Akumal Bay Beach And Wellness Resort

This was our second time visiting the resort, and it did not disappoint. We requested building four as it is the quietest and closest to the yoga studio. The rooms were recently renovated and gorgeous. The yoga program is excellent with real instructors rather than the "activity coordinator" people you teach yoga at other resorts. This is a nice quiet resort and the best for people who want relaxation. You can snorkel right off the main beach and we saw a turtle and many fish. We prefer the garden view so you have a patio and can lounge with the iguanas. The buffet is located right along the water so you have an excellent view. Will be back! [Details]

2 seniors plus daughter at ABBR for one week. Perfect place for a quiet relax with lots of sun, beach and top quality off the beach snorkeling, the highlight. No shortage of beach loungers ever, contrary to some reviews. Specialty restaurants all gourmet level and as good as you will find anywhere. Keith November 2024 [Details]

Perfect, smaller hotel with beautiful beach access, bali beds and beach palapas. We never had trouble finding a place to sit if you weren't picky about beach vs. pool. Amazing "turtle talk" with Alejandro - lots of protected turtle nests on the beach. Sting rays right in the water, coral reef not far off shore. Easy snorkeling. Paddle boarding at various times in the day - even for beginners. Staff are friendly and hard working. Food was very good in the specialty restaurants and the buffet had a large selection of food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Our 14 year old son was sometimes bored - there is a kids club up to age 12 but the teenagers don't have many activities. We traveled with parents (75 & 80) and it was perfect for them - not too big of a resort. Easy to move around. Quiet - not a party scene at all. There are LOTS of repeat guests so they definitely are doing something right! Options for excursions from the hotel to surrounding areas. Great for relaxing! [Details]

ABBWR lived up to its reputation! Overall, it was incredible and just the relaxing setting we needed! We met some new wonderful friends and the staff treated you like family! Can't wait to go back! [Details]

I picked this resort because it's a 5 star hotel and with great reviews. But now I don't agree with it. Don't get me wrong. It's a very quiet and safe also relaxed resort. The 1st room we got at building 1 had lots of ants around the sink and also because we need 2 beds so we asked the front desk for a room change. The front desk was nice they gave us a big room with 2 beds at 2nd building near to the main pool and lobby bar, nicer view too. The staff at lobby bar were not friendly, never saw their smile. Sometimes we sit there for 30 minutes with no one came for our drinks. Alcohol are very watery. Same as the buffet staff seems like they are not happy to work there. I have been to Mexico for vacation many times and I'd like to try new resort. I've never seen any resort staff are so not friendly like this one. Of course some were nice but overall they didn't make you feel you are welcome. The breakfast buffet foods are terrible for a 5 star hotel. I'm not so sure about the pool side sushi bar food safety in that temperature too. I saw the staff touching the money and then continuing making a roll with his hands. Breach towels are always short. The yoga program and the lady instructor is awesome. I and my daughter had a great time here but will not be back here definitely. [Details]

Very Friendly staff [Details]

The resort and location was absolutely amazing. The beach was everything you could hope for, sand was white and soft, very clean and we could always find chairs. The grounds were all very well taken care of. While we were there they were starting renovations which was definitely needed. As a lot of the reviews we read before we left, everything was clean but could use updating. Only downside was the food.. we were ready to come home by the fifth day solely because the only thing we enjoyed for food was the buffet breakfast. Everything else was mediocre and kind of reminded me of hospital food. So we probably would not go back just because of that.. which is a shame because everything else was wonderful. [Details]

If you don't get up at 6am and keep your beach towels from the day before you'll most likely not get a spot at the beach. Staff did not look happy to be there at all. The bar in front of the lobby(which is not called the lobby bar) makes the best drinks. We would go there for our drinks while listening to the live music at the actually lobby bar. If you're hungry your best option is the buffet since you can't make reservations at the restaurants you can wait over an hour and a half to get in. The beach girls bringing drinks are the only ones smiling and engaging to everyone. The band that played two of the nights were by far the best experience of the stay. The omelete making lady was amazing, make sure you tip her well always a smile, engaging. Overall having been to several all inclusive resorts I would not return to this one solely for the lack of service. If all the beach chairs are reserved and no one's there go to the beach manager and he will take towels off the chairs with no one there for more then an hour. The 24 hrs snack bar is quite a joke, the guy working there so unhappy and you can wait 25 mins before he even comes to your table [Details]

