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a quality, relaxing and chill vacation

Kim Karlin

This was our 5th visit to Royal Hideaway, and it just gets better every time. I love that it's a smaller resort and has beautiful grounds. The beach is close to the villas, so it's a quick walk no matter what building your room is in. The staff is the best part of the RH experience. Sucel was our concierge in building 24, and she went above and beyond to make our stay special. She even made reservations for my daughter and I to have dinner in town. Her smile and cheerful greeting every morning was a great way to start the day! All of the wait staff and hosts in the restaurants are wonderful. My favorite server from the first time I visited is Oscar (who has moved from The Deck to Azia). I can't say enough good things about his professional and personal attitude. His attention to the little things makes each meal something to look forward to. And he is warm and personable and always greets us with genuine pleasure. Yuliana was the hostess at The Deck for breakfast, and she was accommodating and so sweet. Best bartender of the year is Jose at The Deck bar. His smile was as great as his drinks! Eduardo that does beach service was always very attentive, worked so hard all day,and was a joy to talk to. Luis also delivered our drinks to us with a smile, including extra water bottles when it was so hot. Bar Allegria has Lorenzo (the shorter man of that name there) who makes a great margarita and even better conversation! Beach security were very attentive to all guest concerns and needs. I especially appreciated David, who always checked that everything was ok with us and was really interested in all the guests. I can't praise the entertainment team enough. The resort has added so much more to do, and the staff kills it!! I especially enjoyed water aerobics with Roberto. The shows are fun and the painting activities were a nice way to get creative. The food in all the restaurants is good, fresh and plentiful. Our favorites are Azia (try the Mayan sushi) and Spices for dinner. There are so many wonderful things about Royal Hideaway, which is why we keep going back. I don't foresee a Mexico vacation that doesn't mean a stay at this calming resort with it's welcoming and gracious staff. Thank you Royal Hideaway for another terrific vacation!!

Paulette Brown

This was our 13th visit to the Barceló Royal Hideaway Playacar, and it continues to be our favorite place thanks to the incredible staff who consistently go above and beyond. The resort is absolutely beautiful and so relaxing. We would especially like to recognize Ricky Rosas, who always makes our trips memorable and seamless. Prior to our arrival this trip we were staying next door at the Allegro Playacar with our family, and Ricky personally came over to pick us up and arranged for our luggage to be transferred and ensured our room was ready the moment we arrived. Throughout our stay, Ricky always checks on us several times a day and wis always offering his assistance—anything he can do to improve our experience. His professionalism, kindness, and genuine care for guests truly set him apart. He is the absolute best concierge we have ever had both here and at other resorts. He goes above and beyond for everyone, and it does not go unnoticed. We would also like to thank Roberto and his Water Sports team, especially Henry, for their outstanding service and friendliness. A special shout-out to the pool service team—Genaro, Eduardo, Luis, Javier, and Jorge—who were attentive, welcoming, and always make each snd every day by the pool exceptional. Kudos as well to the incredibly talented guitarist, saxophone player, and violinist who performed at the pool during this trip. Their music added such a special and relaxing atmosphere. My husband and I absolutely love this resort and look forward to returning again and again, thanks to staff members like Ricky and the entire Royal Hideaway Playacar team who consistently deliver an exceptional experience. I also met Dayna the new guest services manager today and she was very kind and wanting to know how they can make it even better.

