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5.0
#1 of 3 all-inclusives in Akumal
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
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In the ancient language of the Mayas, long before Cancun, there was a magic place called Akumal "Place of Turtles". Between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort offers one of the best beaches anywhere, with almost a mile of white sandy powder beach, world-class snorkeling with sea turtles and top diving with a great variety of life that thrives within the live coral reef just steps from our guest room. The relaxed atmosphere in Akumal captivates the spirit of a laid back Mayan Riviera beachside town. Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort offers a truly unique experience for guests seeking the best possible beach vacation and relaxing activities such as daily yoga and meditation classes. All guest rooms are located in 4 buildings within steps of the ocean and feature breathtaking views of Akumal Bay. With the convenience of an All-Inclusive, we provide our guests with a sophisticated simplicity and friendly service in the intimate atmosphere of a small resort.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
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Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort is frequently lauded for its pristine cleanliness and stunning beachfront setting, nestled in an idyllic location close to natural attractions. While some guests regard the resort as a tranquil retreat offering good value, particularly highlighting the exceptional service and serene atmosphere with live music, others point out the need for updated amenities and room renovations.
The ocean views and snorkeling experiences are popular, though opinions on food quality and extra costs vary among travelers.
Location
Picturesque
Atmosphere
Tranquil
Rooms
Dated
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Meticulous
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Relaxing
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We have been travelling to this resort for the last 16 years. There is no other place in Mexico we would stay. Emanuele Bissoli the Guest service manager is the best I have ever dealt with. He always try's to give us the room we request and always answers any questions promptly. From the moment the plane lands and Canada Transfers is waiting to pick us up (The best Transfer company). Once at the resort the front desk staff are amazing. Ivania has been there the last few years and she is wonderful. We usually stay in a penthouse and the view from the jacuzzi at night is stunning. The rooms are always clean and refreshed daily with anything you need. I am a vegetarian and all restaurants have many choices. The food is delicious and the service even better. All the staff are great a few of our favorites are Bartenders Felipe, Clemente and Wilberth (who came with the building and has dropped three pant sizes since he started lol). Waiter at dinner Juan Carlos (best ever), Overnight restaurant Jesus, Breakfast Buffet Louis ( the nicest man), Adriana and I will call her Egg lady, I cannot believe I have forgotten her name as she is the kindest person you will meet. Beach Manager German who is the hardest working dude! I know there are people I am forgetting so just no there is not one in the last 16 years that has not been kind and great at what they do. Last but not least I will mention the patrons, that is the people we have met there and continue to meet there every year. People that now will be our life long friends. Thanks you to everyone involved in making this resort our home away from home.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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There is very little to fault at this resort. The rooms are all sea facing, clean and generally well serviced. They are not overly luxurious but they are more than adequate and the beds in the many rooms our group had were some of the most comfortable hotel beds we have ever slept in. The beach is fantastic and there are enough deck chairs for everyone. We didn't use the pool very much at all because the sea was warm, clear and there are no waves, making it a much more pleasant swim than the pool. The sea life is also plentiful so bring a snorkel and a life jacket if you have one. As this is an all inclusive one has to rate the food. The buffet has something for everyone and is at a pretty good standard. We ate at 3 of the restaurant and they were all great. We were there for 10 nights so went back to 2 of them and was not disappointed once. The service at the restaurants is excellent and is very good at the buffet as well. The buffet staff work exceptionally hard all the time and will try and fulfil every request. I normally do not mention names in my reviews but there is a chef who makes the eggs whose name is Aurora. She is unreal. Her enthusiasm, warmth and tireless service is something special to see every morning.
