I have been coming to Bahia Principe for the past 15 years, and this was approximately my 12th stay at the Coba resort. Previously we stayed at the Tulum before we had a child. What has always kept us coming back is the incredible staff, the quality of the food, and the overall experience including the entertainment at night for both adults and kids.
However, compared to previous years, we noticed a significant decline in some areas.
I’ve never been one to focus too heavily on food in reviews, as I often found those comments to be subjective. That said, the food at this resort has always stood out in the past. The buffet used to feature a different theme each night, with a wide variety of options including Indian, Western, Japanese, seafood, Mexican, and more. It was one of the highlights of our stay.
This year, unfortunately, the experience was quite different. While the food was still decent, it felt more limited and heavily centered around Mexican options. The buffet selection was noticeably smaller, and there were multiple occasions where food items ran out and were not replenished in a timely manner. It appeared the resort may have been short-staffed, and the staff who were present were working extremely hard to keep up with demand.
Although still enjoyable overall, the food felt subpar compared to what we’ve experienced in the past. The meat selection was also more limited—there were no longer any meat carving stations, and most of the options were pork-based. While we didn’t mind this, we did miss the variety that used to be offered. Similarly, seafood options seemed to be entirely absent this time around, which was disappointing as it had always been something we looked forward to. For example, the sushi selection was quite limited, only offered occasionally, often consisting of rolls filled primarily with cream cheese, fruit, or vegetables, with no seafood options available. The salad bar was also more restricted than usual, offering minimal variety—only ranch dressing was available.
The snack bar, both during the day and after hours, was also quite limited. While they still offered the basics like hot dogs, hamburgers, pizza, fruit, and dessert, there used to be a much wider variety of options available. Food running out was also a recurring issue. Again, the resort was busy, and it seemed to be more of an understaffing issue than anything else. This is not a reflection of the staff themselves, who continue to work incredibly hard and do their best to keep the resort running smoothly.
Another frustration was the difficulty in getting towels for the pool. I tried for three days in a row and had no luck, which was surprising and inconvenient.
We also noticed a reduction in entertainment. In previous years, shows were offered more frequently throughout the week, whereas now they were only available about three days. It was still enjoyable, but noticeably different from what we’ve come to expect.
Overall, we still had a fantastic time, as we always do. The staff continue to be wonderful, and we truly enjoy this resort. However, the changes following the Hyatt transition were very noticeable, and the features that once made this resort stand out seem to be gradually diminishing. We hope to see improvements in the future and a return to the level of experience that kept us coming back for so many years.
While we hope to continue coming back to Coba, we understand that the resort will be shutting down soon for renovations. Given the cost of this trip during spring break, we may also explore other options in the future. Nonetheless, Coba will always remain one of our favourite family vacation spots, even if we decide to try something new going forward.
Shout out to Carlos, Darwin, Thomas, and all the staff that keep this resort running. Your dedication to the people visiting does not go unnoticed.
Also if you are a tattoo person check out Ramon at the Jaguar Tattoo studio at the La Hacienda - Absolutely incredible work!
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