Akumal hotels

Pros: Really wanted to like but...On first day, requested quiet room but was put near large construction site. Was told that it would be quiet because it was holiday week and not construction would occur. Jackhammers started and 7 a.m. and continued until 7:30 at night. Called to ask why they told me that information, and they didn't have an answer but said the hotel was full and I would have to wait the next day. I called the next day and got the same answer. On the THIRD day, I went to the front desk and told them that I was told I could be moved that day. The front desk said no because others were being moved first. The front desk had no record of these phone calls. I felt lied to and manipulated. They also moved be finally to a room where the fan rattled continuously even when turned off. Hard to sleep.

Pros: This all inclusive Wellness retreat is the real deal! Yoga and meditation classes included all day long!!!

Cons: Everyone and everything was fantastic

Pros: The resort is a wonderful size. The staff are fabulous. The food is flavourful. The location is superb. The jacuzzi tub on the patio is a great idea. Every room faces a beautiful ocean view. The snorkelling and swimming were beyond our expectations. Who knew sushi on the pool deck would be such a great idea? Very firm but soft mattresses.

Cons: We were not warned that construction was ongoing and we could not sleep later than 7:00 due to the noise. The room patio only has one chair and we asked for two but none was forthcoming. We were locked out of our room due to a malfunctioning electronic lock and it took well over one hour to have the boss return to the hotel and open our door. Smoking is allowed on room patios and as non smokers we did NOT enjoy our neighbours nasty habit. Double beds instead of queen size made it difficult for my 6'3" hubby to get comfortable - they should find some way to put the two beds together.

Pros: Snorkeling. Staff. Activities. Restaurants. Penthouse suite! Overall, it was a good stay for the price but we probably won't return in the near future.

Cons: Seaweed was definitely an issue for about 4 of our 8 days. Staff work all day to clean but it's still bad from morning to 1ish. Hotel is a little older but well maintained.

Pros: Traveled in June for 8 nights. Wonderful staff, very friendly. Only had a little bit of trouble finding space at the beach or by the pools - but we did hear the hotel was at capacity. No problems with our room, which was on the bottom floor of building 2, but heard about flooding in other rooms during the storm that hit. It was worth it not to have any room issues, but our room was super close to the snack bar and main pool, so not a great view. Was nice to walk easily out of our patio door and to the pool or bar though. Loved the yoga instructor for vinyasa yoga - wish I remembered his name - he was a really terrific instructor and the location/view was out of this world. For an hour a day you could rent free snorkeling gear from the hotel, but I recommend bringing your own so you can be out in the water with the sea turtles for hours. Lots of tour groups, so the best time to go is early in the morning, but we went out many afternoon and still saw plenty of turtles, rays, and fish, without being crowded. The food at the a la carte restaurants was great - our favorites were the Mexican and the Gourmet (just skip the chicken at the gourmet). Restaurants were all small though, so we heard there were frequently long waits to eat dinner at any of them (though we usually went at the beginning of service ~ 6 or 630pm and were seated immediately). The made to order eggs for breakfast and pasta for lunch and dinner at the buffet were excellent. The sushi bar was so so and very slow service. I think I got very sick from eating a mushroom at the Japanese/Peruvian restaurant (it was just about the only thing I ate that my boyfriend did not eat that day). The room service was included with all-inclusive 24/7 and usually very good (though it varied from day to day with regards to quality, quantity, and even ingredients for the same menu item).

Pros: We loved the snorkeling, saw lots of fish and turtles everyday. Although sparce, the rooms were very comfortable, the jacuzzi is a nice idea but we never used it. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful.

Cons: Overall the food was OK, some we liked some we didn't. We ate most of the time at the buffet because of the variety. We did not like the sushi restaurant of the asian fusion. The brazilian restaurant was pretty good once we learned to ask for rare and medium rare pieces, otherwise the meat was so overcooked it was like leather. Our biggest disappointment was the lack of Mexican food, there was chips and guacamole but would have liked more variety of local foods.

Pros: The staff were all phenomenal. Abraham (waiter by pool) had everyone's drink full and was so friendly! He knew your drink orders after the first day and made awesome drink suggestions. Rene, Halmet, Jonas, Laura, Felix, and Miguel all were amazing on the entertainment team. Playing volleyball and the afternoon games by the pool had to be one of our highlights of the trip. They organized some amazing shows at the entertainment theater at night as well.

