Posada Real Puerto Escondido

The beach was beautiful and shady, and the pools, palms, and green areas were also lovely and well cared for. Those were the best parts of the stay. The building itself could use better upkeep and attention to detail, though, and the room had a strange smell of disinfectant or industrial cleaner. Service was a real letdown. Our flight landed at noon, and staff told us we had to wait in the lobby or go explore nearby. After a tiring flight, wearing jeans in the heat, that felt unrealistic and frustrating. The restaurant food and drinks tasted artificial and bland. Staff were often unwelcoming, with lots of odd restrictions and conflicting answers from reception, the restaurant, and the beach bar. They kept sending us elsewhere without resolving things, so eventually we stopped asking. Even ordering or paying for a snack at Cocos club was a hassle, and room service sandwiches weren’t possible. To get beach towels in the morning, we had to climb back up around 100 steps or stairs to the main reception. There was no relationship between the price and the service. It felt completely out of proportion, like a 100% tourist trap.

The staff were nice and the food was okay, though it got repetitive. My room was the letdown. I booked a junior deluxe suit, but it had two beds, a small window, no balcony, and no fridge. I don’t think “deluxe” belongs in the description. The wifi was terrible, even in the lobby. This place could be really nice with some effort, but I’m pretty sure I won’t return.

We really enjoyed the food. Some dishes came around more than once, but they were favorites, so that worked out well. We stayed in a deluxe room and could use all the amenities. I think the all-inclusive wristband colors may have reflected the room prices, though that’s only my guess. The beach club is a short walk along the sand from the daily baby turtle release at 5pm. Nearby, you can pay $50mxn to access a secret beach from a hotel two blocks away. That fee covers the bathroom; lounge chairs cost extra, while lying on the ground is free. There isn’t much shade. We also enjoyed exploring the neighborhood and its walkable cafes. The property sits on a cliff above the ocean, with well-kept grounds. It doesn’t seem easy to walk down to the beach, though I could just about make out what might be a hidden route on Google satellite. There’s an adults-only bar overlooking the water, with an infinity pool and food and cocktail service. The main property has a great pool, mostly used after 6pm when the neighboring club pool closes. A shuttle takes you to the beach club, where more resort amenities, a lunch buffet, and cocktails are included in the all-inclusive package. Check-in was the main problem. Most staff spoke only Spanish, but there was usually enough English to help us around, except at the desk. The person checking us in couldn’t provide much information. Our flight arrived 1.5 hours before check-in, and nobody offered to help with our bags or bring us drinks while we waited. When I asked whether we could sit at a bar, I got the impression we weren’t welcome before 3pm. It may have been a language gap, but they also seemed unsure. At 3pm we were told the room would take another 20 minutes. Some staff seemed disorganized and not fully informed. We still truly enjoyed the stay, but after a long travel day, check-in could have been much less stressful.

The grounds were well kept, but the beds were hard and uncomfortable, and the wifi came and went unpredictably. The buffet meals were repetitive, with lots of gravy and sauces. Lunch meant taking a shuttle to a second location or using a treacherous stairway. Only one bar was open, and it sometimes ran out of certain drinks. Waiters rarely offered drinks except at dinner, so we had to get them ourselves. The place has potential, but it needs work to feel like an all-inclusive resort.