In January 2024 I spent a week at the Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort in Akumal, Mexico. Although I had already traveled to Mexico many times, this was my first visit to the Yucatan Peninsula and only my second stay at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico. As I was planning my trip I spent hours researching exactly what each resort in the area had to offer and what I could expect during my stay, so I decided to write this Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort review when I got home, to help other travelers.
Note: Like always, I paid in full for my stay at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort. I did not inform the tour company or the hotel that I was a travel blogger, so this is an authentic and unbiased review.
All About the Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort in Mexico
I spent a lot of time comparing vacation packages before I decided to book a trip to the Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort (which was formerly known as the Akumal Bay Beach and Wellness Resort, or ABBWR). In the end, I was drawn to this resort specifically because of its location, its history and the commitment to wellness that goes beyond just the resort’s previous name.
🌎 Where is Akumal?
Akumal is located on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, about 100 kilometers south of Cancun. It is situated between Playa del Carmen and Tulum. There is a small town in Akumal (accessed from the beach via a pedestrian overpass).
📍Where is the Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort?
Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort is located about 250 meters south of Akumal’s town center, directly on the beach. In front of the hotel, the protected waters of the Cozumel Strait (and its coral reef) open into the Caribbean Sea.
📖 History of the Resort
The Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort is one of the few locally-owned properties along Mexico’s Riviera Maya. There has been a hotel on this location for more than three decades, but what you’ll be staying at today is a result of a massive renovation and upgrade in 2014.
🍹Akmual Bay Beach and Spa Resort All-Inclusive Package
Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort is a fully all-inclusive hotel. All room rates include the all-inclusive package: dining (including a la carte restaurants and room service), alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, loungers and sunbeds at the beach and pools, daily activities, recreation equipment rental and a kids’ club.
Check-In at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort
I arrived at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort around 9:00 pm. My flight to Cancun was delayed by about an hour, and there were long waits for luggage, so I was late getting out of the airport. Unfortunately ABBWR is also one of the last drop-offs on the shuttle route, so I was then in the van for about two hours before finally reaching the hotel.
(My airport transfer was included in the package I purchased with Air Canada Vacations, but you can also book a much-faster private transfer here – just be careful to select the Akumal option!)
I was definitely expecting a warmer welcome after a full day of travel. A bellhop took my bags from the van and told me to check in, then tell him my room number. I went to reception but the staff were busy tidying the desk, and although we made eye contact they didn’t acknowledge me. Finally, someone who looked like a manager came from afar and scolded the staff for ignoring me, at which time I was checked in, given my room number and given some sheets of paper with information about the hotel, but no verbal introduction or additional information.
I did not receive a welcome drink upon arrival, which was disappointing as whenever I passed by reception to break a large bill for tips I noticed everyone else checking in was greeted with a cold margarita.
Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort Buildings
There are four blocks of hotel rooms at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort. Blocks 1 and 2 are north of the reception area, while Blocks 3 and 4 and south of reception. However, it takes less than ten minutes to walk from Block 1 to Block 4, so all the rooms are relatively close. Here’s an overview of each block:
- Block 1 is close to reception and most restaurants, but set back from the main pool. There is a small pool and beachfront bar near the building.
- Block 2 is right in front of reception and the main pool. It is closest to the buffet and a la carte restaurants.
- Block 3 is offset from both reception and the main pool. There is small pool here and a nearby beach bar. In late 2023 and early 2024 some rooms in this building were being renovated.
- Block 4 is the furthest from reception and restaurants, but closest to the yoga studio. It also has a small pool.
Based on my research, I thought I would most enjoy Building #1. So, I emailed the resort 29 days before my stay (as directed in the FAQs on their website) and requested a room in Block #1. I did not receive a response to my email, so I didn’t know which block would be in until I arrived.
Upon arrival, I discovered I had been placed in Block 2, which ended up having both pros and cons.
Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort Rooms
There are three types of rooms at the Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort: Ocean Front Suites, Garden Ocean Front Suites, and Penthouse Suites. These rooms are spread across four “blocks” of waterfront rooms, running along the beach from north to south.
All of the rooms at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort face the ocean and have either a balcony or a terrace with a hot tub and chairs. Inside, all the rooms also have a minibar (stocked daily), TV, safe, hair dryer, coffee maker and all the other amenities that you’d expect.
