I wish I didn't have to give this hotel such a bad review because it does have some good points. However, the bad far outweighs the good. Pros: Very nice pool, good food, some staff were nice, the park next door is awesome. Cons: Starting the moment we arrived, there were hotel staff perched outside our room waiting to trap us into going to some breakfast/ sales pitch. I had to getnasty with them on multiple occasions to get them to back off. There were three of them assigned to my building and everytime we came or went we were uncomfortable, trying not to make eye contact lest we be pounced on again. The waitstaff at the a la cart restaurants, also rude, poor service. The food was good, but on two of the three nights we ate at one of their a la cart restaurants we did not recieve one of the courses. One evening we were eating on the deck at the seafood restaurant and it was very windy. We couldn't keep our menus on the table, and then a plate flew off the table and accross the deck. We asked to be reseated and the host was a complete jerk about it. We went on a trip one day and got back after the towel exchange had closed. We needed to leave before it opened the next day. We called the front desk and they said to come by in the morning and they would get us new towels. When we did so, the front desk guy was very rude and refused to help my husband.  Beds - hard with scratchy sheets.  Don't go, it isn't worth the hassle.

We just returned back to freezing MN from our wonderful stay in Mexico. Everyone is very friendly at the resort. It offers a lot to do without leaving the resort. The rooms are nice but not exceptional. They have 5 nicer restaraunts that do require pants for the gentlemen and also require reservations. You are only allowed to eat there a certain number of times depending on how long your stay is. Example we stayed 4 nights and were able to eat at those places 2 nights. I recommend Los Olivos which has excellent Italian food. The other places that don't require reservations are great too. Don't miss out on Paco's Taco's. The food was great there. The pools were very nice but a little chilly at first. There isn't any real beaches at the resort except for the man-made inlet, which is very cool. They have very entertaining shows that are put on by the staff every night. The staff by guest services will try to get you to sign up for a 90 minute seminar to try to sell you timeshare. Just politely tell them you are not interested and they won't bug you anymore. Overall the place is very welcoming to families and also a great place for couples to relax and hang out. The resort is spread out so you do walk a lot which is a good thing considering how much food you will eat while you are there. We definately enjoyed it!

Traveler's tip:

I thought this was a great pick. This was my third time in Riviera Maya and I would return to this hotel. The food was good, especially the Oriental restaurant. The informal taco joint was open until 2am which was great after a long night. The drink service around the natural sea pool wasn't the best but the bar was close by. Corona on tap was a good choice. The grounds of the hotel were beautiful. I was concerned about the lack of a natural beach before I arrived but was pleased at the set up of the man made one. the park was a great attribute and the show at the park was terrific.

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This was my first time traveling to Mexico and it was the best trip to the Caribbean so far. I did my homework and read all of the reviews, good and bad, but this surpassed my expectations. The rooms and grounds were spotless. Beds were hard, but I hear this is pretty common in Mexico. The food was good and plentiful (no room service, but I coped). The drinks were good, no skimping on alcohol. Any request for any service was met with smiles and immediate compliance, my wishes were their commands. I was traveling alone and I felt safe and pampered every step of the way. I heard a lot about timeshare pitches in the reviews, but no one ever approached me, at all. Probably a good thing, I'd have been an easy sell, I loved it. There is no natural beach, but the man made lagoon was good for snorkeling, and with the free pass to the Xcaret Park there was more good snorkeling right next door. The show at the Xcaret Park is not to be missed, nor is the butterfly pavilion in the park. Clouds of colorful beauty, too quick to photograph, but will surround and land on you. Food at the park is pricey, but good. What can I say. I was trying to extend my stay by an extra 2 days, the hotel was open and cooperative, but the airline wanted an extra $500.00 to fly me home in addition to the fare already paid. The resort is a wonderful experience. I am planning my return trip to Occidental Grand Xcaret Resort as I type this review. In closing, go, stay, enjoy!

I'm a single mother with a 7 year old and was looking for a place that I could get some family time as well as some personal time. My daughter loved the Kids Club so much that I had to literally pull her out of it to get some family time. The evening show with kids called minidisco was also a huge hit. All the other things about the hotel were both adult and kid friendly. I definitely recommend it for families with younger kids.

This was our second trip to Mexico - the first was to Cancun. The Riviera Maya area has less to do but is a more ecological area. Positives: The hotel was absolutely beuatiful - the grounds are fantastic. The fact that a one day pass to Xcaret (pronounced shcaret) is included is also a good plus. While there is no beach - there is a manmade lagoon that connects to the ocean. While it was not a natural beach, they did a great job with it and the lagoon has fish so you can snorkel right there. Could be better: We took our 2 boys - 9 and 13. The activity staff was good but not as good as previous experiences. The beds were hard but we were so tired that it really didn't matter. All-in-all we would go back to this resort. It is isolated from the Playacar strip of hotels. It is a $10.00 cab ride to town if you need exciting night life and real beaches. If you are the type of vacationer that needs to be busy all the time, Riviera Maya is probably not the spot for you. But I would recommend this hotel.

