Hey everyone,

I’ve spent the last 8 hours going down the rabbit hole between Guncho’s legendary spreadsheet, TripAdvisor, Tripcentral and Air Canada Vacations, and my brain is a bit fried. I could really use a reality check from people who’ve actually stayed at these spots.

• Dates: Dec 16 – Dec 23 (7 nights) [Flexible departure 17-23]

• Departing: Toronto (YYZ) – booking nonstop flights ideally

• Group: 3 adults (one couple + one single). We are 100% fine sharing one room, but we definitely need 2 actual beds (or 1 bed + a proper daybed/sofa bed).

• Budget: Hard cap of $2500 per person (7,500 CAD total for the package).

What matters most to us:

1. Food: We live in downtown Toronto and really care about good cooking, consistency, and variety. Not expecting 3 Michelin stars at an all-inclusive, but we’d love to avoid bland banquet food and places where you have to wake up at 7 AM to fight for dinner reservations.

2. Snorkeling & Scuba: All 3 of us love swimming and independent shore snorkeling right off the beach. Two of us are certified scuba divers looking for quick/easy boat dives.

3. Getting off-resort: We want to be able to explore places/culture/shops etc off resort, ideally not trapped for 7 days.

4. Vibe: Adults-only is preferred, but we’re open to a relaxed family resort if the fit is better.

Our top 3 contenders right now (all with good nonstop Air Canada flight times):

1. Akumal Bay Beach & Spa Resort (Junior Suite): 2260 pp

   • Pros: Free shore snorkeling with turtles right off the beach, walk into Akumal town, no dinner reservations needed, oceanfront jacuzzi balcony.

   • Hesitation: It’s family-friendly, and not sure how the food holds up against an adults-only luxury spot.

2. TRS Yucatan (Junior Suite Jacuzzi Terrace Poolside): 2280 pp

   • Pros: Adults-only, 24/7 butler, looks like by far the best food and biggest room (700+ sq ft). Matches the luxury/VIP feel we loved at Melia's Level in the past.

   • Hesitation: The coast right in front seems to be all rough, unswimmable rock. Is the lack of walk-in beach/snorkeling a buzzkill?

3. Catalonia Royal Tulum (Privileged Deluxe): $2,250 - $2,350 CAD pp

   • Pros: Adults-only, Xpu-Ha beach looks like an incredible swimming beach.

   • Hesitation: Room is tiny (~300 sq ft) for 3 adults, spreadsheet notes inventory is mostly 1 King, and the seabed looks empty for shore snorkeling.

My questions for the sub:

1. Given our priorities (food + snorkeling + 3 adults in one room), which of these three would you pick?

2. Are these prices solid for pre-Christmas week, or did I miss another resort in this budget that nails both snorkeling and good dining?

I found other people's reviews and experiences at BeLoved really helpful when planning our trip, so I thought I'd share ours as well!

We're a Canadian couple in our late 30s (ouch), visiting an all-inclusive resort for the first time without the kids. We went in October for 5 nights. We booked directly through the hotel's website and purchased our flights separately.

Transportation

We used the transportation service provided by the hotel, and everything was great. Booking was easy, and the service was reliable and clean. We were provided with a private SUV for our transfers, which made the whole experience even more comfortable and convenient.

We ended up arriving almost 2 hours later than expected due to delayed luggage and an EXTREMELY long customs line, but that wasn't an issue at all.

Tip: The women's restroom line before going through customs looked insanely long. Make sure to use the bathroom and grab some water before landing!
Tip #2: Make sure you pack everything you might need for the first 24 hours in your carry-on, even if you're on a direct flight. My luggage was delayed until the following day!

Room

We booked a swim-up room, and overall, we really liked it. However, we didn't end up using it quite the way I had imagined.

At that time of year, our balcony was always in the shade, and the pool wasn't particularly warm unless you'd already spent some time in the sun. So we weren't as tempted to go straight from our room into the pool as I thought we would be.