The entertainment in the evening and nights is adequate with different bands playing every night. They usually play pretty good covers. I don't think you can expect more at a medium size all inclusive. If I was to report negatively about anything, we booked a breakfast for more than 10 people at guest relations for a birthday at a specific time. When we arrived for breakfast they had no notice of the booking as it was not communicated to them. The restaurant staff went to work immediately and repaired the situation as quickly as possible, set a special table for us and prepared a special birthday cake with a personal message on it. We also requested inter-leading rooms (or ones next door one another) in our booking and were allocated rooms in two different blocks. This was remedied on day 3. I would have preferred that they had more beach towels available. I would strongly recommend Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness if you are looking for a very relaxing holiday, with good accommodation in a great location, good food and great service. The only thing missing is the waves. There is pretty good wifi throughout the resort for those who can't live without it.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
Cleanliness
Service
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 ABBWR, Guest Relations Manager at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Jan 11, 2020
Dear AUC, Thank you very much for sharing your Akumal Bay – Beach & Wellness Resort experience with us, it was an honor to host your holidays. Thanks to reviews like yours, which are very important and constructive, we are able to identify opportunity areas and allow us to continue to improve and provide better service; our priority is to make you feel like at home and to exceed our friends expectations all the time. Inter-leading or connecting rooms are not available in the resort. Room requests are duly noted and tagged in our reservation system, even though we cannot guarantee any of them please rest assured we always do everything possible to make it happen. We all look forward to welcome you back in the near future to your home under the sun. Warm regards, Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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We chose the Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort based on raving reviews from friends who had stayed there several times. The resort was beautiful! Each room had a spectacular ocean view. The rooms themselves were a little sparse - we could have used more drawer space for our clothes. But, the beds were comfortable, the shower had good water pressure and we appreciated the robes and slippers.
The buffet had a great selection and the food at the specialty restaurants was also delicious - we went to all 4 of them; the Brazilian steakhouse was our favourite.
We split our time between the beach and the resort pool. The service was extraordinary - the staff came around often take our drink orders and some days offered extras such as popcorn and popsicles. One of the best features for us was being able to snorkel right from the beach. We saw many varieties of fish and coral and even some turtles and stingrays. We did go to the far end of the beach to the town of Akumal where they have a protected area for the sea turtles. Seemingly you used to be able to swim/snorkel there on your own a few years ago, but now you can only go with a guide for a fee. Since we had our own snorkel gear, we were able to negotiate a lower rate.
We would highly recommend the Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort and hope to return one day ourselves.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
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 ABBWR, Guest Relations Manager at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Feb 14, 2020
Dear Kanata, We would like to thank you for the kind comments, we are glad you have enjoyed your stay with us and hope you found in Akumal Bay - Beach & Wellness Resort the perfect spot for your next vacation, we are “your home under the sun”. Looking forward to seeing you again anytime soon. Warm regards, Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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My third time to ABBWR and they never disappoint! Management and staff here do everything perfect right down to the finest details (e.g. imprint of a turtle in the sand for the ashtrays).
Room and resort common places are spotless Food is consistently good (our favourite restaurant was the Peruvian and the Mexican was a close second) Staff make you feel welcome and not an inconvenience to them Activities are thoughtful (art painting was a big hit with Leslie) and you are never pressured to join in King size bed is very comfortable Resort size is not overcrowded for the restaurants (no reservation required) and you do not need to take a train to get around! Simply walk along the beach:) Best sushi (shout out to Liliana) and beach bar!
I try explaining how wonderful ABBWR is to friends but the best way to describe it is to experience it first hand and find out for yourself. Or it's like going to a Sandals resort but only paying less than half the price (I know having been to two Sandals resorts)!
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Date of stay: February 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Buildings # 3 & 4 are quieter than 1 & 2. Floors 2 & 3 have better views of the ocean.
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 ABBWR, Guest Relations Manager at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Mar 3, 2020
Dear Drew & Leslie, It is a pleasure to know that you have enjoyed your stay with us in Akumal Bay – Beach & Wellness Resort. We are truly proud that our staff with personalized service, attitude and friendliness made of your stay an exceptional experience. Be sure they will be recognized for their outstanding job provided during your stay. We all look forward to welcome you back in the near future to your home under the sun. Warm regards, Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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I think Akumal Bay Wellness Resort did a fantastic job of really focusing on being very aware of the importance of sanitizing and having all the staff wearing masks while guests could feel safe and decide whether they wanted to wear masks or not. My husband and I chose to not wear masks because we felt comfortable and safe because and could tell that they were taking our safety and health seriously. We never felt at any point during our stay that the staff or any other guests were not practicing social distancing so I can only speak for my experience in regards to “Covid” times there at Akumal Bay, they did a good job and felt safe while I was there for the 9 days of my vacation.
