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The Mayan Riviera (also referred to as "Riviera Maya") is an area that begins approximately one and a half hours south of the Cancun airport. It includes smaller developments along the Yucatan Peninsula coastline, such as Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Calica, Puerto Aventuras, and Tulum. One of the main reasons to choose an all-inclusive Mayan Riviera vacation package is the great variety of options that appeal to all tastes. Whether you prefer isolation and serenity, action-packed sporting activities, or discovering a world of Mayan Kings and culture, there’s a Mayan Riviera vacation package to suit your needs.
Getting Around: For those wishing to explore off of the resort during their Mayan Riviera holiday, a rental car is the best option. Otherwise, the relative isolation can make mobility difficult. Taxis offer another option, but distances to desired destinations can be considerable, and fares may add up.
Where to Stay: You have many hotel resort options available to you when booking holiday. From the 3-star Riu Lupita to the 5-star Barcelo Maya Palace, we have a vacation package for every fancy.
Weather: The Mayan Riviera is blessed with warm tropical weather, making it a great destination for your package holiday. Maximum temperatures typically range between 26C and 33C in the day, and between 18C and 25C at night, with the greatest rainfall typically peaking in the months of July to August. Hurricane season typically lasts from July through December, peaking from mid-August to mid-December.
Attractions: Major sightseeing attractions include the Mayan ruins at Chichen Itza, Xcaret, Tulum, and Xel-ha, where you can walk in the footsteps of Mayan Kings and marvel at ancient pyramids on your holiday. Playa del Carmen is also worth exploring. From there, a ferry ride to Cozumel opens up even greater opportunities for discovery.
To begin your Mexico vacation, speak with a tripcentral.ca travel agent who’s been there! Our toll-free number is 1-800-665-4981.
Mayan Riviera Pictures and Video - click to enlarge images or play videos
We spent a week at this resort in October, it is our second visit here. The service continues to be excellent, the grounds well maintained, and a good selection of food and restaurants. We had a challenge with our suite mid way through the stay that was quickly and effectively dealt with by the hotel with a superb accommodation. The staff made this right - that is great customer service, and that alone is worth another repeat in the future. Well done PYP concierge and duty staff.
The staff of the resort are consistently doing maintenance and cleaning around the resort. The grounds maintenance were active every day, but not intrusive. We had red flag days at the beach, and a rain overnight with a sprinkle or two in the day time, but the pools were open and warm and we had sun and warmth every day.
The hotel honoured our ask for room location, an added bonus.
We love everything about the Barcelo. This is why we have gone there 8 times. We booked the Beach and it closed during our time we were expected to be there so they upgraded us to the Palace. Rooms were large and clean. Staff were very friendly and very hard working. LOVE the huge pools. Food was excellent, especially the French and Brazilian restaurants. Weather was great. Would definitely return in a heartbeat.
Location3/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★Katie22mon -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Palace: Another great trip
This is my second time visiting this resort this year. I stayed here in April with my husband and then in October with my 2 daughters ages 20 and 17.
Rooms are the exact same whether staying in a room with 1 king bed or 2 double beds. They are wonderful, air conditioner fantastic, balcony with a drying rack very handy. Bathroom is spacious, double sinks, walk in shower with lots of hot water and bathtub and separate toilet for privacy.
Stocked mini fridge daily with beer and pop and daily refills of chips and nuts in room.
Beds are comfortable, day bed was made up for one of us and very comfortable. The single pillows were great for the day bed and on king beds however the long pillows provided on double beds had no stuffing inside so definitely ask for a few extra singles.
Only a couple charging ports in the double bed room (our king room in April had more outlets)
Rooms scattered throughout the resort but only a few minutes from a pool, huge 4' deep never ending pool with a swim up bar. Another quieter pool not too far away with more comfortable cushioned chairs, more of an adult pool with a walk up bar.
Dining area is to the one side of the resort, 2 buffets and 2 a la carts. Food was good everywhere. I am a picky eater but could always find something somewhere. Italian restaurant in the mall was my least favourite salad bar and options but the pizza was excellent.
I chose Palace over the other Barcelo hotels because the food was better and that was important to me but you could definitely go a cheaper route if you have a wider food pallet and stay at one of the other family resorts.
Transfer from the airport took 1hr 20 min but we did need to make 2 stops to drop off other people at their resorts which took up a little time. The shuttle was air conditioned and roomy.
We did a half day excursion ATV, Cenote, 3 Zip lines a wonderful Mexican lunch and snorkeling, highly recommend. Cost for all 3 of us was about $320US
In April we snorkelled in front of the hotel and saw turtles, this time we saw stingray. It is hit and miss with the seaweed but the hotel staff is out there every day shoveling it up when needed. Lots of coral in front of this hotel, just walk a little bit down the beach for better swimming and white sand.
I would definitely visit a third time :)
★★★★★Lauri4u2 -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Amazing resort
This is my 2nd time and can't wait to return. The staff are so welcoming, helpful and so pleasant. They are a joy to be around.
Liz & Jorge in concerige arranged rides and picks ups.
The entertainment crew Abigail, Fabian and Tiko were so much fun made everyday at the pool.
Miriam in the breakfast buffet knew our drinks by day 2 ?
Loved our stay at Sian Ka'an Escape
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach3/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★Billy -
Verified PurchaserRoyalton Splash Riviera Cancun: Don’t think I will go back
Waited for luggage when room was ready. It never showed up, after an hour we went to the lobby and found our suitcase sitting there. When we told them, they just give us our case and we ended up taking it to our room ourselves.
We found the food not hot in the buffet, our granddaughter got glass in her foot by a bar that had not been cleaned up.
Some staff where very unfriendly which was strange for an all inclusive.
We love Mexico and go sometimes four times a year but wil never go back to this resort.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Tequila: Adults Only Resort
We stayed at Bahía Príncipe Grand Tequila at Tulum Mexico. The resort is immaculate, easy to get around, has 3 alacarts, and 2 pools. The staff were awesome especially Lourdes, Alex,and Jose in Cozumel alacart. Bellboy Raul gave excellent service. Smokehouse alacart had awesome beef ribs,brisket,and burger. We stayed in September 2026 so had access to all 10 alacarts. Great place to relax and enjoy the activities.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Phillys -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore Tulum: Amazing resort (Kids 16 and over only)-Please read to the end
Myself, husband, son, daughter in law, 2 grandkids and a friend went October 1st to 8th, 2026. This resort has been updated, the beach was a little rough but as we all know it was hurricane season, however we still got to swim was not too bad, we totally enjoyed the pool also and the rooms beautiful and food totally 5*. Our family had a great time; they are all looking on when they can return.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Tropical: Great time and Amazing Resort
Great Vacation at Barceló Maya Palace!
We had a fantastic vacation at Barceló Maya Palace! The resort is beautiful, with well-maintained grounds, amazing pools, and a great overall atmosphere. It was the perfect place to relax, enjoy the sunshine, and spend time with friends.
The staff were excellent throughout our stay! Everyone was friendly, welcoming, and worked hard to make our experience enjoyable.
We really appreciated the variety of dining options, especially the access to the à la carte restaurants. The French and Japanese restaurants were definitely our favourites and highlights of the trip!
The only real disappointment was the amount of seaweed, which unfortunately made the beach pretty much unusable during our stay. Of course, this is completely out of the resort's control, and we certainly wouldn't hold it against them.
Like any large resort, there are always a few little things that could be improved, but nothing that took away from our overall experience.
Overall, we had a wonderful vacation, made some great memories, and would definitely consider returning. Highly recommend Barceló Maya Palace!
Love this place! Been there 4 times now, and the food, staff, cleanliness, comfort, entertainment, and beauty of this resort is spectacular. Had the unfortunate experience this time of arriving at their grand opening after renovations to encounter unfinished work and was not expecting to endure constant noise, unopened restaurants, and false overhead warnings. Unsure if I can blame them for this inconvenience, because it is a wonderful place.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Ioana Daskal -
Verified PurchaserDreams Natura Resort and Spa: Great stay!
We just came back from an amazing 7 day stay at Dreams Natura. We travelled with a group for a wedding. I would come back to this resort for sure.
One of my daughters has several severe food allergies and i have never travelled with her to another country before and i was extremely anxious about it.
The front desk was amazing at check in , took down the information and relayed it to all the restaurants and the chefs and the managers of the restaurants. The head chef and the concierge manager came right away and talked to us and took all her allergy information. They made special meals for her for our whole stay for breakfast, lunch and dinners at the buffet and the a la cartes and even room service and poolside service. Special THANK YOU to Enrique ( manager of the buffet) Chef Alejandro, Javier Espinosa, Claudia and all the staff at the Concierge desk and many more, i wish i could list all their names. They went above and beyond truly every day and put my anxiety to ease. They were amazing.
Now in terms of the overall food quality, there wasnt as much selection at times as other luxury resorts ive been too. The A La Carte restaurants were pretty good, but not all were open every night.
Overall i have been to worse and ive been to better. The service was great though!
The resort was beautiful and clean, lots of room by the pools, great poolside service, great shows in the lobby and theatre every night. The only downside is the rooms facing the ocean can be a bit loud every night with the music from the lobby show. So if that bothers you maybe ask for the other side the garden view.
Beach sand was beautiful and white but unfortunately the ocean at the time had alot of seaweed but you cannot control that.
The room was great, bed was comfy, pillows a bit lumpy but not bad, room was big, bathroom was big, shower pressure was good, House keeping was great too.
The wedding we attended was absolutely amazing! We had an amazing time! They went above and beyond!
Also super close to the cancun airport.
Lazy river and slides were alot of fun, also fun kids activities either in the kids club or around the pool.
I recommend this resort!
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserValentin Imperial Riviera Maya: A true 5*
The rooms are clean and spacious. Mini fridge is always well socked. Turn down service and fresh pool towels in my room each evening. Room service, fabulous restaurants and a pool side food truck.
The staff are friendly. Overall a great resort
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Ranna -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Coming backkkkk
Second time here and second time in Mexico!
We absolutely love this resort.
Did not like how they sent a letter to my room no smoking on balconies.
10/10 otherwise
Food always hits, Workers are amazing!!
Staff always so nice to us.
Do not go if you do not like wildlife. This is their home, do not wish death on them.
They are so sweet the Coatis, and iguanas and such.
Staff do their best so patrons aren’t bugged by them. But it’s their home remember this.
