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Occidental Allegro Cozumel Hotel & Beach Club Hotel Reviews
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Comments: my husband and I, son and wife, nephew and wife spent one
delightful week (Jan 17-24) at the Allegro Cozumel. Our rooms were smallish,
but comfortable, clean, and pleasant. we only used it to change and sleep.
The houses/rooms were attractive, grounds well landscaped, and activities
plentiful.

The Buffet was not gourmet, but well prepared and excellent.Aqua Snack Bar
always had something we could enjoy at lunch. The two restaurants were very
good.

Both "relaxation" and "activities" pool were delightful, never crowded,
plenty of lounge chairs and tiki umbrellas. Staff on all levels was
responsive to our needs, and friendly. At some point some or all of us used
the beach (delightful), snorkeling, scuba,and deep-sea fishing tours. All
were great. The place is not luxary, on a scale of 1-10 I'd rate a 7-8.
We are planning to return there with our whole family (14) in the Fall.

Comments: Just returned from 1 weeks stay at Allegro (2/7-2/14) 4 adults and we really liked the resort. The only downside I thought were the rooms. They were clean but in bad need of updatiing. Everything worked but just appeared old and beat up. We had no stopper in our sink and the lighting was poor in the bathroom.No bugs or lizards in the rooms are reported by some. Maybe being there in the winter is different than the summer as far as the complaints of bugs and heat in the buffet area.
The staff was very friendly and cared if you were having a good time. Food was good, but did get tiring after 1 week, but I always get tired of eating out that long.
Overall good place to go.

Comments: A group of five friends all spent a week at the Allegro in early February.  I arranged the bookings and was a little nervous about the many negative comments I've heard about the place, but we thought it would be worth a shot given the attractive pricing we were offered.  We were all pleasantly surprised at the quality of the resort and all of us would return.

The Allegro is not without its drawbacks.  When we first saw our rooms we were all very disappointed.  They are very small and very plain.  The fixtures show wear and some areas in the bathrooms do have mold.  The beds are hard mattresses on a concrete foundation and all of us felt some back discomfort by the end of the week.  The tap water is not safe to drink and has a slight sulphur smell to it.  Room service was, however,, excellent and the rooms were kept clean by the staff.  Fresh towels and bottled water were supplied on a daily basis.  Some of the rooms have been renovated with fresh paint and new fixtures.  These are in the 5000 block near the dive shop.  All rooms should be renovated by the end of the year.

The grounds are beautiful and are being constantly tended to by the staff.  You will notice that sulphur smell around the grounds at times.  I was told that the smell is endemic to the island and comes from the soil and is in the groundwater.  The staff is amazingly friendly and everyone smiles and says hello.  In fact, the staff was much friendlier than the majority of guests we saw.  The only exception to this will be found at the front desk, where the staff seems to be all business.  I don't think I ever saw anyone at the front desk break a smile.

The all-inclusive buffet is a very good deal.  I've read several complaints about the food but, quite frankly, we all thought the food was great.  Not every dish will suit your tastes, but the variety is so impressive that you will always find some dishes that you like.  There's something for everyone, ranging from fruits and vegetables, to fish, pasta, and meat dishes.  One night we even had a Japanese theme and had some very decent sushi.  Desserts are always there for the taking.  We ate at the Mexican and Italian theme restaurants and found them to be as good as any good eatery in the States.  Service was always excellent.  We ate everything, had ice with our drinks, had salads with every meal, and no one had even the slightest hint of stomach problems.  It is safe to eat and drink here as long as you stay away from the tap water.

The Allegro has a wonderful smoothie bar which is open in the afternoon.  Smoothies became a part of our daily routine and I think we had more smoothies than alcohol.  The bars are good and are in several locations around the resort.  The beach area is large and smooth with plenty of beach chairs available.  Every night the beach is actually raked smooth by the staff, the chairs are arranged in rows, and the area is cleaned.  The water off the beach is clear and many fish swim by, but don't expect Bonaire like snorkeling in front of the hotel.  The snorkelers in our group had to take the snorkel tour to actually get to see the reefs.

We dove with Dive Palancar...the on site dive operator.  These guys are good, very good.  The Allegro is only minutes by boat from the Palancar reef so we were never on the boat for more than 10 minutes.  The boats return to the Allegro for the surface interval.  The DMs are all top notch and can find the most amazing critters.  Twice we saw Cozumel's unique Splendid Toadfish, an elusive target, and once a perfectly camouflaged Scorpionfish was spotted.  We also saw sharks, lobster, eels, groupers, and an endless variety of reef fish.  The boats are good and the group never was larger than 12 divers per boat...split into two groups of 6 with two DMs.

 The Allegro was at full capacity during our stay but we never felt rushed or crowded.  This is an active resort with pool and beach activities going on much of the day.  At night, there is a show put on by members of the staff.  The shows are fun but the loudspeakers are very loud.  If you go to sleep early you do not want a room near the lobby/main building area.  I would suggest that you bring along some bug repellent.  There are biting insects and a few of us are still scratching.

The Allegro is a beautiful resort featuring an excellent buffet and two very nice specialty restaurants.  (Limited to one visit each per stay).  The rooms are not very good but they are adequate.  A beautiful beach, a good dive op, and superb staff made for a wonderful vacation for all of us. I would recommend this resort for anyone looking for sand, sun, and fun.  I'd go back.

Comments: Visited the Allegro from 1/17-1/24, was a little hesitant because of some of the reviews. have no fear, the place is great ! the food is good the staff are friendly and very helpful. the pools are centrally located, clean. the dive shop is great. Do the pool scuba training at 9am the 1st day and you can scuba off the beach by the afternoon and be diving on reefs by the next day, I worked with Pablo and he was very accommidating even though i don't have and was not working on certification. the rooms are fine, not 5 star, but clean and no bugs. if you are going to spend the week in your room, go somewhere else.
If you like to eat, drink, meet lots of regular folks who like to laugh and let loose then the allegro is just fine.

Comments: My wife and I traveled to Cozumel five years prior and stayed in
the Allegro then also. I must say that almost everything was the same as
when we left it in 1998.Although when I read the reviews on this site before
we left, I was a little hesitant about it. We found everything to be just
fine. It seem that those who complainded are mostly people who are never
satisfied to begin with. First of all, when I go to a resort, the last thing
I want to do is spend all my time in the room. The room is for sleeping and
I dont mind if its a little under par. As long as its clean and made up
daily, who can complain. Second of all, if you get a chance to rent a car,
do it. We went to the east side of the Island and visited Coconuts and have
not stopped talking about it since. Our first time there we stayed at the
resort the whole time except for a trip to town. This message board let us
know about the otherside of the Island and were grateful to all who posted.
The breakfasts ar
e awsome as far as quanity and selection. How can someone screwup eggs? The
lunches we learned from our first trip, are very bland so we ate at the
poolbar, good american food always.Dinners are fine.Reservations for the 5
stars are a pain but worth it.The activites and entetainment are o.k. but I
prefered to be at the beach or by the pool most of the time. We are planning
another trip there in April of 2004 so dont be fooled by some, the Allegro
is a great place to stay and worth the little bit of money they charge.

