BlueBay Grand Esmeralda - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

19027 reviews

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  Ok but mostly one and done

  This is no 4 star resort. 3 at best. If you get a good price it's ok. If you have stayed at any 4 star resort this one will likely be one and done. Cons: -NOT enough loungers. Not by pools or beach. 30% of people lay on ground. Waking up at 6am to get lounger is the only way to get one. Any review that says otherwise must have been there at a very slow time. Half of loungers should be retired. -food is OK. Buffet was very repetitive and ok food. Breakfast was the best but lacked potatoes. -lots of walking. 20k steps a day and not by choice. Everything so far away. -entertainment was poor for such large resort. Pros: -fairly well maintained -rooms were good and clean and good beds - shopping near by -À la carte were good. -staff very friendly. -. Beach is good bit of coral but no issues.

  Jan 09, 2026
• 

  Canadian Families

  This review is based of what happened to us! Please reconsider your decision to going to this Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda Resort. The resort is very outdated and poorly maintained. We booked three rooms for particular ocean view which we didn’t get. Also we were not able to sit on the balcony or putting our swimming wear down to dry because we had animals coming up the looking like raccoons. The rooms had a persistent smell, and we saw roaches, which was extremely unsettling and unacceptable. In fact, our sons woke up to a Coati in their room. The cleanliness across the resort felt neglected and fell far below what one would expect from a property of this size. One of the restaurants that we made reservations had raccoons jumping on the buffet table where the food was served and raccoon was eating off the buffet. We brought the concern to waitress, telling him that the raccoon is eating off the buffet table where everyone is getting their food from the waiter laughed. It was a nightmare. What concerned us most was how complaints were handled. When our friends raised concerns about missing items in their room, but once the items were found, we automatically thanked them and apologized for their mistakes we continued with our night. Two hours later they’re escorted out of the resort in the middle of the night instead of being supported. The night time manager accused us of committing a crime and discriminating. There was no crime committed, and there was no discrimination made. A few days later witnessed a similar situation involving another family. This created a very uncomfortable atmosphere and honestly made us worry about our own safety if we spoke up. In particular, interactions with the night manager, Oscar, were troubling. The approach felt intimidating and one-sided rather than professional, and guests should never feel afraid to voice concerns during their stay. Based on our experience and observations, I cannot recommend this resort. If there were a negative rating available, I would use it. Please consider other options for your own comfort, enjoyment, and peace of mind.

  Jan 08, 2026
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  Please do not go to this resort!

  I would strongly caution anyone considering a stay at Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda. The resort is very outdated and poorly maintained. Our room had a persistent smell, and we saw roaches, which was extremely unsettling and unacceptable. In fact, my son woke up to a Coati in his room. The cleanliness across the resort felt neglected and fell far below what one would expect from a property of this size. What concerned us most was how complaints were handled. When our friends raised concerns about missing items in their room, they were escorted out of the resort in the middle of the night instead of being supported. We later witnessed a similar situation involving another family. This created a very uncomfortable atmosphere and honestly made us worry about our own safety if we spoke up. In particular, interactions with the night manager, Oscar, were troubling. The approach felt intimidating and one-sided rather than professional, and guests should never feel afraid to voice concerns during their stay. Based on our experience and observations, I cannot recommend this resort. If there were a negative rating available, I would use it. Please consider other options for your own comfort, enjoyment, and peace of mind.

  Jan 08, 2026
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  (2/5) – Not worth the price. Spend a little more and stay elsewhere.

  We booked this resort expecting a true 4–5 star experience, but that’s not what we received. Our rooms had a strong musty odor consistent with mold or mildew, along with visible staining and residue on mirrors and surfaces that could not be cleaned off. The smell was overwhelming and raised immediate health concerns. After speaking with staff, it became clear this was not an isolated issue. We were told that rooms without these problems were only available at a very high additional cost per night, which made it obvious this was a broader property issue. Because of the conditions, we checked out early. The food was also mediocre at best and far below what you’d expect from a resort marketed at this level. Overall service felt dismissive, and it often seemed that attention or urgency only appeared after tipping (sometimes quite heavily). The only bright spot was Orlando at the front desk, who was professional, kind, and genuinely helpful. Unfortunately, that was the exception rather than the rule. If you’re debating this resort versus spending an extra $100–$200 per night elsewhere, I strongly recommend spending the extra. There are many resorts in the area that actually deliver the cleanliness, service, and quality this place advertises but does not provide.

  Jan 06, 2026
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  Great resort!

  Lets start with Location - This resort is fairly close to the airport so it was a pretty quick (20ish mins) trip from the airport. Which was nice especially after going through the craziness at Cancun airport. We got there about 3 hours late so they checked us in and sent us for food and a drink before going to our rooms which was nice! The service over all was great! the staff are very kind and work so hard. The resort is huge! It took a while to find all the little snack places and discovered something new almost daily. The rooms were clean - However due to the plumbing there was a sewer smell in our room. We learned it was because they don't use proper P traps. once we learned this, we just made sure the plugs were down in our sinks and all was fine after that. The buffets were great and had lots of variety. The special restaurants were wonderful as well. The steak house was my favorite and one of the best steaks I've had!!. Both pools were great. The smaller pool is the quieter pool and the bigger pool is where all the activities happen. However get there VERY early if you want a lounger... I do wish there was a swim up bar. But both pools have bars right next to them. The beach was beautiful. The workers were out cleaning up the seaweed before sunrise. Overall this resort was great. My only complaint is the sewer smell here and there. I would definitely return. If you're looking for a place to get out of the dreaded winter and have a good time, this is it!

  Jan 06, 2026