Sad that the prices will be going up due to Marriot Purchase, will most likely not be returning if too expensive but this is well worth 1200-1500 CAD for 7 days
★★★★Andre -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Great 2nd experience
This was our second time.to Bluebay , once again grounds are still dated with leaks on building 4 but with that being said food was good , drinks were cold and staff was great. Great budget resort. We even made friends with one of the waiters and enjoy a day at playa del carmen with them. We will be back again in the future.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach3/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserDreams Sapphire Resort and Spa: Relaxing vacation
Our goal was to just relax, forget everything else in life and that’s what we did. Drinks from the swim up bar and laps around the pool. Enjoyed all the dinner options and a few evening activities. Got plenty of rest. Service was friendly and reliable.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Marjdoug -
Verified PurchaserViva Maya by Wyndham: Resort clean and great location à la cartes were top notch
The check in was fast and efficient. Front lobby was under construction so the bellman guided use to temporary lobby and then to our room. We booked a basic room and it was in great clean condition. The balconies are very small and we were on third floor so basically not useful. Only room for two chairs. The beds were comfortable and room was spotless. Housekeeping offered to change all bedding every three days . Wow we weren’t used to that!we got extra towels and no problem,. There is evening entertainment with some very talented musicians. The resort is almost totally smoke free with a couple small out of way spots for people to smoke…..À welcome thing for us non smokers. There is several spots to hang out an open air lobby a lobby bar with specialty coffees offered at bars. The hotel has a coffee shop with specialty coffees offered from 7- 6 pm. They also offer pastries and sandwiches at coffee shop. Bring a water bottle they have water fill stations in every building and you can cool it in the fridge in room. They offer reuseable cups at pool bar area..By snack bar there is a drink station featuring juices and water in reuseable cups. The snack bar has several choices and you can come right from beach to eat. The buffet has several choices and with different themes. The à la Cartes are a go to . The service is very attentive the selection has lots to choose from. You really need the viva app. The app has all the menus and themes and information you might need. You can also book the specialty restaurant through the app. The beach was quiet and we saw lots of marked areas where turtles had laid eggs. The beach had lots of shade or sun and plentiful loungers. The vendors were not very aggressive and did not hassle anyone. Unfortunately the seaweed was present most days you could wade through to clear sections but not always. The seaweed also gave off a foul odour,,,,like sewage. The beach was cleaned and cleaned constantly the work very hard at removal. The white sand was easy to walk in either direction and a decent hike. There is a quiet adults pool with its own bar set back closer to à very well equipped gym . There is a decent children’s area close to adults quiet pool . There is also kids pools of different depths closer to main pools. The main pool was finished getting tiled in record time and a smaller pool was done in a couple days. Beach towels were easily available . Pools were warm ocean was really warm and hot tub was also warm. Lots of activities to join in , we did not try the trapeze….. our second time here and it is a good fit for our needs.the only thing I did not like is the wildlife walking thru nature trails when people feed the raccoon like ones they swarm in groups .Otherwise if not fed very low key and a nonissue. The other pig/rat type animals are much more timid and just wander around. For families or groups they offer adjoining rooms.The wifi is only spotty in the rooms otherwise good reception .
★★★★★Wrangling The Ward -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore Akumal: A fantastic stay at Luxury Akumal — we’ll absolutely return
We had an amazing week at Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal and would absolutely return. From the moment we arrived, the staff really set the standard for our vacation. We found the resort clean, beautiful and very well maintained, and we felt comfortable and safe throughout our entire stay.
One of the biggest highlights was the staff. Our concierge service was excellent, the shuttles around the complex were frequent and convenient, and whenever we needed something, the staff genuinely tried to help. Even little things made a difference, like having our minibar changed to Pepsi and water based on what we actually drank.
We really enjoyed the pools and the relaxed atmosphere around the resort. We also loved being able to explore the other Bahia properties in the complex. Having access to different pools, restaurants and areas made the resort feel much larger and gave us something different to experience throughout the week.
Our romantic beach dinner was one of the highlights of the entire vacation and something we will remember for a long time. We also enjoyed several of the à-la-carte restaurants and had some excellent meals during our stay.
There are a few areas we think could be improved. Late-night food options were quite limited, and the room-service food was disappointing compared with the rest of the resort. We also found restaurant availability difficult at times. Better signage and clearer food labels would be helpful, especially when exploring the different properties. We would also love to see better milk or cream options for coffee.
Those issues were relatively small compared with our overall experience. What stood out most was how comfortable and relaxed we felt at Akumal and how hard the staff worked to make guests happy.
We enjoyed our stay enough that Bahia Principe is somewhere we genuinely want to return to. Thank you to everyone at Luxury Akumal who helped make our vacation so memorable.
We had a wonderful stay at Sandos Playacar Beach Resort in Playa del Carmen. The hotel was great, and we were really happy with our experience overall. It was a fantastic Mexico getaway and a trip we thoroughly enjoyed. We would happily recommend this resort to anyone planning a vacation in Mexico.
We had a great time staying at Generations Riviera Maya resort. Our room was a ocean view swimout on the third floor. In fact, all rooms at this resort are ocean view. The staff were very friendly and accommodating and the food was really good. The beach did have a lot of seaweed but then every resort on the Riviera Maya has the same issue. All in all, we highly recommend this resort and would stay there again.
We did a girl's getaway at this resort in The Diamond Club. Let me start by saying that the short drive from the airport to this resort was AMAZING. No two hour drive to the Mayan area. Having been to several resorts in the past, I do have to say that the Royalton Riviera is in the top two when it comes to the overall experience. The rooms are large, beautiful and always very clean. There are so many pools and they are all beautiful and clean. We loved the three pools in our area the most. We met and spoke to so many people from all around the world. Loved, loved the atmosphere in the Diamond Club.
The grounds are well kept and we rarely saw any bugs, not a single bee at any of the bars. The staff in the pool area and the restaurants were always so kind and went out of their way to make us feel special. A huge shout-out to our bar tenders, Oscar and Emanuel, to our towel boy Juan and to a wonderful server in the Buffet named Oscar.
With the cost of food these days, we expected to be disappointed but instead, we were very impressed with the quality of the food in the buffet and most restaurants. We did not enjoy the Caribbean or Steakhouse restaurants. The Italian and Japanese restaurants are a must. For lunches, the buffet is open as well as a few restaurants like the Italian in the Family section. They also have food trucks at each pool section. They were practical but I prefer a lunch restaurant by the pools.
We had premium drinks at the Diamond Club lounge and pools and a large bottle of Baileys and wine in our room, as well as beer, juice and pop in our mini fridge. All the bartenders made us amazing drinks throughout the week and treated us like royalty.
Unfortunately, the beach was unusable because of the algae and the smell coming from the ocean. I am not a beach person but I do like to walk the beach in the evenings. But our biggest disappointment was the entertainment both during the day and in the evening. There were no obstacle courses or fun games like I have experienced in the past. The entertainment staff was small. They had simple games like Bingo and water polo but did have 2 short foam parties in the main pool twice in a week. At night, they had a few fun evenings such as The White party and the Karaoke night but most other nights we were very disappointed. Even the shows that seemed to be hired externally were very short and not the best (Micheal Jackson, Mexican, Fire Show). I did hear from a few other guests that since the rise in the costs of living, many resorts chose to cut costs mostly in the entertainment department so as to not affect other departments such as food, cleanliness and hospitality.
We are 4 middle aged woman who have been to many resorts. We made every day count by interacting with staff and other guests. We all found the Royalton to be probably the most beautiful resort we have been to, we enjoyed the food (not bland like most resorts), we spent a lot of our vacation in the pools, did a few excursions not too far away and simply had a wonderful week in the sun. We definitely recommend vacationing at this resort.
★★★★Ziber -
Verified PurchaserSandos Caracol Nature Resort and Water Park: Wonderful Resort, Outstanding Service from Eduardo
We had a wonderful stay at the resort overall, and I especially want to give a huge thank-you to Eduardo from Seek & Go for going above and beyond to help us.
Eduardo was extremely helpful in assisting us with choosing the right excursions, but what really stood out was how much he helped us when my sister-in-law accidentally forgot her medication for her kidney transplant. This was a very serious and stressful situation for our family, and Eduardo truly became our lifesaver. He went out of his way to help us figure out how to get the medication. Without his help, we were seriously considering booking a flight for my sister-in-law to return to the U.S. just to get her medication.
Unfortunately, we were disappointed with the assistance we received from the concierge. We asked for help, and although they told us they would contact a pharmacy and update us, we never received any follow-up, even after 2–3 days. It felt like they were already overwhelmed and too busy assisting other guests. In a situation as urgent as ours, we really expected more effort and communication from the concierge team. The lack of follow-up was a major disappointment.
That said, aside from this experience, we enjoyed our stay. The food was delicious, our room was clean and comfortable, and there were plenty of activities to enjoy at the resort.
Overall, we had a good experience, but Eduardo deserves special recognition for his kindness, effort, and genuine willingness to help. His assistance made a huge difference for our family during a very stressful situation. Thank you so much, Eduardo!
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserDesire Riviera Maya Pearl Resort: It’s different
It’s small but has all you need. The beach was not good because of seagrass but that’s nature. Glad I went would I go again? No was not for me. The staff was great and like to thank them all especially Eduardo Christian Eddy Chicken Jess Rio for all their work to keep things great. Joanna at trip central was awesome with our booking.
We just returned from a 7 day trip here at iberostar selection riviera cancun ….
We were in building 1 - with swim up , outside jacuzzi and inside jacuzzi. The room itself was beautiful and larger than expected. from speaking with neighbours we learned that some have 2 double/queen beds and some have 1 king size bed. The outside jacuzzi was not often hot, however the water temps were never cold even in the main pools. the jets were nice , and if we wanted a HOT jacuzzi we had the option to use the one in our room which the water got really good and hot in there. Building 1 swim ups attach directly to the main pool area where the swim up bar is , and where most afternoon activities were held. We discovered that the swim ups in building 2 where not attached to the main pool , and were directly infront of the Members only swim up pool/bar. Building 2 - as mentioned lots on this page gets the most sunshine during the day… it often was over building 1 by noon or shortly after.. which was no bother for us bcoz we could easily swim to main pool area to chase the sun if we wanted. building 2 is more “private and quiet” with more sun. it was still plenty warm without the sun however.
Now onto food -
The buffet was surprisingly good! there are daily themes (asian , mexican , even a steak and lobster evening) which kept the options flowing and changing throughout the week. The À la Cartes did not require reservations, or pre-planning .. but there was sometimes wait periods depending on what time you chose to go. (they take your phone number and text on Whatsapp when your table is ready so you don’t have to stand around if you don’t want to).They have several à la carte options open each evening from 6-10pm. Options include Spanish, Mexican , Caribbean, Italian. There was also a fire oven pizza “shop”, pop up bbq , pop up taco stand , and other random pop up goodies like popcorn , civeche, ice cream. During our stay only 2 main restaurants were open each evening and rotated back and forth while buffet and pizza where open everyday. I personally give all dining inc buffett an easy 5 star. i was beyond impressed by the food quality and options. There was also room service from 11am-1030pm , we had that several afternoons and it was also fantastic ! (chicken fingers and fries, club sandwiches, quesadillas etc) which were all yum yumm as well. desserts were also plentiful at all options.
Entertainment- There was daily entertainment during the day and evening . And in the entry of the buffett you would find a daily calendar listing all events for the day. Also when you turn on your TV the main screen would list all event schedules for the day/week. The evening shows were absolutely amazing from circus to fire show , live music etc .. All that we attended surpassed my expectations!! The afternoon entertainment staff at the pool were so fun ! foam party was a great time !
The beach - As mentioned lots the beach is long , but not very wide.. It’s deff plenty to enjoy if that’s you’re thing. The seaweed was deff in full force though, and bcoz we’re both from “beachy” areas we were overly worried about missing out on a massive beach. it was certainly enough to enjoy .
Overall service was incredible, always smiling faces and willing to help staff. Building 1 had a “butler” who walks around all day long offering drinks - special shout out to Mario ; he was our guy !!! pushing margs at 9am LOL, we didn’t argue often haha !
When you check into your room your provided 3 large glass refillable water bottles and there are several drinking water refill stations around the resort.
The room key saga ; NO MORE .. bcoz this resort uses bracelets that get you into your room so no need to ever wonder if you’ve forgotten it behind you when you leave, or searching your pockets as you arrive.
Animals - There are some raccoons , coatis (soo cute) and lizards. but they mind they’re own business. saw a raccoon climbing in a trash can , but what do you expect from a trash panda ?. We were super impressed by the lack of bugs. we only had mosquitoes one night and it was after a good rain , i usually get eaten alive all week long on vacation and only came home with 2 bites and never once had to dose myself in bug spray ❤️. only saw one spider all week , and he was outside so no biggie there either.
