The staff is very attentive and the property is extremely clean and feels very safe. I would say the demographic here is more of 40-ish-year-old families and a more relaxed patronage. They have entertainment but it's definitely not a party hotel. If you want to relax and feel comfortable, it's a great place. With only three restaurants and a buffet, after a week here, the choices feel a little redundant, but there is plenty nearby and you're only steps from 5th Avenue. The views cannot be beat and above all, it's a very comfortable, safe feeling! read more

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We were committed to a one week stay in Playa Del Carmen and were only set up for a few days in a boutique hotel; but we wanted our remaining days to be an all-inclusive resort that would cater to us while we do our best at being lazy. Finding an all inclusive resort in Cancan (to the north) is easy (especially in the hotel zone) and plenty of newer and wildly impressive resorts are located along the main highway between Cancun in Playa Del Carmen (an area better known as Puerto Morelos), but finding an all inclusive resorts in Playa Del Carmen "proper" is not so easy (especially the resorts with sprawling grounds with infinity pools with lush gardens to explore). Maybe that is because there are so many clubs, bars, restaurants, beaches and many activities and attractions all available throughout the town, especially in the touristy parts of the city that attract partygoers and families alike. I was quite pleased to have found Grand Porto... It's not the blow-you-away resort but it does have its perks * * * LOCATION * * * One of the big perks for us was Grand Porto was one block away from our original hotel destination... We just walked over to Grand Porto after checkout (no taxi needed). Even though they are located on the coast, the main portion of the building faces down the coastline rather than out to sea (personally, I really liked that though). * * * OUR ROOM * * * We reserved our room directly from the hotel's website and prepaid for a Standard Room with Non-Ocean View (I assumed it meant Garden View upon reserving but realized later it meant some garden but more of the roadway). Upon arrival they offered us an upgrade to a Jr Suite with Pool and Ocean View for a discounted rate (which I confirmed was very fair). They even offered to show us both rooms before deciding (it was a no brainer once we walked our onto the balcony). The bed was very comfortable, the room was stylish, we had (4) bottles of liquor to help ourselves too, we had a hammock on our balcony and plenty of room to still have a couple more chairs our there and our view of the ocean, coastline and pool area was superb. We even had 24-Hour Room Service; which we took advantage of by order breakfast in bed a couple of times. * * * FOOD & DRINKS * * * By the pool there was some bites to grab from a grill (decent) and there was a gazebo bar that was easy to grab drinks from (plus the pool area had plenty of waiters to serve us)(excellent). Near the lobby was a snack room (not very good)... There was a rooftop pool with sushi bar; though the sushi was being prepared fresh in front of us, it just wasn't that good. We enjoyed the buffet. Granted the food didn't blow us away... some stuff was great and some stuff was down right bad but overall I thought it was on par with the Lido Deck buffet that is on every cruise ship out at sea. They also offered (3) main restaurants (Italian, Brazilian and Mexican); being that we have been eating plenty of Mexican and I don't eat much red meat, decided to try the Italian restaurant. BIG MISTAKE ON OUR PART... This was downright horrible. Nothing was Italian about it and even if you renamed it internationally cuisine in lieu of Italian, it still would have been considered bad news. After dinner, we walked a block away and got tacos... good tacos * * * OVERALL GROUNDS * * * A large hotel building with plenty of what-to-do within the building and around the pool area... in addition to the booze and food, they do have various entertainment such as dance shows in the lounge area in the evening and poolside games throughout the day. The hotel and rooms are well decorated and the hotel is very clean. The staff is friendly and helpful and most will go out of their way to make you happy, whether that be getting extra towels delivered to the room to bringing frozen drinks to the beach area when we wanted a break from the pool. The beach is not so good though... erosion has taken it's toll and the sand has washed away much of the beach to the point that the beach is lined with huge sand bags to prevent further loss. Sadly, the grilling gazebo is on it's last leg (sand is washing away from beneath the building structure). The main entrance to Gran Porto is very nice looking from Avenida Constituyentes and the landscaping is well maintained. * * * FINAL THOUGHT * * * A 5-Star resort this isn't and you shouldn't be expecting one if that is what you are seeking... but 3-Stars is not too shabby. After all, our stay was enjoyable and memorable. read more

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The hotel was clean and staff was accommodating. The 1st night we had a room on the street side which was very quite. When exited the room to get coffee upon our return a few moment later the floor had a pool of water and we slid a bit. The upside they did attempted to repair the air condition leak and when they couldn't the moved us 3 rooms down the hall. The following morning once again we awoke to a pool of water on the floor by the door. Again I visited the front desk to inform them of our issue. This time they moved us to the 2nd floor with a partial ocean view. The entertainment staff continually offered various daily activities around the pool . Rodrigo was very patient with me will attempting to teach me Spanish - Thank you! Also I enjoyed the dance lessons, my partner Cecilia from the entertainment team was very entertaining. Their high energy and positive attitudes are contagious. The 4 restaurants Italian, Brazilian, Sushi and Mexican. The hubster enjoyed the Brazilian we visited there twice during our 6 day stay. My favorite was the Sushi - off the hook. An added bonus and additional fee for round trip transportation, we visited the Panama Jack Cancun location for a day. read more

