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Iberostar Waves Quetzal

3.3 (33 reviews)
PriceyHotels
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Iberostar Waves Quetzal Photos

Recommended Reviews - Iberostar Waves Quetzal

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Beach
Emma C.

I came with my family for 5 nights during August. Here are some of my thoughts: Room: The room itself was standard and clean. Some things that I liked were that they had a mini fridge of beverages that are included with your all-inclusive that gets restocked every day and that they have some all-natural mosquito lotion. My only complaint was that the air conditioning seems to be very weak and doesn't fully cool the room. this is definitely dependent on what room you get - we ended up switching rooms a night into a room closer to the first floor and it ended up being a lot better. Service: Everyone we met was so kind and helpful to us. There is not one person who wasn't willing to help us or recommend activities for us to do! The dining staff is especially attentive. Food: I would say a lot of the food at the buffets is mediocre - however for the wide variety that they offer, you can't complain. They switch up for every meal and always have something new. Their tacos, though, are always really good so I highly recommend getting those if you see them. I thought the drinks were pretty good - they aren't super strong however if that is what you are looking for. Grounds: If you don't already know, this hotel shares the property with the Iberostar Toucan. Quetzal's rooms are on the left and Toucan's buildings are on the right - but it is a shared beach, pool, and gym facilities. We stayed in building 27 which is about a 7-ish min walk to the beach - which is not too bad as long as you don't mind the heat. Beach/Pool/Activities: The beach is great - but you are going to have to wake up a bit early if you want to get some chairs in the shade. People start reserving seats starting at 6am ish and then most of the seats are full by 9/10am. The ocean itself has a good amount of seaweed the first 5-10 feet but once you get past that, it's perfect. The main pool is kept at a very hot temperature - it almost feels like a cooler sauna. However the adult pool and swim up bar is the best place if you're lookig for cool water. The only activity that I tried on the grounds was rifle shooting which I highly recommend. The staff running it always makes it a good time. I also enjoyed the evening entertainment - I think the karaoke was the most fun to watch. Location: It's only about 2 mile away from downtown Playa Del Carmen. It's so touristy but I recommend the visit to 5th Street if you have the time. Overall thoughts: I think this is a great all-inclusive place, especially for families. Honestly, I would consider coming back during a time when it was a bit cooler.

Beach side relaxation
Nicole B.

Frank at the front desk was awesome, I wish I had more time to talk with him but we were on our last day:-( Overall this resort is very nice and well kept. The staff all over the place was awesome. The open space for dinning is just lovely, so you can see the wild life roam by. The buffet was very nice, it had food selections for everyone and it was pretty tasty. The drinks not so much not sure but they just seemed weak, even with drinking most of the day(wasted calories). This is very much a family resort, if you have kids this is a great location. They have free roaming animals, a couple of coves with animals and a dedicated area for children. If you do not have kids this place is still nice but it just depends on your tolerance for kids(and their parents) on vacation?!?! Overall the location wasn't bad from the airport and the resort was lovely.

View of beach
Taisiya S.