We had a great time at Akumal Bay Resort. If you are into snorkeling and diving this is a place for you. Akumal Dive Centre is only 5 min away. Dive prices are reasonable. Good snorkeling off the beach. Staff are fantastic. Service is great. We never found a spot on table cloths. Some rooms could be upgraded, but are very spacious. You will need to get up early in the morning to get a nice beach lounge. This is normal for all resorts, I think, at least in popular destinations. Food is good. Overall, great value and location. [Details]

The hotel needs to start updating rooms and outdoor walkways. It still is a very friendly hotel. It is a smaller hotel which makes it quite enjoyable. The food was excellent this trip at both the fancy restaurants and the buffet also. The sargassum was a problem this trip along with the high winds, however, it did not stop us from enjoying it. They have a great group of biologists that provide a great presentation on turtles. Since covid they don't have enough activity staff to get you involved in activities around the resort. They don't have the activity staff joining in dancing in the evening which is something they did previously. [Details]

Fabulous stay for family of 4 with 2 young adults. Very calm, lovely resort. Well spaced out, lots of food options, nice beach at parts (some was rocky and seaweed although they worked hard to move daily), main pool nice. Staff kept things clean. Restaurants all first come first served so nice not to have book in advance, lots of seating areas, 24/7 food options. Sushi bar on beach. Yoga and meditation classes were awesome! [Details]

It was a beautiful, quiet, small resort perfect for young families and mature adults. [Details]

We are returning guests to this resort, because we love it here. The staff are superb, as is the food and the beach. [Details]

This was the 5th time we have stayed here although the last time was 6 years ago. It was just as remembered, with an excellent location, lovely staff and every room is oceanfront. We found the buffet wasn't as varied, although Christmas Eve and NYE buffet's were excellent. One of the biggest issues with food was temperature. It was hard to get a hot meal. Breakfast stuff (except the delicious omelets) like pancakes, french toast, practically everything was cold. French fries were always cold or old.
The other issue for us were the kids. We have never seen children at that resort and this time there were tons of them which is fine, but not for us. There was no where to get away from them. There needs to be an adults only pool or quiet section, if the resort wants to keep the adult clientele. As much as we loved this resort, we will not be back because of this. We understand there are adults only resorts out there and we will definitely shop for these in the future. [Details]

beautiful resort, nice water, large rooms with balcony and jacuzzi and nice views from all rooms [Details]

Last week we had the second trip, this time we had 2 rooms : garden view and penthouse. Everything was perfect; except the sea-weed; but this time around is normal. Good weather, good food, one of the best family vacation. We don't recommend the penthouse as during the day is really hot. But for sunrise and sunset is wonderful. Good music in the evening, entertaining during the day : paddle-board, volley, yoga, snorkeling and quiet beach. Cant wait for the next trip here [Details]

My husband and I visited Akumal Bay for 7 days. We chose it primarily for snorkeling as we didn't want to go on an excursion just to snorkel. Snorkeling was one of the main purposes for our visit. We're used to visiting mega resorts so this was a nice change for us to have everything (room, bar, restaurants, pool & beach) nearby and within a very short walking distance. This is not a party resort with lots of entertainment in a large teatro, nor is there a younger crowd (ie. college kids). I personally would have liked to hear more Caribbean music, maybe see a small cultural performance at night.

Room: 5/5
We stayed in building 3 on the first floor and we loved it so much. We had a private deck with an ocean view. It was great being able to even look at the water from our bed. Almost all rooms have a view of the ocean. Vicente was our housekeeper and he's so friendly. It was always a cute surprise to see the different towel animals he would leave us. The room was always clean, nothing was out dated. There was also an LG smart tv in our room which we used with my cell phone to look at the pics/ videos we took. The chairs outside were comfortable and there were palapas a few steps away. There were also hammocks and a bar a few steps to the right. The waitress even comes up to everyone's deck to take drink orders, I didn't catch her name but she's very friendly.

Food: 5/5

The food was very good. The buffet had variety and plenty of healthy choices. The a la cartes were nice to try and had unique options, my favourite was Lima. The portions at the a la cartes were a good size too, not too small or large. All of the welcome drinks were delicious.