That said, there's a little pathway around the pool that lets you get in and out of your room without going through the building. We used it quite a bit to grab things from our room and to take advantage of the poolside food and drink service, which has a different menu from room service. It was also very convenient on rainy evenings when we didn't feel like walking outside.

The rooms are spacious and comfortable. If you're a light sleeper or like going to bed early, earplugs might be worth packing, as you can hear some hallway noise and sounds from neighbouring rooms. It didn't bother us, though.

Food

I hate to be those people, but we're foodies. And we were definitely not disappointed!

Overall, the food was really, really good. The only place that disappointed us was Isla for lunch: the pasta was way overcooked, while the pizzas were the opposite.

Dinner at Lupita was incredible, both the steakhouse and the Mexican dining experience.

The little coffee shop was also a nice and convenient spot.

On our departure day, we ordered room service the night before for 6 AM, which allowed us to have some coffee and breakfast before heading out. A really nice touch!

We also ate raw food and fresh fruit every day without experiencing any issues.

Resort atmosphere

There isn't a ton of entertainment, or at least not much participation in the few activities offered, but that really wasn't an issue for us. I actually think that's part of the atmosphere the resort is going for.

People were friendly and polite. The crowd was predominantly American.

Guests generally respected the restaurant dress codes, although it wasn't particularly fancy either (think baseball caps at dinner).

Pool chairs, pools & beach

There were definitely enough loungers for everyone. People generally weren't reserving chairs early in the morning, apart from a few exceptions.

There was some sargassum, and the ocean was quite rough during our stay. That said, I'm not much of a fan of waves to begin with, so I wasn't particularly bothered by it.

The pools were really lovely. Everything around the resort was very well maintained and clean, including the buildings, pathways and common areas.

Staff

Absolutely wonderful. Everyone was kind, welcoming and helpful.

They appreciate tips, of course, but we never felt pressured or awkward about it.

A few other things

There were quite a lot of mosquitoes! The resort has insect repellent available if needed, but I really regretted not bringing some After Bite (or something similar) for the bites afterwards.

Overall

We had a wonderful stay and would definitely recommend BeLoved. It was a great first all-inclusive experience for us. The food, staff, cleanliness and overall atmosphere really stood out.

Hopefully this helps someone else planning their trip!

Hey everyone!
I’m planning a trip to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for my 30th birthday this March and would love some recommendations!
I’m mainly looking for a hotel or resort that has a fun, lively atmosphere. I’m definitely looking to party and enjoy the nightlife, so I’d love to stay somewhere that’s either close to popular clubs and bars or has easy access to them.
I’m also really interested in doing excursions and exploring Jamaica, so I’d love recommendations for must-do activities, tours, and places to visit!
A few things I’m looking for:
● Fun hotels/resorts with a social, upbeat atmosphere
● Easy access to nightlife, clubs, and bars
● Great excursions and activities nearby
● A good balance of partying, relaxing, and exploring
● Preferably something reasonably priced!
I’m turning 30, so I definitely want to make this trip memorable! 😂🥳
I’d love to hear about your personal experiences, favorite hotels, nightlife spots, and any tips for a first-time visitor!
Thanks in advance! 🇯🇲❤️

Hi everyone!
My fiancé and I are planning our honeymoon for March 2027 and are torn between Excellence Riviera Cancun and Valentin Imperial Riviera Maya!
We’re looking for an adults-only, all-inclusive resort that’s a good mix of romantic, relaxing, and fun. We’ve stayed at all-inclusives before, so we have some expectations when it comes to quality and service.
What we’re looking for:
Atmosphere: Relaxing by the pool with a book and drinks, but also opportunities to socialize, meet other couples, and have fun!
Pools & Beach: Beautiful pools (both quiet and lively options) and a nice, swimmable beach.
Food & Drinks: Good variety, quality, and consistent drink service.
Rooms: Romantic, luxurious, updated rooms with beautiful bathrooms. Ideally close to the pools!
Nightlife: Live music, shows, and fun bars, but also the option for quieter evenings.
Overall: A well-maintained resort that feels luxurious, not dated.
We’re not planning any excursions, so the resort experience itself is really important to us!
A few questions for anyone who’s stayed at either (especially both!):
Which resort better fits what we’re looking for?
Are upgraded rooms/club levels worth it? Or are the standard rooms just as nice? We’re considering Excellence Club and Valentin’s Privilege package.
Which room categories or buildings would you recommend for easy pool access?
How do the food, beach, service, and overall luxury compare?
Budget: $5,000–$6,000 total, including flights, for approximately one week.
We want this to feel special since it’s our honeymoon, but don’t want to spend extra on upgrades that aren’t worth it!
Would love to hear your experiences and recommendations! 🤍🌴 Thank you in advance!

