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About
4.0
#34 of 38 all-inclusives in Playa del Carmen
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Ideally located in an area of 445 acres in a prime position on the beach on the Riviera Maya, BlueBay Grand Esmeralda combines elegant Mayan features with contemporary design and a wide range of service to suit the most discerning traveller. BlueBay Grand Esmeralda provides a relaxed atmosphere for holiday makers. The hotel features 979 elegant and well-appointed rooms and suites with the option of a sea or garden view.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
If i could give a minus 10 i would. From the moment we got there- roof was falling in in the lobby, we went to take a shower and the water was cold and barely came out, stain on sheets, the beach was absolutely horrible. Could not swim in it. Had some type of barriers in it murky and gross. The food was also very limited and we could not get a reservation so ended up eating at the tiny buffet. No one was swimming in the ocean. The pools were shallow. We left and got a reservation for another all inclusive. Of course did not receive any type of credit as this was booked through Elite Travel VIP/ corporate travel. Biggest rip off ever. Booked in Aruba originally then they told me it was overbooked and that this hotel was the only one available for the time period we could go. Lost over $900 in airfare and 700 getting another hotel for a five day stay. The workers were great however.
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Date of stay: March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Frederic C, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Mar 17, 2020
Dear friends, On behalf of all the staff of BlueBay Grand Esmeralda I wish to thank you for your feedback and for your preference. We regret that your experience with us was not at the level of their expectations, we will share your comments with our executive team to improve our service and our resort. We are at your service anytime and thank you again for your comments, Best regards!!
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The best thing about this resort is the friendly staff. That's it.
I think I killed a dozen of cockroaches, and have this chance to visit a scorpion in our home. Yes, a real scorpion was in our room. Cracks between tiles made them a good home for insects, and it seems no one cares about renovation.
The floor is made of cement, not tiles. it means you have to wake up early every day at 8, and it is impossible to sleep more because of terrible noises by staff (it is not their fault, when they move their carts on that rough, bumpy floor, it creates a thunderstorm kind of sound).
You need to make a reservation to use their special restaurants, which is fine. But the issue is, you can use them only for dinner. For lunches, the only option is their buffets which have a middle-class quality for the foods. Moreover, not all restaurants are available at your choice, e.g. their oriental restaurant was only available at two nights, and we couldn't use the French restaurant since it was not available during our 6-night stay.
Internet connection was so poor, a lot of disconnection. And only one device can connect to the net, so if you connect your cellphone to the net, your partner cannot use it, or if you have your laptop with yourself, you can either connect it or your cellphone.
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Frederic C, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Feb 13, 2020
Dear friends, On behalf of all the staff of BlueBay Grand Esmeralda I wish to thank you for your feedback and for your preference. We regret that your experience with us was not at the level of their expectations, we will share your comments with our executive team to improve our service and our resort. We are at your service anytime and thank you again for your comments, Best regards!!
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We loved the hotel and the swimming pool and the great food. Also, I wish to give a very high recommendation to Yesuca the Concierge in building 5. She went out of her way to reserve just the right dining and time for our dinners. I have a recommendation that could be a great marketing advantage. Place railings on the steps and in the bath rooms and near the toilets in the public baths as well as in several of the rooms. There was only 1 handicapped room when we checked in and it way far away from the pool where we wanted to be . The lack of railing made it hard for my partner. You could then recommend that your hotel is ADA or American Disability Act compliant, which would be great for business.
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Frederic C, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Jan 21, 2020
Dear friends, On behalf of all the staff of BlueBay Grand Esmeralda I wish to thank you for your great comments and for your preference. We will make sure to share your lovely comments with all our staff and it will be a privilege to serve you again in a near future. If you need any help for your future reservations please feel free to contact us anytime. Best regards!!
