Fantasy Island Dive Resort

Our room was a beautiful wooden space with a balcony facing the sea, a lovely way to end each day. We spent the days at the private beach and in the refreshing pools. The all-inclusive setup was the real deal, with no hidden charges, good drinks, and lots of places to eat.

The traditional wooden buildings and all the native greenery give this resort a peaceful, distinctive island feel. The private beach is pristine, and the pools are great. Food was fantastic at all three restaurants. It brings nature and luxury together really well.

SCAM. DON'T BUY DAY PASSES. We were quoted $60 per person for a day pass, but the charge came to $360 for three people for one day. I'm trying to dispute it, but there's no official information I can find about the pass price. Different booking sites list anything from $60 to $120. Even at $60, I don't think it's worth it. Snacks meant American fast food, like fries, hamburgers, and popcorn. The cocktails were unlimited but sugary. Lunch was fried chicken, fish, ribs, and pork, with rice, potatoes, sweet desserts, watermelon, and papaya. The beach was hard and rocky, so walking barefoot wasn't enjoyable. There were lots of tiny stones, and employees combed the sand until it was basically packed down. The road was another mess, full of potholes. With prices that high, why don't they fix it?

The beach is in a beautiful spot, and the staff rake the sand daily, but paper cups from the bar and other trash were left on tables and around the property. The bar and lobby were also difficult places to sit because of the overwhelming number of mosquitoes and a horrible sewage smell. Most of the staff seemed unhappy and acted annoyed when we tried to talk to them. Even if we smiled, only a few acknowledged us. Reviews from as far back as a year ago mentioned that the manager planned to address this, but it clearly still hasn't happened. Our room was far below what the website pictures suggest: outdated and dirty. The bathroom walls and bed skirt were dirty, the outside door had cracks that let mosquitoes in, the shower and fridge were rusty, and the tile floor was cracked. I wish I'd read the reviews before booking.