BlueBay Grand Esmeralda reviews
17621 TripAdvisor reviews
Amazing staff and resort
Julia C (Toronto, Canada) on Jan 09, 2025
Our family really love the stay here in Bluebay. The staff are so kind and friendly, they assist you right away. My own personal favorite is the cafe, especially Juan Antonio, Angel and the one with the glasses(male) with light skin. The latte machiato and affogato is so delicious. Also shout out to Daniel of swing bar, he is a great bartender aswell. We will definitely be back soon. Thanks Bluebay??
Good, but some flaws.
Trail32174499595 on Jan 08, 2025
Stay was quite enjoyable aside from a few details. Some of the rooms are outdated (AC not working, leaking from the roof, etc) One of the issue that was a bit frustrating is that the pool tables and the different amument at night needed coins, but as I do write this review I am still at the hotel and it's been 5 days in a row they can't change my pesos to coins to enjoy those facilities. Kids we're a bit sad and so was i, so if these are somethings that would affect your stay, I wanted to make people aware. Also, this is my 2nd time at the resort, but last year was not as problematic. I will sadly definitely not come back for a 3rd time that is for sure.
Price is not worth sacrifices
Darlene N on Jan 08, 2025
This resort is maybe a 3 star, unlike how it's listed as 5 star. King bed is 5 feet long...for most your feet will hang over. The food at the main buffet is bland, and choices are minimal. There is no hot water, can't even make yeast rise. No water pressure. Rodents are among the guest sidewalks, scavenging for food. You have to motion them away at times. (A cat, raccoons, etc). The bell boy is nowhere to be seen, so I took my luggage and walked myself to room. I had to request an iron. The first time didn't believe me that there wasn't one. I haven't tried to get a pool chair yet or the beach area. I'm keeping my guard up. I already know I won't come back.
Mexicans hospitality and openness in a nutshell. Nice resort with private beach and professional service.
Maciej K (Warsaw, Poland) on Jan 08, 2025
Large and nice resort in Mexico. Wide range of dishes in the restaurants, including a lot of Salads and daily Mexican or fish. Also it is possible to have a special dinner daily using the local app (Mexican, Steakhouse, Italian). During the day you can have a great hospitality by Paula in the Black and White Bar near the Lobby. The Waiters and the Bartenders are doing a great job for us to spent a unforgotten vacation. Every person from the staff is helpful and professional. The hotel has a nice location with various pools and private beach.
It's ok on a budget
Dan G (Winnipeg, Canada) on Jan 08, 2025
Was there with my wife and 9 year old over New Years. First the good. Pools are big, not crowded, seemed clean for the most part, entertainment staff at the pools had lots of different games they played poolside with guests, dancing, some games of skill. Kids club was good, daughter had fun. They have a big schedule board out front of the kids club with the activities for the whole week and you can come and go as you please. Staff are great everywhere, Elizabeth at the kids club, Teresa and Jorge at the main buffet, all amazing staff. Our room was ok, we were in building 6. Room was clean, beds and linens as well. They must have done work in there shortly before we arrived, there were small bits of drywall compound that were stuck to the bathroom mirror and the entry way and the handle to close the balcony door was on the cabinet by the TV. Maintenance came the day after we called asking why it wasn't attached. The ceiling fan was really out of balance and couldn't be used on any speed other than 1 for fear it would fall from the ceiling. Two elevators in the building, the one closest our room was out of order our whole trip and the other worked for four or five days and then was also broken, lots of fun carrying a couple of 50 pound suitcases down the stairs when you're leaving. AC did work well, beds are typical for the Caribbean, hard. Room service people came by regularly to offer refills on water, beer and soda. Building 6 is quite a walk from the beach, but it right next to the quiet pool. Breakfast and lunches got repetitive at the buffets. They did have theme nights in the main buffet, we somehow got Asian twice within a couple of days of each other. A la carte is booked at the concierge right after you check in. They have Mexican, steak house, Italian and French. Mexican was by far the favorite, followed by Italian, steak house and a very distant last place, the French. All the a la carte's have a kids menu, usually a burger and fries they get from the buffet which works well for a picky kid. French was not good, my steak was good, my wife had undercooked chicken and my daughter had a burger that wasn't cooked all the way through. Dress code is not enforced at any of the a la carte's, I saw people in tank tops and hats. We saw lots of wildlife, small lizards, coatis, a couple of deer, resort cats. Lines to get drinks were never more than three or four minutes, entry to all restaurants was also no waiting required. There is a lot of walking between the quiet and loud pools/beach, but no shortage of golf carts there to give you a lift. The bad. Water pressure in the shower, or serious lack of. It would move between a trickle and a dribble. Odd because both taps in the sink had good pressure. Didn't run out of hot water, just terrible pressure. The beach. They clean it daily, no sea grass on the sand, but other than both having water and sand, it looks nothing like the pictures. There is however a very nice lagoon a 10 minute walk down the beach to your left that has crystal clear water and great sand. Where are the lounge chairs? Unless you want to play the chair game and get up by 7am to reserve some chairs, you're out of luck. Lots of the chairs weren't even used till after lunch which made it all the more frustrating, quiet pool, loud pool, beach, all the same. Photographers. They have a storefront there that is the home base for the photographers. They set up in various spots around the resort, professional cameras and separate flash and offer to take your photo. They did not mention when taking photos on NYE that they charge you $20 USD per photo, completely defeating the nature of "all inclusive".