The basic category of room here is the Ocean Front Suite. These are located on the second and third floor of each building.
One category up is the Garden Ocean Front Suite, which is on the ground floor and has doors that open directly onto the beach. As you can see from my photo below, these rooms are best for spotting iguanas and other wildlife.
The most expensive rooms are the Penthouse Suites, which are adults-only rooms on the top floor of each building and that have access to a private rooftop terrace area.
My package included a Garden Ocean Front Suite. I can definitely see the appeal of this room style in Building 1, 3 or 4, but it seems like a downgrade to me when it’s located in Building 2000.
While other buildings open directly to the beach or gardens, the ground-floor rooms in Building 2000 face the back of the main pool. My view is shown above.
If your Building 2 room number is 2008 or below, there is a makeshift dirt path leading up to the pool from the garden. Rooms 2009 and higher have no pool access from their terrace, meaning they have to use the same route as the non-garden-ocean-front suites. For me to get from my room to the pool, I had to go back inside my room, use the other exit, walk down the hall and walk through a garden.
As well, in Building 2000, everyone using the pool can see into your room – all the way to the toilet – unless you close the blinds at all times. This is only a problem for the “upgraded” ground-floor rooms, which again makes me think it’s actually more like a downgrade.
Aside from the unfortunate location, my room was a bit more run-down than what I’d expect from a property renovated less than ten years ago. It was very spacious and there was good air-conditioning and hot water, but I couldn’t help but be disappointed by the bathroom mirror (appalling), toilet with partial glass door (again, people from the pool can see all the way in!) and closet that was too dark and damp for anything hung inside to dry.
Note: The bathrooms here don’t have full doors, and have windows that open directly into the corridor. This means you hear everyone as they walk down the hall laughing, talking and even singing all night. My room was near the elevator so I heard the noise of people from all four floors going back to their rooms. Earplugs are highly recommended!
Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort Beach
Last year, I went on an all-inclusive vacation in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and was disappointed by the experience. I knew that Los Cabos doesn’t have many swimmable beaches, but I didn’t anticipate just how much I’d resent standing in front of the open sea and only being able to swim in a few small sections at certain times of day.
This year, I was hyper-focused on choosing a vacation destination that had a beautiful, safe, swimmable beach. That was one of the main factors that had me choose Akumal over other destinations. It’s easiest to enter the sea at the north end of the resort, near Block 1 and Block 2. The entrance to the water becomes rockier as you head south towards Buildings 3 and 4. Regardless of where you enter, the water is very calm, and I felt safe snorkeling alone (including early in the morning and in the evening).
In the indigenous Maya language, Akumal translates to “place of turtles”. Akumal’s beach is famous for being home to several different specials of sea turtles, and they are easy to spot when you are snorkeling within the designated zones. I also saw many eagle rays (including some within a meter or two from the shore… shuffle your feet as you enter and leave the water so you don’t accidentally step on one) and lots of tropical fish, although the coral in the bay is basically bleached beyond recognition.
I took all my underwater photos and videos on the new GoPro Hero 12, which is waterproof to 30 feet. You’ll also want the floating handle to hold the camera in the water.
ABBWR has “Bali beds” (mattress-style sunbeds) and regular sun chairs on the beach for guests to use, though you’ll need to head down early (before breakfast) to claim your spot. Neither offers good sun protection or shade, so have a plan to protect your skin from the sun. Sunscreen won’t be enough on sunny days – you’ll either need to go inside to get shade, or cover up with clothing like a t-shirt, shorts and hat.
Resort staff will remove your belongings if you don’t return to use your spot in a timely manner, so respect everyone by only taking sun chairs and umbrellas that you actually plan to use.
You can borrow snorkeling equipment from the resort for one hour each day, but I recommend bringing snorkel gear (including water shoes) from home because you’ll want to go out morning, afternoon and early evening for the best turtle spotting.
Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort Food
For a small resort, Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort has a good variety of dining options. Whether you’re traveling with young children, as a couple, with friends or solo, you’ll find the right restaurant that “clicks” with you.
As a vegetarian, I found ample dishes to eat at every meal, although there were not a wide range of vegetarian protein options. Vegans will be limited in what they can eat, and gluten-free travelers (or those with other medical restrictions) may be challenged by the lack of ingredient labels and the potential for cross-contamination.
