After reading some reviews we were a bit skeptical as to what we would find. I'd have to say we felt lucky. We arrived and were greeted by Dora at the front desk. She gave us our room and it was on the 3rd floor. A beautiful view, however my husband had back surgery and we couldn't go up and down the stairs, so she said something would come available the next morning on the 1st floor and it did. I would definitely suggest ocean view if you can. It was the most amazing sight!!! This beach has coral reef which is great for snorkeling, and a beach area with no rocks for just hanging.
************The next morning we went to the concierge for excursion tickets and rental car. They pointed us over to a glass table with a woman and man standing by the window of the entrance of the hotel. We purchased tickets to XEl-ha which is totally worth it, if not just for the food!!! . I would suggest not using them!!!! BUYER BEWARE!!! When we got to Xel-ha they gave us a hard time using the tickets, you can buy them for the same price at Xel-ha. After much waiting they finally let us in. Rental CAr NIGHTMARE!! His name is Eliasaar or something like that with Holdiay Rental cars. For $90 a day and a 1/2 he brought us a 1987 NIssan Sentra. My first impression was "this is Mexico" then as I waited for my husband in the car, there were all these large black and red ants in it. I jumped out and told my husband I cant do this, he said "this is Mexico". So off we went with my legs on the dash. We were planning to drive to Cancun which is 1 1/2 drive. We got to Playa del Carmen(PDC) which is a 1/2 hour a way and decided we can't do this. My husband was trying to drive a stickshift no less all the while slapping his body killing ants, we almost crashed!!! a few times. The car rental guy said he would have a car for us the next day at 3 and didn't show up until after 4. We finally decided to take the bus into PDC. We got our money back with the help of the wonderful hotel Director Mr. Machin? and rented a car from his friend for $50 a 2007 clean car that was automatic!!! I suggest using Budget, or well known rental companies we found in PDC for about $40.

We drove to Chichinitza and Ek Balam. All the while seeing the true Mayan heritage. If you want to go rappelling and zip lining for cheap there is a place called Ek-Onoche next to Ek Balam ruins. Ek Balam is much cooler and has great ruins to see than Chichinitza and you can walk on them.

The food is good. Entertainment is a bit raunchy wouldn't take kids to it. More of an adult hotel. Lots of Europeans, a few topless. We did meet someone who got a great deal from the US who paid $700 for her and her husbands entire trip including airfare. When she got there she got a room with broken a/c and toilet, but really didn't care considering what she had paid. So I do believe there is a correlation. Hair braiding is cheaper in PDC $10 for 1/2 a head. Woke up one morning with a massive jellyfish sting. Didn't feel it. Its massive!! The welt is about 6x4 inches. I believe from Xel-ha. Can't wait to go back again.

We stayed here for my birthday, and my boyfriend actually proposed to me here!!! we stayed in an oceanfront room and literally we opened the door and the ocean was right there, which was wonderful for lounging on the beach, snorkeling and swimming. We did 3 day trips while we were there so we were gone alot and saw many things. In retrospect we could have spent more time at he resort, but being our first trip away we went a little nuts.
Carlos at the lobby bar is wonderful. There was also a wonderful lady at the concierge, but i forget her name, but she helped us out many a time. She also organized breakfast in bed for me for my birthday! so sweet!
the snorkeling is actually pretty good outside the resort. the food gets a little repetitive, but still good. the Italian restaurant was very good, the sarape restaurant left a little to be desired.
the pools were cold and refreshing. the beds were actually comfortable, and we slept well. the air conditioning worked well. we did ask for a hammock a few times (there were some on the decks) and never received one.
I would highly recommend staying here.

This was our third trip to Riviera Maya and the third resort we have tried. We did our homework and know the area. From the minute we arrived at the resort, we knew something was wrong because there was hardly any staff working and the looks on the vacationer's faces were like they were at a wake/funeral! No one was smiling, weird!

We paid to get the beachfront room and we got it! We were a bit scared after reading some of the reviews. Later we found out why we got the room...the place just reopened the week prior to our stay and the resort was nearly empty! Most of the staff had yet to come back due to the closure. As a result, the resort seemed to have been a bit neglected which is why it was so dirty. Dirty means, cups and cigarette buts everywhere with plates of food not picked up. The room was moldy, don't look at the a/c vent!!!!!!!!!

Food: Sucked period! This resort is rated a three or four star depending on where you look online and in my opinion, it should be a two. Yes there are two restaurants requiring reservations with two seatings one at 7pm and the other at 9pm. We got stuck with the 9pm both times because the 7pm was all booked??? Interesting since each restaurant holds about 15 - 20 tables and they only seat about seven. Dinner takes a miserable 2 hours every time! There is NO A/C in the restaurants and you sweat your butt off!!!!!!!!!! It is painful and slow and the food is not good! To make matters worse, the other restaurants need no reservations, but again only seat at 7pm and 9pm, but get there at 6:30pm and you get in....only to sit for a minimum of 2 hours to eat crappy food. The service is ok. I feel sorry for them, because many people complain and it isn't their fault. DO NOT GO TO THE BUFFET AT DINNER!!!!!!!!!!! The sushi bar is ok, but there isn't enough cooks or wait staff and you will wait for your food for another 30 minutes or longer. During the day, only one bar is open and that is the sushi bar. You will wait for drinks and they aren't good. Just stick to beer. Mini bar in room is a joke: 2 beers, 2 waters, 4 sodas and the mini fridge is not cold.

Here are the positives: The beach is great and the place is for those who want less people around and want to just hang with little expectations.

Negatives: If you are expecting great food, great service and great activities don't go here. After trying to relocate to another resort with no luck, we hung by the infinity pool and read books. We drank little and ate just enough to get energy. Do yourself a favor and for the same money go to the Grand Palladium, Riviera Maya in the same area! Way better everything!

After reading some of the previous reviews we were a bit apprehensive, but all of that subsided as we settled in. Upon arrival Edgar (bellman) retrieved our three suitcases from the shuttle, placed them in the lobby for us, and then proceeded to get us the drinks of our choice. Check in was a breeze, even though it was a bit after 7pm. We received the ocean view room that we booked and it was clean , stocked, and in good condition. We had the buffet the first night for dinner and it was good. It was not Chili's or Old Country Buffet ( which are processed foods). It was good fresh roasted veggies and meats with a mexican / euro flair. The wait staff were very attentive to our needs, refilling our wine glasses and waters in a timely fashion. All of the four (5-course) al a carte restaurants were open on a staggered schedule which was fine for us. All of them were great. The wait staff ( Gilberto, Wilberto) and others were amazing. The beach bar and sushi bar were great too! Jorge's drinks and Marcella's sushi were delicious and refreshing. Thanks to Lalo, the daily activities and nightly entertainment were great, not Vegas or Broadway, but intimate and appropriate for the hotel. The beach was great for lounging, volleyball, snorkeling, and quiet nightly walks. There was adequate security and we felt safe yet free to roam. All of the staff wore unrehearsed smiles and were unselfish in their commitment to serve us. This resort had a boutique feel, and I highly recommend it.