Julie Hinton-Green Reiki Master

Girls’ Trip Review | October 3–7 I recently stayed at in Royal Hideaway Playacar in Playa del Carmen with a group of close girlfriends from October 3–7, and it was the perfect setting for an adults-only style getaway. Our early 7:00 a.m. flight allowed us to enjoy a full first day, followed by about a one-hour transfer from the Cancun airport. The hotel was absolutely beautiful and very quiet, likely due to the time of year, which made it ideal for a girls’ trip or couples. While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it for families with children due to limited activities, it was perfect for relaxation and quality time with friends. The property was well maintained and stunning both during the day and at night. I especially enjoyed the cooking classes offered — one day making ceviche and another learning authentic Mexican guacamole. Dining options were great overall, including the Asian and Italian restaurants, with excellent service throughout. The Mexican cultural show was very entertaining, even though the preset menu wasn’t entirely to my taste. The gym was a standout feature — clean, modern, and well equipped, with beautiful views of the surrounding trees. I also appreciated the healthy grab-and-go options like wrapped granola. We felt very safe exploring the nearby shops just across the street, which was a big plus. The wildlife around the property was another highlight, with plenty of birds and even capybaras — a rare sight compared to home in Toronto. Overall, it was a wonderful choice for a relaxing, memorable girls’ trip, and I would highly recommend it for adults looking to unwind in Playa del Carmen. P.S Don't forget to tip the Waiter and waitress staff! They deserve it for all the hard work they do...

Mark Levine

We had a lovely vacation at Royal Hideaway. The six of us all loved the food, the beach, the pools, everything. All of our rooms were comfortable and clean. Each of our concierges were helpful, considerate, and friendly. My wife and I visited Royal Hideaway in February 2000, just about a year after they opened. This time we brought our adult children and their partners. We found it to be just as inviting and comfortable as before. The service was exemplary, as was the food. The grounds were impeccably maintained and the spa was simply amazing (my wife had three treatments). It was as clean as could be, with no litter seen anywhere, even on the beach! A few shout outs to folks we feel deserve a little recognition: Oliveiro at Spices was an attentive waiter. Kudos to him for excellent service. Armando, the concierge in building 30, was wonderful. He was exactly the kind of ally I needed to ensure that all went well. Alexa and Victor were friendly and warm instructors. My family had them for two crafts classes and loved them. Dayna was visible and helpful. One day during a downpour, she insisted that she escort me with her umbrella to my villa. That kind of kindness does not go unnoticed. Roberto, the Head Concierge, helped me all along the planning of the trip, from directing me to someone who could help with dinner reservation to transportation to and from the airport. Finally, I must thank Lorena, the Assistant General Manager. for all of her help. I know that I had a lot of questions and worries before the trip (I may have been a pest), and she answered each inquiry with grace and kindness. I mentioned all of the physical things that made our trip great, but ultimately, it was the professional service from everyone at Royal Hideaway that made the vacation so memorable. My daughter insisted that she was not going to leave and my son, just finishing his first semester of law school, said that the time at Royal Hideaway was exactly what he needed to decompress. Again, many thanks to everyone at Royal Hideaway for helping me make cherished memories with my family. I can assure you that we will be back and it won’t take another 25 years!

