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    Grand Palladium Colonial

    2.0 (38 reviews)

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    Lobby Pool
    Carolyn C.

    It has been THREE years since I have been able to go on vacation OUTSIDE the USA. In addition, it has been THIRTY-SEVEN years for my boyfriend. Therefore, our expectations were high. I booked the trip via Southwest Airlines a month before our travel date. Easiest booking experience and was able to include roundtrip airport transportation through Amstar. Southwest Airlines and Amstar were incredibly easy to work with and I would use them over and over again and again. Grand Palladium Colonial Resort and Spa is apart of a FOUR resort connection. This includes Colonial Resort and Spa (no rooms with children in the building), White Sand Resort and Spa, TRS Yucatan Hotel and Kantenah Resort and Spa. You can view the resorts here at this link: https://www.palladiumhotelgroup.com/en/offers/all-inclusive-beach-vacations?gclid=Cj0KCQjw3JanBhCPARIsAJpXTx5hT5OnZoOeb665tHZTZCpy-6_obXvQkYT6-cgysMXCfM-FZZDBj_gaAiB8EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds I selected Colonial due to wanting an adult-only building. We were not displeased with our room (Villa 6). However, they could use some updated furniture and some fresh paint to freshen the decor up. The linens were a bit rough, but they have extra pillows and blankets for you to pick from in the closet. The beach was roped off three ways: 1) roped off from the open sea via a small knit net that limited sea creatures other than small fish to enter; 2) the righthand side was for paddleboarding, kayaking, rowing and foot pedaling boats; and 3) was for swimming. The water was clear and did not have seaweed at this time (August 17--22) nor did it smell. The beach is open 24 hours a day, however, there are limited times for lifeguards and usage of the boat/activities, but you are free to sit, walk, run, workout and/or swim whenever you want. The beach also has a "outdoor" gym where one can lift wooden weights--SO cool! I was very pleased with the beach area--cleared out, leveled and tons of seating options and areas. It was never fully filled with people due to how much space they had available (they are also updating their beachfront). There are so many pools! Two "secret" pools with personal bartenders in a secluded area that does not allow anyone under 18 to enter. There are two massive pools with a swim-up bar feature and seated in-pool chairs to lounge in. These two pools also have great depth--the one close to the beach and main lobby is for swimming/jumping since it is SO deep one has to really swim to the bar, walking isn't an option, hahaa. There is a nicely sized kids pool area too with waterslides and various activities. The restaurants are buffet styled heavy which is something that normally doesn't bother me, however, the pescatarian options were slim since most were mixed with meat. Once we found out how to work the reservation system, we made all our reservations and were able to try out: 1) El Dorado which is a Mexican steakhouse (there was only one seafood option on the menu so I was forced to go with the BBQ salmon); 2) La Adelita which is traditional Mexican food and had much more options for pescatarians; 3) Sumptuori is a Japanese showhouse similar to Benihana but high scale--this was the most updated restaurant we tried. It was beautiful inside and out, the service was impeccable, and the food was the tastiest out of all the restaurants we tried; 4) Portofino is an Italian restaurant which was quite boring inside, and the food are dishes that one can make at home--not very special; 5) La Dalia is a buffet breakfast and lunch spot which was also updated incredibly well. The aesthetic is on-point and the food selection was the best; 6) La Hacienda is the second-best buffet option; 7) El Gran Azul is another buffet style for breakfast and lunch. This restaurant was a bit off-putting due to the unorganized behavior or staff and patrons--dips were mixed, food was contaminated and I even saw people walk away with the tongs to self-serve elsewhere, so if someone has an allergy, I would NOT recommend going to the buffets; and the last one we tried was 8) Xtra Time Sports Bar which had good bar food and a great coffee machine that we stopped at numerous times. The spa was well worth the day pass, however, before booking, please call the spa directly and ask which spa features are NOT working. In our opinion, they should not charge the full amount if they have a few features closed (neck swan swim and the hot coal tent was closed but they did not have signs or made you aware beforehand). The spa has a sauna, steam room, multiple showers, hot tub, and cold dip tub. There was also a massage area which one has to make appointments for, a health cafe which serves wraps and premade juices, female and male locker rooms which had epic outside showers (LOVED IT), a hammock namaste yard, giant "quiet/no kids pool" and a tubeless "lazy river" which we adored. The lazy river actually attached to the steam room and sauna area--great idea, made the entire spa easily accessible!

    Always lovely to be able to see the toilet scrubber in full view. :p
    Heather H.

