Mahekal Beach Resort - European Plan

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

4353 reviews

• 

  Perfect for "me" time

  Writing this review after a recent (June 17-23) solo stay at Mahekal Beach Resort. This was a trip for some down time encouraged by family and friends...and what a perfect spot for it! I felt at peace for the entire trip, as well as safe being a solo female traveler. I had the all-inclusive package which I felt was well worth the cost, even though I had a few meals in town. And yes, it really IS just a very short walk to 5th avenue (but yet not the busiest part with more tourists, which I thought was even better). The all-inclusive food and drink experience is not your typical belly-up-to-the-buffet meal, but rather most meals are made just for you when you order off the menu. There is a breakfast buffet at Las Olas near the beach where you can also have various types of eggs and a few other dishes made to order. Daily buffet items included pancakes, French toast, potatoes, roasted veg, beans, fresh fruits and juices, yogurts, breads and delicious pastries. These are the thoughtful, delicate type, not the mass produced donuts topped with sugary glaze. Even though I was there during a slower time, items were constantly being refreshed. I should also mention they have a grill where fresh tortillas are made to order, and can be filled with a few different proteins and veggies as you wish (thanks Bonetta!). And the servers were very attentive and friendly. A special shout out to Sophie--you are the BEST!!! Happy Birthday, girl! I hope you had the chilaquiles :-) ! The chef also came out to speak with me about the conchita pibil which was delish--I'm sorry I didn't get her name, but she was so sweet. The guys at the Olas bar were always ready with a bottle of cold water or fresh beverage made with care throughout the day. Try the mango mezcalita...my new fave. Thanks guys! I would call the rooms modern rustic, which I happen to love. Floors are stone, woods are dark, and decor minimal...but tasteful and comfortable. My deck had a table with 2 chairs, hammock, and 2 loungers--very good size--with an outdoor fan and light. Windows have shutter mechanisms on the inside and are screened, in the event you want the ocean breeze and sounds of the tropics. Even though I had an ocean view room, I backed up to a small area of lush greenery and was just a turn off the beaten path--perfect location. I think each of the little buildings housed no more than 3-6 units. The resort spans both sides of a public beach access, but I did not find this to be crowded or bothersome, and enjoyed the opportunity to appreciate some of the local activity. The beach areas and entrances to the resort were manned by security guards at what seemed to be all hours (I did come back late a couple nights and they were there to greet me). The side of the resort opposite from me was more of a jungle setting with several pools, and the other restaurant I dined at for dinner-Fuego. Everything is prepared over hardwood fire, and is served elegantly with a gourmet and nod-to-Mayan flare. EVERYTHING I ordered was delicious. But if you have never had grilled Caribbean lobster, note that you are not getting a giant pristine red tail dripping with butter. Expect a charred half lobster that you really have to enjoy best by getting a little messy and digging in with your hands. But yes, there is still a dish of clarified butter for dipping. Flavors are very delicately balanced, with the poblano cheese cake being the perfect example. Just a subtle hint of smoky heat, with pistachio and cream liquor sauces. I left my e-mail hoping the chef would share the recipe. And thanks Eduardo, you were always so attentive! I also want to mention Daniel at the concierge desk. I spoken with Daniel the night before I left when I experienced a small issue with my room. Even though I was checking out in about 12 hours, Daniel went above and beyond to ensure my last night was just as good as all the others and addressed the issue immediately. Thank you! With all the patches of tropical forested areas, you will see some local critters--racoons, coatis, and the like. And yes, you may encounter a few insects. The room is equipped with a repellant incense coil and small spray bottle of mosquito repellant. I was there for a week (hot and very humid) and did not have to use either of these once (and you bet I was in that hammock outside at least once every day!). I did observe a small colony of what appeared to be some type of leaf cutter ants carrying their bits of leaves and flowers, traveling single file to some hidden destination in a forested area. They were off the beaten path and bothering no one. It is amazing where you can find the beauty of nature when you look for it. I encourage you to consider this small, unique resort if you appreciate the types of things I mentioned, but if you are looking for the kids to be entertained on their own all day and grab chicken nuggets and ice cream at will, this is not the place. I hope to return soon.

  Jul 02, 2025
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  Beautiful place

  I cannot believe this place is real it’s honestly stunning! The staff are amazing, kind and always happy to help, Josue, the entertainer is out of this world, he has made our holiday! I cannot recommend this place enough it’s a kind and safe environment and the food is 10000/10!!

  Jul 02, 2025
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  Disgusting hotel - bug infested and blood stained sheets / towels

  If You Value Sleep, Hygiene, and Basic Human Dignity — STAY FAR AWAY This was hands down the worst hotel experience of my life. I booked this place thinking it would be a step up from others in the area. It was more expensive and had decent reviews, so I assumed it would be clean and comfortable. I could not have been more wrong. Our room was INFESTED with bugs — not just lurking in corners, but on the actual bed. At one point, a cockroach hit us in the head while we were sleeping. I woke up with bites all over the bottoms of my legs, and I’m pretty sure the beds are crawling with either bed bugs or fleas — take your pick, neither is acceptable. We had to switch rooms FOUR times because every single one had bugs in the bed. Four times. And it didn’t make a difference. It only got worse. There were blood-stained sheets and towels, which is about as vile as it sounds. The toilet made an ear-piercing alarm sound every time it flushed, which made using the bathroom in the middle of the night a nightmare. The soap dispensers were broken, and the only toiletry provided was a sad little bottle of 2-in-1 shampoo that left my hair feeling like straw. If you’re brave enough to stay here, pack everything — soap, shampoo, conditioner, bug spray, and a hazmat suit. We booked what was supposed to be a “premium” private plunge pool room, paying extra for what was marketed as an upgraded, relaxing experience. What we got instead was a complete bait-and-switch. The entire plunge pool area was under construction — loud, dusty, and completely inaccessible — with zero notice at the time of booking or check-in. We couldn’t use the space at all, yet were still charged the full upgraded rate. There were mosquitoes everywhere — in the rooms, in the hallways, even in the dining area. I’ve never used so much bug spray in my life, and I still got eaten alive. You’ll also want to pack some After Bite and probably some antihistamines too. As for customer service? Awful. When we checked out and calmly explained all the issues — the bugs, the bites, the blood-stained linens, the constant room changes — they didn’t apologize, didn’t offer compensation, did absolutely nothing. Just a blank stare, like this was business as usual. The only remotely decent thing was the food — it was actually pretty good. But no meal is good enough to make up for sleeping in a filthy, bug-infested room. This hotel may look okay in photos, and the higher price might suggest quality — but don’t be fooled. It wouldn’t even deserve one star. If I could give zero stars, I would. The bugs, the bites, the blood, the noise, the complete apathy from staff — this is a 1-star hotel wearing a 5-star disguise, and it’s a disgrace. Avoid this place like your health depends on it — because it very well might.

  Jul 02, 2025
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  Gem

  What a true gem..the staff the rooms the overall experience all of it. Especially the guys Fernando and Ismael they all go beyond to make you happy and welcoming. A must try during the cold winter in NYC.

  Jun 28, 2025
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  Great food at the fuego restaurant and ask for Francisco the bartender great drinks

  Hi there!! I just wanted to say that the resort is so amazing and magical wow 😍 and the fuego restaurant was so amazing food so delicious the service was so great , for dinner i went straight to the bar and meet Francisco the bartender so nice ,he made me a drink so delicious i was out of words couldn't describe it at the moment, but he is incredibly happy as always and so magical at what he does , definitely coming back

  Jun 21, 2025