Occidental Allegro Resort Playacar Hotel

I was at the Allegro from 2-23-03 til 2-27-03, I had a wonderful time. The people at the hotel were nice and very helpful, the social coordinator was outstanding and kept things very upbeat and fun. As for the size of the rooms, the rooms are rather small, but why anyone would want to stay in their room is beyond me. The food was outstanding at the mexican and Italian restraunts. The buffet was pretty good, but what do you expect when you have some many different tastes. The rooms were clean and we had no problems with insects. We did not keep any food in our room just like was suggested by another traveler. Overall we had a great time and I will return to Playa del Carmen in the future.

We were in Playa del Carmen the week of New Year's. This was our first time at an all-inclusive. We loved the resort, but like so many others, feel that they need to remodel, especially the rooms. The food is good. It does repeat after a while and then you just feel like having a plain old hamburger. The activities were fun to participate or just watch. The gardens are beautiful. The beach water was a little rough for a couple of days, the weather was not the greatest, but hey, that's mother nature for you. The staff were just the nicest people I have ever dealt with. They were friendly and extremely accomodating. We especially liked the fact that you could walk outside of the resort, and walk into town. You would see people biking, walking, running, and no one bothered anybody. I liked the area, but would prefer a resort with better rooms.

My husband and I recently stayed at the resort for 5 days and had the best time. Everyone who works there is fabulous. The beach and pools were perfect. The rooms and food very also very nice. I would recommend staying here.

My friend and I were only 17 when we stayed at the resort so we were hoping to find people of our own age to meet and hang out with. Once we arrived we found that the youngest people there were about 50 so we were a little disappointed. Without question, the staff at the resort who happened to be closer to our age, befriended us and took us out for a good time everynight. On another note, the food is unbelievable. We are planning on going back in June which is three months after our first visit.

We just got back from a trip to Cancun. We stayed at the Allegro Playacar for two days then transferred to Barcelo de Maya Beach Resort. We were meeting friends at the Allegro Playacar originally and when we arrived we found the rooms less than expected. The screen on our window was ripped and the screws were coming out of the frame. There were tiny little flies all over the place. We were told that we were in a room that had not been renovated yet. The hotel overbooked and our friends were re-routed to Barcelo de Maya Beach Resort 20 minutes away. The best part was that we were able to upgrade to the Barcelo on the second day and it was very reasonable to upgrade and done with very little fuss. The beach of the Allegro is far superior to that of the Barcelo and you can see cruise ships over in Cozumel from there. The Allegro is a lot more informal and friendly but there is no comparison in the quality of hotel-Barcelo is far more superior. The Allegro is rated moderate even by hotel personnel and tour operators. The rooms are tiny and there are no frills. Water bottles are dispensers around the complex but you do not have any problems getting water. The food is reasonable at the Allegro and I really loved the chef cooking the pasta and shrimp right on the spot. The indoor bar is very nice where the buffet restaurant is. Local talent perform at the outdoor theatre and local artists arrive to show off their wares and paintings. The food at Barcelo was excellent in the 2 Buffet Restaurants. It was awful in the Spanish restaurant a la carte, so bad we didn't try the other restaurant. The drinks at the Allegro are posted on a billboard so you don't have any problems trying new drinks whereas the Barcelo has limited drinks but are made once you ask for them. The Barcelo de Maya is the lap of luxury, a little large for my liking. The complex is in two parts - Beach and Garden each housing 500 rooms. There is a buffet restaurant in each portion and at the middle of the complex is a theatre that is like a nightclub with 2 bars. The shows are good with the local talent but and each night is done very well. I am glad I got to stay at both hotels because each had something to offer but I would stay at the Barcelo again whereas I would not stay at the Allegro again.

