Gran Bahia Principe Akumal TRIP REPORT....

nnaattyy · 03-25-2010

My hubby and I are in our early 30s traveling with an 8 month old. We have always for the past 8 years stayed at the Palladium so we decided to try something new this year. Many differences from the Palladium some good, but mostly bad. We had a wonderful time with our daughter and loved getting away, but I will note the goods and the bads below....

Goods:

THE BEACH IS AWESOME-The Tulum side is way rocky and Coba is too small. AKUMAL IS WHERE IT IS AT!

The Swing bar is on the Akumal side and a far walk for a drink from the Tulum and Coba beach. Akumal gets a point for that.

The pools are spread out over the entire Akumal side so you always have a pool to swim in.

The grounds are amazing!

Drinks were delicious

FOOD WAS BETTER THAN I EXPECTED!

The 24 hour snack bar

Bads:

Service sucked

We didn't realize that the resort is so big that you can't walk to the other lobbies. It was NOT a 15 minute walk like some have noted. It was more like 25 - 30 from Akumal to Tulum lobby and 15-20 from Akumal to Coba lobby.

There are no activities at the Akumal side. All the action is at Coba and Tulum. That refers to beach bbq's and parties.

NOT ENOUGH BEACH BARS. One beach bar! REALLY? The Palladium has a million beach bars.

24 hour snack bar bartenders had no idea how to make drinks.

Food on the Akumal side buffet was terrible. The TULUM side is where it is at!

No covered walkways

No lobby bars

No drink service in the lobby.

Great vacation...will not return! Go to the Palladium instead

Finssup · 03-26-2010

Interesting trip report - thanks for taking the time to write it.

We've been to the Bahia 4 times and LOVE it there. While there is only 1 swing bar on the beach, there are bars throughout the resort, and there is a bar at the Akumal main pool area that is right off the beach, and you can get drinks there quite easily.

We take 32oz bubba mugs with us = less trips to the bar = stay cold a really long time.

The Coba lounge has an awesome bar and lots of stuff happening at night, as does the Dacquiri lounge.

The Coba buffet is the best of the bunch. Newest. Nicest layout, and an awesome "international night" buffet.

Tulum sections, south pool right beside the snack bar is great - and right beside the beach. There is a bar at that pool, as well as the snack bar where you can get cervesas, great food and they do the poolside lunches.

Akumal section has the calmest water due to the 'whales' out in the water. The snorkeling isn't that bad there either.

Tulum section is the oldest but I like their south pool.
Love the Akumal main pool and swim up bar and the winding pools there. Right beside the beach is great too.
Love the chairs by the swing bar - towards the iron shore. Great breeze off the water and not overly crowded with kids (cause it's iron shore).
Coba section is great because it's new, and the Club Golden rooms are very close to the Akumal section.

It's too bad you had a bad experience with it. We always hopped on a trolley to get between the sections.....!

Thanks again for your perspective.

nnaattyy · 03-26-2010

It was not a bad experience, I just didn't have the same experience as others. They never did any beach activities other than volleyball. I was expecting yoga or aquaerobics in the ocean and on the beach. Some people said they thought they did that, but I guess our week they didn't. The service was no existant. There didn't seem to be enough workers.

THE BEACH HERE IS AMAZING! If the Palladium had a swing bar and this beach, I would die at the Palladium. The swing bar here was so much fun and the drinks were awesome! Our beach bartender, Angel was amazing and always knew what to make us. The walk to the pool just for a drink and a bathroom break from the swing bar location was a little further than we are used to walking especially from the set up at the Palladium.

I loved my vacation, but would not return.

krazzy · 03-26-2010

you are hilarious

,, they musta closed all the lobby bars then cause I went to all of them and there is drink service at the lobby , You are right though about the snack bars, they did not know how to make the drinks, as for the covered walk ways , give me a break lol and the bars are at the pools which are just a few steps from the ocean(literally) You get what you pay for and the coba is always cheaper than the Palladium. I have friends that went to both and the service is better at the Palladium. But all in all the bahia is a good resort, if you really need to be treated like royalty the iberostar might suit u better

glad you had fun though and thanks for the laugh

nnaattyy · 03-26-2010

HMMMMMM.....They only have theater bars....no lobby bars. I assume I am confusing the two. Theater bar was amazing, but would love to enjoy a lobby bar without the karaoke and kids show.