Service: 5/5

Don't forget to bring lots of tip money :) The staff here are the best we've come across in all our stays at an all inclusive resort, they work so hard everyday and are always so friendly. The check-in process was fast and went smoothly. Rui was very helpful and gave us info about the resort and the general areas/times where we can find turtles while snorkeling. We'd like to thank: Blanca, Wilber, Yaneli, and both Claribel's from the lobby bar. Mica and Susy from front desk. Marco, Gustavo, Araceli, Jesus, Alejandro, Ricardo, Carlos, EK, Otilio, and Arturo from the buffet.
A special shoutout to Lizbeth from PR who responded to our email when we got back home! She's very kind, looking forward to hopefully meeting her on our next visit.

I didn't catch everyone's name but all the staff we interacted with were friendly and hard working.

Beach: 5/5

Yes, there was sargassum but that's to be expected because its a natural occurrence. The staff who cleared it from the beach were amazing and friendly, always smiling. They work very hard to clean up the sargassum. It really didn't bother us, I'd recommend wearing water shoes to go into the water as there are rocky parts. There was always a part of the beach with less sargassum in the water which we went through. Going out into 10 ft deep water we saw a variety of fish, stingrays, and turtles.

Overall: When I was reading reviews for Akumal Bay I kept seeing people commenting that they've visited the resort regularly for years. After our 7 day stay we see exactly why that is. We're usually the type of people that like to visit a new resort each time we go away but after staying at Akumal Bay we've decided that we will join the others in making this our home away from home. We are already planning to return in October of this year. Staying at a smaller property has made a world of a difference for us and we absolutely recommend this place to everyone.

- one thing I'd recommend is to bring an insulated cup to keep your drink cold
- Blue lagoon, blue hawaiian, alexandar, jellyfish, and green iguana are all drinks to try [Details]

Was an absolute dream, fantasy vacation. [Details]

5 star
Attentive staff, clean, fantastic beach,good food [Details]

Had a great time at Akumal Bay. Service was exceptional. A storm passed through during the night resulting in water leaking in to the room through the vent. The hotel responded quickly and appropriately. Swimming with the turtles and stingrays that live in the waters off the hotel beach was an experience I will never forget. All the staff were friendly. We enjoyed our stay at Akumal Bay. [Details]

Just returned from Mexico. It was unforgettable trip. I like Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort. The hotel is not big, only 4 buildings. But it is so cozy and nice. Staff is very attentive, food is tasty, service is an excellent. [Details]

From the moment we arrived we were in awe of the architecture of the palapas-style entry and lobby. Amazing view from all 4 buildings and so many great spots to stop and enjoy the ocean and the sand. The grounds were immaculately kept. Pools on the small side but our kids enjoyed playing in them, and frankly, the ocean is so perfectly placed, calm, clarity was wonderful so pools are secondary. Staff were all extremely friendly and helpful.

If you're into late night parties, busy pools and waterslides, then this is NOT the resort for you. But, if you're looking for relaxation, positive vibes, snorkeling with loads of fish, turtles, corals, then this is the perfect spot. I can understand why they have a repeat customer rate of over 30%! [Details]

The hotel wasn't as nice as three years ago. Our bed was very uncomfortable. Our room temp was always too warm and wouldn't cool. And there was a sewer stench for a few days. Our pool was shut down on day 3 of our trip. I was so disappointed. The main pool is too active, so I had no peace. All of our drinks were watered down. I dot't want to get drunk but I want to enjoy them. You can drink 100 drinks and get nothing [Details]

We stayed at ABBWR June 15 to June 22 with my family and a friend.

