My wife and I have just returned from this resort, we stayed in the Akumal. The grounds and facilities are 1st rate as is the accommodation. The staff are very polite and hard working. The best al a Cartes are the Italian, and the international (Arlequin). The food in the buffet areas is very good with a wide choice. The drinks are branded and the cocktails all taste great! The size of the resort is huge with different beaches, pools and entertainment to explore every day. This is probably the best all inclusive we have ever stayed in, we will definitely take a 2nd trip there! A must is a night at Coco Bongos in Playa del carmen, there's no place like it!

This Christmas my family and I are booked to stay for two weeks at the Bahia Principe Akumal. This will be our 4th visit to this extravagant resort. This year we will be accompanied by our family friends for their first visit. My husband and I are celebrating our 20th anniversary and could not think of a better location.

The resort is immaculate and the staff have always gone out of their way to welcome us and ensure our stay has been memorable. There are activities for our teenagers to keep them occupied and entertained in addition to shows that will knock your socks off. We are thrilled to make the trip back to the resort. This is our second Christmas vacation at the Bahia and if you plan to attend Christmas Eve is the "celebration" night. Food and drink as far as the eye can see. You have more options than you can imagine.

We highly recommend this resort for your next Mexican escape!

The hotel complex and grounds and rooms impeccably maintained, set essentially in the jungle on top of the lovely beaches.

The evening entertainment is sensational. Not your typical hotels ents. Don't miss the Mexican Night at the Hacienda on Thursday or the Michael Jackson tribute show in the hotel. Other nights brill too!

Service across the hotel excellent. Great coctails.
Say hello to Jose at B6 beach bar for me. Great guy!

Will definitely go back again but here a few tips for you and hotel

1. Food quality very good and variety excellent BUT some of the buffet food is sometimes luke-warm - not good esp for french fries! Hotel should reduce variety and more frequently top up fewer dishes more regularly.

2. Don't exchange money in hotel e.g. UK £ / Peso 19.6 in Tesco here, 20.25 on Playa and only 18.5 in hotel - makes a big difference when you book several tours at beginning of hols.

3. Check tour prices at cabins on hotel beach before you book with Thomson. Quite a price difference.

4. Use the Collectivo mini buses at doorstep of hotel. Cost to Playa (40 km away) 35 pesos pp one way a taxi 340 one way. Don't listen to nonsense about traveling in old wrecks with chickens - these are modern airconned buses, most locals traveling work in the hotels along the way. Playa is about 40 mins away and Tulum ruins about 20 mins.

5. If you want a great personalised tour check out Local Quickies - we had a great day with them - check the Tripadvisor reviews on them - i just wrote mine.

6. Playa shopping is a real experience - and I hate shopping!

Went with Thompson for 14 day break. Stayed at Grand Bahia Principe Akumal, place is spotless, grass looks like it is cut with nail scissors. Staff where very friendly, used safe in room but got impression this was not required as the crime rate in the area was virtually zero. Only problem pool water was very cold due to time of year (November) but sea was warm still.
Thompson’s have a box in the lobby where people returning can leave books, magazines, beach toys, shampoo, sun cream etc., excellent idea, saved having to buy. We left a load when we left.
Very large complex several pools, restaurants etc. Specialty meals in evening very pleasant ranging from Mediterranean , Brazilian, Mexican etc.
Restaurants ok, food ok, drinks service a bit slow at times as staff where more occupied clearing tables.
Very amusing watching the American’s attitude, with large plates of food of which most was always left, expecting staff to jump to finger clicking, on one meal chap on the next table, to us told an American to stop clicking his fingers at the staff as they are not slaves, the American went crazy, but did stop clicking his fingers and left a large tip as an apology.
Room was ok; large bed, Jacuzzi bath, broke first day was fixed next morning. Alarm clock on bedside table every time we set it to the correct time the cleaner reset it, frustrating till I found out the plug socket was lose, so moved to be by television, was actually easier to see as the beds are that large the bedside tables are a long way off !!!
Beach very clean, staff continually raking sand, picking up stones, seaweed etc. Beach bar excellent the barman never stopped all day.
Internet in lobby worked well; where able to use FaceTime on iPod to connect back home to son’s iPad so zero phone charges incurred, left phone switched off.