The hotel does a lot good but there are things they have to work on. This is my honest review. They are not a 5 start hotel, they are a solid 4 star hotel. The hotel is close to the beach and ALMOST every room as a good view. Building 1&2 was open when we visited, we had Penthouse suite, #1319 first assigned to us which honestly they should not even assign to people in my opinion because a BIG tree blocks your view, from BOTH balcony’s, we asked to be moved immediately, they accommodated our requested but not until the next day but really not happy about them even putting us in that room in the first place. We were without a room the half of our 2nd day, just put a bad taste in our mouth right away. They have no top shelf brand liquor at all, I asked, more than one bar, so if they do they were not giving it out. They only have 1 type of beer on tap, no bottled beer or cans (only canned in the mini bar) and the frozen drinks are pretty bad. We had to call to get bottled water restocked in our room almost every single day which was very discouraging and just doesn’t happen at even 4 star hotels. I tipped the maid $10 every time she cleaned my room and wouldn’t get new towels even though the card in the room said if you want new towels leave your towels on the floor. More than once I called down to the front desk for bath towels, they either came late or on my last night my towels never came at all.
The resort staff at the restaurants do a great job, they are friendly and work extremely hard. Everyone is very welcoming have smiles on their face. The grounds people work so hard keeping the beach clean and are out there so early cleaning up the beach so the guests can enjoy that beautiful beach and let me tell you it’s beautiful. If you love to snorkel this is the place to go, we loved every minute out in the water and would return for the beach. If I return to Akumal I would come back to this resort because I love the beach and I know what to expect from the hotel. I would not recommend getting the Penthouse suite unless you plan on spending more time in the room, we spent so much time on the beach so didn’t use the room as much as we thought we would.
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Date of stay: December 2020
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Dont get room 1319 Trees block your view
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.
This resort goes above and beyond and sets a great example of a hard working, attentative, accommandating, and excellent staff. And it is beautiful and well cared for! It's ideally located, turtles feeding right off the beach (awesome snorkeling) and perfect to visit the multiple interesting areas in the Mayan Riviera (Tulum, Sian Kaan, Mayan ruins, tons if cenotes, etc). Great diving instructors on site at a hut at the resort and both ocean open water (outer riff) and cenote dives are a must while visiting, if you are a diver. Food and alcohol were great, where the extent of the all-inclusive offer gives you the feeling you must be ripping them off! Sushi on the beach every day, restaurants all awesome (try them all) and absolutely no stomach issues throughout (this is not always the case at carribean resorts for us...). There really isn't anything negative to be said, even all minor bumps were smoothed out immediately and for free. I suggest at least a 14 day stay (we stayed 10) because there is so much to see, learn, and do in the area, allowing for ample time of just relaxing with a book and a drink on the beach. Great couples vaca and the resort is so friendly and sets such a familiar atmosphere that we also met other great couples and had a total blast on our own and with others. Info on us: Couple ages 30/32, Swiss/USA and German. We felt right at home (it's a TUI resort, lots of German speakers, lots of americans). Definitely go here! It is family-owned by Mexicans, less touristy than Playa del Carmen, and it shows in their care of every detail!
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Date of stay: January 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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 ABBWR, Guest Relations Manager at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Feb 4, 2020
Dear Sophia, We would like to thank you for the kind comments, we are glad you have enjoyed your stay with us and hope you found in Akumal Bay - Beach & Wellness Resort the perfect spot for your next vacation, we are “your home under the sun”. Looking forward to seeing you again anytime soon. Warm regards, Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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This resort is an absolute gem. Superb customer service, spotless rooms and public areas and attention to the Covid-19 protocols made this vacation so relaxing during a very stressful time. All of the staff wore these clear mask/shield hybrid things, they were cleaning constantly and there were hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. We even saw a man steam cleaning the outside furniture with some kind of disinfectant.