Christmas time during COVID 2020: Family vacation 2 adults and a 9 year old. Location: This is a beautiful spot. I had read the reviews before booking and it was such a great deal I was worried that I would be disappointed. The grounds were very tropical with moneys, peacocks, moneys, flamingoes and other native animals. It was right on a beautiful beach with a gorgeous view, easy access and lots to do. There is even a dive spot on site. Some reviews say it's dated but they are nice, the bathrooms and shower great and they have central air. They have 3 floors and no elevators. They are also spread out and although beautiful and I didn't mind the walk, the walkway is very uneven and you have to be careful to not twist your ankle or trip on accident, especially if you have been drinking! Their service is fantastic. They really, really always tried their best to make sure we were taken care of, our drinks filled and they went above and beyond to accommodate my quirky special diet needs. Pool: Huge pool with lots of room to "social distance" and we had no problems finding spots by the pool. Same with the beach, but this may be because of COVID. They had activities throughout the day like water aerobics, music, games, etc. Sometimes cheesy but fun and my daughter loved them. Adult pool was closed and the only thing that looked like a hot tub in the middle of the pool with jets was cold so I'm not sure if it was a "hot tub." Food: Possibly due to COVID I think a lot of the buffets were closed and the 2 that were open were just ok. The one by the pool had a meager selection and the same boring vegetables every day. Either steamed broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini and carrots or a braised cabbage dish and there was no salad options. This got boring very quickly after 1-2 days. In the evening the main buffet also was very paltry. Again, because I practice a low carb way of eating and eat a ton of veggies I like to have tasty options and I was incredibly underwhelmed with my options. Specialty restaurants were better but not easy to get reservations. Entertainment: We are middle aged and had our daughter with us. So we weren't looking for a club night life. They did have nightly shows and they were "cute" but not amazing, our 9yo daughter liked them, but they are 9:30pm to 10:30ish. So kinda late as the kids entertainment but hey it's vacation. Honestly this didn't bother us at all, but younger crowds looking for more nightlife might be bored. December is a wonderful time of year to come. No humidity and the weather was ideal and perfect. We did get bit by something (mosquitos? Not sure) here and there but it wasn't horrible. I brought some bug bite stuff itch cream for those occasions. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and it was a great value and we were very happy after months and months of socially isolating at home.

Fireshow at the beach

We visited just before Christmas. It is a beautiful resort that has 2 symmetric buildings (Quetzal and Tucan). It is an all-inclusive resort with generous food choices. I looked at the other reviews, and I am not sure why this place is getting less than 4 stars. It is definitely not a 5-star class hotel, but it is a most excellent 4.5-Star level hotel and deserves a 5-star review for what it offers! Pros: -Directly on beach, which is clean, warm, and wide, and you can walk along it either toward the nature reserve, with few people, or toward the city, which gets more and more crowded and has more and more resorts. -There are lush gardens between the 2 buildings, with many wild animals: monkeys, peacocks, parrots, etc. Really beautifully done, refreshing, and gives a nice atmosphere. -The pool is very large and not crowded, with ample seating around (note we did not go in ultra peak season, but the hotel seemed full, but not overcrowded). There was even a free scuba trial in the pool! -There are nightly activities with a mixture of in-house and external entertainment, which were all very good, and some were fantastic (fire show on the beach!) -The food is generous, clean, tasty, and abundant choices. The general buffet is not 5-star buffet, but very good selections and variety during the week). -There are also several specialized restaurants. (We tried the Italian, which was good, but not necessarily better than the main buffet!) -There were plenty of free activities for the kids and adults (workouts and games...) -There is a free bar at the pool (at least free for non-alcoholic drinks, but I think for alcoholic drinks too) - Rooms are clean, not overly spacious, but not small either, not 5-stars, but a solid 4-stars. - When we came there were no mosquitoes, we might have gotten 1 or 2 bites between the 3 of us. Cons: (Look I'm stretching it here to give you a fair representation, this is not a perfect resort, but it is definitely very good! We peeked into other neighboring resorts to see, and this one seems one of the better ones!) - It is in a secluded area called Playacar, which makes it a bit harder to get to, but if you prefer a more secluded place, this could be an excellent pro! - The staff is generally kind and helpful, but not all. So if you get one that is not up to snuff, just go and come back when they are off their shift! Some are incentivized to up-sell on the memberships, and that felt like an unnecessary upsell. -They will offer you coupons to upsell their expensive extra services. - They encouraged booking dinners at the "specialized" restaurants, but you would then be tied to a fixed time, and they warned/threatened with a cancellation fee if canceling on the same, day, but when you cancel at the restaurant, there is no such fee. The general buffet had sufficient selections that there was no need for the specialized restaurants, except perhaps to reduce the crowding on the general buffet? - Certain on-site activities are not really worth it (archery is overcrowded for a tiny range) -Their promoted tourist activities are a lot more expensive than the general going rates from other providers, however, we did not take both to compare the level of service, so maybe it would have been worth it? -The app is buggy, and does not always work, but it worked on my wife's phone and it shows the activities. I could add many more, but should leave you some things to discover! The overall point is that this is an excellent resort (book on their official site to get some discounts, and look at both Tucan and Quentzal, sometimes one gives discounts but not the other, yet they are the same!), and you will not be unhappy if you go there. (well, looking at the other reviews, some people do not seem as happy/lucky as we were!)

