- Mexico Holidays
- Playa del Carmen
- Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda
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Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda
Mexico, North America
Playa del Carmen
The hotel is located in a natural paradise, right in front of the beach, a privileged position in the Riviera Maya. Playa del Carmen is just 15 minutes away and Cancun International Airport is about 35 minutes by car. The public transport links are within walking distance and easily accessible from the hotel. The spacious, luxurious rooms feature elegant furnishings and décor. In addition, the hotel offers a variety of services, facilities and restaurants. On the beach in the Riviera Maya district of Playa del Carmen, this all-inclusive hotel offers private beach access, an on-site spa, and several specialty restaurants. The rooms at the property overlook the sea, and include satellite TV. They come with a minibar and safe. Guests can enjoy water sports such as snorkeling and windsurfing at this Playa del Carmen resort. A gym and sauna are on the property. A game room and kids club are available. The shops and restaurants of Playa del Carmen's Fifth Avenue are only 15 minutes from BlueBay Grand Esmeralda. Cancun is less than an hour from this resort.
Facilities
- Wheelchair-accessible
- 24-hour reception
- Mobile phone coverage
- Wi-fi
- Car hire*
- Room service*
- Laundry service*
- Launderette*
- Medical service*
- Day-care centre*
- *Some facilities may incur an additional fee
The Local Area
Tripadvisor Reviews
4.0 Very Good19,443 reviews
Excellent
43%
Very Good
27%
Average
14%
Poor
8%
Terrible
9%
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Mom's Getaway (Building 5, 4th Floor)
I visited BlueBay Grand Esmeralda for a much-needed moms' vacation. We stayed in Building 5 on the 4th floor. Here's my honest review.
Arrival & Check-In
The transfer from the airport took about 2 hours. The resort itself isn't that far, but we had to stop at several other resorts first. Because of the highway layout, the driver couldn't simply make a left turn to get back on the highway and had to continue to a U-turn, which added even more time.
When we arrived, we were greeted with welcome drinks and waited a short time to check in. The lobby was extremely hot—I really wish they offered cool towels to help guests cool down.
We asked if there were any swim-up rooms available. The gentleman at the front desk enthusiastically told us we were in luck... until he mentioned it would be an additional $180 USD per night, so we politely declined.
Our room was surprisingly ready when we arrived around noon. We also had to pay the environmental tax of 250 pesos before being taken to our building.
Resort Grounds
The grounds are absolutely beautiful. There is wildlife everywhere, which was one of our favourite parts of the resort.
Unfortunately, the buildings themselves look tired and in need of maintenance.
The Room
We stayed on the 4th floor, and only one of the two elevators worked. Even worse, there wasn't even a button for the 4th floor! The poor bellman had to ride the elevator with us, then run up the stairs to press the button from the hallway so we could reach our floor. He was absolutely drenched in sweat by the time he got there.
The room itself was... fine. Not beautiful, but acceptable.
When we first arrived, we had no running water. We called the front desk, and to their credit, it was fixed within about five minutes.
Unfortunately, on our second-last day, while getting ready for an excursion, the water stopped working again. We ended up using bottled water just to wash our hands before leaving.
The beds were okay—not what I'd expect from a 5-star resort. I'd personally rate the accommodations closer to a 2-star experience. The beds came with four very small square pillows.
The air conditioning was also strange. It seemed to only run at one temperature. We even set it to 30°C, hoping it would warm up because the room was freezing, but it never changed. Some nights we simply turned it off.
The rooms also show a lot of wear and tear. The shower pressure was weak, and there seemed to be fresh caulking everywhere, almost as if they were constantly patching problems instead of properly repairing them.
Safety
Since we were two women travelling alone, we purchased portable door jams for extra security.
Unfortunately, they didn't work with these doors (see photos).
Instead, we locked the deadbolt, pushed the closet door against the entrance, and wedged a chair against everything. It definitely helped us sleep better knowing anyone trying to enter would make enough noise to wake us.
Wildlife
One of the best parts of the resort is the wildlife. There are coatis, raccoons, iguanas, and other animals roaming freely throughout the property, making the resort feel very tropical and unique.
Beside our room was a staircase leading down to the ground floor. The first time we used it, there was animal feces all over the stairs from the local wildlife.
The animals are adorable and often hang around that stairwell, but please don't feed them. Once you feed one, they'll all start following you—and apparently they'll tell their friends too!
Also, don't leave your food, drinks, or snacks unattended. These animals are incredibly smart and surprisingly bold. My friend actually had to fight one off after it climbed into her beach bag, stole a sealed bag of Skittles, and somehow managed to open it. It was funny afterward, but it definitely caught us off guard! Keep your belongings close whenever you're relaxing by the pool or beach.
Transportation Around the Resort
The resort is huge, and the main lobby can be quite a walk.
There simply aren't enough trolleys running for regular guests. The majority of the carts we saw seemed to be transporting VIP guests.
Food
The beach buffet was our least favourite. It was extremely hot inside, and it looked like ceiling fans had once been there but had been removed.
The main lobby buffet was much better.