In Mexican resorts, it is customary to tip restaurant staff, bartenders and other employees. I know this comes as a surprise to many European guests, whose tour companies don’t mention that all-inclusive in this region doesn’t include tips, so I’ve written a complete guide to tipping at all-inclusive resorts in Mexico to help you out.
The Buffet
The buffet is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with short pauses between services to reset and replenish. I recommend sitting at one of the front tables near an open window, where you’ll have fresh air and a beautiful view of the sea.
Breakfast Buffet
The buffet is the only restaurant open for breakfast, and while it’s quite calm at opening it does fill up around 9:30 am. You’ll find a good assortment of hot and cold dishes, including lots of meat.
My go-to breakfast was made-to-order eggs scrambled with vegetables, refried beans (confirmed vegetarian) and tostadas, followed by fresh fruit and yogurt (or a made-to-order smoothie). If there were potatoes on the buffet that morning I also added a few to my plate.
Other dishes include fresh bread (and a toaster), oatmeal, rice pudding, crepes, pancakes, French toast and a self-serve mimosa station. Drip coffee and made-to-order espresso drinks are also available.
Lunch & Dinner Buffet
I didn’t see any noticeable difference between the lunch and dinner buffets at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort, so I’m grouping them together for this review.
If you’re a meat-eater, you’ll definitely find a good variety of dishes at lunch and dinner. There was always chicken, pork, beef and seafood available in a variety of formats.
As a vegetarian, the options were more limited. There were usually some grilled or sauteed vegetables, a grain dish like rice or couscous, and the offerings from the made-to-order pasta and pizza stations (which seemed to serve the same options every day, with minimal variation). My favorite dishes were the occasional Mexican-inspired ones that popped up every few days, like the vegetable tostadas and flautas shown above.
Personally, I found the food on the buffet line to be lukewarm and under-seasoned. It seemed designed to cater to the blandest palates, and the heating elements just weren’t strong enough to keep things adequately hot. As well, drink service was hit-or-miss, with nobody coming by to even offer water on some days.
À la Carte Restaurants
There are four à la carte restaurants at Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort that are open each night for dinner.
These restaurants don’t take advance reservations – just show up at the time you’d like to eat and you will be seated in order of arrival, as tables become free. I definitely prefer this to the convoluted systems used at other resorts where you have to reserve everything the day you arrive (or wake up at 6:00 am to reserve online when daily bookings open).
Before I booked my stay at ABBWR I checked all of the à la carte menus online, on the hotel’s website, and was pleased to see that they clearly marked which dishes were vegetarian and which were gluten-free. However, upon arrival I found fewer vegetarian dishes were on the current menu then were listed online. Portion sizes at the à la carte restaurants are very small, so go ahead and order an appetizer, main dish and dessert without hesitation.
K’ooben (International Cuisine)
This restaurant features an eclectic menu of dishes from around the world. For vegetarians there was a kale salad, mushroom vichyssoise (reminiscent of my trip to Vichy!), two seasonal vegetable dishes and lots of desserts, including the hotel’s famous “chocolate surprise” (have your phone ready!).
Lima (Peruvian Cuisine)
The last time I was in Peru was 2014, so I was looking forward to tasting some typical Peruvian flavors once again. Their vegetarian options included two appetizers (a salad and a “ceviche”), a cold corn soup and two main courses, including one with traditional Peruvian huancaina sauce.
Rodizio (Steakhouse)
Although the steakhouse did have limited vegetarian options on the menu (including a salad bar and vegetarian brochettes) I decided to skip it. All the reviews online said that the amount of meat you’ll be served here is significant, so maybe go light on breakfast and lunch the day you’re planning to dine here.
Alux (Mexican Gourmet)
Of the four à la carte restaurants at the resort, I was most excited to try Alux. I lived in Mexico for about eight months and have traveled across the country, and I love trying creative interpretations of traditional Mexican dishes. The vegetarian options here include a salad with coconut and haberno cream and green enchiladas made with chaya, a spinach-like leafy green that was sacred to the indigenous Maya community. It did end up being my favorite and I went back for the enchiladas twice.