On the whole a great hotel. They could give a master class in Customer Service for the entire industry. The Facebook group provides all the information you would want from the staff and previous guests; a little bit of a fan page, but you will get the information you need. Our room request was accepted. The food was probably the best we have ever had in the South; presentation, variety, and quality. Our friend was a chef and usually a fierce critic. The rooms were okay, but the bathroom has no doors, so privacy is an issue, just had to schedule events. The pillow service was not excellent; they said they do not offer the type we wanted, but it was on the menu. Marianne at the front desk was rude when we asked about it, but the only time we saw this from the front desk. I just avoided her. Our safe was left open, and they have a policy that security will change the code and notify you to have it changed back. I liked this, protects everyone. They have a system not to allow the saving of beach chairs at the pool, and they will remove the items if you do. On the beach, Luis (beach manager) told us he watches for those that go down earlier and then return hours later. If he sees you saving, then using quickly (1 hour), he notes that and does not remove your stuff. Probably the only hotel that has the guts to do this. The a la carte restaurants do not usually accept reservations, so you walk up and typically get seated. We eat early, so we never waited, even got in early one time. We loved the Gourmet and Mexico restaurants the best. Food is subjective but wow.
Beach and Snorkelling: The beach has rocks or coral in front of 2/3s of the beach front. The place that has sand has all the palapas squeezed near it, so we chose to sit outside of the buffet restaurant. This is a personal preference to be able to walk out to clear water and sandy bottom. I gave a four-star rating solely because of the beach. The Sargassum (seaweed) was the worst we have seen; not the hotel's fault but the workers were machines. I helped for an hour and wow, hats off to them. The staff suggested that between March and September its hit or miss. Not sure you can predict it but it was very unappealing. The snorkelling was excellent, turtles, barracuda and lots of fish. As a protected area, you have rules to follow, so I applaud the government for their efforts.

Shoutouts to Mario (watersports), Luis as the beach manager, Vlad (Savage) and German on volleyball, Wilber at Lobby Bar and Oscar at the Sushi/Beach Bar. These employees were excellent examples of guest interactions. The rest were good, but these stood out.

Not sure we will return, lots of guests do, but the beach front is the only reason. [Details]

We just returned from our second vacation at this resort and it rates above all others. The staff are just fantastic. Irene in the Lobby Bar remembered our drink order after the second night and was always smiling. Adrianna in the Main Buffet always found us a table and the food was great! Always smiling & making sure that we had everything & more. [Details]

This was our second time there. Of course we enjoyed and loved our stay at the hotel. You have exceptional staff. [Details]

The people were so welcoming. To discribe the penthouse room in one word. Wow. The service on the resort and on the beach was amazing. The food was great. I would return in a heart beat. [Details]

Hotel is in an amazing location with the coral reef and beach seconds away.Food was good and plenty of variety. Staff were friendly and energetic .We had a fantastic time. [Details]

Travelled to the Mayan probably 12 times and this is the worst hotel my wife and I have visited.Food is hit and miss,main buffet was like a sauna with 2 or 3 cats running around and getting a table for breakfast was always pain.The beach snack bar was o.k. if you don't mind the birds feeding on the bread that is put out for human consumption,hence returned home with a parasite in my stomach.The main pool area is a waste of space with the stupid four poster beds and no loungers, maybe they are going to use it as a helicopter port.Rooms were damp and very basic, ac did not help to solve this problem,glad we did not book the penthouse rooms as the roofs leaked when it rained and our friends had to move rooms.The only good thing at this resort is the outdoor staff including the always forgotten gardeners and Alejo and his waitresses in front of building #2 really good hard working people,thanks Guy's you are the best,sorry to say would not recommend this resort,cannot understand the reviews raving about this resort unless these people have never been anywhere else but Cuba. [Details]

We are a mid-fifties couple who have gone to 3 Caribbean all inclusives in the last three years. Stay at Akumal Bay was marked by exceptional service from the margaritas delivered to us at check-in right through our 5:30am check out with the very friendly Isaac.

Rooms are a bit sparse without a dresser. Bed was comfortable. A large closet provides storage space. The highlight of the room for us was the hot tub on the patio. Every room has one. All rooms face the water. There are 4 buildings with approximately 300 total rooms. Resort layout has the lobby area and three (of four) a la carte and buffet restaurants in the center of the resort with two buildings on each side. The main pool is in front of building 2 and the lobby bar is open toward that building so that is the building to be in if you want to be closest to the action. We were in building 4 and liked being in the quieter area. There are small pools (~18' x 21') in front of the other 3 buildings.
Beach is set up with shade structures over all the chairs as well as a decent amount of palm trees for shade. The beach is rocky in the area in front of buildings 3 and 4 but there is nice access across about 2/3 of the beachfront. There also are a good amount of outdoor beds throughout the resort. We are not 6am towel reservers and each afternoon we were able to get a bed to relax on. Drink service throughout the day was excellent in all areas of the resort. We have never had such good service on the beach.
Food was excellent. Good selection of a la carte and the buffet selections were excellent. They do NOT take reservations. We usually went to the restaurants around 7:30 and were seated around 8:15. We just had a drink and waited. Not tough to do. [Details]