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ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/12/2011 12:41:11 PM
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frozeninsk
Posts: 47
Joined: 10/22/2010
From: Saskatchewan, Canada
Status: offline
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Stayed at ABR from Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 and had an amazing time. The weather was perfect (30C, 86F), the snorkelling incredible, the beach perfect, the food good and the service fantastic.
We arrived in Cancun at 10:30 am and got to ABR at 2:30 pm. The delay resulted from a packed airport, waiting for people to board our Sunwing bus who never did arrive, and then a long drive from Cancun to ABR.
Room:
We booked Oceanfront Rooms and were placed in building 5, 3rd floor with two rooms beside each other. The rooms are spacious, clean and we had king size beds. Although we had requested building 6, we found building 5 to be great. We had an amazing view from the top floor and enjoyed the exercise walking up and down the stairs. Yes, the beds are hard, but we had incredible sleeps listening to the ocean waves all night. The air conditioning didn't really work the first few days, but seemed to be fixed later in the week. We were given one water bottle at the start of the trip and then had to refill it from the water coolers located on each floor, which we appreciated as an eco-friendly practice. Our maids did an incredible job, as our rooms were always clean and fresh.
Service:
The entire staff at ABR are incredible; extremely friendly and hard-working. Many seem to have multiple jobs as the resort appears a bit short-staffed. The energy and high service level was appreciated. Check-in at ABR was a breeze.
Food:
We quite enjoyed the food at ABR. The buffet always had a good variety of meat, vegetables, potatoes, pasta, fruit and desserts. The fresh fish was always good, and there was self-serve dos equis beer on tap and carafes of wine. The staff also served you wine when they had a chance. There is one ala carte that alternates between Italian and Mexican. We tried both and enjoyed the food and the ambiance. The snack bar on the beach was always excellent as we enjoyed burgers, fries, pizza and the nachos, salsa and guacamole were excellent. They did run out of salsa or guac a few times, but you could also get this at the buffet. The snack bar also had self-serve draught beer and the ice cream was a tasty treat. The Moonrise Bar on the beach was also a great place to enjoy a refreshing beverage.
Snorkelling:
This is really what ABR was all about for us. We snorkelled Akumal Bay 13 times and saw something new every time we went out. Lots of turtles, rays, barracudas and a host of other fish and sea creatures. We would go out first thing in the morning and would have the whole bay to ourselves. It was like our own private aquarium. The tours and others would come later in the morning and afternoon, but there was always a place where you could be on your own. Highlights were 12 turtles in one area one morning, 3 horse-eyed jacks or permits (not really sure, but they were big), spotted eagle rays with 10 foot tails, and a barracuda chasing other fish.
We also snorkelled Yal Ku Lagoon, and it was well worth the cab ride and entrance fee of 110 pesos. Lots of schools of fish and clear quiet waters. We walked to Half Moon Bay one day, but were not too impressed with the snorkelling or the beach, which is rocky and difficult to enter the water. IMHO, there is much more to see and do in Akumal Bay. However, La Buena Vida Restaurant was worth the heat exhaustion we almost got from walking there. The mango margaritas were delicious and one of our group was very happy to find Crown Royal Canadian Whisky. We hitched a ride back with some friendly folks from South Carolina and their hospitality was appreciated.
Fishing:
We fished one day for three hours and had a great time. We booked through the Fisherman's Co-op in the book in front of the Akumal Dive Shop. We tried to get Francisco, but were told that he was not there that week. The captain (Victor) and first mate (Bayou) showed us an excellent time. We trolled for 1 hour and bottom-fished for 2 hours. We caught 12 fish bottom-fishing, including grouper, snapper and trigger fish. Nothing too big, but more than enough for supper. We actually lost a few fish that would have been bigger, but it was no big deal. Our guide cleaned all our fish for us and then took us and the fish to the La Cueva del Pescador Restaurant. We made arrangements for them to cook our fish for us later that evening. Our meal was amazing and the ambiance under the trees was fantastic. We paid 50 pesos each for the side dishes as well as the cost for our drinks. We again found Crown Royal Whisky.
Other:
We enjoyed happy hour at Lol Ha Restaurant one afternoon, including mango margaritas and crown royal. We shopped at the Super Chomak, El Pueblito, and little market outside the arches. We taxied to Playa del Carmen one evening and enjoyed a wonderful meal at Carboncitos on 5th Avenue.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our first trip to ABR and would definitely go back. If you want to do lots of snorkelling, have a great beach, and stay at a clean, comfortable, quiet, basic resort with good food and excellent service, then you will enjoy ABR. However, if you want a five-star resort with lots of restaurants, amenities and night life and you are not interested in snorkelling much, then you likely won't enjoy ABR. For us, it was perfect.
 Attachment (1)
< Message edited by frozeninsk -- 2/12/2011 2:11:13 PM >
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RE: ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/12/2011 1:07:59 PM
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MtnMan
Posts: 293
Joined: 5/20/2006
From: We have 54 fourteeners
Status: offline
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frozen,
thanks for the great report, glad you enjoyed the ABR and the Akumal area.
It is the place to just kick back, relax and enjoy that beautiful bay.
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RE: ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/12/2011 1:39:04 PM
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Vancouver Sundog
Posts: 5970
Joined: 10/1/2006
From: North Vancouver
Status: offline
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Great report Frozen
Glad they got thew a/c fixed
I think we broke it when we arrived last month
And the Crown Royal at the bar
PS: We have decided we will NOT take the shared transfer through Sunwing (2+ hours each way)
< Message edited by Vancouver Sundog -- 2/12/2011 9:01:32 PM >
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RE: ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/12/2011 6:01:01 PM
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murphytaters
Posts: 256
Joined: 7/17/2009
From: Iowa
Status: offline
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Nice report! Refreshing pic! I wanna go back home!!!
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RE: ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/13/2011 6:15:01 AM
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ChrisandCindy
Posts: 4774
Joined: 12/24/2005
Status: offline
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Thanks for the picture. We have usually stayed in bldg 6 but after looking a the sunrise reflected in the pool, maybe we should consider bldg 5 next time we go.
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RE: ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/13/2011 11:55:31 PM
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Vancouver Sundog
Posts: 5970
Joined: 10/1/2006
From: North Vancouver
Status: offline
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I talked to ABR management a few weeks ago
Building 1& 2 will continue to be closed although some special VIP guests will be allowed to stay in certain rooms (wink)
Otherwise Bld 3-7 are open
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RE: ABR - Jan 29 to Feb 5, 2011 - 2/14/2011 8:45:11 PM
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dugchuk1
Posts: 201
Joined: 1/16/2011
From: Duck Lake, SK
Status: offline
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Thank you for sharing your report...sounds like you had a great time and your pic is beautiful. We arrive Sunday evening and can hardly wait! We booked ocean front so hope our view is as beautiful as yours!
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