    I'll be upfront and admit that I've never stayed at a resort before. I clearly had different expectations because this group of hotels is crap. Do not be fooled by the fancy lobby or shops nearby. I kid you not! It's a full front of them putting lipstick on a pig. I've stayed in some very ultra high end hotels so I know the broad difference of what to expect and this resort fails in nearly everything. Let's go from the start here. Once you made it to the correct shuttle to take you from the lobby to your room er' "villa" as they call it, you're taken to what appears to look like a Spanish style apartment building. No elevators just stairs. Our room was in villa 8. Right from the start you smell mildew and dampness and airing out the room doesn't do any good either because you're letting in more humid heat. Right from the start we saw literal pools of water under both our beds. That went on for a few hours and then finally dried up. Gross to think what it may look like underneath. The bathroom is a complete joke. Old. Dated fixture with the worst lighting I've ever seen. The tub/shower had not been scrubbed. The beds are cheap and bounce quite a bit. The worst is the thin blankets. They offer no spare blankets. It's basically two thin sheets. Mercifully the only pro here was that it was quiet. I would recommend skipping the buffets if you can. Wasn't impressed but wasn't the worst I've seen either. I really felt that the quality of the food was subpar. Here's the real kicker. We had several other friend stay here at the same time (wedding) only to find out they had the same experience of a dirty, aged, room. All of them upgraded to the White sands or got a better room in the Colonial. It pays to complain and also haggle! There are better room here but I still would never come here again just due to the overall quality. Spend your hard earned money elsewhere! Strongly encouraged!!!

    David B.

    Disclaimer: The vacation itself was much needed and very enjoyable with beloved friends and family. This is a review based on overall cost versus benefit. But, Prepare yourself for a tale of woe and missed opportunities at the Grand Palladium Colonial Resort in the Mayan Riviera. Our vacation, or should I say, a crash course in Murphy's Law, left us pondering the mysteries of life and contemplating the irony of it all. Housekeeping seemed to be on their own leisurely vacation, making snails look like Usain Bolt in comparison. The carriages, well, they had a mind of their own, playing hide-and-seek with us just when we needed them most. And the ice machines? Oh, how they decided to join the rebellion and remain dormant in a five-building radius. We were left iceless, sipping lukewarm drinks like brave warriors facing the ultimate challenge. On one memorable evening, the air conditioning decided to partake in a little game called "Guess the Temperature." Spoiler alert: we didn't win. But fear not, bugs of all shapes and sizes flocked to our sides, serenading us with their annoying buzz and leaving behind bite-sized souvenirs. Our private beach, well, let's just say it became the hottest spot for coatimundi enthusiasts. Move aside, sunbathers, these furry daredevils stole the show and our snacks, turning beach time into a real-life circus. Nonmembers saw the "exclusive" beach as their personal playground, bringing along their wares and transforming it into a vibrant marketplace. We felt like spectators in a delightful game of bargaining and haggling with locals, panhandlers, and vendors breaching the beach barricades. The cherry on top? The overwhelming scent of methane gas from the mangrove swamp run-off. It was nature's way of saying, "Welcome to the tropics, where even the air has character!" Unfortunately, our dreams of a beachfront paradise were washed away like sandcastles at high tide. The private member beach fell short of delivering the idyllic experience we had envisioned. Murky sea water and an abundance of seaweed added an unexpected touch of rustic charm. Safety concerns arose as panhandlers and street vendors weaved their way through the beach crowd, as if playing an impromptu game of "Let's Make a Deal." Just when we thought we could unwind, hotel staff emerged like eager salespeople, eager to upsell massage packages. Our muscles may have been tense, but our patience was tested to the limits. Construction added to our discontent, as we realized that the promised amenities were still a work in progress. The kids' activities left our little ones feeling like they had stumbled upon a sad clown convention. And let's not forget the mystical phenomenon of watered-down drinks, where a Tequila Sunrise (or 13) had the strength of KoolAid-sans-sugar. Amidst this whirlwind of misadventures, the 3rd party excursions (Chichen Itza & Underground Rivers) provided glimpses of joy with their humorous and congenial hosts. Yet, these fleeting moments couldn't fully compensate for the overall disappointment of being thrown into a tourist trap and left for dead by your guide in the name of "supporting local economy" (Over $300 USD that was supposed to be charged MX for well-tequila). So, dear travelers, pack your sense of resilience and be prepared to embrace the unpredictable at the Grand Palladium Colonial Resort. It's a place where expectations take a vacation and the unexpected becomes the norm. Consider it an unconventional comedy of errors, with a punchline that may leave you longing for greener pastures. Luckily, there are many options for Travel Clubs. Hopefully they will up their game and start taking competing in this market seriously.

    Trinity C.

    If there was a negative start I would give this "resort" that rating. The service or lack their was is horrible. If asked a question by staff including Ameristar staff I was met with hostility and anger. No one ever had a definitive answer on general questions such as what time will the shuttle arrive!? The staff rarely provided accurate information unless it involved obtaining a TIP. When I took my covid test a TIP was suggested. Which was one of the reasons I opted to stay there for on-site testing. In addition to that the bathrooms are filthy including in the rooms and public. They reek of urine. The bathrooms in the lobby have bugs and are not clean either! Additionally to that there is a charge for cleaning which is ridiculous. Now let's get to the lodging! It is dated old and moldy my headboard was unattached to my mattress. The marble floors are crumbling actually all tile work at the resort including at the pool are falling apart. My roof leaked near my balcony causing rain inside the room. I did try to complain about all of these items and was told by the staff Sorry that's it! The ameristar representative had the gall to tell me to shut up! I was shocked and appalled. The food was subpar at best but the very worst this is at the pool side buffet animals are allowed to crawl around which is disgusting and quite scary. I wasn't sure if I'd be bitten or what diseases the critters carry. Also I was charged for room service that I did not request. Unfortunately the airport shuttle arrived so I didn't have time to explain those weren't my c Needless to say I will not be back and demand a full refund! Going on a vacation is an elective choice that should be treated as such! Treating guests like inmates is unacceptable!!!!

