We booked Bahia Principe Grand Coba because it was marketed as a family-friendly resort. Unfortunately, it fell far short.
After returning home, I became extremely ill and was hospitalized with salmonella. During our stay, I stopped eating a burger at the pool bar after realizing it was completely undercooked. I checked the buffet the next day hoping it was an isolated issue, but the burgers were again visibly undercooked and made with very low-quality meat. I checked a third time with the same result. This appears to be routine, not a one-off mistake.
The resort is only slightly cheaper than nearby options, but the quality drop is significant. This is not budget — it is cheap. Food, rooms, and maintenance all reflect heavy cost-cutting.
Staff were kind but clearly overwhelmed due to severe understaffing. Service slows noticeably if you don’t tip to unspoken expectations, and the resort refuses to provide change smaller than 50 pesos.
Our room was outdated, and the exterior sliding door was off its hinge and did not lock properly at night, which was concerning with children.
All three of our kids contracted impetigo, which we believe came from the poorly maintained splash park, which was frequently closed and partially shut down.
We spent our final nights at an Iberostar, and the contrast was immediate. This was the worst all-inclusive we’ve experienced after 13 trips. Choose elsewhere.