This is a prime spot for turtle nesting, so we saw countless nests marked off on the beach. Few hotels have snorkeling right off of the beach, but here you can explore the coral reef on your own for hours.
The food is far superior to anything you would see in an all-inclusive resort throughout Riviera Maya or on any island in the Caribbean. The presentation was so artistic and the ingredients were of the highest quality. Because of Covid, the speciality restaurants were on a rotation and we never had to go to the same place two nights in a row. The pastry chef is a MASTER! Each day, we had home made ice cream, beautiful pastries and desserts that you would see in the finest European bakeries.
ALL of the employees were so warm and welcoming, but I'd like to recognize Marbella from the beach, Carlos the butler, Maxmilliano the amazing waiter and Monica. I can't remember all of the names, but thank you also to Leonardo, Corrina (PR), Jorge and Ruby who gave us a fun Spanish lesson!
If you staying here, be sure to walk down the beach, rent a golf cart in town and drive an additional 15 minutes to Yal-Ku Lagoon. You won't regret visiting this beautiful fresh and salt water lagoon for snorkeling.
We would also like to mention the fantastic housekeeping and laundry service. The laundry was delivered the same day and was so beautifully pressed.
We seldom visit the same place twice, but we will certainly make an exception for Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness!
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Date of stay: July 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
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 Akumal Bay Resort, Owner at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Aug 26, 2020
Dear monkeygirlLondon, It is an honor to receive such compliments regarding your experience in Akumal Bay – Beach & Wellness Resort. The safety and wellbeing of our guest and staff is number one priority. We look forward to welcoming you back to your Home Under The Sun anytime soon. Kind Regards. Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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We stayed for 5 days as a family of 4. The setting is beautiful. Open air lobby with thatched roof, wooden walkways to the buildings, comfortable seating around the lobby and adjoining walkways. Also has a large, thatched roof entertainment area/bar where there was nightly music. The rooms were spacious, however the beds were very hard. We had 2 rooms (3 beds) and they were all the same. The floors in the rooms (and the open hallways outside) were stone, so easy to clean and looks nice, but were extremely slippery when wet, like right out of the shower. I wiped out twice on the slick floor. The rooms have a temperature control on the wall, but I think it is for show. I turned it down as far as it could go and turned the blower up high, but I estimate it never got cooler than 76°-78°F, and the air flow never changed. If you close your curtains during the day, it will help keep some of the heat out. For a "woman of a certain age" this was tough on me. But housekeeping cleaned the room well and 2 large bottles of water were always replenished every day. The pool was a decent size, and there are sun beds available at no charge (if you get there by 8 am and grab one). There are also rustic canopies on the beach with lounge chairs that were easier to get. The wait staff worked very hard during our stay serving drinks and food. I am not much of a drinker, but my family did say the alcohol was very watered down. As far as the restaurants go, the steakhouse was closed the entire time we were there. We ate at the Peruvian, the Mexican, the fine dining and the buffet. It was very hit or miss, unfortunately. The buffet had a big variety, but the food was honestly not very good. The nicer restaurants were better but again it was very hit or miss. My family loved the Peruvian, liked the Mexican and didn't care for the fine dining. The (listed as) 24 hour restaurant next to the pool closed at 6 pm, but had pizza, chicken wings, hamburgers, etc. I think once Covid is no longer a fear, and it is up and running at 100% or will be better. *No fault of the resort, but the beach (and all up and down Riviera Maya) is packed with sargassum seaweed. Like 3-5 foot piles washed up, and going 30 feet out into the water. There are men constantly working trying to rake it up, but they can't even make a dent.
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Date of stay: June 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Parking was free, try to get a garden room in Building 3. The penthouse was nice - you have your...
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.
