Rating6.6
Rating6.6
Rating7.9Good
Based on 17.5k reviews
Exceptional Staff and Service
Guests consistently commend the staff for being friendly, helpful, attentive, and making their stay enjoyable without expecting tips, encouraging generous tipping.
Beautiful Grounds and Wildlife
The well-maintained tropical gardens and the presence of tame local wildlife like raccoons, coatis, and iguanas are a consistent source of delight, enhancing the resort's natural ambiance.
Extensive and Varied Pool Areas
The resort's multiple pools, including large main pools, a dedicated kids' water park, and quieter adult sections with swim-up bars, are a major highlight for all ages.
Good Food Variety and Quality
The quality and selection of food, particularly at the buffets for breakfast and lunch, often exceed expectations for an all-inclusive, with specific mentions of good lattes and cappuccinos.
'Stay at 1, Play at More!' Benefit
The unique access to facilities and specialty restaurants at sister resorts like Bahia Principe Grand Coba and Tequila (18+) is a significant and highly valued perk for guests.
Room Condition and Maintenance
Despite renovations, several recent reviews highlight issues like mold smells, hot rooms, ants, and general deferred maintenance (e.g., paint, upholstery), suggesting inconsistency in room quality.
A La Carte Restaurant Booking
Guests frequently express frustration over the limited availability and cumbersome process of booking reservations for specialty restaurants, sometimes requiring persistent effort or dealing with a problematic app.
Subpar Entertainment
The evening entertainment and overall animation program are often described as lacking, minimal, or not engaging, with some shows even requiring an extra fee, which is a departure from typical all-inclusive expectations.
Inconsistent Food & Drink Quality
While overall food variety is praised, some guests have expressed strong dissatisfaction with specific items, particularly the quality of ingredients in alcoholic beverages like margaritas, and recent reviews calling the buffet 'awful'.
Wi-Fi Reliability
The free Wi-Fi, while available throughout the property, is frequently reported as being slow or unreliable, potentially impacting guest connectivity and convenience.
Aggregate score derived from public review platforms. Category scores reflect our editorial assessment based on analysis of guest reviews. ResortFlock is not affiliated with or endorsed by any review platform.
Travelers' Choice
2021
Tripadvisor
Golden Apple Award
2018
Apple Vacations
Commitment to Responsible and Sustainable Tourism
Ongoing, aligned with 2030 Agenda of UN SDGs
Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts
Best Resorts in Mexico and the Americas (PGA Riviera Maya golf course)
2021
Golf Digest
Bahia Principe Grand Tulum is the original property in the Bahia Principe Riviera Maya cluster, opened in 1999 and comprehensively renovated in November 2020 around a Mayan 'ORIGIN' design concept. At 774 rooms, it's a large family resort with genuine jungle grounds — guests consistently spot local wildlife (raccoons, coatis, iguanas) on the property, which contributes to the ecological atmosphere the Mayan theme is aiming for.
The cross-complex dining arrangement ('Stay at 1, Play at More') gives Tulum guests access to specialty restaurants at Grand Coba and Grand Tequila — 14 to 15 restaurants total across the cluster. The Don Pablo Gourmet and Gran Tortuga-Rodizio (Brazilian) are the standout specialty dinners at Tulum itself. PGA Riviera Maya golf course on-site received a Golf Digest ranking in 2021 — a meaningful credential for golf-focused travellers choosing between Riviera Maya all-inclusives.
The most honest limitations: room maintenance is an ongoing issue. Mold smells, deferred paint work, hot rooms, and ant problems appear across enough reviews to indicate systematic rather than isolated issues. Securing à la carte restaurant reservations is also described as disproportionately difficult — guests report the booking app is unreliable and available slots are limited. Evening entertainment is described as minimal by multiple guests, with some shows carrying an extra charge.
The beach is accessed via shuttle (5 minutes) and has a dedicated adults-only section ('Privilege Beach'). The Tulum International Airport (TQO) is approximately 64 km away — about an hour. Cancún (CUN) is about 96 km, 80 minutes.