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The staff are very attentive and helpful despite some of the reviews we read. We were initially dreading coming due to a lot of negative reviews. However having spent a fortnight here and enjoyed the break immensely I wouldn't hesitate to come back There are small negatives such as the sound permeating the buildings. Didnt affect us at night. Security staff nipped any rowdy behaviour in the bud The black and white bar is where the entertainment happens and is more of a sports bar than entertainment venue. The a la cartes are in general very good and must be booked the day before. The only disappointment was the seafood restaurant where both meals were inedible an and nothing done to rectify or apologise for it. Francisco in the Italian made a sterling effort to make sure everything topped up and gave good advice and information about the area and menus. Mauro in the restaurant by the beach for breakfast also helped start the day right and put a positive vibe and made breakfast time special. Benjamin from the French and steakhouse restaurànts went above and beyond to make sure we were attended to and constantly topped up water and wine while having a very positive attitude. However all the staff we came across also tried to make sure the holiday went without a hitch.
If you are looking for great evening entertainment and the latest and greatest in hotels u will be disappointed. However the accomodation was very good despite the low soundproofing. The pools were fantastic and clean. No seaweed or bad smell smell issues. We were in the mayapan building which is furthest from the beach but was only a 10 min walk or the train took about the same. The beach is fantastic. Swimming in the sea wasn't too great as lots of rocky bottom and only waste deep up to the breakwater floats. The pools were a better swim option. The sea was also poor visibility due to sand particles prob from the prev storms or boat traffic. So not much snorkelling.
The grounds and facilities kept very well and v clean. The covid protections were also good and made us feel confident that every care taken. Hand gels, masks, gloves at buffet and table separation all good.
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Date of stay: November 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Director General, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Dec 1, 2021
Dear Colin, Thank you so much for your visit and for sharing yur positves and feedback, We hope to host you again soon, Sincerely, BlueBay Family
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Dont read all these bad reviews. We stayed here in January and had an excellent girls trip. Upon check in we were approached by super Mario and was given an opportunity to get cash to spend at resort. Fortunately we knew where this was going and declined as we didnt want to waste our time or there time in getting a time share. We got to our room yes the rooms are a bit dated but nothing horrible. The room was clean and the beds were comfy. We stayed in building 7 which was nice and close to the quiet pool. Golf carts come around often to pick you up if you dont feel up to walking. We had no issues reserving a la cartes. We had Italian, mexican and steakhouse. The Italian was my favorite. The food at all the buffets was great. We only had one evening where it was extremely busy but patience is a virtue. Lots of entertainment around pool and in the evening. Drinks were awesome and not watered down by no means. Staff were very friendly. Friends of ours staying next door forgot to lock safe and security locked it up and they had to come let them into it. Fortunately nothing was taken, which is amazing. The wildlife here is amazing. Coatis deer iguanas just so awesome to see. Beach seemed fine to me. I didnt swim in it however there wasnt much seaweed when I went down there so they are definitely working hard at maintaining it Walk 10 mins to the left and go see the lagoon. It's beautiful. The resort that owns the bridge wont let you cross it but you can swim across to see the other side. All in all I would recommend this resort and I would come back.
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Frederic C, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Feb 6, 2020
Dear Friends, Thank you very much for your great comments and thank you for recommending our resort. We are glade to read that you enjoyed your stay, We hope to have the pleasure to host you again soon, Sincerely,
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I don’t know where to start with this hotel. I’m now a complainer or a whiner. I made the best of the trip. The staff get 100 stars they made the visit what it was. The facility well we had 6 rooms for our group and 5 had to be moved. I was in the room that couldn’t move. So no shower Ac was intermittent at best and leaked constantly. The food I heard people say it’s great for a resort. It was...... bad that’s the only word to describe it. The drinks were never the same or even right for that matter. The shows I can’t describe them in a way that won’t get taken down. The beach is horrible. The site describes a nice beach. This is held together with sand bags and the part of the coast we are on is where the sludge comes. You literally can’t swim. If you do it’s in a mud pit. The market they have once a week for souvenirs is 4x the price. If you take a taxi for 300 pesos to town you get the exact same stuff for 1/4 the price. I give this 1 star over all. The staff earned that star. The facility is old and failing the food is not even close to being good and the outdoor areas are worn out and old. I will never come here again and I would not recommend it to anyone. I warn against coming here you will be disappointed that you spent this much money for garbage
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Date of stay: January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Frederic C, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Feb 1, 2020
Dear friends, On behalf of all the staff of BlueBay Grand Esmeralda I wish to thank you for your preference. We regret that your experience with us was not at the level of their expectations, We are at your service anytime and thank you again for your comments, Best regards!!
