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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: lovemysxm]
#21750
08/08/2013 02:32 PM
08/08/2013 02:32 PM
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 721
jiminboston
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 721
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lovemysxm said: We have stayed at Club O many times and will be back again in November but are considering Hidden Beach late October for a special occasion and something different. Anybody been recently who could provide current conditions. Quality of rooms, food, is the pool heated etc. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks We are regulars (multiple times a year) at Club O but have visited Hidden Beach a couple of times. Last time was in 2007 so our views may be a bit dated. The rooms are good (on the first floor they have direct access to the rather extended pool. The staff is really outstanding: friendly and eager to help. They make you feel at home. The bar is good, and it takes some self control to avoid drinking way too much. (I realize that most of us want to drink a bit too much). The pool is nice, but the long arms are too narrow and too shallow to get much of a workout. The food is actually quite good, and the dress code is totally absent (that is, in my opinion, good). The negative and the reason we keep coming back to Club O is that there is no meaningful access to the sea. That is, the beach is really well hidden, so you can't really swim in the ocean. But for that fact we would be more frequent customers at HB.
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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: lovemysxm]
#21751
08/08/2013 03:51 PM
08/08/2013 03:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 14
ndendei
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 14
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We were there just this past May. We've never been to SXM, so can't really compare it to Club Orient. But we found the overall quality of Hidden Beach to be excellent. It's really a place to go to pamper yourself. Expensive, but worth the money. The rooms are top notch. We had a swim up, and are glad we paid extra for it.
From other reviews, I've read the pool is heated in the winter, but sparingly in the spring. There are two large outdoor hot tubs. We found the food to be very good. There are lots of options, particularly when you figure you have access to all the restaurants at the sister resort next door. And the cooks, we found out, will make you just about anything, even if it's not on the menu. My favorite was to order a big plate of Yucatec-style "Huevos Motulenos" for breakfast, which the staff would then bring to me on my beach bed, with coffee. It's a nice way to wake up, that's frighteningly easy to get used to.
Lots of potential activities in the area (e.g.- Tulum, cenote trips, nude catamaran cruise), and a lot of potential to do absolutely nothing, and have Esmerelda bring you drinks on the beach. And speaking of Esmerelda- the staff is the real gem of Hidden Beach. They'll learn your name (and drink preferences) the first day, and then absolutely bend over backwards to make sure you stay happy and well fed.
The beach is probably about 300 meters long- it is coarse, corally sand- it's true you can't swim in the ocean right in front of the resort (it's about knee deep and rocky), but there are beautiful beach palapas to lay in and feel the "devastating" effects of sand gravity setting in. If you need to swim in the ocean, or take LONG walks down the beach, you can go next door.
We would do beach in the morning, and then pool in the afternoon (decisions, decisions). I actually found the width of the "arms" of the pool to be great for doing laps in in the mornings (they're wider than a typical pool lap lane). It's great to walk nude out your door for 5 steps, jump in the pool, and swim. The swim up pool bar is WONDERFUL, and is the center of afternoon social activity. There are about 3 very lively water volleyball games in the afternoon. Excellent drinks, excellent bar service. Snacks anytime- it's all included.
Finally, there is a VERY NICE spa a short walk outside the resort, that opens up to au naturel use on Sundays at 5.
Hope that helps!
Last edited by ndendei; 08/08/2013 08:22 PM.
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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: Udaman]
#21752
08/08/2013 06:16 PM
08/08/2013 06:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 130
chazo
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 130
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Udaman said: Groupon.com is offering a 40% discount and it is all inclusive, check it out. Lloyd Hidden Beach as a Groupon! What is the world coming to?
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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: kubotaman]
#21755
08/13/2013 08:51 PM
08/13/2013 08:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,341 South East US, Carolinas coast
sailn
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,341
South East US, Carolinas coast
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I actually like HB better than club O, as it has a pool, and nice (free) all inclusive restaurants that serve 3 meals a day , and have free room service including deserts and drinks. big hot tub in each room.. the beach side palapas (sp) are relaxing. They had a free bus to playa del carmen to an underground restaurant one night. the tour guide/arranger there at HB when we asked to go to Coba by car (a partially uncovered Mayan ruin google it) wanted us to pay the day before , so he could order a car from Cancun !!!!!! more than an hour away. Crazy to me. The weather had been iffy, and that week some folks at HB had paid for a group catamaran snorkel trip, and it rained like never before all day- no refunds-no changes- they spent the trip inside the boat, which actually went out in the driving rain. I learned there is no spanish language translation for "refund" or "reschedule". Same in central and South America. So -- I went to the sister hotel next morning (weather looked great) and asked the concierge (sp) for an all day private cab to Coba- He said no problem, $125 with a driver and a radio, take us there, wait, bring us back. Great!! Beach at HB is not good tho. whats the hotel next door name? Eldorado??
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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: rockhill]
#21762
08/30/2013 10:43 AM
08/30/2013 10:43 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475 PDC, Mexico
bugambilias
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 475
PDC, Mexico
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rockhill said: We have booked our first visit to Hidden Beach for next February. Very much looking forward to the visit with one concern. The only negative thing I have read consistently is the temperature of the pool. All things being relative, is it really that cold? Do you know what water temperature they try and keep the pool?
Thanks We live close to Hidden Beach during the winter and go often. Last February it was quite warm. An estimate would be 28°. Maybe we will see you and LoveMySXM there.
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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: chazo]
#21765
11/22/2013 02:10 AM
11/22/2013 02:10 AM
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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They need a Groupon. I put in for a summer week in the cheapest room and it 2400.00. Hit the next button and it was over $5000.00. price was per person. U cant eat or drink enough for that ever to be a good deal.
Club O ain't cheap, but HBR is way over priced in my book. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/cloud.gif" alt="" />
That groupon would have to make it cost competitive with club O. At worst, all inclusive should be a $100/day impact
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Re: Hidden Beach
[Re: bugambilias]
#21767
01/06/2014 10:01 AM
01/06/2014 10:01 AM
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 182 North Texas
rockhill
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 182
North Texas
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bugambilias said: Ride Share Offer To HBR from Playa and return Day pass 8a to 7p 11 January, 2014 Do not need the ride share but the post did prompt a question, Do they issue many day passes? It seems they are totally booked Valentines weekend which will put pressure on lounge chairs/beach beds availability. Day passes would certainly add to that pressure. Any insight along those lines? Thanks
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