Some clicks from the stay. Peacock  all around the property
Bilal A.

Great resort to stay at. Friendly team members, front desk, restaurants, and the entertainers. No single day is boring at this resort, daily entertainment from 7 in the morning till 10 at night. Not to miss any shows at night light shows, magic shows, LED shows, circus and many more. They only bad part at this time around were the seaweeds on the beach. Iberostar team was trying their best to keep the beach clean. Love the fact that there were not lots of peddling going on at the beach and if there were any they were not pushy you say no and they move along. Sinatization OMG 100 out of 100. All the team members has to wear mask, walking in the restuarant you have to wear mask, going to the food station mask require or they will not serve you. Cleaning tables in between, sanitizing stations around the property along with sanitize bottles. Loved the stay here, kids, family friendly. I became a big fan of Iberostar. Also when you are here say Hi to Mr. Flower great guy, entertainer he is one of the host/ director of the star entertainment team

Fun in the sun :)
Takenya C.

Overall, I would give this place a thumbs up for their willingness and efforts to keep an outdated place as clean and as friendly as can be! Every staff member that I encountered was overly helpful and friendly as well as eager to bring to your attention the on going free events and activities that were happening around the resort. We did have some issues with the room check in but considering it was a party of 9 , I will give them a pass and say that perhaps our large group was a bit more for them than the usual. The rooms are very pueblo traditional Mexican and a bit outdated but very clean so that's to be expected if it's an older establishment ;) There are 4 pools, even a swim up bar party pool and a kiddie pool. So a lot of places to hang, party or spend family time. The food was really good considering that most complain about the all inclusive resort choices. Thumbs up! Felt safe , amazing beautiful rainforest grounds with monkeys, flamingos, ponds of fish and turtles ... So much to say about this wonderful place! If you do not mind less modern, a bit outdated , and kids and families, then I would definitely recommend trying this place for your stay

Robert B.

The only reason why I give this resort three stars is because we stayed here in the past and the resort has gone downhill. The quality of the food used to be much better than what it is now. We reserved a beachfront room which had a beautiful view but a malfunctioning air conditioner. The first night we requested someone to fix it but it was never repaired during the five days we stayed here. On a positive note the staff were friendly and helpful and the pool is beautiful. Resort itself is in a great location and it's beautiful.

Wildlife around the resort
Stephanie R.

I would have given the resort 4 stars if we would have been moved rooms the first time we asked. The beach was beautiful, the bartenders and entertainment staff were great, the food was OK, but we knew that going in. But our card reader broke while we were there so during our 3 days there, we spent a combined 4 hours locked outside our room while maintenance and security tried to open our door. After the second time, (after midnight on our second night) we asked if we could just switch rooms so we wouldn't have to deal with it on our last day.. but they wouldn't let us switch. Of course, it didn't work the next day and we spent an hour and a half on our last day trying to get into our room and then packing and moving rooms.. it was just really disappointing.. we enjoyed our time there and we didn't get angry or anything because it was no one's fault, but we didn't feel like there was any type of customer service. If you don't run into any issues, you'll have a great time!! If you expect customer service or accommodations, I would try somewhere else.

Sailboat included

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Review Highlights - Iberostar Waves Quetzal

Iberostar team was trying their best to keep the beach clean.