Couldn't have timed it better. We flew out of New York on January 3, 2003,literally, minutes ahead of the worst snow storm in years. I wasn't sure of what a trip to Mexico's Riviera Maya would bring, but once arriving at the Occidental Allegro my doubts were dispelled. After about a forty minute shuttle from the airport in Cancun (avoid the vendors hawking their services, the hotel can arrange for any activities, or tours you want, or you can do-it-yourself) we arrived at the hotel. The staff was very friendly, and accomodating. It seemed that they were going overboard to facilitate us with baggage, information about the area in and around the Allegro, activities, and points of interest to tour. It occured to me the next day at the beach just why we were being so pampered. It didn't take too long to figure out that my eighteen year old daughter had attracted a following of young staffers...hey, whatever works! The staff at the Allegro were the best. Oscar, the Activities director, and Adan and Paco taught my daughter to salsa, and that evening we met at Capitan Tutix were we danced the night away to a local salsa band. It was the greatest setting...literally steps from the lapping waves of the Caribbean with girls dancing on the bar while another whirled two flaming pots attached to ropes in circles over her head. The location of the Allegro allowed us to bike to Playacar in just about ten minutes. From this location we were only about an hour from the site of the ruins at Telum. We missed the action at XCaret, but made up for it by booking a morning snorkeling trip right from the hotel's Barrakuda Dive Center; they were just terrific. The Allegro being an all inclusive made for an experience I will go back to again next year. Forget backpacking through Europe, or Condos in Maui. I am at the stage in life where vacation means NO work for me. All the food you can eat at five restaurants, alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages all day...all unmotorized water equipment...I loved going kayaking each morning before the beach started filling up (which it never did being January), sailing, parasailing(for a fee) and swimming in the most "delicious" water in the world...and only about five hours flight from home. Oh, yes, if you plan on bringing teens with you, think again. My daughter was proposed to by three young men, and offered a job on staff to choreograph the nightly entertainment. We have since settle that dispute. There will be no taking a year off from college to work and learn spanish... And finally, the grounds, pools, beach, and rooms where kept so clean, I couldn't believe that my last trip to Mexico twenty years ago, was in a VW bus camping my way from Baja to Oaxaca.

My wife and I stayed here the week of January 19, 2003. While the Beach and hotel grounds were first rate, the room and overall service was horrible. The room is small, old and dirty. The bed consisted of a mattress on a wood frame (No boxspring). Towels and washclothes were a rationed commodity. Many noghts, despite complaining and generous tipping, we, like many other guests, received only one towel and no wash cloths. Shower temperature constantly fluctuated between freezing cold and scolding hot. While the buffet food was fine, getting beverage service, even when tipping was nearly impossible. Booking our special sitdown Italian and Mexican restaurant dinners was a major hassle. Even though we were at the desk at 8:00 the first morning (Sunday) after checking in, we were told that the Italian restaurant was fully booked for the whole week, but if we came back the next morning, they would open up Saturday for booking. The next day, the same person insisted that the restaurant is closed on Saturdays. Ultimately, we did get our Saturday reservation after she checked with the "manager". We were lucky. Many guests were unable to book their "included" formal meals. Most disturbing is that the restaurants, despite being "fully booked" always had nearly half of their tables empty. Bottom line, we had a good time. The beach is beautiful, and the buffet food was fine. The sitdown meals were first rate. However, the severely substandard rooms and poor service make this resort a bad choice.

Had a great time. After reading some of the reviews we were'nt sure if we wanted to stay here. The resort was fine. The people, food, drinks,rooms were all o.k. We were given tickets for two special(5 or 6 course) meals; they were excellent and a nice surprise. We road bikes, played tennis, I especially enjoyed sailing the catamarans. All free. We stayed four nights, just hanging around the resort, with no need for cars, taxis, tours ,etc. , although all were available.

We went here the first week of November 2002. The place is really beautiful. The pools were pretty & clean with plenty of chairs & shade. Food must have been pretty good we both came back alittle heavier than when we arrived there. They were doing some remodeling but it didnt get in the way too much. We went thru 2 a/c units in our room but they were changed out within the hour each time. The Mexican resturant was fun & good food. The guys there that waited on us were great and made it a special place to eat. The bartenders could have been friendlier but I guess a drink is a drink. The only bad thing is that the room had tiny little bugs in it. In the bathroom, on the bed, everywhere. You could leave no food or drink out for any length of time or you would have a swarm of ants there. It was in a good location because you could get out & walk, there were some shops close by that we went to at least 3 times while we were there. Lots of fun & we did get alot of relaxation done.

The resort is nice. They were trying to do some renovation while our stay to the rooms. Our room was basic however the AC doesn't work all that great. We did have a view of the ocean. The staff was awesome, so much so that we got pictures of them. I would recommend staying here!