Great resort, fantastic staff. Rosalia at the front desk a wonderful help. Hotel was able to put our three groups in the same building even though we all had different arrival dates and had all booked through different travel agencies. Food was great, not upscale 5 star sit down service, but the dining area was beautifully appointed, the buffet had huge variety and our group of nine had nothing but compliments for the food and service. Only went to the seafood ala carte, but loved it. The bars were scattered around the resort and even made 7 Up slushies for the kids. The enclosed beach lagoon was fantastic for our group that had a seven, nine and eleven year old. Lots of colorful fish and very safe. Don't forget your mask and snorkel Speaking of snorkeling, try and make it out to Akumal Beach if you can. Thanks to my adventurous sweetie, all of us newbies went snorkelling and we were able to see turtles, sting rays, spotted rays, barracuda and cuttlefish. Well worth the trip there. The people work so hard at this resort to make sure your stay meets all of your expectations. The jungle atmosphere and proximity to Xcaret only make it more special. We were absolutely satisfied and would go back in a second.

Traveler's tip:

The Occisental Grand Xcaret was more than we had anticipated. The beutiful grounds, nature trails and wildlife, lovely peeols and wonderful people. We hope to come back.

The grounds and location of this hotel were just magnificent. The staff was very accommodating and friendly. The buffet and Paco's Tacos were delicious. When we ran into a problem and had to speak with guest services and the management. We went to eat at Los Olivios one night and both my boyfriend and I were very sick for the next two days, when we brought it up to management they told us that it was our problem because no one else complained about the quality of the food. Also, when checking out they gave me someone else's credit card information. I would not return to this resort. Instead of feeling relaxed I feel stressed and aggravated!

Traveler's tip:

I was impressed with the resort by and large. Pluses: 1) The all-inclusive aspect makes it a very good value on a budget. 2) The drinks were strong. 3) the nearby park is a must-see. Minuses: 1) The food was good but not great and also somewhat limited. 2) I also did not expect as many families with children, but that's what you get for going to a resort that tries to cater to everyone. 3) Nightlife was lacking. I would consider going to this resort again but not necessarily rush back. It depends on what your vision is for a vacation. If you like many, many options then this is not the place for you. But if you are okay with somewhat limited options for a good all-around value and little out-of-pocket spending once you are there, then this is a great option.

We were very impressed with the appearance of the hotel, especially the entrance and the lobby area. It really set the mood for a great week. If you are looking for a place with a great beach, you should probably look elsewhere. As you can probably tell from pictures, the beach is rocky, and the only ocean swimming is a small man made cove. We are not really beach people, and new what the beach was like before we arrived. We loved the cove, and it wasn't a problem for us, but, if beach is your main consideration, I would look somewhere else. The food was typical of a 3-4 star resort. It was good, but not extraordinary. But, we felt for the price we were very satisfied. The hotel staff were very nice, friendly, and made our stay as comfortable as possible. We loved the pool areas. The grounds were very well maintained and very peaceful for walking, etc. We also really enjoyed the evening shows. The Fun Club was very entertaining, and they had a couple of performers that were outstanding, in our opinions. The Xcaret park was also a nice experience. For a family with children, this is a great package deal. My wife and I really enjoyed the park, but thought that if we had children that it would have been a great way to spend the day. This alone would make this resort appealing to a family with children. Free access for 4 would be about $250 you are saving. happy travels.

Traveler's tip:

We had a grat time at this resort. The grounds are beautiful and there is so much to do in the resort itself. The lagoon at the beach club is gorgeous and filled with a variety of fish. The pools are huge and very clean My only regret was that our trip wasn't long enough. The hotel also has a tour office that will arrange activities for you such as tours to tulum and dolphin swims. The food was good although the specialty restaraunts which require reservations were booked up for days in advance. The conveinence of being right next to the Xcaret park was a definite plus and the hotel gives each guest one days free admission which is a very good deal. I definetely plan on returning in the future. I liked the fact that the resort was not in Cancun's hotel zone yet it was close enough to various tourist attractions.

Traveler's tip:

We enjoyed the food and the surroundings. Love the option of hanging out on the beach or by the pool. I expected more from the room, but it wasn't the room that we were taking a vacation for.

This was our second visit to Occidental Grand Xcaret and have greatly enjoyed both trips. The property is expansive and just beautiful. A great place to stroll, look at the greenery and iguanas. Not as impressed with the food as much as the actual property and of course, there is a time share on property that they try and convince you to go see.

Traveler's tip:

This was a nice hotel with good restaurants and friendly staff. We stayed here to visit the Xcarat park without realizing the rooms were not ocean view. The had a man-made beach that was okay but not what we had expected. All in all this is a great place to stay if beach going is not a priority.