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We stayed for 7 nights from July 26th. The pool is lovely, no issues getting a lounger and it’s warm and cleaned daily. The beach is soft white sand, plenty of places to lay out and relax. The seaweed is obviously a thing this time of year, but the staff work tirelessly to remove it and keep the smells at bay. It really only got stinky one day we were there and that was because a storm churned it up. We expected it and it didn’t spoil our trip at all. Being British and used to swimming in dark waters we got in the sea regardless, but we were the minority. The kids used the kids club multiple times and loved it. The team are really fun and make them feel at home. They offer childcare 10-5pm which is amazing. No need to book either so it’s really relaxed and they’re happy for you to pick up when you want to. We had a garden view room with two doubles, it stayed nice be cool in the room and it was cleaned every afternoon and the fridge restocked. If you leave a tip the cleaning staff make fantastic towel animals which our kids thought was hilarious. The room was showing it’s age a little, our sliding door needed a bit of tlc and the outside light didn’t work but these things weren’t a problem for us. We still used our balcony to sit and have a margarita every night and it being darker kept the mosquitoes on our neighbours side. We took advantage of the excursion to Xcaret. We’ll worth it. Especially for the traditional craft workshops and shopping in the ‘Mayan village’. Do walk up the beach to the blue lagoon, it’s cold but clear and really fun swimming with the current. Kids really need floaties for that. The breakfast is by far the best meal in our opinion. I will miss the Mexican brekky foods…so yummy! We booked an A La carte once, traditional Mexican food…and the beef fajitas were delicious. You need to book early (the day before) to get tables at busy times. If you don’t mind eating at 6pm you can pretty much guarantee a booking. The staff are all friendly and say Hola! as they pass. Our favourite was Daniel in the buffet restaurant. He memorised our favourite drinks and looked after us very well. The only thing I wouldn’t do again was 5th Avenue in downtown Playa Del Carmen. If I was young and child free I would’ve loved it, but it’s too busy, loud and intense with kids and the prices for souvenirs are high even if you haggle. We enjoyed meeting the artisans and shopping in Xcaret much more. Id definitely come back to this resort again.
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Date of stay: July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from DIRECTOR GENERAL, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Aug 5, 2022
Dear Friends, Thank you very much for your kind comments, We are glade to read that you enjoyed your time, We hope to have the opportunity to host you again soon, Sincerely, BlueBay Family
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My partner and I stayed at Blue Bay from December 15-22 and it was nothing short of awesomeness. As it was my first time in Mexico and not his, I took my advantage to relax and fully take in my appreciation of stillness. This resort is not too busy with party like people and I would say it’s very much like a family resort. Though you can find your own space to quiet down and relax. I was surprised with how many amenities this place has as it is only a 150 acre resort. It has two buffets, one by the lobby and the other by the beach (less formal attire). Food was great from the buffet, and most of the times the service was great there too. Service from hotel staff was great, they do try hard to satisfy you so always please consider tipping even though it’s an all inclusive resort. As far as food goes, there are four fancy restaurants where you can make reservations including an Italian, steakhouse, seafood, and Mexican. They incorporated first course, main and dessert and I loved them all. I had a great time meeting Servando and Francisco from the main buffet, Francisco from the seafood restaurant, and Daniel and Jose and Eli from the bar and beach buffet! Thank you you guys were amazing servers! They also do have room service available for 120 pesos/7 usd of which there is a select menu open from 11am to 6am. Besides the food, the amenities is great, there’s a huge beach, and even though Mexico is having a hard time with the seaweed I find that they do an amazing job at cleaning the beach every morning. On the beach there are sun chairs some covered with a umbrella but you’d have to get there no later than 11 to get a good spot. There is a bar on the beach to the right called columpus bar with swings, a volleyball court and offers for jets ski and stuff. The coolest of yet is to the left there is a blue lagoon about five minute walk down. Try to go early in the day, but the day varies as to it being packed or not. There are four pools I believe, if you don’t want to walk too far ask for a room closest to the beach. And if you don’t have a room close to the beach, you can wait at the taxi signs and the mini golf karts with come pick you up! There is two lounge bars, the black and white where there is a performance every night at 930pm and a variety of performances. They also play games there and there’s also pool and etc. The rooms were great in my opinion, they may seem a little out dated as far as the colour scheme goes but how they keep up with it is amazing. The maids are super great they will come at your door every morning to see if you want your room cleaned. Out of everything, I had a great experience with Blue Bay, but again this was for me and my partner to relax and take it all in and easy. If you’re looking to party this may not be for you. Also, don’t forget to tip! People are working hard in the heat and it’s nice to show some gratitude and appreciation!