Again...beach and swing bar were amazing! Grounds and rooms were beautiful.

The covered walkways are a plus when traveling with a child and it is raining. We chose not to run in the rain with an 8 month old...come on!

krazzy · 03-26-2010

well lol ,, there is a lobby bar at coba for sure ,, i know that for a fact as well as a theater bar,, the lobby bar was not opened in the am after 11am i think it was, and as for walking in the rain ,, everyone knows it nevers rains in the mayan silly

nnaattyy · 03-26-2010

WASH MY MOUTH OUT! Rain in Mexico? NEVER! I did love the vacation! I just wish that they can combine the Gran Bahia with the Palladium and make a super resort.

Happy travels

krazzy · 03-26-2010

cheers

and salute

**Shammy** · 03-26-2010

There is a lobby bar in the Akumal section as well, I've sat in it and order drinks in it! It's a nice place, tables, chairs, wait service, good drinks. It's a separate room to the right as you head to the theater, but it's not IN the theater - there is another bar there. One thing I didn't do when I stayed there was go to a show. Saw a few minutes of one and that was enough to make me head back to that lobby bar!

Finssup · 03-26-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shammy

There is a lobby bar in the Akumal section as well, I've sat in it and order drinks in it! It's a nice place, tables, chairs, wait service, good drinks. It's a separate room to the right as you head to the theater, but it's not IN the theater - there is another bar there. One thing I didn't do when I stayed there was go to a show. Saw a few minutes of one and that was enough to make me head back to that lobby bar!

Yeah what Shammy said. No shows for me. Seen one, seen 'em all. I'm surprised though that you think the Akumal beach is so awesome because EVERYONE I know that's been to Palladiums, raves about their beaches being superior.

My preference is the Bahia....been there enough times that we now have VIP status and that's great. Lobby bars in Akumal, and Coba and there are also Club Golden lounges for those members. The Tulum section bar is just off the lobby and has live music and silliness before the show starts and afterwards.

NO they do not have beach aerobics or stuff like that, but there IS a gym or two or 3!

Anyways, glad you did enjoy it!

Thor Henning · 05-29-2010

Is there a ATM inside the resort or do you get pesos at the lobby? Or should we use a ATM in town?

03-25-2010	#1 (permalink)
nnaattyy lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 23	Gran Bahia Principe Akumal TRIP REPORT.... My hubby and I are in our early 30s traveling with an 8 month old. We have always for the past 8 years stayed at the Palladium so we decided to try something new this year. Many differences from the Palladium some good, but mostly bad. We had a wonderful time with our daughter and loved getting away, but I will note the goods and the bads below.... Goods: THE BEACH IS AWESOME-The Tulum side is way rocky and Coba is too small. AKUMAL IS WHERE IT IS AT! The Swing bar is on the Akumal side and a far walk for a drink from the Tulum and Coba beach. Akumal gets a point for that. The pools are spread out over the entire Akumal side so you always have a pool to swim in. The grounds are amazing! Drinks were delicious FOOD WAS BETTER THAN I EXPECTED! The 24 hour snack bar Bads: Service sucked We didn't realize that the resort is so big that you can't walk to the other lobbies. It was NOT a 15 minute walk like some have noted. It was more like 25 - 30 from Akumal to Tulum lobby and 15-20 from Akumal to Coba lobby. There are no activities at the Akumal side. All the action is at Coba and Tulum. That refers to beach bbq's and parties. NOT ENOUGH BEACH BARS. One beach bar! REALLY? The Palladium has a million beach bars. 24 hour snack bar bartenders had no idea how to make drinks. Food on the Akumal side buffet was terrible. The TULUM side is where it is at! No covered walkways No lobby bars No drink service in the lobby. Great vacation...will not return! Go to the Palladium instead

05-29-2010	#11 (permalink)
Thor Henning añejo Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Drammen, Norway Posts: 4,131	Is there a ATM inside the resort or do you get pesos at the lobby? Or should we use a ATM in town? Last edited by Thor Henning; 05-29-2010 at 10:45 AM..