Comments: This is a carbon copy of the Allegro in Playa del Carmen, even
down to the marginal food (stayed there 2 yrs ago). Got a great deal with 9
days advance booking, so why not..

Anyway, resort was clean, decent rooms (think Motel 6 basic) beds o.k.
(again, Motel 6 quality). We were there mid Nov and the resort was only 30%
full. This is only an issue when looking for food choices at the
restaurant, less people = less choices. As this was not my first trip to
Cozumel, and I dive, the expectation wat that we would only eat breakfast &
lunch on property. For this it was ok for 4 days, for any longer and lunch
would have been eaten elsewhere.

Get a car. The resort is quite a way from downtown and if you plan on going
out to eat once a day it's worth it. We rented from Executive at the
airport. If you email them, they usually have unadvertised specials with
insurance included - *****don't risk your safety on a scooter****** you have
been warned. Parking is free at the hotel. Another plus is this tidbit of
information - if you arrive on a charter flight, you can check-in ~2.5 hours
before the flight. So, get there early, check-in, and go back downtown for
that last minute meal or shopping. It's a 5-10 minute trip back to the
airport and you'll be thankful that you didn't have to spend 2.5 hrs in the
airport waiting with the masses.

Back to the hotel. The staff was great, the beach clean and quiet (not much
to see underwater), the hottub right off the beach nice, the pool
entertainment crew not too pushy, the bartenders only marginal (Manuel made
the best drinks). Would I stay there again - depends on the deal... The
nice thing was that all of the boat rides to the reef were less than 20
minutes max (maracabo). There are nicer places to stay closer to town - but
without the "resort" atmosphere. All depends on what your looking for.....

Comments: Details, details………………..
We got to Allegro, for check in, and I asked if we could get a fridge & upstairs closer to the water. He said he fridge, then looked at my reservation. My travel agent had asked for a fridge for me & I had also e-mailed “guest services” at the hotel asking for one. He then gets on the radio and says I get a fridge after all. Pretty handy to take a frozen bottle of water when ya head to the beach.
Rooms were just like I remembered them from years back, & I think the grounds are even nicer. We were in 5611.Good location and not as noisy as I expected………but to be honest, the whole place was normally quiet. Room was kept clean and always got 2 or 3 bottles of water per day.
Breakfast was always good. Didn’t make the buffet for lunch very often since the snack bar is so good & handy. Dinner buffet was always good also. Better than average A.I. food to us. Bring bug spray because the skeeters will get ya going to eat dinner at dusk.
We quickly learned to go to the steps on the left side to get up to the dinner buffet instead of the ramp where the time share guys ambush you.
Since one of us forgot to pack long pants for me, we never tried the reservations rest.
The beach was great & very clean. One time I looked from the water, & there were 2 other couples on the beach! One employee said the resort was at app. 50% capacity.
We hung out a lot in the “relaxation” pool a lot, and normally never had over 2 other people in the pool with us. Very nice.
My wife did the parasail thing, and said it was pretty good.
Made friends with a guy named “Philberto”. Look for him and tell him “the 2 big guys with the big cups” said Hi. He comes around picking up empty glasses in a white bucket.
Be friendly to him, and he’ll also bring drinks to you anywhere as he makes his rounds.
The couple traveling with us said everything was just about as nice as the Iberostar down the road.
Went to town a few times……….. $17.00 one way, but we usually waited in the Lobby & paired up with another couple going too.
Went to Mezcalito’s one evening. Cab from resort to Mezcalito’s (with a 1-1/2 hour drink break), and on around the south end of the island back to the resort + $45. Great since I don’t drive down there!
We always eat once at Pancho’s Backyard, but this was probably our last time. Every year, it seems the food isn’t quite as good, and the prices have really gone up. Probably because of the cruise ships. We bought a few shirts & trinkets, and it’s real obvious that prices really go down as ya get farther from the cruise ships.
 Drinks & snacks at Casa Dennis……………… always good.
I’m sure I’ll think of more……………..
Steve

Comments: Caught a last minute deal through Funject vacations with airfare and 7 nights for approximately $660 USD with all customs fees.  A lot of mixed reviews on this resort; however, we had no complaints in our selection.  The resort was operating at about 20% capacity and we were able to get in one of the buildings closest to the beach and a ground level floor.  The A/C worked perfect.  The grounds and beach are immaculate.  The rooms are a little old, but just fine if you plan on spending your time enjoying the island, beaches, water, etc.  The floors are all tile so it was perfect for walking in after a day of diving and tossing your gear onto the
floor.  We traveled with our 4 month old who got spoiled by the attention of the staff.  Very friendly staff overall.  On a couple of occasions the staff actually took turns holding and playing with our baby while we ate our meals.  Met a lot of great people staying there, primarily fellow Texans. 

Dove with the on site Dive
Shop Dive Palancar who provided excellent service.  They work with you to make sure you get to see as many dive sites as possible during your stay.  I never dove with more than 6 divers per DM and averaged about 4 divers per DM.  Trips to Punta Lagosta shopping center run $15 USD each way and it is well worth the trip to pick up soveneirs.  Overall very good weather except the day of departure in which it rained so hard that all walkways and even
the pools were underwater by 2-3 inches.  Beach snorkeling is not too impressive here; although there is a resident octopus on the east end of the beach.  Did see a barracuda that needed someone to play with a couple of times; as well as, an electric ray, stingrays, anemones, various small tropical fish, and even a 2 inch long scorpion fish.  Can't wait to get back to the island again.

Comments: O.K  this was our third time to cozumel and our first time at the allegro and did not like it as much as the other AL we have stayed at.  The allegro has a thing that if you stay at one you can play at all the resorts and they were working on the allegro in playa and shipping lots lots of kids you know like 14-20 over to play at our resort that was tooo much for our pools you could not see the bottom of one of the pools my husband took a scuba lesson in that pool and could not see the the guy giving the lesson.  We took our 6yr old little girl and she loved it and had no problems at all the staff was great! They played games 2times a day they had adult games and then they have a kids club that they would play games with the kids.  At night they had a show and my little girl thought it was great.  The room was very old and dirty the A/C did work but it would leak water all over the floor.  Some people we talked with their a/c did not work at all, we felt lucky our a/
 c worked.  The beach was great we would take bread out and feed the fish there were lots and lots it was fun.   over all we had a good time but I hear in sept. they will be doing lots of clean up and redoing.then it should be better we will try another place next time.