Cons: There are a lot of mosquitos in this area. We had to cover ourselves in big spray every night and still would manage to get bitten. The resort would spray a heavy fog every morning and evening to help keep the mosquitos away. The spray was not pleasant and left a lingering fog in the air for 20 minutes or so that we had to breathe.

Pros: We loved the professional, prompt, and joyful staff. They are what make a great and pleasant stay. Everything was always clean and organized. They have staff on location around the spot always keeping everything perfect.

Cons: Didn’t get to stay long enough! We will be back for sure.

Pros: The resort was great for relaxing and unwinding! My wife and I traveled with another couple. Rave reviews all around. Resort is not massive as many resorts in the area are that they require transportation to even get to dinner or go to the beach. Everything was within short walking distance. The beach though public was amazing primarily because of the ability to snorkel with turtles just a few yards off shore. There are also little clumps of reef you can see exotic fish at. You do get groups or snorkel tours but it does not affect the beach or the enjoyment. The resort is very peaceful. Even the activities pool always has soft island music and not any thumping boom boom music. There are 3 total pools and the serene one is like a peaceful oasis of silence. Service was great. Couple of bars right by main pool one being a swim-up. Basic food service also available right at the pool. And 2 restaurants about 50 feet away from main pool. Excellent entertainment team (Felix, Karen, Jonas, Hamlet, Guadalupe and Laura to name a few) with a good amount of activities ranging from water polo, beach volleyball, pool basketball and volleyball, etc. Beach is just a few steps away from main pool. Enjoyed the fact you dont need bracelets or room key exchanges to get towels. You grab or ask for all the towels you need. Simple as that. Drinks were great which included good liquors such as Johnny Walker Black, 1800 Anejo Tequila, Bacardi, Herradura, Flor De Cana, and more. Restaurants were also top notch. There's Japanese, Italian, Mexican, French, Steakhouse and a seafood. Note there is no dinner buffet. Only breakfast and lunch. Kinda missed a dinner buffet for when we got the munchies. But all the restaurant food was for the most part top notch. Steaks, seafood, pasta, etc. all done very well. Desserts were hit or miss though. So we each just ordered 2 of what kind of looked good and you'd at least get one you liked. They are very small too. Evening shows were great too. Resort is close to Xel-Ha and Tulum ruins which we visited. They were great! Playa del Carmen is a $30 taxi ride each way if you want to visit. Would definitely stay here again!

Cons: We agreed to go to the time-share presentation for $100 credit. DONT DO IT!!! Its high pressure and the last salesperson got nasty. Really left a bad taste in our mouth. Not worth the credit nor the supposed 2 free nights at another resort. Wish there was an evening buffet when you just dont feel like doing the dinner restaurant thing or youre tired or not feeling well.

Pros: The resort layout and grounds was beautiful, the service was impeccable, the spa is wonderful.

Cons: The room could have been cleaner and it was difficult to get in the restaurants for dinner.

Pros: There was a lot of seaweed in the water in the area when we went, and the resort did a great job of cleaning it up. The pool and beach were great.

Cons: Front desk was terrible. We waited 2 hrs at check-in to get a room with 2 beds as per our reservation. Upon leaving, our safe stopped working and it took them over an hour to send someone who did not fix it and then another hour for 2 men to show up and fix it. The water in the mini fridge tasted like tap water and gave us stomachaches. And the restaurants were all terrible.

Pros: Once you got to the room it was nice and beds were comfortable. Spa and gym very good

Cons: Towel cards used and so people who lost their towels would steal yours, stressful to worry about stolen towels, sprawling, long walk to beach and pool from just about every room so I wouldn't consider it beachfront, every room is a garden view room, no elevators, restaurant reservation systems hard to figure out and again stressful. They don't realize that stress free is what vacations are all about. Food very average. I would expect these problems at a 3 or 4 star hotel but they claim to be 5 out of 6

Pros: I would like to give thanks and dues to Mexican hard working people in resort who work hard to make us comfortable. Yes, I'm paying them but not everything has to be about money. Rooms are clean, services are acceptable and food is good. No opinion about alcohol since I don't care about. Resort is large and it's a good place to go for a long walk. Now about "Luxury" what makes this resort "Luxury" is proximity to the ocean and beach. There are same units in the resort but they are no different then the "Luxury" units the only difference is distance to the God made luxury ocean an beach. Would I go again? Yes, only if the smoking situation is improved.

