Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an Review: Our Honest Take on This Adults-Only Resort – May 2026 Update

Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an Review: Tequila, Tacos, & One Wild Swing at Romance

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We booked Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an for the chill.

Adults-only.
Jungle setting.
All-inclusive with a decent cocktail menu.

The resort ticked all the boxes.

What we didn’t plan for was making a dozen legendary new mates, smuggling back half the Mexican snack aisle, or accidentally winning a dance-off by swinging onto Russ like a tequila-fuelled koala. 🐨💃

This isn’t the brochure-style review, but if you want the real vibe… the good, the great, and the gloriously unhinged, then you’re in the right place.

We’ve also made you a Cocktail Bingo Card to keep the fun rolling on your holiday.

Grab a cocktail and let’s get into the good stuff. 🍹

We have updated this review from our May 2026 revisit under the verdict part below. For those thinking of booking, you will want to read this.

Our Verdict: Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an

⭐ Overall: 8.5 / 10

Best for: Couples, solo travellers, and social groups who want a relaxed adults-only all-inclusive with a fun atmosphere.

What we loved

• Super friendly entertainment team
• Surprisingly social resort — easy to make friends
• Access to multiple Bahia resorts and restaurants
• Bar 66 at Akumal (absolute vibe)

What could be better

• Trolley system can be frustrating
• Lobby bar closes at 11pm
• Coffee machine situation needs help

Would we return?
Yes. In fact… we already booked again.
Return booking experience wasn’t great. It’s gone downhill. More on that below.

Check TUI Sian Ka’an Deals & Prices

Unsure on which hotel fits your vibe and style? Check out our All-Inclusive Hotel Finder Here.

May 2026 Update: The Hyatt Changes

If you’ve visited Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an before, you’ll notice quite a few changes compared to previous stays.

Sadly, not any of them are for the better.

Here’s what we experienced on our 2026 visit compared to last year.

If you read the rest of the post after this, you will think WTF? We honestly couldn’t sing their praises enough before, which made us rebook.

Booking à la carte Restaurants

If you thought booking the à la carte restaurants was a mission before, brace yourself — it’s now closer to a full-blown shitshow.

Availability was much harder to come by this time, with several restaurants seemingly operating with only three or four tables at a time.

From what we experienced, limited staffing meant some restaurants were barely open at all, which isn’t exactly what you expect when the brochure proudly shouts about 16 à la carte restaurants.

Maiko, for example, was only open three times during our 15-night stay, and we only managed to get one booking.

That’s pretty shabby.

We get that May is considered “low season,” but we visited on almost the exact same dates last year and didn’t have this issue — so it’s not an excuse we’re buying.

Staffing at Bare Minimum

This one hurt the most.

Not because the staff were the problem, but because it felt like they were being asked to steer a sinking ship.

The difference was especially noticeable around places like the Cenote Snack Bar, where the service felt slower, thinner, and nowhere near as smooth as before.

A lot of familiar faces have disappeared since our last visit. Some long-standing staff are still there, but they now seem to be carrying the weight of those who aren’t.

And you can feel it.

You see it in the pace, the body language, the tired smiles, and the general atmosphere. The warmth that made Sian Ka’an feel special hasn’t vanished completely, but it did feel like it had been worn down.

If people are being laid off, teams are being cut, and the ones left behind are expected to pick up the slack, morale is going to take a hit. Anyone who has ever worked in a stretched team knows that feeling.

What frustrated us most is that the staff are the ones guests see first. They’re the ones serving drinks, clearing tables, taking orders, and trying to keep things moving. But if the resort is running on bare minimum staffing, there’s only so much they can do.

Hyatt might see staffing cuts as a business decision, but guests see the human side of it. And so do the staff.

Alcohol Selection Very Limited

The drinks selection used to be one of Sian Ka’an’s stronger points.

You didn’t need to be a cocktail snob to appreciate it. There was usually a decent rum, a few recognisable spirits, and enough choice to avoid feeling like you were drinking the house special from a backstreet pirate tavern.

Not this time.