Panama Jack Gran Porto - view from the outdoor bar - Resorts Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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Uuuuuggghhhh.... I feel SO bad for the people working here. Beach = unusable due to seaweed and erosion. Not their fault, but DO NOT BELIEVE the video on their website. It is very misleading. There's only about 20 feet of beach that you can use, once you get past the smell of seaweed, and the part where the shore meets the sand is mostly plastic sandbags and jagged rocks..so have fun with that. We went to Cozumel and Isla Mujeres to get some actual beach time. Which means we PAID to go somewhere ELSE. Good thing we paid the Panama Jack resort price for beachfront, right? Every night from 8 - ? PM they play TERRIBLE music LOUDLY. EVERY. DARN. NIGHT. From country to ACDC to Mexican Trap music. Last night? the soundtrack to Frozen at like 10PM. We went downstairs and got our room moved. The staff was so helpful and moved us so quickly that I suspect they get the request a lot. The food is beyond gross. I ate fruit and coffee. Every meal we ate at the resort consisted of a few bites before we became so disgusted, we gave up and went in town. I've had hospital food that's better. Of our 6 night stay? We tried eating in 3 times. The last time, I got physically ill off some food that had been sitting under a heat lamp for I don't even know how long. My bad for thinking a couple of chicken wings would be too little for even that to be messed up. The gym is serviceable as long as you don't mind cardio machines that either don't work or are LITERALLY held together with duct tape. Weights are good though. The grounds of the hotel are maze-like but very pretty. The resort was once called The Gran Porto Real (how do I know bc Panama Jack couldn't be bothered to change the logo on the robes), and it looks like Panama Jack just came in, slapped some decor up, and called it good. The worst part? The staff is SO FREAKIN NICE. It's like they know how bad the resort is and they're trying to make up for it. If I could give 0 stars I would, but the staff is too nice. So 2 stars because the employees are nice. read more

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Wow! Panama Jack was perfect and the best inclusive resort that I have been to. Once we arrived at Panama Jack from the Cancun airport, our bags were instantly taken to our room and we were greeted with a fruit popsicle and drinks. We were taken away by our room. It was A very big room that was modern, clean, and had a lot of natural light. The balcony was our favorite part, it had a hammock and a dining set perfect for morning breakfast via room service. The bed was very comfortable and put me to sleep instantly. The pool and beach are all perfect. The pool is big enough to where you can chose the level of liveliness that you want to swim in or lay out in the sun by. You can chose the be around a lot of people or just a few: it is big enough to relax or party. The music at the pool is also very relaxing and uplifting. The beach was great with blue water and white sands. It's views were perfect for pictures and a great way to compliment their oceanfront bars and restaurants. They had many all Inclusive restaurants on spot. My favorite restaurant at Panama Jack was the Brazilian steakhouse. It was on caliber with American Brazilian steakhouse chains such as Texas de Brazil or forgo de chao. The quality of the food at all their restaurants made it feel as if it were not an all inclusive resorts. The buffet always offered new dishes for its visitors and it was large enough to offer a wide selection. The Italian restaurant on spot (Bella) was very good and had an upscale feel to it. It was great to have pasta and pana Cotta in outdoor seating along the walkways of Playa del Carmen. Their Mexican restaurant was more than perfect: this was our outlet to trying authentic Mexican dishes. The Mexican tacos were so good we had to order it more than once. The sushi place is also very good, definitely worth a couple visits. The spa was unbelievable. From the sauna, peppermint steam room, cold bath, and hot tub: it was very easy to detox and relax before getting a massage and further pampered. Thankfully when we got there, they had a 20% off promotion of all spa packages. Luckily we were able to secure a massage for two for 80 mins which only came out to $200! Such a great experience. Another thing to mention is that Panama Jack is within walking distance to fifth avenue and right on the beach. It is perfectly located in Playa. The staff are all very friendly and accommodating. They all speak English and are quick to have an open conversation with you. You will have made many friends with the workers here who will know you by your first name. I love Panama Jack Resorts, it was well worth the money. I will take back experiences I will remember for life! - Ansel Ponce Diama read more

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I went here to help my friend celebrate her 10th Year wedding anniversary. It supposed to have eight different restaurants or should I say places to eat included with the all inclusive resort; which was ideal if you don't want unnecessary bills every single day and have your entire stay already paid off before going into your vacation. Our transportation was also arranged by Cancun tours for $20 round trip "to & from" the CUN airport. Playa del Carmen is about an hour from Cancun. Expect to be greeted by their employees as soon as you get out of your vehicle. They will gather your bags and help you bring it to your room (you need to bring singles for tips, because they expect it). Remember, they have 8 restaurants, unfortunately only 6 are open. When they say 8 restaurants that includes Starbucks lol! Yeah I didn't know that until I got there. Their website doesn't lists all the restaurants; so the only restaurant open for a real is a Mexican and Italian restaurant (both serve breakfast, lunch, & dinner. For snacks, you'll either have sushi at the 2nd pool near the tranquility pool, Panama jacks bar, or Starbucks. The hotel has two swimming pools and a jacuzzi which is located at the roof top. Housekeepers are really good in keeping the room very clean and organized. A different person comes in to change the drinks in your room refrigerator daily. Though if you want more of the specific beverage just let them know and they will add less or more of the other. The resort is right on the beach, but unfortunately its very rocky on some areas so be careful. They do offer free kayaks at specific times and if the tides are safe. One of the person that works on the kayak did say that they've spotted sharks around the area near the docking so take a lookout for that too. A bar right off the beach is also very ideal especially when you just want to enjoy the view. The resort has a daily program to help people be acquainted with the other guests, but the night program is a little lame. We came in right after dinner around 8pm and it was over and the pool area was empty LOL. I've been to a lot of resorts and 8pm is when all the good times happen, this one is quite the opposite. Overall, I like this place. Good deal and right off the beach. I do hope that they offer more restaurants and food choices. read more