    Nephew ...hubby and me

    I was at Grand Palladium TRS Hotel and totally love it!! Hands down perfect ..check in was super easy and quick ..very friendly staff ..within 15 mins we were in our suite !! Our suite was beautiful and comfortable....the pool area near my room was divine ...we ate a bay fret breakfast everyday and it was delish....had many options ....we also dined at HELIOs and it was fantastic !! Yes totally recommend this resort and all inclusive abs all adults also !!! Great value beautiful views .....

    Part of one of the main pools
    Pete M.

    After many, many years, we were finally able to return to this resort in the Riviera Maya, in Mexico. While the place has expanded, adding another 2 resorts to the property, it still feels much like the same place from all those years. What makes this resort so successful for me, is the way they combine grandeur and rustic all in one. The lobbies and rooms are done up in lots of beautiful, shiny marble, with elegant ponds and water features, and yet the lobby is topped with a thatched roof and paths, through the jungle to the villas are wooden, and also topped with the same thatched roofs. The resort, sits on about 3/4 of a mile of beautiful beach. Beware though as this whole area has grown up on top of ancient coral reefs so while there is plenty of beautiful, white sand there is are also lots of rocky places both in the water and on the beach. If the beach isn't your thing then there are 2 gigantic pools on property, both with swim up bars, and when I say gigantic, there isn't much that can prepare you for how big these pools are. On top of that there are numerous other, smaller pools throughout the property. Drinks are decent for an all inclusive, but who really cares what tequila and rum they are pouring when you spend most of the day drinking frozen drinks and flavored mojitos. The one thing that keeps this place from being "5 stars" for me is the food quality, which can be very hit or miss. My favorite meal is are the breakfast buffets which are great and offer up tons of options, ranging from standard breakfast fare to Mexican specialties, to lots of fresh fruits and freshly squeezed juices. Lunch buffets are also quite good, but can start to feel the same as only small portions of each buffet change on a daily basis. Where the biggest swing is, are in the nightly a la carte restaurants which range from pretty good to down right awful. Two standouts are the Japanese Teppanyaki tables and the Brazilian steakhouse. While I do wish the food was a bit better, it doesn't stop me from loving this resort. In fact, not days after returning from our most recent trip we already booked another week here.

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    Angel at Gran Azul is the best. He does a very good job. Wonderful resort and would come back soon.

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    Very bad service what we booked online it's nothing like the room we saw it I don't recommend to come here

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    Grand Palladium Colonial Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Grand Palladium Colonial

    We ate at Sumptuori which was fantastic!

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    Grand Palladium White Sand - Love Street

    Grand Palladium White Sand

    2.2(47 reviews)
    0.5 km

    We stayed at Grand Palladium White Sand for a week (for a wedding), and it was mostly good! The…read morecheck-in process was simple, and I really liked that the wristbands were also the room keys. Between all the connecting resorts, the property was massive, and a little tricky to navigate at first. Luckily, it was pretty easy getting a golf cart to your destination, if you didn't feel like walking. We spent a lot of time at the White Sands and Colonial pools, which both had swim-up bars. The beach was also nice, although there was some seaweed, and parts were restricted due to the presence of lionfish. Our room was very spacious, and I loved the rain shower head. There was also a separate bathtub/jacuzzi, but we never got around to using that. The bed was comfortable and having a little balcony was nice. We did wake up to a leak in our ceiling one morning, but they impressively quick about getting that fixed. The food situation was hit and miss. The buffets had a huge selection, but the quality of the food really varied. They were also open/closed at odd times, and it was strangely difficult to find food at some points in the day. The Xtra Time Sports Bar was open 24 hours a day, but the food there was actually just bad. We managed to make dinner reservations for most nights, although many of the restaurants booked up very quickly. We tried Poseidon, Bahia e Brasa, Portofino, and La Paisana. Sumptori was apparently the most popular restaurant, but we ended up missing that reservation. Poseidon was nice because it was on the beach, but none of the food was all that great. My favorite of the restaurants was probably Portofino, but the pastas were a lot better than the pizzas. The best thing about the food was the availability of fresh fruit and other healthy options. The resort also had a nice gym and spa area. I got my hair done for the wedding, but I can't say I recommend this service. First off, my blowout cost $115 USD, which was insane. Once the stylist had washed and blow dried my hair, she said that curling/styling wasn't included in the price of a blowout, only a straight dry. She ended up hastily curling my hair as a favor, but it really wasn't the best. The wildlife on the resort property was one of the highlights of our stay! There were so many iguanas, coati, raccoons, agouti, etc. wandering around. I did get bitten by an iguana (my own fault entirely), and the staff was amazing about providing first aid. The medical services office was also fantastic and had a great doctor on staff. Overall, the wedding was beautiful and we enjoyed our experience at Grand Palladium White Sand.