The better brands were much harder to find, and some drinks simply weren’t available at all. Carajillo? No Licor 43. A decent bottle behind the bar? Maybe, if you caught it before everyone else did.

Most of the time, it felt like the bars had been stripped back to the cheapest options possible.

We started calling it “pirate juice” — not because we’re fussy, but because some of it genuinely tasted like something Jack Sparrow would use to clean a wound.

And when the better stuff ran out, that was it.

“No más.”

For an all-inclusive resort, that’s not great. For an adults-only resort that has previously offered a much better drinks selection, it’s even more disappointing.

No one is expecting luxury champagne on tap, but you do expect a reasonable selection of drinkable spirits. This felt like another obvious cutback.

Trolleys run on a “Mexican Minute”

We weren’t fans of the trolleys in our original review, and somehow, they’ve managed to get worse.

We weren’t the only ones who noticed either. Plenty of guests seemed to be having the same problem, with some even missing or having dinner reservations cancelled because they couldn’t get there on time.

Multiple times, we waited 45 minutes or more for a trolley to or from Sian Ka’an.

At one point, we spent so long waiting near the market stall in the Hacienda that I’m pretty sure the bloke working there now knows my life story — and I know his.

He joked, “It’ll be here in a minute… a Mexican minute.”

He wasn’t wrong.

The waiting is one thing. The pushing and shoving is another. That part really isn’t for us.

One night, I saw a lady on crutches struggling while people pushed in front of her to grab a place. She did manage to get on, but I was ready to give up my spot if she couldn’t.

Honestly, some of you people are animals.

To be fair, it can be luck of the draw. Sometimes you stroll up and a trolley appears almost instantly. Other times, you’re stood there questioning every life choice that led you to that exact patch of pavement.

But overall, it felt unreliable, stressful, and nowhere near good enough for a resort spread across multiple hotels.

If you’ve got a dinner reservation, leave much earlier than you think you need to. Then add another ten minutes. Then maybe have a small existential crisis for good measure.

Poor Entertainment

In our original review, we raved about the entertainment and the entertainment team.

Sadly, that is no longer the case.

The biggest difference was the evening entertainment. The rock show and Maya show, which previously gave the resort some proper atmosphere, seem to have been replaced with much weaker options. On our stay, that meant a jazz band that, honestly, didn’t come close.

Nothing against jazz, by the way. Done well, it can be brilliant. But this felt like a huge downgrade compared to the bigger, livelier shows we remembered.

The daytime activities were also very limited and constantly repeated.

Previously, there seemed to be something happening every hour, with a real mix of games, music, fun activities, and things people actually got involved with. It gave the place a buzz without making it feel like Butlin’s with tequila.

This time, it felt flat.

The same activities appeared again and again, with very little variety. The entertainment team still tried, but there just didn’t seem to be the same energy, structure, or support behind it.

And that’s a shame, because the entertainment was one of the things that made Sian Ka’an stand out for us before. It wasn’t cheesy or over the top — it was just fun, well-run, and easy to dip in and out of.

In 2026, that spark felt like it had been turned right down.

Buffet Turned Tragic

The buffet has definitely taken a turn for the worse.

Because à la carte reservations were so hard to get — or only available at awkward times like 9:30pm — we ended up relying on the buffet far more than we planned to.

And that’s where things got painful.

I’ll eat most things, apart from seafood.

But Shepherd’s Pie at breakfast?

WTF?

Breakfast always seemed to be missing at least one or two of the usual staples, while random dishes appeared that nobody in their right mind is craving first thing in the morning.

Hash browns and burnt bacon? Not a bad start…

No sausages? No mushrooms? Alright, looks like it’s hash browns and bacon again then.

The beans? Forget it. Tragic. And while we’re here, what is it with the super sweet beans in North America? I’m not asking for a full greasy spoon in Mexico, but you guys deffo need educating in beans. Yeah, that’s you as well, America.

Lunch and dinner weren’t much better.

On previous visits, the buffet themes felt more varied and gave you a decent mix across the week. This time, it felt repetitive, limited, and nowhere near the standard we remembered.

