More about Grand Oasis Riviera Maya
OK Club Oasis Akumal!!!!
by A TripAdvisor Member
My wife and I spent 7 days at Club Oasis Akumal the first week in March. We had checked the reviews prior to leaving and requested an upgrade to a 'condo' room in Building A or B which costs about $27 a day extra to avoid Building E, which othe reviewers found to be fine. It was well worth it as the room was large, on the third floor, with a great view of the beach and had a wonderful breeze all day. During a small storm it was more like a gale, but we did not use the air conditioning except to cool the room down in the afternoons. We found the staff to be absolutely wonderful, in particular Victor who works at the cafe. He worked with us on our poor spanish, was always full of smiles and good information. We ate at the buffet cafe and never could get reservations in the other two. However it seems to be all the same food anyway, you just have to get it yourself. All of the staff made you feel they were glad to have you as guests at the hotel. The food was good, not spectacular, but the fresh fish and great variety of fresh fruit, vegatables and salad available everyday was out of this world. It was not spicy like the west of Mexico, and had a number of Italian items. The beach and grounds were always clean and well cared for, the building and immediate area was the same way. We rented a car and spent time going to Tulum, Cobal, and just looking around the area within 60-70 KM of the hotel. Driving was no problem so long as you get out of the locals way, and the roads were wide enough you can move to the outside with no problems. Our car was somewhat wore down, but always started and got us around. We would rent from a major company next time rather than a local just to have a nicer car. We found a great store in Playa del Carmen (like a Wal-Mart but orange in color and just off the main highway) and loaded up on bottled water at $1.50 for 2 liters, rather than the $3 for liter at the hotel store. Also we picked up an inexpensive cooler to keep water, juice, mixers, etc in the room. We ate lunch aa Onmi Hotel, Playa del Carman and one just down the beach from the hotel at the Dela Rosa dive shop. Great view of the ocean and jungle at the top of the building and wonderful food. We had no problems with illness, but were careful to stick to bottled water for drinking and tooth brushing. Playa del Carmen is a fun place to spend an afternoon in the shopping district. Check out some of the small hotels available there, the colors and decor will knock your socks off. We spent one day at Aktun Chen, a nature preserve near Akumal that was very interesting. Oh, spend a few bucks to take a guide at Coba, Tulum, and the preserves. They are very interesting and lots of fun. They point out things not in the written guides. We did find some of the Italian guests to be a bit much at times....they are a bit possive of 'their beach' and sometimes rude in the food lines. However many were nice and interesting folks. For the most part they stick to their side of the resort. The hotel had lots going on each day, dancing and shows at night, and usually gets very quiet by 11pm. We plan to go back next year, it was just a great place to relax and enjoy the quiet and peace of the area. Its not fast paced like the main line of Cancun, teenagers might be bored, but we enjoyed it a great deal.
Very good value with lots of fun, but beware 202D!
by A TripAdvisor Member
My wife and I just returned after a five day vacation at Oasis Akumal (third week of March 2003). Overall, we felt the reviews on this website were very accurate=> Oasis Akumal has a very nice and friendly staff, good food, and a wonderful beach. The best part is the moderately sized hotel allows for a relative intimacy that other larger resorts just can not give you. Our only warning comes from our experience during the first night at the hotel. When we arrived that evening, we were given a beachside room (202D) which to our dismay didn't have air conditioning, was musty and sticky, and had a very small, but very dead crab sitting in our sink. We hung in there that night, but the humidity was suffocating, as the ceiling fan did nothing to help the circulation. Although that first night was tough, the staff was very accomodating, and by the next afternoon we were moved to a different beachside room in the next building over which was very nice. So we can only advise others that if you notice when you check in that your room is 202D, be quick to survey the room to see if it has changed. That being said, we did in fact have a wonderful time the rest of the trip...
A great value
by A TripAdvisor Member
My wife and I spent a week at the Oasis Akumal the last week of March and were quite pleased with the place. I give this 5 stars because based on what we paid (through SkyAuction), it was a steal. We didn't even mind being in the E building (3rd floor) as the room was very nice, the birds were chirping outside, and the music didn't go on very late anyway. Rooms aren't huge, but are very well appointed, the food selection was always great, and the staff people were a lot of fun. My only complaints were that there wasn't much Mexican food on offer most of the time and the liquor was truly bottom shelf stuff--especially the tequila. I mostly stuck to beer (basic Corona) and fruity drinks that covered up the taste. Otherwise, great beach and pool, good snorkeling, and a much more intimate atmosphere than most all-inclusive resorts, especially the 1,200 room Bahia monstrosity down the beach a ways. Tim Leffel author, The World's Cheapest Destinations
No Amount of Time Would be Long Enough
by A TripAdvisor Member
I just returned from Club Oasis Akumal where my boyfriend and I spent 6 wonderful nights. I almost can't put words to my experience. The room was beautiful, with a wonderful view of the ocean and peaceful pier over the water. There are four pools and they are all wonderful, but the one in the back is beautiful, clean and big. The grounds are well kept and always clean. The staff is absolutley wonderful, informative and fun. They make you feel welcome from the very begining and are out to help you have a great time. The food is good, with a nice variety, and I would recommend the reservation restaurant highly. Raul, Marco, Carlos and Ricardo are all awesome! The beach is beautiful. The only complaint I have is that the reef is dead unless you get far out (tourisms fault, not the hotel's fault) and there are alot of rude, ugly italians. Definatly not something that should keep you away!!!! Planning my next trip!!!