Shower pressure and temp was good, and spacious.
i could go on forever , but i think i’ve covered a lot of important parts for now .
there is a convenience/ souvenir shop in the lobby as well as a “high end” bikini and sunglass store. we ended up negotiating a good price for some versace sunglasses ❤️
Lastly ; and something i had not seen posted prior to my trip. there is a TATTOO parlour right on the resort ! I got a beautiful tattoo of a sea turtle on my arm , he was insanely fast and talented. Prices were very fair as well.
my ONLY downside to this resort is how PUSSSSHHHY the “time-share” , “members club” people are in the lobby , from the moment you check in they harass you to attend a breakfast which is 1.5 hours of them trying to convince you to sign up for a membership. I highly recommend you be assertive with them or they will harass you everytime they come in your vicinity for the entire week. They mostly linger around the lobby , but sometimes float out around the main grounds as well… They were literally relentless, but other than them i have ZERO negative to say about this place, or the staff.
Rather than photo bomb a bunch of pics - please ask and i’ll be sure to share … i took a GAZILLION photos , so there’s a good chance i have anything you want to see.
Most definitely will be returning there again in the future !! ❤️
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva Azteca by Wyndham: Great Vacation
We enjoyed this resort. Everything was great. Rooms were simple but had everything you needed. They were clean and nice and cool. Grounds were constantly maintained and impeccable. Pool was great beach was huge.
My stay at Ocean Riviera Paradise was amazing all the staff and people on the resort was friendly, warm hearted and happy. The staff was always willing to help out in whatever your problem was. I was very impressed with the manner the resort was kept always clean and everything was always in placed. I will definitely come again and share my experiences with friends and family. Thank you for your hospitality.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserIberostar Selection Paraiso Lindo: Improved since a year ago
We have gone to this resort 8 times now, and would rate it very good. They have installed a floating barrier well off the beach which keeps most of the sargassum weed from coming ashore.
Also, since last year, the coati population is much lower, and they have put simple locks on the garbage cans to try to keep the animals out, but they are smart enough to defeat the locks. Good try, but better locks would help a lot more. Also, they need to have more highly visible signs to discourage people from feeding them.
We had stayed last fall at the Barcelo Maya Riviera for my 60th birthday and our daughter and son-in-law’s honeymoon. We were so impressed that my wife and I decided to return this year to celebrate her 60th birthday with our sons.
Upon arrival we checked all 4 of us into 2 separate rooms and I informed the front reception personnel that one of our sons had a severe peanut allergy and to keep them out of their room which they noted, and also asked them if they could send something up to our room for my wife’s birthday celebration to which they said “they’d try.”
Last year they sent to both our room and our daughter’s, a special dessert and a bottle of bubbly for our separate occasions. It made it special and memorable. This time, even after a few days staying there, they kept restocking peanuts in our son’s room even after talking to a supervisor at the front desk about how serious of an issue this was to his health. I felt like it wasn’t taken seriously and even though I was told the manager would be notified, there was zero follow up and more peanuts stocked daily.
My wife also never got any special treats in our room for her birthday. Between our 2 rooms we had to call and make daily reminders to refill the fridge with water in order to brush our teeth, restock towels that weren’t during daily cleaning as well as restocking Kleenex, body wash and soap, all which were included in the price of our room and became a real annoyance. Only one night of our 7 day stay did we get a knock on our door with staff asking if we needed refills on anything.
On our arrival day, we booked all the restaurants for the week both at our resort and 4 others that we could choose from. We were surprised that many restaurants were completely closed on certain days, so we were limited in choices of where to eat as well as day and time and had to pick some times as late as 9:45 which wasn’t ideal. We found that the later seatings we were very rushed with food coming out cold, and lights starting to be turned off in the restaurants while we were hurried to finish our meal. This happened at the Santa Fe (American Steak House) restaurant, The Rodizio (Brazilian Steak House) and the La Comedie (French restaurant), on our 3rd visit (due to limited choices and times), where the power kept surging and we actually couldn’t leave, because the doors wouldn’t open for a bit.
There was a convention happening at our resort late in the week and when we tried to take the bus for our dinner reservation at The Palace, convention participants dominated getting multiple buses so that hotel guests were denied boarding and told to get off. My wife and one son were taken by a golf cart that seated 2, but with the driver there were 3, and my wife had to hold onto our one son so he wouldn’t fall out. It was a disaster. Upon return I voiced my frustration with the front desk supervisor who didn’t seem too concerned about not having transportation available to guests staying at the resort. The accumulation of deficiencies made what should have been a relaxing and enjoyable holiday into one in which we were glad to return home. This was not the vacation that we had anticipated it to be and we really hope that they make some serious improvements, especially with them knowing about the severe peanut allergy and yet still stocking peanuts everyday into our son’s room. That could have been fatal.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserSandos Caracol Nature Resort and Water Park: Amazing resort and amazing agent shoutout to lawrence
Everything was good in the hotel. My agent Lawrence was very helpful too in booking and in everything. Resort was beautiful and lots of wild animals in it. Definitely a jungle vibe. Amenities was good. The show was just ok they keep on cancelling even on a good weather. Beach was terrible but the resort overall is good
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach3/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Janina -
Verified PurchaserSandos Caracol Nature Resort and Water Park: mazing Stay & Exceptional Service from Eduardo
We had such a wonderful experience staying at this all-inclusive resort! Our entire trip was relaxing, fun, and filled with beautiful memories.
The resort was beautiful, the food had plenty of options, and there were so many activities to enjoy. Everything made our stay even more memorable.
One person we especially want to recognize is Eduardo from seek&go, who went above and beyond to help us during an unexpected and very stressful situation.
My sister, who is a kidney transplant patient visiting from the US, accidentally forgot her medication. Since our phones were not working properly in Mexico, it was extremely difficult for us to contact pharmacies and locate the specific medication she needed.
We initially asked the concierge for assistance, but unfortunately, there was very little follow-up or effort to help us locate the medication, which made an already stressful situation even more difficult.
Thankfully, Eduardo stepped in and went completely out of his way to help us. He even went to the pharmacy himself and contacted different pharmacies we had found through Google to see if they carried the exact medication my sister needed.
His kindness, patience, and genuine effort meant so much to our family. Words cannot express how grateful we are. Eduardo was truly a lifesaver for my sister, and we will forever appreciate everything he did for us.
Overall, we had an amazing stay and would definitely consider coming back. The experience was made even more meaningful because of people like Eduardo who genuinely care about their guests. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a fun, relaxing, and memorable all-inclusive vacation!
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva Azteca by Wyndham: Great Stay
We had a great time at this resort. The staff were amazing and kept the entire place spotless. We knew that it was a smaller resort with not the same amenities as some of the larger ones(swim up pool, stocked fridges)which we were fine with but do your research as to not be disappointed. Beach was great and you can walk forever on it. Entertainment staff always had something on the go for people to play or you could easily keep to yourself to just relax.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food3/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★★John and Brenda -
Verified PurchaserRoyalton Hideaway Riviera Cancun: Beautiful Resort
The resort was beautiful and indeed a hideaway far from the main highway.
The restaurants were excellent but some of the menus were limited to only a few entries.
The service was very good and the rooms were spacious and well acquainted.
We had to change rooms because the top floor of the diamond oceanview Terrance has a second level leading to the roof sporting a jacuzzi and lounge area which my wife could not access but the transition to one floor lower was done without question and only our comfort in mind.
Our suite had a butler who was very hard working and gracious but we did not receive a turn down service which was part of our package and went a day with no housekeeping at all but this might have been attributed to the room change.
The service at pool side was amazing and any drink we ordered out of the norm was put together for us.
We had one bad dining experience at the Armadillo tex mex restaurant- my wife ordered the lobster dinner for an added price and after waiting close to 90 minutes for our meal we just walked out and went to the buffet.
The manager found us at the buffet and was very apologetic but there were guests who arrived at the tex next after us who were done there courses and leaving while we were still waiting which made me question why the lobster dinner was taking so long and whether it had been frozen but in all fairness I didn't ask, it was my choice to leave.
If you want to take a taxi into Cancun from the Royalton a round trip will be about $140 American currency which we did take advantage of for a wonderful Sunset cruise on a galleon which included a surf and turf dinner on board.
Because we booked the diamond suites we had private checking and checkout and had many privileges such as priority reservations for the 10 dining rooms and many other extras from bedding, robes and slippers to top level alcohol and a private adult pool and chez lounges around the pool.
I was a bit disappointed in the evening shows as they were more kid and family oriented with no adult themed Broadway or nightclub performances in their theatre but no hardship as we enjoyed them regardless.
All in all for the money and value we were very satisfied and happy with the resort.
Kaylee Toth, our tripcentral agent was the best we have ever dealt with and I will make it a point to book with her again.
John Arnold- September 25th, 2026
★★★★★Carole -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Nightmare
I would not go back to the Mayan...
The coatis are everywhere steeling food right out of plate...
Population of those things is totally out of control ....
You can't sit outside these things try to get into your room.
Location4/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserJOIA Paraiso by Iberostar: Best Vacation Ever!
Going to the JOIA Paraiso was our first all-inclusive experience, and we loved every single moment of it! The hotel is palatial and beautiful. Our room was huge and well appointed. The bathrooms have two sinks, a spacious shower, and a jacuzzi bathtub. The bed was large and very comfortable. The staff were helpful and smiling all through the day. They were always ready with towels, to take a drinks order, and would even come by to apply cooling cucumbers and facecloths. The best part for us was the food! We specifically wanted to go somewhere with good food and we were blown away. The buffet was always excellent, with a huge variety of quality food. From made to order breakfast waffles, pancakes, crepes, and/or French toast, to made to order omelettes and eggs. We ate so much fresh fish, especially the ceviche. Our favourite restaurant was Legado, the Mexican restaurant. We had a perfect meal of whitefish ceviche, perfectly cooked steak, and the best churro dessert we have ever had. We spent most of our time relaxing at the quiet pool. We could fill our insulated cups with an excellent drink from the main bar and nurse a cooling beverage for hours as we swam or read a book at our beds. This was exactly the vacation, rest, and break from our busy lives that we were looking for. We are making plans for the next time we go!
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserCatalonia Royal Tulum: Great people great stay
The atmosphere is beautiful. I love how accommodating and friendly the people at the hotel. The food good but not too great! The pool is clean, the beach is great! Overall, 9/10 ??? will definitely come back!
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food3/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★Grousey -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Will not and should not recommend this hotel to anyone
If it was a five star hotel it downgraded to a three the transportation was terrible around the resort you had to wait for half hour to be picked up on the little shuttles. The food was mediocre and the beach was terrible. It was dirty. The water was disgusting. The only good thing was certain servers were great.
Location1/5
Value1/5
Food1/5
Beach1/5
Rooms1/5
Service3/5
★★★★★DebCar -
Verified PurchaserThe Reef Coco Beach: Wonderful hotel
We had a great short vacation at this hotel. It’s not a big resort but had everything you need. The food was very good at the buffet and on most occasions it was warm to hot which we haven’t found at other resorts. We ate at the Italian restaurant and it was very nice, service was also great. The staff was very friendly throughout the hotel. I want to also say how wonderful it was working with Tammy from Tripcentral. It was my first time using that website but I will definitely use it again.
Location5/5
Value4/5
Food5/5
Beach4/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★Private -
Verified PurchaserRoyalton Splash Riviera Cancun: Unfortunately, our second visit was a completely different experience.
We first visited Royalton Splash Riviera Cancun in September 2024 as Diamond Club guests, staying in a two-bedroom ocean-view suite with three adults and three children. That first experience was exceptional. From the accommodations to the service, food, amenities and overall attention to detail, we honestly could not have been more impressed.