The bigger issue is that when the à la cartes are difficult to book, the buffet becomes the fallback option for a lot of guests. So it needs to be strong.

This wasn’t.

It felt like another area where the resort had quietly stripped things back, hoping nobody would notice.

BBQ

Everyone loves a BBQ, so when that smell starts wafting through Sian Ka’an, we’re in there like swimwear.

And to be fair, it was still a nice treat.

The BBQ was one of those little extras we always looked forward to, especially when you’re lounging around, drink in hand, pretending you’re not going back for a second plate.

But this time, the cutbacks were noticeable.

The selection felt smaller, with less variety than we remembered from our previous visit. It still hit the spot, but it didn’t feel quite as generous or as exciting as before.

Again, it’s not the end of the world on its own. The BBQ isn’t really something they heavily advertise, so you can’t complain too much.

But when you add it to the reduced à la carte availability, the weaker buffet, and the general feeling that things have been scaled back, it becomes another example of the same pattern.

Still enjoyable? Yes.

As good as before? Not really.

Nearly Impossible to Break Down Pesos

On previous visits, we’ve never had much trouble breaking down larger peso notes into smaller ones.

Reception or the bars were usually happy enough to help, and it made tipping much easier.

This time, not so much.

We were knocked back several times at both reception and the bars, which left us stuck with bigger notes than we really wanted to use.

We are definitely not rich enough to be chucking out chunky peso notes every time someone brings us a drink.

To be fair, this probably isn’t something you should fully rely on the hotel for. But when it’s never been an issue before, you naturally assume you’ll be able to sort it somewhere on site.

Lesson learned.

If you’re visiting, try to bring plenty of smaller notes with you from the start, especially if you like tipping little and often. It’ll save you the awkward “can you change this?” dance at the bar.

Thoughts on Changes

Given all the changes, we sadly wouldn’t return to Sian Ka’an now.

And that’s a shame, because we genuinely loved it the first time around. We met some awesome people again on this trip, and there are still parts of the resort that reminded us why we rated it so highly before.

But this time, the vibe felt off.

The cutbacks were too noticeable. The staff seemed stretched. The food and drink felt reduced. The entertainment lacked the same spark. And the whole experience just didn’t feel like the Sian Ka’an we remembered.

Hyatt seems to have upset a lot of repeat guests, not just us. We spoke to plenty of people who felt the same, and it’ll be interesting to see how that works out long term.

Judging by how quiet the resorts felt during our stay, it doesn’t exactly bode well.

There also seemed to be a lot more Mexican guests than we remembered from previous visits, which made us wonder whether prices had been reduced to fill rooms. That’s absolutely not a criticism, by the way. If anything, we prefer it. We love practising our Spanish, getting chatting, and honestly, they know how to party.

But even they didn’t seem overly impressed with the changes, which said a lot.

It gave the impression the resort may have been trying to boost occupancy however it could — but filling rooms only gets you so far if the experience people remember has been stripped back.

If you read our original review below, you’ll see just how much our opinion has changed. We don’t enjoy writing negative updates, especially about somewhere we once loved, but we’d rather be honest than pretend everything is still the same.

Our whole aim with these reviews is to help you book holidays that are actually worth your time, money, and annual leave.

Sadly, based on our 2026 stay, Sian Ka’an is no longer somewhere we’d personally recommend in the same way.

The Hacienda: The Heart of the Bahia Principe Resorts

If it’s your first time at the Bahia Principe complex, the Hacienda is basically the central hub connecting the resorts.

Shops, bars, the casino, and the Hacienda nightclub (not really a nightclub) all live here. It’s also where a lot of the evening entertainment and paid shows take place.

Think of it as the resort’s little town square.

You’ll probably end up here more than once during your stay… usually after one too many lobby bar shots and someone says, “Shall we go Hacienda?”

(More on the Hacienda nightlife later in the post.)

Check out the map below for a brief guide on where some of the facilities are around the resorts.

What’s The Vibe Like?

Before we dive in, let’s set the scene.

Looking for chill? You’ll find it.
Want a cocktail-fuelled laugh with new mates? That’s here too.

