My wife and two boys (14 & 18) stayed 4 days/nights at Mahekal and LOVED IT! The property, the room, the food, and most of all the staff contributed to a perfect stay.
The Staff: Mahekal has an incredibly friendly and attentive staff. Angel, Rosa, Carlos, Gilberto, Andres, Angel, Cesar, Tino, Caty, and the rest of the team always greeted us with a smile and a genuine desire to do anything possible to make our stay more enjoyable. I am terrible with names, so the fact that I remember so many of them is a true testament to the fact that Mahekal has the most impressive hospitality team I have ever encountered in my travels. Angel will be missed most of all. He was much more than a great waiter. He really makes personal connections and radiates joy!
The Property: It is meticulously maintained. The property is primarily comprised of one or two room palapas dispersed across the grounds, joined by winding paved paths, as opposed to a large structure with many rooms. Some of the units, including ours, are beachfront. While those cannot be beat, there was a total zen feel to even those set further back in the "jungle". All public places were charming and inviting. Multiple pools, restaurants, and bars are spread out across the property; there is a well appointed gym, a game room (ping pong, pool, etc, and a well stocked water sport center (equipment included in resort fee)... there really is no need to ever leave the property!
The Room: Our room (#1) was large and well appointed. The 4 of us stayed comfortably in a 2 bed beachfront palapa. Every unit on the property has a nice outdoor space with hammocks, of which we made good use. One step off of our veranda, and we were on the sand. Our unit also had a private plunge pool looking out over the ocean. Yeah, it really doesn't get any better! While I did not see the inside of any of the smaller units, I would be shocked if not equally as comfortable and as well thought out.
The Food: We had the breakfast / dinner meal plan and could not have been more pleased. Breakfasts were buffet style and included so many options, I could have easily enjoyed it for lunch and dinner too. We also had lunch on the property most days, at the Fuego restaurant. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. Dinners were excellent, as well. My wife was particularly wary of an all-inclusive but was 100% glad we did it.
Other:
> Beach - The beach was beautiful. It is a public beach so local families enjoyed it as well as guests, but it was not overly crowded at all. The hotel has staff up early in the morning going over every inch of sand, so it is free from seaweed and any refuse. When the water is calm, it is crystal clear.
> Location / 5th Ave - It is worth a walk, as long as you can deal with the many high pressure salespeople trying to get your money. From my perspective, it really clashed with the relaxing feel of Mahekal, but it is just a very short walk away for anyone looking for a meal off the property, shopping, or a night out on the town.
> Safety: Not a concern. Mahekal has tons of security staff monitoring the property and the beach.
> Excursions: We visited the Mayan ruins in Tulum and the Dos Ojos Cenote one morning. All four of us really enjoyed both. We didn't snorkel on the reef, because we were enjoying he hotel property so much, but we will definitely do so next time.
Thank you all at Mahekal for your hospitality! We will return!!!