loved it!
by A TripAdvisor Member
My husband and I stayed the Oasis Akumal for 1 week - the last week of Feb/first week of Mar. The food was good - lots of it, but lets be honest this is Mexico you are in, not much is going to be exactly the same as home. So don't expect everything to taste or look exactly like it does at home. There was always lots of fruit and salads if you didn't feel like eating anything hot. Lots of hot choices always had pasta and rice as well as some local fish choice which was nice. One night they even had a whole pig! At lunch they always had ice cream! We did not go for 5 star service but thats what we received. We never had to wait to be seated in the resturant. And there was always a seats at the bar. Your drink was always served with a smile. The drinks were good lots of different blender drinks that tasted like candy. Halo Carlos and Ramaon! The staff never looked for tips which was nice. The staff was very friendly - activity coordinators were very good Marco deserves a good star -- always had a smile on his face and got everyone involved. Don't not come here if you are looking to go partying late into the night; go to Cancun instead. Everything basically shuts done at 12:00am. Went to Bahia Principle (resort next door) to the nightclub there one night with the activity coordinators it was nice, played up to date music. The beach was amazing, the sand was like sugar! The weather was pretty good a little too windy so you had to really watch because you didn't feel like you were burning when in actuality you were frying. Bring lots of sunscreen. Beach was very clean. Loved the hammocks at the end of the pier. One thing to do - go the pier and get in the water from the step, make sure you bring some bread to feed the fish. It's amazing! The area is great if you do any snorkeling the bay that the Oasis Akumal is located on is surrounded by reef so it does not get too rough right in front of the hotel. Make sure you go see the fresh water lagoon you can see turtles, rays, huge pa herd a six foot Baracuda my way so I could see it (yikes). We met so so many friendly people at the resort - lots of people frome Europe, Canada, States. 99% of the people we met were first rate. Be careful if the front desk wants to upgrade you for free to a beach front condo. They tried to upgrade us to a much smaller room beachfront it had no air conditioning and the bed was a joke!The room didn't look like it had been reno'd since the hotel opened. We stayed in building E which was fine by me we had a view over looking the pool on one side and spectular view overlooking the mangroves/jungle on the other-- do be warned though there is no elevator so if you have any trouble climbing stairs do not get put on the 3rd floor. Had A/C very important! I don't know what everyone is whining about that building E is so noisy. Everything shuts down at midnight, you are on vacation! live a little people! We were on the 3rd floor our room had a beautiful wrought iron headboard and as well huge slanted ceiling must have been 14' high. The room was very clean the people who came in changed the sheets and washed the floor every day. You also received new towels every day as well. All in all my husband and I would defintely go back we felt very safe there - if you were going to bring kids I would say bring them on! there is lots of stuff for them to do. And you would not have have to watch them every second of the day either. My husband and I had a very relaxing vacation and can not wait to go back.
Memories keep me smiling!
