Palafitos Overwater Bungalows, All & More Inclusive - Adults Only

Avoid late May to September as the beach isnt clear due to seaweed. We didn't even put our feet in the water. I know It is not really the staffs fault but that is why it 4 stars. Resorts and all inclusive service is 5 stars. Staffs still kind expect tips which is fine but when they kinda show it in their actions would be a turn off for us so no tip for those that showed. We do tip Staffs genuinely give service and didnt show expectations even deep down we know they want them but it kindda kill the vacation moods when they show. We have 2 butlers for our stay. We didnt like our night shift guy seem lazy and not very caring or accommodating. Lastly dont sign up for the sale invitation they will say it only take 45 minutes but always dragging out to more than 1 hour and when I try to cut it off second sale person/manager try to push for sale didnt like that feeling of pressure even we sorta expect and we told them we aren't interested but we will try to get free massages but just not worth it. If we can pay this type of money for the stay no need to kill the moods over free stuff but we signed up becusee the original sale person was so nice try to get us to sign up. Free massage wasnt the main reason but regret to do it becuase it kindda kill our mood for few hours. Over all if the quality control read this maybe try to train staffs again regarding how they should earn their tip even if they dont get tips they should reconsidering give better service instead provide worse ser.

As a first time traveler to Carmen De Playa, Mexico I was disappointed upon arrival. Palafitos Resort didn’t provide where and how to find the private transport driver. Lengthy process to get thru the airport to the Resort. The A/C is poorly designed. Be prepared to sleep in 75 degree temperatures. Food options are minimal and the staff doesn’t butler your needs as stated. Beaches and water surrounding the bungalows were covered in seaweed. Vat tax is 16%!!! I won’ be returning anytime soon.

This place was a MAJOR disappointment. 1) The SMELL. It just smelled BAD. I thought initially it was all the seaweed, but one day I walked out far past my bungalow, and the water became much clearer. Near the bungalow, it just looked, funky, and SMELLED. I discovered upon returning home, that the expansion of large hotels has put a strain on the sewer system. I searched DuckDuckGo for: "Playa De Carmen sewage issues", and this was the result: "Playa del Carmen faces significant sewage issues due to inadequate infrastructure and illegal dumping, which contaminates the groundwater and affects the nearby Mesoamerican Reef. This pollution is exacerbated by the rapid growth of tourism in the area without proper waste management systems in place." 2) The seaweed. It's everywhere, and it STINKS. Again, not sure if what I was smelling was sewage, or the seaweed, or both (most likely both). It's such an issue here, they have people all along the Beach early in the morning raking it up where it comes ashore. They then have tractors take it down the beach and dump piles of it. I went for a walk along the coast one morning, and came across a HUGE pile of (feet high) where they had dumped a lot of it, and it sucked to have to walk around it, and deal with the flys & the stench. 3) The butlers aren't always available. I texted mine once for a ride back to my room, and after 10 minutes with no reply, I just walked the 1/2 mile back, in the 90* heat... AVOID!!!

We were scheduled to check in at 3 PM, but the staff were so slow that we had to wait 30 minutes at the reception. Conversely, although check-out was at 12 PM, they rushed us into our room at 11 AM. The food was delicious and the pool was nice. However, the water in the overwater villas was dirty and covered in a lot of algae, so you can't swim directly into the sea from your room.

There were RACOONS in our bungalow above the water. The staff was rude. My partner is a RASTA with strict dietary restrictions and THREE (3) Times they tried to feed us PORK when we requested PORK. They are RUDE and ....