Comments: We just returned and look forward to going back soon.  We were very pleased with the resort.  My wife commented that it felt like a Disney resort in Orlando.  The room was a little small, but the king size bed wasn't.  My biggest complaint was that we could hear practically everything that happened in the room next to us, including the foul-mouthed parents screaming at their kids.  If we had been in the US we would have called CPS.  We really enjoyed the food and the staff was very friendly and helpful.  Although we weren't able to dive on this trip the proximity of the reefs will be a big deal for us on the next trip.  If you are looking for a quiet, romantic location, though, forget it.  There were lots and lots of noisy kids around the pools and on the beach.  If you don't mind children, and we don't, it is a wonderful place to spend a few days.  And, I can't say enough about the beach.  It was marvelous.  We hope to come back soon.  I thinke we'll ask for a grou
 nd floor room, though.  I believe part of the noise problem in the room was because the thatch left a lot of room for sound to travel.

Comments: I just returned from a one week vacation to the Occidental Allegro. The only thing I can say is I could not wait to get home. The rooms are equivilent to a motel 6. The rooms are horrible. Very small, the beds are cement slabs with a mattress on top and the batrooms are nasty. (rusty faucets etc.) Bugs in the rooms are a real problem. The staff is not very helpful and to get a drink it usually is at least a half hour wait at the bar. The soda tasted salty and there is no air conditioning anywhere except in your tiny room. If you are on a top floor be prepared to hear all you neighbors. The beach was nice and the food was alright, but if you need guest services forget about it. Guest services consists of a man that takes reservations for a 2 hour period twice a day, the problem, he actually helps people on average 15 minutes a day. We ran into several paeople waiting to make reservations with the same complaints. This is not a 5 star resort. I have been all over the
 Caribbean and Mexico and this is the only resort I would never return to. This is a low rate mess. Beware.

Comments: I was very pleased with our stay at the Allegro. The most beautiful beach, very friendly staff, immaculate grounds, rooms kind of small but fine, breakfasts were great -- other meals were below average but you could always find something good, never smelled any foul odors like some have said, never saw a single ant in the room like some have said.
I will say that this is not a Honeymooners resort...if you want quiet and romance, go somewhere like the Grand or a bed and breakfast. This is a fun, exciting resort with always something going on.
Also, we rented a car for the week and I would highly recommend that to anyone staying at an AI. It was nice to be able to get away for a couple of hours and see other people. *We reserved online with the Avis at the airport for $200 for the week incl. taxes and fees. I can't say enough good things about them, they were so helpful.

Comments: This was my husband's and mine 2nd trip to Cozumel. We celebrated our 40th Birthdays and 10 year Anniversary.This was our 1st to the Allegro. I read some of the reviews of the Allegro before we left and was a little nervous. We had a wonderful time! Our room was very compfortable and the air worked - had to turn it down at night. There were NO ants, NO mosquitos! The food was ok, breakfast at the buffet was the best. Never had lunch there, always ate at the snack bar by pool. Very good! The specialty restaurants were good. We did the moonlit dinner and that was by far the best steak and lobster! Very romantic. We did go to the other side of the island one day. Went to Chen Rios - Excellent beach and service ask for Carlos. Then on to Coconuts which the food was terrific!!!! Las Palmas downtown also excellent food and drinks. The hotel was exactly what we wanted to sit by the pool or beach, eat and drink and relax!!! The staff was very pleasant. You do need to pay at
 tention to the reservation rules for the restaurants - although I was able to make all 3 of mine at the same time - she made and exception. The other guests were so nice and we met alot of great people. Took a snorkel trip thru the hotel. We saw a nurse shark, eagle ray, sea turtle and a ton of cool fish. Other people who went diving that week said we saw more snorkeling than they did diving. I would recomment this hotel. We would definitely come back. You can't beat the price for all you can eat and drink! Ask for top shelf liquor in your drinks, they will!! Freddy at pool bar - very cool. Also a little tipping here and there goes a long way! Enjoy!

Comments: This was our second trip to the Allegro & are planning our third for next March already.  The beach is by far the best.  The grounds are beautiful, snorkeling can be done right off the beach, though a snorkel trip is great too.  The waiters, bartenders, maids & Activity staff were exceptional. we felt like we were leaving friends at the end of the week.  Some remembered us from the previous year.  Rooms need updating, which I understand is happening this summer.  If you have a problem, speak up & they will tend to it.  Remember, this is not the USA, quality of living is a little below ours, so don't set yourself up for disappointment.  These have been our best family vacations.

Comments: My wife and twin, 15 year old sons and I just got back from 7 days at the Allegro. We had a blast. This was our 3rd trip to Cozumel and our first at the Allegro. The Allegro is a typical 5 star all inclusive with all the amenities. To save time I will list my opinions and advice on the things we noticed that could help your stay at the Allegro.  Keep in mind, we had a great time and these points are subtle but could help your stay. I would definetely go back.

1. Bring your own cups. We brought four (4) huge plastic cups for the pool and beach area. The beer and pop are self serve at the bars and pool and the cups go fast. If you have your own your cup the bartenders will blend your drink and fill your cup.

2. There are plenty of sun chairs but around the Activities pool fills up first, especially the full sun side. If you have a preference of pool or beach location you can easily place a towel on those chairs in the morning to reserve. Depending on how we felt we would set up 4 chairs on the beach or either pool area and hang out all day. The beach is really nice, a bit warmer but really nice. The have cabana type shade huts on the beach.

3. The rooms are a bit small  for 4 adults but adequate. This is Mexico so no carpet and a bit humid but the AC worked well and ran all the time.  Most have a nice hammock on the balcony. We drink a lot of water so we left the maid  $1 a day and she made sure we had plenty of everything.

4. The tennis courts are awesome and they do have a Pro on staff for a free lesson once a week.

5. Bring plenty of $1 bills - we brought 75. A small tip with the bartenders or staff goes a long way.

6. The food was decent. It is a buffet but they always have a chef making something to order like omlettes or burgers or tacos. The food is fresh. The do mix it up daily. If you ate at the Old Country Buffet every day of the week for seven days - it is bound to get old.

7. The Specialty Restaurants - One Italian and one Mexican - They were both quite good and the change from the buffet was nice. Get your reservation in at 9am the day before you want to eat. Somewhat of a weird process but it works.