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Date of stay: December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from DIRECTOR GENERAL, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Dec 28, 2021
Dear Friends, Thank you very much for your visit and kind comments, We hope to host you again soon, Sincerely, BlueBay Family
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My family and I stayed here for 7 days over the Christmas holiday and had a wonderful time. They gave us rooms close to each other which was really appreciated. The rooms are spacious and clean with a good size balcony. The resort is very clean and well maintained - the paths are lined with trees and mangrove which is kept trimmed. We loved the landscaping. The restaurants were staffed by friendly, helpful people and there was a great selection of foods for adults and kids. Although the resort is spread over a large area, there was transportation between the various sites which made it easy for little ones and people with mobility issues to get around. We had no problems with the wifi either around the resort or in our rooms. My only suggestion to improve the experience is to install lights on the steps leading our of the Festival restaurant so that they would be visible at night. I had a tumble while I was there as I didn't see the step up. Despite this it was the perfect location for us and I would certainly go again. Thanks to Toni for her recommendation.
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Date of stay: December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SOPHIEBBGE, Director de Relaciones Públicas at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Jan 26, 2020
Dear heathermJ300JX, Thank you for your wonderful review. We are proud to know that you consider the BlueBay Grand Esmeralda hotel as the perfect place to enjoy family vacations. We will consider your comment concerning the Festival entrance. Please contact us anytime to program your future stays. Kind regards,
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We arrived at Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda on February 17 for a 17 day-16 night holiday.. The office staff (Genny, Nancy and Andrea) had everything ready for us at check in. Our room was fantastic in building 5. They are updating many of the rooms in Building 5 and they are beautiful.
Their response to COVID-19 was above our expectations. They took it very seriously and made sure we were all safe. They took our temperature before we entered any restaurant, had hand sanitizer available throughout the resort, required us to walk over a sanitizer pad when entering the restaurants, masks required in all buildings and provided a COVID test before we left.
The resort was at 14% occupancy during our 17 day stay. We truly missed all our Canadian travelers we usually see during our stay.
The staff at Blue Bay could not be more friendly or helpful. Andres and Claudia took care of all our requests at the beach bar. The waiters, Willey, Eddie, Ruperta, Candito and Fresco made our dining experience extra special. We were concerned with the low occupancy we would not have much variety in our evening dining but they rotated the cuisine between two restaurants. Every night we had two different choices. Breakfast and lunch was buffet-style but they did the serving. You had to be creative and look for the "treat of the day" to find something different at every meal.
This was our 13th visit to Blue Bay and looking forward to next year already.
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Date of stay: February 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Frederic Ceglarski, Director General at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda
Responded Mar 22, 2021
Dear Friends, Thank you very much for your great cooments, thank you for so much detail, We will congratulate all the nominated staff member from you, See you soon,
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45 minutes. All are American funds. $70.00 each way if you use the resort taxis. They will be waiting for you with a sign. Saves having to find a taxis .
Also shuttle bus, but not as comfortable.
New Orleans, Louisiana262 contributions137 helpful votes
Yes, all restaurants are included. There is a daytime buffet, a very nice evening buffet. The six a la carte restaurants require a reservation, made one day in advance. Each building has a concierge, so this is easy.
Food is quite good, especially the Mexican & the French.
There are more places to choose from in the Playa del Carmen area.
PRICE RANGE
C$203 - C$297 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
blue bay esmeralda, bluebay grand esmeralda hotel, blue bay grand esmeralda riviera maya, blue bay grand esmeralda mayan riviera, grand esmeralda, blue bay grand esmerelda, blue bay grand esmeralda resort, blue bay grand esmeralda beach resort spa, blue bay esmerelda
LOCATION
MexicoYucatan PeninsulaQuintana RooRiviera MayaPlaya del Carmen
NUMBER OF ROOMS
979
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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