There’s a quiet pool tucked away at the far end of the resort for those “do not disturb” vibes, but if you’re more about volleyball and bingo, the activity pool is where the magic (and the Scooby-Doo shots) happens.

Want to make friends?

You will.

Struggling to make friends?

Head to the smoking area… even if you don’t smoke.

Trust us. It’s basically the resort’s unofficial social club.
Conversations, inside jokes, new mates… it all starts there.

One wholesome thing? Loads of solo travellers at this resort. Not in a “headphones in, don’t talk to me” way. People found their tribes within a day.

It’s that kind of place — warm, welcoming, and full of the kind of people who’ll shout “see you next year!” before you’ve even packed.

The Entertainment Team

One big thing about Sian Ka’an?

The entertainment team.

Hands down, some of the best we’ve experienced at an all-inclusive. These guys work their arses off from morning to past 11 pm making sure everyone’s having a laugh… whether you’re sporty, hungover, or somewhere in between.

There’s volleyball, water polo, darts, bingo, movie trivia, and a bunch of gloriously stupid but weirdly addictive games.

And the prize?

A bottle of tequila.

So yeah… absolutely worth humiliating yourself for.

You will eventually find yourself peer-pressured into a “chug, chug, chug” situation.

Regretti Spaghetti for that guy. 🍝🥴

Massive love to:

• Sexy Delmar (you know the one)
• Alexandro – the human energy drink
• Danillo – always vibing
• Juanito (the one) – just iconic
• Marcos – who only joined days before we left, but still had us making a pinky promise to return

Delmar has unfortunately moved on, which is a massive loss to the resort.
Probably along with a few others.

Honestly, they made the trip. Without them, it’s just sun, sand and strangers.

With them?

It becomes a full-blown memory factory.

Prized glory: We came away with three bottles of tequila thanks to Russ and his lucky bingo wins. Who the fu*k wins bingo three times in two weeks?

Restaurants, Buffet & All Things Food

You’re spoilt for choice here. You’ve got access to every bar, restaurant and buffet at all resorts.

And there are bloody loads!

We’re not food critics, and most of the fancier stuff is honestly wasted on us, especially with the heat and humidity.

That said, we really enjoyed Maiko, the Japanese restaurant.
Even Fussell — the beige food enthusiast — walked out surprised and satisfied.

If a man whose food groups are chips, chicken nuggets and cheesy chips likes it, you know it’s worth booking.

La Gran Tortuga (Highlight)

The other highlight was La Gran Tortuga — the meat-lover’s paradise.

Picture this: endless swords of sizzling meat brought straight to your table. (That’s your dirty mind, not ours.)

Chorizo, lamb, steak — it just keeps coming until you wave the white flag.

Or in this case, flip your card to red, which politely says:

“Please stop. I’m sweating meat.”

There’s also a buffet on the side for all your add-ons and beige cravings — nuggets, fries, the holy grail combo of meat and beige.

Sounds like a win to us.

Cenote Snack Bar (Updated Info)

Open 24 hours and an absolute lifesaver after a late one at the Hacienda or a slow stagger back from the lobby bar (which cruelly shuts at 11pm sharp).

The menu hits the spot whether you’re after something breakfasty or a late-night bite from the lunch/dinner menu.

There’s even a mini buffet during lunchtime if you can’t face the full-blown buffet mission.

Low effort. High reward.

Update: Confirmed from the hotel.

The Cenote Snack Bar will close at 1 am during March & April 2026, and room service will now finish at 11 pm.

Nobody seems to know if this is temporary or permanent, which only adds to the confusion.

Judging by their reply and updated hours on the website, etc, I’d take this as a permanent change.

For us, the 24-hour snack bar was a big perk of staying at Sian Ka’an and something we seek when choosing resorts.

The Removal of 24 Hour Room Service & Early Closure of Cenote Bar

The removal of 24-hour room service at Sian Ka’an has definitely ruffled a few feathers in the Facebook groups.

Some people see it as a gimmick perk.
Others actively book resorts because of little touches like this.

From a personal point of view… this one’s a strange decision.

