The Reef Coco Beach Resort & Spa- Optional All Inclusive

We all had a fantastic time during a week here with friends and family. The staff were pleasant, very friendly, and helpful, and the hotel and outdoor pool were constantly being cleaned. At the pool bar, service was quick and always came with a smile. The food was good, with fresh options available, including made-to-order omelettes in the morning. We'd definitely return.

Check-in and the welcome were excellent, and the staff made a great first impression. The stay itself was a letdown. Our room and hallway smelled strongly of rotten eggs and mold; some of it may have come from beach seaweed, but the room still felt damp and poorly ventilated, with a drain smell (photo attached). The TV and room phone didn't work. We were beside a service area, where trucks arrived around 4 AM with loud reversing alarms, making it hard to sleep. The pillows were old, lumpy, and very uncomfortable. My husband lost his breakfast wristband while diving, and security refused him entry. That felt unnecessarily unpleasant, and the security staff were really rude. Food and drinks were below average. My son couldn't even finish his fries. Breakfast was acceptable, mainly because fresh eggs were available. If you're coming to dive and just need somewhere to sleep, you might be able to overlook these problems. For a relaxing resort vacation, I wouldn't return, even if they offered me a free stay.

The massage therapist ilyana was lovely, attentive, and amazing. The hibachi restaurant was the downside. I paid the $22 upgrade for lobster, but it tasted so fishy I couldn't swallow a bite. I told the staff, and they said they'd checked with the chef, who said it was good, so they were still going to charge me. I said that was fine and that I'd share my experience. I'd skip hibachi altogether. Everything was drenched in butter and seasoned only with soy sauce.

We were nervous before the trip after reading so many negative TripAdvisor reviews, but we came away having thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The staff were amazing: restaurant greeters, servers, and chefs were friendly and attentive; the entertainment crew were enthusiastic and fun; bar staff worked flat out with smiles, and the maintenance team were polite and friendly. We did have a few small gripes. The evening entertainment didn't create much atmosphere because hardly anyone attended. Spirits in the standard all-inclusive package were low in alcohol. The tequila was only 25% proof, as shown on the bottle labels, so I bought a supermarket bottle to 'liven things up'! There were also some rowdy groups at the pool bar, shouting and swearing across the pool, and I felt management should have addressed that. Still, we enjoyed our stay.