Everything was included, which was nice. The bottled waters in the minibar in the room were handy for day trips, but it took 3 days to get maintenance to get the frig to work. There were a fair amount of ants in the bathroom, but this is common in such a climate. The food, pools, cleanliness.... was wonderful! Admission to the Xcaret Park was a huge bonus! Try to attend the show at the Park in the evening. The Saturday Night one was great and included by a show of your hotel wristband. The Best Day Travel guys were all helpful and great!

Me and my fiance went on vacation to Xcaret Occidental Resort in Riviera Maya in the beginning of May 2007. We had the best time. There was a lot of walking but it was worth it for all of the great sites to see. We would definitely go back to the resort. The Pool bar was our favorite. Don't miss the free ticket to the park next door. So much to see. If you aren't afraid of height i would recommend the ariel view of the resort and surrounding areas. Such a great trip..

They did a great job on the resort,good food,good entertainment,and peace and quiet if you desired it.They didn't understand, we were on our 25th wedding anniversary and requested "the best view possible and any Non-Alcoholic accomodations would be fantastic".They put us on top of the Fun Club pool (very noisy) and gave us champagne and rum,which we left in the room.We came to like the room and Staff.

1)in airport (walk past the salespeople in hallway).2)Pay in pesos.3)bring bug spray (night)4)pass on the free breakfast trick=vacationclub.5)bring watershoes,snorkel,mask,flippers(very cool)6)dont miss xcaret night show,xel-ha,chichen itza

Our hotel stay was really great, nice room, views, lots of pools,delicious food, nightly entertainment, stores and the list goes on. I was not impressed with the beach and finding a scorpion in our room was definately not needed. I felt it was not handled properly. Just told it was because of the hotel being part of the park, these things would occur. The people were extremely nice and helpful.

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We found out that it was to many activities for everybody, at different times. This will be a dream for kids and adults.

Traveler's tip:

Great place to stay. I would recommend this hotel to everybody. The employees were extremely friendly and spoke english very well for non spanish speakers who choose to go.

Traveler's tip:

The staff was absoutely great, especially if you took time to talk to them. The grounds and rooms were well kept. The pool and beach area were clean with plenty of places to sit in or out of the sun. The food was good ,but not great. I can not say enough about the staff and the service. There were enough activities all day, so you never really had to leave the facility if you didn't want to. Many tours were offered for a variety of interests. I would go back in there in a heartbeat. The drinks, staff, and service were great.

Traveler's tip:

I would say this vacation was one of the best ones I've had so far. The hotel was great, the services were excellent, and the food was not too bad. I visited one of the other hotels in the area, and was glad I chose the Grand Xcaret. The other place was twice as expensive, and less than half the size of GX. They might give you better individualized service, and attention, and probably better food, but GX had better pools, better beach, better activities, and a bigger and better disco! So, I'm very happy with my choice and I'll definitely go again. Getting the tickets for the Xcaret park was an added bonus. Trying to get reservations for dinner was a pain and people trying to sell you trips and excursions were getting annoying, but if you just avoiding them they'll stop bothering you. The bed was a bit hard like all the other reviews said, but I got used to it by the second night.

Traveler's tip:

This hotel is great. I read all the other evaluations, and can't believe there were people not satisfied... True, the bed was a little stiff, but if you're going to Cancun to stay in your room you might as well stay home. The staff was nice and attentive, and the food was good. There was live entertainment every night. Guys, make sure you take long pants so you can visit the nice restaurants, they have the best food. The grounds were large and beautiful. I would suggest to take advantage of all the activities offered by the hotel, such as biking, hiking, archery and pool vollyball, that'll make your stay just a little more fun. Overall I was very impressed.

Traveler's tip:

We had our wedding at the Occidental Grand Xcaret. We chose this hotel because there was something for everyone to do there. There was a shopping area, different pools to choose from--music and lively, to quieter sections. There was a section for the children too. The staff were really nice and helpful. They would go out of their way to get us what we needed. To get the best drinks ask for the specific liquor you want and they will be happy to make you the drink you want. The food was average at the buffets but we expected that. The best a la carte restaurant was El Pescador. The wedding planner, Edith, was wonderful. She was so helpful. I was worried because everything was done through email, but it all worked out. She had everything in order when we got there. We just met with her for the final selections (flowers, cake, etc.) We gave her our wedding favors and they set everything up for us. It looked fabulous! We had our ceremony on the gazebo by the beach. Our reception was at the Beach Club Restaurant. We had a private reception with a mariachi and dj. The food was great. The dj played music we had selected plus some of his selection but it was fine. It was perfect.

Traveler's tip:

I would not recommend this hotel. It is not a good value for the money. The grounds, althought beautifully landscaped, are too big. You must use a shuttle "golf cart" to get around. The front desk staff were less than helpful. The beach was a huge disappointment - and I do mean huge. There is no beach really, it's just a man made inlet. The beds were extremely uncomfortable. I've slept in better beds at 2 star hotels.