This review is a result of being asked to sign an Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). I am posting this on various review sites for visibility.
Note: TLDR / Summary at the end.
We really, REALLY wanted to like this place, but there were a number of things which made this part of our vacation just a little sour.
This was our first time visiting Mexico, and by this time we have already completed our stay at the all-inclusive Panama Jack Resort in Cancun and a hotel named Riviera Maya at Playa del Carmen for a few days. Both of which went great.
We stayed at Privilege for 6 nights with the Superior Room and Hot Tub for the end of October.
On our third night, we encountered a large cockroach running around the bedroom after coming back from dinner. My partner and I like to keep things neat and clean and we are also very conscious about insects and keeping things closed, but nevertheless it is still possible to see cockroaches because of the area.
After killing the cockroach, we promptly went to the front desk, and although they were fully booked, they tried their best to find us another room just for the night but also for the rest of our stay (possibly downgrade). We decided that we liked the hot tub, so we let maintenance apply some spray that night, and we were told they would make a report. The resort would also deep clean and fumigate the room the next day.
The next day we left around noon and spent time at the beach while they cleaned and fumigated the room. When we returned, they added a nice decoration on the bed (pic attached).
But the following morning, we saw another, immobilized but barely alive, cockroach in the bathroom (pic attached). The fumigation appeared to work, it was just very unfortunate that we had to see another one. After killing that cockroach, we picked up a paper notice that was slid under our door, and it said that all rooms were going to be fumigated that day, which seemed like regular maintenance being done and/or a step taken as a result of our cockroach encounter.
We left for the beach while they deep cleaned and fumigated the room again. When we returned in the evening, they gave us a bottle of wine and chocolate covered strawberries (pic attached). Thankfully, no more cockroaches were encountered for the rest of our stay.
However, on the next day, my partner realized that money was stolen from her zipper wallet which was inside the bottom of her backpack, and from the 3 different types of currency she was carrying (USD, euros, pesos).
Ever since COVID, we didn't like people coming in to clean our room, but because of the cockroach situation, we definitely wanted the room cleaned up. We already had our passports and other documents in the safe, but since we had to leave the room for cleaning and fumigation, her zipper wallet was left in her backpack. Could we have placed the money/wallet in the safe? (which was ultimately our responsibility) Sure, but after their help and assistance with our cockroach issue, we obviously felt safe and trusted the workers employed at this 5-star resort. We don't know exactly who may have taken the money, but it was very disappointing to see. Front desk made a report and security assisted with the situation.
On the last couple of days, they offered different types of compensation such as a free night or a refund for a couple all-inclusive days. BUT if we were to receive any compensation, we would have to basically sign a NDA to not write a review about our experience. As someone who doesn't regularly write reviews, this rubbed me the wrong way so we didn't sign anything.
Positives?:
All the food and drinks (and all-inclusive perks) we tried such as their breakfast and dinner buffet, beach club, and Rodizio were amazing.
The location of the resort is excellent, since you have North Beach and local restaurants and shops nearby and/or walking distance.
Some workers who went above and beyond to give us an exceptional experience:
-Johnny(?), who helped us with check-in
-Jose, who helped with our bags
-Martin, who helped with everything dinner related. We have seen regular visitors talk to him and we see how much they love him, and we love him too. He would probably be the only reason we would consider going back.
I know new people and their regular guests will continue to still go there, as they appear to always be busy, but we just want people to be aware of our experience. We hope that we just had an unlucky stay and others will have a completely, better experience, because there are definitely workers who make this place and experience feel like a legit 5-star resort.
TLDR:
All-inclusive, food/drinks are amazing. The location is excellent for local shops, restaurants, and North Beach. Encountered two cockroaches. Money was stolen from our room. Hotel wanted us to sign an NDA for any compensation (for cockroaches). Workers like Martin are one of the best people you will ever meet. read more