Secrets Bahia Real Resort and Spa

This is a first class hotel. This was our second visit and we noticed that the amount of people there on their repeat visits was incredible. From the private beach with great bar service to the oasis style pool ,incredibly good service from friendly staff . The food is also excellent with the japanese restuarant of particular note. Just one thing to note, if you want a rowdy holiday with pool entertainment ,kids running round and a disco on the doorstep this is not the place for you. It's quiet and oozes quality.

Both my wife and I really enjoyed the hotel. We booked the two week holiday via Hays Travel, which was excellent. Zero stress. The Hotel staff were excellent andthe food was unbelievable. There was simply too much choice.! would we go again for sure. The only slight criticism I would have is that the all-inclusive drinks were not clearly indicated in some areas. whilst the pool area was busy, it did not feel overcrowded. we were also very happy with the general vibe of the hotel, which was relaxed. I would recommend this for the slightly older customers that simply want to have a relaxing time without The requirement to take by in any activities, other than enjoying themselves.

Dear Secrets Bahía Real,

We returned for our sixth stay this year, spending 12 nights at a resort we have loved for years. Its beautiful gardens, character and peaceful setting remain a delight. Sadly, the service no longer matches the surroundings.

Standards have declined over the past three years, particularly since our last visit. I won't even compare today's experience with 2019, when the hotel operated under a different brand and the service was genuinely five-star. A few employees still take pride in their work, but they cannot compensate for the wider inconsistency.

At reception, staff often seemed rushed and abrupt. Check-in has a welcome routine, but check-out lacked even a simple question about our stay or a wish for a safe journey. The guest ahead of us was offered coffee or water for the airport; we were not. Why the difference? Every guest deserves equal courtesy, whatever their age, nationality, skin colour or language.

At the lobby bar, attention to detail and guest interaction were almost absent. Tables remained dirty until we asked for them to be wiped. Simple requests sometimes needed repeating three or four times, while drink quality and presentation disappointed. At times, staff behaved as though they were paying for our drinks themselves.

And the ashtrays! Last year, their absence was blamed on guests taking them. This year, enormous ashtrays resembling volcanic rocks appeared — sometimes still full of other guests' cigarette ends. Perhaps the next improvement could be to empty them between customers.

Sara and Andreas, however, were warm, attentive and professional. They deserve genuine recognition.

Lunch service was chaotic: staff rushed about, spoke loudly among themselves and showed little coordination. Grooming standards were poor, including rolled-up shirt sleeves — hardly the presentation expected at a five-star hotel. Siena's arrogant, dismissive manner was particularly disappointing; further hospitality training would be welcome. Dinner service felt equally disorganised and robotic, without the personal touch that makes service memorable.

One lovely exception was the live musician at Tuesday breakfast. He brought warmth and atmosphere to a dining room that can otherwise feel rather like a canteen. Why not make this a daily feature?

Public areas require attention throughout the day, not just in the morning. Unpleasant-smelling guest toilets are unacceptable, regardless of occupancy. Room cleaning was inconsistent; face towels provided on arrival disappeared for the rest of our stay. Turndown service fell short, and a simple room request could take an hour.

The dusty artificial floral arrangement in the second-floor lobby, with faded, misshapen flowers and fraying leaves, was the final touch — and not one a five-star resort should be proud of. Photographs speak for themselves.

Secrets Bahía Real, this sixth visit was deeply disappointing. Perhaps management should leave their comfortable offices more often, spend time on the floor and invest in proper training and supervision. Five-star standards cannot be maintained from behind a desk.