We loved the resort so much that we decided to return in August 2026—and this time brought additional family with us. Our group grew to 11 guests. We booked a two-bedroom Diamond Club oceanfront suite for four adults and three children, as well as an additional Diamond Club suite for two adults and two children.
Unfortunately, our second visit was a completely different experience.
What was once a resort we couldn't stop recommending became a frustrating and disappointing stay, particularly when it came to service and attention to detail.
Our issues started immediately upon arrival. We checked in around 8:00 p.m., yet it took more than an hour for our luggage to be delivered to our room. Throughout the stay, basic room items such as coffee pods and coffee cups were repeatedly not restocked, requiring us to contact our Diamond Club concierge. The room-service ordering system through the TV also wasn't working properly, so once again we had to contact the concierge just to place orders.
One example that sums up the level of service was a request for an iron. According to our WhatsApp conversation with the concierge, we requested one at 6:34 p.m. on our second night. By 7:28 p.m., nearly an hour later, it still had not arrived and we had to follow up again. These may seem like small things individually, but when you are paying for a Diamond Club experience, constantly having to chase down basic services becomes frustrating very quickly.
Much more concerning was the handling of our four-year-old son's serious food allergies to egg, dairy and nuts. Despite explaining his allergies and requesting an appropriate meal at the buffet, we waited approximately an hour and ultimately left without the requested meal ever arriving. For a family resort, we expected much greater attention and communication when dealing with a young child's food allergies.
The atmosphere around the resort had also changed considerably since our first visit. There was relentless solicitation throughout the property—photography sales, spa/massage sales, excursions, people walking around with parrots and other birds for paid photos, and other sales pitches. Instead of feeling like a relaxing premium resort, we often felt like we were constantly being approached to spend additional money.
There were also significant renovations and disruptions during our stay. Approximately half of the buffet area was under construction. The Diamond Club check-in lounge was under renovation and had been relocated to a secluded conference area. Water slides were periodically closed for repainting, and we experienced resort-wide power outages on multiple days during our stay.
We were also disappointed to discover that the Cave restaurant experience now came with a mandatory additional charge of approximately $65 USD because a themed show had been attached to the dining experience. For an all-inclusive Diamond Club stay, these types of additional mandatory charges were disappointing.
What makes this review difficult to write is that we genuinely loved Royalton Splash after our first visit. Our 2024 stay was everything we wanted in a family vacation. We were so impressed that we returned two years later, upgraded to an oceanfront Diamond Club suite and brought additional family members with us because we wanted them to experience what we had experienced.
Unfortunately, they didn't.
We understand that resorts undergo renovations, equipment needs maintenance and occasional service issues happen. We don't expect perfection. But the number of issues we experienced over the course of this stay—from housekeeping and room service to food-allergy handling, construction, amenity closures, power interruptions and constant solicitation—was far beyond an isolated inconvenience.
The biggest disappointment was seeing how much the overall level of service and guest experience seemed to have declined between our September 2024 visit and August 2026.
Our first stay made us want to return and bring our family with us. Our second stay has unfortunately made us question whether we would return at all.
We truly hope Royalton Splash takes guest feedback seriously and restores the level of service and attention to detail that made our first visit so memorable.
★★★Mina -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Resort experience
We recently stayed at this resort and had a mixed experience. On the positive side, the staff were all very friendly and the food was consistently good throughout our stay.
However, our vacation got off to a rocky start. As soon as we arrived, we were pressured into attending a timeshare presentation, which ended up wasting three hours of our first day. It was not how we wanted to spend our first moments relaxing.
The initial room we were given had a noticeable mold issue. We brought this to the staff's attention, and to their credit, they moved us to another room right away, which we appreciated.
The resort is surrounded by lots of wild animals, which can add to the atmosphere for some, but might be a downside for others, depending on your comfort level.
Overall, while there were some definite positives (especially the food and friendly staff), some unfortunate issues took away from the experience.
★★★★★Craig C -
Verified PurchaserSecrets Akumal Riviera Maya: Great Resort, Get the Swim-Out!
This was our second trip to Secrets Akumal, so obviously we were already positive about this resort, but this time we brought another couple with us. Pretty much everything we remembered about the first trip in 2019 was the same and we had another great time. The only thing we changed is we splurged for the swim-out suite, which was a big win. We loved the tranquil pool last time as it was separated and quiet, but having that same luxury out your back door was even better. To top it off, room service is now handled through the phone app instead of having to call in, so you can easily have them deliver your food out to the back patio and set it up while you are swimming! Honestly, the only downside of this resort is cost (gone up quite a bit since 2019) and the distance from the airport. Flying into Cancun it took us over 2 hours on the airline provided shuttle as we made a few stops along the way. Other than that, love it and already talking about going for our third trip next year.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserPlatinum Yucatan Princess: Great Holiday!
This was our second stay at Yucatan Princess. The weather, and staff were great. Swim-up room was great. We were well placed, close to the main pool and restaurant. Weather was beautiful, and cannot say enough praise for the, amazing!!
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★Igorski -
Verified PurchaserAkumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Good resort.
Dining was satisfactory, the room was wet and smelly, the service was good, and the beaches had too much seaweed.
The nature was amazing: turtles, birds, and perfect snorkeling; a lot to do in the area. Pyramids, caves, forests, old towns. This all.
Great staff, food ,service was excellent. I recommend you get a premium room no wait times to check in
excellent location, nice rooms great beaches, also use Air Transat best airline to book, Maya Palace is the best choice or Tropical
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserValentin Imperial Riviera Maya: Awesome resort and service
The grounds of the resort were beautiful and clean. The food was outstanding from the buffet to the fine dining dinners. Every meal was gourmet perfection. Coffee at L' Cafe was a wonderful start to the day with every kind of beverage available. The staff throughout the resort were very friendly, accommodating and attentive. We wish we had booked a longer stay.
We enjoyed our stay so much that we are considering a return trip in August 2027.
This was our second time and firstly what helped us to decide to come back were the staff, that’s what impressed us the most. They were always providing exceptional, friendly service. What made me feel at home was our closest staff who remembered our names
The grounds were kept immaculate, the food was always fresh, the bars top shelf, the beach and pools are beautiful.
Of all the staff, our bartender Bernando was who we had a connection the most. He brought my wife special drinks to her pool chair. I don’t drink so he ordered Almave non-alcohol tequila, hard to come by at the resort.
Special mention should be made to the bartender, Alejandro (Alex), Pool/ Beach Waiter Noe,
Pool/ Beach Waiter Anna, Pool/ Beach Waiter Franchito (Fransico), and Pool/ Beach Waiter Henry.
Restaurant waiter Santiago was the best, Restaurant waiter Xavier was great.
Restaurant Maître d’ Isabelle being our anniversary she sat us at beautiful tables.
Pool Concierge Jose, Pool Concierge Antonio, Pool Concierge Ruben. They all provided us with fresh towels, adjusted our umbrella, cool wet cloths, cleaned our sunglasses and explained all the daily activities.
Newly Promoted Building Concierge Max, he was always offering to assist us in any way.
In closing I feel it’s the management who make Secrets the most desirable resort in the Riviera Maya, they set the culture, the standards, and the quality of total guest satisfaction.
Regards,
Thomas Potter
Explore Akumal is a big resort and gives you access to all other resorts in the Bahia Principe compound. Staff was very helpful and friendly. The beach area is better than other Mayan Riviera beaches. The a la carte choice is ample and good quality. Mixed drinks were pretty good as well and so were the evening shows. There are shuttles to take you from one resort to the other and they run pretty smoothly and regularly. O'Neil from Tripcentral was very helpful as usual in working with us to make sure the resort fulfilled our requirements.
★★★★★Dr. Mark -
Verified PurchaserCatalonia Riviera Maya: Catalonia Riviera Maya exceeded all our expectations
Our stay at this four-star Cancun resort exceeded all expectations with truly exceptional service and stunning oceanfront views. The staff went above and beyond to ensure every need was met with a warm smile. Amenities were top-tier, featuring pristine pools and a relaxing spa. Dining was an absolute highlight; the on-site restaurants offered an incredible variety of flavorful, gourmet dishes that rivaled high-end city eateries. From the immaculate Privileged rooms to the vibrant evening entertainment, every single detail felt luxurious and well-cared-for. We cannot wait to return to this tropical paradise for our next vacation.
★★★★★Ace138 -
Verified PurchaserOccidental at Xcaret Destination: Great Resort, Highly recommend!
Had a wonderful time with the family, the kids loved the pool, kids club and the wildlife. We also got the unlimited Xcaret pass (get the pass when booking!), the park is so close, within easy walking distance.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserViva Azteca by Wyndham: A little piece of heaven!
I honestly can’t say enough good things about Viva Azteca. This resort was exactly what I needed. From the moment I arrived, I felt a sense of peace and relaxation that stayed with me throughout my entire vacation.
The resort itself is absolutely beautiful. It has such a lovely, laid-back atmosphere, and there was something about the whole place that just made it easy to slow down and enjoy being there. I felt peaceful. I felt comfortable. I really felt like I had gotten away from everything for a little while.
And the food was fantastic! The buffet had lots of choices, but the à la carte restaurants were the real highlight. I was genuinely impressed by the quality of the meals. We had some wonderful dinners, and each restaurant had something different and delicious to offer.
The staff were friendly, the grounds were beautiful, and the overall atmosphere was just wonderful. It wasn't a huge, overwhelming resort, and I really appreciated that. Everything felt manageable and relaxed.
If I had to mention one negative, it would be the pool area. There were times when kids and adults were throwing balls across the pool from quite a distance, and unfortunately there wasn't always much consideration for the people around them. If you were trying to quietly relax in the pool, it could be a little frustrating.
But honestly? Even that was something I could overlook. There was just so much more to love about this resort.
I came home feeling like I had truly had a vacation — not just stayed at a hotel. Viva Azteca gave me exactly what I was looking for: peace, relaxation, beautiful surroundings, wonderful food, and a chance to empty my cup and just enjoy myself.
I would absolutely return to Viva Azteca, and I would happily recommend it to anyone looking for a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing getaway. ❤️?☀️
★★★Robin -
Verified PurchaserHyatt Vivid Playa Del Carmen: Some improvements needed
I have stayed at this resort in the past when it was the Hilton and totally loved it. I have noticed a huge decline in the beach as it is no longer swimmable. We purchased a cabana as a upcharge and had great service one day and poor service the next. The dinner buffet was also very hard to find and was a huge disappointment with there being cold and undesirable foods being served.
Location5/5
Value3/5
Food3/5
Beach1/5
Rooms5/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Wonderful experience
My first time at this resort. Can’t say enough about the resort. Room , pools , food excellent. I was also surprised that they upgraded my room. The staff is wonderful, very pleasant and always available. I really enjoyed the perk of experience and exploring the other 4 Bahía Príncipe, that was a luxury. Was able to book à la carte meals and they were delicious. Lobbies of all places were exceptional. I would definitely return.
We had an Oceanview Jr. Suite in the Diamond Club Hideaway section (adults only). The hotel is close to the Cancun airport and easily accessible. The hotel is grand and contemporary in style, without excess bling. The spa is excellent as are the food options. The entertainment was less interesting, but the poolside afternoons were lovely. Great service from all. Unfortunately the beach was not attractive, with much sargasso, despite efforts to clean it, the water appears dirty.