8. The free water sports gear is pretty good stuff and we used it all. They give lessons daily on the use of all of it - windsurfing, hobie cat, scuba, snorkeling, etc. The snorkeling at the beach was pretty cool for my boys. They took hot dogs from the snack bar at the pool and played with the fish for hours. They lured large schools of fish right up to shore. Pretty fun. A lot of different fish right there.

9. We went to town via taxi two evenings for dinner, drinks and gifts. It is very safe and fun. Don't go on Tues or Wed. because the Cruise ships are in town. Get dropped at Carlos and Charlie's, $17 for four people. Walk back a few blocks to see the real city shops and people. They
negotiate much more. La Choza restaurant is really good. Hook up with Manual at Senor' Frogs - he is a blast.

10. Snorkeling on the Columbia and Palanacar Reefs on the catamaran called the Manta with Rosta, Luis, Fernando and Gerldo was awesome. Set this up right at the Allegro, in the front, activities tent. See Moises.They pick you up off the Peir at the Allegro. Totally fun!

Staff was pleasant, minimal insects, room was fine, weather was great, beach is the best, iguanas  and salamandars a plenty

Email me if you want more info.

Comments: Hola!

We, my wife, myself and my 8 year old daughter, just returned from a 7 night stay at the Allegro.  We had an extremely wonderful time and sitting here in the grey, rain soaked city of Portland, OR, we can't wait to go back.  We will have no hesitations about staying at the Allegro when we finally set our mask, fins and snorkels into the crystal clear, bluegreen waters of Cozumel again.

Certainly, if one is looking to have a horrible time in paradise you can find that experience at the Allegro.  Yes the food can be a bit monotonous after a week, yes there can be a wafting smell of hydrogen sulfide in certain locations and at certain times, yes the rooms are a bit cozy, yes there are mosquitos and ants and iguanas on the property, yes you  can find criticism with the entertainment provided and yes, I suppose there will always be those in heaven who find scuff marks in the gold paved streets and believe they are in hell.  I must confess that I am a lucky man because my family went to have a great time and that is the experience that we came away with.

The grounds of the Allegro are very well maintained.  The staff is very friendly, helpful and accomodating.  The maid service was prompt, attentive, unobtrusive and efficient.  The activities provided were plentiful; organized games,  water sports equipment and the "mini-disco" mixer for the children every evening on the main stage.  (As a side note, the entertainment was average from my perspective but my daughter found it absolutely compelling, comedic, dramatic and engaging.)

The buffet breakfast and dinners were always good, what they lacked in creativity was made up for in quantity and availablity.  The quality was good and it looked to me that there was a choice there for everyone, from vegan to carnivore and if you went hungry or turned up your nose at the offerings, it was because that was your choice too.

The "speciality" restuarants were very good.  The reservation process, though a bit awkward, was easy to navigate and my advice is to decide what nights you want to treat yourselves to them and then go in and make all of your reservations at one time.  Seriously consider the Moonlight Dinner, yes they charge extra but the lobster was superb and the service was wonderful.  Caruso's, the Italian restuarant was excellent, plenty of choices and very good quality food and service.  La Troje, the Mexican restuarant, was also very good, if you want top self expensive tequila shots or flaming specialty coffees this is the place at the Allegro for such offerings.

The Beach...oh the Beach...Playa San Francisco is by far the best beach on the west side of the island.  It's the widest and deepest expanse of coral sand beach on the island and if nothing else the Allegro has the best share of it.  The snorkeling from the beach is sub par if you only snorkel 100 feet from shore but if you're willing to swim out to the bouys you will see ample sea life in the crystal clear waters.  If you're not confident in your swimming go get a life jacket from the Dive Palancar folk (no charge) and swim out there. There were hundreds, if not thousands, of fish living out there and if you get "lucky" you might have a barracuda swim up to you and say hello.  Now if you don't want to make the swim but want to see some fish up close and very personal, grab a box of cornflakes at the breakfast buffet and wade out up to your knees and start tossing a few flakes into the water.  Be prepared for a close encounter of the silvery kind.

If you are planning to do any driving around the island or going into San Miguel or checking out other beach clubs on the island, I recommend renting a car for your entire stay.  I wouldn't rent a car from the service provided at the Allegro again...the "gentleman" who runs the service (not an Allegro employee) was less than honest and the quality of the vehicle was less than good. Taxi's are plentiful but they get to be expensive if you want to do any looking around.  But you really should get around to the east side of the island, the beaches are beautiful and if you want solitude in paradise that's the place to find it.  If you want a great snack on your trip, stop at the Naked Iguana bar at Punta Morena and if you want fantastic seafood have the mixed ceviche.

Okay, I'll wrap it up.  Yes, you can find fault with the Allegro but as we wandered around the island I found travellers who found fault with every place they were staying.  I heard negatives about many places including the Presidente Continental.  Like I tell my daughter, the keys to a great vacation are flexibility, patience and the willingness to make lemonade when you get handed lemons.  If you go looking to find fault, you will find it but if you go looking to have a great time, a fantastic adventure and fun in the carribean sun, trust me that is just as easy and a lot more rewarding to discover.

Comments: My wife and I just camer back from our first ever vacation to mexico.  I can say with great pleasure that we WILL be returning to cozumel next year and we will more than likely be staying with the allegro again!  The staff was excellent.  All the bartenders were great, and they did not water down the drinks. The beach was awesome, clean and well maintained.  The resort as a whole was very clean.  The bar does not "wash" the glassed befreoe ach use, however NO bar does this.  The regulations state they must be rinsed in a special solution to sanitize, and every bar in this resort did this extensively.  The buffet restaurant was excellent for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  The food was great, however the selcetion got pretty monotonus after the 5th day.  They change the style of cooking but they don't change the actual food.  OUr room was nice.  We stayed in room 4415 on the top floor.  The air worked great, the water pressure was great, the room was clean, and overal
 l it was a great experiance.  The only complaints I can come up with are that I wish they would heat the whirl pool by the beach, as in the evening it gets cool and it would have been awesome to sit by the beach and drink while soain in a hot tub, however I understand why they don't do this.  I would have liked to see some sea food on the buffet.  They had the same basic food every night steak, chicken, fish.  Never seafood, and I love shrimp, lobster, and crab meat.  It was my understanding that other resorts in the area did server sea food most nights.  In closing I would come back to this resort in te future,a nd recommend it to everyone.

