Bahia Principe Explore Coba Hyatt Incl Collect AI

The beach was a highlight of our seven nights at Bahia Principe Grand Coba. Bring a snorkeling mask, there are lots of fish just off shore. We also liked the pool and entertainment, and the staff were welcoming, friendly, and hardworking. The rooms need updating, especially the dated bathrooms. Buffet food was decent, but as a vegetarian I found the choices limited, particularly for Mexican dishes. Labels were often wrong or unclear, making it hard to manage dietary restrictions. The à la carte places were also selective about adjustments, and as Coba guests we often got a “no” when asking for small extras. We enjoyed the vacation, but probably wouldn't come back or recommend Coba. Bahia Principe Grand Tulum or Bahia Principe Luxury Akumal might be better if your budget stretches further, though they cost more.

The beach and ocean were beautiful, and the staff, especially at the buffet, were incredibly friendly and helpful. The resort itself is lovely. What dragged down the stay was our room: the phone didn't work despite several requests to fix it, the toilet leaked all week, and at 2am on our last night water started pouring through the ceiling. The fridge also went unstocked on several days, so we had to ask for water repeatedly. Without the room problems and the service around them, this would have been a 10/10.

We weren't staying at Tulum, but walked over every day for lunch. The buffet was excellent, with loads to choose from: pizza, toasted bread, different meats and vegetables, and fruit. Everything tasted so good. Airam, our lunch waitress, was a gem. She was cheerful, gracious, and attentive, always seeming to know what we needed. We loved seeing her each day and promised we'd meet again next year. We wish her all the best.

The natural surroundings were the best part of our few days here. We were two families with kids. Our room was spacious, the A/C worked, and the buffet was good, though some dishes were bland and you had to search for the good ones. It often felt like guests were there to be milked for money. The hotel exchanged currency at 13 to 1 when the actual rate was around 17, a 25-30% hit. Prices were wildly inflated: Crocs that cost $35 sold for $110, and practically everything was two or three times as expensive. Some staff were great, but others simply lied when asked for things. Most drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, seemed diluted. Once, at the buffet, a man topped up a container that was about one-fifth full of pineapple juice with water. The market right beside the hotel also charged absurd prices. A recycled plastic bag was supposedly $100; after arguing about that unreasonable price, you might get it down to around $30, which was still far too much. It seems unlikely the market could operate without the hotel's permission or agreement. Getting away from the hotel didn't help much. A 15-20 minute taxi ride to nearby Tulum cost $60-70 one way. I expected better. Inflated prices are one thing, but this felt like highway robbery. I've paid less for goods and services in Switzerland, which says a lot.