Gran Costa Real Hotel

1 reader found this review helpful

From the beginning we were not advised very well from our local travel agent. After watching watchdog I swiftly changed our honeymoon hotel from the hotel Blue Bay to this hotel. It looked lovely in the brochure to start our life as a married couple.
Once we arrived we were met with a large bus of drunken Americans queuing to book in, I knew it was not spring break and was surprised by this.
On checking in they didn't know we were on our honeymoon although the holiday had been booked for a year! They eventually managed to find us a decent room after making us wait for an hour in reception.
Once in the room was fab, really clean and spacious and the hotel itself is lovely. Once we got going we attended all the restaurants (3) and found that the food was very poor so found ourselves eating in the buffet restaurant every night.
There was no entertainment on an evening, they had a large screen which chairs pointed at it and played random music, and had light displays but no one ever sat watching it.
We did do the reps tour night out in Cancun to see where the bars were, which was enjoyable. However we never found any decent bars to attend where you didn't have to pay to get in, so never went out to the again.
The hotel entertainment guy used to appear at midnight and try to get revellers to the clubs with tickets for entry to drink or not to drink! The often took most of the American children out of the hotel until around 1 hour later when they used to return and be sick in the pool!
When they returned they used to run up and down the corridors screaming at each other, causing general annoyance.
As a result of the noise the hotel moved our room to a smaller room and the noise improved slightly. However I did find several used condoms in the corridor when I pointed it out to staff they shrugged their shoulders.
The hotel was all inclusive for those who had paid for it; the American children would come into the hotel and try to chat up the British lads for free food, as they could order one room service per day. There was a large group of lads in from Newcastle who you never heard a peep out of!
I told him how much money I had spent on my honeymoon and he told me I could change hotels to another resort at the other side of Mexico, fat lot of good that would have been when I only had a few days left.
The entertainment around the pool was also geared for the Americans again, I did join in with the bingo which was fun and went kayaking. I never once saw anyone doing a dive in the pool which I really fancied which I was led to believe was free; I only saw the diving centre which was charging you.
Although you may think I sound like a bore but I have been on several lively holidays and been backpacking around the world, for the money I spent I thought the hotel was a dive, the food was below average and the staff were only interested in the American tourists in this hotel.
To rub the salt in although England were very poor in the world cup, I was out there for one of the games and was asked to leave the hotel to watch it as it wasn't being shown.
After they had ushered us all out of the hotel they then put the match on, so the few diehards who had been waiting got to drink their free beer and watch the game, whilst we had to run in the rain to TGI Fridays and pay for a pint to watch, I then demanded the other nationalities their got the same treatment but it fell on deaf ears again.
The sister hotel was lovely had better pool and beach area. I had spoken to a member of the cabin crew on the return journey who had to stay at that hotel in between flights, and she stated the youths in that hotel made so much noise she was unable to get any sleep in between a quick turnaround, she sympathised with us especially since it was our honeymoon.
To summarise this resort if you don't like choice and are happy to spend all day in the hotel and then go to one club in the evening this is the resort for you. The restaurants are expensive, Outback is lush, but it’s cheaper in the states.
The trips to the Mayan ruins are fab well worth it!

Barcelo Costa Cancun, it was a nightmare start to finish.
We're a family of 4. When we arrived they put us in a room right next to the bar and lift, the children were up all night with the noise.
I put my 5 year old in to the kids club, when I returned after 1 hour, the kids club was closed. My kid was no where to be seen. The reception did not know where he had gone. We were 20 min trying to find him, it was a nightmare.
The entertainment at night was total rubbish, the same two singers every night, they just can’t sing, everybody was complaining about them.
The evening food in the buffet restaurant was the left over’s from the lunch time.
If you can avoid this hotel do it.

1 reader found this review helpful

This hotel was amazing. It had it all. Excellent Service great, friendly atmosphere. Staff were amazing and made the holiday really.
Especially at the beach bar, we got to know the waiters really well.
Food was excellent, great varied choice. Loved every minute of it and would definitely return to this hotel.

We were so looking forward to our trip but ended up very disappointed by it.
We were told and it was advertised as a 5* hotel and paid the price for a 5* hotel. However, to our dismay it was not, which we found out when we got there.
The hotel itself, was a letdown as it was a 3* - so there was a vast difference. However, it really ended up being our worst holiday ever - and this had nothing to do with the rating.
The rooms were dirty and we had to change 3 times.
When it rains (which is a lot) - there is nowhere you can hang out and evening times, the lobby where the bar is, is so packed out as there is nowhere else to go. You cannot even all get a seat.
Everyone complained. No one was happy with their holiday.
Airtours were really bad. We were booked veggie meals on flights to later found they didn’t have any meals for us. The reps in Mexico were not interested in anything. Even when I fell of a horse and could hardly walk.
We even paid for a tour, and they forgot to pick us and a few others up. We later found out that the rep had sold us tickets and ran off with the commission money.
We will never go with Airtours again.
The only nice things, the hotel staff were so friendly and warm and the entertainment was fab. The dancers were awesome. I being a dancer myself, could really appreciate their work.