Comments: We just came back from Cozumel 3 days ago.  I have to say we had a wonderful time.  The diving was fabulous.  Before leaving for Cozumel, I had read a couple of postings re: Allegro, and was a little trepidatious.  I was, however, quite pleasantly surprised at how nice Allegro was.  The grounds were well kept and rooms were clean.  Service was excellent and the staff was wonderful (even Gilberto was accomodating and friendly).  The food, however, was about average, but then again I'm a very picky city girl when it comes to food.  Allegro is definitely not your Ritz-Carlton, so if you want to be pampered, you might want to stay elsewhere.  We just wanted to go dive and relax, so Allegro work well for us.
We walked along the beach and realized that Allegro had the nicest beach.  Occidental Grand next door really had no beach (it was about 10 feet wide, and another 10 feet drop off from the hotel ground itself).  So if a nice beach is important to you, then Allegro would be a good choice.
Mosquitos were sort of a minor problem for us, but I'm sure they're everywhere in Mexico, not just in Allegro.  One piece of advice is that they come out soon after sunset, so if you want to sit outside to eat in the Mexican restaurant, wear long pants, which is what we did and had not problems with mosquitos 'devouring' us.
Dive Palancar (the onsite dive shop) was great.  Very friendly and professional.  Allegro has it's own pier, which makes it easy for other dive operators to pick you up right there if you choose to dive with someone else.
All in all, this was a great trip and I would recommend anyone to stay at the Allegro.

Comments: My boyfriend and I travelled to the Allergo resort this Dec.
We had a great vacation in Cozumel.  The resort was only half full alt the time we  were visiting and that may of had a lot to do with the excellent service taht we received from the staff.  We ate at the buffet for the first two days of our stay.
The variety was excllent and the buffet was slightly better than at other resorts that we have stayed at.  We then ate at the Italian and Mexican restaurants for the rest of our stay, the food was super and the presentation was creative.  We especially like the flaming dessert coffees.
The beach was awsome with groomed white sand and warm clear water.  We snorkelled off of the beach (included for free) and saw lots of cool fish.  We also spend $32US to go snorkelling with the dive shop right next to the hotel.  The guides were very professional
 and the experience was very worth while. 
We rented a Geo Tracker for one day ($45US plus $17 full collision insurance)  this was great and allowed us to go into town to shop and visit some of the ruins around the island.  The beaches on the east coast of the island are virtually untouched and great to see.
We went into the water up to our waists but were very cautious about going in any furthur due to very strong under-tows and high waves.

Overall this was a resort I would recommend to anyone.

Comments: My wife and I spent ten days at Allegro from June 13 - 23.  My overall impression is the only reason you should go to Cozumel and the Allegro is to dive.  If you are not diving, don't bother going.  Stay on the mainland.

I should start by saying that we are fairly seasoned travelers.  We certainly don't stay at The Hyatt, however, we expect decent service and a clean place to stay.  The Allegro barely meet our standards in terms of service.  If you want a resort where the staff is bending over backwards to help you out, don't go to the Allegro.

Overall, we were happy with our room.  We stayed in 3611, a second story room.  The roof did not leak.  (We had some very heavy rain - caution May to October is the rainy season.)  The air- conditioning worked quite well.  The cleaning staff did not turn it off during the day as some others have reported.  Our room was clean each day.  We did have trouble getting face-cloths and on the first day we arrived I had to contact hotel staff three times to get towels for our room.  This problem did no persist.  The hammocks on each balcony were quite nice.

The food for the most part was quite good.  The main restaurant had a good variety of food.  We did not encounter any problems with flies there.  I have to say, however, that I was very disappointed with the specialty restaurants.  We ate at the Mexican restaurant on our second night there (this is an outdoor restaurant).  My wife was eaten by mosquitoes.  We also ate at the Italian restaurant.  The food was mediocre at best.  I have to take a moment to comment on the reservation system.  You could only book at each restaurant once during your stay.  I really don't have a problem with this if it was a matter of the restaurants being too busy to accommodate everyone.  This was not the case.  We walked by the Italian restaurant most nights and 60% of the tables were vacant.  As the speciality restaurants were not that great, I did not make an issue of the booking policy.  By the way if anyone from Allegro reads these posts, please find someone who has an idea about customer ser
 vice taking care of the reservations.  The young guy you had taking the reservations needs a course in customer relations.

The bar service was mediocre.  Allegro uses plastic glasses which are in short supply.  On more than one occasion, I had to wait five to 10 minutes to get a glass to pour up a beer.  The guys working the bar work hard, however, it is under staffed.  The self-service Corona tap is quite nice.  In some old trip reports I read, people complained about receiving used straws in their drinks.  I am quite pleased to let you know that Allegro has taken care of this problem, now they simply don't have any straws! 

Now to the diving, the reason we went there.  The in-house dive operation Dive Palancar is very good.  I have no complaints.  Boats are large, dive masters are knowledgeable and friendly.  Dive sites are close by, usually around five minutes to a maximum of 20 minutes.  A small number of people staying at the resort used other operators.  I was amazed at the poor quality of the boats that picked them up.  I don't know why if you were staying at the Allegro why you would use another operator.  Dive Palancar does one tank dives.  They come back to the dock between dives.  If you are not a hard core diver, this is very convenient. 

Drift diving is very easy to get used to.  I think that it is as close to space that any of us will get to.  Palancar Caves is an excellent dive deep dive.  It is a series of overhangs. You actually only go through a couple of small tunnels.  We saw quite a few turtles and on one dive we hopped in the water with a dolphin that stayed around us for about five minutes. 

We took a trip over to the mainland to Tulum and Xel-Ha.  Xel-Ha was excellent!  Great snorkeling, good restaurants.  If I had my time back, I would not bother with Tulum and spend the entire day at Xel-Ha.   

Overall, we were happy with our trip.  The diving in Cozumel is to die for.  If you are not going diving, however, stay on the mainland.  Allegro need to work a little on its staffing levels!

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

Ray

Comments: My wife and our best friends had a PERFECT long Columbus Day weekend at Allegro!! Left Boston early Friday morning and were on the beach in Cozumel by 2:00. I may not be as fussy as some people (although I have been to Southern France and Berlin and many of the best resorts in the United States), I could not have asked for more from Allegro. If you are looking for perfect weather, an impeccable beach, exquisite snorkeling and a beautiful pool with a swim up bar, you can't go wrong with Allegro.

Through Expedia, we got $750.00 for 4 days, 3 nights, AI with airfare. The whole AI thing, I think, is underrated. We got all drinks (Corona light or dark, frozen drinks, or whatever) for free. When you start drinking at 11ish and drink until ??? this can add up. As far as the food is concerned, if you don't like Mexican food, DON'T GO TO MEXICO. I would imagine if you were there for a week you could get bored with the food, but we were happy with the food and the almost ubiquitous availabilty.

The rooms were O.K. We had a problem with our first room, and the staff were more than happy to give us a new one (waterfront, poolside). Ask for the 4000's. Rooms are small but well air-conditioned. If you spend too much time in the room, something is wrong. There was a small lizard in our room which I thought was cool, but the girls did not appreciate.