Mentioned in 2 reviews

Read more highlights

Hilton Playa Del Carmen Resort - Meeting Room

Hilton Playa Del Carmen Resort

(365 reviews)

$$$

Gonzalo Guerrero

We had a really good time at this adults-only resort. There are plenty of activities where you can…read morebe busy or choose to relax and enjoy your time. I was not approached by anyone offering to sell me anything or attend presentations. Staff were super friendly and helpful during our stay. There's a main pool and a quiet pool. So you have an option where you want to be based on your interest. Night shows were great with some fantastic performers. I wish that there was more Mexican themed shows or music but I guess they try to accommodate that the majority of guests were from Canada and USA. Some of the restaurants rotate being open for dinner. Your best bet is to make reservations ahead of time. You can always show up but might have to wait depending on the time. Overall food was good. Drinks were ok but as a social drinker, I wasn't impressed with my 1-2 drinks/day during my stay. I think I had one drink that I found really good. Beach area is not private and you might have people approach you to sell you stuff or services. A polite "no, thank you" works great. Location and proximity to 5th Avenue made it a great place to explore the area. Although filled with tourists, you also get some local interactions. I would come back to this resort in the future.

Ownership has changed, and this property is now known as Hyatt Vivid Playa del Carmen…read more My boyfriend planned the trip, and my only request was an all-inclusive resort. While the property has a lot of potential, it ultimately missed the mark, especially for a resort of this size. The biggest issue was the constant selling. I understand upselling is part of the business, but having to say no repeatedly throughout the stay was exhausting. Even after interacting with the same staff members multiple times, nearly every conversation felt like a sales pitch. We also received early morning calls to the room for non-urgent matters and promotions, which was disruptive and frustrating. Despite being advertised as all-inclusive, there were frequent pushes to upgrade to higher-end alcohol, exclusive experiences, and add-ons. I would much rather pay more upfront for a truly inclusive experience than feel harassed during my vacation. It really affected the overall vibe of the trip. The food was average and not memorable. The highlight was the coffee shop, which was open most of the day and consistently good. Poolside dining is very limited. You cannot casually order snacks like chips and guacamole while at the pool and instead have to go to one of the restaurants. Also be cautious with food near the pool, as wildlife grabbed my pizza while I was sitting there. Overall, this resort could be great, but the aggressive upselling, average food, and limited poolside service made it disappointing for an all-inclusive experience.

Palmaïa - Avalon beauty salon

Palmaïa

(17 reviews)

Playacar

This is future of wellness all-inclusives! I love this place so much. We came here after a friend…read morevacationed here and said the food, ambiance and classes were unlike any other resort they've been to. Being a vegetarian, it's been a dream to find a place like this where I can eat ANYTHING off the menu. My husband was able to add chicken to his meals so it is friendly to meat eaters as well. We arranged for the airport travel to/from the resort which was highly recommended. It's about an hour commute and took the stress away from the travel. Our suite was on the bottom floor and walked out to the pool. Complete dream of an experience! Not only did we have "guide" who is essentially an assistant/butler who helped answer our questions quickly, helped to book reservations onsite or book transportation through the resort. They were incredibly responsive. Your main mode of transportation is bikes which feels like you're in another world riding through the jungle on bikes. There's a handful of restaurants on site so we didn't end up leaving the property more than once. Because they're a wellness resort, they have all of these classes (cacoa ceremony, movement class, yoga, astrology, etc) where you could interact with other guests. They have a taco stand where they make watermelon tacos. I could go on and on about the food. This place almost converted my husband to be a vegetarian- that's how good it was. They make all their cocktails with OR WITHOUT alcohol and they taste just as delicious. If I could live at this property, I really would. Highly recommend going as a couple, group or even solo. It will leave you more grounded and at peace.

Incredible experience. It's clear why they have a Michelin hotel rating of two keys. Beautiful…read moreaccommodations, wonderful service, incredible food! We rarely visit the same place twice (and aren't even really resort people) but we're already talking about going back. All of the restaurants are mostly/default plant-based, but there are non-vegan substitutions (and Palmaia is connected to a typical mainstream resort, Sandos, that guests have full access to as well). But also, Palmaia's food is so good I wouldn't recommend changing it or eating elsewhere! We ate conchas and tacos nearly every day. And the pastas at Mar de Olivo were superb! Additional advice: advantage of the wellness classes, the gym, and the beachside taco truck!

Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya - Beautiful view while eating lunch

Hotel Riu Palace Riviera Maya

(106 reviews)

$$$

Playacar

We booked our all inclusive vacation with Southwest vacations and paid for a Oceanview room at the…read moreRiu Palace resort, but when we checked in they told us that all Oceanview rooms were booked up and we were given a garden view room for two days until the correct room was available. This ruined our vacation. We paid a lot of money for the Oceanview room. Attached is a picture of the garden view room. This room does NOT even face the ocean! We will NEVER stay at this resort again because they are DISHONEST.

My experience at Hotel Riu was absolutely amazing! My stay was very accommodating and such a…read morequality and pleasurable experience throughout my entire stay. As soon as I arrived, I was met with smiles and the best customer service. All the staff were very accommodating and pleasant to interact with. I never touched my luggage, when going to and from my room and I was picked up from the airport and taken back for my return flight, how convenient! My flight was even delayed and after communicating with the Riu, they were already aware and prepared for my late arrival, small things like this make a huge difference and communication is essential to me when traveling. Upon entering my beach front room, there are the cutest designed towels on the bed and room service is there upon request and of course, daily. I also love the location as it is near a lot of things to do in Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen and Yucatan. The resort sits on the beach, has two pools with a bar and thee best views! They also have an all WHITE party every Friday that is a blast! I had the best time dancing the night away with strangers and hung out in downtown Playa del Carmen afterward, truly thee best nights! The food was very underwhelming and although they had themed nights, it just didn't meet my expectations. Although convenient, the restaurant options for all inclusive guests was nothing to desire but the service was always exceptional, which really helped. I always love my stays at the RIU and this Riviera Maya resort is truly one of the most beautiful. I felt absolutely amazing during my entire vacation and RIU truly was a part of the reason why!

Iberostar Waves Tucán

Iberostar Waves Tucán

(39 reviews)

$$

Playacar

Positive: Welcome:…read moreFrom the moment we arrived, the service made us feel welcome. David checked us in quickly and even gave the kids a "key" bracelet (without the actual key) so they could be part of the process. The step stool at the front desk was a thoughtful touch for little ones to see over the counter. Abi helped us make a restaurant reservation right away and walked us through the resort map--simple things that made settling in much easier. Room: We stayed in the 1100 building, close to both the pool and beach--ideal with small kids. The room was clean, the AC worked great, the shower had strong water pressure, and the balcony was a nice spot to relax. The only minor note was that the outdoor hanger could have used a better dusting. Parents, be mindful of the marble floors; our two-year-old chipped a tooth after running indoors (completely on us, but worth noting). Restaurants: Tulum Buffet: Loved the dedicated kids' section and plastic cups. The food was decent (don't expect a 5-star Vegas buffet), but service here was better than at Cozumel buffet at Quetzal, especially at breakfast. La Hacienda (Smokehouse): Our favorite meal of the trip. Despite mixed reviews online, we found it excellent--great service, tasty dishes, and a kids' menu that impressed even my picky daughter, who asked for seconds on the mac and cheese. Uxmal: Lunch on our first visit was hit-and-miss (good steak and fish, underwhelming tostadas, mid-level service). Our second visit was much better despite a check-in mix-up that sent us to the buffet right before closing. La Gondola: Reservation-only and worth booking. Our server, Cleiner, was fantastic--attentive even with a large party to handle. Highlights included penne Alfredo with shrimp, risotto, margherita pizza, and pizza Quattro carni. Calamari was slightly burnt (I liked it, others didn't). Desserts were all good. Bonsai (Japanese): Great service and fun experience. Food was just okay for me (salty rice, slightly dry sushi), but the kids loved it. Animals: The kids were thrilled spotting various animals around the resort--it added extra magic to our days. Pool: The kids' splash area with the playground next to it was a huge hit. I wish the main pool had more shallow sections, but floaties made it manageable. Negative: Golf Carts: We learned mid-stay that golf carts are mainly for Iberostar members and not guaranteed for non-members (like IHG guests) except at check-in/out for luggage. We sometimes managed to wave one down, but often waited 20-25 minutes for nothing to arrive. Guest services would say one was coming, but it wasn't until we spoke with concierge that we got the real policy. Tip: Reserve a cart for check-out so you know one will arrive. Quetzal Buffet (Monday, Aug 4): Service here was noticeably less attentive than during our first visit. We were seated with crumbs on the chair and sauce on the floor, which no one came to clean despite asking twice. Plastic cups (easy to find at Tucán buffet) were nowhere in sight. After asking four staff members and getting no clear direction, my toddler's patience--and mine--ran out. Thankfully, Leticia, one of the staff, turned things around. She checked in regularly with genuine warmth and attentiveness that was missing from the rest of the experience. She truly salvaged the meal. Overall: Despite a few hiccups, our stay was memorable for the right reasons--warm welcomes, thoughtful touches for kids, standout dining at certain restaurants, and a beautiful, family-friendly setting. We'd return, especially for La Hacienda, the splash area, and the friendly staff who made us feel at home.

