Amansala is in a great location on the Mexican riviera on a lovely beach. I was on a bikini boot camp programme. My bottom line is that the experience was a decent one but that Rancho la Puerta in northern Mexico is a much better deal and more professional and sensitive to needs even though it is bigger. Amansalas only advantage is its lovely beach.

The rooms vary a lot even though they are all the same price. 12a and b seem the best as they are closest to the ocean and are on the upper level.

The food is very good though they really need to provide coffee or breakfast for early risers. Most days there wasnt any coffee until 8am or so and breakfast was at 9am after a morning walk. I dont understand why they cant have a hot water urn on all the time with herbal tea bags.

The programme included yoga, circuit training, dance and morning walks plus a couple of excursions. I recommend the cenote swim which was very refreshing. You must request gel saddle covers for bike rides as seats are hard. Road to resort has been improved and is very smooth now. The guest staff were good, especially Pandu. Some of the other participants did not like the yoga teacher and one of the other trainers as they found them a bit self obsessed and not very open to tailoring things to guests. I found that at first but took the initiative to ask advice and did get sensitive responses. You do have to pay extra for one on one training.

Best masseuse by consensus was karla.

It takes 2 hours min from Cancun airport. Cost for shared taxi is at least 45 dollars each.

Take deep woods off or similar to protect from mosquitoes at dusk.

general recommendations to management if they read this (they didnt ask for feedback):

- provide hot water and herbal tea 24/7
- provide high powered bug spray in rooms for free
- dont let staff invite their friends to hang out over meals. several participants felt that it seemed as though we were paying for other people to hang out and eat our food. But it might be that noone explained that there were other guests that were on non inclusive deals but ate the same food. But in general it didnt look good to have so many staff hanging around the restuarant with their buddies and ignoring the guests
- provide a schedule for the week when people arrive and have a brochure or some sort of overview in the room that gives more info about region, programme, food and so on
- dont seem so obsessed with the rich and famous people who have/are staying there!

If you like to “vacation” at a beautiful out-of-the-way beach, stay in a chic cabin, eat healthy delicious low-carb meals and enjoy daily yoga and exercise classes then Amansala may be for you. If you participate in all the activities (hence the quotation marks around vacation) you are sure to return home in better shape and a couple of pounds lighter. So far so good!

If you are looking for a spiritual retreat, in conjunction with all of the above, then you’ll only experience as much as you bring and create yourself. For example, participants are encouraged to write in their journals on a daily basis but the time & space set aside for this exercise is not taken seriously. If management was present they’d know to segregate some space where guests could sit in silence and write. But management is nowhere to be found!

The kitchen staff was hard-working and very friendly. They earn every penny they are paid. But…they would consistently run out of coffee, as they’d only brew one or two pots – nowhere enough for the size of the group. It is hard to believe but once they were out they would not brew anymore. They would consistently run out of cereal as well. Where was management???

Lunch was consistently served at least 40 minutes late (around 1:40PM) and dinner served about 1 hour late (around 8PM). Under normal circumstances I don’t think guests would be too upset but given the amount of exercise endured we were hungry. Further, delayed lunches would interfere with the massage schedule starting at 2 PM. This would have a ripple effect and cause guests to wait around for their massages and miss afternoon classes. Not that management would be aware!

The Bikini Boot camp includes two massages. My first massage was one of the best I have ever had albeit I had to wait an extra 40 min. and miss the following Spanish language class. It was still well worth it. The second massage was positively done by someone unlicensed (may have passed a correspondence program!). It was soooo bad that my only thought was for it to be over SOON.

The Bikini Boot Camp is a great concept and Amansala has the potential to pull it off in a big way. However, management needs to be present, have their eyes open and ears to the ground, and willing to make some tweaks.

I made a reservation at Amansala while in the midst of some life changing decisions. At bit skeptical I took off by myself for a week at Bikini Boot Camp. It turned out to be just what I needed if not more. Compared to other spas it is quite reasonable and it includes 2 massages. Those were the best massages I have ever received. The food is fantastic and the mix of exercise and relaxation was just perfect. There is an endless supply of bottled water, tea and lemonade and a bar if you are really in the mood for a cocktail at days end. The beach was quiet and beautiful. I will never forget what it felt like to wake up to the sound of the ocean. And lastly, the staff was so polite and accomodating. Everyone at Amansala has the same values of making their guests happy and comfortable. It was perfect and just what I needed.

i have to respond after that last person's email! i have the most amazing time at amansala! i went for 5 days and did not want to leave - realized that the next stop cozumel (all inclusive 5 star) was a horrible choice after staying in paradise. i was there for a wedding and may tell too much, but it was such a beautiful time. my best friend since we were 10 got married at the amansala and when we arrived i was surprised at my surroundings and my vacation home, but it took tops 20 minutes to fall in love. the mother of the bride and the sister (fashion editor for cosmo and very critical (in a quality way) took 45 minutes to fall in love with the place. state this to emphasize all ages and people would love it here. the staff was awesome and so helpful and courteous. i absolutely loved matt, who the last reviewer mentioned. great spirit and tons of fun. the staff was so friendly...we got to know them all and they really loved their place of work. as for our living quarters, it was living "rustic high end". the linens were quality, view amazing, weather perfect and the food was great. i can't even complain about showers...i live on a budget, so i actually got an amazing price for a hut where me and my boyfriend would share a bathroom with another hut and any visitor. totally fine with it and had hot water...and all. the other rooms are definitely worth the totally economical price and view, plus super cool rooms. must mention the guacamole :) everyone's favorite. i found this place to be peaceful and a breath of fresh air. i think the pictures don't even do it justice on the website! i i am sure things are different for a wedding vs a spa vacation, but you have to be kidding that you would expect anything but relaxation at a place that describes as eco chic and explains about the electricity-plus when you make a reservation this is reiterated. i sympathize with the resort about the repercussions of the storm. it was my first thought and inquiry after the hurricanes (plural) that pass through. the dogs! i came back with more pictures of the cute little ones. they were there, but did not bother anyone. we had a name for the cutest one..."not-so-soft". cause he was the sweetest thing, but not so soft from the beach living. glad to hear the local dogs made it through the storms as well. in closing...most spectacular wedding and vacation i could ask for. i would love to relive the entire time. try it! it's unique and worth it! yes, bring books, magazines and if with a group maybe an ipod with speakers to hook up. the bar/dining area let us do that in the evenings and that gave it a good spin, too.