It did not seem to be very busy at Allegro (which was fine with me and  my friends). They were doing major hurricane repairs (new thatched roofs) while we were there but it did not interfere with any of the meals. I would imagine if it was crowded things could slow down alot but that was not our experience. Both the Italien and the Mexican restaurants were excellant with no reservations necessary.

We took a snorkeling tour through Dive Palancar which was absolutely perfect. 2 1/2 hours, 32.00 each, just the four of us. We had a tour guide who was wonderful (went down to the reefs and showed us eels and scorpion fish and turtles and barracudas). Obviosly business was slow but it was to our advantage. We tipped the tour guide and the boat driver 10.00 each. Well worth it.

Things to remember:

I was very concerned about customs. It was no problem. I had a passport but three others only had birth certificates. No one had a problem.

Please tip liberally. The bartenders, the housekeepers, the waiters and the waitresses all appreciate your American money. When a waiter brings you eight drinks (for free) on the beach in paradise, it is probably worth a two dollar tip. As far as I could tell nobody tipped the bartenders except us. They really remember you and appreciate it. The housekeepers spent extra time in oour room and left us extra towels and bottled water because we tipped them.

Long distance phone calls are a pain in the @#%. Figure a way to do it or don't call home. It cost us $70.00  to call home twice.

Mosquitoes were not a problem. Small and insignificant.

A taxi from the airport is the same or less than the suburbans you can get at the airport. Don't wait in the transportation line. Take a cab.

All in all we had a great time. I am trying to find a way to go back as we speak (can't convince the kids).

Email me at robert_tompkins@uml.edu if you have any questions.

GO NOW!!!!

Comments: Stayed at Allegro Oct 20-24.  I have stayed a the Reef Club, Park Royal, and El Cozumeleno before and overall I like Allegro best.  However, all have there good points.   The Italian resturant is outstanding.  My dive buddy Fred owns two italian restruants and he gave them two thumbs up.  Rooms are a little small and a little worn but totally fine.  The AC was very cold, we turned it off a couple times at night.  The buffet is typical buffet food on par with most other AIs in this price range.  The Mexican resturant is good, I was full after the third course.  Pools, landscaping, and beach beautiful.  Dive operation fine.  Pay in Pesos everywhere, else you'll get 9 instead of 10 to $1.  The mixed drinks didn't taste quite right but people were drinking the hell out of them.  The Corona on tap was right on.  Hslcols@aol.com if you have questions.  PS. we did the bus/ferry routine from Cancun.

Comments: After reading some of the scathing reviews posted earlier, I was very pleasantly surpised by how great the Allegro is! 

The staff was amazingly friendly and helpful-- everything from accommodating our request of having a room near the pool to letting me into the dinner buffet as they were closing down for the evening--I can't say enough good things.  Sandy at the Pool Bar & Freddy at the Main Bar--you guys are awesome!

The pool, beach, and landscaped grounds are beautiful-- very well-maintained and clean (and this was right after Hurricane Isidore had ripped through)!  The snorkeling was not amazing but we still saw plenty of fish every time we went out. 

The food was good and plentiful.  Breakfast was my favorite with lots of fresh fruit and juice and that yummy tortilla casserole.  We had lunch at the snack bar and that was fine--12:00-4:00-- perfect snacking hours!  We never tried either of the specialty restaurants, although I heard good things about both of them, particularly the Italian one.

Our room was nice, perhaps not the most plush but very clean and comfortable, with excellent housekeeping service.  I did see a few ants (gasp), but what do you expect--you're on a tropical island!  The mosquitos were annoying but a few "especial" Bloody Mary's seemed to take away the pain.

All in all-- a great vacation at the Allegro Resort.  I look forward to returning!

Comments: FYI - Should you have concerns you can reach the resort at internet@drcozmel.allegroresorts.com  - Please tell them that I sent you...
 
Our Stay at the Allegro Resort in Cozumel
 
The Allegro Resort in Cozumel, the location of our Honeymoon and a trip we will never forget. 
 
MOLD, MUST and ANTS at the Allegro Cozumel
 
We checked into our thatch roofed building room (3603) was which smelt musty and had mold stains on the walls.  Besides the mold and must, there were ants on both the headboard/side tables (which crawled into the bed) and on the bathroom counters. 
The first night (of our HONEYMOON) my wife spend the night wearing a hooded sweatshirt to protect herself from the fear of being bitten by ants.   
 
In a letter as a response to a complaint from Mr. Miguel Eugene, General Manager of the Allegro Cozumel he states "We have an external company that fumigates all the areas, but in spite of that ants may enter the rooms when the guests leave food inside them".  I would suggest to the Allegro Cozumel that food is not usually kept on the headboard and bathroom counter and that fumigation should happen more frequently. 
 
We requested to move to another room (without mold and ants), another room was not available and the request to kill the ants was never followed through. On the second day, we moved to another room (upper floor) after complaining 2 more times, but found that the mold & must problem was still very much present.  One subsequent day it rained and water poured in from around the air conditioner.

RUDE STAFF - "AVOID RICARDO WHEN BOOKING RESERVATIONS" at the Allegro Cozumel

While at the hotel, we attempted to book dinner in one of the two reservation restaurant and were told to go to guest services between 9-11am.  We did, and when we opened the door, we were told by a very rude individual "RICARDO" - "Out", NOT please step out, but "OUT".  We then waited for 20 minutes while he finished with another guest (Who we later found out was also complaining).  When we finally were granted permission to enter, I explained to Ricardo that he was rude, expecting an apology, instead he insisted on arguing with me and my wife for 15 minutes.
 
Not only did guest services staff not have the courtesy to listen to our feedback, he refused to let either of us finish a sentence without cutting us off and repeatedly denying that he had ordered us out of the office,despite the fact that his statements were clearly made in the presence of both my wife, another guest, and another staff member in training.  I would have to question the training value that this particular guest interaction provided to the trainee.  During our discussion with Ricardo, the guests who had
arrived after us to be serviced by 'Guest services" were made to wait outside while Ricardo argued with us. 
 
In total we spent over 30 minutes trying to get a dinner reservation and when Ricardo could argue with us no further he told us that the time was too late to make a reservation and that they were closed.  This final comment was made at 10:50am, a full ten
minutes before the office was due to close and ignored the fact that we waited over 30 minutes to even have the opportunity to request a dinner booking.  Feeling frustrated that Ricardo never listened to our concerns and was only making a position to protect himself, we left with our reservation in hand and didn't plan to go through the process again to make our next reservation.  
 
Mr. Miguel Eugene had no comment on the actions of his staff.
 