If you're expecting gourmet food, this probably isn't the resort for you. It often felt like every meal included hot dogs, hamburgers, and mashed potatoes.
Our favourite restaurant was the steakhouse—it was excellent.
The Mexican restaurant unfortunately made me sick, so I can't recommend it based on my experience.
The Italian restaurant was okay. The lamb was undercooked and very fatty.
Pools
There are three pools:
- Two beside the beach
- One near Buildings 7 and 8
Ironically, we only discovered the third pool and its buffet on our last day, so I can't fully review it.
We spent most of our time at the beach pools. There were always plenty of chairs available, and we often moved around depending on whether we wanted shade, music, or a quieter atmosphere.
Our favourite was the pool beside the buffet. The loungers were noticeably softer, and the bar was much less busy.
Hidden Gem – The Lagoon
One of the best parts of our trip was discovering the lagoon about a five-minute walk from the resort.
Face the ocean and walk left.
It has gorgeous white sand and no seaweed. The water is cooler than the ocean, but it's crystal clear.
The current can be strong, so keep an eye on younger children.
We saw lots of families catching fish and crabs.
The Membership Presentation
If you're travelling as a couple or two women, expect to be approached about the vacation club presentation.
We agreed because we were promised it would only take 90 minutes, and we'd receive $150 in excursion credit plus beach bags.
The presentation lasted 2 hours.
We were actually interested at first, but the salesperson avoided answering our questions directly. Every answer seemed to go in circles.
The price started around $29,000 USD, then dropped to a "Black Friday" special of $8,900 USD, with lots of additional promises.
We told them we'd do our own research before making any decision. We never went back, but we did receive the promised gifts.
Excursion – Isla Mujeres
We used the excursion credit toward a catamaran trip to Isla Mujeres, and it ended up being the highlight of our vacation.
We booked through Air Transat for $151 CAD plus a $10 port tax.
Our boat didn't have the large netting at the front, but it was still fantastic.
We snorkelled and saw lots of fish and even a stingray.
Lunch on the island was actually better than much of the resort food, with pasta, tacos, rice, salad, and fresh fruit.
If you're renting a golf cart, don't rent the first one you see.
The rental beside the restaurant wanted $65 USD per hour.
We walked closer to the 7-Eleven and rented one for $40 USD per hour or $90 USD for the full day.
We only rented it for an hour and immediately wished we'd taken it for the whole day. There is so much of the island to explore.
Later we relaxed on the beach, where two chairs and an umbrella cost $30 USD for two hours.
On the return trip, the captain stopped in the middle of the ocean and let everyone jump into the water.
That was easily one of the best moments of the trip.
One tip: while drinks are included on the boat and with lunch, bottled water on the island is expensive, so bring your own if possible.
The Beach
The beach was probably beautiful at one point, but during our visit in July, it was covered in seaweed.
There was so much that birds were literally walking across it, and the water barely moved.
Check-Out
If you're staying in one of the buildings farther from the lobby, make sure you arrange a trolley to pick you up with your luggage before you check out.
We booked ours for 6:00 a.m., but it didn't arrive until around 6:20 a.m. Thankfully, we had allowed ourselves extra time.
Also, if you have an early departure, don't expect many food options. The restaurants and coffee shop don't open until 9:00 a.m. The only place available was the black-and-white building, where there was an espresso machine for coffee and a small selection of pastries. It's enough for a quick bite, but if you want something more substantial, you may want to plan ahead or bring some snacks.
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for:
- Beautiful tropical grounds
- Wildlife everywhere
- Strong drinks
- A relaxed atmosphere that isn't overly busy
- Lots of walking
- Decent pools
- Acceptable food (but not gourmet)
- A resort where everyone feels comfortable in a swimsuit, regardless of body type
...then BlueBay Grand Esmeralda may still be worth considering.
As a mom of three, I genuinely appreciated seeing guests of every age, shape, and size enjoying themselves. I never once felt judged wearing my little bikini, lumps and bumps included, and that alone made me feel more confident and relaxed.
Would I return? Probably not. While we still managed to have a wonderful vacation, the beautiful grounds and wildlife couldn't completely make up for the aging facilities, inconsistent maintenance, and overall value for what we paid.
Overall rating: 2/5 ⭐⭐⭐
Review by Sarah V Toronto, Canada
Worse experience ever
Today 15 July we are still at the resort until 23 july.
We are group of 8 , 4 adults and 4 kids , Rooms are not that good too tight . Lobby no AC, few places to sit , no bar at the lobby Everywhere you are at the resort there is a bad smell. Beach : no access at all, you will die from the smell The theatre area there is a small bar but no ventilations no AC , we regret that we reserved here The food : 1/10 no variations , no sea food, Buffet service 1/10 Coffee shop fits for 5-6 people not more Entertainment for kids during the day 3/10 We didn’t try yet the À la carte resto … We regret coming here
Review by Elie K Montreal, Canada
Miguel the legend
Miguel down at the beachside bar is the greatest bartender I’ve ever had the pleasure of being served by
An Amazing Family Vacation at BlueBay
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!
Would Not Recommend
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.
