Bahia Principe Grand Tulum

“Very good value and excellent service throughout our stay!”

This Tulum property is apparently the more moderate one and doesn't have some of the luxury touches the Akumel does, for example there is no room service and the dinner is buffet style, even for two of the a la carte restaurants, it is a buffet. There is limited table service so when you want a dri… more

This Tulum property is apparently the more moderate one and doesn't have some of the luxury touches the Akumel does, for example there is no room service and the dinner is buffet style, even for two of the a la carte restaurants, it is a buffet. There is limited table service so when you want a drink you have to go up to the bar and ask. That said the difference in price was $905 CAN per person, so we went with the moderate property and decided to use the extra funds for excursions or dinners out if we weren't enjoying the food. This was a very good choice... Below are my tips and thoughts: -all the staff is very hardworking here ... what staff resources they don't expend on having personalised wait staff, they expend on cleaning services throughout the property, and I believe security staff as well although it is very subtle -- our room was serviced daily, the public areas and the pools immaculate. Staff are friendly and ready to help if you need something and if they have limited english they go get a colleague who will interpret. -one review I saw complained of animals in the restaurant area -- yes -- you are in the jungle and the birds and little Mexican raccoons/squirrels (forget the name) wander in and are promptly chased out. I liked it though and the children and families liked it. I saw animals everywhere but no animal dropping so again -- cleaning staff - right on the ball as floors were clean. - I'm big on breakfast and particularly enjoyed the bagels and lovely breads, and wide variety of cheeses as well as the tuna and salmon tartare. I am allergic to shellfish but my travel partner enjoyed the ceviche. Eggs and omelettes are made to order in front of you and they had virtually every type of breakfast item available - from waffles, piles of bacon and various meat dishes, to sweet buns -- I can't imagine why anyone would complain of the food here. Even the coffee doesn't have that bitter aftertaste but is smooth and lovely - mostly I'm a tea drinker back home, but here -- coffee every day. If you don't see something -- ask, they probably have it -- not wanting to be a fusspot I did not ask for lactose free milk and saw it on the buffet the 2nd last day. For dinners at the buffet - I particularly enjoyed the sushi (I have a shellfish allergy so checked which ones were fish only) and had no issue but if you are anaphylactic allergy you will have to be more careful due to cross contamination. My allergy means I can't digest shellfish, it is not anaphylactic. I also enjoyed the homemade pasta made in front of you, and the grilled sea bass. Likewise I enjoyed the grilled beef filet. My friend also always found something she enjoyed. Fresh fruit and a variety of salads were also a welcome sight for me. -- quick shout out to the people preparing the fresh fruits and salads -- I ate plenty of both of these and unlike a trip to Cabo some time back -- had absolutely no stomach issues here. My stomach was the same as back home in Vancouver despite my drinking all the mixed drinks with piles of ice, and my tendency to choose salads and fruit. Entertainment -- We saw the best show last night night -- it was called Urban Show - not a catchy title - but honestly the best show I've seen anywhere -- cruise ships, other resorts and back home. Do not miss this -- you will be awed. There was also a rock and roll show where the band and singers (all excellent) made us feel like we we were at a Las Vegas venue. Such high energy and skilled playing. It was not lip sync, they sang and played. The fellow on guitar was awesome as was the fellow singing Queen music. I also enjoyed the mariachi band and the salsa dancing by the bar. -My personal faovurite parts of the resort - the quiet pool at the far end and the beach access there -- all sand - very few rocks.. Waves were rough (they have a lifeguard on watch over the ocean but even so I would not recommend this for small children, but if you enjoy big waves, it was kind of fun to jump into the waves and then ride them back. Also just down the beach and unrelated to the resort (Luna Azul Massage) was a tent with massage on offer. Prices were a little more reasonable than the resort (cash only) but the skill level of the staff there as good or better than any registered massage therapist I've booked with back home. My travel partner had a pedicure at the spa on site and enjoyed it but did note they don't have the super comfy pedi chairs like back home and you sit