Just spent a whole week at Blue Bay Grand Esmerald. Went with two friends and had lots of fun!!! Amusement team were great and organized different activities for guests to be entertained (Uri, great guy!). Food was OK, however getting into the special restaurants was difficult as reservations were suggested to be made early morning.
Swimming pool area nice, swing bar great (Samuel bar attender the best!) and waiters were very efficient. The beach unfortunately is awful, the sea is not very clean and clear. Went to Tulum and the beach there was beautiful!
Rooms nice and sports bar although opened, was quite empty every single night. As there was only 40% occupancy (which we really appreciate for the day life not to be crowded but nightlife at the hotel was dead), we went out to Playa del Carmen every night. Coco Bongo is really worth it as a show (yo can not dance is it it really crowded) and if you want to have a blast, you should go to Pallazo and Mandala.

This resort was beautiful, extra special, and exceeded our expectations! The staff was very friendly and helpful. The resort grounds were breathtaking, situated on rescued mangrove , you were right smack dab in the middle of nature!the walks around the resort were so beautiful, and if you didn't feel like walking there were always little golf cart shuttles making their rounds. There were friendly and cute little animals wondering around (blue crabs, iguana, ramonkey ( this is the name we gave them because it looked like a cross between a monkey and a raccoon) we tried out each of the a la carte restaurants , each one was amazing! My favourites were the sushi and the Mexican themed ones. Breakfast had endless selection, buffets were delicious. The pools were awesome , very relaxing, there were beach games and pool side activities that you could participate in. I won a blue bay shirt!!! Another ice thing was that we didn't have to wear wristbands like a lot of other resorts. There is a really cool bar right on the Beach that you sit on hanging swings all around the bar, that was a lot of fun!! Just don't order a shot of tequila and a beer at the same time or else you get a drop shot and that combo will do anyone in!!!! We took an afternoon trip to Los morales ( approx 15 mins away) to do some snorkelling , this was my first time. We had a blast. We saw sharks and sea turtles, even a baby octopus!! We had also heard that in the same town, there is the most amazing ice cream shop but weren't able to make it there :( next time I guess. Final revue best resort my husband and I have been to! We highly recommend it!

We had a swim up balcony, I would enjoy that anytime I went, it was well worth the upgrade to have a private swimming area anytime 24/7. I did book an ocean front with the swim-up but never got my ocean view due to the mangroves. I fought for some money back and didn't get the full amount the upgrade cost me. Live and learn. I loved eating breakfast outside at one of a handful of tables overlooking the beach. The food was good for buffet style. We were close enough to 5th Ave to take a cab and visit a couple of times to enjoy a meal out or just shop. The sailing was wonderful and there was no problem getting a boat. (not the case many places we've been) Things were spread out but there was always a jitney available.

This truely is a beautiful resort, lots of wildlife great food however sometimes had trouble booking at some of the restaraunts.. I think they only make room for a certain number every nite as there was always empty tables. yes there is always complaints about the long walks to restaraunts and sometimes had to wait for trams. The beach isn't the prettiest but not their fault but a short walk to the left of the beach to the "Lagoon" is absolutly breathtaking . The most dissapointing thing for us was the entertainmen t[or lack of] We went to the sports bar for the eve and were very dissapointed.. no music etc for this reason I would not return. The time share people were annoying but eventually left us alone. rooms were always clean staff friendly