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How anyone's posts less than a 5 star is beyond me. The service is unmatched anywhere I've been in the world ( I could write a while paragraph on this alone, the staff are just over the top amazing), the food is fresh and delightful, accomodations are clean and comfortable. The one downside if I must find something is that the beaches are not the best but that has zero to do with the resort and just about the location off the coast. Already booking another trip for next year and we've only been here 24 hours. read more

Panama Jack Gran Porto - Perfection.. - Resorts Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

My partner and I came for A little getaway for about a week. Everything about this resort was amazing from the Food, to the decor, to the amazing staff. From the pool you can see the beach and you're literally 10 feet away from the beach. They have a bar right next to the pool which is very convenient when you're swimming. This is an all inclusive resort so I was a little skeptical if the food and drinks were going to be good, i'm happy to say there was about three or four restaurants and they have multiple things on their menus and everything is delicious. Alcoholic drinks are included which was a huge plus and the bartenders are all so fun. We had a mini fridge in our room which had beers and water and when our housekeeper would clean our room they would restock the fridge which it was very much appreciate it. They did everything in their power to keep everyone safe from the spread of Covid, such as cleaning, wiping everything down, sanitation stations everywhere as well as enforcing masks. They also provided antigen testing in order for us to get back to the states and that was accepted by our airlines (American) The only downside was they didn't have a shuttle from Cancun airport but they do help set you up with the taxi so that was appreciated. They're down the street from local transportation such as the ADO so that is a cheaper form of transportation to the airport vs a taxi. We will definitely be coming back here next time we come to Playa Del Carmen! read more

Panama Jack Gran Porto - Pool - Resorts Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

Formerly Gran Porto now panama jacks resort I travel a lot and wanted to make sure I choose my next destinations resort wisely. With recommendations from others playa Del Carmen was a desired destination. This resort is absolutely worth it and will make your vacation perfect. 7 different places to eat including a cafe style coffee bar, sushi restaurant, Brazilian steak house, variety of nightly themed food at the buffet. Day and nightly entertainment all day Everyday 3 minute walk to the shopping strip "5th ave" We did The excursions like Coba, Tulum & "Adventuras maya tours "; which is a 3in 1 park for ATV/ziplining/cenote. The company picks you up from the hotel lobby no problem. The cenote here was absolutely breathtaking couldn't believe how beautiful it was. I wish we would've stayed more than 5 nights after seeing how awesome this resort was!! Pleasantly surprised!! Last but not least the wait staff at the resorts several restaurants are professional, polite and personable. Being in the food/bar industry myself good service is greatly appreciated! We had Our last dinner tonight at the Italian restaurant at Panama jack. The waiters Gerardo & Antonio really made our last night memorable with their recommendations and attention. Thank you all for an amazing week that will never forget! read more

Panama Jack Gran Porto - Resorts Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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We were here during Hurricane Zeta, and although we were unhappy about being stuck in our room for almost a full 24 hours, I have to say I was very pleased with how well organized they are for bad weather. We were moved to their "shelter" which was another room facing the street, and they brought us dinner and breakfast, as well as coffee. We heard rumors the hotel across the street put everyone in one large conference room on the ground during the hurricane. Restaurants aren't serving as much food, buffet was really only during breakfast and I wonder if that's probably just because of COVID. The food was excellent! They were so accommodating with my gluten sensitivity, even at the Italian restaurant! Sergio was by far my favorite, leading activities. He got to know everyone's name that was staying there the week we were there, and I felt that was a nice touch. Raquel, my masseuse, at Aura was off the hook!! Best massage I've ever received!!! I typically don't make it a habit of returning to places I've already been to, but I will definitely have to come back! read more

Panama Jack Gran Porto - Resorts Near Me - Playa del Carmen, ROO

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Great location and weather. We have had so much fun eating and swimming and the sites around the area were amazing. Definitely go to the spa!!! The Aura Spa has some amazing massages. My wife and I got a couples massage. I got a hot rocks massage. If you want to do that, ask for Raquel. She was amazing. My wife got a relaxing massage. Citlaly was her therapist and was also incredible. We will definitely come back just for the massages!! read more