THE POOL BAR LACK OF CLEANLINESS at the Allegro Cozumel
 
We observed multiple times that GLASSES WERE NOT WASHED, only rinsed and are clearly grimy even though the sign is posted that they are washed in accordance with health regulations.    Mr. Miguel Eugene's response to this observation was "The glasses at the pool bar are washed according to a system approved by "Cristal International", an external company that measures and checks all the hygenic procedures and food preperation." 
 
To the Left of the swim-up bar there was a pool of dirty, smelly water (sludge) that collected near to the bar where people order their drinks.  This was never dealt with even after being pointed out to bar staff.
 
FLY's BLENDED INTO DRINKS at the Allegro Cozumel
 
Anyone who has visited the Allegro Cozumel will know that there are a lot of fly's, especially at the pool bar.  We (and others who made us aware) witnessed that many of these flies end up in the blenders and they are blended into the drinks.  This is utterly disgusting. Needless to say I drank beer out of the tap and used the same glass during my stay.
 

Our original plans were to stay at the Allegro Cozumel for 8 days, after the 4th day, a letter was put under ever door indicating that you could "upgrade" to the Royal Hideaway in Play del Carmen (2+ hours away).  Needless to say, we jumped at the opportunity to leave the Allegro Resort. 
 
When we arrived home, we stated our reasons for displeasure to our travel agency who in turn communicated the above issues to the Allegro Cozumel.  Imagine your new wife crying for 4 days over "your" selection of the resort, then taking the remaining 4 days to get over the mold, must, ants, fly's, dirt and rudeness of the staff. 
 
We expected that Mr. Miguel Eugene would review our concerns and problems with the Allegro Cozumel and the staff at the Allegro Cozumel and offer us the opportunity for a complimentary stay at their sister hotel "royal hideaway" in compensation for ruining our honeymoon, as my wife will not return to the Allegro Cozumel.  In fact Mr. Miguel wrote our travel agent to state "I apologize for the inconveniences they had or if we did not fulfill their expectations..... I would like to let you know that they were transferred to our sister hotel.... we consider that they have been already compensated for the inconveniences".  The fact "EVERY GUEST HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER" as they oversold the hotel and need guests out of the hotel to make room for others.

Comments: This was our second trip to the Allegro.  We also went there in Aug 2001.  This time we decided to stay for 11 days so we could get some extra diving in.

First the downsides:
* Mosquitos were MUCH worse this year.  Despite extensively lathering up with repellant every evening, our entire family was bitten every evening.  We came home covered in bites, and their spraying efforts seemed completely ineffective.

* The timeshare guys were also MUCH worse.  It reached the point where you could not go to breakfast without being acosted.  The sell was pretty aggresive.

*  The rooms seem to receive very little (if any) maintenance. We had exactly the same room as last year, and it looked as if absolutely nothing had been changed.  Even the same stains existed on the curtains.

*  The food became absolutely monotonous after a few days - it was worse than last year.  Also, after the 1st Sept, the resort became much quieter, and they cut the food selection even further.

On the upside:

*  The entertainment staff were great, as last year.  Sandra and Pancho were particularly friendly, and our kids loved the kids club.  I can't say enough good things about all the staff.

*  The facilities such as the pools are still in failry good shape

*  Car rental was easier and cheaper than last year - making it less expensive to get around the island and into town.

Overall, I would recomend the resort - but go during a relatively busy time, change rooms if the one you get is not ok, watch out for the timeshare people, and pack PLENTY of mosquito bite cream.  Alternatively, look at the new Occidental resort they are opening next door.

Comments: Stop bashing the Allegro. It is well above average for a moderately priced Mexican resort. Those complaining are either chronic moaners or have unrealistic expectations for what a $100 per day all inclusive will deliver. Our roooms were great. No plumbing problem, cold air, clean, and well kept. Small roof leak in a heavy rain; but geez, thatched roof in the tropics- of course! Few bugs, minimal mosquitos if you use bug spray, yes geckos (they eat bugs). Sewer smell is more likely sulfur water from sprinklers -- maybe the treatment plant, but not noticeable where we were (1512/1514). Beach great. Food - average, but good variety. We never got sick at all -- take twice daily pepto-bismol. You should do this in Mexico anyway. Adult pool not great because too many people being sloppy with drinks and too much activity. Other pool average. All in all, the Allegro was just what you should expect for an all-inclusive resort charging $100 a day for FunJet tour (4 nights). R
 ent a car from someone (National, Executive or Fiesta) and tour the east side of island and have some adventure.

Comments: We just left Cozumel on July 12. After staying at the Allegro I would suggest staying somewhere else our room was clean enough but there was some major plumbing problems. When we would drain the bathtub the water would come up in the bathroom through the drain. The food was ok, just  ok, we ate at the buffet most nights some days were better then others. The breakfast buffet was the best. The last night we ate at the Italion place it was very good. Our daughter is 6 and she had a great time at the kids club. The water is great and the beaches are great. The staff was very friendly but I'm sure most of the resorts could say the same thing. They are building a new Allegro that should open around Oct. it may be a lot better. If you do decide to stay at the Allegro make sure you go see the shows every night they whefre very good, just make sure you take some bug spray. The island is very nice we plan on making this a yearly trip now. If you have any questions please email me I would be very happy to talk with you.

Comments: My husband, two boys (11 & 13), and myself just returned from Cozumel on July 12.  If you are choosing the Allegro for the Kids Club then I would advise you not to.  The childrens area is geared more towards children 5 and under.  We never saw any activities for the children such as karaoke, swimming races, basketball, etc.  The jacuzzi was ice cold so it was pretty much useless.  The grounds of the hotel were beautifully kept and the staff was always helpful. 

The buffet was excellent, but I would suggest not eating from the grill by the pool unless you would like to spend your vacation in your room.  We never tried the speciality restaurants because we enjoyed the buffet so much.  There was always something for everyone to try.  My husband ended up gaining five pounds by the time we came home.

We stayed in room 3601, which wasn't bad at all.  The beds were not as hard as we expected, the air conditioner worked great, and there was plenty of hot water.  We never noticed a sewer smell at all.  There is only one ice machine and it was all the way on the other side of the resort with no lighting at night time.  The rooms have a blow drier and an iron just to let you know so you don't pack anything extra.

We rented a car from Smart Cars from Tuesday to Friday morning for $140, which was really great for touring the island.  We went to Punta Sur for snorkling, which was really great.  We saw a barracuda and a nurse shark along the reef there.  It was fabulous.  $15 for adults and children are free.  It also includes the lighthouse museum and swamp tour.  You can print a coupon off the internet for 50% off the car rental from Smart Cars.

Well we had a great time and can't wait until the next time we go back.  Have fun!

