We stayed at BlueBay for 9 nights over xmas 2019 and it was absolutely beautiful. It was our 2nd time at an all-inclusive, a smaller resort than our previous trip. I don't believe I saw a single mosquito during the entire trip, and I did not need or use bug spray. So the last week in December is virtually bug-free.

The pool was stunning. The entire pool area, plus the snackbar pool, have been recently updated (from tile to concrete), and I enjoyed them so much. The concrete loungers were great. The various bridges and depths were fun to swim through. Whoever designed and built it did a fantastic job.

The animation team was SUPER active/enthusiastic and a lot of fun. They did a great job with a huge variety of activities around the pool/beach. I also enjoyed the dance music played between events--it was loud enough to hear at the beach, but not TOO loud. Because we stayed over xmas, they had Santa parachute from a plane onto the beach. MIND-BLOWING. And it was obviously a HUGE hit with the kids.

The nightly shows in the Black & White Bar were unbelievable. It was like a more intimate version of Cirque de Soliel. Somehow, when researching and choosing BlueBay, we missed reading about the shows, so we were so surprised to walk into the Bar and see such incredible talent. The different bands playing in the Bar were also a lot of fun.

I booked through Apple Vacations, and our rep at the hotel (Cesar) was very friendly and not pushy or fake at all. We appreciated this, and thanked him for not being pushy. We booked 2 excursions through him.

I wish I could remember the names of the restaurants and buffets, but we visited all of them. The buffet food was VERY good. Custom omelettes for breakfast were delicious. I drank so much green juice--yum! And the spicy green salsa/sauce gave a nice kick. The wait staff at the buffets and restaurants were typically friendly and attentive (with a few minor exceptions of some servers who were less talkative than others, which is no big deal). We especially loved having breakfast outside at the large buffet near the pool/beach. The patio servers were so friendly, and we loved watching the super-cute coati. My coffee was always refilled on time. Guests need to keep in mind that you are walking with your plate of food through an airy restaurant in a breezy climate--YOUR FOOD IS GOING TO COOL DOWN as you walk through the breeze. You can't expect your food to stay piping hot during this journey. I found the buffets to be hot and steaming; I did not encounter the "cold buffet food" people write bad reviews about--except for the fact that I mentioned above.

The dinner restaurants were also very good. These were easily $100+ meals every night, between all the courses and wine/drinks. We had exceptional service at the Oriental dinner, which was our favorite along with the seafood dinner. Unlike some all-inclusives, there is no limit to how many dinners you can book--however you do need to book them very early each morning. I feel that this system could be changed: it's not easy to get up at 6:30am on my vacation to be at the front desk by 7am to book dinners...luckily, I was able to convince the concierge to allow me to book all my dinners at once, so I only had to be there at 7am one time to make reservations. The menu books could use updating--they are not very well organized and on one occasion, we ended up with FOUR entrees because we didn't understand the menu layout (and the server didn't tell us that we had chosen 4 entrees; we thought they were different courses).

The beach/swing bar was so much fun. The bartenders generally did a great job keeping up with all the orders, and unlike my prior all-inclusive experience, the bartenders at BlueBay do NOT skimp on alcohol (I brought my own along, just in case). I drank so many "BlueBay" drinks--delicious, and brought my own covered cup with permanent straw. As far as I know, Mexico has outlawed disposable straws because of the huge impact they have on the environment. Bring your own reusable cup/straw! I typically tipped USD $1 per drink, just like I do in the States, and I also tipped for our buffet meals and restaurant meals--the servers definitely earned it. I know that US dollars are more desirable than pesos, so I brought plenty from the States. DO NOT tip in US coins--bills only.

Our room was very nice and quiet, with a lovely balcony view towards the archery station. We had no issues with hot water in the shower. The fridge was typically stocked with water/soda/beer, although a few times we had to request beer. We had ample drinking water in the fridge, and the safe was included with the room. The belongings we left out in the open were never tampered with. There were also some English-speaking channels on the tv, which was great for when we just wanted an hour to lie down and relax between beach and dinner time. The beds were comfortable also.

