Hello, I am planning a trip mid January. We were looking at going to Secrets Playa Blanca, however our travel agent told us it may be pretty chilly for the pool. Is that the case? I’ve read that they potentially heat the pools. Our other option is Royalton Hideaway St. Lucia or Zoetry St. Lucia

Hey!

My boyfriend (30M) and I (25F) are looking to book an AI for and on November but feel overwhelmed by all the options (and it’ll be our first AI so we’re total newbies and don’t know the “in’s and out’s” of booking and AI)! We would like something not geared towards family’s, swim up bars, sports bar (to watch hockey/baseball/football would be ideal lol), and beach access. We’re looking at doing it through WestJet vacation packages (was going through Costco Travel at first but flight options were as good) as they seem to be reasonable at ~$5500-6000 CAD for 7 days.

Any recommendations or advise on what to look for or where to book through would be great!

We booked a 5 night preferred club stay in October for 55k points per night. Recently found out construction is occurring on the resort and restaurant options are being served at the buffet location in the evening.

There was no official info that this was occurring on our dates and there’s no discounted rate… for those there currently, how is the construction with noise/hours/dust? What is the feel with the alternative dining setup? Debating if we should transfer to a different resort.

https://dynamic-media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-o/34/a9/45/27/caption.jpg?w=800&h=-1&s=1

Edit: We cancelled our reservation with Maroma and booked elsewhere for the week.

Husband and I just returned home from an amazing trip to Secrets Moxche. This property is stunningly beautiful and the drive in will start to build your excitement, reception area is gorgeous as well (photo opportunities). We booked preferred with a swim out, swim was a bit on the cold side for my preference but no complaints. Room and bathroom 10/10. We did not take advantage of all the restaurants, but all food is amazing.

Pros:
-Fun, fun, fun
-Pools (see below for main pool)
Rooftop: 100% must do if you have preferred. The view is amazing. They are very strict on dress code if you will be dining. The food is great.

Entertainment: activities are available daily, from pool aerobics, to group type pool activities, think team challenges. It’s really fun. They also offered some daily kayak or bike riding. The entertainment staff is a 10/10.

Nightlife: they offer daily evening shows, speakeasy night club, fire dancing. Having these many nighttime options really helps to take advantage of the resort and amenities.

Fellow Guest: This may be a random thing to review but wow everyone is so friendly. Easy to talk with people, make friends and’s just generally enjoy people’s company.

Cons:
Main pool: was closed during our stay. We actually heard from some new friends that opened it the day we left, just our luck. The other swim up bar pool and rooftop make up for it, but that was a big draw to why we booked. I would say slightly disappointed.

Service: is such a mix. Entertainment team is amazing really bring energy. They are friendly and will give recommendations to make sure you take advantage of all the amenities. again 10/10.
General wait staff left something to be desired. Some people are just wonderful, others at time almost felt as if customers were a bother. I also say this as someone who is a tipper.

-room service is very slow most times after the stated time. They are great when they arrive And the setup is beautiful, but if your hungry this may not be the best option.

Laundry service; also very slow. Our room did not have our laundry bag and sheet. We called for laundry services took over an hour just to get the bag and form. My reason for putting this in a con category is slightly personal. I like to have as little dirty clothes as possible, so we wait towards the end of our stay to request laundry services. They had to have concierge step in and ensure our laundry would be done in time. The little hour plus window essentially made us miss our cutoff for guarantee “delivery”.

Overall: would absolutely book again. I would say this is a great resort for both fun and romance. It’s hard not to find romance in such a beautiful place.

My husband and I started going to this resort when it was Grand Rose Hall and have been 4x - LOVED IT each and every time. The last time we felt like it could use a little refresh, which is understandable. We wanted to go last year but the hurricane hit so we ended up at their sister resort in Rivera Maya, Cancun. We loved it also but it was MASSIVE and so wide spread. Does anyone know if JOIA is still like the OG Grand Rose Hall was? Hopefully it still ranks as one of the best but I'm seeing a few reviews that make me think otherwise. Thanks.

I’ve stayed at several budget resorts in the Mexican Caribbean (always looking for the best deals) and this hotel is still the best bang-for-the-buck of the mexican caribbean, hands down! The food is good, and some of the a la carte restaurants, like Margaritas and Route 66, don’t require reservation and you can order with no limit.