All inclusive = cheap tequila & well drinks, and quite possibly the worst food I've had on vacation in years. Beautiful hotel though, good staff, but pushy reps everywhere. They have loud speakers playing music you hear at your gym from 10am-9pm at the damn pool. Far from relaxing. If you are unlucky enough to get a room inside , then get ready for more shitty loud music until midnight. The seaweed makes the beach unusable. They have friggin Bulldozers moving seaweed from the beach. This is due to global warming , so it's more than they have ever seen, and may not be as temporary as before. There's so many people going over to Cozumel for a real beach experience/ day trip. That was our highlight actually. Why are so many people leaving Playa huh? This is not worth the $. Panama Jacks Brazilian steak house was the worst steak I've had in years too. Free meal and it's an empty restaurant at 6pm. The breakfast bar is gross, even their eggs are even the kind you get at a Shoneys or all you can eat buffet. Go to Cozumel. That's where they take everyone who comes to Playa anyways. Ferries crossing over from 7am to 10pm why ? Panama Jack & the beaches in Playa sucks now. If you run out of sunscreen don't worry , Panama Jack is there to charge you $20 usd for 1 suntan lotion. Look at air bnb in Cozumel , compare that to the bullshit Panama Jack offers , a d your stay is half the price with a real beach. There's no beach left in Playa really. Just sandbags everywhere. They lost 20 feet of shoreline a couple years ago from one storm. Save your $ read more

We had a wonderful experience. The food was amazing at each restaurant and unique. We had so many positive experiences with many different employees. We would come back here. read more

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lovely resort with attentive staff. Things were clean, like beyond clean. Food was delicious but remember to make a reservation, they will give you the business even if the restaurant is near empty. Only real complaint was the construction. We really didn't expect to pay this much for a beach walk out to listen to constant loud hammering every time we went back to the room or tried to relax in our cabana by the pool. A little disappointed. read more

I will recommend this resort, modern looking and a great staff plus you walk out the front and shopping begins read more

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We disliked this resort very much. Food was not good. You know it's not great when you stay at an all inclusive and you go off the resort to eat. There are sandbags that are on the beach. They look horrible and if you want to get into the water you have to climb over them which isn't easy because they are covered in slim. The pictures of the beach on website are extremely misleading and show pics of a beach without sandbags. Lots of seaweed and because of that, it smelled. Don't stay near the lobby, loud at night. Soliciting in the area is OUT OF CONTROL! read more

We have stayed at the Gran Porto Real a total of three times now, and I expect that we will continue to stay here again in the future. Recently, the Gran Porto has received quite the makeover and has become the Panama Jack Resorts Playa del Carmen. There have been numerous upgrades to the restaurants, facilities, and the suites. What was once a very pleasant all inclusive hotel on the main thoroughfare of Playa Del Carmen as become one of the best, and most affordable hotels to stay at in the central area. Is the Panama Jack Resorts Playa del Carmen a 5 star resort with Michelin Star chefs available at your beck and call 24 hours a day? No, but you really need that? Stay here for a relaxing time, where you have nothing to worry about. No questions as to what to do, except for relax. The menu offerings from the variety of restaurants are extensive, you're bound to find something that you enjoy. The bartenders are prompt, and if you're a pleasant person with a keen eye, you can turn your standard margarita into a top shelf one by simply asking. The rooms are impeccably clean, and with the recent updates offer numerous USB chargers to power your various devices and cameras, so you can assure you never miss a moment. I'd like to take a moment to commend one particular member of the staff, Cesar. He works with the entertainment during the day by the pool and makes sure that everyone feels welcome, included, and is having a good time. Cesar has made our trip to Panama Jack Resorts Playa del Carmen awesome each and every time. We had not visited the resort in a little less than two years, but he remembered both my wife and I. TWO YEARS! Cesar must meet thousands of people over the course of just a few months, but we were remembered, and welcomed like friends. That is simply incredible. In all truth I was shocked that he was still a member of the entertainment staff, if I were working in the corporate side of the resort I would be trying to figure out how to promote him to a level of brand ambassador for the resort, or director of first impressions. The man deserves a title, a promotion, and a healthy raise. But I digress. My wife and I have stayed in many hotels in Playa Del Carmen and Cozumel, but have not found any other hotel that offers the value, the level of service, or the A+ experience that The Panama Jack Resorts Playa del Carmen does. We enjoy the fact that it's a smaller hotel rather than one of those behemoth resorts. If you're looking for a disneyland by the beach, this isn't your place... If you're looking for a place where you can lay by the pool, and not worry about silly things then the Panama Jack Resorts Playa del Carmen might just be your speed and your choice for a great vacation. read more

Absolutely best week ever - it's our second time this year and it's always wonderful. The best is always Carlos - our pool director! He's engaging and extremely talented - very friendly & extremely polite! We live the spacious rooms and excellent service! Food is wonderful! read more

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Excellent value, somebody said that there's no swim up bar but apparently they didn't look very hard there is a second pool upstairs, I liked it better because there were no kids screaming. Food was great, 24/7 snack room that rivals most restaurants, Beach was a little rocky but 45 second walk was just Clear Blue Sand Beach. Definitely recommend, don't listen to these other DB's read more