Jasbir Singh

From the moment you walk into Dream Sands Cancun, you are met with sales pitches at every corner. Instead of feeling welcomed, we immediately felt pressured to buy upgrades, bottles, massages, and tables for shows. This aggressive sales environment continued throughout our entire stay and ultimately led to a very unpleasant checkout experience. Prior to arrival, we were emailed that we would receive $200 in resort credits per room. At check-in, we were told these credits could be used for reserving tables, purchasing bottles, or for spa services—but we were not given any further instructions, restrictions, or coupons. Throughout our stay, staff repeatedly approached us trying to sell bottles, massages, and tables. Every time we asked, “Can we use our resort credits?” the answer was always yes. In one specific situation, a staff member sold us a bottle and explicitly confirmed that we could apply $200 of our resort credit toward it. That assurance was the sole reason we agreed to the purchase. However, during checkout, the front desk told us that: • We could only use $10 of credit toward the bottle • We did not use a “formal coupon” (which we were never told about or given) When we explained that no one informed us about coupons and that the staff member who sold us the bottle clearly stated we could use the full credit, we were sent to a manager. The manager repeated the same explanation and then, quite bluntly, told us—with a smile—that we could either wait in the lobby for an investigation or leave to catch our flight. He refused to investigate the issue after our departure. It became even worse from there. We were prevented from leaving the lobby unless we signed a receipt to check out. We were treated like criminals simply for questioning misleading sales practices. I was forced to sign my name over 10 times because my signature had to perfectly match my passport. Despite explaining that it’s impossible to replicate a signature exactly every time, the staff refused to accept anything else. This entire process was stressful, humiliating, and completely unprofessional. As for the resort itself: • It is much smaller than most Cancun resorts • The preferred section is not worth the upcharge, and frankly in this resort a preferred section shouldn't exist • While the resort is beachfront, about 70% of the beach is covered in rocks • The small non-rocky portion has loungers reserved only for preferred members, which requires sitting through a sales pitch, paying extra, and potentially visiting a sister property The elevators are extremely slow and limited, making getting around the hotel frustrating. Food was another major disappointment. There are 4–5 dinner options, but for lunch, there are only two: • A buffet • A very basic burger option All of the food—including room service—was subpar. There are limited late-night food options, and the room service food was not good. We ended up leaving the resort multiple nights just to find decent meals, which should not be necessary at an all-inclusive. I expected significantly better quality from a Hyatt-affiliated property. Most of the rooms are outdated, though I will say that: • The pools were clean • There was some daytime entertainment • We were lucky to catch a Friday night show that was actually enjoyable • The volleyball net set up in the ocean was a fun and unique touch Unfortunately, these few positives do not come close to outweighing the constant sales pressure, misleading information, poor food quality, and the unacceptable way we were treated at checkout. Overall, this was a deeply disappointing experience, and I would not recommend Dream Sands Cancun. I expected far more professionalism, transparency, and quality—especially from a Hyatt resort.

Monica Bialas

We’ve stayed 7 days at this resort January 2026 with our toddler. Very family friendly resort.. Approx. 20-30 mins from the airport. Once you entered the hotel lobby they greet you with some wine and fresh towel. Food is excellent: Mexican, steak house and Japanese’s was our favorite ! The Japanese is the only one you need to rsvp thru the hotel app. The buffet has a lot great selection: fajitas, ceviche., fresh fruit, omelette, crepes, authentic Mexican food. The guacamole & picco di gallo is so fresh and amazing.we eat healthy back home so we really enjoyed the food. really you could eat there all week. Only downfall are the rooms a little small but that’s all you need really, didint spend much time in there anyway. We had the deluxe with ocean view. The beach unfortunately is not very wide. If you stay on the “preferred club “ side it seems a little better. We took nice walks along the beach and it’s much wider and nicer. We noticed that some people brought their towels and just chilled there. Not much seaweed so that’s a positive :) They also make sure to clean it up in the morning. Towel system is great, plenty available just need to grab one… 3 large pools however and a hot tub by the beach. Everything is well located on the resort. Elevators are a little tricky seemed to have a few issues. In terms of the service it was very good and the staff is very friendly and ensure that they meet your needs. Very professional . All around is also safe. You can leave your stuff by the beach no problem. Great service by the beach in terms of drinks. Margaritas and mojitos were excellente. The music and entertainment is very good. Some Yoga classes are in the morning. I’ve noticed It’s also a very goood place for older kiddos- ton of activities it seems. Fun themes and shows at night too. The performers are incredible. Overall, we were pleasantly surprised by everything. It’s a great place and definetly recommended it! I’ve travelled to many all inclusive resorts and this is my 3rd time in Mexico. Hope this helps ! Please disregard any negative reviews about food or service.. really. It’s a great place for the price you pay.

Ayooluwa Asonibare

I had such a good experience at this resort, and I really want to highlight a few amazing staff members who made my stay even better. Isaac at the pool was so attentive and welcoming, always making sure I was comfortable. Pedro at the Asian restaurant provided excellent service and made the dining experience memorable. And Jorge at the buffet was incredibly kind, friendly, and helpful every time I saw him.