    Our stay at this all-inclusive resort was extremely disappointing from the start.Check-in took an…read moreunreasonably long time. The receptionist appeared to be in training and had no support. She repeatedly left the desk to ask coworkers questions and even forgot to activate our bracelets for room access. After finally getting to our room, we had to return to the front desk to have the bracelets activated. Transportation around the resort was frustrating. Golf carts refused to give us rides when we asked, despite carts being available. Instead, we were told to wait for other rides to come. Dinner reservations were another major issue. Guests are required to wake up early and be at the desk before 8 a.m. to make reservations for the following day. Same-day reservations are not allowed. If you don't show up at exactly 8 a.m., you're told everything is fully booked--yet the restaurants were consistently about 80% empty. To make things worse, one beachfront restaurant was completely closed. Large areas of the resort were off-limits, which made the experience feel far from "all-inclusive." The resort advertises access and amenities that are actually very restricted once you arrive. The beach was very rocky and not swimmable. A lifeguard told us to move to an area with flags, only for that area to be off-limits to guests staying at White Sands. It made no sense to direct us somewhere we weren't allowed to be. Even basic purchases were frustrating. At the gift shop, they wouldn't accept USD due to lack of change, then took Mexican pesos but still claimed they had no change. We ended up leaving the change just to complete the purchase. A shop operating without change is unacceptable. Overall, staff throughout the resort came across as rude and unhelpful. For the price and expectations of an all-inclusive experience, this resort fell far short. We will continue staying at Hilton resorts instead. Not sure why we even bothered with this one, and we do not recommend it.

    Photos
    Grand Palladium White Sand - Iguana

    Iguana

    Grand Palladium White Sand - Grand Palladium - White Sands Resort & Spa (Room condition)

    Grand Palladium - White Sands Resort & Spa (Room condition)

    Grand Palladium White Sand - Beach

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    Beach

    Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya - Massage room

    Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya

    4.1(188 reviews)
    6.0 km
    $$$

    This was my second experience at an all inclusive resort. This is an adult only resort, so no loud…read morekids running around or anything like that. We were here for 1 week and absolutely loved it. Each building has a concierge that is able to handle bookings or notify you of upcoming activities. My concierge was very helpful and communicated with me through whatsapp. You can also use the hyatt app to find this information. The resort offered many things to do throughout the day. There is also a beautiful beach, and the resort is a short walk to the town of Akumal. Activities were endless (in the morning). There are also some activities that have a limit on participants, so you may need to reserve early such as midnight for paddleboarding, or get to them at least an hour early to have a spot. Unfortunately pools were shutdown by 7. There were multiple restaurant/food options. Drinks were everywhere! There was also drink service at the pools. Room service was included and mini fridge restocked everyday. Tipping was not expected here, but they did accept pesos / US dollars. Overall an amazing experience. If you are looking for a relaxing vacation, this is a great place to start.

    We came to Secrets for our wedding anniversary. It was a very nice experience compared to the…read morepreviouse all inclusive resort. Secrets is an adults-only resort, so you wouldn't see any kids running around. We were there for a week, and it was a really nice and relaxing time. It was a really nice adult vacation where all you do is eat and drink. Also, the resort offers activities you can join, but some require advance sign-up, which you can do through the app or your building's concierge. There were a good number of restaurants that you could go to. And there was a good number of bars as well. The staff was really nice and frendly always greeting you and making sure that you are okay. One downside is that if you want to lie at the beach, you will need to get there early to get a chair. A majority of the time, we were at the quiet pool, where people would just be doing their own thing, such as reading a book, on their phone, or just taking a nap. Some people would go into the pool from time to time. But definitely more relaxing.

    Photos
    Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya - Preferred Room King Bed

    Preferred Room King Bed

    Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya - Preferred Club Bar

    Preferred Club Bar

    Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya - Seaside Grill

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    Seaside Grill

    Único Hotel - Spicy pineapple margarita

    Único Hotel

    3.7(178 reviews)
    0.9 km
    $$$

    We love this place. Great, consistent service (we've been here 3 times now), and perfect vibes…read more It's smaller, so it doesn't feel like you have to traverse a small country when walking to dinner, but still large enough to have great energy. Their hotel smell is perfection and I buy multiple home sprays to bring home and remind me of the fantastic times we've had there. We love seeing the art and the design style in general. It feels warm and curated, not sterile like some of the other resorts we've visited. And their people, like Brian (pool concierge) and Ezekiel (pool bartender) make the experience so fun, seamless, and relaxing!