The beach was beautiful, and the staff tries their best to keep the seaweed under control--but there's only so much you can do to try and control nature. I loved watching the pelicans and other birds. The beach and pool areas could use more shade options, but we always found a spot in the shadow of a lifeguard tower.

We had beach massages with Josefina and her coworker, which was lovely. They gave us 5-minute "demonstration" massages on the beach a couple days prior, which absolutely convinced us to book a full hour massage. I think we booked them on what would have been their day off, so we made sure to give an ample tip (20%).

We took the hotel shuttle to Playa for USD $5 where we then took the ferry to Cozumel and rented scooters to drive around the southern half of the island. The Rasta Bar on Cozumel is like something out of a movie--a relaxed atmosphere playing reggae music, open-air bar, and an amazingly beautiful beach (with SHARP rocks--water shoes are a great idea). In between the beaches at Cozumel is not much to see. The scooter trip was mostly a view of bushes alongside the road, but a fun experience nonetheless, a huge improvement coming from winter in Michigan. We visited the Cedral Ruins on Cozumel, which I don't recommend. It has unfortunately been completely taken over by a catholic shrine, and the ruins are a small pile of stones--we stayed 5 minutes and left ($2 entrance fee per person, no harm done). The 5th Avenue in Playa is colorful and safe, ample bars/restaurants and shops (including items by local artists), although I didn't do any shopping because of the high-pressure sales tactics, which is unfortunate. I would have loved to spend some time looking at many of the shops, but I don't want to be pestered or pressured. Yes, you might hear some "you wanna buy weed?" whispers while you're walking through Playa, and keep in mind that weed is illegal in Mexico. Just ignore them, be smart, and go on your way without making a scene--simple as that. I never once felt un-safe during the entire trip. Just be smart.

We took an excursion to the Coba Ruins, which was awesome. It is one of the remaining ruins that tourists are allowed to climb, and it is so worth it. The view at the top is spectacular. The Mayan "ball court" on site is really neat to see also. We didn't spend much time at the ruins because we took an "express" trip, which included snorkeling. I had never been snorkeling before and it was so beautiful--we saw 2 sea turtles and at least 5 stingrays, along with a ton of fish and other sea life. You cannot wear sunscreen in the ocean because it damages the reefs, so make sure you wear the proper clothing to cover your body while in the water (for example, snorkeling means your back will be above the water and exposed--I should have worn a shirt!) Do your research on the sunscreen topic before traveling anywhere tropical. Let's do what we can to protect our beautiful planet.

We also spent a day at one of the adventure parks not far south from BlueBay, I can't remember the name but it was part of the company Aventuras Mayas. We drove ATV/4-wheelers through the jungle (not golf carts, like our previous trip), went zip-lining (even in a hammock!), and had a snorkel tour in an underground cenote. Our guide was friendly and enthusiastic; the food was great! It was so much fun!!

As with any place that's not geared towards the mega-rich, there are always improvements that can be made. But guests have to keep in mind that this is a tropical location with a different climate/culture/language than you're probably used to--be kind, don't be snobs/rude, and keep an open mind. I did observe a few rude guests--YOU'RE ONLY MAKING FOOLS OUT OF YOURSELVES when you act this way. Keep in mind that it is possible to make a complaint, ask for an improvement, and be kind/mature at the same time.

I absolutely loved my vacation at BlueBay. It exceeded my expectations. I felt very comfortable, "at home", and safe. I would love to return to BlueBay for another vacation someday.

We spent two weeks here in February. While the resort is quite nice, it is huge involving a lot of walking. Beach - nice sand but lots of sharp broken corral - beach shoes recommended; swimming - approximately a 10 minute walk in either direction; and not nearly enough palapas! If you want any shade on the beach or at the pool you must get up before 6 AM to claim a spot. Booking a dinner at an a la carte must be done the previous day. If a restaurant books up quickly, you must walk to the lobby to make your reservation before 7 AM. I found it scary to walk to the lobby - over 1/4 mile in the dark!!!! Partying goes on very late with very loud music and yelling. When we addressed this at the lobby and with the concierge, we were told there was a large group..... obviously they had priority over all other guests. Strongly recommend ear plugs and sleeping pills. Beware of the time share salesmen!!! We Definitely would not go back to this resort.