Tatiana Reyna

My family and I spent 5 days and 5 nights at Dreams Sands Cancun Resort and Spa and we absolutely loved everything!! The property has al the entertainment and wonderful restaurants that offer distinct flavors from Asian cuisine, Mexican cuisine, Argentinian cuisine, Italian cuisine Mediterranean cuisine and even more importantly the breakfast menu in both the Preferred Member Restaurant and the World Cafe is amazing! So delicious! We were able to enjoy the amazing weather from the 27 of December to January 1, and the beautiful beach which was crystal blue, up to waist level but mostly stayed at the knee level, perfect for our toddler to enjoy! We also enjoyed the preferred access and had beach front lounging chair spots during our stay. The service from all the staff is top notch, including the wonderful room service which provided morning and evening turn down service for us. We honestly didn’t have to leave the property at all! Also the new years celebration was amazing, they had fantastic live music with a wonderful singer and dancers, assortment of delicious food and drinks, and we rang in the new year with sparklers, and fun sound toys for the kids! We love the beach and ocean view from our room and loved that they kept our bedroom stocked up with snacks and refreshments. Loved this vacation and we will definitely return soon!!

Alireza sadeghi

We stayed at this hotel from January 6 to January 13, 2026, and overall had a very pleasant experience. The hotel is very nice and the location is excellent, with easy access to restaurants, the pool, and the beach. One of the best aspects was how convenient and compact everything was—no long walks were needed to reach the main amenities. The only downside was that the 10th-floor rooms need renovation. The room felt outdated, and having only two electrical outlets was not sufficient. Overall, everything else was great, and I would recommend this hotel, especially for its location and convenience.

karyn gitler

This resort is wonderful. The staff is amazing! From Clare and Omar helping us plan and schedule stuff to Alexia and Kendy at the pool! The rooms are large with 3 bedrooms and penthouse our room was so fun to be in. We got to spend more quality time with our kiddos instead of them going to their room and us to ours. The food was mostly great, better than any other resort we have visited. Our servers remembered our coffee orders at breakfast! Miguel, Litzy, and Antonio were great waiters. And Daniel was a cocktail master! We can't wait to go back!

O D

The Fives offers a wide range of amenities meeting our high expectations of an all inclusive resort. We had access to Fitness and wellness activities, painting and tequila tasting everyday. The food and service are outstanding and the staff is always looking to ensure that you have a memorable stay. Thank you so much yo our ambassadors Kristoff and Daniel for organizing our weekly activities and dinner reservations. You are a great asset for the resort. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Mike & Odette

Jeni Leyland

This resort is great - it’s a big resort, with lots of beautiful, well taken care of grounds! Upon arrival, we were checked in quickly & our room was absolutely amazing! Gorgeous view of the jungle & a clean, spacious room. Our favourite restaurant was the La Brassarie, the French restaurant - with Natura being a very close second, we went there nearly every day for lunch! Camilo, from the entertainment team was amazing! He’s extremely helpful and very friendly! He goes above and beyond in his job, all the time & he always has a smile on his face. Nothing is too much for Camilo & our holiday wouldn’t be the same without him! Would definitely love to come back!

Jimmy Lam

From the moment our family arrived at Five Resort Hotel in Playa del Carmen, we felt genuinely welcomed. The staff was friendly, attentive, and always willing to help, making both adults and kids feel comfortable right away. The resort has a fun, relaxed atmosphere that made it easy for our whole family to enjoy every moment together. Dining at the new Season restaurant was a highlight of our stay. The food was delicious and thoughtfully prepared, with great options for both adults and children. The service was excellent—patient, kind, and very accommodating to families—which made every meal enjoyable and stress-free. Overall, Five Resort Hotel is a wonderful choice for families looking for a memorable vacation in Playa del Carmen. Everything from the service to the amenities was well thought out, creating a perfect balance of relaxation and fun. We made amazing family memories and look forward to returning again.