Just got back from five days at Panama Jack. It is on the smaller side, but we actually liked that. You could be at the pool and run to the room and back in five minutes if you forgot something. The food was very good. There are only a few restaurants -and one of them was closed due to renovation or something - but the others were very enjoyable. The staff there is fantastic. They keep the place very clean and help with anything you request. This place is definitely geared toward families with smaller children. At times, it seemed like there were more kids there than adults. Our 18 and 20 year olds didn't have too many kids there in their age range, but they still enjoyed several of the hotel activities. Big, big negative for us was the way the hotel pressures you with timeshare purchases. They called our room a couple of times saying they had a welcome gift for us and tried to get us to come down to the lobby and chat with them. We finally had to complain to the front desk to get the calls to stop. At any given time, there were 7-9 time share salespeople patrolling the lobby -and it was difficult to get from the elevator to the pool without someone trying to get your attention. One final perk of this place is the location - just 100 yards or so from the crazy-busy 5th Avenue - which is a tourist trap, for sure... but still worth a visit. All in all, a pretty good place to consider, especially if you have kids. Just avoid the lobby! read more

Okay so here is the deal my partner and I arrived at this hotel in which we paid in full via Expedia. They tried to charge additional resort fee. They showcase even on their own television loop drinks as you enter resort. This was NOT the case. After spending 1.5 hours they were unable to settle and we paid the resort fee. Expedia refunded me the money but based on this first impression i felt it to be worthy of one star. The food is just okay not like a video showcasing this hotel from a travel blogger we follow. The beach is non existent but from what I've understood 20-30 feet has been eroded into the ocean over the last two years the sea kelp has taken full bloom and there's TONS i mean you can not even walk into the ocean. Some parts smell like dying rotting fish. The drinks are watered down and the alcohol is cheap. They don't make it using top shelf unless you ask. While the wait for the room they switched rooms realizing they input the incorrect room and switched us to the correct room, maybe the only great thing we experienced during that frustration. They do not give you a map of the hotel or restaurants. It says there's 10 on the website but actually only 4. The others are bar food. If you have been to an all inclusive with buffet you'd be disappointed to the 24 hour buffet. It's small with only two assortments of food. It's not even worth eating. The room seems nice and current. Without a map you feel lost. They try to sell you things constantly, like time shares. Also, reading reviews it says the service was great but we found the service almost non existent. Nobody was able to help or acted like they wanted to (maybe because we were frustrated with them when we checked in?) all in all. I'd save my money. Book an Airbnb and eat locally. Saving myself. THOUSANDS of dollars We booked several extracurricular activities via BD travel @ Panama Jacks PDC . Marisa was very nice in assisting us on looking at activities to do. She seemed quite genuine and gave us a great experience in doing so. She compelled my partner and I to book several excursions. She offered us a multi excursion-discount at 20% Off. (At the end of the day- our discount was only 10%) First experience was sold as Tulum and Xel-Ha. Two excursions. We paid 150$ usd. Our driver was over 30 minutes late to pick us up at the hotel. We were told it was a 45 minute tour 15 mins from Xel-Ha to experience Tulum. We arrived at 7am to the lobby. They picked up at 8am. We arrived around 9am. We wet to Tulum for 2 hours and got back about 12pm. We had only 6 hours to experience xel-ha. Second, we booked an all day luxury catamaran tour from Cancun to isla mujeres with snorkeling all inclusive beverages and food. We arrived to find that everyone who also booked this excursion from our hotel was on a different boat, we boarded the most basic non luxury catamaran. I approached the captain and he said the nicer boats were more money for people who spent over 65$. We paid 100$ each. So by the time he told us to get off the boat after showing him the receipt. He said if we didn't get on- we would not go out at all. The snorkeling was basic. No reef, was in the water less than 20 mins Bc too many other boats and strong currents. The food was very basic and buffet style At isla mujeres also they had no cups to drink from. So we made do and used soup bowls. They came to the table and said we are welcome and encouraged to leave tips. Oh hell no, We arrived at isla mujeres and rented a golf car and toured the island. When we arrived back the leader for the boat told us "i have bad news" he said that we were missing our transport home if we didn't board another vessel (they picked up additional people cutting into the snorkel time told to us) we grabbed our belongings boarded the correct style-ship and went back to port in Cancun. As we arrived we found the people very unhelpful. We finally found someone who said the transport left. She called them and they came back to get us- while on our ride. Our van got a flat tire. Delaying us home until 9pm. We spoke to several people who were on the cheap catamaran and they all paid about 22$. We paid 100$ same as everyone on the bus. Everyone on the bus was on the same boat except us. Weird right?! We asked. They paid the same as us. NEVER BOOK W THEM OR TEAM ALBATROSS. read more

We have stayed at their other property in Cancun and this one pales in comparison. Our first night the food was cold buffet style outdoors. Everything was over fried and stale tasting. Our margaritas tasted a bit metallic. Didn't finish them. Our room was supposed to be ocean side, but it's more like "over the kiddie playground." A small sliver of ocean can be seen if you squint through trees and partial buildings. Walking down to the beach was tricky if you go from the parking lot. The stairs were rotted away and missing boards entirely. Next year we will go back to Cancun where the margaritas are exquisite and the tacos are mouth watering. Or perhaps Hawaii? Second night update: chose the Brazilian steakhouse. Service was top notch but the food was just ok. It's not on par with Fogo de Chao or other high end Brazilian steak houses where the meat is sliced thin and rare to medium. The chorizo was quite dry as if it were a dried chorizo rehydrated and impaled on a stick. At least this place has decent coffee in the morning or I'd never have the energy to walk the avenues for better food. What's up with the NOISE at night? Street noise, crappy drunk hotel room neighbors who screech at the top of their lungs while riding the luggage cart down the stone hallways at midnight. Who raised these people? The spa hostess was very sweet and accommodated my son who was sick with a cold. Even though his facial and massage was scheduled for the following day she let him steam and it helped him feel well enough for dinner out. Thank you! read more