I really loved my 10 days at this resort. The location is out of a movie and feels like Paradise the scene never gets old. The resort is small enough that you can have privacy on the beach or pool. If you are looking for foam and thumping music at the pool this is not for you. I loved the yoga, meditation and access to a variety of activities and on going entertainment combined with always enjoying the peace-full surroundings. The staff was outstanding and friendly yes you have to tip but that is the expectation at any resort. A big shout out to Karlos Olarto the amazing Butler. If you go to a resort you should always manage your expectations around food - the food was good with the exception of the buffet and Mexican restaurant. The Sushi Bar by the pool is excellent. High marks on cleanliness the staff never stopped working. Two things I felt needed to be changed lighting in room was poor for applying makeup and there is no full length mirror. I would also like to say the Public Relationship employee from Germany was amazing and so helpful and I am sorry I forgot your name. The spa was over priced and message mediocre at best I don’t recommend. We will definitely go back.
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Date of stay: February 2020Trip type: Travelled as a couple
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 ABBWR, Guest Relations Manager at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Feb 21, 2020
Dear Sandra, Thank you for taking the time of sharing your feedback about Akumal Bay - Beach & Wellness Resort. It is always a pleasure to know our friends opinion in order to continue to provide them with the best service possible. We are looking forward to welcoming you back anytime soon. Warm regards, Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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The room was located in building 2, close to the snack bar for comfortable access to the snack bar for morning coffee. Very comfortable king size bed and the room was cleaned nearly a half dozen times/day. The shower was very nice, but work on the regulator needs to be done as when someone flushed a toilet, hot or cold water would stream from the shower. The hotel is smaller than the typical grand hotel w only around 300 rooms but this makes the hotel very nice for walking around and quietness. The restaurants were adequate, w 5 a la carte restaurants to choose from along w the buffet. The Gourmet was our favourite. The buffet was also very good w excellent selection of salads and hot fresh food. The sushi bar w Lilliana is a must visit. Lilliana is an artist and chef mixed together. In fact I ate sushi from her every day it was so good. The beach and pool were all very clean and nice. There was always a beach chair or cabana available. No towel cards are required which is very nice. Staff at this hotel are unlike any other hotel I have visited. Salvatore, Fernanda and Rubi were really just excellent staff. The waiter Otheniel at the snack bar was just fantastic. These fine folks went far and above what they are required to do to make their customer service second to none. This hotel also goes out of its way to preserve the oceans and takes the use of single use plastics very seriously. The hotel bracelets are made from a nylon/cotton blend that are made locally and not your typical hotel wristband. They do not use plastic straws anywhere in the hotel. Snorkel every day at this hotel and see turtles, sting rays, barracudas, star fish and so many different coloured fish you will see something new every day. This hotel is really a must visit if you are looking for a quieter, more relaxing holiday than your average grand hotel. Very very nice hotel. Highly recommend.
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Date of stay: January 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Walk out rooms really just perfect.
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 ABBWR, Guest Relations Manager at Akumal Bay Beach & Wellness Resort
Responded Feb 7, 2020
Dear fran, We are pleased to know that you have enjoyed your stay at Akumal Bay – Beach & Wellness Resort, your comments will be shared with the staff mentioned. It is very gratifying to receive reviews that highlight the service that every staff member offer to our guests, our priority is to make you feel as if you were home and now glad to know that we achieved it. We all look forward to welcome you back in the near future to your home under the sun. Warm regards, Emanuele B. I'NA YANA KIN (my home under the sun)
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Bracknell, United Kingdom465 contributions156 helpful votes
The garden view suites are the best so you have an outside sitting area and you can feed the iguanas! Blocks 3 and 4 are the closest to the water and have the best view but you cannot swim in this section. They also have newly refurbished decor.
Glasgow, United Kingdom222 contributions101 helpful votes
"Tip the staff, they work incredibly hard.
Speak to Juan in the HR team at reception. He will tell you all you need to know to make the most of your stay.
Hire a golf cart!"
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