3.5 Star Beach Resort is a way to describe this pretty, beachy, lazy resort! A good mix of guests from around the world – mostly US and UK (seemed to be a lot of visitors from Germany) Good mix of ages with mostly a younger crowd (and by younger I mean 25 and under). Mostly couples and LOTS of groups and wedding parties ranging from parties of 4 to 15. The resort is smaller to get around on, but VERY limited shady spots and LOTS of outdoor areas. If you MUST have A/C this could be a problem. Total beachy and relaxing atmosphere.
If your idea of a vacation is to relax by the pool or beach, read, and just chill this is a PERFECT resort for you. Close enough to Playa Del Carmen to taxi too. We did this for $18.00 US one way. Internet access and spa prices are much cheaper here than some others. The internet was free here, and an aromatherapy 80 minute massage cost $110.00 (wait for this special) however, we saw massages in Playa for 1 hour for $25 (we have done these in the past and they are JUST as fantastic!)
The service is really lacking. Several people that we met there made comments to us that they seemed to be understaffed. For what you pay for this resort it seemed to me that the service should be top rate and this did not seem to be the case. One couple that we met had bought weeks there and were frequent travelers of this property. They also exclaimed their displeasure of this and said it was not like this in the past. Maybe it was the time of year, or other factors, just telling you as we experienced and heard it.
Check in
Check in began with us being greeted and at the front entrance with welcoming smiles as they ushered us into the lobby. They sat us down, brought us cold towels and champagne and proceeded to check us in. They hold like $300.00 on your card even if you pre-pay which we did for incidentals so budget for that. We arrived at 11:00 am and our room was not ready. They advised us that check in is at 3:00pm, we went and ate lunch, came back around 1pm and our room was ready.
Rooms
GREAT at first glance! We had a beautiful Beachfront Jr. Suite room with a Jacuzzi and could look out on the ocean. Very, very nice. The downsides of the rooms were the floors were really, really dirty (although they looked clean) and the beds are white. Our feet turned black just walking across the floor and every night we had to wash off our feet before we went to bed. BLE! Also the hot tub was a bit sketch. Sometimes it was okay and other times it would make a funny noise (enough to wake you up) and the plugger would not work sometimes.
Pools
There are 2 that we saw. The main one with the swim up bar (nice ocean view surrounded by the famous beach beds) and the quieter one by the Spa. The main pool had salt in it. It didn’t bother me any, just wasn’t sure if it was supposed to be there or if this was also a leftover hurricane thing.
Spa
I had an 80 minute aromatherapy massage while there. Yummy! Just do it!
Restaurants
By far our favorite was Klay Talay! Yum! We also liked the Mexican a lot. Have them make you a margarita here with Sauza tequila. Wow! Best margarita EVER! Our least fave was Italian. They had things on the menu we thought were a bit too different for our taste such as Seafood Spaghetti, Vegetable lasagna etc. We had gone there with another couple that we had met there and none of us cared for it. It took us over 3 hours to eat at this restaurant so I would recommend booking early if you want to eat here and see the show. Food was better at this resort than other AI’s but my hubby was really wishing they had some type of buffet so he could have found more options.
Entertainment
This kind of makes up for no nightclub, because the shows are SO GOOD! We loved the Circus show and the Fire show! Really shines here! Seating is VERY limited for the shows so arrive early.
Service
This was really the worst thing about this resort. The people were nice, it just seemed that maybe they were understaffed or something. No one EVER brings you drinks on the beach or by the pool (EVER). I drank less and this resort than ever….could have been a blessing…who knows? ;0) and at dinner be prepared to wait with an empty glass for a while.
Beach
One of my most favorite things here. Those beds….let me say it again…those BEDS! What a great idea! If they served Corona you would totally feel like you were in the commercial! Superb! Beach IS rocky but beautiful so make sure that you bring beach shoes. Snorkeling is GREAT here. Sometimes they will bring out lunch picnics and skewers of fruit (but no drinks…weird) so this was nice. Also, someone with an iguana and a monkey come by to take your pictures with them. Warning about the beach beds. PEOPLE GET NUTSO ABOUT THESE THINGS! Really! I woke up at 7:30 the first morning there and they were all reserved but one. The next morning I walked out at 6:30AM and that was okay. Our neighbors placed stuff on an empty bed and another guest was ready to fight him over it. That was CRAZY!
Grounds
Grounds were very pretty. They reminded me of Jamaica for some reason. A little wilder and not as manicured as some of the resorts I have seen and that is probably why. One thing to note – if you are not wet it is a hot walk anywhere with minimal shade. We talked about bringing my in-laws to Playa but I think if they came here they would be miserable from the heat and lack of shade. Pretty..but pretty hot!
Nightclub
Not one, not that we need, one. Everyone hangs out at the main bar and it seems the resort wraps up pretty early. Probably everybody is getting their sleep so they can get up early to grab a beach bed! 😉
Pretty beach resort. Don’t know if we would go back or not. It’s about our 11th time now to Playa so I am glad that we experienced it. We also stayed at Hard Rock Playa on this trip so if you are shopping and comparing you can check out my review of that resort as well.
.Overall:
Check In: 5 (unexpected moolah hold, could throw people off of their budget-game)
Rooms: 7 (would have been lower, but that view and access!)
Pools: 5
Spa: 9
Food and Drink: 10
Entertainment: 10
Service: 4
Beach: 8
Grounds: 7
Nightclub: 0
Adults Only: 6. Kids are allowed here. It wasn’t a problem for us though, i.e. – they weren’t running amuck. LOL
Would we return? Probably not….but I do miss that friggin beach, man. But, listen….don’t let me kill your buzz. Check it out for yourself here.
