TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

Been to this resort 13 or 14 times almost always at Coba. I did Tequia this time because it took over the quiet pool from Coba. Not quiet anymore. Also thought cause going as a single the new Tequila was adults only. I found the newly renovated Tequila lobby(old premier lobby) refreshing even the lobby bar. Did have access to Coba which was great cause after many years, I see staff that have been there a long time. My favorite in Maria in Coba breakfast buffet. She is the best of the best. The staff at the Sports Lounge at Coba are too fantastic. The renovations to the rooms at Tequila were very good and since I arrived Dec 4/2025 the renovated new Tequila room section had some minor hiccups. No problem I asked for a specific area and type of room and got mostly what I asked for. Honestly I have no problems with any of the staff(they all are great) or the rooms, check in. check out. I have a problem with the new rules. Every other time I came to this resort, either by getting the right package and by loyalty, I always had access to the full resort, this time I was told basically who cares, if I wanted access to the whole resort it would cost me $20.00 US a day(this not on the staff, they hae to do what they are told) I took this as Imy loyalty doesn't matter and am sure many loyal travellers feel the same. Guess its time to look elsewhere

Luis was wonderful serving us with an amazing meal at the Mashua. He welcomed us and explained the whole menu to help us decide. His service was impeccable.

This is not a hit piece, nor is it an exaggerated rant. This is an honest account of a deeply disappointing stay at Bahia Principe Grand Tequila, and I hope it reaches the decision-makers who have the power — and responsibility — to fix what is clearly a failing operation. I left this resort feeling misled, undervalued, and outright ripped off. Two of my friends are Bahia timeshare owners who swear by the brand, and two of us were prepared to buy in during this trip. After this experience, that idea died instantly. We stayed for 7 days over New Year’s — peak season, premium pricing — and what we received was nowhere near the “NEW” or “LUXURY” experience advertised. In fact, the resort is simply a rebranded section of the existing property, dressed up with influencer marketing and empty promises. I usually research thoroughly before spending my money, and I genuinely feel fooled. Day 1: A Terrible Start That Set the Tone • 1.5 hours to check in with only two parties ahead of us and three desks open. Completely unacceptable. • The room was not luxury by any stretch. No elevators. Not handicap accessible. Our “garden view” was a wall of dense trees. • The bed had only a sheet. The comforter provided was thin, scratchy, and too small for the king bed. The second comforter I requested never arrived. • The phone was unplugged and shoved in a drawer, suggesting the room wasn’t prepared at all. • The patio was dirty, the sliding door had mud on it, and the floors were so filthy that our socks turned black after walking around. • The buffet food was bland and forgettable. • The “straw scavenger hunt” began: the bar sent us to the front desk, the front desk sent us back to the bar, and another guest told us he had to go to a completely different bar to get one. This became a daily frustration. Day 2: More Excuses, More Inconsistency • The restaurant-booking app was useless. Staff told us to book in person because “too many people were using the app.” • Housekeeping cleaned the room but left the fan visibly dusty. I had to leave a note requesting basic cleaning and an extra blanket. • Still no straws — at a resort serving mostly frozen drinks in tiny cups. • I watched a bartender make three drinks with one shot of rum, then admit management instructs them to do so. Weak drinks + sugar-free mixers = not enjoyable. • The entertainment team was the one consistently positive part of the stay — energetic, inclusive, and genuinely excellent. • Housekeeping removed the thin comforter, forcing me to walk across the property to request another because the phone still didn’t work. • We were told to request towels and blankets daily through the app to ensure we received them. Meanwhile, our friends in other rooms got fresh towels automatically. • The BBQ restaurant showed “fully booked” in the app, yet was nearly empty when we walked in. • A group of women with reservations were told they couldn’t sit at a six-top in an empty restaurant until “Papasito,” the sommelier, stepped in and corrected the host. Day 3: The Most Disturbing Experience — Blatant Discrimination This is the part I wish I didn’t have to write. At Mashua Nikkei, my group of seven arrived early for our 7:30 reservation. A group of ten had just left, leaving large tables open. The hostess immediately told us we could not sit together and insisted we split up — no explanation beyond “that section is closed.” Moments later, a white man walked in with a reservation for five plus two additional guests. Suddenly, the “closed” section reopened and they were escorted to a large table without hesitation. When confronted, the hostess claimed he had a “special circumstance.” He openly said he did not. It was humiliating, infuriating, and unmistakably discriminatory. Papasito again stepped in and resolved the seating issue, but the damage was done. I didn’t eat that night because I no longer trusted the kitchen. Day 4: Meeting the Manager — and Seeing What We Should Have Received We met with the resort manager, who apologized but didn’t seem surprised. He gave us pink wristbands granting access to the neighboring resorts. And that’s when the frustration multiplied. Coba and Akumal were everything Tequila pretends to be. • Better service • Better staff • Better amenities • Better food • Better everything Akumal had hundreds of umbrellas, poolside drink service, and actual luxury touches. Tequila had… excuses. The beach Tequila advertises? It’s actually at Akumal. The evening shows? Also at Akumal and Coba. Days 5–7: Escaping Tequila to Salvage the Trip We spent the rest of the trip at Akumal and Coba because Tequila was simply not enjoyable. Our final dinner was at a “fully booked” hibachi restaurant that was half empty. The lighting was so poor we had to use our phone flashlights to see our food. Final Thoughts Bahia Principe Grand Tequila is not ready to operate as a luxury resort — not in service, not in accommodations, not in management, and certainly not in guest experience. What should have been a celebratory New Year’s vacation turned into a week of frustration, inconsistency, and in one case, outright discrimination. If Bahia wants guests to trust the brand — let alone invest in timeshares — this resort needs immediate, top-to-bottom attention.

Barbie is great at her job! A great motivator! Keep it up girl you got me joining in the activities!! We will definitely visit Tequila again on our trip!

Barbie, was highly enthusiastic, lots of fun, a great contribution to the entertainment team. Always encouraging guests to join the fun.