The Zilara is a beautiful hotel. The lobby is expansive and has many seating areas including the bar area. While it is not air conditioned there are many ceiling fans. .Reception is just off the main lobby and is air conditioned. The staff are outstanding and many remembered us from our three previous visits. Our room on the 3rd floor overlooked the beautiful pool and the sea. The beach is one of the best on the Riviera Maya.. There are several dining options including the buffet which is open for breakfast. The food at Lola Cafe and Capri grille was excellent and the wait staff were very good.
My husband and I came here for our anniversary and it was perfect! The resort is beautiful and feels so romantic. The rooms are spacious and modern. The entire resort felt clean, the staff were amazing everywhere, so friendly and helpful. Based on pictures we knew this would be a great resort with the numerous pools and overall aesthetic. What really surprised us was how good the food was! Again, we expected decent food in Mexico compared to other all-inclusives we've been to, but the restaurants here blew us away. We loved that we didn't have to book a reservation, we could just go to any restaurant and we could visit the same one multiple times. We ate at Jasmine, Bordeaux, and Bluewater Grill - Jasmine (my favourite) was delicious if you like Asian food, sushi is a must. Bordeaux was my husband's favourite, the lamb was to die for! Comparable to high end restaurants in Toronto (where we're from), I also loved the creme brulee there. Bluewater Grill was good, but the food was not as amazing as the others, what sets this restaurant apart is the atmosphere. Being outside, feeling like you're in the jungle, it's very romantic. Drinks all around were delicious, so many margarita options, I think the only drink I didn't love was my mojito, but everything else was amazing. The beach was also much like the resort, beautiful, great food, service, and drinks. The shuttle did not take long, it never felt inconvenient. The seating there was very comfortable as well. We travelled in August, which is not busy season so I'm not sure if this would ever be an issue, but we never had a problem finding a cabana or somewhere to sit by the pool/beach, tons of those everywhere and tons of pools to choose from! If you wanted a quiet space or a more lively space, you could find it. I've been recommending to friends and family and I would 100% return!!
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserCatalonia Riviera Maya: Beautiful but a few inconveniences
The resort over all was beautiful but unfortunately there were a few downfalls. I book for my family of 6 (3 being children under 9) to stay in the privileged room, we were suppose to get 2 queen beds and a sofa bed. When we got to the hotel they said they did not have any privileged rooms available with 2 queen beds for the entire week. We were than asked if we wanted to go to their sister resort in cancun which we declined because we had other family members with in another room. Due to the inconvenience, they said they would bring us an extra mattress and also an extra cushion for the sofa bed in our room, but was not given any of these. Also we wanted to book hibachi but again they said they were not able to accommodate 6 people for the entire week we were there.
We have been too many many resorts and come back to the Valentin every time. The staff are truly wonderful people. The food beyond amazing. It is our home away from home. We have done couples, Sandals, Rui, etc. and always come back home just love it
We had a wonderful stay at this hotel and really enjoyed our experience. From the moment we arrived, the staff were friendly, welcoming, and helpful. The check-in process was smooth, and the overall atmosphere of the hotel was relaxing and pleasant
I will start my review from the welcome and the receptionist in the restore was excellent
The room very clean and comfortable also the room service excellent
The pools was great and clean and the beach was good and we appreciate the workers how they clean it. But the pool hours open they closed very soon should be close a little bit late. At least keep one pool be close late.
The restaurant are amazing specially the privilege restaurant but the 2 buffet decent.
I extremely willing to play mine gulf and tennis but unfortunately during the day is very hot and we disappointed is close at 5.00 pm so should be keep ad night open with lights and projectors!
Also missing tennis table
The support room was excellent
The spa was a mazing but my our son very close to 16 years jut by one month for the spa and the gym age rule should be more flexible specially with the parents
Another things bothering us the exclusive team very pushy and they call us few times in early morning few time I told them we're not interested but still they tried to explain to us !!
But over all staff in resort are friendly and respectful you're a mazing resort
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserHard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya: Would Stay at Hard Rock Maya Riviera Again
What an excellent experience for my family. The service, entertainment, shows, attention to detail, food, pools, water park, views, drinks and anything else I haven't thought of were excellent. My family would travel there again. We had a blast and did not want to leave. Thank you Maya Riviera Hard Rock for an excellent stay.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms4/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Explore Coba: Wasnt a 5 star
Grounds and rooms are clean. Food was decent however we were able to use Akumal and Tulum Bahai resorts aswell.which made the selections of food better throught the resorts. Pools we clean and warm. For some odd reason Saturday was mexican day and the resort was filled with mexicans but no other days on that week. Rooms are dated and needs updates, service is good however no poolside service and mixed drinks were hit or miss for quality. I would rate this place a solid 4 star.
Location4/5
Value3/5
Food3/5
Beach4/5
Rooms2/5
Service4/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserParadisus La Perla Adults Only Riviera Maya: Beautiful resort
This resort is stunning. The grounds are very well kept and clean. The rooms are large and comfortable. We had a garden view suite that had a jacuzzi on the balcony and a huge tub in the bathroom.The bed is super comfy. Staff here are amazing. The food was pretty good. Our favourite was definitely the Hibachi! You have lots of choices for food. Unfortunately my only negative would be the nightly entertainment. They do have small acts in the main lobby area. But that is only for an hour. There are small shows on the family side but we found it a little crazy with so many kids. Over all this is a fantastic resort and I would highly recommend it if you are looking to travel to Mayan Rivera.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Colonial: an awesome resort
The grounds, gardens, pool area are beautiful. The beach has plenty of trees and beds. We were lucky that during our stay the sea grass was not unmanageable. However be aware that this area at times gets lots of sea grass washed on the shores. The resort made a lot of effort to clean it up. The buffet was average but you can always find something that you will enjoy. The a-la-car restaurants were very good. The hotel staff was very kind and helpful. Our room as large, nicely furnished and kept clean.
Overall amazing, the only downside is the beach not usable. My kids would have loved the beach and it being so close to our room. We had to use another resort’s beach front which required travelling a bit. I would have loved to have the restaurants open even if it was not peak season to have more variety for the guests.
Positive
Remarkable buffet experience
Clean pools and beach
À la carte restaurants great food
Happy and friendly staff
Clean rooms
Negative
Unable to change early pre booked à la carte reservations
Leaking water from shower area, had to use towels on the floor to prevent slips and falls
Shower gel / shampoo drinks were not replenished. We had to ask.
Fridge not cooling properly.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms3/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserIberostar Waves Paraiso del Mar: Great Resort
Love this resort! A perfect mix of relaxing and fun. I recommend anyone wanting some amazing views, good food and a bit of quiet to go for a visit. My only issue was the lower floors rooms weren’t our preference so we had to upgrade.
Location4/5
Value3/5
Food4/5
Beach3/5
Rooms3/5
Service4/5
★Cat-2026 -
Verified PurchaserOcean Riviera Paradise: Poor Service and Frustrating Experience
We travelled as a group of 10 (7 adults, 1 teenager, and 2 children), and unfortunately, our experience at Ocean Riviera Paradise was very disappointing.
From the moment we arrived, the service was poor. There was no warm welcome, no one to greet us, and no guidance on where to check in or what to expect. We had to carry our own luggage to our rooms, which was especially frustrating since the resort is very large and it was our first visit. Finding our room was difficult, and it was located far from the main areas. The same lack of assistance happened when we checked out. Even after asking staff about the departure process, we received only brief, one-word answers with no helpful guidance.
The resort also appeared to be understaffed. While there were a few friendly employees, most of the staff came across as rude, impatient, and annoyed whenever we asked questions. Customer service was one of the biggest disappointments of our stay.
Making reservations for the à la carte restaurants was another frustrating experience. Three restaurants require reservations (two online and one in person), but the online system only allows you to book for the number of guests in your room. Since we were travelling as a large group, it was nearly impossible to coordinate reservations together. Everyone had to log in and book at exactly the same time, otherwise we couldn't get the same seating. No one explained this process to us—we only figured it out by asking other guests and visiting the restaurants ourselves. To make matters worse, reservations can only be made between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. for dinner on the same day, making it feel like a daily mission just to eat together. Of the three restaurants requiring reservations, only the Italian restaurant was worth the effort. The steakhouse and Japanese restaurant were both overrated.
The resort offered plenty of activities for younger children, but very little for teenagers. My 13-year-old son quickly became bored because of the many restrictions. He wasn't allowed to use the gym or ride the mechanical bull, and the bowling alley had long wait times because only 3 of the 6 lanes were working. The games room had outdated equipment, several machines didn't work properly, and there was very little variety. For a resort that advertises itself as family-friendly, it did not provide enough entertainment for older kids and teens.
Another disappointment was the beach. During our stay, it was covered with a significant amount of seaweed, making it much less enjoyable to swim or relax by the ocean. While I understand that seaweed is a natural occurrence and not entirely within the resort's control, it definitely impacted our vacation. If the beach is one of the main reasons you're choosing this resort, I recommend checking the seaweed conditions before booking.
The most disappointing part of our trip happened through the resort's excursion desk. Our excursion package included a complimentary shopping tour that stopped at a jewelry store and a tequila shop. I strongly recommend that anyone purchasing tequila there inspect the bottles carefully before leaving. We purchased two bottles of tequila, but the cashier wrapped them while we were still browsing the store, so we didn't have an opportunity to examine them. When we returned home, we discovered that both bottles appeared to be counterfeit. We immediately contacted the resort's tour representative, who told us he would speak with the store and get back to us. Unfortunately, we never heard from him again. Since we made the purchase the day before our departure, we didn't have enough time to return to the store and resolve the issue ourselves. This experience left a very negative impression and added to an already disappointing vacation.
The resort itself was large, clean, and well-maintained, which is one of the few positives I can mention. However, the poor customer service, confusing restaurant reservation system, lack of activities for teenagers, beach conditions during our stay, and unresolved issue with the shopping tour overshadowed the entire experience.
This was my fourth resort visit in Mexico, and unfortunately, it was by far the most disappointing. I would not recommend Ocean Riviera Paradise, especially for large families or groups travelling together.
Such a lively, friendly, and clean resort! Beds were comfortable, staff always friendly and willing to help with anything. Entertainment was constant of you wish to join in. Areas of peace and quiet if you didn't.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach3/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserDreams Natura Resort and Spa: AMAZING WONDERFUL!!!
What an incredible week!!! Everything from the accommodating staff, to the tasty and flavorful food, engaging entertainment and the various outings beyond the resort explored....a time was had!!!
Another bonus, my daughter thoroughly enjoyed the use of the Roller Glider and the teens area. There's so much for teens to do at this resort!
It's challenging to find a drawback to the entire experience. If I were to pick something though it would have to be the beach. I really love to swim beyond a pool, and the unsettled water current was a factor as well as the seaweed accumulation at shore.
Despite this, it's a solid ***** rating. I would highly recommend this resort.
★Nessa -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Extremely Disappointing Birthday Vacation
I had high expectations for this resort, but unfortunately it was one of the worst resort experiences I’ve had.
We arrived after being up since 4:00 AM to catch our flight and reached the resort around 11:00 AM. When we finally got to our room, the lights didn’t work, making the room unusable. On top of that, the patio offered virtually no privacy, as it wasn’t properly separated from the neighboring room. As two young women traveling together, this made us feel very uncomfortable.
After reporting the issues, we weren’t moved to a new room until around 5:00–6:00 PM. Instead of enjoying our first day of vacation, we spent hours waiting in the heat for a solution.
The replacement room wasn’t much better. The bathroom flooded every time we showered, and the safe malfunctioned and beeped throughout the night.
The beach was another huge disappointment. The water was full of seaweed and debris, making it impossible to enjoy or even comfortably swim. We actually had more fun leaving the resort than staying on it.