Colleen Stevens

We found the food to be hit or miss. I didn’t find anything outstanding but we found many enjoyable meals. The room was fine, and I explain it in further detail below. I found the service around the resort to be excellent. The person who stood out the most for me was Eduardo who helped us check our luggage in and often drove us on this golf cart. He was exceptional. The location was great. I like the way the resort is set up with the plaza in the middle and we are about 20 minutes from downtown Playa del Carmen and we went to Fifth Ave. twice.

Britney Hoskins

Absolutely love Temptation*. I’m a member here. This is my first time here this year and for the first time everything wasn’t perfect.the seagulls have taken over the whole entire pool. And were super frustrating. One actually landed on me Service is always amazing though. My butler Alex was awesome Ramon at sea. Flirt was amazing. I love the food over at sea Flirt. The hibachi restaurant was great. They switch the show at she which was a refreshing surprise since I’ve been a member for three years so I’ve seen the same show a few times.

Auburn White

Third time here and love the staff at Sultra restaurant the most (Christian Reyes, Juan Tee and Jones). Very attentive and remembered my drink order. The food is fantastic and I never needed a reservation to go there. Treated with respect being alone and its definitely my preferred spot. Pool and beach volleyball 🏐 😎 🤗 Theme nights are fun to dress up for. Security and bar staff are respectful and helpful. Chac-Chi Massage On the Beach, you’ll enjoy a truly amazing time. $45 for 1hr. $65 Jet Ski for 30 min and for para-gliding. This resort is a party resort. Its noisy no matter where you are lol

Trezlyn Wieser

First-timer review — take it or leave it, just my opinion! The people: 10/10, no notes. We met SO many amazing people and had an absolute blast. Never felt pressured, never felt creeped out—just good vibes all around. The playmakers especially deserve a raise because they really tried their hardest to keep the party alive at all times. Now… the resort. 😬 Respectfully, she is tired. Maintenance clearly took a long vacation because things were broken everywhere—public bathroom handles hanging on for dear life, dirt in places dirt should not be, and missing tiles all around the pool bar like a bad game of Jenga. We booked the plush jacuzzi room and were excited to use it one night… until the water came out yellow. And not a cute yellow. It was giving “absolutely not,” it was giving yeast infection, it was giving drain the tub immediately. Food was fine. Nothing to write home about, but it kept us breathing. Overall verdict: the party and people were elite, but the resort itself was very much not it. If anyone knows of a higher-end resort with the same vibe (but, like, clean), please let a girl know 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

Zane White

We had an amazing first time experience at Temptations! The entire staff was very friendly, welcoming, and helpful. Even the playmakers, when they weren’t performing, if you ran into them randomly, they made you feel welcome, introduced themselves and also did a great job at remembering faces and names. Rafa and Mojito were very personable. The facility was always clean. The food and drinks were great! Absolutely loved our time here. 100% we will be returning. I have zero complaints.

Vinay N

An exceptional stay in Temptation Cancun from the start to Finish. The resort strikes the perfect balance between luxury, comfort, and an incredible party vibe. The atmosphere is lively yet refined, with great music, well-curated events, and an energy that makes every evening feel special. The service truly stands out. Every interaction felt thoughtful and professional, making the experience seamless and relaxing. A special mention to Arturo, Victor who went above and beyond to ensure everything was perfectly arranged, and attention to detail made our excursions unforgettable. Room services were great. Restaurants recommended : Sutra, Amores, Sea flirt (Never able to get the appointment for SHE)

Julia Chein

Happiest place on earth fr. Love this resort and the staff/service is the main reason we’ve come back so many times. The bartender, Samuel, is literally the best bartender I’ve ever met. He makes such incredible drinks and he’s so fun to be around. Jose Luis is also amazing, always takes care of us at the pub. Excursions off the resort are rlly easy to do through their services and definitely worth doing.

Lisa Parker

Have been to this resort 4 times for concerts. I would never stay there for any other reason in fact the bad food has made us decide that even the concerts are not worth it at this location and we will not be back. The food seem to get worse with every trip here. The food and service was lacking and don't even bother complaining about it. We had really bad service at the pizza place and when we went to customer service their response was to offer us a reservation at the buffet. The same buffet that does not require reservations and lunch and dinner suck. Food at the concert venue was average and the breakfast at the Italian was good and hot. Breakfast at the main buffet most thing were cold. Room service was good and they came rather quickly so if you can't get into one of the restaurants or don't want to walk order in for lunch or dinner. It is better.