by A TripAdvisor Member
Prior to our visit to Club Oasis Akumal for ten days in late April/early May, 2003, my husband and I had carefully read this message board. We had enjoyed a wonderful stay there ten years before but one never knows how things can change over the years. We had wanted to return in the past but this resort was never included in the bargain specials offered by the vendors with whom we plan vacations. About a month ago, however, I was able to secure a very affordable price through Sky Auction. The only hassle was finding a last minute flight to Cancun not included in the package. I had made a few requests to the resort by e-mail five days before our planned arrival. Principally we needed a first floor accommodation because of my husbands recent surgery. I had requested a waterfront accommodation which would reduce the distance we would have to walk to the beach. I was a little cautious because I had read some negative comments on the message board concerning the quality of waterfront rooms in general, vis a vis small size, faulty air conditioning, bad mattresses, and poor service. Not to worry! Upon our welcome by a lovely young woman Yazmin, we were encouraged that she immediately recalled our e-mail request. There were no waterfront units available that afternoon but she placed us on the waiting list and temporarily in a lovely ground floor room in the reportedly noisy Building E. Not only was it never noisy during the time we were there but it was delightfully close to a gorgeous free-form pool that was used much less than the beachfront pools. The live musicians were skilled and entertaining, never too loud and ceased promptly at 11:30 P.M. The crowd was made up mostly of couples, small families especially Moms with kids. Thank goodness that the drinks were not too strong because it was possible to drink a few extra to encourage hydration without causing intoxication.( I happily observed no individual overuse of alcohol throughout our stay.) It was enjoyable to watch the group and intergenerational dously with guests who might otherwise have been wallflowers. And boy, could those guys dance! The environment encouraged guests also to be friendly and inviting. Maybe some of the complainers are uncomfortable with the hot pulsating beat needed for meringue and salsa.The following morning the staff moved our belongings to the waterfront room. Honestly, it was like being in paradise! The sixteen foot glass wall squarely faced the open beach. The enormous bed was very comfortable. There was a 12 foot closet on one wall and a 3-room marble bath with its own foyer. The entire unit was about 500 sq feet. One person on the message board complained of poor lighting in the room that precluded reading. Well, I simply requested a couple of light bulbs with higher wattage and they were installed within fifteen minutes. A squeaky fan and a noisy air conditioner were also fixed/replaced in less than an hour.We took all of our meals in the Arricefes Restaurant. Why? Because there seemed to be no need to go further, and besides we enjoyed the smaller room and the genuinely warm, affable and skilled wait staff. Some spoke little English but were very patient with those of us who spoke little Spanish. Most of my meals were served by Daniel, Victor and Manuel with Alejandro as maitred. I observed a few guests who acted rudely and appeared to be condescending. I suspect that these peoples idea of real Mexican food had been defined at Taco Bell and Chijes. The guests with whom we spoke were very happy with the food. Knowledgable guests recognized that Mexicans usually cook their meat more than in some other countries. It was very tasty especially fish dishes. In addition the delicious freshness of the vegetables and tropical fruits were an unsurpassable luxury along with good breads and dessertsmy favorite was arroz con leche.A good resort for families, there were plentiful activities led by a fun-loving staff. Jose, in particular, would patiently play ball in the pool with groups of small children while their parents sunbathed nearment and hopes that the experience gained at the resort would expand his career opportunities. He has children of his own and has less time to play with them but genuinely cares for the resort children.The resort provides lots of vigilant but pleasant and unobtrusive security staff. It was reassuring to get a little wave from a security staffer patrolling the beach when watching the stars on my patio at 3 A.M.. I also saw them respond quickly to a few individuals with minor injuries.I have been doing the all-inclusive resort circuit in Mexico and the Caribbean for quite a few years at places with 3-5 starsat least a dozen different places. This place is my favorite!In addition to the factors Ive mentioned, I also look for a quality scuba diving program.( I come from Boston!).Club Oasis Akumal took care of all these needs.This visit my greatest interest was relaxing, getting to know people from other placesand satisfying my creature comforts. I am aready thinking of bringing along some of my chilidren and grandchildren before long!I am also thinking of submitting a job resumeexperienced medical professional, seasoned summer camp administrator, educator, mature, fun-loving, musician, theme party planner, problem-solver. Could there possibly be a place for me and my husband with similar skills, in this wonderful world of endless re-creation?!
Great Vacation
by A TripAdvisor Member
We stayed here 2-9 March 2003. Perfect weather all week. Beach is fantastic (make sure you use sunscreen). I enjoyed hammocks on pier which was great way to relax. You can even get a massage in the afternoon. Plenty of selection for food as they always had pork, beef, fish, and chicken. You can order off a menu for lunch. Service by staff was execellent. We had a group of 8 that usually ate togeter. Make sure you tip the wait staff. We never had to wait to eat during meal hours. Downside. We were in building E and could not upgrade to ocean view room. Gets get noisy at night with entertainment that usually started 1/2 late. I recommend trip to Coba and Mayan village.
Ban the rude Italains
by A TripAdvisor Member
The room was nice and we had on ocean view. On our first night we heard a truck idiling for about an hour. The next morning we awoke to find the Mexican Army camped out in the jungle next to our room. They were there patrolling for drug dealers who fly in at nigt and dump their loads. They remained outside our room for the whole week. The food was good. The self titled PR manager Vladimir was so annoying, by the end of trip I wanted to spit on him. The Italians get 'special treatment', do not dare go to THEIR bar or on THEIR beach, they stare at you like you would not believe. Had more than a few shouting matches with some of them for this reason. They walk around like they are staying at a 5-star hotel in St. Tropez or something. Some of the the men are good looking but the Italina women were the mostly dogs and they stare, stare, stare. Do yourself a favor, stay on the unoffical non-Italian beach and hang with the other 'outcasts'. The beach was good.
muy bien
by A TripAdvisor Member
just returtned after a week of this beautiful beach which is remarkable and a tribute to the staff since many of the europeans think the beach is their personal ashtray. i guess it would offend their rigid class structure if they picked up after themselves. the food was good, the mexicans friendly and genuine, the location perfect,. we travel a lot and found this place to be an excellent deal
Photos
Looking out from the beach at Club Oasis Akumal
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