Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda, Playa del Carmen, Mexico

Blue Bay Grand Esmeralda is a value all-inclusive resort 5 minutes from Playa del Carmen and about 30 minutes south of the Cancun airport.  The resort is open to all ages.  The resort is large with approximately 1,000 rooms in low rise buildings spread across the property. 

Golf cart shuttles are available to get from the back part of the property to the main pool and ocean. The resort has nice natural landscaping. This means that you will likely encounter some animals including a coati mundi- a raccoon-type Mexican animal. I think they are creepy. Guests seemed to like having them around.

Pools

The resort features two large pools. The pool in the area closest to the garden view rooms is the quiet pool. The main pool is closer to the beach and features activities during the day. 

The pool area does not get a lot of shade until the afternoon.  No Swim Up bar. No water slides. No bar service at the pool. There’s a bar on either side of the pool so you can easily find a drink.  One fun thing in the pool is a set of spin bikes so you can get your exercise right in the pool.

Beach

You can find shade on the beach. The Beach is very eroded so a line of bushes separates the lounge chairs from the ocean. 

You can walk along the beach a long way past two other resorts. 

Restaurants

The resort features two buffets and six a la carte restaurants. 

Reservations are required and have to be made same day.  The easiest way to do is to check in with the concierge in your building on your way to breakfast in the morning. A snack bar is available 24 hours a day. 

I found the buffet to be managed well.

 The food was good and appropriate temperature. It was set up in a way to help minimize lines. Several of the restaurants have separate sections for adults only. Special diets can be accommodated with advanced notice. 

The bars carry well-known  brands like Captain Morgan, Absolut and Bombay Sapphire.

Activities

A supervised kids’ club is available for ages 4 -11 between the hours of 10 am - 5 pm. A teens’ club was under construction when I visited in October 2015. Babysitting is available to an extra fee. 

Evening activities include a show in the theater.

 An on site spa offers several different treatments including the Temaxcal - a sweat-lodge type treatment. 

The Sp has a great open air wet areas with a waterfall in the pool plus a lazy river surrounding the wet areas with different treatments you can walk through. 

The day pass to the wet areas was $30 per person when I visited in October 2015 or it’s included with a spa treatment.  It also has one of those pools that creates a current - a swimming treadmill. 

Rooms

The entry level rooms are typical of a value resort. 

They had a slight damp smell that comes from not running the air conditioning all the time int eh high humidity. You can request a king bed or two double beds. Assignments are based on availability. Beer, water, and soda are available in the room and included. Room Service has a $12 charge for delivery.  WiFI is included for one device is only available in the room. Additional devices can be added for an additional charge.

None of the rooms have ocean views.  The ocean front designation means the rooms are closer to the ocean. Emerald club is the preferred club at this resort. It offer better locations and some additional amenities like a special area on the beach.  

I recommend the swim up suites. These are at a terrific price point for that type of suite.

Grand Esmeralda is a time share properties so some of the areas are for members only. You should be prepared to be approached. 

Overall, I was impressed with this value resort. Before visiting, I was worried about what type of service and accommodations would be available at that price point. I think this is a great fit if you have the right expectations. I could see a great girlfriend getaway here with a side-by-side swim up suites. It would be a great option for a family with kids under 11 looking for a warm all-inclusive with a great pool. 

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