Chris Quinlan

Absolutely amazing resort! It's so big that I didn't feel cooped up staying there for a week. Was able to hit new restaurants and bars and pools every single day! Also, Jair at The Library was AMAZING! He makes the best cocktails in the entire resort, hands down!

Ellie Ward

Overall we had a great trip. There were lots of activities for our kids and the playroom was a great option. The rooms were a bit small and there was no place to sit (like a couch) but we were not really in the room much. Amazing customer service everywhere we went. The food varied: some great and some was just okay. Getting reservations for dinner was impractical for our family of 5 (young kids sonwe can't wait to 9pm) but room service was great. The lunch and dinner buffets were mediocre. MOMO buffet for breakfast was very good.

Katie Grant

This is probably one of the best places to stay in Cancun. Amazing facility, staff was always helpful and friendly, every meal we had was excellent, and the pools were always clean with enough loungers to be able to find one when you wanted to just lay by the pool. Only two cons/negatives: 1. The beach they are located on is not one where you'd want to swim. The water is so shallow that there is alot of brown seaweed that also covers the beach due to tides. It smells like a bay at low tide due to it laying out in the sun. However, the pools are so nice in the resort that you can still enjoy them and not miss the beach. (We actually got a day pass from the resort planners for a trip to another beach in Cancun that didn't have seaweed, so were still able to have a "beach day" on our trip). 2. The second con is the pushy sales people trying to sell their vacation club. I sat thru what was supposed to be 90 minutes which ended up lasting over 2 hours. I got free day passes to their sister facility, "The Moon Palace Grand" but never used them. I stayed at The Moon Palace Sunrise. They then tried again after I checked out and I still had to decline them 5 x's. Other than those two things our trip was amazing.

Jean

My boyfriend and I just finished our stay here for 5 nights as my birthday trip & we had a great time! Daniel with the concierge was amazing, always made sure our stay was running smoothly. I did a ton of research before booking & it was everything I wanted! Food was great, we never had a bad meal but definitely preferred Spumante & Rosewater. The buffet was always good too & we loved the midnight tacos! We stayed on the secrets side mostly we loved the pool, service was consistent & fast. We sat on the beach one morning and had a great view. Our room was perfect & housekeeping was great we had no complaints. The view was everything from sunrise to sunset, we booked an ocean view & would do the same again! The drinks were always strong but enjoyable, we loved stopping in the preferred lounge for some mimosas in the morning. The shows were very entertaining too, we saw the neon show & magic show. Overall we'd definitely recommend and we'd stay again! Remember to tip well the staff are so hard working!

Melanie Navarro

We recently stayed at Secrets Riviera Cancun, and overall, we had a good time—but it wasn’t our favorite Secrets resort. We’ve stayed at other Secrets properties that offered a more elevated and seamless experience. While the resort is nice, there were several situations and areas that, if handled differently, could have made this stay much better. Maintenance, along with attention to small details and consistency in service, are areas that could use improvement. It wasn’t bad by any means, just not as great as we’ve come to expect from the brand. That said, what truly made a difference during our stay was the exceptional service from certain team members who went above and beyond: • Luis – Bellman • Yesenia – Rosewater waitress • Lusein – Rosewater waiter • Mar – Preferred Pool • Jesus – Preferred Lobby Bar • Alberto – Rosewater • Aladin – French restaurant • Enrique – Preferred Bar Special shout-out to Lusein, Yesenia, and Mar — they truly stood out with their attentiveness, warmth, and professionalism. They are valuable employees and made a noticeable positive impact on our experience. Overall, we enjoyed our time, but we hope to see improvements that align this property more closely with the high standards we’ve experienced at other Secrets resorts.

federico castillo

Our wedding was a dream come true! Everything was perfectly timed, beautiful, and stress-free. Araly, our coordinator, went above and beyond—even helping pin up the dress on the big day. The MC brought great energy, the DJ crushed it, and the food was phenomenal. Special shoutout to Luis at the resort for keeping the vibes high with fun activities throughout our stay. If you’re planning to get married here—trust the process, trust your coordinator, and pick the violinist for the cocktail hour. Thank me later!