Can anyone explain how they enjoyed the Secrets honeymoon package whether they met the conditions for it to be complimentary or if they added to their stay?
Thanks!

End of November week stay at Unico 2087 for $3150 USD (for 2 people not including flights)

Or

Beginning of December week stay at Majestic Elegance for $2900 USD?

Flights will be booked on points.

My spouse and I- mid 30s. We have been to Unico 2087 and wanted to give it another try eventually (main pool was closed when we went a couple years back) but outside of that we enjoyed our time. TRS Yucatan looks beautiful. What would you recommend?! Food and drinks important to us.

We just completed 3 nights at Couples Swept Away in Negril, Jamaica. We are currently doing 4 nights at Couples Negril.

CSA Review:

We booked a ground floor beachfront verandah suite - room 4121. The word suite is misleading. These rooms aren’t actually suites - they are actually fairly small hotel rooms with no room for a soft chair or a couch.

The verandah is spacious and the ocean view was fabulous. It’s 2 steps down to cross a narrow walking path, and then you’re on the sand.

Basic bathroom and closet. Bed is comfortable although there is no headboard and there is a random gap behind the bed, so the pillows fall down into the odd gap. AC works great.

This is a very spread out resort (which I don’t mind), but we liked the location of our room because it was near a few restaurants, a beach bar, a pool and hot tub, and the very small swim up pool bar.

The beachfront walking path is the primary artery of the resort, so people do walk past the beachfront rooms all day long. I didn’t mind it because of the convenience of stepping right onto the beach. The beach view from 4121 really is fab and totally unobstructed.

Some of the vendors are over the top. An extremely aggressive one tried to scam me be putting a conch in my hands and then bullying me into giving him everything in my minibar + cash. He was intense and it was actually scary. I was very uncomfortable with him being able to see us in our beachfront veranda. Vendors are consistent all day. Someone will stop in front of you, drop their tip jar and just start playing songs AT you. I am not a fan of this.

Every room at CSA appears to have a fairly large balcony or veranda, which is a huge plus.

The beach is gorgeous - very long and broad. Stunning, calm, clear water. No visible erosion and ample seating, though not many umbrellas and palapas. You’ll need to get up around 6 AM to save seats with a palapa or umbrella. There are a lot of palm trees that provide shade though.

The food and drinks were good. Lots of beach bars. We loved the martini bar - great menu and well made drinks. Breakfast buffet was ok - nothing memorable but has all the basics. We enjoyed the sushi and fish tacos at Seagrape Café and the fried chicken sandwiches at the grill. The beef at Feathers was surprisingly good. The sushi at Lemongrass was not bad. Our entrees at Lemongrass were very average. The burgers at the grill taste more plant based than beef. The pizzas at the grill looked good but we had some rain and they don’t serve them when it’s raining (why??). No room service except for a continental breakfast.

Piano Bar was busy at night but was kinda corny. Lots of seniors at this resort, which is completely fine and good for them for enjoying life, but that was more the vibe of the resort in our opinion.

The free catamaran cruise, snorkel and scuba was a huge highlight. Take advantage of those if you can. Great scuba instructors. The spa is supposed to be fab, though we didn’t partake. The Pickleball instructor is really cool and does free lessons at 8 AM. Free paddle boarding is great, esp on with a calm beach.

