Bahia Principe Escape Sian Ka’an Hyatt Incl Col AO

This is a small, fairly quiet resort and at least it was clean. The weather was excellent, and there was no snow to shovel, but it’s definitely no-frills. The beach is very rocky, with little room to step and lots of seaweed to get past. Bring water shoes, and don’t expect long seaside walks to be easy or enjoyable. Restaurant bookings were a struggle unless we were willing to eat at 9:30 pm. We were allowed only three reservations during our seven-day trip, and the entertainment was disappointing. I was told they don’t carry whiskey at all, and they ran out of sparkling wine for mimosas twice. There are also no gluten-free options at all. My travel companion is gluten intolerant and had expected at least one bakery or bread item.

The employees we dealt with have been friendly and helpful, and the ocean is beautiful. But the stay has felt careless overall, and we won’t be coming back. Before arrival, our reservation numbers were mixed up with my parents’ booking. Even after contacting the hotel, we couldn’t pre-check in or reserve à la carte restaurants. Everything was full for the week by the time we arrived. Staff suggested checking daily for cancellations, but we’ve only managed to eat at buffets and pool snack bars. Restaurants are a big part of why we travel, so this has been frustrating. The room is worn, and the outdoor seating and shower could be cleaner. My parents are in their 70s, and my mother visibly struggles to walk, yet they were given a third-floor walk-up with no elevator. The Sian Ka’an buffet is small, and food has often been low or cold; buffets at the other restaurants have been better. Repair or construction work in the stairwell happens during the day, which makes it hard to enjoy an afternoon nap. The same pool playlists come on around the same time every day. People may not notice, but with so much Latin music available, it would be nice to hear more variety. And for some reason the bartenders keep putting what looks like lemonade in a basic martini. We’re not sure if that’s a cultural difference, but it tastes off. Each issue might be a mild vacation annoyance on its own, but together they left us feeling there was little attention to detail. We’ve stayed at other all-inclusives at this price with a much more comfortable, thoughtful experience. I’d advise thinking carefully before booking.

I haven’t stayed here, but I went to the buffet last week while I was in Mexico. The staff were so welcoming, and the food and cocktails were wonderful. Big thanks to Alina, who was a fantastic hostess both times we had dinner at the Sian Ka’an buffet. She made our meals memorable and even remembered my name. I’ll definitely come back when I’m in Mexico in December. Really looking forward to it.

What an amazing dinner by the pool last night. Camilla was a fantastic host, and Carmen and the whole staff made it such a special evening. It was our fifth wedding anniversary on Tuesday, so thanks so much to Italia for making sure we had a great anniversary dinner. Your service was epic! Ramon at the buffet, I really appreciate your kindness and service too. The spa was exactly what I needed. I loved it. Thank you, Guadalupe, for the smooth check-in and your kindness, and Angelica, your massage was wonderful! We got married at Bahía Príncipe Runaway Bay Jamaica, and our first trip while dating was right here at Sian Ka’an. As always, a fabulous evening. Thank you all for everything you do every day to make guests’ stays enjoyable. One thing I’d love is a slightly bigger smoking section. See you next year!