    We stayed for a group birthday trip (4 couples) for 5 days/4 nights in early January 2026. I was…read morearmed and ready with my "No thank you" phrase after reading so much about Timeshare purchase pressure on both Yelp and Trip Advisor. I am pleased to report that we were not pressured into hearing a sales pitch. This set our trip off on the right foot! Check-in took about an hour, which wasn't ideal. The welcome cocktail is virgin but the bartenders will add a shot of Grey Goose for you. Lots of top shelf alcohol available at every bar/restaurant. Our group was assigned a Host (Zulema) and she was available from start to finish. The rooms are very well appointed. We booked an oceanfront room and requested Prosecco and other libations for the room. Everything was delivered ahead of our arrival. Each unit has a Jacuzzi tub on the balcony. The tub fills quickly (10-15 minutes). The bathroom is an open concept, which I don't love. Each restaurant we visited was better than the next!The waitstaff at Unico was amazing! Extremely friendly and always accommodating. We registered for a wine tasting, and this was exceptionally fun and educational (additional cost of $145 per couple). There was a fee mix-up at checkout so review your bill carefully if you participate in any extras. I especially appreciated housekeeping twice per day. Turndown service is a lost art, and I absolutely love it! You will pay a bit more to stay here than at other resorts in Riviera Maya, but you get what you pay for. My husband and I booked two nights at Hard Rock directly afterwards and the difference in quality was apparent. Unico was head and shoulders above. Each vacation experience is unique and personal. Our experience with Unico was very enjoyable!

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    Único Hotel - The most photographed spot at Unico. You must get your picture taken on the bridge.

    The most photographed spot at Unico. You must get your picture taken on the bridge.

    Único Hotel - Lobby to walkway

    Lobby to walkway

    Único Hotel - Saying goodbye! We were sad!

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    Saying goodbye! We were sad!

    Grand Palladium Kantenah - Tables sat so long to be cleaned we shared breakfast with the crows.

    Grand Palladium Kantenah

    2.5(73 reviews)
    0.1 km

    Bad service! If you don't have dollars hanging out somewhere visible, these people will not be…read morecourteous or hospitable at all. My question to the staff- if I am at an all inclusive hotel, the rooms are basic and so is the food ...I am paying a large amount of money for the service I am getting , so if I don't tip at every step, every cup of water , every coffee, every hello- I should be still getting a the hospitality that is aldready included in the price.

    Let me start with: The grounds and building are lovely. The staff is generally very friendly. The…read moreà la carte restaurants are terrific. The shuttle service is great. They try hard to keep the beach free of sea grass. Marco at the Portofino restaurant was great! Alex at the buffet, who recognized us in Playa del Carmen, was a personality. The poor guy my wife finally tracked down at nine at night to get towels that worked his butt off to help us out (didn't get his name). The sports fields are really nice. With that said, I had two rooms for my family of 5 (including three teenagers) for six days. We picked the hotel because it offered unlimited à la carte dinners. What they don't tell you is that they are generally booked up 2-3 days out and you can't book more than 2 days in advance. So we get there and are told me can't go to a special restaurant for the first two days. We're looking at the buffets for breakfast, lunch, and dinner exclusively. They're not great, and the choices never materially change. We then made a mistake by not trying to book Thursday and Friday dinner until Wednesday morning to be told... they're all booked up. I was finally able to get the concierge to get us into a dinner on Friday. Please keep in mind that most restaurants are only half-filled, but they are supposedly at capacity. We got into dinner on Thursday by visiting 7 different restaurants before we found a manager who was able to fit us in his half-empty restaurant. Housekeeping was terrible. For one room, they cleaned it on the second day. We had to escalate the issue three times, wait six hours to receive new towels, cups, and for the room to be cleaned on the 5th day. We then had to complain again on the last full day to get the room cleaned! We got comfortable going into the service corridors to get our own towels. We also grew tired of being told that certain features, pools, or drinks were "extra" for "Family Select" or "Preferred" members. I spent $5K for the hotel alone to be told that the basics and amenities were extra. Get used to waiting in lines... for the buffets, the bars, the concierge, etc. We waited an hour and a half at the sports bar (the only restaurant available between lunch and dinner) for terrible food. For example, the garlic bread was half a toasted hot dog bun. The potato skins were half a mid-sized potato. The two jalapeno poppers were roughly 2 inches long. You get the idea. At times, I waited 20-30 minutes to talk to the concierges. There would often be one on duty in each lobby for a hotel with many hundreds of rooms. Overzealous staff kept telling us what we could not do. I couldn't take drinks from the bar (soda) into the sports bar where we were waiting. My son couldn't carry an alcoholic drink for his mother (with me by his side). The entertainment was mediocre at best. Most resorts bring in travelling entertainers with good shows. Not here. The same group of hardworking dancers work all of their shows. Don't expect much variety. My teenagers got plenty of sleep. They had nothing to do at night and complained they were bored. For a family-friendly resort, it caters to young families and little kids. There's no teen club or teen parties. Activities scheduled through the resort (dive shop, excursions, massages) are ludicrously expensive. We got better options from the guys walking the beach. There were other issues, but to top it off, after complaining to the concierge *(especially about the lack of housekeeping, towels, and dinner reservations). They offered us two free hydro-therapy sessions (normally extra cost) at the spa as compensation. So... basically they offered us access to the only hot tubs we found for one-time use. That's not quite cutting it. Finally, we were never given the chance to talk to a manager or supervisor to try to make things right. THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. Now that I've written the review, let's see if we hear anything.