Beachfront Sushi Bar & Snack Bars
The Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort’s snack bar had been closed for renovations for several months before my visit. It re-opened less than a week before my visit and although they were still sorting out some kinks. There weren’t enough staff to handle the made-to-order table service in an efficient way, but I did like having access to the self-service salsa, guacamole and tortilla chips for a light lunch.
Nearby, there is also a sushi bar open for lunch and an early dinner. The sushi is prepared fresh to order, but as a vegetarian I was concerned about potential cross-contamination with seafood and skipped it. Anyone who does enjoy fish should definitely give it a try, as I spoke to several other guests who raved about their sushi lunches.
Drinks at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort
When I’m at home I’m not a big drinker (usually just one or two glasses of wine each week), but when I’m on vacation I do like to indulge a bit more… especially when all drinks are included! A few drinks that I recommend you try at this hotel include:
- Piña Colada – My favorite tropical cocktail is made with coconut cream, pineapple juice and rum.
- Jellyfish Shooter – I didn’t see any jellyfish when I was snorkeling, but I did see this shot with vodka, blue curacao, grenadine and a drop of Baileys.
- Tropical Sunset – This two-tone drink features vodka, pineapple juice, peach liqueur, orange juice, grenadine and red wine. It’s like a super-strong sangria.
- Almendra Tostada – This is a creamy cocktail made from a generous pour of almond liquor, cacao cream and milk. I loved having one or two of these before dinner.
I have a complete guide to the best drinks to try at an all-inclusive resort – taste them all while you’re at ABBWR!
The resort doesn’t provide any type of straw, so if you’re a big straw fan you’ll definitely want to bring your own reusable straw from home (wash it in your sink with bottled water only).
I try to be conscientious about limiting my plastic usage when I’m in Mexico, so I had planned to stop at a supermarket to buy a five-liter bottle of water to keep in my room. However, I found that the resort has filtered water available in restaurants and all the bars, so I just refilled my own reusable bottle from the filtered water throughout my stay. Bottled water is available replenished daily in your minibar.
Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort Pools
There are four pools at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort:
- The Main Pool – The main pool at ABBWR is located in front of Building 2. There are three faux hot tubs inside this pool (they don’t actually have warm water, just a few jets) as well as a shallow baby or toddler pool on the deck. Shown in the top photo.
- Small Pools – There is one small pool at each of Building 1, 3 and 4. These tend to be quieter and it’s usually easier to find a sunchair and umbrella by one of these pools. Shown in the second photo.
All of the pools were pretty quiet during my visit. None are designated as adults-only, but generally any kids at the pools were supervised and not excessively loud.
None of the pools at this resort have a swim-up bar, but you are welcome to bring your drink into the pool as long as it’s in a plastic cup.
Smoking at Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort
I can’t write a review without discussion the issue of smoking at Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort. To me, it was absolutely the biggest disappointment of my trip and it was bad enough that I probably would not come back to this property without confirmation from management that major changes had been made.
In January 2023, Mexico passed a widespread anti-smoking law designed to reduce smoking and protect non-smokers from dangerous cigarette fumes. Unfortunately, Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort has chosen to completely ignore this law, flaunting their commitment to “wellness” travel.
People smoke illegally everywhere at this resort. From the beach to the pool to the restaurants to the bars to the walkways to the balconies… everywhere you look there are people smoking and staff doing nothing about it.
It’s illegal for people to smoke in areas where food and drink are being served, but half of the lobby bar is a smoking section and the staff still serve food and drinks to the people sitting there. According to the PR desk, there is also a “smoking section” in the snack bar… again, this is illegal.
It is illegal to smoke in areas with minors, but that doesn’t stop the hotel from seating minors with smokers at the tables where drinks are being served.
It is illegal to smoke within ten meters of entrances, accesses and exits, but the hotel has installed ashtrays at most entrance and exit points to outdoor gathering spaces.
It is illegal to smoke on hotel room balconies, but if you stand at the pool at 7:00 am and look up you’ll see at least ten people standing on their balconies smoking. On my first morning, I was woken up by the smell of cigarette smoke and when I went outside I found the people beside and above me were smoking, as staff nearby ignored them. If you hang your wet swimsuit to dry on your balcony, you run the risk of having it smell like cigarette smoke when you bring it inside.
I tried to discuss this with the PR desk at the hotel but it was honestly like talking to a wall. They completely acknowledge that they don’t follow the law, but they claim it’s to appease return visitors. What they don’t understand is that the only people who would want to return here are smokers, because non-smokers will go to other properties that actually enforce the law.
Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort Activities
While the schedule at this small resort isn’t exactly jam-packed, there are enough activities available to keep you occupied on the resort grounds for most of your trip.
Snorkeling
Although the hotel offered quite a few activities, I spent most of my time independently snorkeling in Akumal Bay. With my own mask, snorkel and water shoes, I was able to go out in the water before breakfast, in the mid-morning and again in the late afternoon to check out the sea turtles and their sea creature friends.
The hotel sells snorkels for $5 USD (the days of sharing snorkels are long over!) and they loan out masks for an hour each day. However, you’ll probably want to snorkel several times a day, which is why you should bring your own. I also saw mask and snorkel sets for sale at the OXXO just down the beach from the hotel (priced at 377 pesos in January 2024.
The best camera for filming and photographing the turtles is definitely the new GoPro Hero 12, which is waterproof to 30 feet (no extra casing required). You’ll also need the floating handle to hold the camera, which you can then rotate vertically or horizontally to capture photos and videos.
The same desk where you can borrow snorkel gear doubles as a scuba dive booking center (in partnership with a dive shop in town). Although I’m a certified scuba diver I skipped out on the scuba on this trip, since I was having so much luck seeing animals just a quick snorkel from the hotel beach.
🐢 Not staying at the resort? Check out my new guide to snorkeling with the Akumal sea turtles, without joining an organized tour. This guide explains how see turtles if you’re visiting for the day by car, collectivo or bus. 🐢
Yoga
I have previously done a yoga retreat in India and dabble in yoga classes back home, so I was excited to try out the yoga and meditation classes offered at ABBWR. Typically, yoga classes run in the morning around 8:00, 9:30 and 11:00, and meditation occurs at 7:30 and again before dinner.
It could just be the classes that I took, but overall I found the yoga a bit disappointing. I took four classes and none involved any standing poses – we were seated or laying down for the duration of every class. Much of the time during the yoga classes was spent doing guided meditation or visualization, whereas I would have gone to the meditation classes if that’s what I’d been looking for. To be fair, didn’t make it to any of the 8:00 am classes, so maybe that is when they do more of the traditional stretching-style yoga.
Several of the classes that I took filled up, so arrive a few minutes early to ensure you have a spot. Mats are sprayed between classes but with back-to-back yoga classes in the morning there isn’t much time for them to dry; consider bringing a towel from your room to wipe down the mat, or even bring your own from home if you have room in your bag.
I also recommend setting up your mat at the front of the room (close to the water) for the freshest air (trust me on this one).
Sports & Recreation
- Stand-Up Paddleboarding – Beginner and advanced lessons run in the mornings and afternoons most days.
- Aqua Stretching – Because this only ran at 11:00 am each morning, I opted out for sun protection reasons. However, the (mostly) women in the pool looked to be enjoying this water aerobics class.
- Fitness Studio – I’d read the gym here was small but it was definitely bigger than I expected. When I checked it out one morning around 10:00, there were five or six people working out.
- Tennis – I heard from others that they enjoyed playing tennis, but I’m not a fan so I skipped it.
- Kids Club – I believe there is some supervision for kids in the morning and afternoon, but I don’t have children and didn’t ask. I saw staff in pink t-shirts walking around and talking to parents, so either flag one of them down or ask at reception.
Educational Programs
- Turtle Conservation Class – Run by Alex, a marine biologist, this class introduces you to the local turtle population, explains where and how to snorkel with them in a safe and respectful manner, and offers some ideas about how visitors can promote conservation efforts.
- Spanish Lessons – I’m a huge fan of taking language lessons when traveling, and while my Spanish was too advanced for the lessons offered here, I did see some other travelers having a good time learning basic Spanish expressions. This would be ideal for teenagers and first-time visitors to Mexico.
- Painting Class – A few times a week the hotel runs a painting class, where you are given four example paintings and guided through the process of creating your own copy, or interpretation. The class won’t teach you to become the next da Vinci, but the painting you can take home is a nice souvenir. Space is very limited so sign up with entertainment staff the day before.