It feels like very little thought has been given to how people actually use it.

If you arrive late or leave early, you’re left with no food options — or stuck paying extra elsewhere.

Got an early excursion like Chichén Itzá? (think 5–6am starts)
You’re going hungry.

Need to take medication with food?
Bit of a problem.

Jet lagged and wide awake at 4am?
Same story.

Back from Coco Bongo at 4 am?
Good luck.

It’s not about luxury — it’s about convenience rather than feeling you’re on a school trip or on a self-catering holiday.

Now… about the coffee machine.

There’s basically one proper coffee machine in the entire resort (Sian Ka’an), apart from the lobby bar.

And it’s more temperamental than a British toddler in 30-degree heat.

Half the time it was broken, which meant the buffet coffee.

Instant regret.

And when you’re sleep-deprived, mildly hungover and just want a proper brew?

Wheep. 😩

Room Service

No all-inclusive is complete without room service.

Simple.

Sian Ka’an delivers. It’s perfect for those after-party munchies or when you’re up at stupid o’clock because it’s midday in the UK and you can’t be arsed trekking to the snack bar.

The menu’s pretty decent, but don’t expect poetic descriptions. You’ve got all the staples — burgers, grilled chicken, chicken tenders (ohhh yeah), some kind of steak situation, fruit, fish, and a few wildcard extras.

It’s more of a mystery roulette.

Fries? You’ll be seeing a lot of them.

Burger? Fries.
Steak? Fries.
Salad? Somehow… still fries.

Note: Room service previously ran 24 hours but, according to recent guest reports, currently finishes at 11pm.

Minibar

And yes — you can order mini-bar drinks too.

The Mirinda?

A revelation.

It tastes like that deep, dark orange Fanta you only find in random European countries.

You know the one… the dangerously good stuff that’s probably banned in the UK for being too delicious.

Basically:

Crack in a can.

If Mirinda isn’t cutting it, you can grab the darker Fanta from OXXO.

Room service ended up being the unsung hero of many late-night moments.

Just remember:

Don’t order extra fries.

The Food Truck (it’s not actually a truck)

The real match-winner?

The “food truck” at Tulum.

Open late after the restaurants shut, it dishes out everything your drunken self could possibly crave — hot dogs, chicken nuggets, burgers, fish & chips… the kind of food that makes your soul weep with joy at 1am after a few too many Mango Tangos and a questionable life decision with the shots.

It’s greasy.
It’s glorious.

And it’s exactly what you need at stupid o’clock.

Standard Junior Suite Room

We didn’t bother with any fancy room upgrades — we’re barely in the room long enough to justify it. For us, it’s just a basecamp for napping, showering, reapplying aftersun, and five minutes of AC.

It’s redderz out there and sometimes you just need to let your bits breathe.

That said, the room itself was a decent size and totally fine.

BUT… if you’re the type who needs something on TV to nod off, prepare for disappointment. The channel options are dire, and they’ve blocked you from plugging in your own devices. The ports are there — they’ve just disabled them or something.

Bring a tablet or download stuff to your phone if Netflix-and-nap is part of your nightly routine like it is for us.

Some mates we made had one of the fancy top-floor hot tub rooms and honestly… it looked incredible. Huge outdoor space, lush setup, total chill zone. If you can nab a cheap upgrade, it’s probably worth it for the hot tub sunsets alone.

Only gripe with our room? The AC.

Ours was in one of the older rooms and definitely needed a bit of love… or a full retirement. It worked, but she was wheezing like she’d just run a marathon in flip-flops.

Good to know: Make sure you lock your balcony door. Otherwise, you may return to find a coati in your room.

Seriously.

The Trolleys Suck!

The one thing we did hate?

The bloody trolley carts.

Organised chaos wrapped in false hope.

They run on what can only be described as a “Mexican Minute.” They’re meant to come every 15–20 minutes, but the timing is never consistent. One day it arrives at ten past, the next at twenty past. Just when you think you’ve cracked the system… you haven’t.

You end up standing there squinting into the sun wondering if you’ve just missed one by 30 seconds.