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    Grand Palladium Kantenah
    Grand Palladium Kantenah
    Grand Palladium Kantenah

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    Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort - Sushi bar seating area

    Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort

    4.2(49 reviews)
    6.5 km

    This review long overdue We visited this resort in March…read more2026 and it was everything we wanted! We were looking for a smaller resort, not somewhere you had to take a trolley to go everywhere, you could walk across this resort in a few min. My first thoughts upon arrival were how beautiful and tropical it felt. The view from our room was amazing! I believe all rooms have waterview? We did get to try all 4 al la carts and the meals were fantastic! We really enjoyed.. the Brazilian / steakhouse! The staff were excellent, especially Alan in customer service, he went way up and beyond! German always there to help around the pool area.. and many others whose names escape me. The music at night was just right, Raymond playing for awhile and then bands would play for an hour or 2.. done by 1030 -11 so not too late, it is not a big party place, was exactly to out liking! I would highly recommend this resort if you are looking for a great reort to relax and can't wait to return!

    I visited this resort over the summer and it's ok. There are definitely a lot of highlights which…read moreinclude : a great spa- the ladies working there were great and I had a very relaxing prenatal massage, nice large pools and access to a beach area, location overall is somewhat secluded which generally makes you feel safe. Downsides were: food/drink quality - nothing I ate or drank here blew me away, including buffet or specialty restaurants, availability of daybeds are limited- if you don't wake up before 7am to snag one, they all will be occupied by either people or their belongings marking territory, limited activities if you're not into snorkeling or water stuff. They had a tequila tasting and one night claimed to have salsa lessons but that didn't happen. The rooms are ok but getting to them, you'll see lots of bugs. I guess it is the middle of the jungle but be prepared!

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    Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort
    Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort
    Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort

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    TRS Yucatán - Rooms are super clean.

    TRS Yucatán

    3.2(84 reviews)
    0.6 km
    $$$

    If you've never done an all-inclusive, it's kind of like a cruise ship on land. You have everything…read moreyou need all in one place, you don't pay out of pocket for most things, and you can do excursions during the day. As it's only a less than 3 hour flight for us and we wanted to do a "quick getaway" we stayed only 3 nights. It's about an hour and 15 mins from the Tulum airport so you lose a lot of time in transit and even when you enter the property it still takes a good long while to make it back to the hotel lobby. The property is MASSIVE. TRS is kid-free while the others are not. We did not purchase the premium package (PTC) nor do I think it is necessary or worth it. It's easy enough to get around the property either on foot or the golf carts picking people up in designated areas as well as walking on the paths. The grounds are impeccably kept. The public restrooms are also very clean and well stocked. What really stood out during our stay was the hospitality. It was a little overwhelming at first but we got used to it, as well as being asked if this was our first time in Mexico, where we traveled from, etc. a million times. All the staff are well trained and fluent in English. The butler service was incredible. You can communicate with them on WhatsApp which is a huge convenience. Download the app in advance. Re: food, arrange your dinner restaurant reservations otherwise you'll be eating buffet food. We did dinner at Helios (Mediterranean), Bahia e Brassa (Brazilian steakhouse), and La Boheme (French). All had some standout dishes and some bad ones. Other than the breakfast buffets, which were very well-stocked, most of the restaurants with dinner buffets were picked over and not replenished often enough. The breakfast buffets at Helios and Capricho offer basically the same things and are a combination of ordering from a menu and buffet. Other places we ate were the pool and beach bars as well as at a buffet called The Nest which had better buffet food for snacks than the others. The drinks were all generally watered down which makes sense for day drinking. If you like a well-crafted cocktail, go to Churchills which is located in Kantenah. We weren't on this vacation to get blitzed but plenty of people were. Women can get away with a lot more dress code wise but my bf couldn't enter Capricho because he had on a sleeveless shirt. We did a couples massage at the Zentropia Spa which provided access to a hydro therapy circuit which was unlike anything I'd ever seen. Kind of like a Turkish bath maybe? You basically follow along and go from shower to wet sauna to shower to dry sauna to jacuzzi to cold plunge to pool, etc. They have lockers to store your things. The gym is also located in the spa, which is not obvious. There's a fantastic juice bar if you're looking to recharge your battery with something fresh. We did not make use of, but noticed, the pickleball courts and mini golf. On to the room itself. We had a corner suite on the third (top) floor with jacuzzi. You can't see or hear the beach but was nice to look out from the two balconies and see palm trees. We used the jacuzzi a couple of times. Note that you have to fill and drain it each time which takes a little while. The building was definitely showing signs of wear and the room smelled of mildew. It was technically clean, but you could see in areas like the sink, shower, etc. where there were black stains in the caulking. The smell was pretty overwhelming but no sense complaining because I'm sure all of the rooms were like this. The AC was loud but worked fine. The TV's allow you to cast which is nice but a few of our streaming services didn't work fully in Mexico even with a VPN. The WiFi was great in the room as well as most places on the property. There were places to plug in a USB-USBC but I could never get my phone to fully charge on some of the outlets. We had to request an iron because the room only had a steamer which was mildewy and falling apart. On the plus side our housekeeper Rocio was awesome and we took advantage of having her come during the day and also for turndown service at night. There were also drawers and places to hang things including a drying rack outside. The mini bar was properly stocked and replenished each day. And super soft robes and slippers! They'd left a bottle of bubbly and two glasses. Nespresso machine as well as a regular coffee maker, ceramic mugs and glasses. Would we stay here again? Probably. It's a good location not in Tulum proper but that also makes it kind of nice. There's a rep for Delta vacations onsite who communicates via text and in person, which also made our stay convenient and stress free. You get a wristband which doubles as your room key, very convenient especially because it's waterproof. Like most places you go in Mexico, they will try to upsell you on things but you just need to be prepared to politely say no. We also received free hats and luggage tags.