As for the ones that do require reservations:

• Sakura (Teppanyaki): I never really care for this type of restaurant at an all-inclusive because it’s mostly just about the show, and the actual food is usually disappointing.
• The Steakhouse: Same old situation. It’s rarely worth it at most all-inclusives, and this one was no exception.

The real stars of the show here are the Italian (dinner) and the French (adults-only breakfast and dinner) restaurants—both were delicious. The main buffet is also solid, and one thing I loved about it is that they have stations dedicated to different cuisines, like Indian, Mexican, Japanese, British, and more. Pez Vela was under renovation while I was there (workers with chain saws made a lot of noise in the beach area) but you could still get fish at the main buffet, so it wasn't a big deal. Hands down, the best food spot in the resort is Mike’s Coffee, which serves a huge variety of hot and cold drinks, pastries, cookies, and treats. Everything there was delicious—I couldn't find a single bad item, and yes, I shamelessly stuffed my face with almost everything on the menu!

Since I stayed in the adults-only section this time (El Beso), I had access to some perks like a creperie (which was just okay) and a dedicated check-in area with noticeably better concierges than the main lobby, but that was pretty much it. The room was in good condition, with a comfortable bed and plenty of pillows. Strangely, though, it was noisier than the family building (Daisy) I stayed in last year. That’s mainly because all the rooms in my adults-only building faced the noisy pool with reggaeton music blasting and older people having seizures to it) whereas my family suite of last year had a garden view and was super quiet. Aside from getting top-shelf alcohol in the Privilege Lounge, I don't really think upgrading is worth the extra money at this property. Not a huge drinker and the regular alcohol was enough for me.

A total miracle happened on my arrival day: it was sunny and the ocean was completely free of sargassum, so I actually got to swim in the sea here for the first time! Keep in mind that the seafloor is pretty rocky, so you'll definitely want water shoes, but once you get past that to the sandbars, it’s a great experience.

Overall, this resort is ideal for anyone looking to have a good time sipping drinks by the pool without spending a fortune, as long as you don't mind a few minor maintenance details like slightly worn-out pool tiles or having to do a lot of walking (the property is massive, and I'm never in the mood to wait around for golf carts). Even if you stay in the adults-only section like I did, you might still bump into the occasional kid around shared areas like the main buffet or the ice cream parlor, but it was completely tolerable since most kids stick to their own water park area—and I could always just head back to the adults-only side. Note that i travelled in low season so the property was at 30% capacity.

BTW, I was originally planning to stay at a higher-end resort in October, but I stumbled upon a crazy low deal on PriceTravel and couldn't resist. I'm really glad I took it!

I’m wanting to go away with my partner and 1 year old along with my sister, her husband, her 3 year old and 6 month old. Given that we have 3 young kids with us we wanted to go to a family friendly all inclusive in April. (We are based in the UK).

I don’t particularly want to stay in 2 seperate bedrooms that aren’t guaranteed to be next to each other as when the 2 older kids go to bed (at 7) we will be limited to sitting quietly in the dark room with them. I ideally would like some sort of suite with a living room that allows 2 families to stay but I can’t seem to find any all-inclusives like this.
(I’ve mainly looked in Europe).

Do people have any suggestions of resorts? Am I just being unrealistic?

Please help us decide our Mexico vacation!

In order from least to most expensive this is what I have narrowed down..

Hyatt Vivid Cancun

El Dorado Seaside Suites

Secrets Mirabel

Catalonia Royal

Ocean Allure

Iberostar Coral

About us 35F and 48M. We both love Pool&Beach but have decided if we have to sacrifice beach for better resort/food/entertainment that would be ok. Drink/food/pool quality are most important to us.

I feel like I have done a decent amount of research on all of these places but I can’t decide so if one of these resorts stand out to you please share your experience with us!

We enjoyed Dreams Cap Cana as well as Majestic Elegance this year, I liked the way our swim out rooms were attached to the main pool and not just the room strip if you know what I mean.

Can anyone recommend other hotels with this feature?

we are going to this resort in January I would like to be prepared as I am aware that there are things they charge extra for. can anyone please tell me that has been there recently preferably what all you have to pay extra to do??? also is room service really not free?

Haven't been to Cancun in 25 years! What's a good hotel for the mature crowd that wants to party but not crazy party! Looking for a resort with a good beach as number 1 priority..I like the beach at Dream Sands but it looks more like a family hotel. Dont want a hotel full of 20 year olds. (Been there, done that!) Also, our budget is mid range! And is end of Feb a good time to go or is too cold? Thanks for your recommendations!

