My boyfriend and I first visited Allegro in October 2002, when we accompanied a group of about 10 adults, 3 of which had been previous visitors to Allegro. All of us play in adult sporting leagues in our hometown areas, so the activities were a hit for our entire group. We thoroughly enjoyed that first visit, and the majority of the group returned the following year to find out how the newly constructed Allegro Grand compared. Although the Grand was a newer, and supposedly upscale resort, we were disappointed to find that the activities were lacking and there were no evening shows that we had enjoyed so much that first year. We ended up spending most of our time at Allegro for the daytime activities and then would return to the Grand for the evening. The Grand is a great resort if you intend to spend a large amount of time in your room…The Grand is definitely not the place to be if you enjoy interaction, games and/or shows.

So after 3 years of not being Allegro guests, we were anticipating our return, and often times, anticipation can lead to expectations that cannot be fulfilled, but I will have to say that our expectations weren’t just fulfilled, but exceeded!

My review from this point on, while praising the resort’s many amenities, will focus largely upon the staff members that once again made our visit the primary reason that we will always return to Allegro for future vacations.

We were on our resort within an hour after landing in Cozumel, and our room wasn’t quite ready at 1:15pm, but the lunch buffet was, so we headed toward the pool to grab some lunch until official check-in time. As we entered the pool area, we heard a loud recognition shout from Carlos, an activities staff member that had been at Allegro on our first visit. Mind you, it had been 3 years since he had last seen us! This kind of treatment is pretty much how the rest of the week faired. Activities commenced during the afternoon, and we’ll have to admit that we didn’t see too many other familiar faces from our first visit, but by mid afternoon, we were happily surprised to find that the current staff was even better at accommodating our every desire to make for a happy stay.

The nightly shows had varied somewhat from our previous visit, but the underlying current of significant talent up there on that new and improved stage (now in a sheltered area, since the pre-Wilma days,) was something we looked forward to every evening. The next night we were excited to recognize another familiar face during the show…Raul was still with Allegro. And he too had remembered us from our prior visit, and gave us a quick wave during curtain call! Just goes to show that these guys are quite impressive to remember a couple of guests from 3 years ago, especially considering the number of new guests they must meet week after week, year after year!

Our week at Allegro made us realize more than ever that the staff truly does make it their number one priority to see that any guest that even hints at wanting to get involved with any activity, will be rewarded with the experience of feeling like he or she is the only guest on the property.

The best way to show my appreciation for those folks, is to give my very subjective “biography” of the staff members that once again made for a memorable vacation. If you go, make it a point to seek out these fine individuals. Although with their outgoing, smiley faces, it would be hard to miss them if you simply set foot out of your room!

CARLOS: I could listen to Carlos tell his funny stories forever! Not only does Carlos make it a point to talk to all of the guests, but he listens to what they have to say, and will insure that if at all possible, their individual requests are fulfilled. Carlos even took some extra time to teach us some very practical Spanish phrases to help in our navigation through the town. (Carlos, I can now admit that on the day before we left, I lost my Spanish lesson in the pool…for the third time. There’s no way I had the nerve to tell you that after the first two episodes!) Carlos was always up for a game of beach volleyball, and he continued to play with us, even after he was permitted that very little precious free time he has during the day. Carlos is great at keeping the pool activities not only fun, but funny for everyone…even if he did blow the whistle against our team too much! Carlos once again impressed us with his dancing during the shows at night, (great job in the “break-a-leg” number,) and his smiley face is one that I hope to see each and every time I return! Carlos, I will be e-mailing you about motorcycle riding and volleyball! You’d better respond, or I’ll have to make a return trip to track you down! J

ENRIQUE, a.k.a. CHES: This guy will come up with the funniest little improve lines if you listen closely. One such example was when there was no poolside interest in aqua aerobics. Ches gave all of us lazy guests some chair exercises in place of the aqua aerobics…this consisted of moving our feet slowly back and forth and scratching our bellies with our little fingers, and then ending with a nice nap! Ches, you could do stand up comedy in the U.S. anytime! Keep that smiley face entertaining future guests, and maybe we’ll let you win a water polo game next year! Also, you make a great “girl” in those shows. (HeeHee!) I know you’ll be ready to have a smart comment if/when you read this, but I just couldn’t resist one more dig on you! (What-everrrr Ches!)

