The Club Hacienda del Mar Resort All-Inclusive

The rooms have a lovely classic Mexican look, the views are nice, and the grounds are well cared for. The private beaches were a highlight, with several areas where the water was swimmable. Staff were attentive and kind, the food was delicious and high quality, and being close to downtown made it easy to explore. We stayed in the last week of April with my wife and our 3-year-old son. The hotel felt extremely quiet, almost dead by 10 or 11 PM, and more geared toward older guests than families. There was no music or energy at the pool, few daily activities, and the evening shows were underwhelming, in a small part of the lobby, and ended too early. Anyone looking for nightlife or a lively atmosphere may be disappointed. The biggest problem for us was the bathroom. It wasn’t child-friendly, with no handheld showerhead or lower tap to make washing a toddler easier. The floor was slippery, and my son fell during our stay. The rigid, sharp plastic wristband tags were uncomfortable and left rough marks on my skin. They seem dangerous for small children, and the hotel should consider soft fabric or silicone bracelets. Although there was a designated kids’ area, there wasn’t much for a child to do. The food was good quality but repetitive, since we ate the same things at the same place each day, and vegetarian choices were limited. It’s a good option for a peaceful classic Mexican getaway with great service, but I wouldn’t recommend it to young families or couples wanting nightlife. I probably won’t return with my child.

We lost three days of our seven-day vacation to problems directly caused by the resort, and management never responded to my messages. I was still quite ill on Saturday when I completed and signed an incident report and asked to speak to a manager. I was told the manager was in another building and would contact me. I’m still waiting. An apology would have meant a lot, especially after the illness led to significant expenses. I also paid for an all-inclusive plan but couldn’t eat or drink anything for a day and a half. We were excited for spring break at Hacienda Del Mar. The resort is beautiful, and many staff members were friendly and helpful, but management showed little accountability. We traveled with our two teens and booked a two-bedroom ocean-view condo. On our first morning, the dining room ceiling collapsed and water was leaking everywhere. The front desk helped us look at other units, but most of that first day went to viewing what was available, packing, moving, and unpacking again. The unit we ended up in had a worse view and location. We were willing to move on, and didn’t expect compensation, but management never even apologized. I wouldn’t have mentioned it if there hadn’t been another serious problem. On Thursday night, we ate dinner at the resort because we had purchased the all-inclusive plan and ate there all week. By midnight I woke with stomach cramps, then spent the next 16 hours violently ill. My husband told the front desk, who suggested the on-site doctor. I went there and was told my blood pressure was too low, so I had to be transferred to the hospital. I spent the rest of the day there and incurred substantial expense due to the illness I got at the resort. They also charged me for the on-site doctor. I understand mistakes happen, but the lack of response and accountability is inexcusable. Think twice before booking.

The pools are very nice, and the staff made the place lovely. They were helpful and couldn’t do enough for us. Most restaurants were good, with breakfast at tomatoes probably the best. Still, getting a pool bed meant waking up early because they were otherwise all taken. The posted 45-minute rule wasn’t enforced. There seemed to be plenty of staff at the entrance, but not enough bringing food and drinks around the pool, and calls to reception took an extremely long time. All in all, it’s a nice place to stay.

We had a comfortable, safe stay in the Villa with six people, and it worked perfectly for our group. The place was clean, the food fresh, and the tacos were great. Tomato’s breakfast buffet was a hit every morning, and most restaurants gave good service. I’d recommend the $190 all-inclusive food and drink plan per day, because otherwise you’ll be charged way, way too much for food and drinks. Pool service was slow unless you rented a cabana. It was a nice experience overall, and I’d recommend it for both small and large groups.