Getting to restaurants at the other resorts turns into a bit of a mission — and if there’s one thing we don’t do on holiday, it’s meticulous planning and adulting.

Having to be at Akumal at 18:30 when you’re halfway through a Riviera Maya cocktail and vibing hard by the pool?

Nah. Not us.

Tip: Book your à la carte reservations a bit later than usual. It gives you time to enjoy the pool, shower, get ready, and factor in any trolley drama when heading to the other resorts.

Worst case? You arrive early.

Which just means more time for a pre-dinner drink somewhere else.

Trolleys supposedly run every twenty minutes and the journey itself takes about ten. Miss one by a minute — or find it’s already full — and you’re in for a long, sweaty wait.

The resort could definitely make the schedule clearer… and maybe stop people rolling up last minute and pushing in like it’s Mario Kart for margaritas.

Tulum, Akumal & Coba

IIf you’re staying at Sian Ka’an, you get full access to the other Bahia resorts — including their pools, buffets, à la carte restaurants, and general chaos.

We didn’t spend loads of time at the others, but it did confirm one thing for us:

We are Adults-Only All-Inclusive people forevermore.

It’s great being able to use the other resorts, but it’s even better knowing you can escape back to Sian Ka’an afterwards.

That said, Akumal’s adults-only infinity pool was a game changer. Despite rumours of carnage and rogue children, it was chilled, quiet, and exactly what we needed.

Bonus points for Bar 66, perched right on the beach — the exact vibe we’d been hunting all holiday.

And if you’re on a mission to find a pool that doesn’t feel like human soup?

This is your spot.

Cool and refreshing all day long.

The only downside? Not many parasols.

But fear not — nip about 20 steps round the corner towards the beach by Bar 66 and you’ll find a shady little haven. No epic quests required.

And lastly, a shoutout to Eddy at Bar 66.

The man.
The myth.
The margarita master.

Sian Ka’an Nightly Entertainment

The nightly entertainment on the terrace near the lobby is pretty decent overall.

Highlights for us? The circus show, rock night, the 80s throwback, and the Mayan performance.

All genuinely good fun and well put together.

Some of the other nights?

Bit hit and miss.

And the silent disco…

Sorry, but no.

It’s the biggest downgrade on a disco ever. Wandering around with headphones on, awkwardly trying to vibe in silence?

It’s a concept we’ll just never get.

Give us a proper party or nothing at all.

Good to know: You can check what’s going on at the other Bahia resorts using the app. Just type the hotel name into the search bar (for example Coba), click it, scroll down, and boom — entertainment listings.

Handy if you fancy a change of scene or you’re staying for two weeks and want to mix things up.

The Fire Show & A Wild Swing at Romance

The fire show was one of the best nights of the trip. 100% worth the £20–£25 it cost.

It’s not just a show — it’s a whole experience. You get food, drinks, games, dancing, and a proper party atmosphere.

And in our case… a little emotional damage.

This is the night I (Luke) got lured into a dancing competition, mainly because only three blokes volunteered and Russ and our newly found tribe helpfully shouted “He’ll do it!” across the crowd.

Cheers for that, guys.

Now, I’m a relatively reserved guy. This? This was next-level WTF. I was sweating and thinking what the hell am I doing here?

Meanwhile some guy was already swagging around the dance floor like he was on Strictly Come Dancing.

I knew I couldn’t win with raw talent alone.

After a few tragic moves (including a poorly timed crotch grab), I jumped the stairs, grabbed the ropes of the swing Russ was sitting on, launched myself up like a tequila-fuelled Tarzan, wrapped my legs around him and went in for the kiss.

Payback’s a bitch, Russ. 💋

And guess what?

I won.

Let’s hear it for your dancing champ.

Straddle and all.

But seriously — the fire show itself was brilliant and well worth doing if you’re staying at the resort. A great night and one of the highlights of the trip.

The Mexican Fiesta

Of course, on the night of the Mexican Fiesta, it absolutely pissed it down.

Classic.

The rain definitely dampened the vibe a bit (literally), but being the fools we are, we sucked it up alongside some equally stubborn friends.