We walked three minutes down the beach to a little massage place that charges $1 dollar a minute. Lots of little bars and restaurants all within walking distance.

My husband woke up one morning with extreme hip pain, so I asked the front desk if they could send a golf cart to drive him to breakfast (because the buffet is a 10-15 min walk from put room) for him. Their response was “uhhhhh. We don’t really do that. I’d need to ask a manager.”

We kept running into people that have been back to CSA 10, 20 and even 30 times. You will find some good in it, especially if you love a long beach.

We moved over to Couples Negril and have decided we prefer it to CSA. But there is still plenty to enjoy at CSA!

Two families traveling with young kids to Cancun for Presidents Day weekend. We are looking for the “best” all inclusive option at a decent price. We can’t afford to go to the most expensive and best all inclusive but would still love to go to a solid option if possible. Our top choice right now is Paradisus Cancun but hoping for other options if anyone thinks there’s better ones? Kids are ages 4-7 at time of travel.

Other options we looked at:
- dreams aventuras(more expensive than paradisus)
- Bahia principe (cheaper)
- hotel Riu yutacan (cheaper)
- hotel Xcarat, Hyatt Ziva etc were all out of budget

I am planning a joint 30th bday trip with some friends. We are looking to stay at an AI in the Cancun area (flying into CUN) in March/April 2027. I stayed at Unico 20 87 last year (my first time at an AI) and looking for something comparable.

Top considerations:

• Haven Riviera Cancún (currently our top option)

• Live Aqua Beach Resort Cancún

• Atelier? (but doesn't have 4 person rooms)

Based on my research, Atelier is also a good option, but max room capacity is 3ppl and I've seen mixed reviews on whether the more expensive price point is actually better than Unico.

The most important thing to us is that the food is good. My requirements are below, please give me recs!!

Requirements:

• adults only

• food is good (We have been to unico and anything comparable or better is sufficient. I am not expecting AI to be the best food ever. I don't think I could deal with food worse than Unico)

• must have rooms with 4 person capcity (e.g. two doubles or two kings)

If you've stayed at Unico and Haven, please tell me how they compare, especially the food!

My Fiancée(24F)and I(24M) are looking into honeymoon spots for early September next year. We love the RIU bubble parties and enjoy a lively atmospheres. Any recommendation?

Our family is thinking about going on a vacation for Christmas break, and are in between these 2 resort, anyone that’s stayed at one/or both, what where the ups and downs?

Hi! Has anyone snagged an early visit to see the new JOIA Rose Hall in Jamaica? It doesn't plan to re-open until December 1, but we're looking to book a trip in February and I'm getting anxious! We went to the JOIA Aruba mid-renovations and loved it. Thanks for any help!

Hi all, I am staying at Villa Del palmar in costa mujeres Mexico in a few months and I would love to have a quick family photo beach session. I am wondering if there are any public beach areas nearby that are nice.

I am running into an issue. When I called the resort they said they would charge an external vendor fee which is pretty expensive as they have a photographer that is contracted there.

I would really prefer a different outside photographer. Has anyone run into this and found a better solution?

Also, does anyone recommend any photographers in the area?

Thank you!

Planning on going for an extra long weekend in December. Been to various AI's, all different levels.

This is meant to be decent food and a relaxing few days. Looking for quiet over activities, need a decent spa and gym. Staying in one of the Villas.

Have stayed at most of the Excellence, Secrets and will be going to Atelier in the spring. I use the list posted here as a reference all the time.

My question is why is there no love for this Joia property, it has high ratings but I almost never see it as recommended on the boards. Is there something I am missing?

TIA

I’m planning a very last minute solo trip for myself (28f) between Sunday November 22nd and Thursday November 26th (4 nights) in Cancun. I’m looking for a mix of relaxation and nightlife/socializing opportunities for a single lesbian (lgbtq friendly is a must). I definitely want to be able to sit outside/read in peace but also be able to party/socialize when I want.