    TRS Yucatan was okay overall, because it was a mix of good and bad. We stayed for 5 nights and this…read moreis our third AI resort in Cancun (also did Excellence and Wyndham Alltra). I would not stay here again. The resort is enormous. We explored most of it for fun. Walking in some of the jungly paths was neat. Be aware there are four separate lobbies (one for each "resort" in the complex) and they are not connected, even if you are right next door. So if you want to go to a restaurant or entertainment elsewhere, you need to take a cart or walk a decent bit. We checked out the "secret" pools outside TRS but they weren't really worth it. The only reason to leave the TRS section is to go to some of the other dinner restaurants and bars (Churchhill's, Sports Bar), see entertainment, or go to the far away TRS-only beach. GOOD Our garden view room was very well maintained. We were on the third floor. We liked the premium design and finishes. We liked the overall resort grounds and facilities. Breakfast at Helios, which had some a la carte options as well as an enormous buffet with sweet, savory, fruit, Mexican options, and American options. Casual Mexican food at some of the beach snack bars. The bars and liquor options. The TRS area of the beach, although it is all the way on the opposite end of the resort from TRS, on the edge of the non-Palladium resort next door. They have a small lunch stand and bar, chairs with lots of shade, palm trees, small beach (not much if any seaweed/sargassum), We didn't use the butler much, but they made dinner reservations for us. Staff generally friendly. Easy to get a ride on carts to take you around. Seeing some local animals like flamingos, lizards, and coati. TRS areas are child-free. I walked around the non-TRS lunch buffets to compare to TRS, and TRS did seem to have better lunch options. I emailed the resort in advance and they sent me a preferences sheet which was mostly unnecessary, but we picked two bottled of liquor (included) and they put the correct ones in our room. The pools were nice. We liked the infinity pool and the salt water pool. Gelato at Helios lunch, guac available in many places, BAD The dinner restaurants were all bad. I would not return to any of them by choice. A few dishes here and there were okay, but some were terrible, like the desserts at Brasio (inedible because so much gelatin), the ice cold side dishes at Goucho, and the poor excuse for a "ribeye" steak at Goucho. Just inexcusably bad, given the "premium" advertising. It can be difficult to get reservations. It's impossible on first night you arrive (we had to walk into Brasio early) and some TRS restaurants are closed on some nights. Not much variety for lunch; the two a la carte restaurants are similar, and the pool/beach spots are all similar (tacos, burgers). There was very little for activities and entertainment. There is some nightly entertainment in the non-TRS areas. We saw a Jersey Boys show there and it was awful, we walked out. Other entertainment did not appeal to us. Really bad options and quality for a "premium" resort. TRS didn't feel as premium as it should have. We should have had amazing restaurants, great entertainment, preferred reservations at all non-TRS restaurants, more available bali beds (no, you need to be PTC member), more premium liquor, slightly better mini bar. We didn't get a welcome towel or drink at check in, but some people did. Menu descriptions/translations were low quality. All the restaurant decor was really generic and lame. No hot tubs anywhere. Pools can be chilly at times.

    Photos
    TRS Yucatán - Tropical Festive at the infinity pool

    Tropical Festive at the infinity pool

    TRS Yucatán - Our TRS room with private pool

    Our TRS room with private pool

    TRS Yucatán - Salt water pool sunrise

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    Salt water pool sunrise

    El Dorado Seaside Suites - Resort photos.  Private dinner on the beach was only $270 dollars.

    El Dorado Seaside Suites

    3.6(114 reviews)
    2.0 km
    $$$

    Just back from a week at El Dorado Seaside Suites in Mexico…read more We spent the week there during Día de los Muertos and it was incredible -- they really go all out with the celebration! The resort grounds are spotless, and the staff couldn't be more genuine or helpful. Now, this isn't a full-blown five-star luxury spot, so keep expectations realistic, but for the Bang for your Buck, Seaside Suites is one of the best values out there. Bali Beds: 10/10 -- free, first-come-first-serve, and perfect for a lazy beach or pool day. No need to pay extra like at some of the fancier resorts. Food: 7/10 -- not Michelin-level, but solid, and room service was always on point. Beach: 9/10 -- calm, clean, and perfect for morning walks. Pools: 7/10 -- great vibe, never overcrowded. Vibe: Totally chill -- perfect for relaxing, unplugging, and recharging. They've even added more inclusive perks now, like daily excursions to Maroma Beach and the Animal Sanctuary -- a really cool bonus that adds even more value. Yes, it's about an hour and fifteen minutes from the airport, but do a private transfer and it's no big deal. Overall: 8/10 or 4 out of 5 -- clean resort, great service, peaceful vibe, and solid value that keeps us coming back. Just my honest opinion -- everyone's experience is different, but if you have questions, feel free to drop a comment and I'll try to answer.

