Oasis Viva Beach was a good value. The bed was comfy, the view great, and the bathroom very nice. The climate control system worked well. The buffet was really good, and the bars served pretty good drinks. The beach is a little cramped, but the pools are more than adequate. The top floors (9-10-11, we were on the 10th) do not have balconies, so we did have some trouble drying wet beach items. On the other hand, we enjoyed the larger room. There is a handy store across the street where you can buy water and snacks (helpful if you have an early start to the day before the breakfast buffet hours).
What is really bad about the hotel is the endless come-ons from tour salespeople in the lobby. It is awful that the hotel allows this activity to go on. We were bombarded for the whole week. When we first arrived -- tired, hungry, and before our room was ready -- we were told that the excursion package we had bought at the airport was a rip-off, that we'd wasted our money, and so forth. We stood our ground, and our package (purchased from Palace Resorts) proved to be very good. In other words, these hawkers not only pester you, but they lie as well. Stay away as best you can!

We booked the hotel for 3 weeks, sold us as a 4 star but it's hardly a 2 star, food was not warm and not much choise, a la carte was ok, sushi also ok.
In Mexico i want to drink a mojito, they couln't make one :(
Bad airco, no mini bar, took 5 day's to fix some problems with the room
Shows are awfull, bar close at 11.30
The staff hardly spraks proper English, but when the found out we wanted to leave there were 3 who came who spoke perfect and wanted to upgrade us to the grand.
After 12 day's we called our rep and told him to put us in Playa del Carmen, because we didn't get a proper nightrest, lots of young and screaming people who go out to the clubs and like to make some noise and bang on the doors, they even broke dowm the glass of one of the elevators and broke down a door.
No Cancun for us annymore, when you walk out of the hotel the only things you hear are do you want a taxi or do you want Charlie :(
Thank god we had a wonderfull time and hotel in Playa what realy whas all inclusive as the say, mini bar, safe, roomservice and so on, and great 4 star food and a grat choise of everything, nice visitors from the US, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Germany

The Ocean and beach outside of the hotel is WONDERFUL, you can walk out into the water for several hundred feet and only be up to your midsection. The water was very clear and fish swam all the way to shore. We looked at a couple different hotels (expensive hotels) and the beach at the Oasis Viva was nicer then all of them.

The food is OK, nothing special (Mexican night was very good) and we got tired of the buffet after a few days (it was kind of hard to get reservations at the restaurants). The room we stayed in was adequate, it was clean and the shower had good water pressure, again nothing real special about the rooms they were fine. The only place ice is available is at the bar. It is a really good idea to bring your own Large insulated cup(s) the bartenders will fill them with your beverage of choice.

The one big problem that we had with the hotel was that the common areas (we went during low season) are very HOT and very HUMID the common areas are not air conditioned, this includes the hallways, buffet restaurant, lobby, and bar (basically everywhere), the humidity was oppressive and it made it so the only place you could escape the humidity was in your room.

In conclusion this was a great hotel for people traveling on a cheap budget. The ocean and water was great. The hotel itself was nothing special but it severed its purpose and it was clean.

We did several activities while we were in Cancun.

1) Chichen Itza - it was very nice to visit one of the new seven wonders of the world. The structures were spectacular. It is definitely worth the trip to visit.
TIP: We went during low season and it was HOT and HUMID I can not overstate this enough, even the locals were sweating and complaining BRING WATER (more then you think you will need) they do not sell it in very many places when you are in the park

2) Scuba Diving - I am a certified diver and I did a one tank dive (I cannot remember the exact location) It was a slight drift dive. Saw lots of different types of colorful fish including a puffer fish, also saw a sea turtle. The reef that we dove on was definitely dying but it was a good dive (only about 25-30 feet)

3) Xel-Ha - This was a great place to visit, snorkeling and water activities are wonderful a bus tour that includes Xel-Ha and tulum does not give you enough time at Xel-Ha this is some place you want to spend the whole day.
TIP: They want you to buy the biodegradable sunscreen $14.00US a bottle and they warn you they will confiscate your own non-biodegradable sunscreen the biodegradable sunscreen WASHES OFF, use your own stuff discreetly.

4) Catamaran Cruise to Isla Mujeres - It was a good time. TIP: Use your own sun screen discreetly they try and sell you the biodegradable kind that doesn't work (this time for $20.00US)

The Oasis Viva Beach was wonderful. This hotel is located right near the heart of everything. We had a wonderful view from our room (which even though not all rooms have balconies, they ALL have ocean view) so at least you know what you are getting with this hotel and you don't have to pay extra. We had a blast. My boyfriend surprised me and booked this trip for my birthday. The hotel was gorgeous, nice tile floors in the lobby, leather couches, plants, and more.

The check-in process was a little strange. since we had booked online, we were sent to a table to sit and be welcomed with melon cooladas (fruity drinks - we highly recommend this drink). The man that checked us in was very outgoing and funny. He explained everything and if we lost any of the towel cards, room keys, safe lock how much they would cost. We were early, so our room was not ready yet. We wore our bathing suits on the plane just incase our room wasn't ready so we could hang by the pool and wait.

The buffet was great. The food was very delicious. There was one night for dinner where we couldn't find anything that we really wanted to eat and nothing seemed to be appitizing, but that could happen anywhere. Otherwise, we ate at the buffet and the little hamburger bar outside every day for 4 days and we couldn't complain. It was great with wonderful service!

The room was very nice! Our view was spectacular! It was so gorgeous and the breeze was incredible. Even though there is no air conditioning anywhere but the rooms, I never noticed. The hotel is very open and air just flows right through it. The beds weren't the most comfortable in the world, but its a hotel, not your home. :) The hotel does have room service, but it is only offered at the "Grand Oasis Viva Beach" which is right next door and for $25 more a night you can upgrade to those rooms. We decided that we wanted to stay where we were, but maybe next time (it leaves us something to look forward to) :)

We were within walking distance to everything that we wanted to see. Coco Bongo is just down the street and so is Senor Frogs, Margarita Ville, Pat O'Briens and many more. We had so much fun checking out all of the little shops and the malls. We also took a day trip to Tulum and Xel-Ha which was amazing! I definitely recommend it, it is totally worth the money.

This was a wonderful vacation and an amazing birthday present! We had a blast. Thank you to my Boyfriend and everyone at the Oasis Viva Beach for making this a birthday I will never forget.