The grand prize?

Front row seats all to ourselves.

Silver linings… and soggy shorts.

The show itself was still really cool despite the weather, with traditional music, dancing, and a proper party atmosphere.

Before the show kicks off, you’ll also get to try Mexican food, sweet treats, and take part in a few classic games.

Make sure you hit the Oaxaca food stand. It’s delicious — and you’ll probably still be tasting it the next day.

You can grab tickets for any of the paid events at reception or through the entertainment team, and they’ll happily charge it to your room.

The Foam Party

Every Saturday (currently) around midday there’s a foam party at the Sian Ka’an resort.

If you fancy multiple rounds of foam chaos, the other Bahia resorts host them on different days too.

During our second week they actually moved the foam party to the pool by the Cenote Snack Bar, and there was food and a BBQ going at the same time.

The idea is to peg people down a level or two after a morning of drinking… before everyone jumps back into the pool and starts dancing around in foam again.

It went down a treat.

And crikey… they know how to BBQ.

The Hacienda Party Vibe

After one too many lobby bar shots with your newfound holiday tribe, there’s only one place to go.

The Hacienda.

It kicks off properly around 11pm — just as all the other resort entertainment wraps up — and becomes the unofficial afterparty zone.

That said… it’s a bit hit or miss.

Some nights it was full-on party carnage.

Other nights it felt like someone forgot to send the memo.

The DJ keeps things going until around 2am, and once the lights come up it’s a mad dash to catch the last trolleys back to your resort.

Spoiler alert:

We missed it.

The food truck was calling around 1ish, so we tipped our way back to the sacred land like tequila-soaked explorers returning from a chicken nugget pilgrimage.

No regrets.

Just crumbs and questionable dance floor flashbacks.

If you don’t fancy the party scene, it’s still worth popping over just to see the colourful shops and have a wander around.

The Golf Course: PGA Riviera Maya

We’re not golfers… unless mini-golf with a cocktail counts.

So this beautiful PGA-level course, just a few steps from reception, was completely wasted on us.

That said, while Russ was snoozing one afternoon, I went for a cheeky wander along the pathways around the course and… wow.

It’s absolutely stunning.

Quiet, peaceful, and honestly a whole vibe, even if you’ve never swung a club in your life.

I was half hoping to spot a crocodile in the water.

Not that I’m entirely sure I actually wanted to see one either. I would have legged it, lost the race and got chomped up.

We filmed a bit of it too, so if scenic greens and jungle backdrops are your thing, keep an eye on our YouTube channel.

Good to Know

• OXXO is hands-down the cheapest shop across all the resorts. Perfect for snacks, smokes, soft drinks, and cheeky extras. Just keep an eye on the price and your change.
• Smokes: around 90 pesos a pack (vs 200 pesos elsewhere).
• Big 500ml glass bottle Cokes: about 16 pesos.
• Open 24 hours — a lifesaver after a party or for grabbing snacks before a bus or excursion.
• The Santander cash machine at the Hacienda gives the best exchange rate and dispenses pesos. UK travellers, take note.
• Last resort trolleys run until 2am. Miss one and you’ll be tipping your way home like we did.
• The Kraken rum offer on TUI is actually decent — usually around 2 × 1-litre bottles for £38.
• Duty-free in Cancún? Weirdly more expensive than supermarket deals back home, especially if you’re stacking clubcard offers.
• Smokes were cheaper at OXXO than duty-free too. Facts.
• Book restaurants early — ideally around 10 days in advance if you’re travelling with TUI. They go fast, especially the popular ones. If you miss out, keep checking. New slots and cancellations pop up randomly like tequila regrets.
• Go easy on the Riviera Maya cocktails. They’re lethal.
• Try the Purple Rain cocktail. It’s not on the menu.
• Cancún Airport has a smoking area in Terminal 2. It’s inside TGI Fridays. You’ll need to buy a drink or pay to use it. A pint of beer is roughly £6.
• And finally… make sure you try the Sour Cream & Spring Onion Sabritas.
• We consider ourselves Lays/Sabritas connoisseurs, and these are officially TwoGuys Approved. 🤌

You’re welcome, future resort legends x

Not sure what currency is best to bring to Mexico from the UK? Check out our guide here for all the info.