    I cannot wait to come and stay here again!…read more The property is so secluded and so beautiful, the shuttles take you all around the property and are speedy. All of the staff are happy and incredibly helpful. The room was comfy and the AC kept the humidity under control. We had a swim up room right on the beach and wow. You just can't beat the views. The food was mediocre, and I wish there were more dining options. But overall the experience and vibe was so relaxing. Not a party resort, definitely a more middle aged group; but still enough of a "party" element.

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    El Dorado Seaside Suites - Driftwood restaurant at Eldorado Seaside Suites.

    Driftwood restaurant at Eldorado Seaside Suites.

    El Dorado Seaside Suites
    El Dorado Seaside Suites

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    Be Live Resort - the main pool

    Be Live Resort

    5.0(1 review)
    0.4 km
    $$

    What's better than a swim-up bar? A swim-up bar in an all-inclusive resort…read more We had a good room location on the ground overlooking the beach, but the A/C clattered. So we pushed hard and moved to a great room. Thank you QYB for watching over me yet again. :-) This is one of the older resorts of Riviera Maya and definitely has its tacky aspects. However, the resort is fine and we were really the odd ones out. But it has some advantages over a "better" resort. The rooms are closer to the beach and the ocean, and it had good value for the price. Four or five restaurants to choose from and friendly accommodating staff. You can snorkel around the jetty and see some big fish, and the beach is swimmable for most except when the surf was sometimes powerful. Even then we went in. The main pool was grande and with a swim up bar. The windowless internet room was a furnace. Not good. The French restaurant was unpleasantly hot inside and the gourmet "tasting" dinner was a dog and pony show. Truth be told, I wouldn't want to be "trapped here" without a car since the location is fairly remote and I would get bored. This is really a Mexican National vacation resort, so plenty of screaming kids running around. This is not the relaxation haven like Ceiba Del Mar, which we left to come here. But we had a car so no worries. Be Live was a good base to cruise all around to the area attractions: the ruins at Tulum, Playa Del Carmen, the underground cenotes and lots more. Lets be blunt: if you're too much of a pussy to drive in Mexico, stay somewhere else. With a balcony room overlooking the beach and just yards from the ocean, I have to give it five stars just for that. My pictures will show you the awesome room location.

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    Be Live Resort
    Be Live Resort
    Be Live Resort - Be Live Resort

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    Be Live Resort

    Barceló Maya Beach - Dark dingy room.

    Barceló Maya Beach

    2.8(400 reviews)
    7.3 km

    We absolutely love this place! We have stayed at Barcelo several times and every time I am…read moresurprised by how nice it is. We have stayed at Gran Bahia Principal and it was "ok" and we have also stayed at Xcaret, which was expensive. The Barcelo rooms are clean and nice, the staff is very friendly. This trip we used Barcelo's transportation from the airport and it was a little more money than private transportation but it went way smoother compared to past trips. We had a fun time comparing 20 year old photos from our first visit to Barcelo. It is just as beautiful now and we will continue to come back.

    This place is absolutely horrid,if you've ever complained about the holiday inn in the states,I'd…read moretake those over staying here. To be more exact,we stayed at the Barcelo maya caribe.it is so dated and falling apart.the grout in the shower/tub is falling apart.hvac unit sensors are bad so it'll just keep blowing cold air no matter what temp it is. The door lock only partially works with having to try multiple times just to get the door open. The good is like eating elementary food from the eighties in the states at the buffet no matter if it's breakfast lunch or dinner.a few of the staff seems to be glad that they're working and the other seems like they're forced into labor be it in the dining hall or room staff. We're here for a wedding and booked here due to all the in-laws are staying here.the staff are rude and have no patience even tho there's a huge language barrier.we normally book our own stay and do our research before you choose a place but due to the fact we're not the ones that chose this place. So the buffet is always open to all but if you wanted to eat at some of the other they have here,you have to reserve ahead of time and if it's booked out,your eating dinner at 9pm or later.my in-laws ate at one of the Italian place and they said the food is horrendous.overly salted and over cooked.i would never stay here ever again and I'm posting this so it would save you the headache and disappointment. My nieces book a room that showed a double bed and they got charged for a double and the room only had a single,and when they went to the front desk,they told them it was their fault.thereis no discription for the room just pictures so there's no way to know and like I said earlier,the staff is very short and very rude. When the cleaning lady came by and asked if I wanted the room clean,I told her I just needed towels and water.she handed me the towels and told me the waters in the mini bar and before I could tell her it's out,she just took off. I don't understand,maybe it's because it's all inclusive or what but they seem to be miserable and give really bad

    Photos
    Barceló Maya Beach
    Barceló Maya Beach - Disgusting lamp

    Disgusting lamp

    Barceló Maya Beach - Looks delicious right? Ha

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    Looks delicious right? Ha

    Grand Palladium Colonial - resorts - Updated May 2026

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