03-26-2010	#2 (permalink)
Finssup beachaholic Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Oakville, Ontario Posts: 357	Interesting trip report - thanks for taking the time to write it. We've been to the Bahia 4 times and LOVE it there. While there is only 1 swing bar on the beach, there are bars throughout the resort, and there is a bar at the Akumal main pool area that is right off the beach, and you can get drinks there quite easily. We take 32oz bubba mugs with us = less trips to the bar = stay cold a really long time. The Coba lounge has an awesome bar and lots of stuff happening at night, as does the Dacquiri lounge. The Coba buffet is the best of the bunch. Newest. Nicest layout, and an awesome "international night" buffet. Tulum sections, south pool right beside the snack bar is great - and right beside the beach. There is a bar at that pool, as well as the snack bar where you can get cervesas, great food and they do the poolside lunches. Akumal section has the calmest water due to the 'whales' out in the water. The snorkeling isn't that bad there either. Tulum section is the oldest but I like their south pool. Love the Akumal main pool and swim up bar and the winding pools there. Right beside the beach is great too. Love the chairs by the swing bar - towards the iron shore. Great breeze off the water and not overly crowded with kids (cause it's iron shore). Coba section is great because it's new, and the Club Golden rooms are very close to the Akumal section. It's too bad you had a bad experience with it. We always hopped on a trolley to get between the sections.....! Thanks again for your perspective.

03-26-2010	#3 (permalink)
nnaattyy lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 23	It was not a bad experience, I just didn't have the same experience as others. They never did any beach activities other than volleyball. I was expecting yoga or aquaerobics in the ocean and on the beach. Some people said they thought they did that, but I guess our week they didn't. The service was no existant. There didn't seem to be enough workers. THE BEACH HERE IS AMAZING! If the Palladium had a swing bar and this beach, I would die at the Palladium. The swing bar here was so much fun and the drinks were awesome! Our beach bartender, Angel was amazing and always knew what to make us. The walk to the pool just for a drink and a bathroom break from the swing bar location was a little further than we are used to walking especially from the set up at the Palladium. I loved my vacation, but would not return.

03-26-2010	#4 (permalink)
krazzy life=playa Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 723	you are hilarious ,, they musta closed all the lobby bars then cause I went to all of them and there is drink service at the lobby , You are right though about the snack bars, they did not know how to make the drinks, as for the covered walk ways , give me a break lol and the bars are at the pools which are just a few steps from the ocean(literally) You get what you pay for and the coba is always cheaper than the Palladium. I have friends that went to both and the service is better at the Palladium. But all in all the bahia is a good resort, if you really need to be treated like royalty the iberostar might suit u better glad you had fun though and thanks for the laugh

03-26-2010	#5 (permalink)
nnaattyy lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 23	HMMMMMM.....They only have theater bars....no lobby bars. I assume I am confusing the two. Theater bar was amazing, but would love to enjoy a lobby bar without the karaoke and kids show. Again...beach and swing bar were amazing! Grounds and rooms were beautiful. The covered walkways are a plus when traveling with a child and it is raining. We chose not to run in the rain with an 8 month old...come on!

03-26-2010	#6 (permalink)
krazzy life=playa Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 723	well lol ,, there is a lobby bar at coba for sure ,, i know that for a fact as well as a theater bar,, the lobby bar was not opened in the am after 11am i think it was, and as for walking in the rain ,, everyone knows it nevers rains in the mayan silly

03-26-2010	#7 (permalink)
nnaattyy lost on fifth Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 23	WASH MY MOUTH OUT! Rain in Mexico? NEVER! I did love the vacation! I just wish that they can combine the Gran Bahia with the Palladium and make a super resort. Happy travels

03-26-2010	#8 (permalink)
krazzy life=playa Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 723	cheers and salute

03-26-2010	#9 (permalink)
Shammy Travel Insurance Tester Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Joisey Shore Posts: 17,488	There is a lobby bar in the Akumal section as well, I've sat in it and order drinks in it! It's a nice place, tables, chairs, wait service, good drinks. It's a separate room to the right as you head to the theater, but it's not IN the theater - there is another bar there. One thing I didn't do when I stayed there was go to a show. Saw a few minutes of one and that was enough to make me head back to that lobby bar!

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