Occidental at Xcaret Destination - All Inclusive

Customer Ratings & Reviews

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

25518 reviews

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  If you're passionate about food, avoid this place like the plague.

  Ambiance, nature, and pools were immaculate and incredible. The food made me long for the food we got in high school cafeteria's growing up. The worst food I have EVER had, and it's not close. Just vile. Our whole group felt that way too. If you want stomach issues, no edible food, bottomless drinks, and nice pools, this is your spot!

  May 13, 2025
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  Never Disappointed - OXD Team Over-Delivers Again!

  We've posted multiple reviews about OXD in the past, so I thought I'd do something different this time... a short story about what our "perfect vacation" was like this last trip. I had to get onto my laptop to type all this out -- I'll post photos later. Enjoy! Our excitement continued to build just as it always has as we got closer to the resort. Mid-day Saturday traffic wasn't bad until we got close to PDC, but all the stress from travel seemed to evaporate as we waved to the gate security and drove up to the lobby/reception area. Being our eighth time to the resort, we were very familiar with check in, and let the bellboys know we were checking in at Royal Club and would make the walk. Confused, the younger reception girl insisted we should take a cart, but we cheerfully replied that we'd walk - as we enjoyed smelling the wonderful sweetness and enjoying the jungle surroundings to get us in "vacation mode." A short jaunt later and a few deep sighs, we were sitting in the cool Royal Level reception chairs enjoying a champagne and eagerly waiting to finish check-in so we could grab a relaxing lunch and say "Hi" to our OXD family at the Royal restaurant. Sofia and Andrea speeded us through the process and confirmed that manager Sandra and her entire crew (including Leysli and Lily (Iris)) will do everything to make our stay amazing (more on that later!) The lunch crew greeted us with smiles and hugs as we sat down, and we sipped on our favorite beverages as Raquel & Fernanda, Alberto, Apo, David Arcos and David Trujillo, Efrain, Max, Ambrosio, and Samuel always strive to treat us not just as members and frequent VIP guests, but as family returning for yet another visit. The food was as delicious as ever, as the fish tacos and ceviche had us drooling as we watched the azure waves lap at the shore and the soft breeze rustling the palm trees -- a true picture of paradise. Soon thereafter, our room was ready and we skipped upstairs to find bellboy Moses had already carefully staged our luggage so that our next part of relaxation progressed with zero stress. A few hours and a short nap later, we were ready for dinner and made our way back to the restaurant to enjoy dinner as Pamela and her dinner crew (Ambrosio, Charlie, Leyver, and Jesus) greeted us just as warmly as the day crew. Surprised by the new French menu, we were presented with yet another mouth-watering series of delectable dishes, preparing us for a good night's rest before our day of "exploring" on Sunday. We woke the next morning with the rising sun, enjoying in-room coffee before we settled into breakfast and the menu we so love. Following the very relaxed meal, we traveled to First Club to handle some errands, the tienda to grab some snacks, and walked all over the resort taking pictures and just feeling our spirits at peace. Deciding on a massage for the afternoon, we headed to the Spa to say hello to Jessica, Marisel and Fernanda who treated us to a wonderful experience - and repeated on Friday! The next five days were pretty much the same -- although our mornings were mostly spent scuba diving or swimming, the things that keep us coming back every year are the service and the quality of food and drink, all served with cheerful smiles and welcoming attitudes. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our favorite pool-side server Mireya and our favorite bartenders Marco and of course Javier! The wine tasting/pairing we were treated to with Daniella was a great time as well! This trip we were especially impressed with the main buffet - the choices and quality seem to get better every year! As well, the Royal Level Chef Carlos Espinosa went out of his way to ensure every meal was perfect, from taste and "doneness" to presentation and quality of ingredients. Our "special" Friday meal was no disappointment, as he created a seafood fusion chile relleno and Veracruz-style barbacoa tacos that completely blew our minds and our tastebuds - we were so full and satisfied afterwards we skipped packing and had to enjoy our last evening on our balcony listening to the waves and enjoying our last peace in this special paradise. Another highlight was Alberto, Max, Ambrosio, and Samuel's patience as they tried to teach us some Mayan phrases -- so much fun, especially as they tried to teach us some last-minute phrases so we wouldn't forget this magical experience :) Housekeeping also did a fantastic job -- even providing turn-down service (first time in many years!) and cleaning at the time we requested (mornings, since we like to nap in the afternoons after our dives). They were like magical ghosts - making sure the room was spotless and we always had enough towels, drinks, and coffee supplies to make our time on our room heavenly. Finally, I want to give special appreciation and thanks to Sandra and her crew at the Royal Level Concierge - we politely requested a room change (mainly for location) mid-week and she was not only able to accommodate with zero pushback, but without knowing, gave our marriage and our spirits the true "rest" that we needed to fully enjoy our time there. I can't say enough about how special this trip was for us -- and we are looking forward to next year with eager anticipation. For the customer relations / guest services staff that will inevitably see this, we do have a few minor suggestions... 1) Tip money (small bills in pesos) was difficult to find throughout our week. While we were able to provide gratuity effectively, we had to "bundle" our tips towards the end of the week since we couldn't get small bills anywhere. Perhaps that can be anticipated and adjusted moving forward... it was a minor inconvenience that should be easily remedied. 2) The new French dinner menu was delicious, but we REALLY liked the "theme nights" that the Royal restaurant offered last year. While the French menu was wonderful, it gets a bit repetitive after a few days. Or maybe a taco bar or paella night? We really enjoyed the variety during our trip last year, and the Chef's Specials ("Omakase") in years past were also a welcome change from the normal menu. Perhaps you will consider making that a regular part of the menu / schedule? 3) Although there wasn't much participation from the guests, the tasting/pairing (tequila/mezcal and wine) were wonderful -- we look forward to those each time we visit. Perhaps you could consider posting a pairing suggestion w/ the nightly menu (or with the waiters) as well? Or perhaps some cultural immersion activities like crafting or cooking (other than just guacamole and ceviche)? All said, this trip did not disappoint, and we feel that not only has OXD recovered from the COVID days, but they've surpassed even recent years and continue to improve. We do understand that we are long-time members and have a biased perspective, however hopefully our experience can help others enjoy this gem of a resort as much as we do. All our best, Brandon & Heather

  May 12, 2025
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  Rivas Family

  The hotel was awesome and the fact that you can walk to Xcaret is the best thing about it, the whole family was having a blast !

  May 12, 2025
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  Average food at best but the Monkeys and Snorkeling make up for it Bigtime.

  Building 18,we had monkeys every morning and deer. Only complaint is the food was average at best and reservations are gone unless you get there a week in advance to book.

  May 12, 2025
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  Great location for a wedding.

  Overall a great resort and a special shout out to Darlene, Lesly and David in Building 22 for outstanding care and attention to Dianne and I. We were here with group for a wedding on May 8 and the venue for the wedding service could not have been more stunning with great locations throughout the resort for photos

  May 12, 2025