GABY: We didn’t get to see you as much this time with the stage shows taking up most of your time, but you run a fine stage production, and I commend you on keeping this crazy crew in line for what are, by far, the best shows we see. We ventured into town to Senor Frog’s and I’ll have to admit that the weak “Thriller” dance at the bar doesn’t come close to the production your staff put on at Allegro!) Tell George we’re sorry we missed seeing him!

GLENDY: While we didn’t get to know her at the beginning of the week (go figure with all of those guys’ overwhelming personalities,) we came to know Glendy as one of the craziest Mexican girls we met! Glendy, keep up that pretty smile of yours, and start whipping those guys into shape for the sports for next year!

JORGE: This guy always has a smile when you get your towel from the Activities Center, and while he kicked our white butts in soccer, he did so with a smile (if not a good humored laugh) the entire time! Makes it a little easier to take for us competitive folks! I think Jorge laughs all day! Thanks for the special Spanish lessons whenever I exchanged a towel…And while I couldn’t seem to remember your Spanish phrases from one day to the next, I’ll try really hard to remember at least one of your Spanish phrases for next year’s visit!

KARLA: Like Glendy, don’t let her quiet demeanor fool you. She was always there with a laugh and a good natured sense of humor during all of those (sometimes rather rough) water polo games! I’m sorry we didn’t get to say goodbye to you Karla, but you were on your well-deserved day off. Hopefully, on our next visit, you won’t laugh so hard when I miss kicking the ball entirely while playing soccer. (That’s only “strike one” for me.)

PANCHO: This guy will just impress you to no end with his dancing, (especially tap,) as well as the other extreme variety of show talent. This has got to be the most serious sports staff member at Allegro, but with that being said, he was still quick to flash a smile (with some added verbal wit) with every point scored. Pancho would go out of his way to seek out guests from day to day and find out what it is that they liked to do. Pancho’s barbershop comedy skit was one I’ll always remember, as it was me that was “volunteered” to be a participant in the “shave and a haircut” I received on stage! I don’t think that my group will ever let me forget that one!

RAUL: Sorry that we didn’t get to spend much time with Raul this year, as he was in the kids’ activities area most of the day, but his crazy “uno mas” chant will be repeated frequently here in Ohio! Raul, if I had known that the shaving cream that you had to go into town to get was going to end up on my face (and hair) during the comedy show, I would have had to put a stop to it…but you got me good on the repetition of: “you’re gonna love this number…” It looks like the final joke was on me, even though I still don’t like any part of being on a stage. I’ll leave the talent with you guys, as it should be!

RENE: What a man of many talents. This guy can not only dance any number he’s presented with the appearance of ease and beauty, but I could talk to Rene all day long! He has a wonderful knack of sensing each guest’s personality, and somehow manages to talk to everyone like they were his best friend of all time. Rene laughed and smiled during every game and show (and I could watch him dance forever and it still not be enough.) My only regret is that I couldn’t convince Rene to sneak into my suitcase to bring home, and I even offered to leave my boyfriend in exchange…no dice…he loves what he does too much to live in cold Ohio winters. Rene, you put the good things of life into perspective, and I hope that I can remember your outlook on life always! Keep that great personality always, “Kermit!”

This entire staff is so talented, as well as dedicated to their jobs of making the guests feel like they’re at home and talented, that we actually felt sick to our stomachs to leave each and every one of them. (Although part of that stomach ache the day we left may have been from all of the alcohol we consumed.)

Hotels can be easily be rated for their rooms, and food, and while Allegro holds their own ground on this, the staff/employees here can’t be rated, as there isn’t a scale or chart that reads high enough! We’ll be back year after year from this point on, and wouldn’t consider going elsewhere…that is, unless you change your staff on us!