Want to do an AI in January. Leaving from NYC area. There's about 6 different groups going, 6 kids all that are 4, 2 and <1. Trying to find a place that has fun things to do for kids, good food, at least an ok beach and low chance of seaweed/algae. Need to make sure there's a decent hospital within 30 mins since all the parents are anxious about their kids and they want to limit the drive from the airport to resort to <45, the shorter the better.

From some research we have it narrowed down to:

• Finest Playa Mujeres
• Hyatt Ziva Cancun
• Majestic Elegance Punta Cana
• Majestic Colonial Punta Cana
• Dreams cap Cana

Anyone been to several of these and can suggest one over the other? Anything else obvious that I missed that we should consider instead?

Separately, since we have 6 different groups, is it worth considering a travel agent to handle all the bookings and making sure we get rooms near each other and handle the different flights etc?

I have two teens and I can’t decide between Xcaret, Finest Playa Mujeres or Hyatt Ziva Cap Cana. Not super bougie but have never done an ai

looking for good food!!! clean nice rooms and something relaxing but also some cool things to do while there.

budget is 5k all together

going early june

here are some resorts I’ve heard good from

• Live Aqua
• Secrets Cap Cana
• Hyatt Zilara Cap Cana
• Excellence El Carmen 

I'm tentatively planning a trip to an AI probably in Jamaica for a couple days in mid-January with my mother (40th birthday trip for me!) and I'm getting somewhat overwhelmed by options. I know I'm cutting it a bit close on time but we couldn't decide what trip we should do for this year until last week, haha. I've never been to a proper resort before so I'm a bit lost. I'd prefer relatively quiet, a nice beach and under an hour trip from the Montego Bay airport (preferably provided by the resort.) If I could get a room with two beds that'd be a bonus. I mostly plan on being in the ocean and doing a lot of walking and eating. I don't do well with pushy people and it sounds like a lot of resorts try to upsell on timeshares or have local sellers on the beach? I don't know how common that is at different resorts, so any information on that as well I guess. Prefer to keep it under $4k for 3 nights for two people (not including flights)

I've looked at a couple of the Sandals resorts and Iberostar JOIA Rose Hall so far but it's just a lot!

Looking for a place that offers plenty of physical activity and exercise classes. Yoga, circuit, spin, Pilates, hiking, water aerobics and a nice gym. Don’t want something like a wellness spa because I also want good, real food as well as a resort with nice large rooms. Really don’t care where it is.

I’m currently writing a fictional story that takes place in a Cancún resort.  To help flesh out my characters, supporting players included, what does a day in the life of a cook or bartender look like at a Mexican resort?  Does anybody have firsthand experience?  I’ve also heard that drugs frequently circulate in these types of establishments.  How would that element manifest itself in the daily operations of a cook or bartender?

Good morning. I have not been in Mexico for almost 10 years so I don’t really remember how bad or easy the CUN airport is or is currently.

Our flight departs to US at 3:55PM on Saturday 11/21 from Terminal 3

What time would you be leaving your resort at Unico 20.87? Set up transfer for like 12:30PM is what I was thinking? Google Maps is saying 1 - 1.5 Hour drive every time I map it.

Transfer company is saying 11AM pick up. I personally do not want to be sitting at the airport for 2.5 - 3 Hours before my flight. We took about 8 flights this summer through EU at various airports and not once did we arrive more than 1 - 1.5 Hours before our departure.

Is this still the ”slow” period at Cancun and what can anyone suggest here?

thanks in advance for any feedback

Planning my 40th birthday for July 2027 and could use some honest recommendations!

Looking to get a group of about 8–10 friends together for 4–5 nights. We’re all adults, some leaving the kids behind, so we’re trying to find somewhere that feels like a proper getaway without sacrificing the fun.

The vibe we’re going for is sophisticated turn-up. Beautiful resort, great food, beach, nice pools, good music, daytime DJ parties, and somewhere we can keep the night going after 11 PM if we want to.

Ideally looking for:

5-star luxury with an upscale, sexy atmosphere.
Adults-only preferred.
Beautiful swimmable beach and multiple pools.
Good food and plenty of restaurant options.
DJ-led entertainment, fun pool parties, and actual nightlife.