I’ve just returned from a 2 week break in Cancun, my holiday was very good despite reading some of the reviews.
I was originally booked in the Caribbean Princess but reading the reviews of others, I changed to Barcelo - where I would like to say thank goodness I did.
Anyway down to my holiday, there is not much to complain about this hotel it was spotlessly clean and very friendly, but found that the Americans tip far too much leaving others not to get served at the bar for some time.
After all I’ve paid my money like them and entitled to what I paid for.
Went on many attractions although after 2 with the reps, decided to go alone as so much time was wasted listening to crap. Take the ferry to Isle Misures, lovely place so different to Cancun.
Dolphin was lovely a dream come true a must to do. Most of the trips on offer are a must.
Food was good however very salty. My fav was the Mexican and buffet. To long to wait in the a la cart but it was ok when we got it.
I think they could do with heating up the entertainment, not very good at all and every thing stops at 11pm.
Do try the pub crawl with the reps and Coco Bongos an experience!
Enjoy it we did and made some good friends out off it.

My Wife, Daughter, and I have just arrived back from spending 1 week at the Costa Real Hotel, which wasn't a long enough stay but was very enjoyable.
The rooms are very clean and spacious we stayed in room 240 at the back part of the Hotel away from the usual pool entertainment scene.
The food was of good quality a bit repetitive from the buffet cafe.
The beach is only small but was ok for mixing with guests, the water was as clear as day and very inviting for cooling down, with the beach bar only yards away what more could you ask for. The entertainment in the evening only lasts 1 hour, if you want to party the Hotel Entertainment Team will take you to Down Town Cancun, you must go to CoCo Bongo's for the experience of a life time. A coach will take you making your own way back, taxis are always at hand outside of the Clubs.
We will definitely be returning to Cancun but maybe to another Hotel, but this Hotel is good value for the money.

We went on holiday to this hotel having been mis-sold a holiday through Thomas Cook in Mexico which did not exists, the hotel had not been rebuilt since Hurricane Wilma. We were expecting to arrive at a first class hotel this was not the case we were allocated a room just off the main reception and bar with a 24 hr public bar and snack bar directly above our room outside the room off the pation was the main swimming pool which in turn was the main entertainment area in the evening. We were expecting a suite and ended up in a cramped room with one wardrobe and two drawers for clothes for a family of 4. The room had the occasional visitor to it i.e. a cockroach. We had laundry done by the in house laundry department this came back ruined. To top it all there were large groups of males on holiday who were consuming large amounts of alcohol and were permanently drunk. If you want an 18 - 30 style holiday and not a family holiday then go there, we certainly will not be visiting there again. Despite asking every day for the first week for a room upgrade their only offer was a room for 4 of us with 1 bed. If you want first class do not go here.

There’s not a lot to say here - the hotel is wonderful, the staff are wonderful. The food is varied and very tasty and caters for all sorts of tastes. Everything is so clean, the waiters at the bars depend on tips to make a living so don’t be shy of giving them a few dollars, they deserve it and you'll also get double measures of the quality booze in your drink.
Not much umbrellas on the beach so if you want shade get up and get your sun beds very early (6.30) although being right beside the sea you can jump in for a dip at any time in crystal clear waters.
Water sports are excellent to - go see the main man JJ at the hut beside the pool. The evening shows don’t last very long but definitely worth a look, the buffet BBQ beach nights are excellent!
There are market traders that set up stalls around the pool each night - be wary though as the prices are considerably higher than outside markets - if you see anything you like - buy it inside the tour from the "illegal traders" in the grounds of chichen itza - there’s about a 35$ difference in most things!!!!
There’s a departure tax at the airport of 45$ each - so be warned and they really screw you for every extra kilo you bring home with you so keep some funds handy!
Don’t bother with the taxis, the bus service is great and costs less than 20 cent a ride, there’s only one street so you can’t get lost on the bus journey! They are every 3 minutes 24 hrs a day.
As soon as we got to the hotel you are promised a gold card do not sign up for it, this is timeshare from the Real Group just to let you know!
There’s free towels by the pool so don’t bring any with you, there’s a shop in the hotel but the one across the street is cheaper and has more choice. All in all - there was a great mix of folk from babies to honeymooners to summer breakers to old age pensioners and all got catered for!
Best holiday ever, will be returning to this hotel, just not soon enough! Hope this is useful for you all!

I have just come back from the Costa Real. What can I say, absolutely excellent. Very very clean and the Mexicans are very polite and friendly. They do not expect tips and me and my partner hardly gave any, and still got outstanding service.
I would definitely recommend the sea and pool view within the hotel we were staying on the top floor and our views were amazing.
You don't even have to get your own sunbed (the beach boy will bring however many you want and dust them down and place your towels on them!
I would 100% recommend this hotel to anyone.
The only 1 downside to the hotel is that there is not much shade at the pool area or beach - none by the pool and the few 'trees' by the beach are all gone before the day starts.
But if you like the sun it is very very hot here!!

A fantastic holiday in Cancun, Mexico. beautiful resort very clean and amazing to see. The Hotel was very up market with wonderful facilities and friendly staff!! would recommend this Hotel and resort to anyone.. its the best holiday I have ever had and myself and partner are definitely coming back in 2006...the flight is quite long but worth it when you get there...Furthermore the aqua/blue see is fantastic!!!! a must for anyone.