mah1980

We are about to book our mileage award and a stay at this property. This is totally spur of the moment, last minute brought on by a break in our schedules and really, really cheap rates at Akumal. I looked at Shangri la Caribe and Hotel Secreto, but we're trying to go as cheap and stress free as possible. I'm really sad that we can't go to Secreto but as I said this is a financial decision.

I've never stayed at an All Inclusive before and I'm slightly scared. I am particular, (which my husband calls snobby) and decided on Akumal because it doesn't seem too over the top and I figure if the food is completely awful we can walk into town and eat at a restaurant.

Please advise if you've been to this property recently.

schmerl

You might want to check out
www.locogringo.com They LOVE the Akumal Beach REsort on that site. The hotel is very no frills.

zootsi

I haven't stayed there, but a friend of mine did. I've walked past it several times. This is what i can tell you:
-The beach front is a 10 - really nice.
-I've heard the food is mediocre (surprising, since it's run by Italians).
- Lot's of Europeans go there, so you get an interesting mix of people.
If you are leery if an AI, why not stay somewhere else in Akumal? locogringo.com has lots of places to check out. We stayed at the Vista del Mar hotel(very inexpensive)on Half Moon Bay, and loved it. However the water there is full of coral and rocks - better for snorkelling than swimming.

sceneisle

Stayed at the ABR this past April and the previous poster is correct. The food at the ABR, even by all-inclusive standards is mediocre at best but the beach is very nice. The rooms are small and the service was average. I would like to return to Akumal, but would choose another resort.

luvs2pack

ttt

summer04

I stayed at ABR last year for 2 nights. Rooms were small and worn, food very bland, beach excellent. I am also a Locogringa, but am one of the few who didn't care for ABR. Akumal, though, I loved!! We just got back from there a week ago. This time we rented a villa which was a huge splurge, but fantastic!
Locogringo offers a ton of condos you can rent for $100-125/night that are very nice. Or you can stay at Hotel Akumal Caribe, which is clean and nice for $99/night. My pick would be Hotel Akumal Caribe, because it has a great ocean view, nice pool, and Lol Ha restaurant and beach bar attached to it. Akumal Dive Center is also right next door. There are only about 6 restaurants in Akumal, but all are very good. The BEST for us were Turtle Bay Bakery (they serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner) and Lol Ha. Check it out on Locogringo and also check our their forum. You'll see Pepper and I over there, too!

cygnet

Just returnedfrom a 13 day stay at ABR with my 13 year old daughter. We have stayed throughout the Carribean at mostly AI's in the Dr, self catering in Grenada and Turks and Caicos and Abaco . This place is a bang for the buck if you are not loooking for top quality food. Beach is excellent ,book a superior room in Buildings 5, 6 , or 7 preferably third floor > Room was basic but very clean, ample towels and clean linens. View from patio is fabulous. Fre kayaks to view the turtles from the boat, snorkle in from the beach to see sea life{no need for a boat excursion to snorkle} save lots of money. Short walk to town for cheap souveniers at the Super Chomak{grocery store}Food at ABR : Breakfast was very good.Lots of great tasty choices, omelets, scrambled eggs, sausage,crisp bacon Snack Bar with Pizza, guac ,chips mystery hamburgers doctored up were tasty and self serve ice cream,chocolate and vNILLA AND TWIST YUMMM YUMM. We did go into town for several meals to Turtle Bay Bakery for breakfast and Lo ha for dinner. Both were very good. We used Cyber Akumal to phone home and check e-mail. Very, very cheap versus using the resorts computers which the keys were in Spanish. We will be returning hopefully in April. Use the collectivos to get around for your excursions . Very easy to use, safe, and cheap. ABR is relaxed and grows on you more and more every hour that you are there. If you want marble floors and nonstop entertainment go elsewhere. If you want to relax, be carefree and pick and chhose what you eat go here. I loved it for its relaxed feel for an AI.

luvs2pack

Cygnet- Thanks for the report. We are going there in April too.How lucky you were to have 13 days! You made it sound just right for us. Can you tell me what the pools were like? Thanks

cygnet

My daughter lived in the pool. ABR has 3 pools all in the same area Good size large pool,although very shallow 4 ftdeep but they also did have a small,square7 foot pool that was nice. Tiny baby pool.No shade at the pool unless you get an umbrella. Pool was very well maintained. Guards were always checking chlorine content.Beautiful view of the ocean from the pool. Building 5 looks out onto the pools. Hope this helps. We have already rebooked for April.