My friend booked our room. I read that some resorts book you in the back and say your room isn't ready in hopes you upgrade. That exactly happened to us. We checked in and they told us that we could upgrade to an ocean view. We didn't fall for it. We checked into our room and it was next to the air conditioning system which was so loud. We told them that it was very disruptive and they upgraded us with half the charge they wanted us to pay in the beginning and we had a nice ocean view. The other problem we had was the water in the room was rarely hot. It was somewhat warm and I called the main line and they told us that since they are super busy, the hot water runs out fast which I find troubling because I don't think I need to schedule my shower times in hopes to get warm water? The resort was very nice. The food at the restaurants were very delicious. The friendliness of the staff was amazing and anytime we needed a taxi, they were ready. The performances every evening were highlights of our stay at Gran Porto. What I really like about this place is the location. I like how it is not secluded and isolated like other resorts are because my friend and I were able to walk to the mall and walk around. It was nice to not rely on a taxi to get everywhere. read more

Definitely one of the better all inclusive sushi in playa especially if you want to be close to town. Food is eh but it's just your typical all in clusive food. Great for kids and big groups. Definitely one of the best beaches around! read more

If you are gonna go to Mexico, then don't do all inclusive and most certainly do not get ripped off by this place. My sister had our whole family come out and had her wedding at the resort, and I think we paid 1200 a room for all inclusive for 5 days. Being with family was fantastic and naturally we wanted to stick around and hang with all them. Seeing that everything was all inclusive it motivates you to save money by sticking around the resort for meals - big mistake. OK So there are like 5 restaurants in the resort. The food was the main reason for my poor rating. Let me start by saying that their Mexican food restaurant in the resort was by far the WORST Mexican food restaurant I have ever eaten at... period - and this wasn't just my decision it was the entire family. And we were in MEXICO ?!?!?!?! OK the Sushi spot served nothing but rice rolls with some meat in the middle and pretty sure got my lady and I sick, the Brazilian spot had dried out overcooked meat with like two side choices, and the buffet was something else. To get tortillas you had to ask for them and the lady called the manager because I wanted 6 tortillas to make tacos with the shrimp they were serving - so let me rephrase - I am here in MEXICO asking for TORTILLAS and being given a hard time. They had a whole area where there's bread and cold cuts to make sandwiches. Guys, I am in MEXICO I don't want to eat your crappy version of my countries food. The burgers at the pool were on the same level. So in conclusion the food was sub par quality, gave us bubble guts the entire time at the resort. After these 5 days we went and stayed in an AirBNB down in Tulum and ate all of our meals from Restaurants and Taco stands on the street, and my digestive system health could not have been better. Whatever you guys are doing up there you are doing it wrong. The food is the worst I've ever had at a major resort, especially the food that is native to your country. How did you mess that one up? I know it wasn't the staff's fault beacuse they were all awesome. The live music was decent but was always cut short and ended early. No fun. The one half plus was the location. It was great staying on the beach, but I swear they picked the most jagged, rocky, un-swimmable area on the Yucatan Peninsula. We took out stand up paddle boards and came back with cuts all over our feet and I banged up my hip jumping off. Your better off taking a taxi to a nice beach - which is something that is not included in the "all inclusive". The pool closed at 9pm which left absolutely nothing to do but drink alcohol for night life at the resort. Getting out into Playa was great fun - something the resort had no contribution with whatsoever. If you come to Mexico, stay at any of the extremely hospitable hotels in the area and go out to eat, find your own activities, and spend a 1/3 of what that place costs, and take in five times the amount of what Mexico has to offer. Our three days after Panama Jack's in Mexico were amazing and completely made our trip. If this was the whole trip it would have been a total bust overall. The room itself was nice and the cleaning service was nice, drinks weren't bad (where are mixed drinks or beers not good) and so was the hotel our friends got down the street and paid 60 USD per night for. The package they sell is not worth it by any means. When a beer is 30 pesos from a normal place, I can't justify blowing 1200 bucks to include that 30 peso beer with a crappy beach and even crappier food and restaurants. You can tell they charge as much as possible and then get things done at the cheapest possible amount cutting any corner they can. Be a real traveler!!! Stay away from rip offs like this one and get out and see Mexico. Go visit the youngster running a ground stash around the corner if you really wanna spice it up - yet again something that can be experienced outside of wasting a good chunk of money on half-assed restaurants and beaches. read more

My family stayed in a condo in Akumal, a much quieter beach town compared to Playa del Carmen, but my wife had some cousins stay at Panama Jack's mainly due to time share restrictions. As other reviewers have noted, this resort is older and rebranded. We took a collectivo to Playa to visit them for the day. This resort is fairly small and while I suppose you could stay in it your whole trip, it would mainly mean staying around the pool as the beach area is too covered with seaweed to make it worth the trouble. Food was decent, though dinner was the best meal I had while there. The only beer served was Dos Equis, which as an avid beer drinker, made me switch to cocktails. Staff were generally friendly, though a bit understaffed in places, especially poolside wait staff. Save your dollars and go somewhere else. read more