To make matters worse, it was my birthday weekend, and nothing about the stay felt special. We were also unable to book à la carte dinners at reasonable times, even though the restaurants appeared to have plenty of empty tables.
The servers were friendly and hardworking, but the overall customer service and management response were extremely slow and disappointing. Between the room issues, lack of urgency, disappointing beach, and poor dining availability, this resort did not provide the relaxing vacation we were looking forward to.
I have stayed at many all-inclusive resorts, and this was by far one of the most disappointing. I would not recommend staying here.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserHyatt Vivid Playa Del Carmen: Perfect holiday
We stayed at Hyatt Vivid Playa Del Carmen, the first time in this area of Mexico, and we couldn't have asked for a better holiday. Our room had a view of the pool and the ocean, and we enjoyed the balcony, hammock, and whirlpool tub. Service was excellent from room service to table service. The lobby is a great place to hang out both day and night, and the party continued to the 24-hour bar nearby. The pool and pool festivities were fun to be a part of or just watch. We would definitely recommend this resort and will return next time we travel to Mexico. Servers who stood out at Spice were Jose, Mario, Danial and Demetrio. Umberto in the lobby, Roberto at the pool and Chef Roldofo who made us a specialize vegan dinner and dessert at La Cabano restaurant on our last day.
★★★★★Sorgie -
Verified PurchaserHyatt Vivid Playa Del Carmen: A magical stay made unforgettable by exceptional staff
My wife and I had an unforgettable stay at Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen. Our beautiful third-floor suite was the best accommodation we have ever experienced. It included an in-room Jacuzzi and a balcony overlooking the pool and ocean, complete with a hammock where we spent hours relaxing in the breeze.
The entire resort was immaculate. Staff continuously cleaned and maintained the property—even promptly squeegeeing outdoor walkways after rainfall to help prevent guests from slipping. The pool area was wonderful, and renting cabanas with personalized service made our days feel especially luxurious. Roberto provided outstanding poolside service, always greeted us by name and made sure we had everything we needed.
The nightly entertainment in the enormous main lobby was excellent, including dancing, karaoke and other performances. The giant screen was also perfect for watching World Cup matches. Our couples’ massage with Bryan and Emanuel was another highlight; they were both attentive and professional. Humberto was also extremely helpful when arranging our airport transportation.
The most memorable part of our visit was the exceptional staff at Spice. José, Mario, Miguel and Demetrio treated us with extraordinary kindness. They even reserved a special table for us with a beautiful tablecloth and flowers.
As vegans, our only significant challenge was the limited variety of suitable meals. We often received tortillas with stir-fried vegetables, while breakfast generally consisted of oatmeal with nuts and raisins, along with fruit. The regular menu at La Casona did not contain a vegan option, and the vegan dish at Asiana, although tasty and clearly identified, did not include a meaningful source of plant-based protein.
However, José introduced us to the main chef, Rodolfo García, who personally invited us to La Casona and created an extraordinary vegan meal especially for us. It was the finest vegan meal I have ever had and completely redeemed our dining experience. We hope the resort will add some of Chef Rodolfo’s creations and more balanced plant-based proteins to its regular menus.
Our only disappointing service experience was at the swim-up bar, where the bartenders were sometimes inattentive and made us feel as though serving us was an inconvenience. This was noticeably different from the warm and personalized service we received almost everywhere else.
Despite those areas for improvement, this was a magical vacation. The exceptional accommodations, cleanliness, entertainment and remarkable staff made us feel thoroughly pampered. We would gladly recommend Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen and would love to return.
Transfers were smooth. Grounds were amazing and staff were always cleaning up promptly. Exceeded expectation with changing towels, restocking water supply, cleaning room and bed making. Staff took pride in their work all over the resort. Beach was constantly patrolled for sargassum, resetting lounge chairs, glasses left by guests. Food/ drink was excellent. Highly recommend.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBahia Principe Escape Sian Ka'an: Amazing Resort
I truly enjoyed my second trip to Sian Ka'an. I want to thank the staff who were friendly, helpful,and asking if they could be of help and if I needed anything. I had a few à la carte dinners; however, I enjoy Alux restaurant the most. My room was upgraded on my check-in, and it was located in a great location. I will be returning early next year. As a single traveller I felt safe in the resort.
Very nice hotel, clean organized very good food very nice ambient. We have a very good time over there. A lot of activities big thank you for all people that works over there and thank you for making our trip so good
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserParadisus La Perla Adults Only Riviera Maya: amazing service at the resort
The resort is very nice, service 5plus. Room very clean. However, they offered only 1 king bed for 2 women, even though I booked the room with the option of 2 beds. When I called Trip Central before my trip, they said that they put in a request for 2 beds; however, they never did. The hotel only offers 1 king bed; therefore, be careful when booking the hotel
One restaurant was closed, but all of them are nice. One thing which is also not mentioned when booking is that in the adult section, the buffet is served only for breakfast and lunch, not dinner
Beach- due to high seaweed season is not available- nobody is using beach- water is brown
★★★★★Katie22mon -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Palace: Everything I wanted
This vacation was everything I wanted and more! My husband and I went for a 10 day 25th anniversary celebration.
This is a family resort but is a little more pricy than the other sister resorts as the food and rooms were suppose to be better so that's why we picked this one. We also thought with it being pricier it may deter families with little ones from choosing this one and although there were families at this location there were not as many as other family resorts we have visited.
The drive from the airport was about 1 hour away, smooth transit to the hotel. When we arrived our room was not ready but we checked in, left our suitcases with the bell boys and went to have lunch. We toured the resort while we waited for our room and check-in occurred as promised at 3pm.
Our room was is a great location, it faced the trees out the back but was still very close to the pool, beach and a short walk to food. The room was spacious, had everything we needed and was nice and air conditioned at all times. The fridge was stocked with drinks and the room was always cleaned nicely. Shower always had warm water and it was really lovely to sit out on the patio after a full pool day with a good book.
Buffet food was absolutely fantastic. I am a VERY picky eater and there was always something for me to eat. If the buffet was closed then the other restaurant was open to meet our needs. Lots of fruit, salad, yogurt, excellent breads and deserts. We did an a la carte almost every night and the food was wonderful. We always booked a late dinner so we could enjoy all the sunshine we could until it went down. You can only have 2 booked at all times so just remember to pop in after you attend a dinner to book the next one. This hotel definitely had better food options than the sister resorts that we also were able to visit, so again I'm glad we chose this one.
The highlight of the trip was swimming with the turtles. We heard they liked to visit the beach and went out looking for them. Our first attempt was a bust but there were lots of colourful fish, our second attempt was a big WIN. We swam with a pair and they were so friendly and such an amazing experience.
I have already booked another trip here in October with my two daughters and can't wait!
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Colonial: Great Place to spend your vacation
The service provided by the hotel and it’s employees goes well beyond expectations.
The entertainment offered each and every day indoors at the theatre and outdoors by the pool are great.
The hotel offers a variety of excursions which gives you a chance to explore near by towns and local cultures.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Colonial: Great Place to spend your vacation
The service provided by the hotel and it’s employees goes well beyond expectations.
The entertainment offered each and every day indoors at the theatre and outdoors by the pool are great.
The hotel offers a variety of excursions which gives you a chance to explore near by towns and local cultures.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Kristin -
Verified PurchaserRiu Tequila: Great hotel! Great travel Agent!
Nicole was fantastic to work with! She took the time to find several vacation options that fit our budget and helped us choose the perfect one for our family of five with three teenagers.
We just got back from Riu Tequila in Mexico and had an amazing vacation! Nicole was friendly, responsive, and made the entire booking process easy from start to finish. We highly recommend her and will definitely use her again for our next trip.
The hotel was very nice , the room we got was very nice too we just have some trouble with opening the door that was fix immediately, the food was very good, the front desk, waitrers, entertainment all are awesome, very good experience , we really like it
We just spent two weeks at this resort. We had an amazing time.
The food was great, the animation team (Brian, Gustavo, Memo, Janet, Lizbeth, Anya ) was exceptional. Everybody went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect.
We would recommend this resort to everybody.
Location4/5
Value5/5
Food5/5
Beach4/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserSandos Caracol Nature Resort and Water Park: Beautiful resort
Very nice hotel with a lot of trees covered everywhere to make the rooms more privacy and prevent the hot sunlight when walking around. However, the ponds are smelly. Rooms are spacious and very cleaned. It is good to have the beers and soft drinks in the fridge. Foods are good and plenty. The beaches are not big and the water is dirty that can’t swim in June.
Location4/5
Value4/5
Food4/5
Beach3/5
Rooms5/5
Service5/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBlue Bay Grand Esmeralda: Wonderful stay!
The room was comfortable and everything we could have wanted. The grounds were well kept and very pretty. The wildlife was not 'wild' but not approachable either. It was nice to sit out on our deck and watch deer, coatis and raccoons walking by foraging. The food was good but the staff were beyond belief exceptional. Virtually everyone employed at the resort is always smiling and helpful; they were a joy to be around. The resort was fantastic but a swim-up bar would have made it perfect! I love how their carts pass by every 10 minutes or so, and you never had to call them and then wait until they got around to fetching you. Would be happy to return! The one downside was the seaweed or sorghum that was rampant and stank up the beach. It is the Mexican government's job to clear it, and they weren't doing their job. According to the Internet, this has become an issue since the summer of 2025.
★★Karim -
Verified PurchaserOcean Coral Riviera Cancun: The worst resort experience we've had
The resort in it's current state should not be welcoming travellers. They have hygiene issues causing food poisoning. They also let sargassum rot on the beach causing an unbearable smell all over the resort.
Location1/5
Value1/5
Food2/5
Beach1/5
Rooms4/5
Service4/5
★★★Ayesha -
Verified PurchaserCatalonia Yucatan: Feedback on our stay at Catalonia Yucatan
Hi Steve,
Thank you for arranging such a wonderful vacation for me and my little family! We had a great time at Catalonia Mexico and truly appreciate all of your help in making the trip happen.
As we discussed over the phone yesterday, while our overall stay was enjoyable, we did encounter a few issues that impacted our experience.
Upon arrival, we were assigned a room that was in very poor condition and not what we were expecting. Since we were staying for an entire week, we decided it was worth upgrading to a more comfortable room, which cost us approximately $535 CAD—money we had originally set aside for an excursion.
For your reference, the original room had several maintenance issues, including:
* A toilet that made a loud squeaking noise.
* Rusty bathroom faucets.
* A broken in-room safe.
* Overall, the room appeared quite worn and poorly maintained.
Additionally, we found the buffet options to be quite average. The menu was repetitive throughout the week, and many of the main dishes consisted of pork, which our family does not eat. As a result, we ended up spending approximately USD $70–100 per day on meals outside the resort.
I wanted to share this feedback with you, as I know you value your clients’ experiences. If possible, I would appreciate it if you could forward my comments to the appropriate team at the resort or your supplier so they are aware of the issues we encountered.
Thank you again for all your assistance. Despite these challenges, we still enjoyed spending quality time together as a family, and I appreciate everything you did to help us plan the trip.
Kind regards,
Ayesha
The beach was no good water was waist high need shoes,when it was little windy you are not aloud to use umbrellas no shade at pool or beach. Food was good the people working were nice the shows are good but no seating available to watch show bad setup.
The beach was no good water was waist high need shoes,when it was little windy you are not aloud to use umbrellas no shade at pool or beach. Food was good the people working were nice the shows are good but no seating available to watch show bad setup.
Everything there was great: the food, the cleanliness, the service, the fact that it wasn’t crowded. The only thing I didn’t love is the beach, especially that we went in June and there was too much seaweed, or whatever it’s called.