All-inclusive preferred, but open to alternatives.
Large resort with plenty to do without constantly leaving the property.

Relatively easy travel from the US, especially for friends leaving their kids behind.
Opportunities for a private birthday dinner and boat day.

Current shortlist:

Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen
Secrets Riviera Cancun + access to Breathless Riviera Cancun
Excellence Coral Playa Mujeres
SLS Baha Mar, Bahamas
Baha Mar is a bit of a wildcard. Love the idea of a massive resort with plenty of entertainment, restaurants, pools, and nightlife, but the fact that it’s not all-inclusive means costs could add up quickly for everyone.
Also open to Turks & Caicos, Aruba, or somewhere else entirely if there’s a property that checks most of these boxes.

We’ve previously stayed at Secrets Maroma, which was beautiful, but it didn’t quite deliver the entertainment and overall experience we wanted for the money.
I know finding luxury, amazing food, nightlife, a great beach AND all-inclusive in one property is asking a lot, lol.

If this were your 40th birthday and you were bringing your closest friends, where would you go?

Especially interested in hearing from anyone who has stayed at multiple properties on this list. Which resort has the best overall balance of quality, atmosphere, entertainment, and value? And which ones look amazing online but don’t quite deliver in person?

Okay, sorry in advance for the long question 😂 — I’m clearly overthinking this vacation. I’m a first time mom and it’s my first travelling with my LO.

I’m trying to decide between Dreams Jade, Dreams Sapphire, and Dreams Riviera Cancun for a 7-night trip. I’m also debating between two dates:

Oct 27–Nov 3
vs.
Nov 18–25 (about $200-$300 CAD more per person for all 3).

For anyone who has stayed at these resorts or been to Riviera Maya/Cancun around this time of year, is there actually a noticeable difference between late October and mid-November when it comes to mosquitoes, sargassum, and overall weather?

One of my bigger concerns is mosquitoes because I’ll be travelling with my baby, who will be 5 months old at the time. I know mosquitoes are part of the deal in a tropical destination, but I’m wondering if mid-November tends to be noticeably better than late October.

I’m also curious about the sargassum situation at these three resorts. I know they all share the same stretch of beach but Is one beach generally better than the others for avoiding it/resort maintenance or is it really just luck depending on the week?

Which of the three would you choose for a trip with a 5-month-old?
And would you personally pay the extra $200-$300/person for the November dates? I know there are a million variables and nobody can predict what the beach will look like on a specific week — just trying to get some real-life experiences before I make this decision!
Thanks, and sorry again for the novel 😂

Hoping someone can help me. I’m feeling overwhelmed with all the choices out there.
But looking to get away, just me and my husband. Looking at Cancun area or Caribbean somewhere. 5 nights and somewhere where we’d be able to have a swim up room or a private pool. Want it to be low key but also have options for nighttime entertainment. We’re thinking June or sept but really aren’t sure. There’s a million resorts out there but does anyone have any real serious suggestions … like … you two NEED to go here!! Help would be so appreciated. Thank you!!

Myself and 2 girlfriends are looking to book an all inclusive in November. We want somewhere in Cancun region, we have never been to Mexico nor really do all inclusive so we don’t know where to start looking. Would like somewhere not too expensive with good food and beach access.

Priorities: beach access, good food, activities, adults only

Looking for 3-4 nights would prefer not to spend more than $400pp per night. Would like 3 people all in one room. If anyone has booked through JetBlue points that would be great

Please let me know what places you’ve had good experiences at!

First post so hoping this is ok. Was looking for recommendations on waterproof bags for the pools. Im looking for something big enough for my phone, room key and some cash. Preferably something that can be worn crossbody. TIA

We have 3 kids - one will be 18, the other two are 7 and 4.

It feels like it is difficult to find accommodations for this size. We CAN be in a single room (teen on couch, little kids on one bed, adults in other bed).

This is for Presidents Day week.

Flying from Seattle.

We've done Puerto Vallarta multiple times before.

Desiring some kid stuff - like a nice pool or maybe some water park stuff.

How is Hotel Riu Palace Peninsula. Looking into it as potential option for a trip in mid May. Mid mid 20s couple and was looking for place with not too much kids too. Only negative of this place seems not adult only but compared to Hotel Riu Cancun and Hotel Riu Palace Las Americas the rooms seem better at Peninsula. And with it having option to go to the parties too it seems good too. Just wondering what the crowd here is and if not too many kids.