Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda

Before booking this hotel, I strongly recommend looking at other options in the area. I’ve stayed at many resorts throughout Mexico over the years, and this is, without question, the worst experience I’ve had.

The biggest issue has been the constant noise. We’ve been woken up nearly every single night, and despite complaining on multiple occasions, nothing meaningful was done. The staff showed very little concern, and the security team was completely ineffective. If you’re looking for a relaxing holiday, this certainly isn’t the place.

Customer service has been equally disappointing. We had to wait almost two hours just to have the code changed on our room safe. Trying to contact anyone for assistance felt like a waste of time, and no one seemed interested in resolving problems efficiently.

The rooms are very dated, poorly maintained, and several of the lights worked only intermittently. This is nowhere near the standard I’d expect from a hotel claiming to be five stars.

The beach is unfortunately covered in seaweed and is largely unusable. I appreciate this isn’t the hotel’s fault, but it’s something potential guests should be aware of. What is within the hotel’s control is the food, which was extremely underwhelming. The buffet offered a poor, repetitive selection with very little variety. Even the entertainment lacked effort, with the same playlist of songs repeated around the pool day after day.

What I genuinely cannot understand is how this hotel is rated as five stars. It falls well below that standard in almost every aspect. There are far better resorts in this area offering significantly better service, facilities and overall value. Don’t be misled by the glossy marketing photos—they don’t reflect the reality of staying here.

At the time of writing this review, my partner and I still have five days left of our holiday, and we’re already counting down the days until we can leave. We’re simply hoping to get a decent night’s sleep before we go home.

I honestly don’t know what some of the glowing reviews are talking about because our experience has been nothing short of appalling. I would never return to this hotel, and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. Save your money and book somewhere else.

My family and I chose this resort despite reading some negative comments online, and we are so happy that we did. We spent time exploring the Riviera Maya, visiting beautiful cenotes, going scuba diving, and discovering many incredible places. Finding this resort at such a great value was the perfect addition to our trip, and it exceeded our expectations in every way.

Arrival & Service

From the moment we arrived, we felt genuinely welcomed. The reception team was friendly, professional, and accommodating, making the check-in process smooth and enjoyable.

We were introduced to our concierge, who assisted us throughout our entire stay. Whether it was restaurant reservations or special requests, nothing ever seemed like too much trouble. The level of service was truly exceptional.

What impressed us the most was the genuine hospitality of the staff. Everyone always greeted us with a smile and a positive attitude. This kind of warm and sincere service is something that we rarely experience, even in Europe or Canada.

We would especially like to thank OFNI, who took excellent care of our family during lunch and always recommended the best drinks. We are also grateful to Felipe, Daniel, Carmelino, Fatima, Giovani, Pablo, Marisol, and Dafne for making our stay even more memorable. Every interaction with the staff contributed to an unforgettable vacation.

Rooms & Resort Grounds

We were assigned a room near the main pool and close to the ocean, which was a fantastic location.

Although we had read mixed reviews about the rooms before arriving, our room was spacious, comfortable, clean, and very well maintained. We had absolutely no complaints.

One of the highlights was having special visitors on our balcony a few curious coatis stopped by to say hello! It was such a fun and unique experience for our family.

The grounds and gardens are beautifully maintained and immaculate. Everywhere you look, the property is cared for with great attention to detail.

Food & Drinks

The food was outstanding throughout our stay.

Breakfast offered a wide variety of options, and we highly recommend requesting the fresh mimosas they were absolutely delicious and the perfect way to start the day.

The drinks exceeded our expectations. We were pleasantly surprised by the variety of premium brands available, including Torres, Johnnie Walker, Fernet, and many other quality spirits. The cocktails were excellent, and the fact that everything was included made the experience even more enjoyable.

Our favorite restaurant was the Italian restaurant. The architecture and atmosphere were beautiful, the presentation of the dishes was exceptional, and the service felt very personalized. Every meal there was a memorable experience.

Beach & Location

Yes, we did see some sargassum during our stay, but it did not affect our vacation at all. The resort works hard to keep the beach area enjoyable, and there were plenty of opportunities to relax and enjoy the beautiful ocean views.

The location was also very convenient for exploring the Riviera Maya and all its attractions.

Transportation Around the Resort

The resort offers buggy transportation for guests who prefer not to walk. However, we found the property very easy to navigate. The walk from the main lobby to the beach takes no more than about ten minutes, which was actually nice after enjoying great food and drinks throughout the day!

The buggy drivers were always attentive, friendly, and welcoming, greeting guests with big smiles and excellent service.

Final Thoughts

This vacation completely exceeded our expectations. The combination of outstanding food, beautiful grounds, comfortable accommodations, excellent drinks, and, most importantly, the genuine warmth of the staff made this one of the best family vacations we have had.

We love Mexico, and we absolutely loved our experience at BlueBay. Thank you to the entire team for making our stay so special.

We will definitely be returning next year!

Miguel down at the beachside bar is the greatest bartender I’ve ever had the pleasure of being served by