Horrible experience will never go back. Management were extremely rude and disrespectful picked on certain races backgrounds and genders discrimination was a big thing I noticed while there at several different parts of the resort including front desk.
Location1/5
Value1/5
Food1/5
Beach1/5
Rooms4/5
Service1/5
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserJOIA Paraiso by Iberostar: The BEST RESORT!
We visited Joia Paraiso by Iberostar from June 3 to June 10 in building 71 oceanfront butler suite , room 7152. It's not our first time here, we're going every year sometimes twice a year. I'd like to mention I'm very picky, but I'm not going to look to any another resort for our vacation.
Amazing staff, the best food and cleanest resort!
I'd like to say special thank you to our butler Bernardo who took great care of us, and Daniel from lobby bar! Thank you you guys! you're the best!!!
Also I'd like to say big Thank You to entire team of Iberostar who's working very hard every day to feel us welkome!
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserRoyalton Hideaway Riviera Cancun: Not highly recommended
The hotel is grand and beautiful but too many flaws. Not senior friendly. On arrival, The room we were assigned in was too far from every activity. My husband has knees problem and difficulty walking far. Asking for a wheelchair we were told we have to pay. Room#’s were not in any numeric sequence, on level of lobby you have 5000, 3000, and 2000 series. Too many trip hazards. I had a fall on one of the designed water pond with stone that is dirty on one of the guest service rows of rooms, asking where the nearest washroom was. Medical staff was helpful brought wheelchair and put a lotion on my sore left leg. Washrooms are located nowhere near and poor signage.
★★★★★Heer -
Verified PurchaserCatalonia Royal Tulum: Loved it as a 1st time
We recently stayed at Catalonia Royal Tulum and had an amazing experience from start to finish. The resort is beautiful, with a stunning beach, well-maintained grounds, excellent food, and friendly staff who made us feel welcome throughout our stay.
The rooms were clean and comfortable, and the atmosphere was relaxing and perfect for a getaway. We especially enjoyed the beach, the variety of restaurants, and the overall service provided by the resort team.
A special thank you to Shannon Aishford, who helped us book this trip. She was incredibly helpful, knowledgeable, and made the entire booking process smooth and stress-free. Her recommendations were spot on, and thanks to her assistance we had a wonderful vacation experience.
We would definitely recommend Catalonia Royal Tulum to anyone looking for a relaxing adults-only resort in Mexico and would happily return in the future.
★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserDreams Natura Resort and Spa: Great Vacation
Booked a swim up room and preferred club. The grounds are great. Tried all the restaurants for dinner and enjoyed them all. Hamburgers at the grill were delicious. Breakfast at the buffet was really good. Lots of choice. Tried the buffet for lunch twice and was disappointed. I felt there was not a large variety of food choices. Staff were very friendly and rooms were clean and spacious. Wait staff in bars and restaurants were friendly and attentive.
Location5/5
Value5/5
Food4/5
Beach5/5
Rooms5/5
Service4/5
★★★★Michelle -
Verified PurchaserOcean Riviera Paradise: Great time
This was our first visit to this resort. Certainly, it will not be our last. I would not rate it as a five-star hotel. Solid four would be a better rating for me.
Check- in was easy and quick. We needed a wheelchair, and they contacted the company for us; it arrived within the hour. This was our first time renting one, and it was well worth the money. Even though the resort was on a sight incline, it was not hard to get around, and the trolley drivers went out of their way to help. The only spot we found not accessible were the stores along the main walkway.
We had a swim-out room in the El Beso area. We were first assigned to building four, but mid-week we moved to building one when our section relocated. This change made things much easier with the wheelchair, as building one was much closer to the buffet and main area. The rooms were bright, and the fridge was stocked and cleaned spotlessly each day.
We skipped specialty restaurants by choice. Loved the buffet's wide variety, though food was sometimes only warm or cold. Service was disorganized; we never knew our server. The ice cream and coffee shops were delicious—they became regular stops. Room service was great. Enjoyed the El Beso snack bar and visited often.
The swim-up pools were lovely. It was amazing stepping out the door and just walking into the pool. It stayed at 90 degrees the whole time we were there. A warning, the sun is extreme in June. Even with constantly reapplying sunscreen, we still burned. There were always activities happening at the pools. I am not a music person, but I found it not loud and dancing to the beat.
Lots of variety of entertainment in the main area. Always had people chatting and singing. Enjoyed watching the little ones having fun too. There were some great activities for them.
We did not stay at the beach. I could smell the sargassum if the wind was in the right direction, but it did not impact our holiday. Kudos to the staff who work relentlessly to try to keep it clean. It’s a never-ending battle. It was heartbreaking to see the amount of sargassum floating in the ocean from the plane. The worst I have seen.
Seen lots of animals. We were lucky and saw the monkeys on the first day. The wildlife was not overwhelming as some of the other resorts we have been to. I think this is partly due to the patrons not bringing food to the poolside, as I have seen in other places. People still feed the animals even though there is signage everywhere.
All in all, it was a lovely holiday. Met lots of wonderful people from around the world. Some first-timers and others who have visited several times. We are planning to come back. Thanks for a great holiday.
★★Private -
Verified PurchaserDreams Tulum Resort and Spa: The good, the bad and the ugly
We stayed at Dreams Tulum from June 3–10, 2026 while attending a destination wedding. Overall, we still managed to enjoy parts of our vacation, but a series of significant issues affected our stay and prevented it from meeting the standard we expected.
I want to start with the positives. The grounds are beautiful, the food was generally excellent, and the staff were consistently friendly, professional, and genuinely helpful. The shows were entertaining, and staff throughout the property, from the servers and bartenders to guest services, did their best to help whenever problems arose.
I would especially like to recognize Alejandra, the Privilege Club Manager. Throughout our stay, she was exceptional. She consistently treated us with professionalism, empathy, and genuine care, and she went above and beyond in her efforts to address the many issues we encountered. While many of the problems were beyond her control, she worked tirelessly to find solutions, communicate updates, and make our stay as enjoyable as possible. She was one of the highlights of our experience and deserves recognition.
Unfortunately, our stay was affected by a number of significant issues.
Upon arrival, we experienced a lengthy delay receiving our room. Others in our travel group received their rooms before us, and even some guests who arrived on later flights appeared to be checked in before we were.
Once we got into our room, we were pleased with it. It was spacious, clean, comfortable, and well located. However, several days into our stay, renovation work began a few rooms away. The smell from paint, solvents, or cleaning products was overwhelming and caused headaches and migraines, particularly at night. After enduring it for several days, we requested a room change.
The resort agreed to move us and even upgraded our room, which we appreciated. Unfortunately, the move itself became another source of frustration. We were attending a wedding and needed a place to get ready for the rehearsal dinner. We were told we could move our belongings into the new room, but that the room would not be ready for use until later. Hours passed, yet when we returned there appeared to have been little progress.
When we finally gained access to the new room, we discovered that the air conditioning was not functioning properly. While air was blowing, the room remained humid and stayed around 23–24°C. Staff worked hard to find us another room for the night, and we ended up moving again late in the evening. Unfortunately, the replacement room had the same issue. By that point, we were exhausted and simply tried to sleep through it.
The next morning, we returned to our assigned room and found the ceiling in the entry area completely removed while maintenance staff worked on the air-conditioning system. There was water throughout the area, a drainage tube hanging into the toilet, and moisture on many of our belongings stored nearby. Nothing was permanently damaged, but it was uncomfortable finding our clothing and personal items damp and not knowing exactly where the water had come from.
This all occurred on the day of the wedding. We were assured the room would be cleaned before we returned to get ready. However, when we came back later, the work area was still dirty and unfinished. While preparing for the wedding, housekeeping arrived and had to clean around us. It was not an ideal situation when trying to get ready for an important event.
Another frustration involved the charitable room-access bracelets we had purchased. Following the room changes, the bracelets no longer worked properly in the new room. When we asked for the money to be returned, the request was refused. Given that the bracelets no longer worked because we were moved due to issues with the room, this felt unreasonable.
The ongoing renovations throughout the resort were also far more disruptive than we had been led to believe. Prior to our trip, we were contacted by TripCentral and advised that renovations would be taking place during our stay. We specifically inquired about the expected impact and were told it would be minimal and that we would only be affected by the first phase of the project.
Unfortunately, that was not our experience. Large portions of the resort were unavailable during our stay. Roughly half of the restaurants were closed, several cafés and food venues were closed, and many amenities were either unavailable or operating on reduced schedules. The online schedules and resort information showing which restaurants and amenities were open were frequently inaccurate, making it difficult to plan meals and activities. We often found ourselves calling guest services daily to confirm what was actually operating.
The construction noise and disruption were impossible to ignore. Directly behind our room, workers spent days using jackhammers, and throughout the property there were ongoing sounds associated with the renovation work. The resort attempted to mask some of the noise with amplified music, but this often resulted in competing sounds rather than a quieter environment.
In addition to the noise, there were persistent construction-related odours throughout parts of the property. Combined with the room issues we experienced, it became difficult to find a place on the resort that felt quiet, comfortable, and unaffected by the ongoing work. Had the extent of the disruption been communicated accurately before our trip, we would have adjusted our expectations or reconsidered our travel plans.
The heavy sargassum situation also affected the vacation. We understand this is not the resort’s fault, but it made the beach largely unusable during our stay. The smell was awful and noticeable throughout much of the property. We tried to swim through an area that appeared to have been cleared, but the lifeguard stopped us, so ocean swimming was effectively not an option.
As a result, we were largely limited to the pools. Unfortunately, the pool water was quite warm and there was very little shade available around the pool areas. Combined with the inability to use the beach, it often felt like there was nowhere to comfortably escape the heat during the hottest parts of the day. We ultimately found ourselves leaving the resort to visit cenotes and other off-site attractions in order to cool off and enjoy the water.
Another concerning issue happened at the buffet. One evening, there was a station presented as al pastor, complete with a vertical spit and a small charcoal setup intended to create the appearance and aroma of traditional preparation. However, the rotisserie itself was never operating. Instead, raw pork was being sliced directly from the spit and cooked on a flat-top grill.
While waiting in line, I observed the same utensil being used to handle raw pork and then being placed back in contact with the cooked meat. When I raised the concern with the staff, I was told it was not a problem and that this was how it was done. Regardless of the explanation, it was concerning from a food-safety perspective and made me uncomfortable eating from that station.
Given that a significant number of guests in our wedding group later experienced gastrointestinal illness, this interaction stood out in my mind. While I cannot say whether the two were related, it did raise concerns about food-handling practices at the resort.
Finally, many members of our wedding group became ill during the trip. Approximately 50 guests attended the wedding, and a significant number experienced gastrointestinal illness, including several members of our family. While I personally did not become sick, the number of people affected was concerning.
Another disappointment was the upgraded package we originally purchased. We specifically paid extra for the upgraded experience and amenities. In practice, however, we found very little value in the upgrade. The private beach area was largely unusable due to the sargassum conditions, and the private breakfast area did not offer enough of a difference to justify the additional cost.
Compounding this issue, many guests appeared to receive complimentary upgrades as a result of the construction and room disruptions occurring throughout the resort. As a result, what we had paid extra for no longer felt exclusive or meaningfully different from the experience many other guests were receiving. Given the circumstances, the upgraded package provided little to no added value during our stay.
One final example that reflected our overall experience occurred on the day of our departure. The day before we left, we received two separate calls from the resort checking in on our stay and asking whether we would like assistance with our luggage for our early morning departure. On both occasions, we accepted and confirmed that a bellhop would come to our room at 5:15 a.m. to assist with our bags.
