This hotel is amazing, you are free to use the whole complex of three hotels: Tulum, Coba and Akumal. The rooms were massive, with big beds and fully equipped bathrooms. Always had good entertainment... and the food is brilliant considering its all inclusive. The resort itself is fantastic, and although it is so big, you will really feel welcomed by all staff as if they have known you for ages. You may find a few little faults with the hotel, like one loose tile in the bathroom or something minuscule, which is obviously why a few people have rated this hotel down. These aspects would be found at any hotel, even 5 star ones such as this. Its impossible to get perfection, but this hotel comes very close! The beach is like something off a postcard and is even combed daily to keep looking good! I would recommend going on a few excursions, especially the catamaran trip and Chichen Itza.

This hotel is just amazing and I would urge anyone considering to go to Mexico to stay here, its worth the little extra money. You will not regret it! I've already booked to go back.

Awesome room (building 27 - southend of Tulum phase, so we were as close to the Akumal main building as the Tulum. Rooms at Tulum all seem to have view of the ocean though they are older. Still clean and neat every single day. Excellent service by our maid, Rohoan. Exceptional towel art! We looked forward to seeing what he'd create every single day. And please tip. These folks work hard for minimal wages and there are 10 people waiting in the unemployment line if they complain!

Buffet at Akumal and Tulum were very good. Enjoyed the daily selection of Mexican items at Akumal. For a la carte's Don Pablo was excellent. No buffet here to round out your meal. El Pescador also very good.

Resort amenities in general: red flag most days so enjoy water sports when you can. Beach rough near Tulum so headed to Akumal resort area most days. Beach volleyball windy. Tulum beach vball not recommended - rocky and a couple of injuries. Akumal beach vball was great and a good crowd usually there from 10 til dusk. Did not partake of shows.

Jose at the CoCo Beach bar near volleyball courts and Akumal resort was excellent. So friendly, and quick and always trying to make a joke along with serving his famous concoctions.

Tons of wildlife in/around the resort. Watch out for iguanas sunning pretty much everywhere.

Quick access to snorkeling at the actual Akumal beach (not to be confused with the Bahia resort). $3 US each way using highway based white van - public transit. Clean and cool! Akumal beach - saw sea turtles and stingrays and great variety of fish. Went back a second day it was so good. NO shower, but there are small shops and a few beach restaurants/stores.

Tulum ruins also accessible by collectivo, so save your pesos and don't do the tour, although you may want to arrange for a guide. There is signage, but it is minimal. Also, use washroom before you go in. It is the only one. Beach is fabulous - body surfing here was awesome. No change room however or shower. VERY hot there when sun is out so take water.

Coba, rapell, zip line tour through Air Canada vacations something like Go Natural? tours. Arranged in main lobby of Tulum highly recommend. Coba ruins - not for faint of heart if you suffer vertigo as you can still climb the 42 m main temple steps and look out over the jungle. See ancient basketball game hoops and other great excavations. Fair distance from parking lot to main temple - 2 km, so took a bike or take a mayan limo (they peddle - you sit). Our tour guide Angela was EXCEPTIONAL. Rapid fire Spanish to English to French and she easily dispelled the myth of the Mayan calendar and civilization ending in 2012 Dec.

Would highly recommend and would return.

We stayed at the Villas Hacienda in the Tulum resort. The rooms were nice, towels and mini bar was stocked daily. The people and staff were friendly and helpful. Sometimes the information was confusing. Not all the staff gave us the same information. It's a huge staff so they don't always know what's what.
The beach at the Akumal resort was the best for swimming and snorkeling, but also the most crowded. If I went back, I would probably stay there. They have trolleys but we did a ton of walking anyway. Food was good for resort food, plentiful with alot of variety. My only complaint was that the drinks are watered. Even if you asked them to make them stronger, it didn't do much. Even the beer - one type only - was weak. We are not big drinkers but this was dissapointing. We booked 4 a la cartes and they were fine.
We booked a taxi to take us to the resort and used the travel agency transfer to return. This worked out very well.

I booked a fishing trip which was overpriced and they just trolled around until I suggested we start bottom fishing. If you want to fish my advice would be to take one of the boats off the resort - just to the left of the Tulum beach.
People got up very early and put their things down, but only once on the Akumal beach did we have trouble finding chairs.

All in all, I liked it alot. There were a ton of activities and things to do - or not.

Spend 10 days at Gran Bahia Principe at end of January. All our requests were granted. Stayed in Villa 23 overlooking Dolphin pool. Close to snack bar, Pools, and favorite breakfast restaurant - La Gran Tortuga. Favorite buffet was Riviera at Akumal. Booked 3 A la Cartes via email wiht Customer Relations prior to trip: Frutos Del Mar (Seafood), Don Pablo (International), and Mikado (japanese). The best was Don Pablo. We enjoyed riding the shuttle around 3 resorts. Grounds are beautifully landscaped. The Staff / Service is wonderful! Could not do enough for us. Definately book Best Day for transfers to and from airport. They are the best.! We also booked an excursion thru Best Day to Xcaret. The evening show "Mexico Espectacular is worth the admission alone. Other highlights were: Sea Turtles, Horse Exhibition, and Dance of the Owl. Went to Akumal Beach snorkelling, as beach is rocky and water was rough in front of Gran Bahia Principe. Would recommend to others if you want to relax and spend time at pool. Will probabely go back to Barcelo next time for better beach, activities, and night shows. Hola!!