Essence at the Fives Beach

We just came back from the most memorable family vacation yet. Please ignore all of the terrible reviews. I really think some people use Trip Advisor as a dumping ground for their isolated grievances that in most cases are likely a misunderstanding or lack of communication problem. For us the staff at the Fives was absolutely top notch in every catagory, from check in staff, ambassadors, to servers, pool butlers, towel attendants, chefs, maintenance, grounds keepers, room service kids club attendants, security, and cleaning staff. All amazing. If someone thinks this resort is under staffed they are clueless. Everywhere you look there is someone doing their job and doing it well. Everyone you talk to says they love their job and it shows. I truly feel that if you show them equal respect they will give you the best service imaginenable. Tips go a long way too even if it is small. This is how they make a living and they work hard for it. The resort has two sections, an older one that is about 20 years old and a newer one that is about 8. Of course the newer section is beautiful but the rooms are smaller if that is something that is important for you. However this section is quieter and most suited to adults only, couples or groups with older children. The walk through the jungle to get there is awesome and the monkeys can be very entertaining. The grounds are spectacular and there is beautiful natural feel everywhere you go. The older section was our favourite as a family as it it closest to the beach and to most of the activities including the kids club. The rooms are being renovated on an on going basis and the hotel is working hard to bring these beautiful rooms to more modern standards. It is a process that takes time. The food was 5 star for us. Every restaurant was on par from service to food. We are members so we had the advantage of booking in advance. I know some families struggled with getting a table between 6 and 7 but the wait is really worth it. Perhaps in the future the hotel will come up with a more efficient way to book tables for non members or owners. If you go at 530 there should be no issues. Larger groups are harder to accommodate so keep that in mind. We would have preferred a few more options for breakfast but nonetheless it was still great with loads of food options including a really great omelette station and kids food area. The best service bar none was Israel at Flavours and Bernardo at Brasserie. 10/10 The infinity pool was amazing and everyone who was there seemed to be having the time of their lives. No unhappy faces. Lots of fun for kids and pool activities. It’s beautiful! The pool beds are really the highlight of our stay even though they are for rent. When we were there, there were still plenty of chairs to be had as well. Special thanks to Juan Saenz, Alejandro and Kendi for excellent pool services. Always smiling and always there to offer a beverage and a great conversation. The towels are managed well with pool cards and this makes sense, otherwise guest would just leave dirty towels all over, grabbing new ones all the time. This is far better for the environment and puts more responsibility on the guest to manage their towels for the day. The towel attendants work really hard and rarely get noticed but we noticed them and are grateful for their hard work. We were lucky to be the last ones to attend the intimate setting of Casa de Rosa which is an interactive evening of learning how to cook your own food while tasting tequila and mezcal. They are revamping this program so stay tuned for updates. Special thanks to Berenice and her chef for an amazing evening. We were lucky enough to be able to attend the spa. It was lovely and relaxing. The hydrotherapy before hand was incredible. Special thanks to Iris and Sheiyla. All of the restaurants are amazing. We loved Arezzo the most. Mercado made the evening even more special with balloon animals for the kids. Arementa was incredible professional and kind as well. Adi always kept our glasses full. The best part for us as a family was the availability of food by the pool! This is the best we have seen at any of the affiliated resorts. Stone oven pizza, tacos, burgers, hotdogs and our favourite Muelle Ocho which had the best ceviche ever. Guadeloupe works very hard in the hot sun there and deserves a mention for sure. Popping in for food any time you want was just awesome. It’s easy to spend the whole day at the pool/beach with these options. We were incredibly lucky to have the best ambassadors to date. Arturo and Jasson were incredibly attentive. The reviews I have read on their lack of attention is just wrong. They were there every step of the way, always checking up with us and diving into fantastic conversations. They were the highlight of our stay by far. Gracias. Special thanks to our Prestige rep Omar who is well just a “ classic guy” we felts so comfortable and welcomed. It felt like home. Diana was just lovely and so genuine as well. As for the restaurants, try them all! We loved the Italian and the sushi the best. They have a restaurant for every taste. Even a taco bar, smoothy, ice cream and speciality coffee shop. While some is extra cost it really is negligible and certainly a special touch. We loved the proximity of all the restaurants. It took us 5-8 minutes walk from our room to any of them . This was a huge bonus with young children and aging parents. The shows were totally awesome. We loved the Mayan show the best. Well catered to families and adults alike. My husband also took an off resort tour to a cenote and loved it. The office is right in the square and they are very friendly with reasonable rates. Hidden Jem is the 1910 bar which had a really cool Mexican feel. Best place for a tequila shot. The wildlife is an extra special touch. The monkeys put on a fun show on our balcony. The kids club was so great as the kids could drop in for any of the scheduled programs of which there are many. The staff work really hard there and the kids always seem to have fun. Special thanks to Laura and her team for making my children feel welcome. The silent party, shirt and hat decorating and face painting as well as the piñata were a total hit! Finally, special thanks to all of the staff of so many names I forget. I tried to write them down but it was so many. Gala dinner- Juan - Genoveva Brasserie- Javier Natura- Litzy and Gualberto Thai- Maricela Central bar- tomas, best mojito!!! Special dinner, Israel, Jesus We will be back next year! 5 star from us Until then, gracias Read less

This an all-around fantastic resort. There are many restaurants, bars and activities to chose from to fill your day. The staff is amazing and work extra-hard to ensure you have an enjoyable time. The grounds and buildings are well-maintained, with a lush setting and even a jungle walk on the grounds. Lots of wildlife including monkeys and coatis. Restaurants include Italian, French, Thai, sushi, and of course Mexican, plus a juice bar, Gin bar, and veggie options readily available. There's a full gym on site, and daily morning Yoga and Pilates classes by NRG2GO which should not be missed! You can book excursions on-site and Playa del Carmen is a short cab ride. The beach is large with lots of chairs available and you can even get a massage on the beach. Read less

The resort offers all amenities and very friendly staff. Easy access to all areas with transportation available. The buffet was easy and food was great. Lounged at the Gin bar which was a nice little retreat. Rooms offer a cool escape from the heat and spotlessly cleaned every day. So many pools to choose from and a lovely beach. The yoga class by NRG2GO were amazing and a great way start the day. Read less