Room for Improvement

No hotel is perfect, and to be fair, most of the flaws here are pretty minor.

Except the toilet situation.

That one’s criminal.

If you’re at the pool and the seal’s broken (you know the feeling), it’s a three-flight trek in our case or a journey to the far end of the resort just to find relief.

There’s only one toilet by the pools, tucked away next to the snack bar.

By the time you get there, you’re already questioning every life choice that led you to this moment.

Also… the activity pool?

Let’s just say by the afternoon it turns into human soup.

And with those limited loo options…

Well.

We’ll let your imagination do the rest.

The burgers could definitely do with an upgrade, and the pizzas are pretty gash. Fix that and we’ll love you forever.

A few other things worth mentioning:

• The lobby bar closes at 11pm, so after that your only drink option is the hatch at the snack bar.
• A nightly pilgrimage to the Hacienda wasn’t exactly on our holiday bingo card.
• The free Wi-Fi was pretty poor in our room and dropped constantly. If you need reliable internet, bring your own data if possibl. O2 offer data, calls and texts in Mexico. Read our guide here.
• And lastly… Pepsi sucks.

Small things in the grand scheme of things.

Nothing that ruins a holiday.

Just the sort of honest stuff you don’t usually hear in the glossy brochure reviews..

Would We Return?

Drumroll please… 🥁

We made a pinky promise to Marcos who’s probably not there now, so… yeah. It’s basically Mexican law now.

We are infact returning this year, May 2026 so look forward to more updates.

Truth is, out of the two resorts we stayed at in Riviera Maya (including El Dorado Seaside Suites), we’d happily return to both.

Sian Ka’an had the fun, the chill, and the people that made the trip unforgettable.

That said, if we could make a few tweaks…

We’d love to see another à la carte restaurant on the Sian Ka’an side, a proper bar that stays open late, and a few more classic beige food options in the snack bar.

Sometimes that red sausage hot dog is all the soul needs.

If those things were added, we probably wouldn’t even bother trekking to the other resorts — especially with those damn trolleys still being annoying AF.

It’s not goodbye… it’s just adios 🌴🍹

Check TUI Sian Ka’an Deals & Prices

Get Your Sian Ka’an Cocktail Bingo Card

If you’re anything like us, you’ll end up working your way through a fair few cocktails at Bahia Principe…

So we made this 👇

A simple Cocktail Bingo card you can use during your stay — tick off (or drag emojis over) each drink as you go.

It’s actually more addictive than it sounds… and turns “I’ll just grab a drink” into a full-blown mission.

👉 Grab your Cocktail Bingo card here

You can open it on your phone, screenshot it, or mess about with it in Canva and mark off what you’ve tried.

A few notes from experience:

• Chances are you won’t complete it (unless you’re on a mad one 🥴)
• Some bars do certain cocktails way better than others
• “Staff Special” is always worth a gamble

And yeah… if you do complete it, fair play — you’ve absolutely smashed the all-inclusive experience.

Any Questions?

If there’s anything we haven’t covered, drop a comment below — we’ll get back to you.🌅🍹

For more pics, reels, and behind-the-scenes chaos from the resort, follow us on the socials below. We’ve got the content, the vibes, and maybe a clip of that infamous dance competition straddle. 😏

• Instagram
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• YouTube

More Mexico Advice & Tips:

• What currency to bring to Mexico from UK: Pesos or USD?
• Bahia Principe Sian Ka’an Cocktail Bingo Card
• Spending Abroad Without The Fees
• Tui Flex: Is It Worth It?
• Mexico Tourist Taxes Made Easy: Everything You Need to Know

If this post saved you or helped you book smarter, that’s a win for us.

If you fancy supporting what we do, you can grab us a beer below. It genuinely keeps the site running (and funds the holiday hunting).

No pressure. Just good vibes.

¡Adiós amigos!

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