Very nice setting. Smooth traversing the resort. Some shenanigans with the employees saying we need…read moreto buy bottles of wine for a good seat in a restaurant or show. Complained to mngmnt & they said no that should not be happening. I think some dudes got fired over this. Clean resort near local shopping which was great!!

Hotel Xcaret - Birthday recognition

Hotel Xcaret

(331 reviews)

$$$$

I had a pretty good experience at Hotel Xcaret! My husband and I came here for a work trip, and we…read morewere very excited when we first arrived. It is a huge resort with 18 included restaurants, bars, pools, and beaches. You also have access to all of the different parks which is an amazing perk. Our room was pretty big with two queen beds. It had a jacuzzi and hammock in the balcony. We didn't have a stellar view, but I can only imagine if you did. I also never thought that I would say this, but room service came way too many times. They would come 2 to 3 times a day, and once even asked if we needed room service at 9pm LOL. We mainly ate at the buffet, which did not need a reservation, and it was pretty good. Our overall consensus was that the food here was very diverse and yummy, but was too salty. We don't drink, so I have no comment on that. The infinity pool was pretty nice, but I wish it had a direct view of the beach. There was a river surrounding the hotel, which blocked the view. The beach was pretty accessible though, and the water was very clear. There was a lot of seaweed in it though and it was more rocky than sandy which made it hard to lay our towels down. Overall, though, the service was great and we had a great time here. I would definitely recommend it because we didn't pay for the trip haha.

Hotel Xcaret is a sprawling complex which consists of several resorts and parks which are located…read moreon property. I was pleasantly surprised how clean the resort is and how courteous the service was. Most employees speak English. I speak Spanish fairly well so I had no issues communicating. There are extensive food options including all day buffets, restaurants, group dining and room service. The buffets lean toward traditional Mexican / Yucatán fare, however, it's not overly spicy. The bakery items are fantastic and not overly sweet. The only Michelin restaurant in Mexico is here at Xcaret. So check that out if you happen to visit here. There are several parks which include water adventures, ATV rentals, zoo & aquariums, history, zip lining etc. I was able to go to the Xplor park for an afternoon when I had some downtime. It was interesting and I had a good time. The cemetery was fascinating. I posted some pictures below. There is no shortage of pools here and every hotel section has its own. The main one that over looks the beach area fills up quick in the am. There are two gyms I believe and a spa which books up quickly so plan in advance. The beach is small and it's a bit of a walk to get to. Chairs and loungers get snapped up quickly early in the day. Security here is "air tight." What I mean the grounds are patrolled by armed guards and there are several checkpoints on the roads going in and out. You have to present your wrist band when entering and leaving with the exception of being on the bus. I was there for a corporate trip and we utilized a rental car to transport our executive staff to and from the airport. Even with the stringent security, the process was fairly easy for us. Checkout is a little odd. You go to the lobby with the letter (bill) that they slide under the door the night before you leave. If you owe nothing, you hand over the letter and wrist band and you're on your way. Large groups that arranged transit via bus was a whole different matter. They had those people wait on long lines to hand over the letter and wrist band and then wait for the bus. It looked a bit convoluted and confusing. Overall I personally had a good experience. The food and service were top notch in my opinion. The time I was able to enjoy the pool and park were nice as well. This was a work related trip and I'll definitely keep it in mind for a future vacation.