This is an amazing resort! Can't even express the amount of fun my family had at this resort. The food was excellent and the drinks were great considering it's included. The best parts were definitely the employee's being so respectful and fun, and the pool activity's were the best! The only thing is that the COVID-19 test PROCESS was stressful and a little confusing. Overall Its a beautiful resort, the experience is great and I would definitely recommend!! read more

Excellent hotel, excellente service, wow, I can't wait to go back. The hotel is like a block away from the 5th Ave ("Quinta Avenida") where there's a lot of stores and restaurants. Even though I don't think you need to go to other restaurants because honestly, the ones in the hotel are excellent, with fresh food every single day and excellent service which I don't think you will get with the other restaurants from the "5 avenida". Plus you get to eat all you want from the hotel restaurants. We were only able to try 2 of the 4 restaurants in the hotel because the other 2 were close (due to construction) but it really didn't matter for us because the Italian and the Mexican restaurants were awesome. They also had a coffee shop, a snack station (with fruit, wings, etc) and a BBQ by the swimming pool. Everything was excellent and we can't wait to go back !!! The hotel also has activities during the day and night. You can always find great deals around the year, October and November usually is low season. The only issue about the hotel is that in the morning there's no hot water in the shower. They try to sell you part of the timeshare so they right away tell you that they have a gift for you, that it would only take about 15 minutes of your time because they are going to go over all the events that the hotel has. I was trying to avoid them for a few days until I told them that I was not interested at all, after that, they left me alone but they didn't like it when I told them that I was not going. read more

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I stayed at Panama Jack on a business trip and it was a terrible experience. DO NOT stay at this hotel - it's horrible. It's all inclusive and the food there is bad to say the least. The only thing I ate that was ok was a doughnut at their coffee shop. The meals were simply so bad we went out for all our meals after the first day. Problems with my room: water leak on the bathroom floor, cleaning supplies left in the room when I arrived, music playing outside on the street (not their fault but an issue with the location), and the room door doesn't seal off so you can hear everyone walking in the hallway and making noise when you want to sleep. Positives with the room: they are large and spacious. Hotel staff: I had to stay at another hotel for meetings the night before I departed. I went back to Panama Jack to meet up with two of my employees as our shuttle was leaving from the hotel. Upon arriving, Alfredo and Natalia told me I could not go past the lobby - understandable as it's all inclusive and I was no longer a guest. They then said I could not sit in the lobby. I explained that I had colleagues I was waiting for and that I had just stayed in the hotel the day before (not to mention we had just paid for a conference room at the hotel for the previous 4 days). After spending significant money with this bad hotel, they kicked me out of the lobby and made me wait outside in the hot sun. I couldn't believe how they treated me - never been treated like that before. Other staff members were friendly, but I couldn't believe these two kicked me out. Bad hotel, horrible food, bad rooms, rude staff, poor service. Do not stay at this hotel. read more

Had the Best stay at Panama Jack Gran Porto Resort!!! We have also stayed at Panama Jack in Cancun and both resorts are beautiful, all the staff is amazing but there were a few that went above and beyond to make our stay unforgettable.. want to recognize and thank Jenifer, Jose, and Jesus (lobby)!!! You three are the best!!! Gracias para todoUntil next time!! read more

We came down in March to escape a rough winter, it was our first trip to Mexico. Upon arrival at Panama Jacks we were greeted by friendly staff, and presented a cold mango treat as we checked into the resort. The bellman, Freddie saw I finished my treat and was looking for a trash can, he came all of the way across the lobby and into the check in room to help me, I was impressed and that was our first 10 minutes there. Our friends had booked us beach front rooms that were really nice, we had our own hammock, on our patio. We never had any problems with beach-goers, we played cards on the patio and Pablo stopped by to bring us some cocktails. The room service was excellent, we left a tip every day and were greeted with new towel animals, bottles of water, snacks, they also brought us extra hangers for our clothes. I called the front desk twice, once for a clogged toilet and once for a smoke detector that started chirping late at night. Both times someone was there FAST, was friendly, fixed the problem and was gone with no problems. We enjoyed David and Jorge at the main bar and Fonzie at the beach bar, both gave excellent service. Poolside Liliana was awesome as well keeping us in fresh drinks. Every morning Fernandia would greet and seat us with a smile for the breakfast buffet. There is something for everyone there food wise. Abraham would stop by and check on us, chat and help us with our Spanish. He was really kind to us and made us feel welcome. The gal at the egg station knew how I liked my eggs and set me up! Lunch was casual the buffet had a nice selection to choose from. We usually strolled to a restaurant outside of the resort for dinner. The entertainment at the resort was better than we expected, we were all four impressed with the QUEEN rock and roll show. We were celebrating our friends birthday and we ran into Kevin the concierge at the beach bar, he offered to set up a dinner on the beach for the next night. I also asked if he could get a bottle of liquor to our room that the bar didn't stock. Well by 2 the next day we did not receive the bottle so I went to front desk and asked for Kevin. It was his day off... I explained to the staff at front desk and they scrambled nicely to set things right. The bottle showed up shortly to the room and we had a nice dinner thanks to chef Luis and Israel. They clearly didn't get the instructions about our requests for dinner, (not their fault) as they brought us a TON of food. They did great for being in a pinch and figured more was better. Luckily we were eating dinner on a beach, it's hard to complain about anything knowing it's 10F below zero back home. We all agreed we would go back, is was a good value, fun, super friendly, clean, and small enough that you got to know the other guests and staff. The staff was AWESOME, we really did not experience a negative person. We spent most of the week just enjoying the resort and relaxing, it was great! Thanks, PJ's! -Kate, Michelle, Vickie, and Pablito read more