We had no issue handling our own luggage if necessary, but after confirming the arrangement twice, we expected the service to be provided. We waited at the scheduled time, but no one arrived. Ultimately, we carried our own luggage to the front lobby. The staff at the front desk apologized, which we appreciated, but it was another example of a commitment being made and not followed through on.
Despite these issues, we still managed to enjoy parts of our vacation because of the excellent staff, beautiful grounds, good food overall, and the opportunity to celebrate with family and friends. However, the repeated room problems, construction impacts, air-conditioning failures, closed restaurants and cafés, beach conditions, food-safety concerns, reduced value of the upgraded package, and disruptions surrounding important wedding events fell well below the standard we expected.
Dreams Tulum has the potential to be an excellent resort, and I suspect it will be much better once the renovations are complete. However, based on our experience during this stay, the resort was not operating at the level guests were paying for. We paid for a full resort experience but stayed at a property that was partially under construction, partially closed, and repeatedly unable to deliver on basic expectations. While we appreciate the efforts made by the staff, especially Alejandra, we do feel that additional compensation would be appropriate given the extent of the disruptions we experienced.
★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserDreams Sapphire Resort and Spa: Good Time but Some Inconveniences
We are a family of three with two adults and one six year old. This was a smaller resort compared to others we've been to.
When you first get there, they check you in and a bell boy helps you with your luggage and takes you to your room in a golf cart. They tell you to meet a staff member in the main resort building for your welcome package. The main resort building felt like a maze and we were 3/4 of the way into our stay, when we finally started to get the hang of where things were. The welcome package was a staff member trying to get you to go to a time share meeting so you can get free discounts on excursions or spa packages. They also try and get you to visit their new resort next door which is currently under construction. We did none of that. We did try and book an excursion through the resort's travel guide but it ended up being expensive. If you can get cheaper rates through your travel agent, I recommend going that route instead.
The resort felt like you were immersed in the jungle, with several pockets of natural vegetation throughout. Our room building was set along the outskirts of the resort, with paved pathways lined with native shrubs, trees, and plants. We saw several animals during our walks to and from our room to the main hub, as well as some within the main area of the resort; Coati's, Mexican Raccoons, Iguanas and tinier lizards. There were a lot of Grackles in the pool area that were used to tourists, so you had to really watch your food, because they did not mind flying close to swipe something off your plate. Maybe it's because of how naturalized the resort was, but we did notice fleas jumping on us while we were on the paths between the rooms and the main building, or on the beach. They were never in our rooms though, or inside the main resort building.
The beach was okay, but we went in April when the seaweed starts coming in. We learned via a notice at the concierge desk that seaweed season is from April-November, which we hadn't considered before that there would be a "season" for it. Regardless, the beaches were kept fairly clear of seaweed during our stay. They had the tractors clearing out the excess. This resort had a closed off area for swimming in the ocean, but most of our days were spent at the pool, since it was closer to all the food and drinks. They did have servers on the beach that would run from your beach chair to the bar to get you drinks, but they were the same servers running around the pool area, so I can imagine the service wasn't consistent or as quick.
We were worried that the pool would be small since it seemed to be the only one available for the whole resort (other than the adults only pool), but it ended up being quite large and never felt too crowded. It also naturally divided between people with families on one end and child-free on the other end, which was closer to the bar and pool activities. The stairs leading into the pool were wide and provided shallow water for kids who weren't swimmers yet. It was nice even for us because our six year old is a swimmer, but we told her if mom or dad aren't in the pool with her, she needs to stay on the stairs which she was happy to do, since she could still play pretend on the deeper steps closer to the pool. Trying to get pool side chairs in the shade meant waking up early. There were a lot of chairs available but not many truly shaded ones, and chairs with a straight view to the pool so you could watch your kids from your chair were also scarce. Everyone seemed to "hold" their chairs with the resort pool towels, but there always ended up being so many chairs with towels and no one showing up, even toward the middle of the day. Resort staff didn't monitor the chairs.
There was a splash pad for littles and two waterslides in a separate area, but it was not connected to the main pool, so you had to either plan to be at the waterslide pool or go back and forth between areas. Depending on the ages of your family members, I can see how this might be inconvenient and split members up. We tried booking a Balinese bed for one of the days, but it took quite a bit of effort to find someone who could help. The concierge said to go to the pool desk in the lobby, the pool desk said to find the staff at the towels, but the staff at the towels was not always there. We did finally end up connecting with someone after a few days of trying, but I feel like it should be a lot easier to book.
Because the hub with all the food, pools, and activities was at the main resort building, which was in the middle of the resort, we tended to pack up and plan to stay for the day at the pool. It wasn't a quick trip to our room, which was on the outskirts of the hotel. There were buildings with rooms that were closer to the pool area, we just ended up on the outskirts. This wasn't convenient during the day if we forgot to bring something with us. However, it was in the evening when we were walking back to our room so our child could go to sleep, and the noise of the hub kept lessening the closer we got to our building, until all we heard was the breeze and crashing of waves.
The room was a nice size for the three of us. We ended up with a king bed and the couch turned into a pull-out. The room was pretty standard in terms of amenities; nice sized tv, stocked fridge, safe, and small seating area. It was a nice surprise to get comfy bathrobes in our room though. Our balcony was close to the path but you couldn't tell because all we saw were trees and other vegetation. There was a family of pretty yellow birds living in one of the trees, who we saw flying around chirping every day. Again, it felt like we were immersed in the jungle. Room service did a great job of housekeeping, except they didn't come the day before we had to leave-I don't know if that's standard or if they just missed us that day.
The beginning of our stay was a little inconvenient. We were told by the concierge that they had provided bedding for the pull-out, but it wasn't there when we got to our room. Our daughter slept in the king bed with us the first night which was fine. The next few days I put in two requests through their app, called the housekeeping line and also talked to the concierge for extra bedding because it kept not showing up, even though the app would say the service was completed for example, or the concierge and housekeeping would say they'd get to it right away, and it never showed up. Our daughter slept with us again on the second night, but we finally got the extra bedding on the third night. At one point, housekeeping took all our wash cloths and hand towels, but didn't replenish them. It took two attempts to finally get some back, but only after speaking to someone in person about it, who was actually there to replenish our water. My earring fell down the sink drain at one point during our stay and the maintenance staff was quick to respond and very courteous.
The food was okay but nothing to rave about. It seemed most of the food at the buffet was geared toward tourists, rather than providing an authentic Mexican experience. There were a lot of curries at the buffet for some reason. As a Mexican, I was excited to get authentic Mexican food every day, which was my experience at the previous resort we went to, but I had a hard time even finding a good taco. They would have taco type toppings, but sometimes they didn't have tortillas out. When they did have tortillas out, the tortillas didn't seem to be heated up properly, they still seemed rather stiff. This resort seemed to specialize in chilaquiles instead, since the stuff to put them together was always out, including instructions. There weren't any real authentic tacos at the buffet, no authentic soups, no floutas etc., and even the pan dulce only seemed to come out for breakfast.
I did end up finding a small taco stand vender inside the main resort building closer to the end of our stay, but he was only there for supper time and only sold tacos al pastor, which can get repetitive for meals. The resort set up a bbq place of some sort near the pool area one time, but they set it up after we had just had lunch, and closed down before supper time. It would have been nice if they had announced what special food they were going to serve and when, or even if they had a sign at the stall about it so we could plan better.
This resort had a few snack places like a smoothie bar, and a cafe. They had several themed restaurants. We never had to make a reservation for any of the restaurants, except if you wanted a teppanyaki experience at the Japanese restaurant. It seemed that they rotated when one of the restaurants closed for the day. We went to try one of their restaurants for supper and turns out it wasn't going to be open that day, which we found out through the app when we went to check what time it opened. Another time we went to eat at the buffet, and turns out it was closed and turned into another restaurant for that night. Again, we didn't find out until we went to eat and they told us in person. If this was part of the information they gave us at the beginning of our stay, we could plan better so we could make sure to try all the restaurants while we were there.
The Mexican restaurant was great though. I got some great authentic food there, but it's not a place the whole family wants to eat at every day, and the restaurants do have a limited menu, so it's the same three main meals every day. The Italian restaurant was really good but the portions were HUGE. We felt so bad because we couldn't finish our pastas, so the remainder was thrown out. Our daughter had a hard time finding something she would like at the Japanese restaurant, but the waiter was fantastic and brought her several plates of salmon sashimi, which she loves but was off menu.
There was entertainment nightly and we got to see the magician and the Mexican dancers, but my favorite were the Maya pre-Colombian storytellers in the lobby.
Overall, we had a great time, but there were some inconveniences like the location of our room/the beach compared to the location of the food and drinks, the room service debacle, and the lack of authentic Mexican food.
★★★★Villa -
Verified PurchaserGrand Sunset Princess: Above average hotel
The room was beautiful and very comfortable. Housekeeping was excellent and the rooms were very clean. Friendly staff, and resort is absolutely beautiful. The food was satisfactory, buffet had lots of options À la carte's were good. Many pools, lots of shade.
Unfortunately the beach was terrible and was not available for use. Seaeweeds ruined our vacation. What is the purpose of travelling to a beach location if you cannot use the beach. It was stinking like sewage I think if the season was this bad, they should have warned us before booking.
The Sun wing agent wasn't interested in explaining anything to us or selling us any trips. He said to look at the brochures on the wall and choose the one we like. Normally, we would expect a group session explaining the different options etc. May be he/she has deal with other local travel groups.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserBarcelo Maya Palace: Great stay at Barcelo Maya Palace
We enjoyed everything about this resort. Great food in the a la carte restaurants; fabulous staff in the restaurants, buffets and bars; super clean everywhere; lovely decor; awesome adult-only pool with cabanas for rent for a low daily cost. Even though the 'Palace' was not adult only, this one pool made it seem that way for us. There is lot of walking between the rooms and the restaurants/buffets but that was helpful after how much food we ate! Although it's about an hour from the Cancun airport, we look forward to returning and would recommend this resort to friends.
★★★★★Private -
Verified PurchaserParadisus Playa del Carmen: Wonderful Experience!
The resort is beautiful. It it being renovated as some indicators of age are visible if looked closely. 5/5 still for facilities. Food was really good even at the buffet. I was worried and got FC to get access to reservations and restaurants but wasn’t needed for our group's particular needs. Beach was not usable due to sargassum but that is not the fault of the resort. Staff were friendly and hospitable. Our Family Concierge Eduardo was amazing! Request for him if you book Family Concierge room.
★★★★★Heather -
Verified PurchaserJOIA Paraiso by Iberostar: JOIA PARAISO IBEROSTAR
Absolutely beautiful hotel and grounds.
Food was everything and anything you could ask for especially the buffet.
Highly recommend the Italian and French alacarte restaurants.
We would definitely return again.
We booked a Privilege Jr. Suite for our 40th wedding anniversary. Our butler, Lilyann was amazing and Miguel at the beach. They catered to our every need.
Food was delicious and our room was very nice. Would go back in a heartbeat.
Loved the privilege beach area, the only down side was the sargassum in the water and on shore. Unfortunately it was that time of year and there was nothing the resort could do about it. There was a big infinity pool at the beach so we could swim there.
Hotel is beautiful. Food is excellent. Best pool and pool area I have experienced. Hundreds of pool loungers. Lots of friendly staff. Very clean. There are no golf carts to take guests to different areas. There is a no charge bus to take you to the sister resorts. Lots of palm trees for shade on the beach. The beach is not as nice as the old photos indicate. Excellent resort except for the rocky beach.
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