Mahekal Beach Resort - Beautiful dessert for lobster night

Mahekal Beach Resort

(121 reviews)

Gonzalo Guerrero

is it a fancy five star resort? Nope!…read more Do they have marble bathrooms and giant bay windows with pristine views and all the bells and whistles? Also no! Do they have an expansive menu with endless dining options? That's a no as well. Don't go into this resort, expecting a Hyatt or Hilton experience. This is a small, quaint, boutique style resort. What they do have is food that is executed and presented beautifully, even if it only features one main restaurant and one buffet each evening. They have excellent poolside lunch options. The menu may be smaller, but everything is perfectly prepared. This is a resort that spares no expense when it comes to flavor. The service at this resort is impeccable. From the wait staff to the housekeeping, I could not ask for better staff. The resort is starting to show its age. It's quaint, with its thatched roofs and tree treehouse like Haciendas. The grounds are well maintained, but again it's missing some bells and whistles. They need to make some updates, including better lighting (especially) adding well lit steps. maybe it was the drinks, maybe it was the early sunsets- but the trips up and down the stairs at night were beyond treacherous! The non-skid tape was well worn and slicker than it should be, and the steps were barely illuminated. We managed to make it through the week without incident, but barely! if you want a five star resort, this probably isn't the place for you. If you have kids and want a lot of activities again, probably not the place for you. However, if you are a foodie who values quality over endless menu options and you just want a nice relaxing vacation. This is a great place to stay. For us, it came down to location, location, location! Being able to walk out of our resort and right into the heart of shopping, food, and authentic experiences was a priceless amenity. I wish the bathrooms were updated, the concrete floors and dated showers have a very strong mildew smell- the lighting throughout is very poor. There isn't enough closet space ( I was able to hang three dresses, my husband's suit, and a few pairs of pants and with only three small nightstand size drawers there isn't much space for unpacking. Maybe it's the thatched roof, maybe it's the flaking concrete, but Even after sweeping the floor feels gritty - definitely come prepared with some slippers or flip-flops. I'm not used to having to wear shoes indoors, but at this resort, I highly recommend it. our week spent here was a bit rainy and overcast, none of the hot tubs at the resort were working. They were all slightly warmer than the pool, which isn't saying much, the ocean was warmer than the pools. Unfortunately, due the size of the waves we couldn't spend much time in the ocean, but their beach is much cleaner than many of the surrounding beaches. They do a great job of staying on top of all of the debris. And they have a lot of great lounging spaces with umbrella coverage. Unfortunately, during our stay Fuego, the main restaurant was under renovation so the limited menu was further limited. We were unable to order whole fish or any of their stone fired pizzas. Despite the closed restaurant, the weather, and the lack of hot tubs and updated facilities the stay was still magical. I can only attribute that to the warmth, sincerity, helpfulness, and availability of the staff. Was it the all inclusive resort experience I am accustomed to? No! Did I have an amazing time absolutely! I think it comes down to knowing what you want in a resort. If you aren't someone who wants 1 million activities a day then this is probably a great place to spend your vacation. They are generous with the drinks and the food, and even more generous with the hospitality!