Billiegee

I stayed at the resort a week before Thanksgiving. I have been to Cancun dozens of times and this is the best overall resort that I have stayed at. The food was very excellent and the layout of the the resort was very inviting. What made this resort so special was the staff. Luis and Andre, the pool activities personnel, were the best I have experienced in a long time. They made a point to speak to every guest around the pool and always asking if there is anything we could do to make my stay better. Cruz and Urbana, the pool waiters, were the best, always making sure I was taken care of. Daniel and Marco, the pool concierges, were always providing fresh towels and always assisting everyone at the pool with their umbrellas and chairs. My favorite waiter was Lucian at the buffet. He always set us at our favorite table and remembered our drinks order religiously. My only criticism would be the ocean. At this time of year it was murky and not pleasant to be in. I’ve stayed at all exclusive places over 30 times and this is the first time I’ve written a review. I can’t say enough good stuff about this Resort. The Breathless Side of the resort was nice but a little loud for my taste. Specialty restaurants were outstanding and I didn’t have to wait long to be seated. I strongly recommend staying here and hope to be back soon Bill from Iowa

Brandon Crooks

Worst dining experience we've ever had at an all-inclusive resort. The Good: The room was pretty good, the resort and pool area were nice, and the shows were enjoyable. The Problem - Dining: Night 1 - Asian Restaurant: Service was mediocre. We had to flag down our waiter multiple times for drinks and water, and food took forever to arrive. The food quality was decent, at least. Day 2 - Lunch at Rosewater: The only restaurant with consistently good service throughout our stay. Food came out quickly. Day 2 - Pool Service: Always great staff, but food orders took approximately 90 minutes to arrive every single day. Night 2 - Italian Restaurant: Our waiter was nowhere to be found. We couldn't get wine refills or even a single water refill. I got up multiple times to search for our waiter and request help from other staff members. The food was fine, but the service was subpar. Night 2 - Room Service: The late-night menu was very disappointing with no Mexican food options. Our order arrived 45 minutes later than expected and was not good. Day 3 - Breakfast at Rosewater: The kitchen was backed up badly. Food took an hour from ordering to arrival, though service was acceptable. Night 3 - Mexican Restaurant: We arrived at 7:30 for a table of six and were told there would be a 50-minute wait. We returned at 8:20 and were told another 15 minutes, then another 10 minutes. At 8:45, we were finally seated—at a 4-person booth meant for 6 people. We were cramped and sweating in the corner. I had to get up and argue with staff to move us to one of the several available 6-8 person tables. Once moved, it took an extreme amount of time to get our food, and we struggled to get drink and water refills. The food was not worth any of the hassle. One Bright Spot - The Buffet: The buffet was fine, and drink/water service there was actually fast. Day 4 - Pizza Place by the Ocean: It took over 45 minutes to get a personal pizza. Other guests would walk up, skip the line, and grab pizzas waiting at the counter for delivery. We went offsite for dinner that night at Harry's (highly recommend). Bottom Line: This was probably the worst dining experience at any resort I've ever visited.