I have traveled to Playa del Carmen for over 8 times I have never stayed at the same resort. But I have to say out of all those times I've been out there this had been the best experience ever! And it was all because of the amazing staff! I will never forget Sebastian he works at the Brazilian steak house we kept returning to have dinner there because it was delicious, staff was great and Sebastian service was over the top! We celebrated my friends birthday and he assured to make her feel special the staff came to sing happy birthday with a special dessert. Elias from off the hook sushi was another person we won't forget he made us a delicious coptel before our sushi came out very attentive he really wanted to get to know us and ensure he provided the best service! His partners Fabian and aurelio were also great! Customer service is key everyone at this resort was very attentive, friendly, happy! The food was very delicious never got sick. Amenities were amazing massage on the beach and spa day was great! I will definitely be returning to this resort on my next trip because it was very memorable and the treatment Is unmatched. Thank you so much for an unforgettable trip Panama Jack staff! read more

We stayed here for a week Jan 29 - feb 5 2018. This was my husbands first trip to Mexico and my first time in Playa del Carmen. The resort..... great service, very friendly staff and immaculately clean. The resort was absolutely beautiful. Loved the decor and the bed was super comfy.. The beach was gorgeous however the water was very shallow (waist deep at best). We had a oceanfront suite and the view was amazing. I wish we could have slept a night or 2 with the door open to listen to the waves while we slept, but the locals prevented that from happening. Every night they were on the beach partying, screaming, yelling, singing, dancing and beating on buckets, etc, sometimes as late as 6 am! Food and drinks..... The food was edible but lacking in flavor and spice. If your looking to enjoy a few adult beverages and have a nice buzz I wish you the best of luck. I am a very light drinker, 2 margaritas typically give me a good buzz-slightly drunk. I drank 8-10 and was still stone cold sober. My husband drinks strictly beer and he switched to liquor and couldn't even catch a buzz off of jack & coke. However, I don't think this was strictly a resort issue, as we had drinks off the resort as well with the same result. The area.... 5th ave has some great little shops and you can get some great deals. You need to prepare yourself before going there. Take only what is essential as lots of people attempt to get close to pick-pocket. You will also get offered about every 10 feet "weed, blow, wanna party?" We were so glad that we didn't bring our 5 year old son on this vacation. We did discover that going north on 5th had a lot less hassles and thugs as going south did. North was a much better experience. We also took excursions to Xplor & Xcaret in playa del Carmen. Both were great, so much fun and amazing experiences for us. We also took the ferry to Cozumel and went to Playa Mia beach club. This was also a great little day trip. I would give the entire trip a 2.5 out of 5 stars. My husband has said that because of the bad parts of the trip he has no desire to go back to Mexico. I guess we will try the Bahamas next time. read more

We were checked in to a room torn apart with maintenance working in the room. We were quickly moved to another room that the countertop and mini bar were covered in ants. They sent someone out equipped with a rag and a can of Raid. Spraying just made the situation worse and we had to request to move rooms. Third room - adjoining door not locked that required an employee key. The adjoining room was easily accessible and made the level of security very questionable. Patio lights didn't work and Took maintenance two visits to fix. Food is not good! The 24 hour "restaurant" consists of appetizers that have been sitting out for who knows how long and the place smells like old sandwich meat. After only half a day, we tried to check out. The "manager on duty" couldn't do anything other than tell me to talk to his manager at 9am. I mean absolutely nothing. When we were moved the third time we asked if he could upgrade us or do anything for the inconveniences. Answer: talk to my manager at 9am. After seeing the condition of the third room and seeing how run down the rest of the property is, we just wanted out. I asked if we departed after one night what is the early departure policy. Answer: talk to my manager at 9am. Absolutely frustrating experience with lots of inconveniences!! The staff has no desire to provide good service to their guests. Property is dirty with plates and cups left everywhere. It is unappealing and unpleasant. read more

The overall experience at Panama Jacks was ok I would love to say great however I am Hispanic and you can tell the difference of service you receive my mom was standing in line one day to get some ice cream she arrived first however the women that was working there preferred to service the American women behind my mom. The American women told the women my mom was first and she still serviced them first. It's such a shame because I see it often times in which our own people discriminate against our own! Shame on you we paid to stay at the same place the American women did and we deserve the same level of service. Aside from that experience I liked the hotel it was clean all thought the stench of the gulfweed I think the hotel does it's effort to make it make it comfortable. Room service was a challenge one day my husband had to just walk downstairs because the never picked up so we only ordered it once after that we don't normally get room service anyways but I did hear a couple of people complain about it. The food was good we mostly ate at ventanas liked that we had lots of options. Panama jacks has good people working there with some that aren't all that great but to those that are lovely thank you for your service. I enjoyed the Paella and the Sangria kuddos for that Panama Jack read more