Do NOT Book Your Wedding Here…read more They turned our wedding week (March 14 Wedding) into a nightmare so I want to warn every couple considering Mahekal for their wedding. What should have been the most magical week of our lives was repeatedly hijacked by the gross incompetence and dishonest practices of this resort's wedding team. And to be clear - we had a separately hired a wedding planner because by November we already knew Mahekal was not providing any support. We went into our wedding week thinking everything was settled without any warning of all the problems Mahekal was going to spring on us: - They lost track of $10,000 which we paid over SIX MONTHS ago. Totally unaccounted for in their system and we had to prove our payment history while onsite for our wedding. - They attempted to charge a $7,000+ penalty, claiming our room block had not been fulfilled through the code. We blocked 40 rooms and had 107 guests staying on property. We had to spend hours cross referencing the list they had which they didn't even have prepared for our meeting, with our list of guests which we had given them. We lost 4 hours to prove their botched webpage caused this issue. - What is truly unforgivable is Mahekal had an entire month after the room block deadline to communicate these issues to us. Instead, they waited until we arrived for our wedding to spring these problems on us due to their poor mgmt. We spent hours each day on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, AND Friday trying to clean up their messes, ruining our moods and taking time away from family and friends. - The front desk charged us $930 for an upgrade that was explicitly supposed to be complimentary. When we checked in they didn't even have us noted as the wedding couple and did absolutely nothing special for us - no rose petals, no welcome gift, nothing but headaches. When I brought the upgrade charge up to Laura, the in-house "wedding coordinator," she showed me on her monitor that their system had the upgrade documented as FREE... I showed her the additional $930 charge on my credit card. She took over a day to find the charge in their system and promised to work with the front desk to return this but has not responded to me or my wedding planner when we followed up. - We didn't get an adequate room even with the purchased upgrade so I couldn't take any getting ready photos. When we toured they showed a room with a living room which was not made available to me. Total bait and switch. I spent 9am to 1:30pm of my wedding day with just vendors because of this... They also do NOT have a bridal suite which is another sign they are not equipped to handle weddings. - I specifically and clearly requested mahi mahi NOT be served as the fish entrée option at our wedding and Laura said she would work with the chef... At our reception I took a bite of the fish and informed my husband it was mahi mahi and he gave me half his chicken... - For our welcome party, we were charged $450 for three infused water dispensers, a "water bar" we had approved for our outdoor cocktail hour (where it made sense given the heat despite the open bar). Instead, Mahekal applied it to the wrong event entirely; the welcome party which was hosted in a covered space with fans (La Cocina) for which we were already paying for a three-hour open bar. I didn't even see this water bar but whether it was there or not, they scammed us out of $450 because they can't even track a single add-on without messing up. - It's obvious now that we were shown updated rooms when we toured a year before our wedding. What we actually arrived to were cracked floors, broken AC, and toilets with rusted flush buttons. We stayed at the Banyan Tree Mayakoba, an actual 5-star resort, for 3 nights after our wedding to decompress from the stress Mahekal had caused. Mahekal felt like a beach motel in comparison. Mahekal is not just incompetent, they are predatory: waiting until you are emotionally and logistically vulnerable so they can hold one of the most important events of your life hostage. The individuals responsible for this horrible experience were Laura Elena Castellanos Patino and Maria Elena Armenta. The only thing I wish for them is Karma. Thankfully, we ended up having a wonderful wedding reception thanks to friends and family, and those memories are slowly replacing our horrible encounters with the resort staff.

Hidden Beach Resort

Hidden Beach Resort

(10 reviews)

$$$

Colonia Ejidal

Wife and I had a most AMAZING time romping around naked for a few days here. Not a lifestyle hotel…read moreat all...just an au natural resort. Very relaxing...very chill....wonderful clientele..and some amazing massages at the beach. A cute little niche boutique hotel. Food was plentiful, though a bit uneven..but would come back here in a heart beat. And hopefully will some day.

I'll put my full review on TripAdvisor, but it's worth posting a quick redux here as well…read more All said, Hidden Beach is one of the premiere clothing-optional vacation destinations on the planet. The friendly staff, the (mostly) all-inclusive menus, the swim-up bar, the king size beds. All good stuff. But for what you pay, and the fact that they put themselves out there as a five-star resort, I have to say, "Well maybe a 5* resort circa 1983. The rooms are definitely showing their age, totally lacking in electrical outlets for charging your gadgets, and the general ambiance is simply a bit below what you'd expect at that price point at any number of newer resorts on the Riviera Maya. We also agreed to take the "1-hour meeting" with Exotic Travel with the prospect of enjoying reduced rates in the future. The "no-pressure" pitch suddenly became very HIGH pressure at about the 90-minute mark at which point we decided to cut our losses. Seems they didn't want us to go back to our loungers to chat with other guests who've been a bit less than satisfied with their Exotic Travel investments. Hmmmm.... Will we go back? Probable. If we can get a decent rate without making a 10 year commitment.

Iberostar Waves Quetzal - hotels - Updated May 2026

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