- Mexico Holidays
- Playa del Carmen
- Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda
The hotel is located in a natural paradise, right in front of the beach, a privileged position in the Riviera Maya. Playa del Carmen is just 15 minutes away and Cancun International Airport is about 35 minutes by car. The public transport links are within walking distance and easily accessible from the hotel. The spacious, luxurious rooms feature elegant furnishings and décor. In addition, the hotel offers a variety of services, facilities and restaurants. On the beach in the Riviera Maya district of Playa del Carmen, this all-inclusive hotel offers private beach access, an on-site spa, and several specialty restaurants. The rooms at the property overlook the sea, and include satellite TV. They come with a minibar and safe. Guests can enjoy water sports such as snorkeling and windsurfing at this Playa del Carmen resort. A gym and sauna are on the property. A game room and kids club are available. The shops and restaurants of Playa del Carmen's Fifth Avenue are only 15 minutes from BlueBay Grand Esmeralda. Cancun is less than an hour from this resort.

You fonthe check in and inmediately people vothering you for time shares, chrck in staff very unfriendly hotel rundown old, the lunch bufete is below average food average to low quality nothing spectacular dont expect nothing great, our room smelled of dandruff we complained and all they did was spray the room never offered to change room and no manager on premises Alcohol brverage quality is poor , juices watered down, again breakfast buffete terrible nothing edpectacular Again do not expect nothing great Spend a little more and get something better
I had a great stay at this hotel and the whole process was made easier by Yulissa working at Concierge VIP area of the hotel.
Was at the Bluebay Grand from Sept 15th to the 22nd. Went with my 2 sons (25 yrs old) and my father in law. Here is what to expect. It was a 5 Star at one point in time. The years are showing, but it was still great. ALL the staff treat you with a ton of respect. The hand over the heart when they greet you was a special bonus. Always smiling.
Bars: Black and White is exactly as advertised. 24 hour bar! Clean, always busy in the afternoon/evening. Shows were decent, but the entertainment crew, and "Crazy Games" were what made it better. Columpios Bar (swing bar) was often understaffed by the sheer number of people in line to get drinks, but they were very fast and always kept us going. Try the mojitos, Miguel makes the best ones! FYI, the bar on the other end of the pool was often times less busy, but service was still just as good.
Food: All buffets were decent. Exactly what you expect for resort buffet. Not superb, but was always filling. The service and wait staff were better than most restaurants back home. Conversations about nothing, chatting about the weather. Very casual, and very nice. Al a Carte was again very good. We only did the steakhouse, but cooked to perfection. The only downside to the food, the desserts did not seem to be fresh. Seemed store bought.
Pool/Beach: Pool is huge. Tons of space, would love to see it rocking at capacity! A few bridges to hide from the sun, if you need to. Not a lot of shade...try the chairs close to the Swing Bar and the beach on the pool deck. Sun pretty much everywhere else. The beach was clean when we went, sargasum a non-issue. Could even swim in the ocean. When the lifeguard blows his whistle, listen. We were watching a croc in the water not that far away.
Entertainment Troop: Probably the BEST group of kids I've ever had the pleasure of being around!!! From Aqua aerobics to the more "Crazy Games", they were ALWAYS keeping the crowd going! Sorry. I don't remember all the names, but Valentina, Eduardo, Hugo....I miss you all already!
The Grounds: IF you don't like to walk....you better be a patient person. They have shuttles running all day, but there does not seem to be a set schedule. The walk from the main area to the pool is about 5 minutes, but it adds up when you like going on adventures like I did. Water shoes/sandals/shoes recommended for the walking, as the ground gets a bit rough on bare feet.
Rooms: ARE THERE TO STORE STUFF...GO HAVE FUN! My room had great A/C, but I couldn't always get hot water from the shower. Warm, but not hot. But for the 5 minutes I needed it every day, it did it's job. Beds are average. Rooms are dated, but well kept by the cleaning staff.
Kids Club: Our family did not fit this bracket, so I cannot give a truly honest review other than to say, they workers in that Club were always with the kids, and looked to be having a blast!
NIGHTLIFE: Yup! From 8pm on...whether you are at the Swing Bar on the beach (Open until around 1am), or at the Black & White Bar until....well, it's 24 hours...You will have fun. This resort is High Energy! Day and Night. You will find someone to party with, even if you don't speak whatever language is being tossed around that night. A very international feeling on this resort, loved it!
This is a family friendly resort, with an amazing nightlife for the adult crowd. You can definitely relax poolside, or start the party early, and go all day & night. Enjoy!
Upon arrival we were put in building 1. It had a bad odour and was very dated. The hotel has been let go with not much updates happening to the grounds or buildings. The restaurant ceiling collapsed while we were trying to have a la carte dining. The lobby ceiling collapsed when we were walking in to try get help. The people are amazing and very helpful, this is the reason why I rated it better than zero. They made the difference and are wonderful.
I recently stayed at BlueBay Grand Esmeralda through a package from Canada, and it was an absolute nightmare. This resort relies on heavily fabricated videos on YouTube and Instagram to scam tourists. The reality is a complete breakdown of services and safety.
This property is a financial scam and a severe health hazard. Save your money and health—stay anywhere else in Cancun!