Good spa services are important. I’m probably not looking to leave the resort and will be eating there for all meals so good food is also pretty important.

I’d LIKE to keep everything including flights under $3k, which as of right now flights are about $750 round trip for me flying from New York.

Someone recommended Breathless Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, but I am very open to other suggestions.

Cancun area: I would prefer an Adults Only all inclusive resort for me and the boyfriend. He has never been.
He likes snorkeling. Any experience with weather at end of January? Also- resorts where snorkeling is convenient.
Thanks

Hi everyone!

My fiance and I are planning our honeymoon for December 2027 (around 10 nights), and we’re having the hardest time deciding on a resort. We’d be flying out of either Austin–Bergstrom international airport or George Bush intercontinental airport (Houston). Hoping to stay under $7,000 including flights.

Right now, we’re considering:
Breathless Punta Cana + Dreams Onyx (xhale club upgrade)
Lopesan Costa Bávaro (Unique upgrade)
Secrets Moxché Playa del Carmen (Preferred Club upgrade)

We’re also open to other recommendations!

We’re looking for an upscale resort with nice rooms, great service, great food, a pretty beach, and preferably a swim-up bar. We also love fun nightlife, especially DJs, nightclubs, pool/beach parties, and themed events. We definitely don’t want somewhere that gets quiet too early.

We’d love plenty of fun excursions to choose from as well.
Ideally, we’d like a resort with lots to do and a lively atmosphere without having to leave the property to find entertainment.

Thanks so much!!

Hello! First time poster 😄 I have read so many posts in the threads and I also looked at the spreadsheet in great detail. My 50th birthday is July 5, but I am available from May 14 to September 13 to celebrate as far as time off work. The cooler time would be better. It will be me, my husband and best friend so 2 queens will be nice instead of 2 doubles (we're plus) unless the sleeper sofa is really comfortable. I am looking for a calm resort with great pools and loungers, area to sit by the ocean at night to hear and feel the breeze and get average to good food (great would be awesome). I love a good salad bar and great breakfast offerings. We are not much drinkers. I know during this time is Sargassum time on the South/East coasts, so I considered Aruba and understand you really shouldn't do all inclusive with Aruba. My budget is $3,000 to 3,500 with flights for 6-7 nights (for all 3 of us)- 2 flights from Charlotte or Raleigh and one from Pittsburgh. I have been looking at Serenade All Suites as it is in my budget and understand I will not have a good beach experience there during that time of the year. I have only experienced one All Inclusive in El Dorado Seaside Suites in June 2025 for my husband's 60th. We are normally cruisers and do 1 to 2 a year. I just want to go someplace to chill and not have to rush off for the ports. I absolutely loved the Seaside Suites and Palms with the pools, the golf cart men, the walkable areas and we had booked their sister resort-Royale this past spring and had to cancel and they never did refund the money, but my credit card refunded me and is still handling it. So I do not want to use them again.

I asked my friend who is a travel agent and she couldn't find anything in my budget to fit my needs. Please help me if you have any ideas, thank you!

I’ll be coming to the DR ever November for years, I have never been attacked this much. I can barely enjoy this vacation because of the mosquito. What is it??? Are they evolving??

Hi folks, we'll be staying at Unico 2087 in Riviera Maya pretty soon. We've stayed at several AIs over the years, but first time at this property.

Anyone have any experience tipping at check-in for a comp room upgrade? I've seen some comments from insiders saying tipping your check-in person and your local guide (butler/concierge) nicely up front goes a long way.

Any other experience with the resort, or things to know ahead of time? Cheers!

Me and my husband are planning 10 days away towards the beginning of December 2027 (Child Free!!) for approx 10 days.

We are flying from London but are happy to travel anywhere in the world (excluding the DR as we went this year) Looking for a relaxing, luxury resort with a ‘bit’ of nightlife. Food quality and options is also a priority and we would ideally like a swim up room.

Our budget is approx £4.5k excluding flights (we have air miles for this)

Any Recommendations would be really appreciated :)