Comments: My husband and I visited Cozumel for the third time last week.  This was our second time to stay at Allegro.  One thing you should realize is that if you are looking for a commercialized, elaborate room like the Renaissance or Hyatt, you might think twice before staying in Cozumel.  You won't find any highrise hotels there.  Allegro has more bungalow style rooms with grass huts - we like to think of it as immersing ourselves in the culture.  We had no problems with iguanas entering our rooms or bugs entering our rooms and no cracks under our doors.  We were only in our rooms at night, and we had a great AC (very cold) which is what mattered most to us.
Mosquitos were bad in the evenings, but that was the consensus across the entire island after weeks of rain.  Our rooms were always cleaned, and the maid left fresh flowers and plenty of water every day (even without a tip).  One of the reasons we like to stay at Allegro is because they have one of the nicest, sandiest beaches on the island.  You don't have to wear shoes when swimming or worry about stepping on sea urchins like you do at Iberostar and Cozumeleno who are known for their rocky beaches. 
The food is okay.  The La Troje Mexican restaurant is the better of the three in our opinion.  We were disappointed in the entertainment - it was geared mainly towards children unlike two years ago when they used to have cultural dancing, music, etc. 
We go to Cozumel to dive, and the Dive Palancar diveshop located on the Allegro premisis is our favorite by far.  They are friendly, affordable, and very safe.  The divemasters have never disappointed us on a dive.  If you go soon, you should definitely dive Dalila.  There have been tons of nurse sharks there lately. 
In conclusion, yes, the rooms and food are not as good as what we are used to in the US, but that is not why we go there.  We go to enjoy the culture and to explore the ocean, and if that is why you are going, you will be more than satisfied staying at Allegro.

Comments: Just returned from a family (17 y/o son and his girlfriend) vacation at Allegro. 

1.  Location - $17 to town each way for 4 - $22 for 6.  Cab tried to charge us $40 to airport for 6 people!  Ask before you leave hotel.  You  might find that it would be cheaper to rent a jeep in town after your arrive if you plan on making several trips to town.  With teenagers, they wanted to go into town more.  Don't rent from the hotel company - expensive and not good - no jeeps - beetles and GEO trackers!

2.  Hotel rooms - they were fine - I have staying in nicer in the states but they were clean and had plenty of room.  We stayed in building 5200.  It rained off and on for several days - no smells.  Leave $2.00 on the pillow every day and your room is cleaned early and extra water is provided.  We had plenty of hot water.  Don't drink the sink water - there is a clear sign in back of the faucet.  We did not see it for a couple of days but we had already been brushing with bottled water.

3.  Beach - great - snorkeling was lacking through.  I had one problem in that the beach staff would not give my son snorkel gear because he was not 18.  This also applied to hobie cats and wind surfing.  That presented a problem when we left early for dive trips.  They would have to wait until we got back to snorkel.  If you have a 17 y/o you would be better off telling them at check in that they are 18 so you can get a green bracelet. 

4.  Drinks - plenty of alcohol and you could always ask for more!  At the pool bar look for Freddie the bartender and tell him to make you a Crazy Donkey - not on the drink menu - AWESOME!  Tip these a couple of bucks guys once in the morning and once in the afternoon.  Pick out a bartender and stay with him.  Freddie was the BEST!

5.  Food - the Italian restaurant has a STUPID rule....men must wear slacks.  I can't remember the last time my husband took slacks on a dive vacation.  If it was not for the fact he wears khaki shorts on the plane, he would not have a couple of pairs of those to wear.  We argued the point one night and was allowed in the restaurant.  Men's sandals are OUT though - closed toe shoes only.  The food was outstanding.  The mexican restaurant was good also. 

We found that the restaurants would be booked but that plenty of tables would be available.  They don't have a good procedure in place to accept walk-ins if someone does not show within a specified period of time.

The buffets were good.  The breakfast buffet was the best.  Omelets station, waffles, pancakes and french toast cooked to order.  Did not find that the juice was watered down.  You can always order a coke from the bar.  There was enough variety on at the buffets that you should not get tired of it.  Desserts were pitiful! 

The snack bar was good.  Unlimited food from noon - 5.  Our room happened to be about 30 feet from the snack bar and restaurant.  A very short walk for some nachos and an umbrella drink before getting back in the hammock!

We chartered a boat with Albatros Charters (very good group) one day.  We caught Mahi Mahi.  The crew cleaned the fish and we brought it back to the restaurant.  The chef prepared it for us for dinner.  It was AWESOME!

6.  Pools, Grounds, etc. - very well maintained grounds.  The pools were very nice.  The staff is very busy with activities for the guests.  They had games daily at the pool - water polo, beach volley ball, staff vs. guest Olympics, staff vs. guest beer drinking contests and nightly entertainment at the main stage.    TAKE SOME BUG SPRAY!

Overall, we will go back.  I think it is a very good value.

Posted by Faith on 06/09/02

Just had a trip to Allegro for one week and stayed there the whole time except for one snorkel trip.  Read my lodging review, which was posted this last week. Also, if you have any questions, email me.
Faith

Comments: Hello,

We stayed at the Allegro Resort for three nights, after staying at the Hyatt in Cancun for another three.  It was quite the difference, however, we went from an "adult" atmosphere to "play-drink-play".  We had a wonderful time on both islands and would recommend to anyone.

The Resort itself is beautiful.  The sewer smell is not that bad!  The rooms are extremely small but do the job.  We did not eat at the 'specialty' restaurants since everyone was getting the runs, but the buffet was incredible anyway.  The beach was clean and from other reviews it appears that this hotel is the only one that has a swimmable beach since all others only have coral.  THe only downside to this resort is that it is in the other end of the island.  It cost about $18 bucks for a taxi to get into town (thats for two people!). 

We did the Quad Jungle Tour with Freddy from jungle tours- awesome guy- and it was great.  The Glass Bottom Boat tour is also cool - however - i swam in "bad water" (fire coral) and that was unpleasent for a while, but a black Corona made me feel better! :))

My one year old son did not get sick at all.  The water is not that bad  - we never got sick in Cancun, Cozumel, or Isla Mujeres.  Our Mexico trip was awesome.  The price was also incredible

Comments:  I took my two teenagers on a dive trip the first week in June.  The diving is very good and Dive Palancar at the resort is very good.  The longest it took us to get to a dive site was ten minutes. Dive Palancar also has good dive boats.  The resort was clean and well landscaped.  The beach was not what I am used to as it was very loose sand and  not easy to walk on.  I didn't think the specialty restuarants were worth the effort as the food at the buffet was just as good.  We went into town one day, no real thrill.  We also visited a Mayan ruin (San Gre?) on the northern end of the island and it was worth the trip and price $5.75 US.   

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