Zvia Shwirtz

This was our second time in Excellence Riviera Cancun and still as good as it was two years ago! We love this place and will continue going back. We spoke to several other guests and learned some have been going back for over 10 years! The food is great - so many restaurants to choose from. Sometimes you do have to put your name down and go back in 30 minutes but it's no big deal. We especially love the Hibachi experience at Spice (make sure to book for it as soon as you arrive), and Lobster House. All the people working at restaurants and bar are super nice, make sure to tip them! We brought a lot of 5s and singles with us. We especially loved the tennis clinics with Alex, he's the best! It was super fun to play each morning at the tennis clinics, and then we also got 3 private lessons with Alex. My husband and I do tennis lessons at home weekly and we can say without a doubt that Alex is great and gives super poignant tips immediately. There is so much pool at this resort, you never have to worry about getting a chair, although some people do seem to claim the chairs around the main pool always. The beach is very nice with loads of chairs and umbrellas as well. The only thing I'd say which can be improved is the temperature in the rooms. It's quite humid and somehow always cold even if we turn the thermostat off. The last thing is that we felt the nightly entertainment was better when we went 2 years ago, but really it's the last thing we care about. We will definitely be back!

Collin Paschall

This was our third trip to ERC and it was great again. The staff are great, and grounds and rooms are well kept, and the energy is very positive. The wait staff is very friendly - we had good experiences with Carlos and Daniel at Kitchen Table and Aurelio at Lobster House. The special menu at Agave was really tasty, and all the food was well prepared. There are vegetarians options too. If you like tennis, Alexis the tennis pro also helps you improve and have fun! We also had good spa service from Ivan and Cecilia. No resort is perfect but honestly if you leave ERC unhappy about it you either had a very unusual experience or your expectations are unreasonable. It’s Excellent!

Lorrae Viera

Overall I would recommend this resort as a first resort. We have stayed in Cancun/Riviera maya 4-5 times. We have stayed at all inclusive in Belize and DR. My biggest complaint here is the service. More often than not you had to seek out staff or ask staff when you wanted/needed something. We usually book preferred club at secrets resorts and have always been satisfied. Even cheaper resorts have had better service. To begin our first day we received a less than ideal welcoming. The doorsman even asked if I was an Uber driver… I get I’m Hispanic and rented a car… But dang…. This happened a few times 🥴. The guy who took our bags was very nice and helpful. We arrived early and got lunch at the kitchen table. We got some cold hard ribs… luckily this was the worst food we got there. Overall, I was highly pleased with dinner and breakfast. We did get good service from Adolfo, Seth, German, and a few others that I forgot to write down their name. The beach was full of sargassum the first 3 days. Luckily the 4th day winds changed and it was nice. I get nothing they can do but this was January so I can only imagine the summer months. Room service was good even though it took 40 minutes to get it. Very pleased with the room amenities and housekeeping. Alcoholic Drinks were good not great. Coffee house was great. Wish it was 24/7 like some other resorts. Also the excellence app sucks. They should add QR codes to the tables that direct you to the menus. Overall a good resort but service/friendliness can be better. I’d recommend it as a good first resort.

Cassidy Osmolak

My Husband & I came here for our honeymoon in November and this was also my first time ever at an all inclusive. It was so amazing I don't think I want to vacation any other way! The food was amazing and I loved how there was so many vegetarian options. I want to shoutout some staff in particular but please know every single staff member was so kind and helpful. Erika - Sports Bar -was so kind and always ready to help us Mosses- Excellence Pool - Always prepared for our next drink and remembered what we ordered Alberto- Lobster House- omg love him, we came here for breakfast a couple times and he sat us down and remembered exactly what we wanted. Cristobal - Theater - SO FUNNY Leodani - Amazing service Luis - Perlude - So kind and helpful We already can't wait to come back

Ariana

We had an amazing stay at Excellence Riviera in Cancun Mexico! From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel incredibly welcome—everyone was so friendly, engaging, and genuinely happy to help. The rooms were spotless and very well maintained, which made it easy to relax and enjoy our time there. There were also tons of activities throughout the day and night, so there was always something fun going on, whether you wanted to be active or just enjoy the atmosphere. A huge shout-out to Angelo, Diana, Max, and Adrian— they truly went above and beyond and made our stay extra special. Their energy, kindness, and attention to detail did not go unnoticed. Overall, this hotel exceeded our expectations, and we can’t wait to come back!