Continuing my all-inclusive resort review series, next up is the second resort we visited during our time in the Yucatan Peninsula. We spent four nights at the Ocean Maya Royale earlier this month. Our stay at this resort started on a rocky note. The resort had mixed up our reservation and after some searching, the front desk attendant found us reserved a few days off. We were very pleased that they offered us a room upgrade to a Junior Suite after this mix up!
The Rooms: As I mentioned above, we were upgraded to a Junior Suite after the hotel lost our reservation. Likes: outside jacuzzi tub, private outdoor patio area with bistro set and lounge chairs, large room with king bed, large bottles of water in mini-fridge. Dislikes: only 2 beers in the mini-fridge each day, room was far from beach area. Tips: This resort offers Privilege upgrades. We were in a Privilege suite but they did not upgrade our service. Privilege members have access to exclusive liquors, exclusive areas on the beach, and other perks.
The Pools: Ocean Maya had two pools that like Dreams Tulum were also right on the beach. One of the pools had an extensive shallow end that ranged from 1-3 feet deep just for relaxing and sitting in the pool. Likes: pool bar in the one pool, location of pools was convenient to beach. Dislikes: virtually no service of drinks you had to get up to the bar to get a drink, Entertainment team often held activities in the main pool with the swim-up bar so that made that pool more crowded, never any empty chairs at the pool, towel cards to check out towels with one towel per person. Tips: Do not lose your towel or the towel card! We were provided a towel card to use to borrow towels at the beach and pool and on the back it said if you lost a towel or card it was a $30 fee. Get to the pool by 9am to save yourself a seat with a towel.
The Beach: The beach at the Ocean Maya was the most disappointing part of the resort. There is a boardwalk along the beach which is very nice to walk on, but it blocks off about 70% of the beach access. Likes: Water and dive center right on beach, lots of chairs and lounges on beach. Dislikes: Very little water access, beach is blocked off by glass wall and boardwalk in large area, no drink service.
The Food: Of the 3 all-inclusive resorts we have visited, Ocean Maya had the best food by far. The only restaurant that we did not try was Blue Moon since we both didn’t see an entree that interested us on that menu. Likes: plenty of options, excellent location right on beach for La Dolce Vita, great poolside location for El Charro. Dislikes: not 24 hour room service, one night a raccoon was in La Dolce Vita while we were eating. Tips: Try the sushi at Yookso! We were impressed. We really enjoyed El Charro best and ate there for lunch most days and for two dinners.
Overall: We both really enjoyed our time at this resort. Brian’s 25th birthday was on Cinco de Mayo and the resort delivered cake, balloons, and a birthday mug for Brian to the room. Since we are looking to relax on our vacations, we both like staying somewhere that does not allow kids and Ocean Maya was an adults only resort. We also were able to enjoy a relaxing, beach front massage in their beach massage hut. If you have never had the experience to hear the waves crash during a massage, we both recommend it! This resort is located very closely to a few others and you are required to wear a wristband. Privilege access members have a different color wristband to differentiate. Although we weren’t thrilled by the beach, there was still a beautiful view and we were able to walk along the beach and boardwalk.
That’s a wrap for my Mexican all-inclusive reviews! Keep a look out for my review of Breathless in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic!
evenkeeledlife.wordpress.com 