My daughter and I stayed at the Allegro from Nov 10/06 until Nov 17/06. Had a fantastic time, great variety of food and drinks. Our favourite drinks were the Dirty Monkey and the ChiChi, both yummy! Also enjoyed the 2 specialty restaurants, the Italian and the Mexican. Staff were friendly and went out of their way to help however they could. Alejandro was one of our favourite waiters. Our room was kept clean and every day Prisila surprised us with her talent for making animals from the towels. The beach is beautiful, never had a problem getting a shaded area or beach lounges. If you want to snorkel you can go out from the beach where some of the sailboats dock and see a nice variety of tropical fish. Looking forward to returning to this island paradise, but next visit will be for 2 weeks.

When I read these reviews I hope to find places where I want to spend my money, and if I've already booked a trip, what can I learn to improve my stay. If either of these reasons peak your interest, read on!
My friends and I just returned from staying at the Allegro from 4-11 of November. One of my friends is a time share holder so all of us got the advantage of the premium treatment. Check-in took ten minutes from arrival to bags at our rooms. Access to the premium lounge with food and premium liquors. Bartenders from early AM through 10:30 at night. If you can upgrade to the premium level, it is well worth it.
Rooms - I had a king suite which by most standards was small, but certainly adequate. If you wish to keep the humidity in your room to an acceptable level you'll have to turn down the thermostat a bit and keep the fan on high. Hot water was a problem but all I did was ask (not demand) about getting hot water and the manager saw the system was purged and 20 minutes later I had steaming hot water. Early AM and late afternoons the water was always hot.
Bugs - I read complaints about the bugs, but look where you are located. Can you expect the area to be bug free? I took bug spray and after being eaten alive the first night used the spray liberally. The "no see ums" seemed to find me whether I was sitting around the pool at night or taking a long walk up the beach during the day. Mosquitos seem to live in the lush grass and in spite of regular spraying by the resort, can leave your legs a mass of welts. I also folded a towel and placed it along the gap at the bottom of my room door which did a great job on keeping out the crawling critters. I saw a water beetle that was at least 3 1/2 inches long, and I definitely did not want a visit from him!
Food - not gourmet but every meal had something that I liked. Service can be a little slow, but remember you are on Mexican time. The theme restaurants (where reservations were needed) were fun and the staff always went out of there way to make the guests feel special. If you get a chance to get the flaming coffee at your table, it is an excellent photo opportunity. Those folks that complained about the possible food poisoning should consider the change of diet, some spicy foods, and possible increased intake of alcohol as suspects. I don't eat food that has been sitting out for any period of time here in the U.S., so why even take a chance?
Tipping - I found out that most housekeepers work approximately ten hours a day and make a wage of $5.00 per day. Other wait staff and some bartenders make $10.00 a day. I personally observed some extremely rude and demanding guests, interacting with some very gracious staff. When man I spoke with said he had no intention of tipping, as that was the reason he came to an all0-inclusive. I don't care how low the cost of living in the country might be, tipping, even of modest amounts should be the norm at the resort. Take a bunch of $1.00 bills as you may have a problem getting change once at the resort.
Diving - I was not a diver when I went to the resort. However, day after day I watched the scuba introduction in the main pool. Finally, on Friday I took the plunge. In forty minutes of very patient and thorough instruction in the pool I was hooked and ready for a shore dive. Advice, take the instruction early in your stay, you might make the rest of your stay much more enjoyable.
Entertainment - the shows, while not broadway, were entertaining and worth the time. Make sure you spray liberally because the bugs seem to know that a feast awaits every night at 9:30 or so. If you want to meet and thank the performers they often go into the Sport' s Bar right after the performance. The day staff will try to get you involved with activities but they aren't overbearing about it. The volleyball isn't restricted to a bunch of former jocks who must win at any cost, and the staff works hard to make the games fun. The jocks came out for water polo, so be prepared for that game to be more competitive.
If you are looking for a wild singles resort, this place is not Hedonism by any stretch. There were some children there during our stay, but they were never an issue with the adults. Drinking adults with drinking behavior could be a bad mix, but during my stay I saw no problem.
My benchmark is always, would I go back again.....yes I would. I think you get a great deal for a fair price. The resort is starting to show it's age, and is still recovering from some hurricane damage. I can elect to spend my money anywhere, and I would spend it again at the Allegro. It isn't perfect, but it is worth the trip.

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!

October 27, 2006. As returning guests, we were looking forward to great weather, great diving, and a relaxed atomosphere, but we sure weren't prepared for everything else!

As I write this, I am still scratching the 30-plus bed bug bites I got over the six nights we were there!

Immediately upon registration, we were acosted by the "concierge" who in reality is a salesperson for the timeshare property next door. Billed as a "free breakfast and an hour and a half presentation for a bottle of booze and a chance at a raffle prize", it was actually four hours out of our vacation. Be Very Carefull if you get sucked into this- the people we met who were staying next door claim that the operation is much different from what is presented.

We ran into some problems with our vacation package and it proved to be very difficult to resolve the issue in a quick, timely manner. No one there wanted to accept any responsibility - they wanted us to wait until we got home and deal with our travel agent. Through persistence though we finally reached an agreeable solution.

Be aware that this is a family resort - that means with infants who may cry during the night! With very thin doors separating the rooms, and single pane windows, we could hear things we would have preferred not to - including publically broadcast "mood music" from 6:30 a.m. until midnight - daily! Did I mention air conditioning system motors loudly humming twenty four hours a day?

The bars and resaurants are adequate,although suspect - my bout with e-coli bacteria was finally cured by the resident physician. Interesting that the resort had the foresight to have a medic on the premises! The good news here is that I was able to achieve my New Years Resolution of losing some weight!

In general, the property is well kept and the staff is friendly. The dive operation was entirely first class and professional. However, it will be a long time before we return, and we will not be recommending the Allegro, or any of its affiliates to our Friends!