on a bench with pillows. -Accessibility of the resort -- my travel partner has mobility issues -- with severe arthritis in both knees she cannot walk distances or even stand for long periods. We were booked for a 2nd floor room and had to change to a 1st floor room (which was accommodated within 10 minutes while we parked with our luggage). No elevators at all and the resort is quite spread out. They have transportation that runs around the resort and takes you places. One of the things the resort could do better is to keep access to the handrails on the stairs clear for those who need them navigating stairs. They regularly piled luggage at the front entrance by the handrails on both sides making them inaccessible. The day that it rained was extremely treachorous walking for my friend. She needed the handrails just walking to and from the lobby and restaurant. Those tile floors, while beautiful, can contribute to accidents. -Excursions - we booked 3 excursions -- swimming with the dolfphins - the buggy and cenote tour --- and the Xcaret. The first was excellent. Tip for travellers - bring money for pictures as its $85 US a person extra for the photo package. One family of 5 was extremely disappointed with this extra charge. We got it and the pics are worth it to us as now we have the memory of this tremendous experience. The buggy day we had torrential downpour in the morning (no cancellation) and I went anyway while my mobility challenged friend cancelled (no refund). I had much fun but if you have health issues, don't book this --- it's an adrenalin filled rush driving this buggy but the terrain means hard jolts and bounces. Also there are 25 steps down to the cenote. But for me who has no health challenges, I came out covered with mud and laughed for most of the day -- I have to bring my son (21 year old) to Mexico and take him on this. I will officially be the badass mom. Xcaret -- we were told by the AC rep that they have motorized scooters for those with mobility challenges -- this was also confirmed by what we read on-line -- AND THEY DO NOT. This property is not handicap accessible. If you have trouble walking or climbing stairs, don't go. They have wheelchairs, but the paths are bumpy and go up and down and I could not push my friend in a wheelchair as she is 2x my size and the stone path is uneven. While the staff did everthing they could do to help, it is just not wheelchair friendly property. We got my friend to walk down to the underground river entrance only to find the lockers and change rooms are up top. It took 2 burly guys to wrestle her and the wheelchair back up and carefully down the steep ramp back. Signage is confusing and means you walk MORE. Unless you can walk all day, don't go. Also if it rains, everyone crowds into the restarurants and will walk around our wheelchair and bump in ahead of us. Despite having the plus tickets, we did not eat all day as we spent most of our time trying to figure out how to get my friend to the activities we most wanted to do - sea trek and the underground river. We also left early -- between the rain and challenges both myself and my friend were wiped after just a few hours. We missed the show. My eyes are wide open to the challenges handicap people face -- they need our assistance, but in a way that respects their dignity. Xcaret is a popular property - kind of like a Mexico Disneyland--- they need to work harder to make it an experience every tourist can enjoy. Or put warning signs up and warnings on the web site and warn all the reps selling tickets to it. You expect a the EXPLORE property it is for families iwth no health issues, as it is ziplining and adrenalin activities, but not a property you walk and swim with multiple shows to see while seated- there should be a way for those with mobility challenges to see it and experience it. Othewise, you are leaving some members of the family out -- like grandparents or those with physical challenges. My last tip for travellers concerns tipping. Please remember to budget some monies for tipping. Although they don't have wait staff in the buffet or at the bars, it takes an army of people to service you -- show them some love. The people who clean rooms and do housekeeping are generally the lowest paid people -- budget a few dollars for the housekeeping staff as they work very hard. Remember back home you even tip for a cup of coffee at starbucks-- but here you enjoy a full meal - your room cleaned daily - and you don't tip? I saw most people walking away from their tables and their meals without leaving anything. The only ones earning tips were the bartenders. Overall for myself a very good experience at Bahia Principe Grand Tulum and a good value for what I paid. I would come back - perhaps staying at one of the sister properties.

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