Cons: The biggest issue I have with resort is the smoking policies and lack of enforcement. There should be segregation between two groups. I'm not going to lecture here anyone about harmfulness of 2nd hand smoke. I came to enjoy fresh air and not the smell of tobacco. Another place is where smoke is an issue is transportation cars where people just sit and puff smoke in your face. In my opinion lack of rules and enforcement on smokers tells me that the only thing that resort cares is money. This is my biggest turn off with the resort and if I had to book again I would look to resorts that have enforcement non smoking rules.

Pros: We met Jose at the Iguana bar. He manages his bar amazingly. He made certain that everyone enjoyed their visit. A professional bartender that excels at what he does. We hope to find Jose again during our next visit.

Pros: Being all inclusive and having water park for the kids and various activities for adults.

Cons: With my reservation there was a confusion with total number of guests. We were total 3 rooms and on one kids were missing on the reservation on hotel's system and I had to be on the phone with my travel agent (getaroom) but I ended up paying $55 extra for my kids. I was going to loose my flight so I didn't have orher choice that paying and getting out from there. Hotel should have handled it better....

Pros: The grounds, the restaurants look nice. Some of the food is of OK quality, there are usually many choices at the main buffet. Some of the staff works hard and they try to serve you well. Many however are just overwhelmed.

Cons: This is the perfect example of the resort that could be nice and yet it is ruined by management and their policies. Again: this is not a kids and family friendly resort. Don’t let yourself fooled by the waterpark and other things. -First off, the waterpark has zero food, zero drinks and zero snack facilities around it. You have to walk 10 minutes in the heat in order to get a fresh drink for your kids. -There are no chairs to be found in the shade like ever, unless you wake up early and drop your towels on a few chairs. The shade by the greenery does come with tiger mosquitoes, which bite like crazy all day long (google them if you are not familiar with this bug). -there are some nicer, smaller pools, with a bar in proximity, however the depth of the water is to great there fir small kids, so in effect they are mostly fir adults. -the main buffet closes at 10:30 and until 12-12:30 there is no decent food to be found anywhere on the resort. I’ve been sent away when I arrived at 10:35, with a backpack and with my 2-year-old holding hand. She said to go to “casita”, which is a buffet more than 10 minutes away in horrendous heat and with no food that my kids will eat (they had burgers, hotdogs, ribs, cookies and soft serve ice cream... that’s about it). -the service in the main buffet is often just inexistent. They are overwhelmed and they don’t care. One day our waiter literally refused to bring drinks and my kids kept asking for water. My wife went straight to the bar and they refused to give water, saying that the policy is for the waiter to serve. She has eventually been directed to the hall manager (Jonathan) who came and gave us water. -the staff in general will make no accomodations... as per policy. Asked for cereals at “Casita” (the only 24 hrs buffet)... can’t be done. Asked to take food away for my kids... can’t be done. Even at the a la carte restaurant they refused initially to bring both fruits and ice cream for my kids, they said we have to pick one. -the room on the ground floor had such a strong mold stench that we couldn’t take it and requested to move -the beach was fool of seaweed the entire week, which may not byme the hotel’s fault but it just adds to the insult.

Pros: The property and grounds are really beautiful, very well maintained. The pool are pretty great and the bar staff are wonderful. The kids pool too is a nice feature. The Brazilian restaurant is really nice.

Cons: So the rooms and the service really let this place down. We requested a crib on arrival, twice in fact. They said if there is one available, they will have it in our room. On check in we where told the same thing, so obviously they didnt bother trying to arrange one before we checked in, one was provided for us the next morning. When it arrived it had no mattress, 2 folded up blankets deemed to be good enough. Also it was so small our 18 month old could climb out, rendering it useless. The rooms are dated, old fixtures and fittings. Our refrigerator was broken, the one they replaced it with lasted a day before it leaked and broke, I asked for a replacement (second last day), they never bothered. Air con was also not working, the had to replace the motor. Lamp shades had mold on all 3 of them. Reservations for the restaurants are a nightmare, we had to queue for an hour after checking in to book (recommended on tripadvisor). This hotel needs an IT upgrade stat, everything is so disconnected. Honestly, how hard is it to provide a system for guests to book restaurants themselves? Last thing you want to do after a long days travelling is queue to book a restaurant. Our first night at the buffet there was a downpour, lucky us sat under one of the spots in the roof that leaks pretty badly. Buffet food is hit and miss, somethings are nice (deserts, soups), somethings are not so nice (beef, pork, chinese dishes).