Evening Entertainment
I find most resort entertainment a bit cringe, so I wasn’t bothered by the limited evening entertainment here. I don’t need to see dancers or acrobats or comedy shows when I’m on vacation, and ABBWR definitely doesn’t offer any of those things. Evening entertainment is limited to either a live band or live pianist in the lobby bar at 6:45 pm and 8:30 pm nightly. By 10:00 pm, things are generally quieting down.
There appears to be a nightclub called the Buddha Bar across from reception, but I don’t think it’s currently operational as of January 2024.
Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort – Spa Facilities
The hotel’s spa features a hot tub, sauna and steam room for spa guests only. They have the usual range of spa treatments including massage, facials, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures and waxing.
However, I found prices at the spa to be excessively high. For example, a 50-minute massage is $128 USD ($171 CAD). I could spend less than that at a spa in Canada where I’d be treated by a registered massage therapist and be reimbursed by my insurance, so I couldn’t justify the cost on this trip. As I was researching this article I did read other reviews of the spa, and they were generally positive. If you’ve been, let me know if it was worth the cost.
To find the spa, walk towards the Buddha Bar (the unused nightclub opposite reception) and, when you’re facing its front door, walk around the left of the building and follow the path.
Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort Excursions
There are a few ways to book excursions at ABBWR, including through the hotel’s excursion desk, through your tour operator, or independently. I didn’t do any excursions while I was there as I was more focused on snorkeling, but a few of the most popular excursions include:
- Chichen Itza – Shown above, this ancient Mayan village is best known for the ruins of El Castillo, or the Temple of Kukulcan. 170 kilometers inland from the resort, this is a full-day excursion.
- Tulum – Twenty kilometers south of Akumal, Tulum is a trendy beach town with a city center, beachfront hotel zone and waterfront ancient Mayan ruins. The hotel can help you arrange a guided tour, or they can just connect you with a taxi driver who can drive you there so that you can explore independently.
- Xcaret – Mexico’s most famous ecotourism theme park, Xcaret is a thirty-minute drive from the hotel. Take a full day to explore the 40+ activities on the park grounds, ranging from a coral reef aquarium to swim-through underground rivers. Xcaret fills up, so book your tickets online in advance: this package includes lunch but this package does not.
- Playa del Carmen – Twenty kilometers north of Akumal, Playa del Carmen is a touristy beachfront town that you can visit using the public collectivo buses that stop at the pedestrian overpass in Akumal. Here, you’ll find shops, restaurants, bars and other tourist attractions.
- Catamaran and Boat Tours – While the snorkeling right from the hotel beach is great, there is more life on the Meso-American Reef that is a big further from shore. Catamarans and sailboats can take you out to the reef for a short snorkeling tour, or take you all the way to one of the nearby islands for a full day of snorkeling and beach club access.
Pros & Cons of Staying at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort
In summary, here are the highlights and lowlights of my stay at Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort:
| Pros | Cons |
| Akumal is a small village that is much quieter and more peaceful than larger resorts towns like Cancun. | Minimal shops are services are located within walking distance. |
| The hotel has a good wellness program including yoga, meditation and spa services. | Pervasive cigarette smoke detracts from the wellness experience. |
| You can snorkel with sea turtles and other marine life from the hotel beach. | Beach chairs and sun beds provide minimal protection from the hot sun. |
| ABBWR is significantly cheaper than the other all-inclusive resort in Akumal. | Rooms are in need of a refresh and food can be bland. |
Would I return to Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort?
Personally, I would love to return to Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort when three things have been addressed:
- Room renovations are complete (or needed repairs are made)
- Smoking laws are enforced
- Proper shade is available at the beach and around the pool
I’ve been to many beaches in many countries and there are very few where you can snorkel with sea turtles as safely and easily as you can here in Akumal. It will be hard to go back to swimming at beaches with strong currents, or where you can find any marine life.
However, as a resort that had “wellness” right in the name, Akumal Bay Beach and Spa Resort has some significant work to do in terms of air quality and sun safety. The cigarette smoke absolutely needs to be addressed, both for health reasons and to be in compliance with the law. And, in light of how few indoor spaces and activities are available, more needs to be done to keep guests safe from the sun during the heat of the day.
If those three issues were addressed, I would be happy to become one of the resort’s many return visitors.
A new adults-only all-inclusive resort opened just down the coast – check out my review of the new Bahia Principe Grand Tequila Resort and the adults-only Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an Resort as well!
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