Catalonia Yucatan Beach - All Inclusive

The gated neighborhood around Catalonia Yucatan felt very safe for walks and runs, and the weather was beautiful in late February and early March. We were there with friends and two kids, ages 8 and 14. Our booked premium, renovated room wasn't ready when we arrived, so we spent the first night in an ocean-front room. It was clean and had a great view, though the premium deluxe room is nicer. On the Yucutan side, restaurant choices are limited, but the buffet was really good and we had no complaints. There were lots of weeds in the water, which staff were working to remove. It was also hard to get larger peso bills changed for tips.

A few people here really made the difference for us. Manuel, Alfonso, and Alan at the bars were friendly and gave excellent service. Esther in the buffet was fantastic too. Other waiters sometimes ignored us or said no, but Esther always helped with a smile. Viviana was a lifesaver and one of the nicest people we met. If we came back, it would be for people like them who went above and beyond. We'd told the resort a month ahead that it was our honeymoon, but arrived to find two beds instead of the expected setup and no welcome drinks. The mini fridge didn't work and had no drinks, and opening the sliding door was so difficult we nearly dislocated our shoulders. The receptionist was very rude. The gated community around the resort was beautiful and felt safe to explore at any hour, which was a blessing because the resort itself put little effort into entertainment. Some music would have gone a long way.

We had a nice trip overall, but for this price we'll probably choose Cuba next time. The food was the biggest letdown: aside from some excellent ceviche, most of it was bland and very Americanized. The a la carte restaurant was somewhat better than the buffet, but not by much. We had expected more. Our room smelled musty, the bed was uncomfortable, and water pressure was poor. When we asked for a room without a mold smell, we were told it would cost another $50-80 USD per night. There was plenty of wildlife around the grounds, including cute agoutis, noisy birds, and some iguanas. Snorkeling near the beach was fun, with lots of interesting fish. The beach itself was small, rocky, and covered in algae and Sargasso. Rules against personal speakers and saving beach chairs weren't enforced at all. Most chairs had towels on them by 8 am, then sat unused for hours. The atmosphere got irritating, with kitschy elevator music playing all day until midnight and loud shows, often for children, going late into the night. The staff were polite, helpful, and accommodating. Luis at the buffet was always smiling and ready to help, and Mauricio at the Mexican restaurant even made an effort to speak French after hearing us. Drinks came in a nice variety, though they were usually too sweet, and bartenders were polite and generous. Our package excursion to Playa del Carmen had a very crowded beach, but there were excellent restaurants to choose from. The paid cenote trip was one of the highlights, especially our guide Alan, who was friendly, entertaining, informative, and clearly loved Mexican history and culture.

The dancers and nightly shows were incredible. We went every night, and even watched the same shows twice because we loved them so much. Staff went out of their way to make things enjoyable, kept drinks coming quickly, and Manuel made the best mojitos while remembering my order each day. Everything was spotless, and the rooms had air conditioning, lots of outlets, and a cute balcony. There were plenty of places to sit around the pools and beach. The buffet was pretty much the same every day, and seaweed crowded the beach, leaving little space to swim. Staff worked all day trying to clear it up.